One bite, then another.
The crisp texture of the almonds wasn’t bad.
Before he realized it, the entire florentine had disappeared into Rick’s stomach.
‘…Guess I’ll just call it an appetizer.’
Still, maybe it was the sugar.
The gloom from witnessing Maria giving a gift to Arthur had sowhat subsided.
Though the sight of her hands trembling nervously and Arthur’s hands shaking even more as he accepted the gift, followed by her bright smile, was sothing he knew he’d never forget.
Rick leaned back against the bench with a deep sigh.
‘I knew it all along. Maria loves soone else…’
He already knew about her unforgettable first love and that she’d reunited with him here.
Their feelings seed mutual, and for that, he was genuinely happy for her.
But.
‘What am I even doing in this city?’
There had only been one reason Rick followed Maria to the capital, even volunteering to be her guard knight.
To protect Maria.
Rick Ray hadn’t trusted anyone up until the day he beca an adult.
It was only natural.
He was born out of soone’s filthy desires and lack of responsibility, and he grew up nourished by violence and scorn.
He’d believed he was destined to live forever in the swamp of the world.
But then, Rick Ray found a woman as pure as a lotus flower.
Maria yer.
Even under her uncle’s discrimination, she remained steadfast, and she could inspire even the servants who subtly looked down on her.
Rick had grown close to her under the guise of being a diligent worker. It wasn’t a relationship where they could ever reveal their true selves to each other, but that was fine. Maria deserved happiness, untainted by anything unclean.
When her journey to the capital was decided, Rick stayed up all night, confronting his own twisted feelings.
If it was for Maria, he would do anything.
…Which ant that if he did nothing, his feelings were aningless.
‘Otherwise, I’m just so creep ogling the young lady.’
So, he resolved to go to the capital.
A powerless beauty like Maria would be easy prey for the predators of high society. She’d be a plaything for the n and gossip fodder for the won.
Anyone who dared sully Maria, Rick would quietly eliminate.
That resolve held firm.
…At least, for the first part of the season.
That spring, the day Maria participated in so botanical garden’s opening event, Rick had secretly followed her.
As expected, Maria hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she’d beco the target of people’s gossip.
Rick had been contemplating creating an "accident" involving a spooked horse to trample so of the trash around her when soone shifted the focus of the crowd.
From criticizing Maria to betting on the future of the couple.
‘It was Doris Redfield.’
Not the most wholeso shift, but it was better than Maria being bashed, and the topic had changed naturally.
It was sothing Rick couldn’t have done.
After that, Maria inexplicably beca friends with Doris. Rick had been consud by guilt for not imdiately congratulating her on her new friendship.
‘I prepared everything I could to protect Maria, but… none of it matters.’
Weapons, information about the capital—he’d even joined the Sacred Salon. The initiation fee had been steep, but he didn’t care.
He’d gone as far as to find a legitimate way to follow her to the hunting tournant, certain that so scoundrel would use the noisy outdoor event as an excuse to try sothing.
But this was the reality.
Maria, enjoying life in the capital, despite its ups and downs.
And Rick Ray, who couldn’t dedicate himself to her anywhere.
If Arthur beca Maria’s pillar of support, Rick’s presence would beco even more aningless to her.
‘What am I… What’s my purpose in this place…?’
Rick stared blankly at his empty hands.
The hands that had once swung a sword, determined to protect soone.
Now, they slled sweet.
‘…Doris Redfield. She’s annoying.’
But maybe because of the sugar, he felt a faint warmth sowhere in his stomach.
***
Back at the banquet hall, the timing was perfect as a waltz began to play.
The first pair to dance in the center was the First Prince and Princess.
They appeared to be in their mid-thirties, executing only the necessary steps with the precision of overworked civil servants at a local weekend festival.
The surrounding atmosphere, however, was lively. Especially for the couples.
One lady, who had been in the countess’s ballroom earlier, was now whispering intimately with a man she had t in the anti.
“Shall we head out during the next song?”
“Of course. By the way, my lady, in the letter you gave earlier, you ntioned you weren’t very good at dancing.”
“Yes… You read it already? Do you think I’ll embarrass you, Sir?”
“Not at all. Being your support on the dance floor would be the greatest joy.”
So fresh and warm…
As the second song began, couples eagerly flooded the dance floor. I took a seat in a spacious spot and leisurely started my second round of snacks.
anwhile, my sister dominated the impromptu dance hall.
‘How many songs is she going to dance to? How does she have the stamina for this?’
The most impressive part was that she changed partners every ti.
She only danced with unclaid n, but people were starting to cast sidelong glances at her. Even soone nearby muttered under their breath.
“This is her last year in society, isn’t it? Is that why she’s so desperate?”
“Desperate? She looks like she’s given up.”
No, my sister simply loves dancing.
Fewer n approached her for dances now, so I thought she might finally take a break…
Until soone stepped in front of her and bowed.
A brief gasp rippled through the crowd, loud enough to almost drown out the music.
Of course.
‘That guy’s the Second Prince, isn’t he?’
A minor character in the original story. All I rember is that he was pretty obnoxious.
Oh, and one more thing.
‘There was so drama with his marriage.’
That wasn’t in the novel, though.
I rembered soone shouting this during my first visit to the Sacred Salon:
“Here it is! Let’s talk about the Second Prince’s marriage prospects! Will it work out?”
Apparently, his rocky engagent had been called off.
‘But why is he bothering my sister?’
Surely, he’s heard of her reputation. Can he handle it? Or does he have so ulterior motive?
My sister seed surprised by the unexpected dance proposal. As she tilted her head, her red hair cascaded over her shoulders like waves, captivating everyone’s attention with her rmaid-like beauty.
After a brief mont of hesitation, my sister said—
“Gladly, Your Highness Percival.”
She accepted the dance.
The Second Prince didn’t seem particularly pleased. He led her naturally, like he was retrieving a misplaced item.
‘So, his na is Percival.’
It seems the royal sons, both direct and collateral, were nad after the Knights of the Round Table.
Percival danced with the sa polished precision as his older brother. My sister, on the other hand…
“...!”
Stepped on his foot with flair.
She whispered an apology, but her expression was anything but remorseful.
Co on, Percival. You can still smile, right?
My sister said sothing to him, probably prying into his intentions. Percival just nodded or shook his head vaguely, keeping his answers noncommittal.
And then, another stomp—SMACK!
My sister’s foot ca down on his again, unwavering.
Percival’s polite façade cracked, his gaze turning slightly angry as he glared at her.
But my sister wasn’t one to be intimidated.
She smiled, bright and wide, a perfect crescent.
Yep, that’s what madness looks like.
Percival’s gaze slowly drifted elsewhere. Oh, man, what a loss of face.
‘Whatever sche he had, it’s not my problem.’
Natalie can handle herself.
My imdiate concern is…
‘Whether I can still marry Tristan if the story doesn’t follow the original plot.’
At a glance, things seed fine.
Arthur and Maria were on track for their happily ever after.
Tristan, while once a troublemaker, now treated decently, even thoughtfully.
‘He doesn’t even pine for Maria anymore.’
If things continued like this, there wouldn’t be a problem.
If I could be sure of a happy ending, maybe I could open my heart to Tristan a little more.
…Maybe even as a real fiancé, human to human.
As I mused, the dance neared its final asures.
The sheet music fluttered to its last page before the score was closed.
The Crown Princess called out.
“I hope you all had a wonderful evening!”
Applause broke out, and people began to scatter.
My family gathered near the exit.
Father was thoroughly drunk. Mother, you’re not getting that fox this year either.
“Hic! Girls, soone… help …”
Both my sister and I dodged his outstretched hand. Instead, one of the event staff ca over to escort him back to our tent.
My sister turned to , clearly uninterested in our father.
“Doris. I told you to dance if there’s an orchestra.”
“I can’t dance with other n when I have a fiancé.”
“Then drag your fiancé here.”
“His Highness injured himself while managing the hunting grounds. He can’t dance.”
“So what? Sit him down and dance with soone else.”
“Don’t you think you live life a bit too recklessly, sister?”
“What of it? Let’s head in.”
She pulled along by the shoulder. I walked beside her for a while but eventually stopped.
“I’m going to check on His Highness and see if he’s okay.”
“You’re sweet. Send him my regards. Tell him, ‘I hope you recover soon and get your sister a fox.’ He won’t believe the first part, but maybe the second.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Before leaving, she whispered in my ear.
“If he’s in no condition to give you a prize, let know. I’ll give you one of mine.”
“...Thank you.”
Really, it’s hard to tell if she’s kind or just conniving.
My feet naturally led toward the royal infirmary.
Of course, the royal infirmary was on the opposite end of the noisy banquet hall, aning my legs would get a workout.
On the way, people were already retreating to their tents, wrapping up their day. So of the more diligent tents had already extinguished their lights, and the area grew dark quickly.
It was a little scary.
No one in their right mind would try anything in the middle of a hunting tournant full of ard people, but…
‘There was alcohol at the banquet earlier.’
If I’m unlucky, a drunk might cause trouble.
Should I head back to the tent and ask a maid to accompany ?
Just as I turned, hesitating—
‘…Huh?’
I spotted a silhouette I recognized.
Dressed inappropriately for this place, at this ti.
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