“Just repaying that one debt is already overwhelming for me. It makes it difficult to respond to the kindness of anyone else.”
Eric, who had been watching me quietly with an unreadable gaze, finally spoke in a low voice.
“…That is truly unfortunate.”
Something in his words carried a strange chill. I lifted my head and found him smiling at me, his eyes as warm as ever.
“If only we had met a little sooner.”
With those words, he slowly released my hand.
At some point, the song had ended.
As soon as we returned from the dance floor, Eric was snatched up by another nobleman—one of those eager to discuss “business.”
With sparkling eyes, the man tugged him away. Eric glanced at me with an apologetic expression.
“Would you mind if I excused myself for a short conversation?”
“Of course not.”
I looked around, but no one else approached me. Likely, the things I had said just before the dance had left the young ladies too stunned.
Well, so be it.
I leaned briefly against the wall, then walked over to a table where colorful cocktails were arranged.
Bright hues, sweet scents.
I reached for a glass filled with a blue liquid as clear as the summer sky—
“Best not to drink at random if you’re unfamiliar with alcohol.”
I turned my head. A woman with light brown hair elegantly swept up was approaching.
She smiled as her eyes flicked to the glass in my hand.
“The drinks at evening balls like these tend to be quite strong. They smell sweet, but drink too quickly and you’ll be drunk before you know it.”
There was something peculiar about her. Perhaps it was the long gown that exposed her shoulders and accentuated her figure, or perhaps the beauty mark at the corner of her mouth, punctuating her sultry aura.
“Here, this one is much lighter.”
“Thank you.”
I reached out to accept the glass she offered—
Clang!
It fell to the floor and shattered into glittering shards.
The woman’s red lips curled upward.
“Oh my.”
“……”
Nearby noble ladies, who had been sneaking glances at me, stifled laughter behind their hands.
Red wine had spilled across the pale fabric of my dress. I lifted my head.
“My apologies. My hand slipped.”
I was not so oblivious as to miss intent when it was there. This had been deliberate.
“What a shame.”
Soft giggles tittered nearby.
I glanced toward Eric. He was still across the hall, surrounded by older noblemen, engrossed in fiery business talk.
“It’s fine. I’ll just change into another dress.”
I asked a passing attendant to guide me. When I looked back, the woman who had handed me the glass had already disappeared into the crowd.
‘Who was she?’
Her baffling behavior lingered in my mind as I followed the attendant out of the hall and down a corridor.
“We’ll prepare another gown for you. Please wait in this room for a moment.”
He bowed politely and left. Only when his presence had completely vanished did I let out a long breath.
“Phew.”
I slumped against the wall, feeling its warmth against my back.
Tight glass slippers pinching my toes. A dress that rustled and scratched my skin. A hairpin that dug into my scalp.
Not a single thing was comfortable.
I rubbed at my stifled neck, then reached for a half-full glass of water on the table. The moment I touched it, I froze.
“…It’s cold.”
I raised my head.
The air in the room was stiflingly warm, as though it had been heated for guests’ comfort.
‘Maybe I’m overthinking this.’
But I couldn’t shake the unease.
Why would water sitting in such a hot room still be cold?
‘It’s almost as if someone wanted to be certain that whoever came in here would drink it…’
And that woman’s behavior had been strange as well.
If she had only wanted to humiliate me, she would have sneered on the spot or prevented me from leaving the hall. Instead, she smiled in satisfaction and slipped away the moment wine stained my dress—
‘As though her part in the plan was finished.’
I tilted the glass, pouring the water out onto the floor.
Clear liquid streamed down, scentless.
“Windy.”
At my call, a blue hawk appeared before me.
“Follow that attendant who brought me here. See who he speaks to.”
The spirit stirred the air with its wings and darted away down the corridor.
I watched it go, then straightened.
‘No reason to take unnecessary risks.’
Thankfully, there were no guards in the hallway.
Barefoot, I slipped quietly out and hid behind a large pillar.
If someone had indeed intended for me to drink that water, they would surely appear soon.
[Master.]
Windy’s voice echoed in my mind.
[The attendant just met with the man who was with you earlier.]
‘The man with me? Who?’
As I asked in confusion, a face flashed in my mind.
[The one who brought you here.]
‘Eric?’
[He told the attendant: go back and confirm she’s truly unconscious. Then we’ll proceed with the plan.]
The blood in my veins ran cold.
There had been suspicious signs, yes.
That was why I had even asked Hugh to investigate Eric and his merchant guild, just in case.
But this—this betrayal was a blow I hadn’t anticipated.
Take his gifts but close my heart? That was what I had said. A flimsy bravado to protect myself.
I let out a hollow laugh.
Only now did I realize—I had equated him with myself.
I had thought of his struggles against noble scorn, the immovable walls of birth and class… and foolishly labeled him a “good man.”
I had been so wrong.
For a long moment I stood frozen, staring at the floor, until Windy spoke again.
[Master.]
‘Yes.’
[Share my eyes for a moment. May I?]
The spirit wished to show me directly what it saw.
[It won’t last long, but it’s possible for a short while.]
‘Do it.’
I gritted my teeth and consented. My vision flared white, then sharpened.
Eric stood before me—surrounded by armed men radiating killing intent.
Gone was his usual gentle smile.
One of the sword-bearing men spoke.
“Don’t worry, my lord. Nothing will go wrong. She’s just a pampered noble girl. If we pretend to threaten her a little, she’ll—”
“No.”
Eric’s icy voice cut him off.
His sharpened gray eyes silenced the man instantly.
“Fear alone won’t be enough. She’s given less ground than I expected.”
The men exchanged uneasy glances.
Eric’s face was cold, devoid of emotion, as he continued.
“If we’re going to seize something, better to break it completely than to let it slip halfway through our fingers. Push her until she can’t think straight. As long as she’s alive, a few hidden flaws won’t matter.”
The vision blurred—the spirit’s shared sight had reached its limit.
Blinking, I found myself once again in the silent corridor.
“…Eric Verkerk, you bastard.”
My trembling hands clenched tight.
I stood there in the empty corridor, then slowly began to move.
[The exits are all blocked. The attendant is returning.]
Windy’s words, after circling the building swiftly, halted my steps.
“Lead me somewhere without people.”
[That will take you deeper inside, away from the exits.]
“Hiding comes first.”
At my hushed reply, Windy darted ahead, scouting.
The deeper I went, the more twisted the passages became, like a maze.
[They’ve realized you’re missing. Search parties are combing the building.]
“They’ll assume I couldn’t possibly have left already.”
After all, with the exits sealed, how could a lone woman escape?
[They’ve split into groups to search each corridor.]
Meanwhile, the ballroom remained full of nobles enjoying the ball.
Eric and his men wouldn’t want to cause a scene by making their hunt too obvious.
