Surprised by the unexpected answer, everyone was left dumbfounded.

This included Odette, who had been glaring fiercely, and even Leon, who had remained calm until now.

“…Why?”

This time, Leon asked a beat late.

The people around also listened intently with puzzled expressions. However, her answer exceeded all their expectations.

“Because I don’t need pity.”

“……!”

Kasha took a small breath.

Then, once again, she continued to speak clearly, without a single error, towards the pure white prince who had appeared before her eyes.

“I am not… such a pathetic person that I need to receive a dance invitation out of pity, Leon.”

‘I am no longer pitiful or powerless.’

Kasha swallowed her last words.

For a moment, a crack appeared on the icy face of the holy knight Leon.

He wore an expression of complete bewilderment.

Seeing that face, Kasha almost laughed without realizing it.

‘I’ve only ever seen cold or slightly eccentric expressions. This expression of yours is quite nice too.’

Wanting to see that face a little longer, she unconsciously added a few more words.

“Don’t… carelessly pity someone, Sir Knight.”

“……”

“You might… get into big trouble.”

Raising one corner of her mouth slightly, Kasha concluded her words like that.

Then she turned away without lingering.

She had no intention of repeating her reunion with Leon tediously in front of the foolish nobles watching.

Their conversation needed to be private and secretive. What she wanted was to strip away the mask of the perfect holy knight and meet the raw Leon to form a true alliance.

‘So I hope you’ll accept my provocation, Leon.’

The surroundings were as quiet as a mouse.

Kasha slowly left the stage, watching the expressions of people who looked as if they had just had their fingers bitten by a cat they had been carelessly kicking.

“Kasha. So you were here.”

As she was cooling her head on a quiet balcony, Daril found her.

“…What about Miss Margaret?”

“I had her seen by the duke’s family doctor, who said there wasn’t anything seriously wrong, so she went back home in a carriage for now. I’ve arranged to visit the Yonder Baronet’s residence tomorrow.”

“……”

“What kind of thoughtless and inconsiderate fools would do such a thing! Anyway, these days the young nobles only think about themselves!”

Daril fumed by himself.

He didn’t think that Margaret could have been bullied intentionally under someone’s direction.

He probably thought she had been accidentally pushed to the center of the ballroom amidst the crowd of people pushing and shoving.

Those born strong cannot understand the circumstances of the weak.

And the weak desperately hide their circumstances. Because it’s a matter of their dignity.

Thus, they run on parallel lines, misunderstanding each other for a lifetime.

Just as Kasha and Daril used to.

Just as Kasha and Leon did.

Kasha leaned against the balcony railing with a cold smile.

Seeing her expression, Daril belatedly hesitated.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Don’t… interfere, Brother.”

“…What?”

“Next time, if you see… such a situation, don’t ask loudly if she’s okay. Don’t get angry… asking who did this.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Such actions will only… make her feel more miserable.”

“But I−”

“Miss Margaret… is not a fool.”

“……?”

“But even smart people… can become fools if they lack power. Under someone’s… direction.”

Daril, who had frozen at the unexpected words, unconsciously looked up and was startled.

Because Kasha’s eyes were burning fiercely.

“So don’t carelessly interfere and act like a knight.”

“Ka, Kasha.”

“If you really… want to help… be her strength. So that she doesn’t become a fool… even when you’re not around.”

“But how……”

“For now, your actions today… will make your feelings for Miss Margaret known… to the entire social circle.”

Kasha said this in a calm tone, but Daril’s face slowly reddened at her words.

His expression looked uncharacteristically innocent, causing Kasha’s expression to soften a little on its own.

It was then.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the balcony wall from outside.

When Daril pulled back the curtain, the figure Kasha had been waiting for all along appeared.

“Sir Leon Aranias?”

Daril muttered questioningly.

At the same time, a man in a white uniform stepped onto the balcony.

“Viscount Lyuschino. It’s been a while.”

“Yes. Your Highness. It’s been a long time.”

“Please call me Leon. I prefer to be called by my name.”

“Ah, yes. Sir Leon. But what brings you here?”

“If it’s not too impertinent, may I have a moment to speak with the Viscount’s younger sister?”

Daril was taken aback by the unexpected request.

Why would this remarkable man suddenly seek out his younger sister?

Even if it wasn’t him specifically, it was the first time a noble man had asked to be alone with her at an event like this, so he faltered for a moment.

“That’s, um, for what reason……”

“It seems I made a mistake with Lady Katiana earlier in the ballroom, so I’d like to apologize.”

“A mistake, you say? What kind of mistake……”

“Brother.”

Kasha interrupted his impending interrogation.

“It will probably… only take a moment. Isn’t that right… Sir Leon?”

“…Of course.”

Leon quietly nodded at her clear and precise assessment of the situation, though her speech was a bit halting.

Daril hesitated a little. But unable to think of any particular reason to refuse, he reluctantly left.

“I’ll wait ‘right outside’ the balcony, Kasha.”

He did add that while staring directly at Leon.

“……”

The two were left alone on the balcony.

In the early summer breeze from outside, Kasha’s bangs fluttered gently.

The deeper she gazed into Leon’s violet eyes, the more bittersweet nostalgia washed over her.

Standing with him under the moonlight like this reminded her of the nights they had spent in the ruined temple. That cruel and lonely time had created a strange kind of kinship between them.

It felt like they were pressed against each other at the end of the world, abandoned souls.

‘I haven’t forgotten a single thing you told me back then, Leon.’

Kasha thought.

‘I remember clearly how unfortunate a life you lived.’

Even if you don’t remember any of it.

‘And that’s probably a blessing for you.’

Kasha smiled bitterly.

The emotions revealed in her eyes now were likely of a kind Leon could hardly imagine.

His wavering eyes betrayed his confusion.

Kasha lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, as if to soothe him.

“You said you had something to say.”

Only then did he seem to recall why he had come here, and hesitated.

“Yes. It seems I unintentionally caused you discomfort earlier. I thought I should apologize.”

“……”

When Kasha gave no response to his apology, Leon remained silent for a moment.

He seemed to have something he wanted to ask, but appeared to be waiting for Kasha to speak first.

Ding-a-ling. Ta-ran.

Just then, the sound of lute and flute music began to drift from the hall.

It seemed the next dance was starting.

At that moment, Kasha suddenly moved close to Leon.

He seemed slightly surprised but didn’t step back.

Their chests were almost touching.

If they listened closely, they could probably hear each other’s breathing.

Kasha opened her mouth.

“Shall we… dance?”

Only after a moment did he realize Kasha was asking him to dance, and narrowed his eyes.

“Here… right now?”

“Yes.”

“You rejected my invitation earlier.”

“Back then, you were… pitying me.”

“…Are you saying you’re not?”

“Of course not… How could I dare… pity you, the Grand Duke’s son and a holy knight.”

Leon silently looked down at the woman who seemed to be mocking him with her halting speech and pale face.

As he stood there blankly, Kasha reached out without further hesitation.

Flinch.

When Kasha’s cold hand touched his gloved one, Leon startled.

Kasha also tensed a little.

After all, touching Leon’s body, cursed with lust, was as dangerous as putting one’s hand on a boiling kettle.

However, knowing all this, she intended to properly stimulate him. Even more actively than before her regression.

‘That’s the only way I can meet the real you hidden behind the mask of the noble holy knight, and I have something I must discuss with that you.’

Kasha firmly grasped his hand, ignoring his reaction of aversion. Going further, she even wrapped her arm around his waist.

She could feel him stiffen even more.

But Kasha didn’t back down and took the first step.

Ta-ra-ran. Ding-ling.

The lute’s melody coming through the thick curtains was faint, and the moonlight was beautiful.

Facing him with his stiff yet firm and hot body, it felt as if she had returned to her memories before the regression.

The beautiful holy knight. Herself gazing at him as if entranced, with flushed cheeks.

And Leon, who finally pushed her away ruthlessly and disappeared.

Kasha was finally able to completely overcome that memory that had always remained like a hardened scab in her heart.

Because now she understood Leon, who must have been desperate to hide his lust at that moment.

Rather, she even felt sorry for his uprightness in not letting go of her hand and finishing the dance to the end, despite everything.

Meanwhile, Leon was naturally moving his body while looking down at Kasha’s expression lost in thought.

Matching his steps to her clumsy ones despite her having started the dance first, and gently embracing her when she stumbled at times.

Barely suppressing his furrowed brow that twitched subtly every time he felt her body heat and inhaled her scent.

Straining every nerve in his body to hide his increasingly awkward posture.

The pale moonlight shone down on the two people hiding different thoughts and desires.

And finally,

Ta-ran.

Waa−

With cheers, the music stopped.

Leon hurriedly backed away from her as soon as the music ended. As if he couldn’t stand to touch her for even one more second.

But before he could retreat further, Kasha’s hand caught him.