She continued to explain the society’s opinions and events she had witnessed, but unfortunately, Bialet wasn’t able to fully absorb the information, as her mind was preoccupied with one person.

When she sighed softly, realizing her own helpless situation, her brother, who hadn’t been seen throughout the banquet, came to her mind.

She hadn’t seen Geizen since she started greeting the nobles at the banquet hall.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Geizen…”

“If you’re looking for the young lord, he might be crying by the fountain now.”

“What? Geizen is crying?”

At her question, Rosalyn started rolling her eyes in a slightly panicked manner.

“Oh, I shouldn’t have mentioned it… Please, forget I said anything, Lady.”

“I will, Your Ladyship. May I go meet Geizen now?”

“Of course. I’ll stay here and rest a bit longer.”

With Rosalyn’s kind consideration, Bialet thanked her and left the powder room to head towards the fountain.

The dense darkness blanketing the black night sky felt as heavy as Bialet’s heart.

The night flowers, illuminated by the moonlight, shone brilliantly, and a gentle spring breeze filled the central garden of the royal palace with a subtle fragrance.

‘Is this the fountain?’

The central garden’s fountain, near the banquet hall, was the largest in the royal palace.

Circling the spacious fountain, Bialet eventually approached a figure and naturally spoke.

“Geizen, are you alright?”

Due to the enveloping darkness, she couldn’t see the face clearly but assumed it was her brother due to the similar stature.

As the clouds obscuring the moon dispersed, moonlight softly illuminated them.

At that moment, Bialet inadvertently bit her tongue.

Realizing that the person in front of her wasn’t Geizen, she thought,

‘I didn’t want to meet you right now…’

“Excuse me. I’ll leave first…”

Bialet’s green eyes filled with turmoil as she apologized to the figure before her and attempted to leave.

“Are you trying to run away again?”
Bialet’s turquoise eyes filled with turmoil as she apologized to the person in front of her and was about to leave.

“Are you trying to run away again?”

Dension’s somewhat agitated voice stopped her in her tracks.

“…….”

Although she might appear cowardly and deceitful to him, Bialet was unable to offer any explanation.

Watching her, Dension let out a deep sigh of frustration.

“Have you enjoyed all this time? How could you…….”

‘I’m sorry, Sion.’

“…….”

His voice seemed to quiver slightly, but Bialet had nothing she could say to Dension.

She was in no position to reveal everything to him or seek his understanding.

“How foolish must I have seemed to you all this time?”

‘No, it wasn’t like that.’

“…….”

“Surely, Lady, you were well aware of my situation.”

“…….”

Bialet couldn’t deny it. She knew his situation better than anyone.

Dension laughed bitterly, covered his face with his hands, and then looked at her with resentful eyes.

Despite his sarcastic questions about how foolish he must have appeared at the temple, Bialet could only listen in silence.

She had wanted to make him happy. Yet now, she was causing him pain.

“Were I just a convenient plaything for you?”

‘No, Sion. It wasn’t like that.’

“…….”

“Please, don’t cry. Say something.”

His eyes were already bloodshot, barely holding onto his composure.

With a look of disappointment, Dension averted his gaze and suddenly disappeared.

As he walked away, Bialet collapsed in a blur of tears.

“How could I ever approach you?”

Her father was involved in the deaths of the former Duke Buscher and Dension.

Bialet was certain that her longing for him was unfathomable.

“How can I… how could I do that?”

The unchanging truth was that Dension would not have died if he had not been involved with her.

Crushed by despair, Bialet struggled to hold onto her crumbling sanity.