“I can’t take my eyes off her.”

“What?”

“Cordelia, I mean.”

Leonard hadn’t even realized he was staring at Cordelia until Lydia pointed it out. He nonchalantly turned his head to look at Lydia.

“She’s a troublemaker. If I take my eyes off her for a moment, she might get involved in something strange.”

“Who? Cordelia? No way. She’s so quiet and kind.”

“Quiet? At Abrams, she… Never mind.”

“Why? What happened?”

He chuckled to himself at Lydia’s question, then shook his head.

“Anyway, she’s the strangest and most incomprehensible woman I’ve ever met. When I first saw her, she just seemed suspicious, but somehow she ended up here…”

“How did you meet Cordelia? What business did you have in Abrams territory?”

She couldn’t get an immediate answer as they had to briefly separate to dance with other partners.

“I had some business in the north. I happened to stop by the territory and met Cordelia.”

“Did you recognize her talent as a mage right away?”

“Well, something like that.”

“It sounds like fate.”

Lydia forced a smile. The corners of her mouth trembled slightly. The word ‘fate’ lingered on the tip of her tongue.

Fate. Why couldn’t she be his fate?

“That yellow dress, doesn’t it make her look a bit childish?”

“Why? It suits Cordelia well.”

“Green would suit her better.”

“Like Lady Cordelia’s eyes?”

Leonard nodded absentmindedly.

The more they talked, the more Lydia was overwhelmed by a strong sense of unease. She had known Leonard for almost twenty years. She had never seen him show such interest in anyone.

Except for magic.

Leonard was remarkably indifferent to everything else. Lydia, being an Elfenbaum, was treated much better than others. And she didn’t mind that gap.

He never took on an apprentice or a wife. So she thought she might be able to stay by his side forever.

“Leo.”

“What?”

“I can understand everything.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“That you spend only five days a year in the capital and the rest in Wilas. That your only interest is magic.”

Lydia gripped his hand with all her might. And she looked straight into Leonard’s eyes.

“So propose to me.”

“…Lydia.”

“I’m the one who understands you most perfectly in this world. I’m the only one who knows what you like, what you dislike, what’s comfortable and uncomfortable for you.”

“Didn’t we already end this conversation?”

Leonard’s voice was tinged with fatigue. This was a conversation they had repeated countless times. He thought they had put an end to it, but apparently that was just his misconception.

“To me, you’re just Blaise’s sister. Rosenblur Elfenbaum’s sister. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“That’s fine. It doesn’t matter if that’s all you feel for me. As long as I can be your wife.”

“Get a grip, Lydia Elfenbaum. You’re the daughter of Elfenbaum. Why would you want to marry a man who doesn’t even love you?”

“Because I love you.”

The music ended. People smiled and bowed to each other. Leonard and Lydia neither smiled nor spoke nor bowed. They just stared at each other.

Leonard turned away first.

“I have no intention of getting married. Not to you, not to anyone.”

“Leo!”

Just as Lydia called out to him desperately, a slow minuet began to play. People tilted their heads at the unexpected song choice, but their attention was quickly drawn to Rosenblur and Cordelia, who were the first to step out.

And Leonard was no exception.

* * *

“You’re doing well.”

“If I couldn’t do this, I’d never be able to dance at a ball.”

The slow tempo and simple repetitive steps allowed Cordelia to talk while dancing.

Rosenblur laughed lightly.

“It’s because it’s your first time. When I first started, I was so confused even with the minuet that I was dripping with cold sweat.”

“You, Lord Rosenblur? That’s hard to believe.”

“I too had my clumsy and foolish moments.”

Cordelia tried to imagine a younger, more immature, and foolish Rosenblur, but it wasn’t easy to picture.

“Come to think of it, if this is your first ball, it must be your first time dancing like this too?”

“Yes. It’s all a first. Wearing such a pretty dress to a ball, dancing with a man.”

“I’m honored to be Cordelia’s first partner.”

Cordelia inadvertently turned her head and met his eyes, almost losing her breath. Seeing such a handsome face up close was not good for her heart.

Just then, Rosenblur noticed something and let out a soft chuckle.

“Someone is glaring at us fiercely.”

“Who? Surely not my master?”

As they were in a turning section, Cordelia briefly moved away from Rosenblur. And among the crowd, she spotted Leonard, arms crossed and frowning deeply. Seeing him, Cordelia couldn’t help but laugh.

“It’s true. When this dance ends, I’ll go back to my master…”

And a little distance from Leonard stood a figure she never imagined she’d see here. Cordelia froze in place and took a sharp breath.

“Cordelia?”

“…I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

Fortunately, there wasn’t much of the performance left. From the moment Cordelia saw that figure in the crowd, her mind went blank. She couldn’t hear any of Rosenblur’s worried words.

As soon as the dance ended, she gave him a quick curtsy and turned to run away.

Rosenblur called her name from behind, but she had no energy to look back. She was overwhelmed by the thought that she had to escape from this place.

“You!”

“Ugh.”

“Come here right now.”

At that moment, a strong, firm hand grabbed her wrist. Cordelia swung her caught arm with all her might, but it was useless.

“Let go of me, Father!”

“Shut your mouth.”

How on earth did her father, Pablo Vasquez, come to this party? Cordelia was half-dragged into the dark garden as her father led the way.

“Ah!”

She was already careful walking in the high heels, but being dragged like this naturally caused her shoe to bend and twist her ankle.

However, her father paid no heed to his daughter’s cry.

He found a secluded corner of the garden and roughly let go of her arm.

“What is all this about? Atilei’s apprentice? You, a mage?”

“…That’s right.”

“Why! Do you have any idea how shocked I was when I heard this from the Grand Duke of Saracen?”

Cordelia recalled what Diana had said at the beginning of the party. Not knowing the situation, Diana must have thought Cordelia’s father would be a welcome guest.

“To hide this from your father without even a peep. You’re as sly as your mother!”

“Why should I tell you about that? Wasn’t it enough to sell me off to Abrams for your own profit? Are you trying to sell your mage daughter again this time?”

“Can’t you shut your mouth?”

With a slap, her body staggered. Cordelia gritted her teeth. She had forgotten for a while. How violent her father could be.

Cordelia cupped her cheek, which was starting to swell instantly.

“And what about your husband? How dare you dance and flirt with another man? You shameless wench. I wouldn’t blame Count Abrams if he cast you out right now.”

“Don’t worry. As you said, Father, even if I’m cast out by my husband, or even if I die, I won’t return to the Vasquez family.”

“Don’t test my patience.”

He spoke through gritted teeth. If they were at home, he might have used his belt, but being inside Saracen’s townhouse, he didn’t go that far.

“Go back to Abrams immediately. Stop disgracing me any further.”

“Disgrace? I’m a mage’s apprentice! The one and only apprentice of the great Atilei! While others are praising how amazing I am, how can you, Father, how can you treat me like this?”

Cordelia screamed in the middle of the garden, not knowing who might come.

Deep down, she had hoped that if her father knew she was a mage, he might feel a little proud of her.

But like this, her father appeared in reality and trampled all those expectations underfoot.

“Lower your voice. How is it that the more you go on, the less manners you seem to have? My only daughter, bringing nothing but shame to the family. Tsk tsk.”

“I’m sorry, Father. I guess I lack manners because I didn’t receive proper home education.”

Though her cheek stung, Cordelia refused to submit to her father’s words. Vasquez’s face turned red and blue at her sarcasm.

“Indeed. It seems I’ve failed miserably in raising you. Not even replying to your father’s letters.”

“Letters? Ha, is it about money again? What did you do with the money you got from selling me? Do you have any idea how much shame and disrespect I endured at Abrams because of your letters?”

“How incompetent must you be for that to happen? That’s why you can’t even hold onto your husband’s heart and still haven’t borne a child.”

Each of her father’s words pierced her heart like a sharp dagger. Suddenly, she felt breathless. It felt as if someone had reached into her stomach and was stirring it.