The princess led Kisa out of the banquet hall and walked down the corridor of the annex.

“Um, Kisa.”

Just as Kisa thought they had gone quite far, the princess who was walking ahead spoke up.

“Yes, Princess.”

“I’m curious about something. Why did you attend this banquet today?”

“Pardon?”

“Honestly, considering the relationship between Countess Habertz and Daniel Lowens, isn’t it a bit awkward for this to be the first event you’re attending after breaking off your engagement? I’m sure Kisa received many invitations to other suitable banquets, so I’m curious why you chose this one.”

“Ah, well…”

Kisa was at a loss for words. She couldn’t exactly say it was because she attended as Seyerd’s partner.

Count Banspelt had even advised Kisa to kiss Seyerd in the worst-case scenario.

However, fortunately, from the start of the banquet, they hadn’t danced and had just been watching the two of them. Kisa concluded that the Count’s concerns were unfounded.

Certainly, people seemed to view the youngest princess and Duke Hillan as a well-matched pair, and they appeared to expect Seyerd to take over his brother’s engagement. However, the two of them didn’t give off any particular atmosphere beyond that of companions.

In fact, both of them were so busy dealing with the many people approaching them that they seemed occupied throughout the entire banquet.

Even Kisa, who had been watching them intently, found her gaze drawn to the dancers as the banquet’s atmosphere reached its peak.

It was also a bit novel to stand still and watch others dance, as it had been a while.

“Do you have a special reason for coming here?”

Anyway, for these reasons, Kisa couldn’t answer the princess’s question truthfully.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that exactly…”

As Kisa trailed off without giving a proper answer, the princess was silent for a moment. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked:

“Is it perhaps because of Young Master Lowens?”

“Daniel?”

“Yes, did you deliberately choose this banquet for him, to change your perspective completely?”

Not at all. Daniel’s presence had no influence whatsoever on Kisa’s decision to attend this banquet.

As proof, it wasn’t until well after the banquet had started that Kisa realized the source of the unease she had felt in the lounge.

Come to think of it, that guy had said he would wait in the garden. Of course, even after recognizing this fact, Kisa had no desire to go to the garden, even belatedly.

It was unlikely that the arrogant Daniel Lowens would continue to wait for Kisa who didn’t show up, and even if he did wait, it wasn’t something Kisa should care about.

Who cares about such a person.

While memories of Daniel still existed in her heart, the man she actually saw today was truly an irritatingly rude fellow, leaving no room to dwell on those memories.

The image of him blatantly ignoring Richard was still vivid in her mind.

“That’s not it.”

Therefore, Kisa flatly denied the princess’s question. She absolutely did not want to be misunderstood as having chosen this banquet deliberately because of her attachment to Daniel.

“The reason I came here is-”

Just as she was about to clearly state that it had nothing to do with Daniel, the princess’s footsteps came to a halt.

“We’re here. This is the place.”

Arta opened the door to a room and went inside.

Kisa followed her without much thought. But when she saw the figure inside the brightly lit room, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes in surprise.

“Daniel?”

“Welcome, Kisa.”

He rose from his chair and greeted Kisa with a welcoming expression, then bowed slightly to the side.

“Thank you for granting my request, Princess.”

Kisa turned to the princess, dumbfounded.

“Princess?”

“Kisa, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was afraid you’d refuse if I did. You always hold onto your worries, Kisa. But just this once, how about following your heart?”

Kisa wasn’t sure what all this meant, but she could clearly see that Arta was looking at her with eyes that seemed to pity something.

“I heard from Young Master Lowens. He says he sincerely regrets his past mistakes and loves you. He wants to mend his relationship with you.”

“What?”

Bewildered, Kisa looked at Daniel, who whispered nonchalantly without changing his expression.

“Kisa, give me one more chance.”

Before Kisa could respond, the princess spoke, looking back and forth between the two:

“Kisa, you haven’t forgotten Young Master Lowens yet, have you? Even if you say otherwise, if that wasn’t the case, there would have been no need to come to this banquet, right?”

“It’s really not like that! The reason I came here is-”

“Enough, enough. I know everything. The guy who was watching you isn’t here, so it’s okay to be honest.”

They took turns interrupting Kisa and saying what they wanted to say.

“I’ll be going now. Take your time and talk things out. You might unknowingly clear up some misunderstandings that have built up over time.”

“Princess, wait a moment!”

“Where are you going? You need to stay here.”

As the princess prepared to leave, Kisa tried to go with her, but Daniel grabbed her arm.

“I’ll see you later, Kisa.”

In the meantime, Princess Arta had left, and only Kisa and Daniel remained in the room.

“What is this all about?”

With her head suddenly feeling hot, Kisa glared fiercely at Daniel.

“What on earth did you say to the Princess?”

Now he’s gone so far as to lie to a princess of the country to get her to bring Kisa here.

As expected, Daniel didn’t even flinch, showing his usual shamelessness.

“I simply asked for her cooperation to save you.”

“Save me…?”

“Yes, because that man has been constantly by your side. But now he’s gone, so you can be completely honest.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Your father’s secretary has been watching you, hasn’t he?”

“Richard? Richard has been watching me?”

Daniel had always said nonsensical things, but today it was particularly severe.

After a few more puzzling exchanges, Kisa was finally able to understand what Daniel was talking about.

He firmly believed that Kisa had attended this charity banquet to ask for his help, but was unable to move freely due to the evil Richard.

“Good grief…”

She should have realized it when he started talking about the Queen of Chamal. Daniel Lowens was beyond having a vivid imagination; he was out of his mind.

“Don’t tell me you spouted that nonsense to the Princess too?”

“I told you to be honest now.”

With a headache, Kisa pressed her forehead with her hand and leaned against the wall.

What should she do about this? First, she needed to return to the banquet hall and explain to the Princess that this was all just Daniel’s nonsense.

As she made up her mind and tried to head towards the door, Daniel blocked her path.

“How long are you going to be stubborn? Even if we start moving quickly now, it might not be enough.”

“Get out of my way.”

Kisa spat out in an incredibly tired voice. She really wished he would stop now.

Until just a moment ago, her mood had been quite good. Although there were people who tried to pry into her private affairs or threw obvious flirtations, it was still enjoyable overall.

Because she had come out for once and enjoyed watching people dance to elegant music. Because she had laughed and chatted with Richard. Because she had seen Seyerd, even if from a distance.

“Let’s go to my house first. If you go back to your house, you’ll inevitably be sold off to Chamal.”

But the moment she encountered Daniel making his preposterous claims, Kisa’s mood plummeted to the dirty ground.

“If we explain the situation well, my father will take good care of you too. He’s always thought of you as a daughter, you know.”

“…I’m not being sold off to Chamal.”

“You’re lying again.”

Kisa barely managed to hold onto her reason as she answered, but Daniel simply ignored it.

Ah, she was reaching her limit.

“Kisa, just be honest now-”

“Listen to me!”

Startled by the ear-splitting shout, Daniel stared blankly at her.

In fact, even Kisa herself hadn’t expected such a loud voice to come out. Had she ever shouted this loudly in her life?

“Listen to me! I’m telling you I’m not the person you think I am! How many times do I have to say no!”

Kisa shouted, pounding her chest like a madwoman.

“Daniel Lowens! What am I to you? Do I even look like a human being to you? No, right? Of course not! Otherwise, you wouldn’t treat me so horribly!”

Daniel unconsciously stepped back from her bloodshot eyes that glared at him as if to kill.

“I’m not a brainwashed puppet of my father! I’m certainly not a womb to carry your child! And I’m not a maid to stay at home and take care of annoying tasks while you’re with the woman you love!”

“Kisa…”

“Even if I say this, you’ll just ignore my words again anyway! Distorting, presuming, and looking down on me as you please! Because to you, I’m not a fellow human being!”

Has the anger in her chest finally subsided? After breathing heavily for a moment, Kisa soon spoke in a voice that was more subdued compared to earlier.

“Enough. I’m sick and tired of even talking to you now.”

The gesture of brushing back her disheveled side hair was calmer than ever before.

“Get out of my sight.”

It took Daniel, who had been wearing a dazed expression at Kisa’s unexpected outburst, a moment to fully understand those words.

“…What?”

“If you don’t want to, I’ll leave.”

As she had no intention of associating with him, Kisa turned around and headed for the door. However, just as she grabbed the doorknob to turn it, Daniel’s hand slammed against the door.

She looked up at him with an annoyed glance.

“Move.”

“No.”

Daniel answered with an expressionless face, but somehow his tone seemed anxious.

“I said move.”

“No. I understand you’re angry with me about a lot of things, but let’s talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“I have a lot to say.”

Kisa, who didn’t want to stay in this space for even a moment longer, tried to force the door open, but the difference in strength was clear, and the door didn’t budge at all.

“I’ll scream!”

She tried changing tactics, but Daniel instructed her without changing his expression:

“Go ahead and scream all you want. No one will come.”

At that moment, goosebumps rose on the back of Kisa’s neck.

It was an unfamiliar sensation she felt for the first time because of him in all the long years she had known Daniel.

“Let go!”

“Kisa!”

Just as Kisa and he were struggling, knock knock knock.

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound.

“Are you there?”

It was Seyerd’s voice.