LVSFN 15

Episode 15

The sudden appearance of Jaelerach caused the atmosphere in the banquet hall to plummet.

Just moments ago, Failey Easley had a face like a wildcat, but she instantly changed her expression.

“Your Grace.”

Failey bowed demurely like a gentle lamb.

Standing beside her, I also knelt quietly.

Jaelerach stared at me intently before speaking in a low voice.

“There’s never a quiet moment where you are.”

Well, that’s not entirely wrong…

There were too many eyes watching, so I held back my urge to pout and replied quietly.

“I’m sorry.”

I mean, it’s not like I wanted to start trouble — she was the one who picked a fight first!

I nearly tattled like a student hauled before the teacher, but I barely held myself back.

Saying too much in front of Jaelerach wouldn’t help the situation.

And more importantly—

‘He’s not going to bring up that I didn’t wear the dress he sent… right?’

Just thinking about it made my palms sweat.

But the fact that I was staying quiet seemed to pique his interest.

While I stood there awkwardly without saying much, Failey stepped forward and addressed Jaelerach.

“Your Grace, thank you so much for hosting such a beautiful ball. And once again, welcome to Müten.”

When Failey added a graceful bow, Jaelerach returned her greeting with a gentlemanly smile.

She looked as if she expected him to say something more.

But—

“What are you planning to do today?”

Jaelerach turned to me as he spoke.

“Uh, what do you mean, do?”

I asked shortly and then pressed my lips together. He subtly leaned closer and whispered:

“Go easy on the wine.”

His voice was barely above a whisper.

“I have many guests today, so I might not be able to keep an eye on you.”

“……”

He then stepped back with a faint smile on his lips.

Wait… what was that just now?

“Your Grace, the Duke Bertrand’s family of Lorek has arrived.”

At his aide’s report, Jaelerach left without another word.

As soon as he disappeared, Failey’s expression turned frosty once again.

Sigh, Failey.

She was clearly born to be an actress—what a waste of talent.

“What exactly did you just do?”

“What do you mean?”

Her face flushed red and pale alternately, but she couldn’t say anything definitive.

Well, of course she couldn’t. I really hadn’t done anything.

Meanwhile, the ladies standing beside Failey were practically swooning with their hands over their chests.

“Ha…”

“He’s so handsome. What do I do? I think I’m totally in love.”

“There’s no way I’m giving him up.”

“And if you don’t give him up, what then?”

“Honestly, even if he had an extra eye on his forehead, it wouldn’t matter. How can someone be that sculpted?”

“Right? Where did His Grace go?”

“Let’s at least stand somewhere near him.”

Trying to quiet the commotion, Failey snapped her fan closed with a sharp sound. Instantly, all the chattering women fell silent.

“Lady Bernadette.”

“……”

“I’m sure I told you before—you should behave properly in front of His Grace.”

I vaguely remember hearing something like that before.

But since I had already resolved to be the one to take the heat in Leoni’s place, I didn’t back down.

“So?”

I replied indifferently, which left Failey wide-eyed and speechless.

“Did you not see just now? I was just standing there, and His Grace spoke to me first.”

“……”

“All I said was ‘I’m sorry.’ That’s it.”

Since everything I said was factually correct, Failey couldn’t say anything back. She just gripped her fan tightly.

“Well then, my lady, I hope you enjoy the evening.”

With that, I took Leoni’s wrist and walked away.

“Phew.”

Once we escaped Failey, I felt completely drained.

Honestly, Lady Failey is nothing but trouble.

I smoothed out my face with one hand and turned to Leoni.

“Ribe, how do you know His Grace?”

“Oh, about that…”

I briefly told Leoni the story of how I met Jaelerach the night I stayed late at the ball by myself.

“I see. But still, Lady Easley didn’t look too pleased. You’d better be careful.”

“Yeah, I know.”

While talking, Leoni kept fiddling with the knotted bracelet on her wrist. She seemed nervous about something.

In fact, her expression was slightly off.

“Leoni?”

“Mhm?”

Her cheeks were flushed, and she was staring off with a dazed look… almost like—

“Leoni?”

“Ribe, just a moment. I saw someone I know. I’ll be right back to say hello.”

“Oh—okay.”

And with that, she grasped the edge of her skirt and disappeared into the crowd.

What was that?

I thought about following her out of concern but decided against it. She wasn’t a child, after all.

Instead, I idled around, sipping some champagne.

Sigh, I really need to make sure Leoni and Jaelerach connect tonight.

Once she gets back, I’ll suggest we go say hello to him together.

And when the two of them met earlier… did they feel something destined between them?

As I was mulling it over, I spotted a very familiar face in the distance.

Oh my god—Mother.

If she sees me like this, in this shabby dress and poorly done makeup, I’m doomed.

I had insisted on going with Leoni just to avoid her, and now…

My hand, still holding the champagne glass, started shaking as I bolted out of the hall.

Even after I left the hall, my heart wouldn’t calm down.

Mother was still trying to tie me to the Grand Duke, constantly questioning whether anything had happened that night.

And now if she finds out I came to the ball looking like this—

Ugh. Just the thought was terrifying.

After walking for a while down the massive corridor, I spotted a balcony overlooking the garden.

Touching the white-painted railing calmed me a little.

“Phew.”

The garden below looked so peaceful.

Just then, a gust of wind blew, and I grabbed my fluttering skirt with one hand. The rough texture and faded color of the fabric left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“What even is this.”

The wind—who knows where it came from—messed up my long, curly hair even more.

My already messy hair was now a disaster, but I just let it be.

“Screw it.”

Since coming to this world, there hadn’t been a single day of peace.

No matter how hard I tried, nothing went as planned. And if I left things alone, everything still somehow went wrong.

Just when I was ready to give up on everything, I ended up entangled with the Grand Duke. On top of that, I ended up messing with the novel’s original female lead’s fate.

And if I don’t live this life properly, I’ve been told I’ll disappear.

What a mess.

“Will this even work? Maybe it’s all just foolish…”

My head was full of tangled thoughts, swirling in the breeze—when suddenly—

“What’s foolish?”

Startled by the sudden voice, I turned my head—and nearly stopped breathing.

“Ah.”

Standing before me was none other than the Grand Duke Cygnus.

“You’re so quiet around people, but now you’re mumbling to yourself?”

“……”

“You don’t look like you’re enjoying the ball.”

He said he’d be too busy today with visiting guests—so why is he here?