Chapter 05
“He’s handsome.”
Velia couldn’t help but admire Carlton’s appearance.
Maybe the reason people flocked to him despite his notorious reputation was simply because of his looks.
His skin was so pale it looked almost bluish, and his crimson eyes weren’t just like rubies—they surpassed them.
Every time people met his jewel-like eyes, more beautiful than any gem, they held their breath.
And what about that black hair, swaying lightly despite the still air of the ballroom?
His hair shimmered under the chandelier lights, making Velia instinctively reach for her own hair.
She fiddled with the ends of her well-groomed dark hair, suddenly self-conscious that it might not compare.
She couldn’t take her eyes off the Tower Master.
“He’s beautiful.”
It was a genuine reaction to a face so perfect it looked like a finely crafted work of art.
Others in the ballroom seemed to feel the same; their gazes lingered.
Especially the young noble ladies and gentlemen—their cheeks flushed bright red.
Carlton’s brow twitched slightly under the weight of so many stares.
That emotionless gaze of his only made him seem more like a doll.
Only when he frowned did the seasoned nobles, used to his reputation, finally look away.
But the young ladies and lords couldn’t avert their eyes.
Velia, too, kept staring.
“Was he at the debut ball before I regressed?”
She frowned, trying to remember.
She had attended several 16-year-old debut balls, but each time had been distracted by something else. She couldn’t recall whether the Tower Master had ever attended.
“Or maybe… he did, and I saw him.”
Velia tilted her head.
Even now, seeing his beauty again, she still thought he was stunning—yet couldn’t remember ever meeting him in her previous life.
She rubbed her temple.
“What is this…”
At that moment, their eyes met—pure coincidence.
Velia froze.
Even across the distance, his gaze was piercing.
Neither could look away.
The noise of the ballroom faded from her ears.
Velia unconsciously clenched her fist.
Cold sweat beaded on her forehead in an instant.
Her heart raced, and a strange sensation spread from her legs to her entire body.
Velia’s face turned pale.
How long had it lasted? Carlton finally looked away.
“Ah—”
The moment she felt his gaze leave her, a strangled gasp escaped her lips.
Like waking from sleep paralysis, Velia stumbled, instinctively hugging herself.
She had nearly been consumed by a sudden wave of fear.
“Ah…”
She quickly looked down to check her feet—nothing was there.
But when she’d locked eyes with those red irises, an overwhelming dread and discomfort had pressed down on her.
She looked up again—Carlton was disappearing into the crowd.
Velia fumbled toward a nearby table, grabbing the first drink she saw and taking a sip.
She struggled to make sense of what had just happened.
The ballroom remained lively and cheerful.
As the cold sweat began to cool, reason slowly returned.
“They say he has a nasty temper… maybe…”
She began to wonder if Carlton had used magic—a spell to make her look away.
She didn’t know much about magic, but what else could explain that bizarre sensation?
She quickly turned her back.
They were people from different worlds. There was no need to get involved.
Velia hurried toward Songb, as if fleeing from that eerie feeling.
“It was a mistake, Lady Songb. But that dress—how lovely. Doesn’t really suit you, though.”
“The Baron family owes quite a bit of debt, don’t they? Must be doing fine if you can wear something like that.”
“Or did you beg your best friend to buy it for you?”
They were laughing among themselves.
“What now?”
Velia frowned.
A commotion.
The cream-colored dress Songb wore had been stained red.
Three of the four noble ladies standing in front of her wore mocking smiles.
From right to left: Ladies Deliver, Mayri, and Pio. Watching from behind, as if observing the whole scene, was Lady Canaryo Doltan.
Velia nodded slightly—she understood the situation.
“How fortunate you are to have such friends.”
From the look of things, it was clear that Pio, also a baron’s daughter, had acted out of jealousy.
She probably dragged along her clique for backup.
None of the other noble ladies in the ballroom stepped in to help Songb.
Who would dare stand against a group backed by the Doltan family?
Velia let out a soft chuckle.
“Look at this…”
She gracefully approached, passing the mocking girls and standing beside Songb, who stood frozen.
At the same time, she picked up a glass filled with red liquid.
“What are you doing?”
Even with Velia’s appearance—famous for being close with Songb—gathering attention, the three girls remained arrogant.
It made sense.
They’d been acting like unruly foals all evening, flaunting Doltan’s name.
It was common knowledge they’d smear other girls just to make Lady Doltan shine.
“Hoping for some scraps from the Doltan dukedom, are you?”
“What did you just say?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Velia smiled sweetly, raising her hand.
In the past, she would’ve taken Songb away—but not anymore.
Memories of the tavern banter she’d picked up from mercenaries in her last life bubbled to the surface.
With a flick of her wrist, the red drink splashed wide—soaking all three of their dresses.
“Kyaaa!”
“What the—! My dress! Oh no!”
“Ahh! My face!”
The shortest of them, Lady Pio, had caught it full in the face.
Velia chuckled lightly, watching them flail.
“Oops. My mistake.”
She approached Songb, who stood dumbfounded.
As some onlookers covered their mouths to stifle laughter, Velia adopted a concerned expression.
“Oh my, Songb, are you okay? Are you crying?”
“Me? I’m not crying.”
Still in shock, Songb blinked.
Velia leaned in and whispered:
“You should cry a little here. Lower your head. Hurry.”
Songb, bewildered, lowered her head as told.
Her soft pink hair fell forward, her fragile shoulders trembling.
“Velia?”
“It’s called acting. Shake your shoulders a bit.”
Velia, scanning the surroundings, finally spotted someone and smiled with satisfaction.
His gaze was still fixed on this scene.
“Lord Paulin? So sorry, but could you lend Lady Songb a handkerchief?”
She deliberately singled out Lord Paulin, standing far off.
“Huh?”
He glanced at Songb, flustered.
“Ah, yes.”
A crisp white handkerchief emerged from his fine suit.
“Thank you.”
Velia quickly took it and handed it to Songb.
Still hunched, Songb looked confused.
“This is…”
“Yep. It’s Lord Paulin’s.”
“What?!”
“Head down! Keep it down!”
Velia shielded Songb with a smile.
“Isn’t he your first love?”
“You—!”
Songb’s face turned beet red.
“You know what it means when a lord gives a lady his handkerchief, right? Take this chance—get to know him.”
Songb’s lowered cheeks flushed even deeper.
“Lady Velia!”
A shout came from behind.
“Ah.”
She’d gotten too caught up with Songb and forgotten the rest.
The furious noble ladies were fuming now, and Velia slowly nodded, satisfied.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Shouldn’t I be asking that?”
She turned her head calmly.
Frankly, Velia was far more invested in Songb’s budding romance than their tantrum.
“Lord Paulin, would you be so kind as to help Lady Songb? A bit of fresh air on the balcony might help her feel better…”
“Uh, I—”
True to his shy reputation, Lord Paulin blushed furiously.
Under Velia’s pointed gaze, he slowly stepped toward Songb.
“L-Lady… Allow me to escort you for a moment.”
Velia watched proudly as Songb—her face practically glowing—was led away.
She wanted Songb to fall in love.
Not just drift through life, but pursue something on her own terms—find happiness.
A forced marriage wasn’t something Velia could allow for her friend.
“Lady!”
Their rising voices now dripped with anger.
Velia turned back toward the fuming ladies.
“I asked what you think this was. The question was mine, wasn’t it?”
She crossed her arms.
“You threw your drink at us!”
“And didn’t you spill yours on Songb, clear as day?”
“Th-that was an accident!”
“So was mine.”
Velia shrugged as Lady Pio trembled with frustration.
Lady Deliver’s eyes flicked toward Lord Paulin.
Velia understood instantly.
“Do you know how much this dress costs?! Even if it was a mistake, you must pay for it!”
“I’ll pay. Then you’ll also reimburse Songb for her dress, right?”
