The princess led Kisa out of the banquet hall and walked through the corridor of the annex.
“Um, Kisa.”
Just when Kisa thought they were going quite far, the princess who was walking ahead spoke.
“Yes, Princess.”
“I’m curious about something. Why did you attend this banquet today?”
“Pardon?”
“Honestly, considering the relationship between Countess Habertz and Daniel Lowens, isn’t it a bit awkward for this to be the first event you’re attending after breaking off your engagement? I’m sure Kisa would have received many invitations to other nice banquets, so I’m curious why you chose this one.”
“Ah, that’s…”
Kisa was at a loss for words. She couldn’t possibly say it was because you attended as Seyard’s partner.
Count Vansfelt had even advised Kisa that in the worst-case scenario, she should kiss Seyard.
However, fortunately, from the beginning of the banquet, Kisa had been watching the two of them without even dancing, and concluded that the Count’s concern was unfounded.
People certainly considered the youngest princess and Duke Hillan to be a well-matched pair and seemed to expect that Seyard would take over his brother’s engagement, but the two of them didn’t particularly give off an atmosphere beyond that of companions.
In fact, both of them were so busy with people approaching them that they appeared occupied just dealing with them throughout the banquet.
Even Kisa, who had been watching them with wide eyes, found her attention diverted to the dancers as the banquet atmosphere heightened.
It was also somewhat refreshing to stand still and watch others dance, as it had been a while.
“Do you have a special reason for coming here?”
Anyway, for this reason, Kisa couldn’t answer the princess’s question truthfully.
“Well, let’s see. Rather than that…”
When Kisa just trailed off without giving a proper answer, the princess was silent for a moment. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked:
“Could it be because of Young Master Lowens?”
“Daniel?”
“Yes, maybe you deliberately chose this banquet for a change of perspective, because of Young Master Lowens?”
Not at all. Daniel’s presence had no influence whatsoever on Kisa’s decision to attend this banquet.
As evidence, Kisa only realized the identity of the discomfort she had felt in the lounge after the banquet had started and considerable time had passed.
Come to think of it, that guy had said he would wait in the garden. Of course, even after recognizing this fact, she had no desire to go to the garden, even later.
The arrogant Daniel Lowens wouldn’t have kept waiting for Kisa who didn’t come, and even if he did wait, it wasn’t something Kisa needed to care about.
Who cares about such a person?
The memories of Daniel still existed in her heart, but the man she actually saw today was such an irritatingly rude fellow that she didn’t even have time to dwell on those memories.
The way he blatantly ignored Richard is still vivid in her mind.
“That’s not it.”
Therefore, Kisa flatly denied the princess’s question. She absolutely didn’t want to be misunderstood as having deliberately chosen this banquet because she was still hung up on Daniel.
“The reason I came here is—”
Just as she was about to make it clear that it had nothing to do with Daniel, the princess stopped walking.
“We’re here. This is it.”
Arta opened the door to a room and went inside.
Kisa followed her without thinking much. But upon discovering the figure inside the brightly lit room, she couldn’t help but open her eyes wide.
“Daniel?”
“Welcome, Kisa.”
Rising from his chair, he greeted Kisa with a welcoming expression, then bowed to the side.
“Thank you for accepting my request, Princess.”
Dumbfounded, Kisa turned to the princess.
“Princess?”
“Kisa, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was afraid you would refuse if I did. You always just keep your worries to yourself. But just this once, how about following your heart?”
Kisa couldn’t understand what all this meant, but she could clearly see that Arta was looking at her with eyes that saw something pitiable.
“I heard from Young Master Lowens. The Young Master sincerely regrets his past mistakes and loves you. He says he wants to restore his relationship with you.”
“What?”
In her astonishment, she looked at Daniel, who whispered without changing his expression, looking slick:
“Kisa, give me one more chance.”
Before Kisa could respond, the princess looked back and forth between the two and said:
“Kisa, you still haven’t forgotten Young Master Lowens, have you? You say otherwise, but if that weren’t true, there would have been no need for you to come to this banquet, right?”
“That’s really not it! The reason I came here—”
“Stop, stop. I know everything. The man who was watching you isn’t here, so it’s okay to be honest.”
They took turns interrupting Kisa and saying only what they wanted to say.
“I’ll be going now. Take your time and talk. You might clear up some misunderstandings that have accumulated, knowingly or unknowingly.”
“Princess, wait a moment!”
“Where are you going? You need to stay here.”
As the princess prepared to leave, Kisa tried to go with her but was grabbed by the arm by Daniel.
“I’ll see you later, Kisa.”
In the meantime, Princess Arta had left, and only Kisa and Daniel remained in the room.
“What is this all about?”
With her head suddenly hot, Kisa glared fiercely at Daniel.
“What exactly did you tell the Princess?”
Now he had gone so far as to lie to a princess of the country to get her to bring Kisa.
Sure enough, Daniel, being exceptionally shameless, didn’t even bat an eyelid.
“I merely asked for her cooperation to save you.”
“Save me…?”
“Yes, because that man was constantly by your side. But now he’s gone, so you can be completely honest.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your father’s secretary was monitoring you.”
“Richard? Richard was monitoring me?”
Daniel had always said nonsensical things, but today it was particularly severe.
After several exchanges of such puzzling questions and answers, Kisa was just barely able to understand what Daniel was saying.
He firmly believed that Kisa had attended this charity banquet to seek his help, but was unable to move freely due to the evil Richard.
“Good heavens…”
She should have realized it from the moment he started talking about the Queen of Chamal. Daniel Lowens went beyond having a rich imagination—he was out of his mind.
“Don’t tell me you also told the princess that ridiculous fantasy?”
“I’m telling you to be honest now.”
With a headache, Kisa pressed her forehead with her hand and leaned against the wall.
What should she do? First, she needed to return to the banquet hall and explain to the princess that this was all just Daniel’s nonsense.
With that decision, she headed toward the door, but Daniel blocked her path.
“How long are you going to be stubborn? Even if we start moving diligently now, it will barely be enough.”
“Get out of my way.”
Kisa spat out in an extremely tired voice. She really wished he would stop now.
Until just a moment ago, her mood had been quite good. Despite some people trying to dig into her private affairs or throwing transparent flirtations, it was still good overall.
Because she had come out for once and enjoyed watching people dance while listening to elegant music. Because she had laughed and chatted with Richard. Because she had seen Seyard, even if from a distance.
“Let’s go to my house first. If you go back to your home, you’ll be inevitably sold to Chamal.”
But the moment she encountered Daniel making absurd claims, Kisa’s mood fell to the dirty ground.
“If we explain the situation well, my father will take good care of you. He’s always considered you like a daughter.”
“…I’m not being sold to Chamal.”
Kisa answered while barely holding onto her sanity, but Daniel simply ignored it.
Ah, she was reaching her limit.
“Kisa, just be honest—”
“Listen to me!”
Daniel flinched at the loud shout that seemed to pierce the eardrums, and stared at her.
In fact, even Kisa herself, who had screamed, didn’t know such a loud voice would come out. Had she ever raised her voice this loudly in her life?
“Listen to me! I’m saying it’s not me in front of your eyes! I’ve said no so many times!”
Kisa shouted, pounding her chest like someone who had lost her mind.
“Daniel Lowens! What am I to you? Do I look like a human being to you? No, right? Yes, I’m sure I don’t! Otherwise, you wouldn’t act so horribly!”
Daniel involuntarily stepped back from her bloodshot eyes that glared at him as if to kill.
“I’m not a puppet brainwashed by my father! Even less am I a womb to carry your child! Nor am I a maid who stays at home to take on annoying tasks while you’re with the woman you love!”
“Kisa…”
“Even if I say this, you’ll just ignore my words again anyway! Distorting, presuming, and looking down on me as you please! Because to you, I’m not a fellow human being!”
Had the anger in her heart finally subsided? After breathing heavily for a moment, Kisa soon spoke in a voice that was calmer than before.
“Fine. I’m sick of even exchanging words with you now.”
The gesture of brushing back her disheveled side hair was more composed than ever.
“Get out of my sight.”
It took Daniel, who had a blank expression due to Kisa’s unexpected outburst, some time to fully understand those words.
“…What?”
“If you don’t want to, I’ll leave.”
As she had no intention of associating with him, Kisa circled around him and headed for the door. However, just as she grabbed the doorknob to turn it, Daniel’s hand slammed against the door.
She looked up at him with an annoyed glance.
“Move.”
“No.”
Daniel answered with an expressionless face, but somehow his tone revealed a sense of urgency.
“I said move.”
“No. I understand that you’re very angry with me, but let’s talk.”
“I have nothing to talk about with you.”
“I have a lot.”
Kisa, who didn’t want to stay in this space for even a moment, tried to force the door open, but the difference in strength was obvious, and the door didn’t budge at all.
“I’ll scream!”
Having no choice but to change her approach, Daniel told her without changing his expression:
“Go ahead and scream all you want. No one will come.”
At that moment, a chill ran down Kisa’s neck.
It was a strange sensation she had never felt before due to Daniel during all the long years she had known him.
“Let go!”
“Kisa!”
Just as Kisa and he were struggling–knock, knock, knock.
Suddenly, there was a knocking sound.
“Are you there?”
It was Seyard’s voice.
