- Chapter 13
Sevtina was loved by everyone, but July had tried to end her life, and no one had known her story.
Life was full of irony and unfairness like that.
Sevtina tapped her chest a few times.
“I see. That’s unfortunate.”
Looking at that face filled with falsehood made her feel suffocated.
She didn’t want to continue the conversation any longer.
“I’ll send someone to inform you of the official date of the visit.”
“Of course, anytime,” Yulia replied cheerfully.
A strange, indescribable feeling seized Sevtina.
The person who had beaten her, isolated her, and in the end, even took away the last glimmer of hope she had left…
Had no idea that they’d hurt her.
…Not in the slightest.
The person she hated didn’t even know they were being hated.
And they would never know for the rest of their life.
Because July Reeve no longer existed.
“…Then I’ll see you later.”
Sevtina turned her head away from Yulia and walked through the crowd.
Leaning against a wall, she took a deep breath. She needed time to calm down.
A sweet melody filled her ears.
It was music for a waltz.
People took to the dance floor with their partners, holding each other, laughing, and dancing together—it all looked so peaceful.
Her racing heart slowly began to settle to the rhythm. Even just watching the dancers brought a little joy.
Sevtina felt herself getting swept up in the bright, lively atmosphere.
Then a voice shattered the pleasant mood.
“Care to dance?”
Wyatt stepped forward and held out his hand to her.
Sevtina blinked.
His crimson eyes, partially hidden beneath his black hair, narrowed slightly.
“It is your day, after all. It’s the least I can do.”
His tone made it clear—don’t misunderstand. He thought she might get the wrong idea.
But she understood. Wyatt was always a rational man.
Sevtina was simply surprised.
She hadn’t expected to be dancing with Wyatt in the middle of such a grand ballroom.
It was a chance to move her mind away from the suffocating thoughts Yulia had stirred.
And besides, refusing Wyatt’s invitation wasn’t really an option.
“I may be a bit clumsy, so I ask for your patience.”
She had practiced hard, but mistakes could still happen.
Sevtina placed her hand atop Wyatt’s.
His brow rose slightly—but he said nothing.
People cleared the way. In the open space, Sevtina and Wyatt’s hands entwined.
They began to move with the rhythm.
Dancing with Wyatt.
They were close enough that she could hear his breath.
‘It really doesn’t affect me at all.’
Sevtina was surprised at her own indifference.
She had once tried so hard to get close to him.
Because of her shorter height, her eyes kept drifting to the necklace hanging around his neck.
“You’ve been awake for a while now, haven’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Spin. Sevtina turned in a full circle. Wyatt’s voice reached her ears again.
Spoken softly, just for her—like a whisper.
“Do you remember anything from before you woke up?”
Sevtina flinched. She looked up at him.
“…That’s a question I’ve been asked several times already.”
Their gazes met—his eyes were deep and dark.
“Who is that question for?”
Wyatt looked directly at her and didn’t avoid the answer.
His grip on her hand tightened briefly.
“Seems like you already know.”
Sevtina narrowed her eyes as she felt his grip loosen again.
‘So all three heirs have been talking about me.’
Wyatt already seemed to know she had rejected Dante and Klazen.
Sevtina truly couldn’t understand.
“Why do you all care so much about July Reeve?”
“Is that something you need to know?”
“You’ve all asked me the same question, so I’m asking in return.”
Sevtina stopped dancing and faced him with a blank expression.
“Why are you trying to save July Reeve?”
“…”
“I looked into her—she’s nothing special. Lord Dante, Lord Klazen, and now even Your Highness… The most prominent people all keep repeating the same question over someone so insignificant. I can’t help but be curious.”
It was a question she asked not only as Sevtina, but as July Reeve too.
The powerless July Reeve meant nothing to them.
They had hurt her every time she reached out.
They had drawn clear lines, saying they’d never see her again.
So why now?
She had asked herself a thousand times—Was July Reeve important? Was she the water heir?
But Yulia bore the water sigil. That mark signified the heir.
They all knew how the Reeve family treated July.
If they needed to work with the family, they could do it through Yulia. Yulia would welcome it with open arms.
That was the biggest mystery.
What could they possibly gain from July Reeve to be this desperate?
At that moment, Wyatt’s lips finally moved.
“I need to see her again.”
She blinked, thinking she might’ve misheard.
But the eyes that met hers were clear. So clear they were almost transparent, brimming with sincerity.
“I did a lot of wrong.”
His blood-red eyes sparkled with unwavering resolve. His grip on her hand tightened again—far stronger than before.
As if he was holding onto something precious.
“There’s a lot I need to ask forgiveness for.”
“…”
“If she were alive, I could at least beg.”
A cold shiver ran through her.
“If she’s lying unconscious… nothing will ever change.”
It felt terrifying.
Like these three men might actually bring July back to life.
But she didn’t want to live.
She didn’t want to go back.
And yet it felt like they could succeed any moment.
Sevtina swallowed dryly.
“Does that answer your question?”
“…Yes, more than enough.”
The music ended.
Sevtina fled from the center of the ballroom where they had danced.
Wyatt didn’t say another word to her.
But the occasional glances she felt made her uncomfortable.
As if he knew something.
‘It’s getting harder to stay rational.’
When it came to anything involving July, she couldn’t help but be hostile.
The anger she felt toward them wasn’t something that could be soothed with words. Nor could she accept their sudden change in behavior.
She wanted to be alone, but that wasn’t easy.
Because it was a celebration for her, people kept approaching nonstop.
After several dances and failed attempts to sneak away, she finally succeeded in slipping out onto the balcony.
It was colder than she expected outside, which meant there weren’t many people around.
That suited her just fine. She could endure the cold.
‘Isn’t there anywhere I can hide…?’
Sevtina spotted a small space behind a wall next to the balcony—hidden from view, near some trailing ivy.
‘This will do.’
If people saw her, they’d try to bring her back inside, ask her to talk or dance. Sevtina crouched by the ivy-covered wall.
Her legs ached from standing too long.
A sigh escaped her lips.
‘…No. I can’t.’
She didn’t want to go back.
She never wanted to return as July Reeve again. At first, she thought she couldn’t. But now, the fear that she might was starting to creep in.
Dante, the high-ranking mage. Klazen, the king of connections. And even Crown Prince Wyatt.
If the three of them joined forces…
It wasn’t a matter of if, but when.
‘How do I stop it?’
First, she needed to know how far things had progressed.
But there was a problem—Sevtina wasn’t July.
She was an outsider with only limited access to anything related to July. It made it difficult to intervene at all.
“There doesn’t seem to be anyone on this side of the balcony.”
At the familiar voice, Sevtina flinched and turned her head—but the balcony was empty.
“The weather is quite chilly.”
“It’s tolerable.”
Sevtina held her breath again.
The voices were coming from below.
She stayed as still as possible, afraid they might realize she was above them.
The voices became clearer.
“Did you talk to her?”
It was unmistakably Dante.
“Yes,” Wyatt replied.
“She’s been hostile from the start. Very defensive.”
Dante spoke first.
“July is still asleep, and the one we thought might be a clue turns out to be so secretive.”
A loud thud followed—as if Dante had slammed something. Hearing him speak July’s name so casually made Sevtina let out a quiet scoff.
“I don’t understand. The Zeros family is known for their fairness and warmth. How can someone from that house be so cold?”
“Perhaps it was a mistake to visit her so soon after she awoke.”
Wyatt seemed to be defending her. Sevtina wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
“That’s not all. She looked down on July—said she didn’t deserve that kind of care. Surely the Zeros family didn’t raise her that way. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”
“I was surprised too, Your Highness,” Klazen chimed in.
“After Dante told me, I visited the Zeros estate. To build connections, yes, but also out of desperation—grasping at straws for July’s sake, I asked the same question.”
He let out a thoughtful hum.
“She was hostile from the moment we met. I’ve never heard a complaint about my manners or first impressions before.”
Sevtina found Klazen’s self-assured tone ridiculous.
‘Where does he get that confidence from?’
She stifled a laugh and pressed herself even closer to the wall, covering her mouth with her hand to silence her breathing.
