Chapter 32

Jealousy (2)

“I didn’t know Lady Cecilia was such a person. You always disappeared around the middle of the party, so I thought you didn’t like parties.”

“I heard your younger sibling attended the academy with you and had excellent academic records, especially in the language area.”

“Being so beautiful and knowledgeable, it seems you’ve hidden your talents at the Deneuve House for quite some time.”

As soon as a few barriers were broken, people gathered around Retina. She didn’t push them away and engaged in a few words with them. Soon, she was surrounded by a crowd. Some had ulterior motives, but there were more people who wanted to approach her once she opened up. Retina constantly laughed, chatted, and even had a glass of champagne. She felt the right amount of tipsy, her mood was good, and she even danced when she felt like it.

She used to think that parties were tiring and headache-inducing, but as she talked, she found them enjoyable. She still didn’t have the desire to marry anyone from this group, but she thought it might be nice to socialize with people once in a while.

“Who will you dance with for this next piece?”

Retina looked at the hands extended toward her and hesitated. Originally, they were supposed to take turns and request a dance, but since they were all gathered here, they decided to draw lots.

“Well… I like the cufflinks the most. Lord Valvero.”

“Lady Cecilia has a good eye. These cufflinks were specially designed for this social season. The artisan worked quite hard to create a unique design.”

The young man chosen by Retina spoke as he turned his wrist to show off the cufflinks. The crystals embedded in them sparkled every time he moved his hand. They were impressive, and it was ironic that Retina had chosen them without a particular reason.

Retina, escorted by Lord Valvero, glanced back as she felt a gaze from somewhere behind her. However, the people behind her were all engrossed in their conversations, paying no attention to her.

“The feeling of being watched from behind… am I just being paranoid?”

She looked around and saw Herald. He was still accompanied by Mariee. She had heard that in debutante balls where partners were not predetermined, couples often didn’t stick together. But it seemed Herald had found the woman he desired, and he had no need for another partner.

“Why does he search so desperately, even though it’s not the first time?”

Retina had been avoiding him, but seeing him with Mariee, her heart inexplicably raced. What was so special about one night among the countless nights they had spent together?

She bit her lower lip and looked back again. The prince was engaged in conversation with other nobles, and, coincidentally, her gaze met Marie’s.

“Oh…”

Retina, who had turned away from Marie’s intense gaze, squeezed Lord Valvero’s wrist tightly. She didn’t know why Marie was avoiding her. As a result, she hadn’t noticed the gaze that followed Marie’s, but she couldn’t dwell on it.

Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only.

Since her eye contact with Marie, her mind had become so scattered that she couldn’t remember how she had danced with Valvero. She tried to focus, but the conversations between her brothers, Marie, and the prince dominated her thoughts. Marie had liked the prince for a long time, a story she hadn’t known about in the capital.

Retina didn’t touch the plated fruit and only sipped from the wine next to it. It had a higher alcohol content than party champagne, but it went down like water, perhaps because her mouth felt bitter.

“I thought I would feel relieved if the prince stopped looking for me. But that’s not it,” Retina mused, feeling rather uncomfortable. If she hadn’t run away that day, what would have happened? She had been intoxicated too, so she thought it would quickly fade from her memory. However, the memory of that day lingered. It wasn’t just because it was her first time; there seemed to be deeper emotions involved.

As Retina tilted her head, she refilled her empty glass. There was no point in dwelling on the fact that she had been his partner. She still couldn’t grasp her feelings for the prince. Retina, with a complicated expression, raised her glass.

‘Right. Even if he were to marry someday, it’s better to be with Marie, who openly expresses her affection for the prince, rather than me, who doesn’t like him.’ After all, she and the prince weren’t a good match.

Her mood had suddenly dampened, even though she had been enjoying herself until just now. Retina played with the grapes on her plate with her fork for a moment before getting up from her seat.

“When Marie was five years old, she confessed to Herald for the first time. Do you know what Herald said back then? Well… Reti? Where are you going?”

“Just to the terrace for a moment. I want some fresh air.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll just cool down and be back.”

“Alright. Your face is turning red.”

Leaving her brothers behind, who wanted to join her, Retina headed to the terrace. She ran to the railing and leaned against it. She touched the cool marble with her hand and sighed. She closed her eyes, enjoying the cool breeze, and slowly lifted her eyelids. Before her eyes stretched, she saw a view similar to what she had seen at the royal ball.

“Ah…”

Thinking of the prince and Marie together made her chest tighten, which was unusual for her. It wasn’t normal to feel uncomfortable just because of them when she didn’t even like the prince.

“Get a hold of yourself!” Retina scolded herself and blew out a frustrated breath. There was more than one man in the world, and if she kept thinking about the prince just because he was her first, she’d never move on. Now, even when she saw the two of them together, she wouldn’t avert her eyes. She made a firm resolution and turned her body around, intending to return to her brothers, where her complicated emotions could be sorted out.

However, at that moment, Retina witnessed two people entering the terrace across from her. They had walked all the way from the ballroom to the end of the terrace and were engaged in conversation. Then, their arms were tightly wrapped around each other. Overlapping arms, faces close enough for their lips to touch, and even laughter over what seemed like trivial matters It was right next to the terrace, so she couldn’t help but notice who they were.

“How did I end up in a situation like this, even though I resolved not to avoid them?” Retina sighed inwardly.

They seemed to have come to the terrace after spending the entire evening together. She didn’t want them to notice her, but within seconds of her seeing them, they had already recognized her.

“Uh… Have a good time!” Retina managed to stammer out and, without saying another word, hurriedly left her spot. She didn’t want to be there to witness any explanations or awkward moments. Retina felt too embarrassed to stay, and with that thought in mind, she left the area. Herald, who had hastily turned away upon spotting Retina, had no chance to explain himself.

“Gosh.”

Retina missed Herald but had to let go of him. In the situation where Marie was with them, she couldn’t openly confront Retina. Retina wondered why he had come to the terrace when he had been with the other Young ladies all along.

Marie, who had been planning to say something and had followed her to the terrace, was suddenly pulled in the direction of the terrace by Herald. She was about to find out what he wanted to say when, all of a sudden, Marie stumbled toward Retina.

On this particular evening, Marie had chosen to wear a flowing dress, and as luck would have it, she tripped over her dress and fell. Retina tried to support her and help her up, but she couldn’t hold onto them because they couldn’t openly cling to her, given that Marie was right there.

‘Why did they come to the terrace when they had been with the other young ladies all along?’ Retina couldn’t help but wonder.

Herald, who had followed Marie to the terrace to say something, was there when Marie suddenly stumbled in his direction. Marie, who had worn a flowing dress for the evening, tripped over her own dress. Retina and Herald both reached out to help her up, and in doing so, their eyes met.

“What are you doing?” Herald, with an expression colder than ice, couldn’t help but focus on Marie. It was a coincidence beyond coincidence that she fell backward, and he had a lower chance of breaking his nose than that happening.

Marie, under Herald’s icy stare, bit her lip and then raised her chin to look at him.

Translators: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only.

“Do you care about me His Highness? You were looking for someone. It’s me… We… spent the night together. But why can you only look at the other princesses?” Tears welled up in Marie’s large pupils. She tried to hold back her tears by squeezing her eyes shut, but her reddened eyelids betrayed her protective instincts.

However, her appearance didn’t stir any emotions in Herald, who had known her since she was very young. At least he intended not to reveal the truth until the Debutant Ball was over. But when she presented it as if it were the truth, it was more than just awkward.

“Marie, I still don’t remember that night. It’s still hard for me to believe your general claim. But since it’s already known that we slept together before the Debutant Ball, I can’t help but fulfill your demands. However, it’s troubling to think if it’s right for me to stick with you throughout the Debutant Ball.”

“But I publicly stated that I spent the night with His Highness the Crown Prince…!”

“In time, that won’t matter anymore. What happened afterward is more important.”

Herald firmly cut off Marie’s clinging. He had been by her side throughout the ball in accordance with her request, but she continuously tried to cross the line.

“So, are you saying that you’ll choose her over me? Do you have feelings for her?”

“…”

“She’s from the Deneuve family… Even if you write the surname differently, Lady Cecilia is still from the Deneuve family.”

Marie lowered her head as she spoke, as if she wanted to deny her own words. Tears welled up in her eyes and trickled down beneath her hood.

“Why… Why are you and my brothers, and even Her Highness, getting close to the Deneuve family? They’re nobility. The Deneuve Duke is still restraining the Imperial family. How can you maintain such familiarity with them?”

“I’ve known the Deneuve’s since before you were born. It has nothing to do with the direction of their family. It might change when Sat receives his title. I hope you won’t freely interpret and judge my friendships.”

Herald spoke coldly to Marie, who was going as far as involving the Deneuve’s in her complaints. It was as if she were already acting as if she were the Crown Princess. He didn’t hide his stern expression. Even if Marie were to become the Crown Princess, she had no right to interfere in his friendships, not even his relationship with the Deneuve’s.

“It’s true that I was searching for that woman because I couldn’t forget her, but that doesn’t mean I sought her out to cling to her. Don’t make a big deal out of one night. Seeing her as Illiyan’s sister has its limits.”

Herald’s warning caused Marie, unable to hold back her emotions, to burst into tears. Herald didn’t follow her as she ran out onto the terrace. She couldn’t even bear this much, and yet she tried to fake her emotions. The headache that he had been ignoring for so long seemed to intensify, and he pressed his temples hard to alleviate it.