“Retti, my foot hurts so much. Can you blow on it to make it better?”
“Brother, you can handle a little pain.”
“How heartless. Neither His Majesty nor you are on my side. It’s so sad.”
“If you’re sad, how about showing a bit of a downcast expression?”
Despite claiming that he didn’t have much time left, Haint didn’t look like someone who was in pain or sorrowful. Retina, spreading her arms wide, pushed Haint away as he tried to embrace her. His words and actions were so contradictory that she couldn’t believe him. She popped a cookie, designed to be eaten by hand, into her mouth as she glanced back at Haint.
“Brother, it’s probably because you meet plenty of women without needing any excuses. Honestly, out of the three of us, you seem the most likely to get married first.”
“What do you mean? Both you and Sat are in relationships, so why just me?”
“Well…”
Retina glanced at Haint from head to toe.
With his robust physique sculpted by daily training, short hair kept neat, a handsome face that contrasted with his imposing body, and his young age as the deputy commander of the Second Knights, Haint Deneuve was born into a dukedom. With both appearance and status, he was always at the top of the social hierarchy. He could have any woman he wanted.
Even in an era where free love didn’t harm marriage prospects, Haint enjoyed his youth by sharing abundant affection with many women, leveraging his advantages.
“It’s a bit different.”
Well, more like he’s different.
Retina covered her words with a laugh. Haint’s reputation as a Casanova was partly due to his personality.
Rudenheim was lenient about love. While arranged marriages were common in noble society, everyone was free to meet their desired partners until marriage. Not having any romantic experiences was considered a flaw, so even friends would date to appear as couples.
Even in such a liberal environment, some people still became the talk of the town. Those called Casanovas or flirts at parties were still highly popular because they had an irresistible charm that attracted numerous admirers…
“Having an abundance of love isn’t a crime,” Haint said with a smile.
“Yes, for you, it is,” Retina retorted.
“Why! I love you more than any other woman,” Haint protested.
“And that’s why it’s a crime,” she responded.
Haint’s priority was always Retina, preventing him from forming deep relationships with any other woman. Though he had plenty of love to give, he couldn’t commit to just one person because his heart truly belonged to his sister. In contrast, Sat treated ladies with respect and didn’t carry his connections beyond the party, making him seem more gentlemanly.
“Casanovas like you don’t need advice to find a good match and marry. Maybe advice to stop meeting so many women,” Retina teased.
“Would you just be quiet?” Haint grumbled at Sat’s teasing.
Unfazed, Sat pouted his lower lip and dismissed Haint’s mocking tone.
“The presence of three remarkable individuals surely changes the atmosphere of the imperial ballroom,” someone remarked.
“Indeed, everyone couldn’t take their eyes off you three conversing with His Majesty. How did the Duke of Deneuve raise all of you to be so distinguished? I’d love to know the secret,” another noble chimed in.
Their playful bickering was interrupted as a crowd gathered around them. Having greeted the Emperor, they were soon surrounded by people eager for conversation
As rumors spread that the Emperor intended to pass the throne to the Crown Prince, more people sought to build connections with the Deneuve brothers, who were being discussed as potential future allies of the next Emperor.
“Your Grace, you look even more beautiful today,” someone complimented.
“You’ve always been beautiful, Your Grace. But I heard that at the last meeting, the heads of the noble families were left speechless. It’s concerning that someone so new to the political scene is achieving so much. I worry that Rudenheim might be left with nothing if this continues.”
“That’s unlikely. Though I’ve pledged to continue the legacy of the House of Ignis, I am still a citizen of the Empire born and raised in Rudenheim. I aim to guide both nations in a positive direction without bias.”
One noticeable change was that more people were showing interest in Retina. Unlike before, she couldn’t escape the crowd and had to engage with everyone who approached her. Even though the social season was ending, she was facing the reality of having to meet the nobles of the North after she left.
With her thoughts scattered, Retina barely managed to focus on those lingering near her. They waited until the area around her cleared, unable to push through the crowd of ladies.
“I have a prior engagement, so I’ll be taking my leave now. It was a pleasure to speak with you, even briefly. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Oh, I had a wonderful time as well. May the blessings of Rudenheim be with you and the Duke of Ignis.”
“May the light of the sun always shine upon the Empire.”
Upon spotting them, Retina made her polite exit from the group of ladies who were holding her back with their many words. She quickly made her way to a cluster of youthful noblewomen, who greeted her with delight when they saw her.
“It’s an honor to meet Your Grace, the Duke of Ignis.”
“Lady Retina…”
“You should now call me Your Grace.”
“To me, you’ll always be Lady Retina. Right?”
Basilis, who had been chided by Isabel from the side, ran up to Retina and embraced her.
‘Is it since the equestrian event that we’ve last met?’
Though Retina had been engaged in external activities, mostly attending meetings and not having time to meet with young noblewomen, she now patted Basilis, who was nestled in her embrace, and exchanged greetings with the others.
She felt immense gratitude toward these noblewomen. Thanks to their willingness to step forward without hesitation, even when her family’s situation was perilous, she had managed to reach this position.
“Is there something you’d like to ask, Lady Basilis?”
Basilis, with her face still buried in Retina’s embrace, peered up with a mischievous glint in her eye.
“Yes, Lady Retina?”
“I’m curious about something.”
“What is it?”
Basilis, rolling her eyes in a dramatic fashion, finally let out a playful grin.
“Is the man you mentioned before actually Crown Prince Ares?!”
“Basilis! How can you ask such a question? The Duke herself said that she and the Crown Prince are nothing more than acquaintances.”
The young noblewoman, who had been teasingly prodded by her friend, looked slightly embarrassed but also delighted at the prospect of unearthing a piece of gossip. Retina, trying to maintain her composure, gently patted Basilis’s head and offered a reassuring smile.
“It’s not polite to probe into personal matters like that. I assure you, I have my own journey and commitments, just like everyone else. Now, let’s focus on enjoying the evening together.”
Retina’s light-hearted yet firm response helped shift the conversation away from the sensitive topic, allowing her to continue mingling with her friends while keeping the mood light and pleasant.
“Really? But at the equestrian event…”
“Y-Your Grace, there were rumors circulating in the social circles before. Most of them turned out to be false, but to see Your Grace personally quash those rumors is truly impressive.”
At Basilis’s direct question, Isabel intervened. The stark contrast between Basilis, who persistently called Retina by her former title, and Isabel, who continued addressing her as the Duke, was striking. It was surprising that two such different personalities were such close friends.
“Why? I’m curious. Everyone pretends not to be interested while wanting to know everything.”
Basilis, despite Isabel’s attempt to redirect the conversation, stayed close to Retina. If they weren’t interested, they would have left long ago. However, they stayed glued to Retina’s side, ignoring dance invitations from the men.
“It’s alright. There’s nothing to hide between us. I’ll tell you.”
“Wow! As expected, Lady Retina is the best. I love you!!”
Basilis clapped her hands in joy, using her trademark cheerful demeanor to get what she wanted. Even though it was clear she was being overly flattering, it didn’t come off as unpleasant.
“Actually…”
Retina shifted her gaze toward the approaching Crown Prince, using him as a natural segue for her explanation. Maintaining eye contact with him, she continued.
“I have no special relationship with His Highness. We’ve spent more time together than with other men, but that’s simply due to the natural interactions that come from being close to my brothers. Most of the sightings you’ve heard of were when I was with my brothers.”
The explanation was clear and honest, aiming to put an end to any lingering rumors and to reassure her friends.
Retina finished her explanation without avoiding the Crown Prince’s gaze.
“Thank you for your consideration, even though I am not important enough to be a concern.”
Isabel’s eyes widened slightly at the mention of the Crown Prince’s possible lady. Basilis, still determined, looked disappointed that her speculations had all failed.
At that moment, the Crown Prince passed by them. Even though he had heard all of Retina’s denials, his expression remained unchanged.
‘Even if our bodies are apart now, I know our hearts will remain together forever.’
Retina watched the Crown Prince’s retreating figure as he moved toward her brothers. His presence, even in the midst of socializing and discussing policies, seemed renewed to her.
With a clear and warm farewell, Retina said her goodbyes to the familiar faces that approached her.
Thus, the final ball of Rudenheim came to an end, closing a significant chapter.
