IWEML 07

chapter 07

So, Polius lashed out at the only person he could — the meek and mild Melanie.

“Melanie! Before I really lose my temper, come here quietly—!”

“Ah!”

When Polius tightened his grip, Melanie’s frail body swayed violently.
She had already been exhausted from preparing for the ball, so she had no strength to resist and was easily pulled toward him.

Seeing her staggering figure, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.

“Ugh!”

But Damien, standing beside her, didn’t stay still.
At the same time, the pressure on Polius’s wrist increased — Damien had gripped him with such strength that Polius had no choice but to let go.

Polius’s face was flushed red from the effort, but Damien looked as pristine as ever, as though nothing had happened.

Why the hell is a mage that strong?!

“To think you’d try to intimidate a lady with brute force… when did you become such trash, Polius?”

Damien stepped forward, shielding Melanie behind him.
He was tall enough that Melanie disappeared completely from sight — and that fact alone made Polius even more irritated.

“Who are you calling that, huh? I’m her fiancé — I’m the one who’s supposed to protect Melanie! Stop making moves on another man’s woman!”

“Lady Clotilde clearly said she broke up with you. Even after you nearly dragged her to the ground just now, you still have the nerve to say that?”

“Who said she could?!”

Polius had been sure that tonight, Melanie would regret everything and come crawling back to him.
But instead, the ball had turned into a complete disaster — for him.

“Lord Polius, please stop.”

“Melanie!”

“Being in bed with another woman, lying on another woman’s lap, leaving me on my birthday to go to another woman— I’m too narrow-minded to ever understand that. And I’m sure I’ll only continue to make your life hard from now on.”

Melanie’s words rippled through the ballroom like a thunderclap.

“Did I hear that correctly? In bed… with another woman?”

“You’ve done that, and you’re still trying to hold onto Lady Clotilde?”

Even if they were broken up, it was still scandalous for Melanie to appear with her ex-fiancé’s half-brother.
Though she was Clotilde’s only heir — a woman unshaken by gossip — she still didn’t want to be the target of pointless slander.

So she brought up an even juicier rumor to balance things out.
It was exactly as she’d planned — when the tension peaked, she spoke with the perfect air of tragic dignity.

“There was a reason for that—!”

“So please, find someone better than me.”

Melanie gently placed the wrist Polius had grabbed over her chest.
Her voice trembled weakly; her face was pale, as if she were truly frightened.

All those who once whispered that she relied too much on her family’s power now couldn’t help but side with her.

How could he grab such a delicate lady hard enough to bruise her? Especially when Lady Clotilde is known to be in poor health!

So Polius was the one who cheated first?

Then all those stories about Lady Clotilde being petty toward other ladies — maybe she had a reason!

The gazes directed at Polius grew sharp and hostile.

“T-this is all a misunderstanding—”

Flustered, Polius couldn’t form a proper sentence.
Instinctively, he turned to Melanie for help — just as he always did when he misspoke.
But this time, she didn’t even look his way. She stood there fragile and quiet, nothing like the woman who’d once calmly told him goodbye.

Now I really look like the villain here…!

Unfortunately for him, everyone in the ballroom was thinking the exact same thing.

Considering how many acquaintances Polius had among the nobles, Melanie’s performance had landed far harder than she’d even hoped.

✦ ✦ ✦

A new breeze is blowing through the social circles that had been quiet for so long.

Target achieved. It was time for me to make my exit.

I wasn’t even officially involved with Archmage Damien yet — better to slip away before people started digging too deep.

“I’m feeling tired. I’d like to rest now…”

“I’ll escort you.”

To my surprise, Damien offered to help me himself.
Smart move — without me, he’d be swarmed by curious onlookers in seconds.

He’s more perceptive than I thought.

I pressed a hand to my forehead and sighed. I wasn’t pretending to be tired — I truly was overexerted.
Cold sweat beaded at my temples, and my legs were trembling so badly I could barely stand.

There was no need to act like a delicate lady — my body was doing that all on its own.

It’s about time even the painkillers stop working…

As I left the ballroom, the bruise on my wrist still visible, I couldn’t help feeling a small swell of satisfaction.
Even while unwell, I’d walked away from Polius with my head held high.

Normally, in this condition, I’d be clinging to his sleeve, begging for his blessing — but today, I’d held firm.

Things went better than expected today.

Once we were outside, I looked up at Damien and gave him a small smile.

“I’m glad you offered to help me…”

“I didn’t expect that man to threaten you like that.”

His face was filled with guilt — so serious that I tilted my head slightly.

Wait, is he actually blaming himself?

I glanced down at my wrist again. My skin was delicate, so the bruise looked worse than it was.
Still, my trembling legs made it seem like Polius had truly hurt me badly.

“To think something like this happened while I was right there… shameful.”

Why was he the one feeling guilty? It was strange that he seemed more upset than I was.

“No one could’ve expected him to grab me like that. Besides, it ended up making him look worse, so it’s fine.”

“…”

But his brow remained furrowed.

He’s more old-fashioned than I thought.

At this rate, if he keeps frowning like that, those handsome features might wrinkle — that’d be a national tragedy.

I steadied my breathing and forced my trembling legs to hold.
I couldn’t take another dose of painkillers — I was already at my limit. I’d just have to endure it through willpower.

After all, there was one last thing I needed to do.

“Now that tonight’s gone so well… shouldn’t we take some time to talk more?”

The not-so-good girl in me wasn’t about to waste this opportunity.

“You… want to meet again?”

“Do you have time on Rueven’s Day? There’s something I’d like you to see.”

I smiled, my eyes curving into crescents.

“I recently purchased a mana stone mine.”

“A mana stone mine?”

“Yes. It’s close to the capital — we won’t have to travel far.”

Damien’s expression shifted slightly, doubt flickering in his eyes.

Mana stone mines were extremely rare, and most were located in distant lands. The idea of one near the capital sounded almost too good to be true.

“Very well.”

But in the brief moment it took for him to blink, that doubt vanished.
I was expecting him to question me — but instead, he immediately agreed.
Even if I looked fragile and sickly, I hadn’t expected that.

“You’re not going to ask for details?”

I had already prepared a convincing story in case he thought I was lying, but—

“…But just to be clear, meeting again doesn’t mean I’m agreeing to an engagement.”

“Of course,” I replied sweetly, eyes curving again.

But inwardly, I was certain.

We’ll be seeing each other far more often than you think.

✦ ✦ ✦

The next morning, even with the sun high in the sky, I couldn’t get out of bed.
Wrapped tightly in blankets, I groaned.

I must’ve slept ten hours, and I’m still exhausted…

No surprise there — it had been my first ball in a long time, and I’d gone all out to face Polius looking perfect.
I was paying the price now. Breathing was always hard in the mornings, but today, the fatigue was worse than ever.

A casual tea party and a full ball are worlds apart…

Still, my effort had been worth it.

“My lady, a letter has arrived from Lady Scarlett Euphona.”

It was from my childhood friend Scarlett, who had attended the Founding Festival.
She’d written in vivid detail about everything that happened at the ball after I left — and I couldn’t stop smiling as I read.

You were amazing! I was so worried when I heard you might break off your engagement, but I thought Polius would still strut in with a dozen women on his arm, acting like a peacock!

Scarlett was one of the few who knew that Polius wasn’t nearly as nice as he appeared.
She’d once hinted to me that he wasn’t a good man — but back then, I hadn’t listened.

When I asked Polius if what you said was true, the gossipers nearby started whispering too. Then Polius started sputtering nonsense about how he was just “comforting” you and somehow ended up in bed with you — does he think people are stupid? He only made himself look worse! Now everyone knows what kind of womanizer he really is.

Now, everyone was saying Polius had been faking his perfect image all along.
Even Madam Tellida, who had once praised him as “a gem of a man,” was apparently shaking her head in disappointment.

And who could’ve guessed you’d show up with Archmage Damien as your partner? Melanie, you really landed the perfect blow!

It certainly had been a powerful one.

I wonder what infuriates him more — that I showed up with his half-brother, or that my new partner is better than him in every way?

Judging by how even Polius’s closest friends had distanced themselves, I’d say things went very well indeed.