The servant approached Viscount Moldovan and handed him the coat, saying something I didn’t need to hear to understand. It was likely Ains’ message: “Don’t do unnecessary things.”
Viscount Moldovan looked flustered, glancing our way before giving us a helpless smile. He bowed slightly in our direction and then left the ballroom.
I watched his retreating figure before turning back to Ains. “What on earth are you doing?”
My voice had naturally grown sharp.
“Keep your voice down. Can’t you see people are staring?” Ains replied.
I looked around. Indeed, people were already watching us, and my confrontational tone had only drawn more attention, causing conversations around us to quiet down. Continuing this discussion here would only lead to more rumors.
“Let’s move somewhere else,” Ains said, turning away.
I watched him stride off and then reluctantly followed. When we reached the terrace, Ains took off his coat and handed it to me. I looked at the coat and then up at him.
“What is this?” I asked.
“If you’re going to dress lightly, at least wear a shawl. Don’t accept coats from Viscount Moldovan.”
“Why are you acting so strangely?” I demanded, not taking the coat. Ains draped it over my shoulders himself and sighed.
“You’re being too naive,” he said.
“Me? Naive?”
“Yes. Are you not aware of your situation?”
“Of course I am. I’m just the head of a lowly viscount family who divorced you.”
“The alimony you received—”
I fell silent at his words.
I remembered hearing whispers about the alimony. While the exact amount wasn’t public knowledge, rumors likely spread that I had received a substantial sum from the Duke of Graham upon our divorce.
I finally understood what Ains was implying. He was suggesting that Viscount Moldovan might be after the alimony I received.
Indeed, I had my suspicions about Moldovan’s intentions. Even if his feelings were genuine, it was inevitable that people would suspect otherwise given the circumstances.
“Look into Viscount Moldovan and his circle. Then you’ll understand why I’m acting this way,” Ains said, turning to leave the terrace.
I watched him, and just as he reached for the door, I called out, “Wait.”
“What is it?”
“I get what you’re worried about. But why are you suddenly acting like this? I told you, let’s stay out of each other’s business. Do you really think I’d fall for Viscount Moldovan and hand over all my money?”
Ains remained silent.
I didn’t need to guess the meaning of his silence. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress a bitter laugh.
“No one can seduce me into doing that,” I said firmly.
Even if Moldovan’s confession was a lie and he was only after the alimony, I wouldn’t give him a cent. That money was meant to secure my future, and I wasn’t foolish enough to squander it before ensuring my survival. I no longer had the luxury to be swayed by love.
“Rest assured, there’s nothing for you to worry about. And please, don’t behave like that in the ballroom again. What do you think people will make of your actions?”
I glanced at the bustling ballroom, where a few people were still watching us. When our eyes met, they quickly turned away, pretending to be engrossed in their conversations.
Ains’ behavior had undoubtedly seemed odd to others—approaching me, taking Moldovan’s coat off my shoulders, and then walking with me to the terrace. If we weren’t divorced, it would have been normal, but given our situation, it was bound to raise eyebrows. People might even think I was using Moldovan to win Ains back.
“We’re divorced, remember? The divorce you wanted so badly,” I reminded him.
“Let’s just act like we don’t exist to each other.”
It felt strange to say this, almost as if I were the one who had begged for the divorce. But it had been Ains who had relentlessly asked for it.
“Thanks for the concern. But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interfere anymore,” I said, handing his coat back to him before turning and leaving the terrace.
Ains stood there, silently looking at the coat in his hands.
As I reentered the ballroom, I felt the eyes of everyone on me, just like when I had first walked in. Given what had happened, it seemed impossible to stay unnoticed. I decided it was best to leave and return to the viscount’s estate.
I crossed the ballroom towards the exit.
“Are you leaving?” a servant asked.
“Yes, please call for my carriage.”
“Of course, please wait a moment.”
I closed my eyes as the servant left to prepare the carriage.
Coming to this ball had been a mistake. It had only given me a headache.
I thought that if I showed up at a few balls, people would lose interest in me, but it turned out to be the opposite. There were already plenty of families eager to get close to the now-single Ains, and I worried that my actions might have made a bad impression on them. I sat down in the waiting room, resting my head in my hands.
Thinking about my headache made it worse. The pain became so intense it felt like my eyes were going to burst, and soon I felt nauseous. I tried to pound my chest to relieve the pressure, but my hand wouldn’t clench into a fist.
I raised my hand and saw it trembling slightly. “Oh no,” I muttered. It was a sign of the Trintz disease.
I prayed for the carriage to arrive quickly, clutching my trembling hand to my chest. If it took too long, I would lose consciousness. I closed my eyes tightly to steady my dizzy head.
“Viscountess Marves, your carriage has arrived,” a servant announced.
Thankfully, the carriage arrived soon after. Rivet, who had come to escort me, paled when she saw my condition.
“Madam! Are you alright?”
“Rivet, quickly, the mana stone…”
“Hold on, just a moment!”
Rivet dashed to the carriage and fetched the mana stone I had prepared in advance. I took the stone from her and held it in both hands, concentrating. The stone began to glow faintly, and the light slowly absorbed into me. The headache that had been crushing my skull and the nausea that had churned my stomach gradually disappeared. Sensation started to return to my fingertips.
Once all the light had been absorbed, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. It was a relief that I had decided to leave the ball early. If I hadn’t absorbed the mana in time, my body would have stiffened, rendering me immobile. Deciding to return early had allowed me to take action quickly.
“Madam, are you alright?” Rivet asked, her voice trembling with concern.
I handed her the now-dim mana stone and smiled reassuringly. “Yes, thanks to you, I’m fine.”
“I’m so relieved.”
Even though I felt better, walking was still difficult. With Rivet’s help, I slowly made my way to the carriage. Once I managed to get inside and sit down, I finally relaxed.
“Let’s go,” I instructed.
“Yes, Viscountess,” the driver replied, and I heard the horses being urged forward.
I closed my eyes in the moving carriage, feeling exhausted from the symptoms.
* * *
After returning from the ball, I didn’t leave the estate for some time. Since there were no mana stones coming up for auction, I could afford to stay in. I took the opportunity to rest, something I hadn’t done in a long while. Rivet, who had been shocked by my episode at the ball, was doing her utmost to care for me.
Sometimes, it felt nice to do nothing and escape from complicated thoughts. When I was the Duchess of Graham, I had opened salons and constantly interacted with people to maintain appearances. Back then, it hadn’t felt exhausting, but now I wondered how I had managed it.
Perhaps I hadn’t realized how taxing it was because I believed meeting people helped my grandfather and Ains. In reality, my efforts had contributed to some of Ains’ business successes and opened new opportunities.
However, thinking those interactions were genuine had been a mistake. After the divorce, no one contacted me, and at the ball, no one acknowledged me—they only gossiped. Among them were people who had benefited from my help and entered high society through my connections.
Realizing that all my achievements as the Duchess of Graham were a facade filled me with a deep sense of emptiness. Maybe I had lived my life wrong, or perhaps people had always looked down on me. Even though I thought I had done my best…
I covered my face with my hands. The cold touch of my fingers against my skin seemed to clear my mind a little.
“Madam! It’s Rivet,” came a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Rivet entered the room, and I removed my hands from my face to see her approaching. She was holding a letter.
“What’s that?” I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.
“It’s a letter from Viscount Moldovan,” Rivet replied, handing it to me respectfully.
