Time flew by quickly, and the day of the summer ball had finally dawned.

The employees rushed out, and the creditors took away anything of value.

Though it was not a situation where she could dress up beautifully and attend the ball, Diana put effort into adorning herself.

‘This is the last chance. I have to do well today.’

Today was also the last day she could stand in the world as Baroness Periway.

This was because she had promised to hand over the Periway barony to the emperor after the ball ended.

‘If I end up with nothing, I’ll utterly humiliate Cedar Granite.’

She absolutely would not fall into the abyss alone. Diana attended the ball, making this vow over and over.

Fortunately, the ball was enjoyable.

Since the news of Diana giving up her title had not spread, everyone treated her as Baroness Periway.

Diana’s serious financial situation was only vaguely rumored to be difficult.

To that extent, Diana could cover it up with her glib tongue.

‘This is fun.’

It felt like she had returned to where she belonged.

Diana enjoyed the ball, laughing and chatting with nobles her age.

That is, until Lady Briar made her entrance.

Entering without Cedar, accompanied by the family knight, Lady Briar immediately picked a fight with Diana.

“I see you still have money left to wear such clothes? Or is it not that you have means, but that you lack sense?”

“Duchess Granite.”

Diana’s fists clenched. Her voice came out sharp on its own.

“You speak to me so shamelessly. If I were you, I wouldn’t even make eye contact, pretending not to see.”

Though Diana usually managed her image of appearing delicate, having endured much, she couldn’t control herself at the sight of Lady Briar.

Lady Briar covered her mouth with her fan and laughed as if amused.

“I haven’t committed any crime, so why should I avoid you?”

“Do you really think you’ve done nothing wrong?”

“Yes. Rather, I don’t understand why Baroness Periway is so bold towards me. Do you still not feel like apologizing to me?”

“You and that precious son of yours should be the ones apologizing!”

Provoked by Lady Briar, Diana couldn’t hold back and raised her voice.

“Oh my?”

“Shh.”

Already the center of attention, with such loud voices exchanged, one could see the onlookers’ ears perking up.

Diana, realizing her mistake, clouded her expression.

Of course, Lady Briar didn’t give her time to recover and pressed Diana further.

“What an interesting story. Why should my son apologize to you?”

“That…”

As Diana was at a loss for words, Lady Briar scathingly mocked her.

‘You can’t speak, can you? The moment you do, you’ll have to admit you sold out your sister for money.’

Setting a trap she couldn’t handle herself and then threatening others – Lady Briar found Diana simply ridiculous.

Diana’s eyes narrowed fiercely as she looked at the giggling Lady Briar.

“Your leisurely laughter won’t last long.”

Diana’s brazen warning made Lady Briar’s eyebrow rise.

Thinking it was already too late to pretend to be delicate, Diana demanded in a shrill, sharp voice.

“You didn’t even let our sick sister see her only family! Do you think His Majesty will just let that slide?”

What words she spoke.

Hearing the same story as before, Lady Briar, without a moment’s hesitation, snatched a wine glass from a passing servant and splashed it on Diana.

“Wh-what are you doing?!”

Suddenly drenched in wine, Diana let out a shrill cry.

Then, facing Lady Briar’s ice-cold gaze and the eyes of those watching the quarrel with great interest, she turned pale.

There was no one here who would lend an ear to Diana’s story. It felt like she had become a clown.

Lady Briar condemned Diana in a tone as cold as ice.

“I can’t contain my anger when someone else criticizes my son and then acts so boldly. Seeing you hold your head high and speak so confidently, you must have evidence that my son is abusing your sister?”

“Th-that…”

“Don’t tell me you’ve been making such a fuss without any evidence?”

Of course there was no evidence. How could she gather evidence or anything else when she couldn’t even meet Nelly?

But Lady Briar didn’t give Diana time to refute and lifted her chin.

When such an elegant and pure-looking woman put on a haughty expression, the effect was doubled.

“It seems you still haven’t come to your senses. Even if I splash wine on you in front of so many people, not a single person will come to your defense. It means your lies no longer work.”

“You…”

Diana’s body trembled. The wine that had been splashed on her dripped from her chin.

Diana was on the verge of losing her reason and lunging at Lady Briar.

“Announcing Sir Cedar Granite, Captain of the Blue Dragon Knights, and Lady Nelly Granite!”

“What?”

“Who did they just say?”

At the servant’s voice, everyone’s attention turned to the entrance.

This included Lady Briar and Diana.

It wasn’t that unusual for Cedar Granite to show his face at an imperial ball, but it was the first time he had a partner.

And who did they say that partner was?

‘Lady Granite?’

‘Could it be the lady that Baroness Periway was just going on about being abused?’

The color drained from Diana’s face. She mumbled in a daze.

“Sister…”

It must be a lie. They must be trying to deceive us by bringing someone else.

All sorts of speculations swirled in her mind before disappearing like bubbles.

The small, thin woman entering through the door with Cedar was clearly her sister, Nelly.

Only then did all the puzzle pieces fit together. Diana gritted her teeth.

‘That fox of a man! So that’s why he was so cold to me!’

Her sister, whom she thought was dead, was walking around perfectly fine.

From the moment I changed into my dress at home and fixed my hair, my heart started beating fast.

It beat a little faster when I got into the carriage, and even faster when I got out of it.

Just before entering the ballroom, I couldn’t tell if my heart was beating or if it had stopped.

‘At this rate, I might be the first person to collapse in the middle of the ball clutching my heart.’

At the peak of my nervousness, I tugged on Cedar’s sleeve.

Cedar lowered his head towards me. I whispered softly.

“Ugh, I feel like I can’t breathe.”

Despite my childish whining, Cedar calmly replied.

“Follow me and exhale slowly. Hoo hoo, ha ha.”

“My legs are trembling.”

“If you can’t walk, just say so. I’ll carry you.”

“That seems even more embarrassing.”

“Then I’ll carry you after you collapse.”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’m calming down.”

The thought of Cedar picking me up and carrying me around after I collapsed –

Just imagining it made me come to my senses from embarrassment. I cleared my throat.

‘This is nothing compared to when I had to demonstrate magic in front of professors to get my magician certification. There were so many people then too.’

As I was reassuring myself, the servant announced our entrance in a loud voice.

Cedar firmly grasped my trembling hand.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

His reassuring words calmed me down a lot. I swallowed hard and nodded.

But even the confidence I had carefully built up deflated like a burst balloon the moment I met the gaze of countless eyes looking at me.

‘Why is everyone staring like this?’

I also learned for the first time that when there are too many people, you can’t focus on each individual.

I clung tightly to Cedar’s arm, which was linked with mine, and whispered softly.

“Wh-what should we do? It feels like everyone is just staring at us.”

“They’re staring because you’re beautiful.”

“That can’t be true! It’s because of you, so you take responsibility!”

At my whining, Cedar turned his head to look at me. His gray eyes were serious.

“I’m telling you, they’re really staring because you’re beautiful. You’re the prettiest person here.”

“That…”

I could tell that statement was a lie just by looking at the young lady nearby.

A tall and gorgeous beauty was staring at us with a surprised expression.

Cedar said it with such a serious expression that I almost believed him for a moment. I cleared my throat again.

“…You’re good at saying embarrassing things too.”

“Didn’t you know?”

“It’s good that I know now. From now on, I won’t be fooled by anything you say.”

“You said it was embarrassing, not that it was a lie.”

“Really.”

Thanks to the light conversation, the tension eased.

I walked down the silk-covered central path following Cedar with a wider stride than before. At the end of that path sat the young emperor.

Cedar, who had observed proper etiquette, immediately introduced me.

“I greet Your Majesty for the first time. This is my wife.”

“I am Nelly Granite.”

How many hours had I practiced greeting the emperor! Thanks to that, I was able to give my greetings without awkwardness.

The emperor rested his chin on his hand and said with a smirk.

“It’s amusing that someone of your caliber is introduced as someone’s wife. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? The great magician Nelly Granite and her husband?”

“What?”

Faced with this unexpected retort, I blinked my eyes. Cedar calmly agreed.

“Your words are correct. From now on, whenever we come to the palace, I will instruct the servants to introduce us that way in advance.”

“C-Cedar!”

My eyes spun round and round. I didn’t know where to start objecting.

Should I point out that we’re coming to the palace again, or should I point out that he’s going to change the way we’re addressed!