Prologue
“You’re here!”
“Oh dear.”
With a small murmur, every gaze in the grand ballroom turned at once.
Where those eyes landed, a woman was stepping between the doors of the magnificent hall. One hand lifted her dress slightly while the other accepted a glass of wine from a passing servant. She looked nervous, as if she felt out of place here. Yet her large, clear green eyes kept drifting up to the chandelier on the ceiling and the flowers adorning the hall, and her slightly flushed lips whispered constant little sounds of admiration.
Of course she would be dazzled like that.
The nobles stared at her with open ridicule twisting their lips.
No wonder. That woman was a commoner who had suddenly married into the northern ducal house called the “Den of Monsters.”
“A lowborn thing breathing the same air as us. Insulting.”
“Exactly. Look at her gawking around like some country bumpkin.”
“Is no one going to do something about this?”
At that moment, Lady Katrina of the proud Labyrinth family snapped her fan shut with a scoff.
“We should give our new guest the proper greeting, shouldn’t we?”
“What a wonderful idea!”
While others clapped and giggled behind her, Katrina signaled a servant. He quickly approached, holding out a tray of wine. Selecting the fullest glass, Katrina strode toward the woman, radiating confidence.
“Hello there.”
“Oh…”
The woman, who had been looking around wide-eyed, flinched in surprise and turned to Katrina. Seeing her innocent and bright eyes like a newborn animal, Katrina arched her brows, then lifted the corners of her lips.
“Are you Lady Melissa of the Eisenhardt Ducal House, by any chance?”
“Ah, yes. How did you know—”
Before Melissa could finish her shy smile, Katrina’s hand moved without hesitation.
Splash!
Wine drenched Melissa’s marigold-colored hair in an instant.
Drip. Drop.
The liquid slid down her hair, forming round droplets at the ends of her long crimson eyelashes. Only then did Melissa seem to realize what had happened, her eyes widening further.
Looking at that expression, Katrina declared:
“A welcome greeting.”
Everyone saw that.
Feeling intoxicated by the mixture of shock and admiration she imagined pouring over her, Katrina turned gracefully. Just then, a voice rang out behind her.
“I see!”
The tone was far too cheerful.
Katrina stiffened at the oddity of it and turned. By then, red liquid was already flying through the air.
SPLASH!
Sweet, fragrant wine hit inside her open mouth.
Silence fell.
With wine still in her mouth, Katrina regained her senses and spat as she shouted.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“Thank you so much for welcoming me!”
Melissa, the so-called “country bumpkin,” spoke quickly, her face flushed with excitement.
“I once read in a book that in some places, people throw tomatoes at each other to banish bad luck and pray for blessings in the new year. So this must be a party like that!”
Her eyes sparkled with delight as she sweetly asked the servant beside her:
“May I have another glass?”
“Uh? Y-yes…”
The servant, dazed, held out the tray. While everyone, including Katrina, stood frozen, Melissa set down her empty glass and picked up a fresh one.
Holding a glass in each hand, she beamed.
“I’m so happy to meet you too!”
“W-wait—!”
Katrina reached out too late. The wine flew again.
Splash, splash!
The proud noble lady soaked like a drenched rat drew involuntary laughter from the onlookers.
Damn it…!
Katrina whipped her head around to glare at them, then bit her lip and spun toward Melissa.
“How dare you—!”
Her raised hand cut through the air, aiming for Melissa’s cheek.
“Dare, you say.”
Click.
The sharp sound of heels pierced Katrina’s ears. Her hand halted midair, trembling, and she slowly turned her gaze.
No. It couldn’t be.
The moment she met the eyes of the speaker, she bit back a scream.
The Ice Witch.
Natalian von Eisenhardt.
As her infamous name flashed in everyone’s mind, tension swept across the room.
“It suits you well, Lady Labyrinth.”
Natalian approached with a tilted smile and took Melissa’s arm.
“You must be properly rewarded for such a heartfelt welcome to my precious family.”
“P-precious… family?”
Katrina could not believe what she was hearing.
Natalian spoke louder, so everyone would hear.
“Mother, why don’t we host a party like this too?”
“What an excellent idea.”
Thunk.
A dry, gravelly voice answered. People looked and shrieked.
“H-haaa!”
“Ugh!”
A black eyepatch cutting across his face. Scars everywhere. The North Wall of the Empire. The Beast of Mount Antaras.
The elderly Duke, Seres von Eisenhardt, hair white and elegantly pinned, smirked.
“Our daughter-in-law seems so delighted. We simply must hold one.”
“D-daughter-in-law…?!”
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the unbelievable words.
Natalian hugged Melissa’s arm tighter and smiled sweetly at Katrina.
“You will attend, won’t you?”
“We will prepare a special seat for you.”
Their words sounded like an invitation to the guillotine.
Run. Run now.
Katrina forced her trembling legs to move and stumbled backward.
“Ugh!”
But after only a few steps, her back struck something like a steel wall.
A servant? Impossible. No one should be behind her.
She snapped her head around, barking:
“Move aside, what do you think—”
Her eyes widened.
The face towering above her was ridiculously handsome. His hair was black as if it swallowed the light, and his eyes were deep, ocean blue.
Even among all his remarkable features, his sculpted face stood out the most. A flawless profile, a noble gaze. As if a divine sculptor created everything else first, then finishing his masterpiece with this man.
Katrina stared, nearly bug-eyed, then inhaled sharply. For a moment, she forgot the witch and monster behind her. Fluttering her lashes, she asked coyly:
“Excuse me, may I have your name—”
“There you are, my wife.”
The man walked right past Katrina. His arms wrapped around Melissa’s waist, his nose brushing her neck as he inhaled deeply.
Exhale.
He sounded like a man finally able to breathe. His blade-sharp eyes softened as he whispered sweetly.
“Your little canary has arrived.”
“C-canaryyy?!”
Natalian shrieked from Melissa’s other side.
“You really said that out loud?”
“Jealousy is never attractive, sister.”
“You’re the unattractive one!”
The two slapped at each other’s hands where they clung to Melissa.
The guests, speechless, suddenly recognized the man.
No way. Was this Demius von Eisenhardt, the heir who vanished for a year?
“That can’t be…”
Katrina’s legs gave out and she collapsed. No one paid attention.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded, as Melissa took yet another wine glass and cheered brightly.
“This is the most fun party I’ve ever been to!”
