“Huu.”

On a chilly spring evening, Daniel tightened his collar against the cold seeping into his body. If he had known, he would have worn something thicker rather than the fancy coat for the party.

“When on earth is she coming?”

He glared at the annex of Count Habertz’s mansion, currently used as the banquet hall, with eyes full of discontent. As if Kisa might come out of there at any moment. However, no one came running out towards the garden.

Just as he thought the party should be starting by now, faint lively music could be heard. It was undoubtedly the band’s performance.

Even though the time he had given had passed, not a hair of that brazen girl was to be seen.

“Damn it.”

Daniel, who had sworn under his breath without realizing, decided to wait just a little longer.

You never know. Kisa might have been caught up by someone on her way, unavoidably delayed, or maybe she had just now made up her mind after agonizing over her pride.

Daniel took out the case from his pocket and picked up one of the few remaining cigars. After cutting the cap with a knife, he lit it using a lighter.

Along with the acrid smoke, after waiting for over twenty minutes, bringing the total time spent in the park to over an hour, Daniel had to slowly admit it.

That Kisa Vanspelt would not be coming here.

For what reason had he ended up in such a humiliating situation? Daniel bit his lip as he made his way to the annex of Count Habertz’s mansion.

It was on his way back after wasting more time in the chilly garden due to stubborn pride, even after realizing Kisa wasn’t coming.

He felt like staying put, but when he encountered a couple sneaking out of the banquet hall into the garden, he could no longer bear it. He had no desire whatsoever to watch others’ romantic escapades.

Kisa. He murmured the name that had been increasingly disturbing his thoughts lately.

The girl who had been his fiancée for a long time.

The young woman who was supposed to be his match soon.

When that chick who used to flutter around him like a baby chicken whenever he visited Count Vanspelt’s mansion said she wanted to break off the engagement, Daniel had scoffed. As if you could.

In reality, Kisa’s rebellion seemed more fleeting than a chick’s flapping wings. Until he received the letter of annulment.

At first, he thought there must have been some mistake. But upon arriving at Vanspelt and conversing with the Count, he learned that they sincerely wished to break off the engagement.

Their tedious relationship was thus severed by a mere scrap of paper.

It was unacceptable. Since coming of age, Daniel had never once imagined he would marry anyone other than Kisa.

Regardless of the type or extent of affection he held in his heart, the person suitable for the position of his wife and the future Viscountess Lowens was Kisa Vanspelt.

Yet Count Vanspelt was trying to ruin that ideal future. All to curry favor with a decrepit old lecher of a king.

What’s even more ridiculous is that Kisa, that dull-witted thing, blinded by jealousy towards Hazel, was trying to leave Daniel without even realizing her father’s sinister intentions.

So he kindly informed Kisa of the cruel truth. Though at first she stubbornly refused, unable to believe it, in the end she would have no choice but to accept it and take Daniel’s outstretched hand.

Between a young, charming man like himself and an old, greedy geezer, who would she choose? It wasn’t even worth discussing.

Moreover, though she may have momentarily lost her senses upon noticing Hazel’s existence, she loved Daniel.

Therefore, her return was inevitable.

Though she made Daniel anxious by being somewhat late, the runaway chick predictably came back to the fold.

The moment he read the letter sent by his aunt, the Countess Habertz, Daniel was certain of this.

And the moment he saw Kisa here, that certainty was further solidified.

It irked him that she had brought another man, not him, but seeing her all dressed up more than usual to see him made him feel better regardless.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. This party required bringing a partner, and it would have been difficult for her to ask him to be her partner so soon after breaking off their engagement.

According to the original plan, he had intended not to forgive her easily even if she begged, but in his good mood, he specially modified the plan. If she came out to the garden obediently and apologized, he would pretend to reluctantly accept.

Envisioning such a future, Daniel hummed a tune in the dark garden. However, what he received in return was a completely different result.

Something was strange. Why wasn’t Kisa appearing in the garden? He had even emphasized that this was definitely her last chance.

It seemed excessive to attribute it to the pride typical of a well-bred young lady. Moreover, Kisa wasn’t originally the type to have such strong pride.

“Wait.”

At that moment, a certain suspicion flashed through his mind.

Right, that man. Richard or whatever, the secretary of Count Vanspelt who came as Kisa’s companion today.

He had forgotten about him because he seemed so insignificant, but that man was the right-hand man of the Count who was trying to sell Kisa off to a foreign country.

Would the Count really have sent his right-hand man here simply to act as his daughter’s partner?

That couldn’t be. That man was there to act as his master’s eyes and ears, monitoring Kisa.

“So that’s it. That’s what it was……”

Now he understood why Kisa couldn’t come to the garden. How could she slip out of the banquet hall to meet Daniel with a watchdog firmly planted beside her?

At the same time, the question of why she had acted so coldly towards Daniel, her only lifeline, when they met at the entrance before the party started was also resolved.

She had no choice but to act coldly. While inwardly hoping that Daniel would notice her predicament.

Inwardly reproaching himself for only now realizing this obvious truth, Daniel rushed into the banquet hall.

Inside, the party was in full swing, with various men and women in the center paired up and dancing to an elegant melody.

“Daniel!”

At that moment, a woman approached, calling out his name. It was the woman from the Grace family who had come to this party as his companion today.

Her name… he couldn’t quite remember. Mary? It was something like that, but he had always just called her Lady Grace, so there was no particular need to remember her name.

“Where on earth have you been? I’ve been looking for you!”

“I’m sorry, Lady Grace. I had some business to attend to elsewhere for a moment.”

“I’m quite curious what business could be so important that you’d leave your partner here before the party even started.”

“I’m sorry. Such a thing happened.”

While verbally addressing the woman in front of him, Daniel’s eyes thoroughly scanned the hall, searching for Kisa.

Lady Grace’s face flushed red with anger and humiliation at his noticeably halfhearted attitude.

“…Hey. What are you trying to do with me right now?”

“I’m truly sorry, but my important business is not yet finished. So if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

“Hah! I can’t believe this! I came with you despite your recent breakup and rumors about some commoner, and this is how you treat me!”

Hearing those words, any slight feeling of guilt Daniel had felt towards Lady Grace until just now completely disappeared.

“Yes, this ill-mannered partner who’s treating you poorly will now disappear. Please enjoy yourself and return home as you see fit.”

“Wait! Daniel Lowens!”

Regardless of Lady Grace shouting behind him, or the people around glancing over at the commotion, Daniel brushed past her and stepped further into the banquet hall.

She was just a woman he had chosen out of necessity for a partner to bring to the party anyway.

One of several women who had approached him based solely on his looks and background at some party he had attended recently.

Apart from being a noble, with an unremarkable family background and nothing exceptional in terms of looks, personality, or intelligence, how dare she speak so freely about others.

As Daniel clicked his tongue and looked around, his gaze fixed on one spot.

He had finally found her. His fiancée, with a family background just as good and looks that were exceptional.

Wearing a lilac dress and absentmindedly watching the dancing people, she looked like a spring fairy.

Perhaps because he had seen her for so many years, even to Daniel’s eyes, accustomed to her outstanding beauty, there was something about today’s Kisa that captivated his gaze.

If only Kisa were alone, it would have been perfect.

Daniel’s expression suddenly twisted as he saw the man standing beside Kisa, occasionally exchanging words with her.

He had been the one accompanying Kisa at this charity party every year, so why was such a guy…

He felt the urge to immediately tear Kisa away from that shameless man’s side, but he tried hard to remain calm.

As frustrating as it was, that guy was clearly Kisa’s current partner, and Daniel was her former fiancé who had broken off the engagement a few days ago.

In other words, if he rashly tried to take Kisa away, Daniel himself would likely be branded as a scoundrel.

What should he do? As he stood quietly a little distance away from where Kisa was, pondering a solution, someone approached him.

“Oh my, if it isn’t young Lord Lowens.”

He turned around and hurriedly paid his respects.

“I am honored to see you, Your Highness.”

Because that someone was the august royal, the youngest princess who was the apple of the King and Queen’s eye.

Looking in the direction Daniel had been gazing until just now, she asked:

“Do you perhaps want to meet Kisa?”

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Daniel’s mind. Come to think of it, Kisa and the youngest princess were said to be quite close.

Moreover, she was known as someone who, unlike typical royalty, didn’t adhere strictly to formalities. If that’s the case, might it be worth a try?

“Your Highness, I have an urgent request to make.”

“A request?”

“A very important request regarding Kisa.”

At those meaningful words, the princess’s eyes gleamed with interest.