Kallion extended his hand politely toward Letia.

This was already the second time he had offered his hand to her.

It was truly ridiculous and unbelievable that it was the second time.

So Letia was surprised at herself for not being greatly surprised.

“Is it a refusal this time as well?”

While the person in question was very nonchalant, as the situation dragged on, suspicion began to creep into the eyes of the surrounding nobles.

It was already surprising that Duke Harenclode had asked Nebula for the first dance, but if she refused here…

‘That would be even more gossip-worthy.’

In the end, Letia lightly grasped Kallion’s hand. Kallion then pulled her closer with a bit more force and gently kissed the back of her hand.

At the brief touch of warmth, her heart fluttered strangely once again.

Before they knew it, all the nobles’ attention was focused on Letia and Kallion.

That attention was not based on mere interest like before, but rather a succession of genuine surprises.

Serina, unable to swallow her momentary anger at the situation unfolding differently from her intentions, blocked Letia’s path.

“Sister!”

But before Letia could step in, Kallion stared at Serina first.

As Serina properly met Kallion’s cold, blood-red eyes, she involuntarily felt a chill down her spine and couldn’t move.

At that moment, a natural sneer appeared at the corner of his handsome lips.

“No matter how inexperienced a young lady you may be, surely you’re not so helpless that you can’t stand alone without your sister by your side? If that’s the case, your qualifications to be here are questionable……”

At Kallion’s words treating her like a fool, Serina turned pale and eventually stepped aside.

Finally, Kallion and Letia stood face to face in the center of the grand hall.

“Do you know how to dance?”

“Shouldn’t you have thought about that before asking?”

“If you can’t dance, I intended to look ridiculous together.”

At this joke that somehow didn’t suit him, the corners of Letia’s mouth, which had been tense all along, loosened slightly.

And so, gradually surrendering to the flowing melody, the two began to move together.

Their movements were far more elegant and beautiful than expected.

“You dance well.”

At his monotone compliment, Letia retorted meaninglessly as well.

“It’s a useless skill to be good at.”

In truth, she couldn’t help but dance well.

After all, she had received thorough, almost abusive, crown princess education for over 10 years in the imperial palace.

“You seem to remember how to dance, even if you’ve forgotten other things.”

At Letia’s pointed words, Kallion said nonchalantly.

“I thought it was useless too.”

Suddenly, as the rhythm quickened, Kallion wrapped his arm around Letia’s waist and drew closer.

She unconsciously swallowed her trembling breath, and he gazed steadily at Letia while murmuring softly.

“I’m glad I learned it.”

“……”

She had danced so much in the imperial palace that it had been truly tiresome.

But it was the first time she felt the distance with her partner was too close like this.

Beneath his black hair, now more neatly arranged than that day, red eyes reflected only her.

As they moved together, their gazes drew closer and closer, his breath tickling her skin. Each time their firm bodies overlapped, Letia kept feeling nervous and lowered her gaze.

‘Why am I like this? It’s just a dance. Just a dance!’

Kallion’s eyes softened at her very awkward appearance.

The nobles, who were initially surprised, gradually found themselves unable to take their eyes off the two.

Though incomprehensible, they unexpectedly matched well.

Especially since Kallion’s gaze and attitude towards Letia were unbelievably gentle, it naturally created a soft atmosphere.

Amidst all this, only Serina’s expression kept changing between red and blue.

‘How is this possible? Letia. Mere Letia. Why on earth with Duke Harenclode!’

At that moment, Letia’s body swayed, and Serina’s eyes gleamed at the sight.

As the music rushed towards its climax and Letia was about to make her final turn, she suddenly felt dizzy and her body swayed. Kallion immediately caught her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, I suddenly felt dizzy……”

The dance eventually stopped midway, and as Kallion tried to check her complexion, Serina intervened first.

“Sister, are you alright?”

Kallion’s expression hardened as he was unexpectedly pushed back, but his gaze continued to examine Letia.

Serina forcibly supported Letia and said in a trembling voice.

“She must have been nervous coming to a crowded place suddenly. I’ll take care of her, Your Grace.”

“I’ll call a healer.”

As Kallion tried to move with them, Serina spoke in a firm tone.

“It’s fine. She’s my sister, so I’ll take care of her. We’re grateful for Your Grace’s kindness up to this point.”

Letia also slightly shook her head at him and followed Serina.

There was no reason for Kallion, who wasn’t family, to take care of her instead of Serina here.

But Kallion felt uneasy about something.

‘Letia suspects her family regarding the Red Forest incident.’

Finally, as he was about to follow Letia…

“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

The atmosphere suddenly changed as Asiz appeared belatedly.

The nobles paid their respects to Asiz.

But Asiz, leaving them behind, walked straight to Kallion.

Kallion slowly bowed to Asiz.

“Glory to Elmorte, Kallion Luca Harenclode, greets Your Esteemed Highness the Crown Prince.”

Asiz, unable to hide his overwhelmed expression, raised him up.

“Duke Harenclode. I can’t express how thrilled and happy I am to be able to call this name proudly here.”

“It’s an honor, Your Highness.”

Asiz approached Kallion a bit closer and murmured in a voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.

“Thank you for helping her, brother.”

“It’s not something to be thanked for.”

“Still……”

“And it’s not for you to thank me.”

Asiz hesitated at the unexpected words. But Kallion continued calmly.

“Right now, Your Highness’s fiancée is not Letia.”

As her name came out familiarly from Kallion’s lips, Asiz’s expression darkened.

***

Letia, who had been dragged out by Serina, thought it was just simple dizziness, but as her body gradually weakened, she felt strange.

‘What is this? Why am I suddenly like this?’

Moreover, it felt like there was a constant ringing in her head.

‘I feel sick……’

Letia barely raised her head and opened her mouth towards Serina.

“Se, Serina. Wait a moment. My legs, they’re losing strength……”

But Serina ignored Letia and entered some unknown room, then pushed Letia away.

She collapsed weakly on the floor and gazed at Serina while gasping for increasingly labored breaths.

“Clinging to this man, clinging to that man. Letia, you’re quite something, aren’t you?”

“……What have you done to me now?”

“What do you mean, what have I done? Are you sick somewhere? You were dancing and having fun without knowing your place just a moment ago.”

Feeling her body becoming increasingly strange, Letia barely continued speaking.

“I know, you dislike me, hate me. But even so, how can you, so casually. Are you trying to kill me again? Wasn’t the Red Forest enough?”

“You think I’m trying to kill you?”

Serina approached Letia, unable to suppress her laughter as her whole body shook.

“Letia, do you think it’s just me who would do that?”

She matched her eye level with Letia and raised the corners of her mouth high.

“Do you think I’m the only one who wants to get rid of you?”

“What, do you mean?”

At that moment, Serina reached out and caressed the brooch given by Empress Terisia. But the jewel that should have been blue turned green under her touch.

Letia blinked her trembling gaze and moved her parched lips.

“Peridot……”

“That’s right, peridot. You’re under hypnosis now. Soon you’ll fall into hallucinations and delusions and go berserk. You’ll die going mad like that. Who did you receive this precious thing from? Hm?”

Letia’s mind became increasingly confused as her vision darkened and distorted.

‘There’s no way Serina could use peridot in the first place. The Cristalos family and the Peridot family aren’t on very good terms.’

Moreover, peridot was a jewel contracted with the princess.

There was only one person who could use the Red Forest and peridot secretly and at will.

“……Her Majesty the Empress……”

Letia’s eyes turned bloodshot as sobs she couldn’t swallow finally escaped her lips.

“Heh. That’s why you should have just died in the Red Forest according to Her will. Why did you crawl out?”

“Why. Why on earth……”

She knew the Empress disliked her, but to think she hated her enough to want her dead.

To really go this far……

Serina couldn’t hide her elation at seeing Letia finally become what she wanted.

“Now that it’s come to this, shall I tell you one more thing?”

“……”

“Her Majesty the Empress didn’t gift this brooch only to you.”

“……What?”

Serina grabbed Letia’s hair and whispered cruelly in her ear.

“You probably didn’t know, but the Marchioness met with Her Majesty the Empress to try to bring you, a stone, back to the Marquis’ family. But you’re a stone, a fake. There’s no need to go back to the way things were, right? So Her Majesty the Empress helped. To be able to deal with the Marchioness.”

Like countless blades piercing her heart.

An indescribable, terrible sensation overwhelmed Letia as her vision flashed white.

“Her Majesty the Empress deceived the Marchioness, saying this jewel was yours, and let her take it. When I said you really wanted to become this blue jewel, the Marchioness took it preciously without suspicion, feeling sorry for you. And that night. Madness arose in the Marchioness amidst hallucinations and delusions.”

Serina continued speaking, not stopping her laughter as she recalled that day.

“Of course, since it was hypnosis, the madness could be easily broken, but I hid it. I had to pretend it was a jewel’s rampage. So that night. The Marchioness suffered all night and eventually died. No one suspected anything. Her Majesty the Empress knew too well how gemma dies from rampage. It was perfectly staged.”

Letia barely suppressed her trembling breaths and spoke.

“Mother, so Mother didn’t die from jewel rampage……”

“I told you. Her Majesty the Empress and I joined hands to deal with it.”

Serina stroked Letia’s hair and smiled innocently.

“So Letia, you should go just like your mother. I’ll make sure your end is as brilliant as a shattering jewel.”