The masquerade at the palace was especially dazzling at night.

At the center of the masquerade was the Crown Prince. Countless people in masks flocked to build a rapport with the prince.

“Your Highness. How about spending tonight with me?”

“I’ve been waiting for a night with Your Highness since forever.”

Women dressed in splendid masks swayed in coquettishness. Yet, the more the prince saw such women, the more irritated he became.

‘Why can’t I stop thinking about that woman?’

Crown Prince Carlos sipped his wine, ignoring those around him. Even though it was his favorite wine, it strangely didn’t suit his taste.

‘What about that woman…’

One of the nobles around him tried to stop him.

“Your Highness. You seem to be drinking more than usual. You should gradually… No, never mind.”

As Carlos’ expression darkened, no one dared to stop him anymore.

His head was spinning from the alcohol.

Estelle Libertan.

The first time he saw that humble woman was at his birthday party.

At that time, she was a commoner from the Duchy of Libertan, brought instead of the noble daughter, and he was merely curious.

“Good evening, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. My name is Estelle Libertan.”

Her pinkish platinum blonde hair shone like an angel’s halo. Her delicate and cute features gave the impression of a lovable doll.

Crown Prince Carlos certainly thought that the woman would cling to him, even if it was to improve her humble status.

After all, all the women he had ever seen did. But her calm, deepsea blue eyes didn’t look at him again after greeting.

That irritated him. He felt belittled by that common woman who dared to look down on him, the Crown Prince.

‘Was this royal party a place where even someone of such low birth could intervene?’

That’s why he scorned her for her status.

‘The Duchy of Libertan is indeed impressive. To proudly bring such a thing.’

When the blue eyes filled with shock and fear held only him, the prince felt a slight thrill.

The woman, pale from fear, lowered her head and apologized to him, the Crown Prince. The Duke and Duchess of Libertan did the same.

‘She will come again somehow to apologize for today’s rudeness.’

After all, women were anxious to make contact with him, even if they were afraid of him.

However, Estelle Libertan never showed herself in front of him after that. He had planned to grant her a favor if she came to apologize for her rudeness.

‘Dare she ignore me?’

With a scoff, the prince spent his nights as usual with other women and attended countless parties.

The problem was that he somehow missed Estelle, who never came to him. He constantly remembered the tears that welled up in her trembling eyes from shock.

‘Then, let it be as she wishes.’

So, the prince contacted the Duchy of Libertan specifically and forcibly brought Estelle. He succeeded in humiliating Estelle by pretending to propose.

“I shouldn’t have let that woman go like that.”

Carlos gulped down his strong drink to soothe his bitter heart. The more he got drunk, the more vividly he remembered the time when he had forcibly brought her.

“Damn it.”

She, who had been so immature, must have become a complete woman by now.

‘She has already been sold to the Duchy of Blanchett.’

Carlos had no hobby of being obsessed with another man’s woman. Especially he had no hobby of looking at a woman he had once thrown away twice.

“Should I have taken her out.”

But when he thought of Estelle, who would have died when she entered the Duchy of Blanchett, he felt bitter.

‘Although she is said to be alive in name.’

There was no way the Duke of Blanchett, who had even put the Duke and Duchess of Libertan in prison for treason, would have spared Estelle. Marriage is an excuse, he may have played with her or already killed her.

No one would care whether the adopted child of a rebellious family was killed or not.

Carlos clenched his fist. It was absurd but.

‘I feel her absence.’

Suddenly irritated, Carlos overturned the table. Screams from his attendants could be heard. Carlos ignored that and walked to the back of the masquerade.

In the cool breeze, a face he had been desperately waiting for appeared.

‘Is it an illusion?’

Hiding her pinkish platinum hair with a wig and wearing a mask.

But those deepsea blue eyes that had captivated him were still the same. No matter how hungry for women he was, he shouldn’t be tormented by illusions.

Such an illusion…

“You….”

However, Carlos couldn’t ignore that illusion. He quickly approached the woman as if she would disappear like a mirage at any moment.

“The lowly blood of the Duke of Libertan?”

Estelle was more grownup than the last image he remembered of her. Her face was concealed behind a rabbit mask, but the charming love he felt then, like a budding flower, remained the same.

“Have you become an adult now?”

Each time Carlos approached, Estelle retreated slightly.

“Don’t you already know who I am? Why aren’t you answering?”

“Your Majesty, I believe you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

“What does that have to do with me?”