Several hours later.

As the sun set, carriages carrying guests invited to my birthday party gathered at the Duke’s mansion one after another. After sending a letter to Emeline, I was resting leisurely in my bedroom until the butler came to call me, and only then did I head to the banquet hall. Looking around the hall decorated with colorful flowers, white cloths embroidered with patterns symbolizing the Yusten ducal family, dozens of dishes placed on long tables, and a 4-tiered cake occupying the center, I said to the butler:

“…I did ask Uncle to throw a party instead of giving me a birthday present, but I didn’t expect him to hold such a grand one. It must have cost a lot of money.”

“Compared to Lady Danae’s birthday party last year, this didn’t cost that much. Besides, Count Swindle readily lent a large sum of money.”

“That’s fortunate. We owe Count Swindle a great debt.”

I wonder what faces the Duke and butler would make if they knew it wasn’t Count Swindle who lent the money, but me.

I responded to the butler’s words while trying to suppress my rising smile.

“Christine!”

Just then, Leonard, who had just arrived at the banquet hall, called out to me loudly as he approached. With his short brown hair swept back completely and wearing an elaborate formal attire with lace on the collar and sleeves, he looked just like a pigeon with peacock feathers around its waist. Holding back the urge to mock him for his flashy appearance that didn’t suit his face, I smiled in response.

“Leonard.”

“Wow, you look truly beautiful today. Like a flower blooming under the hot midsummer sun…!”

“Were you going to say like a rose?”

I interrupted his exaggerated words midway. I wanted to subtly mock his poor vocabulary, which could only compliment women on their appearance and even then only use the most common comparisons.

Leonard’s smiling face awkwardly froze. It seems he understood that I was mocking him, despite his noble status. Seeing him like that, I laughed out loud and then said affectionately:

“Whenever I wear a red dress, you always compliment me saying I look ‘like a rose’. So I thought you might say it again today.”

“…Ah, did I?”

“Am I really as pretty as a rose?”

“Of course! You’re more beautiful than any rose.”

As I took his arm, his stiff expression relaxed. He was such an easy and foolish person to fall for just these words. Hiding such inner thoughts, I looked up at him and smiled sweetly. His eyes became hazy as he looked at me, and his cheeks turned red. He reached out and stroked my cheek disgustingly.

“Chris…”

“There you are, sister. And Young Lord.”

Just before the tip of his thumb touched my lips, Danae intervened between us and spoke.

Dressed in the same dress and accessories as when she attended Viscountess Miles’ birthday party, Danae looked up at Leonard with sharp eyes and said:

“…It’s been a very long time since we last met, Young Lord. Have you been well?”

“Indeed, Lady Danae Yusten. Have you been well in the meantime?”

“…I haven’t been particularly well. Because of someone.”

She glared fiercely at Leonard as he responded bluntly. Seeing Danae, who made no attempt to hide her resentment towards him, it wasn’t hard to guess what had transpired between them.

‘I guess the loss from planting Paenax flowers must have hurt quite a bit?’

I inwardly sneered at Leonard, who, unlike that day, was far from being enchanted by Danae’s beautifully adorned appearance and barely even glanced at her.

I found it amusing how shallow his heart was – madly in love with Danae when things were good, but quick to resent her when things turned sour. At the same time, I felt pathetic about my past self who had devoted everything to such a person.

Meanwhile, the musicians began to play a lively waltz.

Leonard ignored Danae, who kept her gaze fixed on me, and said:

“Would you honor me with a dance, Christine?”

“…Well, alright.”

I answered while glancing sideways at Danae. I wanted to flatly refuse Leonard’s offer, but I was afraid of arousing Danae’s suspicion if I did so. As Danae’s gaze grew even sharper watching Leonard and me join hands, Duke Yusten suddenly appeared and grabbed Danae’s wrist.

“There you are, Danae!”

“Father!”

“Young Lord Albert has been looking for you anxiously. It seemed he wanted to dance with you.”

“So? Are you telling me to dance the waltz nicely with Young Lord Albert now?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

“I don’t want to! Let go, Father!”

The Duke forcibly pulled Danae, who didn’t want to go, and left for where Young Lord Albert was.

I reluctantly joined the people dancing the waltz with Leonard. After taking the waltz position and moving as he led, the nobles who were already dancing gave the center of the banquet hall to Leonard and me. Everyone’s gaze gathered on us. I focused solely on dancing the waltz, avoiding Leonard’s fervent gaze on me.

When the music stopped shortly after, I escaped from his arms as if I had been waiting for it.

Then, Leonard knelt before me, took out a small jewelry box from his pocket, and said:

“My lovely fiancée Christine Sapiel Yusten, please marry me.”

I was startled by Leonard’s sudden proposal and opened my eyes wide.

In my previous life, he had proposed when cutting the cake in front of everyone. I had planned everything according to that memory. I never dreamed he would propose to me so quickly.

‘What should I do?’

I absolutely couldn’t accept this proposal. But I couldn’t refuse either.

I couldn’t reveal my identity when I hadn’t even unraveled the secrets surrounding my father’s and Princess Liz’s deaths. I remained silent, not knowing what to do.

“I apologize to you who has mustered up the courage, but I shall refuse that proposal on her behalf.”

At that moment, as if by a lie, Duke Haven appeared and grabbed my wrist.

Then he led me out of the banquet hall before Leonard could stop him.

I followed him blankly, completely unprepared for the situation. The Duke only stopped walking when we reached the garden near the back entrance of the mansion where there were few signs of people. I looked up at the Duke and asked in a dazed voice:

“Duke, what on earth are you doing? No, how did you know to come…?”

“I apologize for my rough behavior towards you. Did it hurt a lot?”

The Duke gently caressed my wrist. I shook my head, blushing unconsciously at the Duke’s fervent gaze. Honestly, I could have shaken him off if I wanted to, but I followed him out obediently because it was me. To be honest, I had secretly hoped someone would get me out of that situation, given Leonard’s proposal was faster than I had expected.

Then suddenly I realized this wasn’t a situation I should be in. Regardless of how I felt, I shouldn’t have left the hall following the Duke like this. I should have watched to make sure things went according to plan there, no matter what.

I gently pushed away the Duke’s hand.

“I’m sorry, Duke. I need to go back to the banquet hall. I’ll explain the situation later…!”

“Don’t go.”

But the Duke urgently grabbed my hand. I was startled and opened my eyes wide.

“…What?”

“I told you not to go to that bastard Leonard.”

He hugged me tightly with both arms and continued in an intense voice, as if unable to control his emotions:

“I apologize a hundred times for touching your body without permission. If you want, I’ll give you my cheek, arm, or heart – hit me, stab me with a sword, do whatever you want. But I will never apologize for stopping that proposal.”

“…Duke.”

“I like you. I love you. So I want you to smile, and every time I see you readily jumping into dangerous situations, my heart sinks for a moment with worry.”

At his words, I felt my mind go blank.

‘He loves me? This person, me?’

Did I hear wrong?

Or am I dreaming a vivid dream that feels like reality because I so desperately want him to like me back?

I struggled to break free from his embrace, feeling dazed. I wanted to see his face to confirm if this was real. But he held me even more fiercely, as if refusing to let go.

“I know from your perspective, these feelings of mine might feel burdensome. I know well that me doing this won’t be of much help to our revenge. But I didn’t want to just stand by and watch you choose the Young Lord. …To be more honest, I’m not a good-natured guy who can happily bless you being happy by the side of another man. I want to be the only man who makes you smile and protects you. Even in this situation where you might be suspected by Duke Yusten and his daughter, I’m only thinking about how to get you away from Leonard Klein.”

“…!”

“…You must be disappointed in me. You might even find me scary and disgusting. But don’t tell me to give up these feelings right away. I can’t do that anymore even if I wanted to. These feelings have already gone beyond my control.”

The Duke spoke as if mocking himself and hugged me repeatedly with trembling hands.

I could feel his heart beating so hard it felt like it would burst against my face.

“No! I’m not disappointed at all. I’m not scared or disgusted either. …Because I also…”

“…What?”