Unrequited Love is Over, Fend for Yourselves (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 15

Carriages stretched in a long line toward the brightly lit mansion visible in the distance. Judging by how the carriages slowed the closer they got to the mansion, it seemed taking time to alight and enter the estate was quite normal.

Etienne, waiting for her turn, let out a sigh.

“I wish today would hurry up and pass.”

She hadn’t even entered the banquet hall yet, yet already wanted to leave. And no wonder—the attention people paid her had grown overwhelming.

A few nameless individuals she’d once associated with had even sent letters asking who she’d be attending with.

When she’d replied carefully, saying she couldn’t disclose it, they’d responded with disappointment that she wouldn’t tell them even that.

“But I still can’t say.”

It wouldn’t be proper etiquette toward those she’d declined. If Etienne answered honestly, word would quickly spread through society about who’d been rejected.

“We’ve arrived.”

Noticing the carriages ahead had all vanished, Etienne rose from her seat. Just as she was about to step down from the carriage, feeling her skirt flow smoothly downward, she hesitated.

Lowering her gaze to step onto the footrest, her eyes caught sight of someone’s hand hovering near her chest. As she followed that hand upward to identify its owner, a breeze blew.

Beneath softly fluttering hair, sparkling eyes appeared. Seeing that faintly smiling face, she suddenly recalled the day they’d attended a flower-arranging gathering.

Back then, Fernando had sparkled just like this—so much so that merely seeing his smile made her heart tremble.…

At that moment, she’d wished he’d called her name.…

“Etienne.”

Her fluttering heart vanished, leaving only bitterness behind. This wasn’t the moment she’d longed for.

‘Don’t be foolish.’

Now wasn’t the time to dwell on the past. Etienne changed her expression and called out the name of the young man standing before her.

“Fernando.”

Etienne took his hand and stepped down from the carriage.

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to go in with you.”

“It’ll be crowded. Why not wait inside?”

“We’re partners.”

Etienne fell silent at Fernando’s reply. After much deliberation, the person she’d chosen was Fernando.

“That’s why we should go together. I’ve always wanted to be with you.”

Holding Fernando’s hand in one and clutching her skirt with the other, Etienne suddenly stopped walking as if she’d forgotten how.

“Etienne?”

Fernando called to her, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at him as if nothing had happened. His words had startled her slightly—she’d let her guard down, believing she’d already let go of all feelings for him.

It wasn’t even a confession of love, so why did this affect her so? Quickly sweeping aside her emotions, Etienne gave a hollow smile.

“Fernando, could you clarify the situation? I’d appreciate it if you’d just say clearly that you wanted to come in as my partner.”

If he didn’t say it plainly, of course she’d be surprised.

Yet Fernando showed no intention of rephrasing himself. Etienne sighed inwardly and changed the subject.

“By the way, aren’t you going to ask?”

“The reason I chose you as my partner?”

Etienne nodded. After sending a formal request through a knight to accompany her, Fernando hadn’t contacted her again. She’d been grateful—he must have heard the rumors yet never pressed her, waiting patiently instead.

Now, she even felt guilty for not replying sooner. As if aware of her thoughts, Fernando turned toward her.

Meeting his gaze, Etienne felt the surrounding chatter fade into the distance.

“Etienne.”

Fernando’s voice drifted through the air.

“You look beautiful today.”

“Huh?”

Caught off guard, Etienne’s face flushed, and she quickly covered it with the back of her hand. His sudden compliment embarrassed her.

Earlier that day, her parents had also called her beautiful before she left. Butler Letin had said the same, as had the maids who’d helped her dress, praising her repeatedly.

So Fernando’s compliment shouldn’t have felt special—yet why was she so flustered?

“You startled me saying that.”

“It’s true. You’re beautiful.”

Fernando answered earnestly, prompting Etienne to look down at her dress. The bodice, adorned with ruffles, puffed out prettily, and the silk skirt flowed softly.

The pale peach-colored gown made her long red hair stand out even more. With the jeweled headband sparkling atop her head, she’d worried it might be excessive—but if he said she looked beautiful, she supposed it was all right.

“Then I’ll enter the banquet hall with full confidence in how beautiful I am.”

“You’ll be the most beautiful one here tonight.”

“I get it, so please stop saying I’m beautiful….”

Unable to take it anymore, Etienne finally gave in with a soft protest, making Fernando laugh. As they walked into the banquet hall together, Etienne recalled her conversation with the butler.

[“Why did I choose Fernando? As the butler said, I’m only sixteen. It’s the age where I can choose anyone—and even stir up trouble if I like. There’s someone I haven’t met yet. I want to watch him from afar, but I couldn’t do that if I were with His Highness the Crown Prince.”]

There was someone she wanted to observe at this banquet.

[“I said you’re at an age where it’s fine to feel your heart flutter—not that it’s fine to cause trouble.”]

She’d forgotten the butler’s nagging.

[This is the timeline separator]

“If I’d known it would turn out like this, I should’ve forced myself to meet His Highness the Crown Prince. What is this? While waiting for a fateful encounter, I let some random girl steal him from me.”

“What are the odds that someone wandering the outer palace would happen to meet His Highness the Crown Prince? Etienne’s just lucky. I’ve walked around there myself but never bumped into him once.”

“There’s still hope. Etienne chose Fernando, right? Since she rejected the Crown Prince’s request, surely His Highness will look at her again?”

The young ladies grumbled their complaints. They too wished they could become close to the Crown Prince.

Yet many obstacles stood in their way. Some noble daughters’ parents told them to wait, citing the existence of the Second Prince, while others had boldly approached the Crown Prince only to end up on worse terms than before.

Thus, they treaded carefully around him. In their eyes, Etienne Claire was truly fortunate.

First, she grew close to Fernando at House of Schupraher, and now she’d met the Crown Prince during a stroll through the outer palace.

“Hana, you’re Etienne’s friend, right? Haven’t you heard any details?”

Someone pulled in Hana, who’d been sitting quietly. Startled, she gave a slight shiver and an awkward smile.

“I only know she became close to Lord Fernando.”

“You don’t know anything else?”

“We haven’t been spending time together lately. She hasn’t even come to our usual tea gatherings, so I have no idea how she’s been.”

“She must’ve forgotten you because she’s been with Fernando.”

“Maybe.”

Hana smiled innocently.

“Poor Hana.”

“At least you still have us.”

Hana lightly hugged the friends at her sides.

“You’re so kind, Hana—you should’ve been the one to meet His Highness the Crown Prince….”

The girl nestled against Hana spoke wistfully, and the others soon chimed in agreement, rallying to Hana’s side.

“Don’t say that. What if someone hears you?”

Hana pretended to scold them but didn’t deny the statement outright. Among young ladies, this kind of conversation—elevating someone’s image—was perfectly acceptable.

Yet Hana knew these words would serve as a stepping stone to improve her own reputation.

Just then, a voice echoed through the hall.

“Lord Fernando Schupraher and Lady Etienne Claire.”

At the mention of Fernando’s name, Hana’s eyes briefly sharpened before quickly returning to normal.

One of the candidates who could serve as her stepping stone had just entered.

[This is the timeline separator]

Count Pigmen watched the man pacing in his study and gave a servile smile.

“You’ll get to see something truly rare today.”

As if the entire banquet had been arranged solely to show this rare item to the man before him, Count Pigmen poured out flattery without restraint.

“It’s something I acquired with great difficulty from across the sea. When you see it, His Highness the Prince will surely be satisfied—or rather, I’ll do everything in my power to ensure your satisfaction.”

At Count Pigmen’s words, spoken with a deeply bowed waist, the man examining an object in the study turned around.

His ash-colored hair was slicked fully back, revealing a pale forehead and long, striking eyes.

A small mole beside his eye added to his charm, enhancing his handsome features. Yet his twisted lips betrayed a sharp temperament.

The Second Prince, Prince Ludvi Ganae, mulled over Count Pigmen’s words and let out a faint chuckle.

“How can one be satisfied merely by looking?”

He turned a fist-sized ornament over in his hands as he spoke.

“Perhaps if I possessed it.”

Then he set the ornament back down. Still, the piece he’d just touched would likely find its way into the Second Prince’s chamber by tomorrow.

“I-I’d like to give it to you, but….”

Count Pigmen wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. He’d held this banquet simply to show off his newly acquired treasure. Yet after sending out invitations as a formality, the Crown Prince had replied that he’d attend—and now even the Second Prince had appeared uninvited.

Since he hadn’t yet decided which prince to support, Count Pigmen felt uneasy facing either. Moreover, the Second Prince never failed to unsettle the timid count whenever they met.

Dealing with the Second Prince was harder than dealing with the Crown Prince—his temperament showed no mercy. Anyone who erred or displeased him before his eyes drew his immediate, fiery wrath.

“That item can’t be carried around.”

“Can’t be carried? Then how did it cross the sea?”

Flustered by Ludvi’s question, Count Pigmen stammered his reply.

“It was brought in a box. Since no one can touch it, it’s used only for display… I meant to explain that even if I gave it to Your Highness, you could only look at it.”

“Such an item exists?”

“It’s said the item chooses its owner.”

That’s precisely why I decided to hold a banquet—to show it off, since I couldn’t use it myself.…

“Now you’ve made me even more curious.”

Ludvi moved toward the door.

“I clearly understood your implication—that if it chooses me as its owner, I can have it.”

With those words, Ludvi stepped outside, leaving Count Pigmen alone to let out a resentful groan. Deep down, he hoped the item wouldn’t choose the Second Prince.

The count let out deep sigh after sigh. His banquet, meant to showcase his prized new possession, had already been overshadowed by the Crown Prince and the heir of House of Schupraher. Now, the Second Prince was eyeing the treasure for himself.

Count Pigmen deeply, bitterly regretted ever holding this banquet at all.