#14.
“Huh?”
“Oh. Didn’t Allen mention me?”
“!!”
I couldn’t hide my surprise when a completely unexpected name came out of Iyan’s mouth.
In the comic, Allen and Iyan were practically enemies. They weren’t the type to chit-chat about their fiancées.
It seemed my actions over the past five years had caused quite a few changes in Allen’s world.
But then, how exactly did Allen describe me to Iyan?
Sure, I might’ve been a little loud and silly at times, but Ronie’s overall impression should’ve come off as cold. I suddenly became curious—what kind of person did Allen think I was?
“I hope he sees me in a good light… Is that selfish?”
Thinking about Allen made my chest ache. Just then, Iyan spoke again.
“Speak of the devil—there he is.”
I turned to look in the direction Iyan was pointing. Allen was entering the banquet hall, wearing a navy-blue ceremonial uniform and his wavy silver hair neatly tied up.
It was my first time seeing him with his hair up. He always wore it down when he was with me.
Even with his hair up… my Allen still looked amazing.
I found myself staring, probably because his unfamiliar appearance felt a little strange. He seemed to notice my gaze and turned to look in my direction too.
He was still too far away to read his expression, but I could tell he was walking toward me.
It had been ten days since we last saw each other, and an awkward tension filled the space between us.
Allen walked past me and politely wished Sharon a happy birthday. He also greeted Iyan who stood next to her.
That was it. No matter how long I waited, he didn’t say a single word to me.
‘Um, excuse me? I’m standing right here too…’
He was completely ignoring me. And for some reason, that stung.
‘Is this really okay? After how much I doted on you…’
It was funny to think like this when I was the one who brought up breaking off the engagement. I chuckled bitterly.
Still, since we were technically still engaged in the public eye, I figured I should greet him before things started to look strange.
“It’s been a while, Allen.”
“…Yeah.”
He replied curtly and then turned his head away.
He’s outright ignoring me now.
I was starting to feel like this was too much. But maybe this kind of distance was better for him. I looked away from Allen as well.
This was all my doing anyway. I used the engagement break as an excuse to send him to school. And now that he was at the magic academy, I was planning to leave.
“Oh my, you look just like the drawing!”
At that moment, Sharon clapped her hands and giggled, as if something had just clicked. A bad feeling instantly crept up on me.
‘No. Please shut your mouth.’
I looked back and forth between Sharon and Allen, not knowing what she was about to say.
Based on experience, Sharon had no sense of tact. None at all. Sure enough, she didn’t pick up on the awkward tension between me and Allen.
Even Iyan, standing next to her, could sense it.
Allen tilted his head and asked in confusion, “…Drawing?”
I panicked. I wanted to shut Sharon’s mouth immediately, but I couldn’t treat a noble lady rudely. I just fidgeted nervously. Sharon, however, continued smiling brightly and said:
“Yes! The lady is always drawing you, Allen!”
‘Aaaaagh! Lady Sharon!’
My face flushed red and I quickly lowered my head to hide it.
Oh no. This is bad. This is really, really bad.
I couldn’t bring myself to look at Allen’s face. This was the worst kind of embarrassment—total public humiliation.
I’m the one who brought up breaking off the engagement, and then I go around drawing him like some lovesick fool. How ridiculous must that sound to Allen?
If I had to explain… I didn’t expect him to leave so suddenly. I was used to seeing his face every day—it was my favorite face. Of course I missed it.
But still, from his perspective, this must feel absurd. Ugh…
I reached out to Sharon.
“Lady Sharon, could you show me your room? Of course, refusing isn’t an option.”
“Huh? Oh… okay.”
Looking confused, Sharon let me drag her away from Allen. As I hurried out of the hall, I thought to myself:
Lady Sharon, I will never forget today’s humiliation. I hold grudges, you know!
* * *
Sharon’s room was incredibly fancy. Unlike Ronie, who wasn’t fond of decorations, the room was full of trinkets and ornaments. It was an adorably luxurious space that screamed I’m a beloved noble lady!
Even though I’d asked to see her room, I sat there blankly, thinking about what had just happened.
Maybe I should’ve just swallowed my pride and taken another good look at that handsome face before fleeing. Now I regretted it.
“Lady Ronie, are you even listening?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I got lost in thought for a moment…”
“You’re the one who asked for the tour, and now you’re not even paying attention!”
Sharon pouted at me in mock anger.
‘Well, Lady Sharon, you wrecked my mental state. I’m currently in emotional crisis, okay?’
“Your room is lovely. It really suits you.”
“Oh my, really?”
I forced myself to focus and looked around. The vibe of the room matched Sharon perfectly. It was pure and sweet—just like her.
“Ehee, I’m so happy you think so. If there’s anything you like, you can have it. Consider it a token of our new friendship.”
“Eh?”
Did I ever agree to be friends with her…?
She seemed to have already decided we were friends. I was visibly flustered, but Sharon just smiled radiantly at me.
She really is pretty when she smiles.
The more I saw her, the more the annoying Sharon started to look… kind of cute? Maybe it was just familiarity building affection. Although, technically, I never really hated her to begin with.
Sharon must’ve noticed my awkward expression because she hesitated and then spoke.
“I actually got a lot of help from you, personally.”
“From me?”
Hmm. I don’t recall ever helping you, though…?
Sharon smiled sweetly, as if she knew something I didn’t. That smile was lethal.
‘Hey, no fair. Smiling like that is cheating. You’re too pretty!’
“I’ve never shown this room to anyone else. So next time, please show me your room too!”
Suddenly inviting herself over like that made me tense up.
“Uh, well, that’s a bit…”
Please don’t push so hard all at once. House tours come after you build rapport… Oh wait. Didn’t I just demand to see her room out of nowhere?
If I refused now, it’d sound like, “It’s okay for me, but not for you.” So I trailed off awkwardly. Sharon mimicked my tone and expression from earlier.
“Refusing is not allowed?”
“Are you… getting back at me?”
She threw my own line back at me, but pretended otherwise.
“It’s not revenge. It just felt like a fun secret password between friends. Hehe!”
“A s-secret password…?”
“Yes! Actually, that was the first time I saw you flustered. I always thought you were cold, but turns out you’re a shy girl around your fiancé.”
‘It wasn’t shyness—it was the kind of embarrassment that makes you want to bury yourself alive. And you caused it, Lady Sharon!’
She clearly misinterpreted my reaction as bashfulness. I glared at her subtly.
“Did you invite me because you knew Allen would be here?”
“Hm? No? I don’t really care who my brother is friends with. I just wanted to be friends with you, so I made up an excuse.”
“Well, you succeeded. I definitely won’t forget you now.”
Congratulations—you’re now number one on my blacklist, Lady Sharon.
Especially because your intense friendliness keeps pulling me into your pace. You’re definitely a threat.
Once you gain a bit more social awareness, maybe I’ll consider being friends with you.
“Oh, I’m so happy!”
Sharon beamed, thinking I’d accepted her friendship. She was incredibly persistent—but maybe that’s what made her unique.
Sharon said she couldn’t stay away from the party too long, so we returned together.
I looked around just in case Allen was still there, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Did he already leave?
I regretted running away again. Just then, a group of partygoers approached me.
“Nice to meet you. You’re Lady Shalligan, right? I’m Liche Portman.”
“I’m Sarah Chaplin.”
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Ronie Shalligan.”
I greeted them politely. Throughout the party, many others came to speak with me as well.
Sharon, the true host of the event, had long since been swallowed by a crowd of people.
It had been a while since I was around so many people, and I felt a headache coming on. I excused myself and headed to a quiet terrace to clear my head.
That’s when Iyan followed me and handed me a glass of champagne, asking casually:
“Did you and Allen have a fight?”
