How fast. Seeing Daniel’s shameless face, Kisa inwardly clicked her tongue.

She knew she’d have to face him once she came here, but she didn’t expect to run into him right at the entrance of the banquet hall. And to hear such nonsense on top of that.

Who exactly dressed up to see whom? She wanted to kick him in the shin, but there were too many eyes watching here.

Kisa ignored Daniel for now and addressed only Countess Habertz:

“There seems to be some misunderstanding, but I simply came to enjoy the banquet and contribute a little to the noble charity work of the Habertz family.”

Then she lightly grasped her skirt and gave a graceful curtsy.

“In any case, thank you for the invitation.”

“Ah, I see.”

The Countess looked somewhat disappointed, while Daniel glared at me contemptuously.

“Oh, this is my partner Richard. He works as my father’s secretary.”

At Kisa’s introduction, Richard bowed politely.

“I’m Richard Atson. What a splendid banquet this is.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Atson. I was wondering who Kisa would bring, but it’s the Count’s secretary.”

Having introduced her companion to the host as per custom, there was no need for further formalities.

Before Daniel could become bothersome again, Kisa tried to enter the hall with Richard. However, Daniel quickly blocked their path and spoke:

“Kisa, don’t we have something to talk about?”

Kisa replied without even looking at him:

“I don’t, Lord Lowens.”

“Are you going to keep up this pointless pride? You have a reason for coming all the way here.”

“You must have a bad memory. Did you forget what I just told the Countess?”

“Why don’t you be a little honest? You desperately need my help.”

Kisa looked at him with slightly disgusted eyes.

“Good grief…”

She had worried Daniel might harbor strange misunderstandings again when she decided to come here, and sure enough, how does this man never fail to exceed expectations in the worst possible way?

“Think carefully. This is your last chance.”

“Enough. Let’s stop talking.”

Kisa turned her head, intending not to respond to anything Daniel said. So he changed targets and put his arm around Richard’s shoulder in a pretense of friendliness.

“It’s been a while, Richard.”

“Yes, it has, Young Master Daniel.”

There was no need to address him that way in a place like this. But Richard seemed to have gotten used to calling Daniel that after treating him as a guest of Vanspelt for so long.

Daniel grinned and whispered in Richard’s ear:

“I’m sorry, but you see, I need to have a private word with Kisa. Mind if I borrow your partner?”

“Ah… well, that’s…”

“It’s fine, right?”

Oh, would you look at that? Since Kisa was ignoring him, he was now harassing Richard, which was quite an eyesore.

Unable to stand by any longer, Kisa was about to step in when Richard hesitantly continued:

“Y-Young Master Daniel, Miss Kisa has… already refused to speak with you.”

“What did you say?”

“And saying you’ll ‘borrow’ her… as if she were an object, seems inappropriate.”

At this flawless logic, Daniel scowled deeply.

“Ah, yes. How very proper of you.”

He sarcastically remarked, moving away from Richard and approaching Kisa again.

“Come to the garden before the banquet starts.”

Then he whispered in a voice only she could hear:

“If you don’t want to be an old man’s plaything, you’d better cling to me now.”

After that, he breezed past Kisa and disappeared outside, away from the banquet hall.

“Oh, Daniel! What about the banquet?”

Countess Habertz called after him, but he only replied that he was going to get some fresh air.

“That boy, really. Abandoning the partner he brought…”

As the Countess complained beside her, Kisa irritably rubbed her ear. It was a gesture to erase the unpleasant sensation of his breath on her skin. Why did he have to whisper like that?

“Are you alright, Miss?”

As Richard looked at her with concern, she forced a smile.

“I’m fine. Now, shall we go in?”

Looking around, five or six guests were lingering outside the banquet hall they were supposed to enter, sneaking glances this way.

Well, there probably wasn’t a more interesting spectacle than this. After all, it was the first public encounter between the man and woman who had caused such a stir with their broken engagement. Each with a different partner, no less.

Though the chances seemed slim, Kisa hoped Daniel wouldn’t return. Let him keep waiting in the garden for someone who wouldn’t come.

As the two entered the banquet hall, they drew far more attention than before. Some people blinked in surprise at Kisa’s appearance as if they’d seen something unbelievable.

“Oh my, Lady Vanspelt.”

A few of them immediately greeted her familiarly.

“Is it alright for you to come out like this now? I heard you were terribly heartbroken…”

Though they didn’t use the direct term, all their interest converged on one thing. The broken engagement.

“Yes, I rested at home and feel much better now. I can’t stay depressed forever, can I?”

Kisa answered the questions calmly while managing her expression. She tried to reveal that she was the victim in her relationship with Daniel, without appearing as if her life was over because of it.

They seemed to want to pry further, but couldn’t bring themselves to do so out of politeness and instead offered comfort.

“I see, that’s good.”

“That’s right. It’s nice to see your face.”

“Lady Vanspelt has no reason to hide. From what I’ve heard, Lord Lowens was too much.”

But they subtly mentioned rumors and Daniel, trying to draw out more from Kisa.

“Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad I decided to return now.”

Kisa tactfully ignored their hopes.

She could have badmouthed Daniel all night if she wanted, but gossip in a place like this never worked out well. Even Melissa, who had been so close to her, wasn’t on her side after all.

“…Haha, I see. But who is this gentleman with you?”

“This is Richard, who works as my father’s secretary. He kindly agreed to be my partner.”

“Ah, I see.”

Still unable to give up their curiosity, they showed interest in Richard, but couldn’t hide their disappointment upon hearing his identity. They had clearly been hoping he was Kisa’s new lover.

Afterwards, about 70% of the people who approached Kisa first were curious about the broken engagement.

Bitterly, the remaining 30% weren’t expressing genuine gladness at seeing her after so long either.

“Oh, Lady Vanspelt. It’s been so long! For a moment, I thought an angel had descended from heaven.”

Kisa forced a smile at the man throwing such an oily compliment.

“It’s nice to see you too, Lord. Come to think of it, the last time we met was at the opera house.”

It was the man who had persistently flirted with Kisa on the day she went to the opera house with tickets gifted by Seyrod.

“You’ve always been beautiful, but you’re especially radiant this evening. If we were to name the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom of Sorby, it would surely be you.”

He briefly glanced at Richard standing next to Kisa, apparently having already judged him as insignificant, then took her hand and kissed the back of it. Since he had openly tried to seduce Kisa even before the broken engagement, he was now even more brazen now that her fiancé was gone.

“That’s too much praise. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”

Not feeling the need to tolerate such rudeness, Kisa didn’t hide her displeasure as she quickly pulled her hand from the man’s grasp.

Taken aback for a moment by Kisa’s uncharacteristically cold response, he didn’t back down easily.

“I’ve heard about what happened. How heartbroken you must be. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to comfort your lonely heart.”

His intentions were so obvious it wasn’t even worth getting angry about.

“I’m fine. It’s all in the past now.”

“Come now, aren’t you lonely without a fiancé? I think Lady Vanspelt and I could form a good relationship.”

“Pardon? A good relationship? But don’t you already have a fiancée, my lord?”

When Kisa asked innocently, the corners of the man’s eyes twitched.

“No, that’s not what I meant—”

“Then what kind of relationship are you talking about, my lord?”

She raised her voice even more, drawing attention from those around them.

“…Never mind. I’ll see you another time.”

The man clicked his tongue and left, almost fleeing.

Even after that, men like him kept appearing, outwardly pretending to worry about Kisa’s loss while trying to fulfill their own desires.

They were practically drooling, thinking a woman who had recently broken off her engagement would be easy to win over with a little comfort.

The more she dealt with such people, the more she thought of Seyrod. She missed his consistently understated manner. His presence had always shone, but its true value was most apparent in his absence.

‘Seyrod, when will you arrive?’

As if in response to her wondering, a commotion arose. It was about five minutes before the banquet was due to start.

“We greet the Princess.”

“Princess Arta, have you been well?”

“It’s been too long since we’ve seen you.”

The crowd suddenly surged towards the entrance. The true stars of this charity banquet had arrived.

“It’s good to see you all.”

Princess Arta entered with a faint smile, receiving people’s greetings. Naturally, one hand was resting on the arm of the man beside her.

“They really are a splendid couple.”

As someone remarked, the youngest princess and Duke Hilan looked exceptionally well-matched.

For some reason, Kisa’s chest tightened, and before she even realized it, she had joined the crowd greeting the couple.

“Hello, Your Highness.”

At that moment, the princess’s eyes filled with surprise upon seeing Kisa. And the same was true for the man escorting her.