IBWMD 103

~Chapter 103~

While I was talking, I thought of people.

The ones I had eaten with, talked with, and worked alongside.

They had only been living their lives honestly in their places.

“If they get hurt because of my personal feelings and my prejudice that ‘he would never do such a thing’… I’ll never forgive myself.”

And…

“…If that happens, the Grand Duke won’t come out of it unscathed either.”

I recalled the Grand Duke’s actions, which so often reminded me of someone else.

Especially earlier, when he placed me on his boots—he had felt so much like Karl.

Yes, Karl.

And Karl was already on the list of people hurt because of my carelessness.

I quietly turned my head toward Jeremy, who wore a difficult-to-read expression.

“By the way, Jeremy.”
“Yes? Why… me?”
“If you don’t mind, I want to ask you something.”

I knew it was shameless, but still—

“The Grand Duke said Karl was safe.”
“……”
“Is that true?”

Honestly, I was worried the Grand Duke had lied.

“Maybe Karl was dead, or so gravely injured he was unconscious—and the Grand Duke just said he was safe.”

Could that be why Karl hadn’t come?

Ironically, that was my last hope.

I didn’t want Karl to turn out to be a coward who’d give me up to the Grand Duke.

A man who makes the person who loved him feel ashamed… you know?

But Jeremy stayed silent.

‘Why is he like that?’

If he couldn’t say, he could’ve just said so.

Instead, he darted his eyes around like he was nervous, like he was the one being watched.

‘But why would he be nervous around me? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?’

“Jeremy?”
“Well, um…”
“Don’t tell me the Grand Duke lied to me?”
“That—no! Of course not!”
“So it’s true, then?”
“Uh, w-well! For now, yes!”

Seeing him stammer made my chest feel cold.

‘So Karl really is fine… and still won’t come to see me?’

Fine. I could understand if he couldn’t face me.

‘But to not even send a message or a note?’

It felt like confirmation that the man I loved was truly a coward.

‘This is… disappointing.’

The feeling hit me like my heart had been thrown to the ground.

Jeremy seemed ready to add something in a panic—

But before he could, Clark, who had been silent in thought, spoke first.

“If you think that Captain is dangerous…”
“……”
“Should we keep watch over the banquet hall, too?”

At least he didn’t treat me as a complete traitor—his calm request for advice proved that.

“The banquet hall? Why there?”
“Well, because the Captain is attending the banquet.”

“…What? Oh.”

It wasn’t surprising.

‘Of course! How could they hold a welcome banquet for the Holy Knights without their Captain?’

“…What about Reina and the Grand Duke?”
“They are already in the hall.”

So right now, in the banquet hall—

‘The male lead. His first love, and her one-sided love. First love and one-sided love’s love.’

Exactly the scenario I had feared.

I shivered.

Hadn’t I just decided to stop them from meeting together?

“Elaine?”

I hurried toward the banquet hall.

It opened onto a terrace-like second floor, with stairs leading down on both sides.

From there, I could see the entire first floor hall.

Elegant music played softly.
The food showed careful thought, tasteful but not overdone.

And against the wall, standing calmly, was Captain Ista…

At the end of his steady gaze—

“……”

The Grand Duke and Reina were already dancing together, looking warm and gentle, as if the earlier tense atmosphere had never existed.

* * *

As the orchestra’s music reached its peak, Kailen lifted his eyes slightly.

On the open terrace above the hall, he saw the figure he had been waiting for.

‘She changed clothes.’

That small silhouette immediately caught his gaze.

Tonight, Elaine wore a cream-colored dress, similar yet different from the one she had worn when she first came to meet him.

It highlighted her pure, innocent side.
Her pearl necklace matched her round, soft features perfectly.

‘With such a round, soft face… and yet that body in my arms earlier was clearly trained.’

Still, the soft parts had been endlessly soft…

“…That’s why I wanted to thank you for hosting this banquet.”

Stomp.

With those words, his partner stepped on his foot again.

It snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Oh—sorry.”

“……”

It was already the seventh time.

Pretending to make mistakes while secretly aiming with her heel—she was skilled.

Even her graceful steps, keeping up a friendly façade while dancing, showed her talent.

‘She must have been quite influential in high society.’

Though her kicks didn’t hurt him at all.

His boots were reinforced for battle. Since Elaine’s warning about the temple’s schemes, he had worn full armor beneath his uniform.

So not even a bruise, not even the feeling of a prick.

And from the way she kept trying, she knew it too.

It only meant one thing—she truly disliked him.

“You dance surprisingly well, Your Grace.”

Smiling was Reina Pascal, Elaine’s older sister.

“Lady Pascal.”
“Please, call me Reina.”

From the moment they met, she had been unusual.
Her eyes had openly carried hostility.

Yet here in the banquet, she hid it—except to step on his feet.

‘So that was her strategy all along.’

Kailen looked down at her calmly.

He admired her courage—not even flinching at his masked face.

And more than that—

“I’d like to hear the rest of what you were saying earlier.”
“What was that?”
“About Elaine, when she was younger…”
“Oh. About what kind of child she was?”

There was a reason he endured her stomping to dance.

Right before, she had whispered to him—

‘When Elaine was ten years old…’
‘Back then, I never imagined she’d marry a man like you.’
‘I thought she’d marry a pretty young noblewoman instead. She was so popular as a child. On her birthday once, we dressed her in a tuxedo and…’

The mention of Elaine’s popularity tugged at him, but of course—it was natural.
No one who met her disliked her.

A ten-year-old Elaine in a tuxedo.

He was intensely curious.

‘She’s small even now. Back then, she must have been like a flying squirrel… round eyes, soft cheeks, and never backing down from anyone.’

The thought made him eager to know more.

That was why he had asked Reina to dance the moment the music began.

She had been clearly baiting him—but he was willing to take the bait.

“…Do you really want to hear more?”
“Yes.”

At his short reply, Reina’s expression shifted.
As if she hadn’t expected him to be so curious about Elaine.

“That’s… unexpected.”
“Unexpected?”
“Your kindness, and even hosting this banquet.”
“You didn’t expect hospitality?”
“No.”
“I have no reason not to welcome my bride’s family.”

At that, Reina’s brow furrowed slightly.

“You’re not lying to me?”
“And why would I lie to you, Lady Pascal?”
“Well…”

Because you’re the monster Grand Duke?

But Reina didn’t finish the thought. She closed her mouth instead.