Chapter 9
The voice that slipped out without her realizing it was drowned in the surrounding noise, not even reaching Sincere’s own ears.
It was a name she had lost the right to call.
A call that collapsed like ruins.
“What did you just say? Why aren’t you drinking? The music will start soon.”
Vinter asked, sounding puzzled that Sincere hadn’t emptied her glass. There was a faint irritation in his voice, but Sincere couldn’t answer him.
The blonde woman she had just seen had already disappeared deeper into the hallway.
“Just a moment, Mr. Rettman.”
She placed her glass onto a nearby servant’s tray and immediately started walking toward the corridor where the woman had vanished.
Her steps were urgent—if her leg had been normal, she would have run.
This can’t be.
Maybe she was mistaken.
There were many blonde women in Bitenholtz. Even more had round cheeks.
Seeing only someone’s back wasn’t enough to be certain it was Erze.
And yet, Sincere couldn’t stop.
Even though her injured leg should have hurt from walking this fast, she didn’t feel it at all.
In her eyes, sadness and joy mixed together, shaking violently.
Questions filled her chest, ready to burst out.
Erze, were you really in Clafton?
Do you not plan to come back?
What happened between you and Louis Tanner?
Please, let me talk to you.
It’s only been a few days since you left, but so much has happened since then.
So please, Erze… please—
“Miss Visvaren!”
A man grabbed her.
Sincere’s body staggered as she was pulled back.
When she looked up, Vinter was holding her arm tightly, his usual kind smile gone. His face was twisted with annoyance.
“Where do you think you’re going all of a sudden? The dance is about to start, and you didn’t even listen. Thanks to you, I’ve been embarrassed in the middle of the ship.”
Only then did Sincere realize she had rushed after Erze without thinking.
Had everyone seen her limp?
Her face turned red with embarrassment.
“I—I’m sorry, Mr. Rettman. I’ll properly apologize later, so could you please let go of my hand for now?”
Her wrist hurt where he was gripping it.
Her leg, which she had ignored until now, also started throbbing.
But more than the pain, what frightened her most was the thought of losing Erze.
“There’s somewhere I need to go. I promise I’ll apologize later, so please…”
“What kind of apology are you planning to make later? Write me a letter?”
Vinter sneered.
“That’s unnecessary.”
The man before her was nothing like the gentleman she thought she knew.
His once-kind face now felt like a shadow looming over her, mocking her.
After checking that no one was nearby, Vinter smirked and began dragging her somewhere.
“If you really want to apologize, just follow me quietly. This works out well. Since we’re already near the cabins, I reserved a nice room in advance.”
He spoke casually, even humming, as if this were something pleasant.
Only Sincere’s heart dropped in fear.
The kind side of Fritz she had briefly seen now showed its cruel and terrifying face.
Terrified, Sincere gritted her teeth and tried to pull her hand free.
“Let go! I’ll scream!”
“You’d better stay quiet. If you cause a scene here, who do you think will be more embarrassed? If you want to become someone no one would even take for free, go ahead.”
Someone no one would take even for free.
Those words were painfully familiar.
Back in Visvaren, she had been considered defective—someone no one would want.
That hadn’t mattered before.
But now, it was different.
Grandmother…
Not only Visvaren, but even her grandmother’s honor would be ruined.
A flower broken before it could even be given away.
Even if Erze returned, the scandal Sincere caused would follow her forever.
If that happened, Sincere would never be able to forgive herself.
What should I do?
No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t break free from Vinter’s grip.
Even as she resisted, she was being dragged closer to the cabins.
The smooth walls offered nothing to hold onto.
Then—
The wall in front of her suddenly opened.
No—the door to one of the cabins.
Light burst out into the dark corridor.
At that moment—
Sincere desperately grabbed the hand of someone standing at the doorway.
She kept her head lowered, unable to see his face, but she could see the man’s shoes.
Had she ever felt this miserable before?
Even when she washed dishes every day, her heart had been calm.
But now, it was being crushed by someone’s grip.
“P-please… help me…”
Tears fell from her lowered face.
Without realizing it, she had already been pushed to her limit.
If this hand let go too, she would be dragged away for sure.
Her trembling hand kept slipping, losing strength.
Cold sweat covered her palm.
Then—
A quiet chuckle was heard.
A gloved hand gently covered hers, like salvation.
His voice was low and dark, like a rainy night.
“Close your eyes. I’ll help you.”
The man whispered softly.
***
Mikhail looked down at the hand gripping his and remembered why he had come to Clafton.
Sincere Visvaren.
A woman who suddenly appeared in Fritz and stirred up early spring before even the magnolias had bloomed.
Mikhail had personally driven to Clafton simply because he was curious about her face.
He didn’t care about her relationship with Vinter Rettman.
Mikhail was the kind of man who always bet on the less likely outcome.
If she chose Rettman, then her judgment is definitely poor.
It was already common knowledge in Fritz that Vinter Rettman preyed on young debutante ladies.
Whether he had actually done anything was unclear—but his behavior alone was enough that respectable young women avoided him.
And now—
A ship party.
Cabins prepared.
Away from land.
It wasn’t hard to guess what that fool was planning.
Most people reacted the same way when they heard that Sincere Visvaren and Vinter Rettman were attending the ship party together.
They assumed Sincere must also have some interest in him.
Some even mocked her—
Acting proud and elegant, but actually easy, weren’t you?
It would be nice if people could agree on one version.
Xavier insisted the Visvaren daughter was stiff and boring.
But the rumors were the complete opposite.
It was noisy on both sides.
If he was going to withdraw his proposal or proceed with the marriage as planned—
It was best to confirm things himself.
It wasn’t a decision of great weight.
But still—
He hadn’t expected to find her in such a disastrous situation.
