This novel is now shifted to Lilly On The Valley site. You can read it there. Thank you.
Chapter 6: My Friend’s Divorce (6)
Esteban of the House of Duke Renstein.
The moment his name echoed through the ballroom, the atmosphere shifted completely.
The hall, which had been noisy with chatter, fell instantly silent. Only the soft music from the orchestra filled the space, reminding everyone that time hadn’t stopped.
Although the city of Nas was the second largest in the Domence Kingdom after the capital, no nobles of such high rank as a duke resided here. To hold a dukedom meant the family was somehow related to the royal bloodline.
In the stillness, as if everyone had stopped breathing, the doors of the hall opened and a man strode inside.
“Ah…!”
An admiring sigh from a noblewoman nearby caught Aneta’s attention — and she understood why.
He was very tall with broad shoulders, yet he didn’t look clumsy. Perhaps it was his small face that made his shoulders seem even broader.
With a slim waist and long legs, his suit fit him perfectly. His black hair gleamed like polished ebony, and beneath his straight forehead, his eyebrows were thick and well-shaped.
But what stood out most were the eyes beneath those brows. They were narrow but not too thin, and in them, vivid green irises gleamed. The depth of his gaze made his already prominent nose appear even sharper, and his gently tapered jawline was softer than that of most women.
His pale skin made his lips look unusually red — enough to remind someone of a vampire from an old regional legend.
Aneta had no choice but to admit: the man who had made her life miserable was an exceptionally handsome one.
Despite the attention on him, he seemed unfazed. He removed his hat and handed it to the attendant beside him, then walked in gracefully.
When Count Moody finally came to his senses and approached Esteban, it was like a spell had broken — the stillness lifted.
Every male noble, young or old, hurried to greet Esteban, eager to befriend the son of a powerful house. Unmarried young ladies cast hopeful glances his way, and the noblewomen whispered among themselves.
“I heard the Duke of Renstein was handsome, but I didn’t expect his son to be this striking.”
“Do you suppose the Moodys and the Rensteins have some sort of connection? For him to attend this party…”
“Isn’t Lord Renstein still unmarried? The young ladies must be thrilled. One of them could end up a duchess.”
“Do you think it’s just the girls who are excited? Look — every parent with a daughter is gathering around Lord Renstein.”
The fact that Esteban Renstein was attending a noble social party in Nas meant only one thing: he was showing interest in building ties with the Nas nobility. And since he was still unmarried and at a prime age for marriage, it was only natural that nobles with daughters his age were buzzing with excitement.
While everyone was distracted by him, Aneta quietly took a few steps backward. It wasn’t likely that Esteban would recognize her — but even so, she didn’t want to be noticed by him.
She cautiously moved her feet, trying to hide behind a nearby pillar’s shadow. Just then, Count Moody looked her way. And the moment their eyes almost met—
Esteban also turned his gaze in that direction.
Their eyes met.
Esteban didn’t hesitate or look for the right moment. With complete composure, he said something to Count Moody and walked straight toward Aneta.
Everyone’s eyes followed his movements.
Now, it was too late to run. Aneta had no choice but to stop and wait for him to approach.
He finally stopped in front of her and gave a slight smile.
“Mrs. Schreiber?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Esteban Renstein.”
“Oh… yes.”
Not even a polite lie of pleasure came out of her mouth. Esteban didn’t seem to mind. Casually, he took off his white gloves and extended a hand toward her.
“May I have the first dance?”
It wasn’t unusual for an unmarried nobleman to ask a noblewoman—not one of the debutantes—for the first dance, as a way of showing he wasn’t favoring any young lady in particular.
But this was different. Aneta knew it.
This man was clearly asking her to dance so he could talk about her grandfather’s house.
Even so, she couldn’t refuse him easily. To others, this invitation might seem trivial, but if she declined, rumors about tension between the Renstein and Schreiber families would inevitably spread.
Aneta swallowed a sigh and placed her hand atop his outstretched palm. Esteban took her hand lightly, as if it meant nothing, and led her to the center of the ballroom.
As the other nobles began to gather with their partners, Countess Moody signaled the orchestra.
A waltz began.
With practiced ease, Esteban placed his hand at Aneta’s waist—firm, but not too strong. He moved at just the right tempo as he spoke.
“Mrs. Schreiber.”
“Yes.”
“You won’t look at me.”
“……”
“Avoiding my eyes means that, deep down, even you know how unreasonable you’re being.”
Those words made her bristle. She snapped her head up and met his gaze, staring directly into his emerald-colored eyes.
“No. I think you’re the one being unreasonable.”
“Please, call me Esteban, madam.”
“I’m not sure I’ll ever have a reason to say your name again.”
“Well, never mind that. How much do you want?”
“Oh, are you not a strong reader? Or do you have trouble with comprehension? Because I believe I’ve made it very clear—many times—that the property is not for sale.”
Esteban smiled.
“Sarcasm suits you. Is that why you’re such a skilled negotiator?”
“This isn’t a negotiation. I truly don’t intend to sell, Lord Esteban.”
“Ah, you said you wouldn’t say my name, but you just did.”
“……”
Aneta suddenly really didn’t like this man.
“If what bothers you is the idea of tearing down your grandparents’ house, then let me offer this: I have skilled professionals. They can move the house as it is to another location, without demolishing it. I’ll cover the entire cost. And I’ll pay you more. How about double what I offered last time?”
“You must be very wealthy, judging by how easily you throw money at pointless things.”
“It’s important to me.”
“If things important to you matter that much, then how about considering what’s important to others too? That house being in that place means a great deal to me.”
One of Esteban’s eyebrows twitched.
His smile dimmed, just slightly—something that brought Aneta a bit of satisfaction.
At that moment, the piece ended. Aneta tried to step away, but Esteban tightened the arm around her waist.
“Let’s have another dance.”
“No, thank you.”
“Dance with me again. Before I go around telling everyone about Mrs. Schreiber’s greed.”
“You really are rude, awful, and just… despicable.”
He chuckled.
“That’s about right. And you’re currently fighting with this rude, awful man over money.”
“It’s not about the money—ah!”
A new song had started, and as Esteban moved, Aneta—caught off guard—stumbled. Before she could fall, he smoothly caught her by the waist and spun her upright again.
Her face burned from the slip, but surprisingly, Esteban didn’t mock her for it.
“I want to build a villa there so I can enjoy the perfect view, madam.”
In his mind, it seemed the house was nothing more than an obstacle.
“But your grandparents’ house ruins the landscape.”
“How about accepting it as part of the landscape?”
“I can’t. That house is…”
He stopped. No matter how he felt, he couldn’t bring himself to insult her grandparents’ house.
“It’s simply… not to my taste.”
“I see. But what can I say? I like that house right where it is. I love the view of the lakeshore from there. I don’t want to lose it.”
Stubborn woman.
Esteban looked steadily at Aneta.
Ever since he’d mentioned her avoiding his gaze, she hadn’t looked away once. That alone said volumes about how strong-willed she was.
Esteban had rarely felt nervous or uncertain in his life. But now, for the first time, he felt a flicker of anxiety—that he might actually fail to acquire the house.
“What will it take for you to give up?”
“No matter what you do. No matter what you try. I won’t give up.”
He glared at her as she spoke with unwavering firmness. She met his gaze without flinching, glaring right back at him.
That was when he finally noticed the color of her eyes.
They were gray, rimmed with blue—like storm clouds veiling a clear blue sky.
‘Just like her personality,’ he thought.
To Esteban, Aneta was exactly that: storm clouds covering a blue sky.
A cloud he simply couldn’t clear away.
As he continued to glare, unable to find a way to break through the solid shield she held up, the music came to an end once again.
This time, before the next song could begin, Aneta quickly pulled her hand from his. She grabbed her skirt and gave a graceful curtsy.
“It was a lovely time. I hope we don’t meet again, Lord Renstein.”
And then she smiled—a radiant, beautiful smile.
For a fleeting moment, Esteban was reminded of Lake Elgreen at sunrise.
She was infuriating. Maddening.
But that perfect smile—he had to admit—it was impossible to ignore.
Even if it annoyed the hell out of him.
