“Lady Kerberios. What on earth is this…!”

Helena looked toward the person who had gifted her such things, her expression of distaste gradually turning into one of horror.

“Oh, you don’t like it?”

Lerianne hid her mouth behind a fan she had concealed in her shawl. The feathers sticking up from the fan fluttered mischievously.

Always captivating the party in her flamboyant attire, today was no exception as she wore a dazzling dress.

The problem was that the dress was identical to the one worn by the guest of honor.

Though the northern region was colder than other areas, wearing a long shawl that covered her whole body was extravagant.

Lerianne’s intention of hiding her attire even after entering the ballroom was finally revealed.

It wasn’t just the audience who was shocked at Lerianne’s outfit, but Helena, the guest of honor, who wore the same dress, couldn’t hide her astonishment either.

“Your Grace, what is this…!”

The dress Helena wore was a creation from the kingdom’s trending salon and was among the most expensive in the salon’s catalog.

Just wearing the notoriously expensive dress made one the subject of discussion.

It was shocking that a commoner maid appeared wearing such a precious dress.

So, the dress was a measure of how much the Duke loved his maid.

Even if the dress was from a catalog, it would undergo minor changes as per individual requests. However, most opted for the same as it would otherwise distort the intent of the dress.

In essence, all the effort put into preparation was wasted because Lerianne wore the same dress as Helena.

Not only could the two women’s affection not be proven, but poor Helena was inevitably compared to Lerianne.

‘Extravagance of a commoner maid wanting to be a noble’ would likely be the trashy headline in the newspapers.

“Oh, why are you upset? Is it wrong to coincidentally wear the same dress?”

Lerianne, who had been born into a prestigious noble family, couldn’t be unaware of that fact.

However, her naive voice claimed her innocence. Lerianne’s skilled head-tilt further provoked the other party.

“Lady Kerberios.”

Unable to bear it anymore, Callis interrupted the two women’s conversation.

“Despite there being a special guest, you wearing such a flamboyant dress is disrespectful. Don’t you know that?”

“Yes, Your Grace. While I appreciate you pointing out my discourtesy… how would I know there was a special guest? I swear, I thought today’s ball was just another dance.”

Lerianne’s fan smoothly closed.

“If I knew… I wouldn’t have bothered coming all the way to the north.”

“What did you just say?”

“To arrive at the Duke’s territory after several sleepless nights, just for some unknown commoner maid!”

Even though she wasn’t asked to repeat herself, Lerianne went on to elaborate.

“Lady Kerberios!”

“Do you think you have the right to raise your voice at me, Your Grace?”

“…What?”

Frustrated and unable to vent, Callis was met with a sarcastic retort.

The Kerberios family is a family with a long history, quite different from the Argen family, which is more like a nouveau riche.

Realizing the implication, Callis felt his head cool down. Despite being a hollow family, they were still a ducal family that bore the kingdom on its back.

Unknowingly, Callis started scanning the crowd, searching for Chloe.

To reprimand the daughter of the Kerberios family, he needed Chloe, who was of royal blood.

Surely, she would be upset if her family was openly ridiculed.

However, she was nowhere to be found. Did she get pushed into the crowd? Growing anxious, Callis shouted toward the crowd.

“Chloe!”

Contrary to his hope, the atmosphere only grew stranger, and the called party did not appear.

Descending the stairs from the stage, Chloe spotted someone.

A man leaning against a pillar closest to the banquet hall’s back door, looking up at me.

Kun Prihut.

Though too far to confirm eye contact, she felt he was also looking directly at her. She even thought she caught a slight lift at the corners of his mouth.

Subsequently, Chloe descended the stairs as if enchanted. Although curious about Lerianne approaching Helena, her legs, against her better judgment, were heading towards the back door.

When she came to her senses, an empty pillar greeted her.

Embarrassment washed over her, wondering if she’d been led astray by mere illusions.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the silently opened back door. Following it, a forceful yet gentle, contradictory touch guided Chloe inside.

In the profound darkness, being enveloped by an unidentified person’s shoulder was a perilous act.

“Do not be alarmed.”

Flick. A flame lit up. Slowly rising from the candle, the flame illuminated the face of her companion.

“I had a feeling it would be you.”

“You’re quick to catch on.”

Without trivial conversation, they continued walking. Even without a specific guide, they naturally followed each other’s steps.

Then they both halted simultaneously.