Today was just an ordinary day. A bright afternoon with fluffy clouds drifting across the blue sky, driving away the summer heat. I went to a café in the busy streets with Selvia.
“Milady, when will the marquis arrive?”
I barely heard the maid’s whining voice as she looked bored. The refreshing berry juice I liked and the sweet and slightly bitter tea cake remained untouched as they were. Feeling tense, I kept glancing around the area near the Veloire boutique across the outdoor terrace.
How much time had passed?
“He’s here.”
“Huh? The marquis?”
I jumped up from my seat and swiftly leaped over the terrace railing.
“Milady!”
There was a slight jolt to my ankle, but it wasn’t unbearable. It would be troublesome if I were late.
Ignoring the pain, I ran toward the end of the alley in the bustling street. Right on time, a black horse appeared. I waved my arms vigorously toward the man on the horse as if I were a lovestruck sweetheart.
“Kasion!”
The man spotted me from afar and pulled the reins, stopping the horse. Luckily, it was before he crossed the alley.
I ran up to him, beaming with a bright smile. My cheerful and innocent grin made Kasion furrow his brows.
“Oh my, Kasion! What a coincidence to meet you on the street like this. It must be fate.” I subtly crossed my arms and legs, swaying my shoulders.
The duke frowned at my playful behavior. The one who felt disgusted by this was actually me.
“Ariel, did you block my way just to say that?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Then what?”
“Please take me as your partner to the Harvest Festival ball in ten days!” I shouted so loudly that the alley echoed with my voice.
Kasion’s face scrunched up like a piece of paper once again. Does he think I’m doing this because I like it?
The more his face twisted, the more beautifully curved my lips became.
“What about Serhen?”
“Come on, I’m not a kid anymore. It’s time I enjoyed myself with a handsome man.”
“A handsome man? Did you say that to Serhen too?”
Kasion’s face, usually emotionless, twisted sharply. It was no surprise, given how much I had been pestering him recently.
“Not yet. You don’t like it?”
I couldn’t back down now. Just a little more, just a little longer.
I crossed my arms and looked at Kasion, pretending to be haughty. “Excluding my brother, I was going to give you the opportunity to be my first partner, Kasion.”
I didn’t forget to glance towards Veloire.
A carriage adorned with a blue rose. My only sibling had just stepped down from it and entered Veloire, holding a chest full of blue roses picked from the family garden. Good, just a bit more time. The view of the building was blocked by Kasion.
“I don’t know.” He looked me up and down. “I’m not sure if Serhen will allow it.”
“I’m old enough not to need my older brother’s permission.”
“You still need to grow a bit more to make dancing less tiring for both of us.”
As much as it irked me, he was right. He was much taller than Serhen, so I would practically have to cling to him to dance.
“I’m fully grown! And there are so many good high heels these days!” I raised my heels indignantly, abandoning the elegance that was supposedly his taste.
I didn’t care anymore. My goal must have been achieved by now. The important thing was to prevent Serhen from losing his partner to this guy.
“Fine. If you don’t want to, I’ll just leave!” I turned around with a huff.
At that moment, I heard a chilling voice from behind me.
“If you want it so badly, I’ll go with you.”
No, forget it. Who wants to be a partner with a dangerous man like you?
“It’s too late now.”
This was the perfect finish.
“Is that so? Then I’ll just have to ask Lady Soler to be my partner as originally planned.”
“Alright! I’ll do it! I’ll be your partner!”
I had to stop that from happening. This man would probably have no qualms about stealing someone’s predetermined partner. Do you think I’ll let you plant a death flag on Serhen, my one and only unicorn-like brother?
At my determined answer, Kasion’s golden eyes gleamed for a moment. “Yes, that’s the spirit.”
Today was just an ordinary day when lovers selected their partners before the ball.
