“It’s the earring I gave to Etienne.”

Rudby, who had not yet touched the jewelry box, tilted his head. He could tell just by looking at the jewelry box. But why did someone stern like him bring it instead of Etienne?

“The earring I held while embracing Etienne flew away and broke.”

Fernando, whether Rudby opened the jewelry box or not, continued with his words as if it didn’t matter.

“I found the other one. Since I originally intended to return it, I brought it instead.”

“Your feelings for Etienne seem quite profound.”

Even with Rudby’s teasing, Fernando, showing no sign of displeasure, bowed politely and turned away.

Fernando’s steps, after finishing his business, were neither fast nor slow. Soon, with the sound of the door opening and closing, his footsteps were also cut off.

Seeing Fernando pulling the curtain, Rudby hesitated for a moment about whether to scold him. Confessions don’t require anyone’s permission, but in Etienne’s case, it was different.

He had intended to make her his own, using Leharht as a pawn, but Fernando intervened.

So, during the moment he considered not letting him off, he paused as he saw Fernando’s face turned away. It seemed like he might know what answer he received from Etienne.

‘He got rejected.’
He had the usual indifferent expression, but upon closer inspection, it was different from the usual. So, Rudby watched Fernando and received an unexpected item.

Moonlight illuminated the jewelry box. Rudby looked at it and slowly reached out his hand.

When I gave it to Etienne, the jewelry box was intact, but now the top and bottom did not fit properly. He couldn’t even imagine what the inside of the jewelry box looked like.

Rudby grabbed the upper part of the box. The lid of the box seemed to have completely destroyed the hinge.

However, the broken jewelry box was nothing compared to the earring inside.

“Who should I be angry at for this?”

One was missing its gold, and the other was completely shattered, to the point where you couldn’t even recognize its original form. This wouldn’t have affected Etienne.

“This is getting less fun.”

Rudby muttered as he looked at the broken earring. The effect of this was supposed to be seen if Etienne accepted his proposal, but things went awry.

“I’m feeling more refreshed.”

Rudby stood up from his seat. And he gave an order to the knight outside.

“We’re going to the ball.”

Due to Fernando’s confession, the number of approaching people decreased even more, allowing Etienne to spend an unexpectedly relaxed time.

“This isn’t bad either.”
Sipping from the champagne glass, Etienne muttered to herself, hoping to stay like this and quickly return home.

“Why did Fernando suddenly do that?”

When he liked Hana in his past life, it wasn’t like this. During the debutante ball and even afterward, he had never publicly confessed his feelings.

On one hand, he thought maybe Fernando had confessed when they were alone, but there was no confirmation. He only knew that Fernando’s one-sided affection was always directed towards Hana.

So, the behavior Fernando showed this time surprised him a lot.

“Well, the situation has changed.”

Fernando, who used to like Hana, showing affection toward him alone was already different from his past life.

“Even the fact that I’m not dying has changed.”

“…….”

As Etienne looked up with a bewildered face, Leharht came over with the same glass.

“Did you read my mind? And what will you do if you come closer?”

“You can see everything on your face, and there’s no reason I shouldn’t come closer.”

Leharht lightly replied as he tilted his champagne glass. Etienne, surprised alone, looked around at the surroundings.

“But what would others think if they see us sticking together today?”

“They’ll probably think we’re close as always.”

“……What?”

“We used to hang out together all the time. But suddenly pretending not to see each other anymore, wouldn’t that be weirder?”

Leharht put down the empty champagne glass, instructing Sijong, who was passing by, to bring more drinks.
In his nonchalant response, Etienne looked at him with confused eyes, unsure whether to tell him to go away or stay.

“When we first met. Even when we drank flower tea at the tea house, there were rumors, you know.”

“Why are you bringing up that incident all of a sudden?”

“Back then, there was someone who had similar concerns, you know what I told them? Just say we’re friends who hang out together, and later we started having gatherings. That’s all.”

Even without mentioning who had those concerns, it seemed like Etienne knew.

“Back then and now, nothing has changed. Just casually having a conversation as if nothing happened is the best way not to fuel rumors.”

“That makes sense.”

As Etienne nodded as if understanding, Leharht made a puzzled expression.

“Is that all? I thought you would say more.”

In response to Leharht’s skeptical gaze, Etienne held the champagne glass quietly for a moment before speaking.

“As for those rumors…”