“He'll be down in a moment. It's unusual for you to be here first. Did something good happen?”
“Something good? No. Nothing special.”
“You seem to be in an incredibly good mood this morning.”
“Do I?”
“Morning, everyone!”
“Good morning, Brother Leo.”
“Huh? Why is Adeline in such a good mood? You don't usually see her like this first thing in the morning.”
From Amy to Enoch and Leo, everyone looked at Adeline in confusion.
Ignoring all of their reactions, Adeline hummed cheerfully to herself.
She was convinced that after what had happened at the fighting arena last night, Kael would finally lose interest in her.
'Now everything should go back to normal, and he'll end up with Vanessa. She definitely looked like she'd fallen for him that day.'
She still had no idea why the story had deviated from the original novel, but she believed everything would return to its proper course as long as Kael stopped paying attention to her.
Even if something unexpected had happened, it didn't matter as long as the ending remained the same.
Eventually, Kael and Vanessa would fall in love, Adeline would try to harm Vanessa, Kael would kill her, and her endless possession would finally come to an end.
'All I have to do is stay away from the Grand Duke. There shouldn't be many chances for us to meet anymore.'
Feeling as refreshed as though a weight had been lifted from her chest, Adeline picked up her knife and fork.
“By the way, Adeline. Have you looked over the guest list for Sophia's debutante?”
“Oh! I'm sorry. So much has been happening lately that I completely forgot. I'll check it as soon as breakfast is over, Brother.”
Adeline answered in surprise.
With Kael suddenly becoming involved in her life, she had completely forgotten about Sophia's debutante, which would be held at their estate five days later.
Sophia was Count Delphine's daughter and Adeline's cousin. Countess Delphine was Adeline's aunt.
When the four siblings lost their parents at a young age, many noble families, believing the Thiens had no future, immediately cut ties with them.
Only their aunt supported them wholeheartedly.
Thanks to the relentless efforts of the four siblings, led by Enoch, House Thien not only survived but became even more prestigious than before.
Because of that, the siblings always did everything they could to repay the only person who had never abandoned them.
Hosting Sophia's debutante was one such act of gratitude.
Having her debutante held at the Thien estate under the family's patronage was the equivalent of beginning her social life with wings already attached.
“So the Grand Duke of Inver received an invitation this year too?”
Leo set down his cup as he joined the conversation.
It was customary to send invitations to every high-ranking noble staying in the capital.
Kael had almost always been absent during debutante season, so he had never been included before.
This year, however, was different.
“But I'm sure he won't come.”
“Probably not. The Grand Duke of Inver is famous for never attending social parties. Still, Sophia will be happy just knowing she could send him an invitation.”
Adeline nodded in agreement before thinking to herself.
'There's no way he'll come, right? According to the original story, the first party he ever attended—the one that threw the capital into chaos—was Vanessa's party. Since he never attends events like these, he definitely won't come.'
After convincing herself, Adeline focused on finishing breakfast.
Kael absolutely wouldn't come.
And he absolutely mustn't.
“Adeline, you've decorated everything so beautifully. I can't thank you enough.”
“Please don't say that, Aunt. Compared to everything you've done for us, this is still nowhere near enough.”
Sophia's debutante ball arrived in the blink of an eye, and the Thien estate buzzed with guests answering the invitation.
Adeline had put even more effort into preparing this ball than she had for her own debutante.
As a result, the ballroom was dazzlingly luxurious and beautiful.
“My Lord, every guest on the invitation list has arrived.”
“Then let's close the main gate—”
“My Lord! My Lord!”
Just as Enoch was about to order the gates closed, a servant came running toward him in a panic.
“What is it? Why all the commotion?”
“A-another guest has arrived. B-but...”
Before the servant could finish speaking, the guest entered the estate.
At that moment, not only the Thien family waiting to greet their guests, but every guest present froze in shock.
“...Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”
“I'm glad I'm not too late. I was worried you'd already closed the gates.”
The man with golden hair and orange eyes—the unmistakable proof of imperial blood—smiled leisurely.
It was the Crown Prince.
He had come to the debutante in person.
He wore the crimson military uniform that symbolized the Crown Prince, tailored to emphasize his broad shoulders and tall frame.
Just as it was customary to invite every high-ranking noble staying in the capital, it was also customary to invite the Crown Prince.
However, it was extremely rare for him to attend in person.
Usually, he simply sent gifts in his place, and the quality and value of those gifts reflected the young lady's standing.
But today...
He had come himself.
It was an astonishing event.
“I never expected Your Highness to accept the invitation.”
“I hope I'm not intruding. I was worried I might be an unwelcome guest.”
“Not at all. It is an honor to have you here personally.”
“I have quite a lot I'd like to discuss with the Marquis. Some rather... private matters as well.”
As he mentioned wanting to discuss "private matters," the Crown Prince looked directly at Adeline.
It was an unmistakable declaration that she had caught his interest.
The moment he did, Enoch's eyes turned sharp, while Adeline's expression stiffened.
'What is wrong with this lunatic now?'
Adeline stared in horror.
The implication was so obvious that every guest gathered near the entrance immediately understood it.
In the original novel, the Crown Prince and Kael did become rivals over a woman.
But that woman had been Vanessa—not Adeline.
'Am I the heroine now? In the original story, the Crown Prince and I never even met! What is happening?'
She couldn't even imagine how much further the story could possibly derail.
“...Please come inside, Your Highness. Allow me to escort you.”
“Haha. Very well. The night's still young. We'll have plenty of time to talk.”
With a slightly stiff expression, Enoch escorted the Crown Prince inside.
At that very moment, another guest arrived.
“...This can't be happening.”
The moment Adeline recognized the face of the final guest—who appeared almost like the true protagonist making his entrance—she muttered quietly enough that only she could hear herself.
“Sorry I'm late.”
“...”
“This is my first time attending a party like this.”
It was Kael.
The very Grand Duke of Inver—the man who ignored thousands, no, tens of thousands of invitations unless the Imperial Family itself was hosting the event—had come to House Thien.
Everyone stood frozen as they stared at him.
But Kael's gaze rested on only one person.
Adeline.
He looked at no one else.
'...Please.'
At that moment, Adeline sincerely wished she would faint.
“What the hell? This can't be real.”
Standing on a small terrace connected to a quiet corner of the ballroom, Adeline paced back and forth anxiously.
From the moment Kael entered the mansion until now, she had desperately avoided him.
Even though she could constantly feel those blue-gray eyes following her, she stubbornly ignored them.
“I treated him so coldly, and he's still interested in me? What is wrong with that man?”
She had been convinced he would lose all interest in her.
That was why she had been smiling so brightly these past few days.
Yet contrary to all her expectations, Kael seemed even more fascinated by her.
“What have you been muttering about all this time?”
“Eek!”
A familiar, deep voice suddenly came from behind her without the slightest warning.
Startled, Adeline screamed.
Instinctively stepping backward, she lost her balance as her foot tangled beneath her.
“Ah!”
Just as she was about to fall backward, Kael caught her.
His large hand grasped her arm while his strong other arm wrapped around her slender waist.
It looked exactly as though he had pulled her into his embrace.
“...”
“...”
Without realizing it, Adeline held her breath as she stared at him.
His blue-gray eyes sparkled from only inches away—close enough for her to feel the warmth and sound of his breathing.
It was strange.
Perhaps because of the bright moon overhead.
Or perhaps because of the music drifting through the terrace doors.
Even though this wasn't their first meeting, she found herself unable to look away.
“L-let me go.”
“...Ah. My apologies.”
It was Adeline who finally broke the strange silence.
She couldn't endure the unfamiliar pounding of her heart any longer.
She immediately stepped away from Kael.
“Why did you come here?”
“You were the one who sent me an invitation, My Lady.”
“You know every high-ranking noble staying in the capital receives one...”
“Exactly. I happen to be one of those high-ranking nobles. I was invited, so I came.”
It was a ridiculous excuse.
Kael had never accepted a single invitation before.
“You never come to events like this.”
“They're usually terribly boring.”
“This one isn't much different—”
“No.”
Kael interrupted.
“You're here.”
Adeline's mouth fell open.
She forced herself to regain her composure and continued.
“Don't tell me you're here to bring up that contract again?”
“Yes.”
“Even after seeing me dressed like that? A lady who disguises herself as a man and visits fighting arenas?”
“After seeing that, I became even more certain.”
He answered without hesitation.
“Certain that you're the ideal partner for the contract I want.”
“What kind of absurd standard is that?!”
The more he spoke, the more frustrated Adeline became.
“I already told you. I have a fiancé.”
“Do you?”
Kael asked with a faint smile.
'...He knows.'
Though he merely repeated her words, Adeline immediately realized he had already confirmed the truth about her nonexistent fiancé.
When every card in your hand had been exposed, the only remaining strategy was to run.
“The cold air suddenly made me feel dizzy, so I should— Ah!”
As she hurriedly tried to leave, a sharp pain stopped her.
Every time she put weight on her left foot, her ankle throbbed.
She had apparently twisted it when she stumbled earlier.
“You're hurt. Let me take a look.”
“What? No, I'm fine. There's nothing wrong— Ah!”
“You can barely walk. It'll only take a moment.”
“I said I'm fine.”
“I doubt you want to spend your cousin's debutante limping around the ballroom.”
Adeline sighed and rubbed her forehead.
She wanted to stubbornly refuse, but Kael was right.
Everyone's attention was already focused on her because of Kael and the Crown Prince.
She didn't want to embarrass herself further and ruin Sophia's special day.
“This way.”
Kael guided her to a low stone bench beside the wall and sat her down.
Then he knelt on one knee before her.
“It's already swelling. Worse than I thought—”
“Oh my! Oh my goodness!”
Just as he was examining her exposed ankle, two young ladies who had stepped outside for some fresh air gasped dramatically.
Their eyes sparkled as they looked between Kael and Adeline.
“We're so sorry! We interrupted such an important proposal!”
“Pretend we weren't here and please continue! Hoho!”
At the word "proposal," Adeline's face twisted.
Then, noticing their current positions, her eyes widened in horror.
Anyone would mistake the scene for a marriage proposal.
“Ah...”
Adeline tried to explain, but the two ladies had already rushed back inside.
Unfortunately, they were famous for spreading gossip.
She could already imagine what rumors would soon fill the ballroom.
“Lady Leta! Wait a moment—”
Just as Adeline hurried to stop them, she froze.
Someone else had witnessed everything.
“...Lady Felix.”
Vanessa.
Vanessa had seen the entire scene.
A moment that anyone would mistake for Kael proposing marriage to Adeline.
