“It hurts, it hurts! Why are you doing this?”

“Get out of my sight right now.”

“What?”

“Can’t you understand what I’m saying now? Get lost.”

“I-I can’t leave unless you let go of this.”

Enoch, who had been grumbling resentfully, glanced down and pointed at the arm Ian was holding.

“Satisfied? Now get lost.”

Ian snorted and released Enoch’s arm, pushing him away. Enoch muttered something while vigorously rubbing his arm, then suddenly realized something and shouted at Ian.

“Hey, who are you to keep telling me to get lost! I thought you were hurt, what’s wrong with your head?”

‘When did he stop being so meek? Why is he suddenly acting like this?’

As Enoch’s inner thoughts were conveyed, Ian let out a low snort.

“From now on, things won’t always go your way.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t tell me you’re after the crown prince position?”

Ian raised his shoulders slightly with a leisurely smile on his face.

“And what if I am? You know as well as I do that if I set my mind to it, it’s not a position I couldn’t attain.”

“Know your place. Do you think I’d let you take that position from me?”

‘Is it true that Father wants to give Ian the crown prince position?’

Enoch knew better than anyone that if Ian truly wanted it, becoming crown prince would be no difficult task. Even though Empress Evelyn’s influence was great, in the end, it was Emperor Callisto who would bestow the crown prince title.

“Seems like you’re finally getting scared.”

“W-Who’s scared!”

He had grown accustomed to not being greedy because Enoch would try to take everything away indiscriminately.

But now, he had something he wanted to protect. Someone he wanted to guard even if it meant throwing his body on the line.

“I won’t be giving things up to you so easily anymore.”

“What are you talking about?”

‘Things were going so well, then he suddenly showed up and ruined everything… What is he going on about?’

“Stop with these foolish thoughts and get out of my sight right now. If I see you lingering around that person one more time…”

A cold sneer spread across Ian’s face. Enoch’s nose twitched nervously as he met Ian’s sharp, piercing gaze.

“If I linger, what!”

‘Who does he mean by “that person”? Is he talking about the woman I was trying to seduce earlier? She had the prettiest face and her figure was just…’

“Enough. Stop right there, Enoch.”

Enoch blinked rapidly in disbelief. There was a murderous glint in Ian’s eyes as he seemed to close and open them briefly. It sent chills down Enoch’s spine.

“What did I do! What are you going to do if I’m seen?”

‘Is he going to kill me or something?’

Ian sighed briefly and took a step towards Enoch. Sensing an ominous atmosphere, Enoch stumbled back two steps.

“You think I can’t do it?”

“D-Do what!”

“Whatever you’re thinking, just remember that it’s not that I couldn’t do it before, I was just holding back.”

“Th-Then why aren’t you holding back now?”

Ian asked back in disbelief.

“What?”

“Why are you suddenly acting like this!”

‘It would be easier to just kill him. He wouldn’t be a bother anymore.’

The auditory hallucination chimed in with perfect timing. A giggling laughter added to it, causing Ian to furrow his brow involuntarily.

“That’s because…”

‘I also have something I want to protect now.’

If he said this, Enoch would surely become more agitated. Ian forcefully swallowed the words that had risen to the tip of his tongue and approached him.

“D-Don’t come any closer, stay there and speak!”

Enoch hastily backed away. Ian shook his head at the pathetic sight and responded coldly.

“I don’t want to waste any more words on you…”

As if it was tiresome to say more, Ian gestured instead. Even with that brief gesture, Enoch could almost hear Ian’s voice telling him to get lost, and he snorted in frustration.

But unable to go back into the banquet hall, he gradually disappeared into the darkness.

*

Ian and Enoch seemed to have gone outside, so I immediately went out to the terrace to look, but I couldn’t see the two of them.

The atmosphere had looked unusual – should I go out and search for them?

Just as I was about to quickly turn towards the terrace exit, it happened.

“So this is where you were.”

My head turned limply at the familiar voice. At the end of my gaze stood Ian, dressed in formal attire for the banquet.

“Klein, how did you come here?”

“I received an invitation, of course.”

“No, I mean… I thought you wouldn’t come to a crowded banquet.”

“It is a bit dizzying.”

Ian approached me while holding his head, and slightly extended his other hand.

This might become a habit.

I couldn’t help but smile as I faced Ian, whose expression didn’t change in the slightest, to the point of being shameless. As I lightly took his hand, the corners of Ian’s mouth curled up pleasantly.

“The person you took out earlier, that was the second prince, right? Did you two go out to fight?”

“Nothing like that, I just sent him back to the imperial palace. I’ll apologize on behalf of Enoch for his rudeness.”

“You don’t need to apologize for him.”

I already knew from the original story and Rosebelia’s memories that the relationship between the first and second princes was not good.

‘Actually, there’s someone I shouldn’t meet at this event.’

‘Who is it?’

‘Someone who tries to take everything from me indiscriminately…’

So that was referring to Enoch after all?

Although Enoch was the second prince, he was born to the empress, and since the empress’s influence was considerable, he must have been arrogant since childhood. He probably acted as if the crown prince position was set aside for him.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

“Of course.”

“At Cayden’s birthday party, remember when you said there was someone you shouldn’t meet and left in a hurry?”

“I remember.”

“Was the person you were trying to avoid then, the second prince?”

“Yes, that’s correct. At that time, I thought that was the answer, but…”

Ian paused briefly and looked at me. As I blinked, feeling his gaze, he slowly continued.

“I don’t plan on avoiding him anymore.”

“That’s a good idea. You shouldn’t let it be taken away easily just because someone tries to take it.”

As I looked at Ian with his eyes half-closed, another question arose.

He wouldn’t have come here just to chase Enoch away, so why did he come to Agnes’s birthday banquet?

“But why did you really come here?”

“I came to see you, senior.”

“…Huh?”

For a moment, it was as if my thought process had been cut off, and I couldn’t think of anything.

“I missed you already.”

My Adam’s apple moved involuntarily at Ian’s added words.

So he came all the way here to see me?

He came because he missed me?

“That…”

I tightly clenched my trembling fingertips, unable to say anything.

Just as I managed to raise my gaze, a strong wind blew. Ian quickly stood in front of me to block the wind and turned to ask,

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

It seems quite close.

Just as I thought we were close enough for our breaths to mingle, our eyes met. I bit the inside of my lip discreetly as I faced his eyes, which seemed to have a faint tension spreading across them.

“The wind seems to have stopped.”

A hand suddenly approached and tucked away my disheveled hair, then moved away. His face, which had seemed close enough to touch if I reached out, was now far away.

I clenched my trembling hand again. When Ian stepped back, I had almost grabbed onto his clothes.

“I should be going now.”

“Already?”

“If I stay here, I’ll have to keep holding onto you, senior, and people will find it strange.”

It was common sense for people to give space when a young man and woman were together on a terrace, but if Ian and I stayed here longer, there would certainly be talk.

At the very least, rumors about me having a man would probably circulate.

“But you’re leaving right away like this?”

“I sent Enoch back, and I’ve seen your face, so it’s enough.”

“…You’re returning to duty?”

Ian raised the corners of his mouth slightly as if to say not to worry.

“I’ll see you at the knight order, senior.”

*

“Lady Rosebelia!”

As soon as I left the terrace, someone called my name from afar. When I waved my hand after spotting Daisy, she approached me with quick steps.

“I’ve been looking for you for a while, not knowing you were here.”

“You were looking for me?”

Daisy nodded and asked with a shy smile.

“Did you see earlier?”

“Of course. It suited you very well. How was the dance with Edwin?”

“It was really amazing. I couldn’t think of anything while dancing. I could only see Edwin.”

I could see Daisy’s cheeks turning a vivid red as she recalled the memory.

“Did you tell Edwin those words too? He would have been really happy to hear them.”

“Edwin left the hall right after dancing with me, so…”

Why did he do that again?

I quickly thought of an excuse while pretending to rub my forehead.

“Maybe he was too embarrassed?”

“Could that be it? I can never quite understand Edwin’s feelings.”

“Maybe he was overwhelmed because he danced with his destined partner.”

“Destined partner?”

Facing those purple eyes sparkling with curiosity, my lips moved on their own.

“You know, Edwin may seem glib, but he’s always been waiting for his destined partner. He’s never had feelings for anyone before. But in front of you, even I can see he’s acting in unfamiliar ways…”

“…”

“I wondered if perhaps you might be Edwin’s destined partner.”

After finishing, I felt like I had become Edwin’s spokesperson.

Still, if only the two of them could end up together…

I slightly rolled my eyes to examine Daisy’s face. Her complexion was somewhat flushed, but I could hardly gauge what she was thinking.

“…A destined partner sounds so wonderful.”

“Doesn’t it?”

It was then that Edwin, who had supposedly left the banquet hall, entered my field of vision. He walked briskly towards us with his gaze fixed on Daisy, then knelt on one knee in front of her, just like when he had asked her to dance.

“Edwin?”

“I apologize for my embarrassing behavior earlier. My heart felt like it would burst, so…”

“Pardon?”

I gave Daisy a look to indicate she should talk comfortably, then quietly stepped aside. Just as I was about to walk away slowly, keeping my ears open,

“I like you, Daisy. I like you to the point of madness.”