“Weren’t you displeased, my lady?”

“……”

It seems I was not the only one who noticed Dalina’s change in expression.

Philip smirked.

“I couldn’t just stand there. If I had pretended not to notice and continued the conversation, I might have been slapped by the lady, mightn’t I?”

‘Ah, so he separated us because he was afraid Dalina would hit me.’

From Philip’s tone, it sounded like a joke. But considering Ellen’s previous personality, it must have been serious.

“By now, even if you’re tired, have you remembered how to dance the waltz?”

Philip kissed the tip of my fingers as soon as the music ended.

“Thank you.”

“Today we practiced the repetitive pattern, so let’s try something more complicated next time.”

I stepped back and inadvertently swallowed a sigh. His violet eyes staring at me after the finger kiss were enchanting.

He can’t look at me like that because he loves his wife. So I found the reason for that heated gaze elsewhere.

‘Is he putting on a show because it’s a party? Like a windowshopping couple?’

I found the reason too easily, and it felt a little empty.

I turned my head to find Dalina.

She was in conversation with Laila, with bright faces. Both of them exuded a friendly vibe.

They seemed to naturally become close as they would be future inlaws.

Marlboro’s expression next to them was also good. Seeing that made my heart feel even emptier.

“Lady? Why are you like this?”

It was only then that I realized that Philip was still looking at me.

“I’m thirsty. I need to drink some champagne.”

I left him and went to a table on the side to pick up a glass of champagne.

The clear ice clinked refreshingly inside the glass.

I sipped the champagne and observed the people’s faces.

The number of attendees was small, but they were gathered in groups of two or three, having enjoyable conversations.

In particular, quite a few noble men had gathered around Philip while I was away.

They seemed to have been waiting for the waltz I had been dancing with him to end.

Dalina also joined them from afar. Even from a distance, she seemed very interested in Philip.

‘Perhaps because her role is minor, the description was less?’

I turned my gaze back to Marlboro and Laila. They were now waltzing.

Philip and Dalina, Marlboro and Laila.

The four of them matched well. They were happy family members being completed in the novel.

‘Although they got together a bit early.’

No one approached me to start a conversation as I emptied a glass of champagne.

So I was able to alternate between watching the four people more leisurely, and I quietly smiled.

‘There’s no need to be here anymore, is there?’

Feeling more attached since I was watching from afar, I felt a little lost, and was even a little envious of Dalina, who would receive all of Philip’s love.

I secretly started to feel greedy.

‘Should I change the original?’

I won’t do anything bad anyway, so maybe I can avoid a deadend flag?

Philip also seems a bit friendly to me, so if I do well, maybe I can break his relationship with Dalina.

“……”

After imagining for a moment, I shook my head.
The wicked woman’s past cannot be erased. It was obvious that if I interfered again, I would be planting another death flag.

‘Isn’t it enough if only I’m left out here?’

No matter how many times I thought about it, that was the safest. I suppressed a slightly bitter feeling and stood up from my seat.

‘Then you four do well.’

I must go get some fresh air in the garden and then go to sleep.

“Milady.”

As I went out, several knights in uniform bowed their heads.

“Were you here? All dressed in the same uniform.”

While looking around, Mild Knight responded calmly.

“I’ve just finished attending to the guests.”

“Good, well done.”

I adjusted the hem of my dress and took a step.

“Where are you going?”

“I want to take a walk in the garden.”

The Mild Knight glanced once inside the party hall and then examined my dress again.

“I will accompany you.”

“It’s just a walk in the garden.”

“Still, please wait a moment.”

The Mild Knight quickly went inside the mansion.

I felt a bit empty, but it was reassuring that the Mild Knight did that.

However, I did not wait for him and moved to the garden first.

It would be embarrassing to keep showing the other knights the changing expression as my heart warmed.

He will follow me on his own even if I leave first.

As the waltz music and lights of the party hall grew distant, the faint sounds of night insects and the stars in the night sky became clearer.

When everything was completely quiet, I heard the rapidly approaching presence behind me.

“Milady.”

It was indeed the Mild Knight. But my eyes were naturally drawn to the object in his hand.

“What’s that?”

The Mild Knight neatly placed it in front of me.

“The party shoes are not suitable for a walk. It would be good to change.”

What he put down were comfortable shoes. Then, the Mild Knight reached out to me.

“Let me hold your hand.”

I placed my right hand on his left hand and carefully changed into the shoes, touching the ground.

It was dark and hard to see, but I changed the right one first, and one side of my weight center went down as much as the height of the shoes.

Now it was time to change the left shoe. It was when I reflexively lifted my left hand to balance myself.

“Ah.”

Along with a word from the Mild Knight, he quickly reached out and also supported my left hand.

So I ended up entrusting both my hands to him.

‘I wasn’t wavering.’

Anyway, after the shoes were changed and my feet were comfortable, I felt relaxed.

“Thank you.”

I looked up and thanked the Mild Knight’s face.

“I just did what I should.”

In the darkness, the Mild Knight’s eyes curved into a halfmoon.

“Count?”

Then a woman’s voice was heard. I turned my head, and Philip was standing by a tree a little away.

And right behind him, calling Philip was Dalina.

“Ah.”

Philip looked at Dalina with a blank face.

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

Dalina, who spoke gently in an innocent tone, looked at me and then covered her mouth with one hand.

I couldn’t make out her expression in the dark, but it looked like a gesture mixed with surprise and embarrassment.

“Oh my, did we disturb you?”