He Loved My Sister

“Then why did you call me young lady, Roseriel ?”

“Well, is there anything else to discuss between us except  one reason?”

It was Gabriel and Roseriel.

Even without thinking, it was obvious what kind of conversation they were having and why they needed to meet in such a quiet place during this time.

But I couldn’t understand why my heart felt so heavy.

I couldn’t get up because my legs were weak, so I sat still and covered my ears, hoping not to overhear anything.

I wished Rose would just take her fiancé and leave.

Despite my earnest wish, the distance between them and me seemed too close, and I could occasionally hear their voices.

“…….is that good?”

Roseriel’s voice.

“Yes, that’s good.”

Gabrielle’s voice was firm but soft.

My heart pounded once more at the melting affection in their voices.

‘Why did I hide? ‘

I knew it too. They weren’t doing anything bad, and I wasn’t in a place where I shouldn’t have been caught. If I had gone out right away, it could have passed as a momentary incident but for some reason, I couldn’t.

I quietly covered my face with my hands.

I tried to block  the words  that were coming out from their mouth like fragments of a conversation while holding my breath.

Confession, first dance, my heart, hand, necklace, and proposal…

Oh, a proposal.

Could it be that Gabriel was finally going to propose to Roseriel?

‘ It’s happening faster than in the original.’

Well, they also met much faster than in “Youngae is Sweet,” and they had more interactions, so it was only natural.

My thoughts quickly shifted. Whose emotions were these, which felt both refreshing and bitter?

Unconsciously, I bit my lip and pinched my tingling legs.

“It’s settled.”

“Understood.”

Suddenly, the two of them said that.

I was surprised and perked up my ears, but it seemed like their conversation had ended in an instant.

‘Already?’

They were lovers.

‘But that’s it?’

If someone saw them, it would seem like they weren’t exchanging affection like lovers but like people secretly trading something.

Even though my eyes felt warm as if they were about to tear up, I felt very strange, so I carefully raised my head and looked.

“?”

But it was true.

Before I knew it, they had exchanged some words and were walking neatly in different directions.

They’d gotten so much far away from each other in seconds that I couldn’t believe how fast they were walking.

‘……What, really?’

Anyway, the point was, I came here to de-stress, but  left with even more stress.

At the same time, the anxiety I had been feeling at the banquet hall all along was layered like a stone.

It wasn’t like me.

I couldn’t stand to see Roseriel genuinely smiling. I…

‘My heart hurts whenever I see Gabriel and Roseriel together.’

It hurts.

---

Second day of the banquet.

“Hm, good evening.”

“Good evening, young lady.”

“Sir, if you don’t mind…….”

“Me too!”

“Uh, oh my.”

Similar conversations were happening in the hall.

Offering hands with shy smiles and clasping them, it was a scene of couples.

The atmosphere was different from the formal and quiet first day of the banquet.

Today it was filled with the youthful and lively energy of the newly debuted Youngaes and Youngsiks, their cheeks flushed like ripe apples. They subtly communicated with their partners, sending secretive glances to the one they hoped would be their first dance partner.

Feeling the warmth in the air, the ladies and gentlemen cleared the hall to allow the youngaes and the youngsiks to dance comfortably.

Thus, the second and third floors were occupied by the older generations or married people, leaving the spacious hall with the young, brightly dressed, ribbon- and jewel-encrusted, and stiffly postured youngsters who had just made their debut.

It was at that moment that subtle music began to play.

Since there was no grand proclamation like on the first day, they didn’t wait for the entrance of the nobles. Instead, they agreed to dance with a simple greeting and a handshake.

However, the first dance in this hall was an exception.

Everyone was waiting for it.

Most expected one of the two people.

Either a member of the royal family, or Gabriel, the war hero who had set the social scene ablaze.

At the same time, nobles from both the Emperor’s and Empress’s factions predicted that Gabriel would start the first dance.

Perhaps that’s why.

Among the colorful dresses, there was a platinum-haired man who stood out conspicuously.

Everyone was looking at him.

He entered without a partner, Gabriel von Velkius.

“Why isn’t he with the Hillingtons?”

“Perhaps he was only entering with them for the sake of formality; yesterday was a ceremonial day, and today is the real thing.”

“But still, the Hildaea von Hillington’s necklace…”

“That’s just an old, tedious tradition. Ah, he should choose me.”

With broad shoulders contrasting with a slim waist, long arms and legs gracefully adorning his body, his party attire was exquisite from every angle.

Everything about him was perfect.

The Youngaes dreamed for a moment, with longing glances, that perhaps the war hero would choose them as his partner for the first dance.

At that moment.

A beautiful woman walked gracefully to the war hero’s side like a shining golden statue.

Her long, flowing dress was like a mermaid’s tail.

As she approached, she curled her lips in a graceful arc and spoke.

“Duke Velkius.”

People turned to look at the war hero.

How could someone be so cold and heartless when they had such a beautiful woman in front of them?

His facial features were just as splendid as the woman in front of him, but his features seemed even more radiant and stood out, giving off an exceptionally chilling vibe.

However, considering the status of the woman in front of him, it was a very arrogant demeanor.

For she was none other than princess Raphia.

She slowly extended her hand toward Gabrielle.

It was as if… she were a noble lady allowing her knight to kiss the back of her hand.

Those watching swallowed their dry saliva with a nervous heart.

Would Gabriel hold her hand or coolly refuse?

---

Oh, I’m late!

I’d been out in the garden long enough to get the ends of my pajamas damp with dew last night.

I must have looked so flustered when the palace maids woke me up!

‘Goodness, I’m a fool, really.’

Still, the palace maids were professional and helped me without a hint of judgment.

When it was time to decorate my hair, the palace maid unnie who was combing my hair took out the hairpin from yesterday and asked.

“Are you going to wear this, Youngae?”

It was given by Gabriel.

My heart tightened.

I shook my head more fiercely than I thought.

No, absolutely not.

“No.”

“But, Youngae, I heard that this…”

“Let’s go with the one on the right, please.”

For the time being, for the sake of my heart and peace of mind, I wasn’t going to do anything to interfere with Gabriel and Rose’s relationship.

“Oh, and put that necklace away, too.”

“What?”

For some reason, my handmaiden unnie  looked surprised.

I frowned, not knowing the reason, but politely made the same request again.

“I don’t plan to wear that.”

“Really, are you sure?”

“…”

“… But…that..”

Their actions were confusing. They seemed to want to say something but held it back.

I repeated my request politely.

“That necklace isn’t something I want to wear.”

“Ah, yes. Yes. I’m sorry. I’ll help you right away, Youngae.”

After a moment, the one who had shown me to my room yesterday, presumably the most senior of the maids, asked cautiously.

“His Excellency, the Duke of Hillington, is waiting for you outside, what shall we do?”

I glanced up in surprise, only to catch sight of my father’s stiffened form in the doorway. It was real.

“Father?”

My heart pounded.

I thought he’d gone first.

I wanted to show only my perfect side to my family, but yesterday, I had to rely on Rose for help.

Ah, it’s so disappointing.

I bit my lip without realizing it and averted my gaze from dad this time.

I spoke to the maid in a calm voice mustering my courage.

“I beg your pardon, but would you please tell my father to go ahead, I still have some preparations to make.”

My voice sounded cold, even to me.

I’d overslept, and Rose would have walked in with Gabriel as usual.

Perhaps that was why he had come to escort me, despite his discomfort.

Still, the image of him avoiding my gaze in the ballroom yesterday stung like a thorn.

“I’m not feeling well right now.”

Better to avoid it for a while than to let my emotions get the better of me.

“Yes, I will tell him so.”

I watched the palace maid deliver the message, not daring to look at my father’s face.

A moment later, there was the sound of movement and the door slammed shut.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Rose must be in the ballroom now, right?’

Why was I so oblivious?

I shook my head in frustration.

I must have been overwhelmed by my emotions yesterday, but I should have refused more firmly.

Even though I didn’t hold hands with him, I still walked around like that, so Gabriel must have been so embarrassed.

If Rose hadn’t betrayed her, she wouldn’t have done what she did yesterday, standing so close to Gabriel, like that.

‘I shouldn’t have held his arm.’

I must have felt like an intruder, caught between them.

The throbbing pain was actually a guilty conscience.

Yes,that must be it.

It was then that I frantically dressed, adjusted my attire, and followed the maid out to the ballroom.

“Young-ae.”

“……?”