“Lady, what’s the matter?”

The one looking at her with a mix of tender yet indifferent, unfathomable eyes was none other than Ivan.

“Nothing happened.”

She didn’t want anyone to see her like this, but faced with a situation that never went as she wished, Viare let out a faint scoff.

“Nothing happened? Your tear stains are quite evident…”

Ivan, though showing a skewed attitude as if to challenge her to deceive him, looked at her with a worried expression.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

‘Would you please shut your mouth? I’m sincerely asking.’

Her head, already in turmoil, became even more muddled because of him, and Viare inwardly cursed.

“Speak, if you wish. I shall avenge whoever made you cry.”

‘Ha, avenge…’

Ivan’s attitude, oblivious to her thoughts and adding more fuel to the fire, was ridiculous.

“Why not stop causing trouble and come to me?”

“…….”

What exactly was she to him? Viare wondered but didn’t want to know what was in Ivan’s heart.

All she desired was not to be swayed by him anymore.

Exhausted, Viare looked down at her wrist, which he had grabbed, and then twisted it free.

“Lady of the Ruschev family humbly requests of Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“Go ahead. Speak, my lady.”

He was an arrogant man who would only listen to what he wanted to hear and say what he wished.

Viare, determined to convey her clear intentions, looked straight into Ivan’s eyes and spoke.

“Please, no more…”

“What?”

“Don’t interfere in my life.”

Not wanting to face him any longer, Viare left Ivan, who seemed stunned by her unexpected counter, and walked out of the garden.

Returning to her room, she sat powerlessly on the floor, not even thinking of changing out of her dress.

Dension had not attended her birthday party this time, unlike the past.

‘Why exactly…?’

Viare’s eyes reddened with resentful grief, blurred and then tears streamed down her cheeks.

With no answers to the incessant questions tormenting her mind, her heart felt scorched with despair.

The memory of her first meeting with Dension vanished like a mirage, remaining only in her recollections.

She couldn’t fathom why he didn’t attend the birthday party, but one thing was certain – their future was changing.

‘I was wearing this dress back then…’

Staring at her light sky-blue Sabrina dress, she tried to compose her empty heart and wiped away the tear stains.

Taking a deep breath, Viare rang the chime for the maids, who soon entered one after another to attend to her.

Dressed more elaborately than usual, Viare removed her heavy and uncomfortable banquet dress, corset, and petticoat, changing into a lightweight chemise.

After washing her face with the warm water brought by another maid, she finally felt her senses returning.

One of the maids, helping to tidy the room, pointed to the practice dance shoes on one side and asked.

“Miss, what shall we do with these dance shoes?”

Viare had taken them out in a hurry while preparing for this birthday party, but they ended up unused.

Gazing at the worn dance shoes, she replied to the maid.

“Leave them there and step out.”

“Understood, miss.”

The maids quickly tidied up her room, bowed briefly, and left with the clothes and washing water.

Viare’s bedroom became eerily quiet once more, and she looked at the dance shoes with a slightly heavy heart.

“Sion, I guess there will never be a day when I dance with you again.”
Ever since becoming lovers with him in her past life, Viare’s dance partner had always been Dension, which only deepened her current unrest.

Reflecting back, he had steadfastly attended unwanted social events as her partner, even when he didn’t wish to.

‘Back then, my dancing skills were truly terrible.’

A faint smile spread across Viare’s lips as she gently recalled the distant memories of the past.

Not long after they started their relationship, Viare asked Dension to be her partner at her first social event.

Knowing well that he didn’t enjoy social activities, she had been quite apprehensive even while writing the invitation.

Contrary to her worries, Dension readily accepted the request to be her partner, and Viare had secretly jumped for joy.

That day was set for their first dance together at the Duke of Verdeum’s banquet hall.

As they danced to the music, they were awkward and out of sync from the start.

“Ouch—”

“Are you alright, Bia?”

It was the third time he had stepped on her foot, and although Viare’s eyes welled up with tears, she quickly shook her head and replied.

“……I’m fine.”

She thought she had to endure this much, having herself offered Dension the position as her partner at the party.

But who could have known? That Dension Verdeum would be such a terrible dancer.

“You seem to be in quite a bit of pain.”

Just looking into his eyes, which were attentively observing her, seemed to ease any discomfort she felt.