Perhaps, just perhaps. Kaella may not have loved Peon as much as he loved her now to death.

If love turns upside down, it would become terrible hatred, but Kaella was so generous to him. She stared at him blankly and then nodded slightly to accept his desperate dance invitation.

After granting him the honor of dancing twice in a row, she sat obediently in the seat he had prepared and ate the drinks and food he had brought.

So perhaps Kaella’s feelings weren’t as deep as how much he loved her. I really hope that’s the case.

I hope she loved him less than he thought, and therefore hurt less. Because if Peon were Kaella, he would have despised and cursed her, not even keeping her in sight.

“Does it suit your taste?”

Peon brushed Kaella’s hair aside and checked how the food was. She nibbled and looked at him. Perhaps, just perhaps.

“It’s delicious.”

I’m not sure what kind of affection he had for her. Although Kaella was extremely wary of making hasty assumptions, it was now clear that Peon had affection for her.

And that affection might be deeper than expected. It might not be that he’s just playing the role of a kind husband out of guilt, responsibility, and a sense of debt for past actions, but that he’s sincere.

There was no clearer signal than jealousy. Kaella knew all too well, having been jealous enough to wear her heart out.

“Is it delicious?”

He smiles. He was busy. Even now, Duke Ostain was going around talking to foreign envoys.

Partly because Dad knew four foreign languages, especially dealing with various merchants and politicians in Ostain, he was in the process of cleaning up the Bayeta naval base issue that the Crown Prince had carelessly mentioned at the eve of the festival the day before yesterday.

Peon, as an important figure included in this regency and a key figure in charge of military affairs, also had to go around busily talking to people.

Today’s banquet marks the end of the engagement ceremony events. So they had to clean up as much as possible while they could. But Peon was just sitting quietly by Kaella’s side, guarding his seat.

“Do you want to try something else?”

“Shouldn’t you go… meet with people?”

“You always use honorifics for such things. Don’t worry about it. People who need to see me will come this way anyway.”

Peon gestured for her to eat just one more bite. It seems the only purpose of coming to the banquet was for Kaella to taste a wide variety of foods evenly.

“It’s not like we can clean up something that’s already happened even if we try.”

He laughed so coldly that it felt chilly on this hot summer night. It sounded as if he didn’t care what happened to the Crania Empire.

“Still.”

“When you’re done eating.”

“I’ll stay here eating, so you can go ahead first.”

“I don’t want to. For whose sake?”

Peon frowned immediately. The wind blowing coolly from the Ener River seemed to tell Kaella as it shook her hair. It’s not an illusion. It’s reality. That man really likes you.

“Don’t you remember when we went to the Ener riverbank last time? If I leave my seat for just a moment, they all come to you in that gap. Rather than seeing that sight again, it’s better to just go home.”

He really likes you. Kaella stared at him blankly and then quickly lowered her head. It was difficult to face the indescribable displeasure and clear jealousy in his purple eyes. No way.

“No one is interested in me……”

“There are thirty-four men looking at you right now. I excluded women because you wouldn’t even give them a chance.”

At his calm voice, Kaella unconsciously raised her head and looked around.

Some people avoided eye contact when their eyes met, some smiled, and some just stared. But isn’t that how banquet halls are?

“Look at me, Kaella. If you’ve looked at those guys, you should look at me too.”

Peon leaned over to look at Kaella obliquely.

A handsome man that people would be enchanted to see tilted his large, perfectly balanced body towards her. There must be far more women looking at Peon than men looking at Kaella. It was obvious.

“Don’t tell me to go.”

He closed his eyes for a moment as if barely holding back.

“I’ve been holding back for too long, I don’t think I can hold back anymore.”

Kaella gripped her fork tightly. Yes. That man seems to like her. Then, what happens when he stops liking her?

An impossible thing happened. It couldn’t end well. Kaella is a pathetic person who gets bored easily, and she’s always unhappy in the end.

She was scared.

*

Beatrice was realizing what it meant to be an eyesore. Although she had deliberately stopped by the magic tool room because that sight was annoying, looking at it again made it even more unbearable.

“Don’t they look so good together?”

“I know. Everyone in the country knows the Grand Duke is handsome, but seeing the Grand Duchess like this, she’s so pretty too.”

Just hearing such nonsense made her stomach turn. Peon was the most splendid ornament she used to wear. But now that ornament is not only adorning another woman but also being told they look good together!

“The Grand Duke seems to really like her. He can’t take his eyes off her.”

She didn’t like seeing Kaella, whom she had scolded as ugly and made stand against the wall, sitting leisurely wearing large aquamarines dangling all over. Moreover, Peon, the most indifferent man she knew, was desperate to feed Kaella.

‘Since when did he become so affectionate……!’

Beatrice had to make a fuss several times, including using honorifics, to get his response. But that taciturn man talks non-stop in front of Kaella.

“They might unexpectedly be a good match. The Grand Duchess is so smart, you know. She’s learned a lot.”

She’s learned a lot but still doesn’t know anything about the world, what an idiot!

Beatrice covered her face with her fan as soon as the most unpleasant words came out. She didn’t want to hear it. Because she didn’t want to hear it, she passed around drinks and made merry noise with her mother and her followers.

She could feel people’s gazes on her, but she knew they weren’t as admiring as before. Beatrice’s reputation had been greatly damaged due to the Hill House party incident.

“Ah, it looks like the fireworks are about to start.”

People started rushing down the stairs leading to the dock. Clearing out all the ships, the fireworks viewed from the dock with beautiful lanterns and ferries are exquisite. People hurried to claim a ferry each.

“Shall we go too, my lady?”

Beatrice chose the richest and most accomplished man among those eagerly extending their hands to her, and walked holding her chin high.

But she couldn’t help but see Peon clearing away Kaella’s empty plate and raising her to embrace her.

The dock was also full of food and drinks. Especially light alcoholic drinks were abundant, perfect for sipping while watching the fireworks.

“I’ll stay here.”

The Duchess of Monde stood at the dock, not letting go of her wine glass. Beatrice boarded a boat with the gentlemen.

“Don’t go too far.”

Beatrice glanced at the Grand Duke and Duchess of Lyssenford standing on the dock as she spoke.

What a nuisance. She needs to be thoroughly humiliated once.

She herself couldn’t understand why her eyes rolled so irrationally every time she saw Kaella. She just disliked her.

She disliked everything – her demure face being wealthy, being well-educated, being praised for saying the right things. In the end, she was most annoyed that she married Peon.

Having to keep seeing Kaella, who had all the elements Beatrice hated and was irritated by, pretending to be weak and being embraced by Peon. Beatrice looked down at the waters of the Ener River, shimmering with the reflections of lanterns and fireworks.

Everyone exclaimed at the fireworks celebrating the Crown Prince’s engagement. While doing so, those engaged in conversation didn’t stop talking, and among them was the Duchess of Monde.

“……did that. I was so dumbfounded.”

Hahaha, when loud laughter burst out, the old ladies frowned and avoided that direction.

The crowded dock was bustling with young ladies and gentlemen boarding the ferries, the Crown Prince and Princess Keruzhan greeting people, and high-ranking officials busy discussing politics even in this situation, rather than appreciating the fireworks.

“Ah, you. Come here and say hello.”

Peon, who always tried to stay by Kaella’s side, received a call he absolutely couldn’t refuse. Duke Ostain was smiling faintly and beckoning.

Around Duke Ostain were all elderly foreign dignitaries. It was undoubtedly all about politics. Peon, who owed a debt of gratitude to his father-in-law if nothing else, looked back at Kaella.

“Stay here for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

Peon said, placing Kaella in the midst of a group of elderly ladies and foreign noble ladies.

“It’s okay to talk as much as you need. I’ll be here.”

He nodded reluctantly. It was bitter that there was nothing more he could say. He couldn’t even jokingly tell her not to look at other guys or to be careful of men, given their relationship.

Wouldn’t she find his surprisingly jealous behavior unpleasant? No, does she even care about him enough to find it unpleasant?

Although he had expressed quite a bit over the past few months, Kaella pretended not to notice. He forcibly tore his heavy footsteps away.

“Oh my, we’ve come too far inside the river here at the dock. Be careful, it’s dangerous.”

The words of a worried old lady brushed past his ears. A fair amount of incomprehensible foreign languages could also be heard.

“Oh my, our young lady. How did you manage to hold such a wonderful banquet, hmm?”

“I didn’t do much.”

Kaella shook her head and smiled at the voice recognizing her.

“Oh come now, everyone here knows who did it!”

Laughter also erupted among the noble ladies. They were all acquainted with the Empress or had deep connections with the Ostain side. Of course, the Duchess of Monde did not join this group despite being the Empress’s chief lady-in-waiting.

“The Princess is coming this way, it is said. To express her gratitude and greet the noble ladies.”

Unexpectedly, Princess Keruzhan came this way with her attendants.

Kaella unconsciously looked at Peon, who could be seen from over there, as she gradually moved aside to make room. He was more than a head taller than others, so he could be easily spotted even in such a crowded place.

‘Why does he like me?’

The wish she had desperately hoped for had come true, but that wish was actually so old that other thoughts popped up first rather than joy.

Why does he like her when he could meet much prettier and more amazing women? Is it because a person with a strong sense of responsibility feels guilty, and affection starts from there?

‘Why now? What do I have that’s better than Beatrice? ……Then, can I hurt him just as much?’

Useless thoughts kept coming. The days when she imagined she would be happy just to have Peon look at her were destroyed, and only bad thoughts suddenly came up.

“Congratulations, Princess.”

The place where Princess Keruzhan came to exchange a few words with the noble ladies was much quieter than elsewhere. So the noise from other places was even more audible.

“I might as well remarry at this point! Huh? Husband? Oh my, you jest so well.”

The cackling voice of the Duchess of Monde could be faintly heard.

“How long has it been since my husband died!”

It was a statement with so many problems that Kaella, who had been standing indifferently, tilted her head after a few seconds.

“Dead? Did she just say he died?”

“That was the Duchess of Monde just now, right?”

Whispering voices began to boil up. Meanwhile, Princess Keruzhan was passing through, shaking hands with the noble ladies.

“Just a moment. Be careful.”

Kaella gradually retreated backwards, avoiding the old ladies, watching people move aside.

“Please move a little bit inward. Just for a moment.”

“Oh my, it’s so crowded.”

She said nothing and gave up her spot. There were plenty of people in this place who wouldn’t let the Duchess of Monde’s statement just pass.

“Oh, it was just a joke!”

The forced laughter of the Duchess trying to cover up belatedly could be heard, but it was quieter than before.

“The smell of alcohol reaches all the way here.”

“I hear she’s been drinking heavily these days?”

Someone’s muttering about the Duchess of Monde could also be heard.

As words were exchanged, Princess Keruzhan kept moving, and a flow of people moving was created on the dock. Some hurried, and there were continuous incidents of people losing balance and being helped.

“Be careful!”

Especially the elderly ladies tended to stumble even while being careful.

Whose idea was it to watch the fireworks from the dock? Ah, right. It was Countess Schröse’s idea. Kaella somehow supported the stumbling old ladies and gradually moved to the edge to block with her body so they wouldn’t be in danger.

If there was something she overlooked, it was the fact that she too had a frail body that would be pushed if bumped.

“Oh my! I’m sorry!”

“Oh goodness!”

As the ladies kept apologizing to each other, Beatrice, who had been watching Kaella barely standing at the end, narrowed her eyes. Since her mother had caused trouble, she too had to somehow divert people’s attention elsewhere.

Beatrice didn’t touch Kaella. She just looked straight at the women stumbling in their uncomfortable dresses and moved her lips hidden behind her fan. The spell she had tested in the magic tool room flew properly as expected.

“Oh my!”

People started bumping and pushing again. Someone fell, and an elderly lady was shoved. And Kaella, who was at the end, was pushed along with them.

Unfortunately, there was nothing behind Kaella. The water-colored dress, the brilliantly shining platinum blonde hair fell helplessly.

As the splash sound subsided, a belated scream was heard.

“Kyaaak!”

Beatrice watched the scene blankly and thought.

It would be good if she died. If not, it would be nice if she came out with some disability. If not that, then I hope she loses all those dangling jewels, comes out soaking wet, catches pneumonia, and dies after suffering.