Chapter 8
After Grad had emptied my treasure box, I made up my mind.
I refused to die while doing nothing but suffering.
If I struggled little by little, then surely the future would eventually change as well.
The confusion I’d felt during the first few days after returning had finally settled.
Looking back, in my previous life I had simply drifted wherever despair carried me.
In the end, I had even been framed for a crime and executed.
Back then, there had been nothing else I could have done.
An eighteen-year-old illegitimate daughter, infamous for being unruly, had possessed no power whatsoever.
But this second life, lived under the exact same circumstances, would be different.
It was like taking an exam with the answer sheet already spread out before me.
For the first time, I felt a little confidence about the future.
“Your Highness, they’re already watching your every move. What on earth are you doing?”
Pello looked at Rohen with an exasperated expression.
Whenever Rohen left the palace to conceal his identity, he would temporarily alter his appearance with magic.
But today…
He was shamelessly switching between two different faces even inside the Imperial Palace.
“What do you mean, ‘what on earth’? That’s rather harsh.”
Pello had no intention of indulging Rohen’s unusually cheerful mood.
“If you waste your mana like this, you may not have enough when you truly need it.”
“It’s only a slight change in appearance.”
“A slight change? You’re an entirely different person! Why would you approach your own fiancée wearing another face? Unless those rumors about you being a pervert are actually—”
“Hah! I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last part.”
“Thanks to Your Highness, people have started telling me I’ve aged ten years in just a few months.”
Pello leaned closer and showed off the strands of white hair that had appeared.
A distant relative of the imperial family, he had served Rohen since the prince was a child.
Now nearing fifty, he had put aside his sword at Rohen’s request and become his secretary.
Honestly, wielding a blade had been far less troublesome than handling paperwork.
“You certainly seem to be enjoying yourself…”
Pello sighed.
“But if someone catches on—”
“My dear secretary.”
Rohen grinned.
“Everything will be fine as long as you keep quiet.”
“You’ve managed to keep your mana hidden all this time. Don’t gamble your life on something so unnecessary.”
Rohen paid no attention to the lecture.
After changing into formal banquet attire, he gave himself one last glance in the mirror.
Ignoring Pello’s disapproving stare, he left the room.
The banquet hall was quite a distance from the Third Prince’s palace.
Though he remained alert to his surroundings, he never slowed his pace.
The way Hayla had completely demolished that arrogant young lady earlier had been magnificent.
A short while ago, he’d had no choice but to meet her as the Third Prince.
Now…
It was time to meet her freely.
He couldn’t wait.
The banquet had reached its liveliest point.
The tension from the beginning of the evening had disappeared, replaced by the pleasant haze of alcohol.
Hayla Phaeden.
She was still sitting exactly where she’d been before.
Perhaps because of the warmth filling the hall, her cheeks were lightly flushed.
The purple dress decorated with pearls made her creamy white skin stand out even more.
She looked slightly uncomfortable in it.
Even so…
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Groups of young noblemen circled nearby, pretending not to watch her.
Despite the rumors that she was an ill-tempered disaster…
There was something irresistibly alluring about the proud beauty sitting alone.
They wanted to lead her.
To tame the wild filly everyone feared.
To prove their magnanimity by showing kindness to an illegitimate daughter.
More than anything…
They wanted to claim such a beautiful woman for themselves.
But the whispers spread only moments ago kept every one of them in place.
Even Prince Rohen had failed to make any progress with her.
That single rumor had shackled all their courage.
“My, leaving such a lady alone isn’t very gentlemanly.”
“Be careful. If you approach her, you might become her next victim. Didn’t another young lady suffer because of her earlier?”
“So that’s the infamous illegitimate daughter of House Phaeden…”
“I heard even the Third Prince couldn’t handle her.”
“She’s like a gorgeous poisonous mushroom.”
Not one of them dared step forward.
Instead, they buried their cowardice beneath elegant excuses.
“May I have the honor of sharing this dance with you, my lady?”
Walking straight through the circle of whispering men, Rohen appeared before Hayla.
Since no one knew he was the Third Prince in disguise, they all looked him up and down.
His tall stature…
Perfect proportions…
And flawless features…
Silenced every one of the competing gentlemen.
His extraordinary appearance, combined with his fearless confidence, instantly drew everyone’s attention.
Now then…
Everyone waited eagerly for Hayla’s answer.
The men stared at her.
The women couldn’t take their eyes off the unbelievably handsome stranger.
“Lady… Hera?”
Leaning close enough for only her to hear, Rohen whispered her alias into her ear.
“Oh… you’ve finally come…”
She lowered her voice as well.
“Lord Ron.”
“It seems you’ve been waiting for me.”
He smiled mischievously.
The tips of her ears immediately turned crimson.
“Then I’ll take that as your acceptance.”
He bowed gracefully and extended his hand.
The woman who had seemed rooted to her chair finally stood and accepted it.
The spectators’ eyes widened in disbelief.
“Is that really the same infamous young lady everyone’s been talking about?”
Several men immediately regretted not asking her to dance first.
Never once considering that they simply couldn’t compare to the handsome stranger standing beside her.
My brief conversation with Rohen had left me thoroughly confused.
I already knew he wasn’t the madman the rumors described.
I had realized that in my previous life as well…
Only much later.
But back then…
He had never shown me such consideration from the very beginning.
His willingness to call it a contract marriage felt suspicious.
And what had he meant by telling me to use him?
To take whatever I wanted?
Everything unfolding now was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
My thoughts were a complete mess.
Just then…
Ron suddenly appeared and asked me to dance.
Perhaps it would be easier to clear my head if I focused on something else.
Besides…
I was tired of hearing everyone whisper about me and Rohen.
So Ron’s arrival couldn’t have been more welcome.
I’d practiced dancing for only ten days.
The idea of dancing with a partner terrified me.
Still…
I had no choice.
The moment I accepted his escort, my entire body stiffened with nervousness.
“Just follow me slowly.”
The warmth of his breath brushing my ear only made me more tense.
Fortunately, once the music began…
My trembling legs somehow remembered what to do.
He guided me effortlessly.
A gentle push.
A light pull.
A smooth turn.
All I had to do was surrender to his lead.
At first, I was too busy counting the rhythm to notice anything else.
Gradually…
I became painfully aware of every point where our bodies touched.
The hand resting against my waist felt burning hot.
I couldn’t even bring myself to meet the gaze with which he looked down at me.
Focus on the steps.
If I accidentally step on his foot, I’ll die of embarrassment.
Taking a quiet breath, I straightened my posture.
“You’ve relaxed now.”
He smiled.
“You’re quite a good dancer.”
“Only because of you.”
“Heh.”
I had no idea why he laughed.
But somehow…
I didn’t dislike it.
The way his eyes curved when he smiled made my heart flutter.
For a dizzying moment, I almost forgot where I was.
Then he spun me gracefully.
I lost my balance and stumbled badly.
Before I could fall…
He pulled me gently into his arms and carried me seamlessly into the next step.
After that…
The dance ended before I even realized it.
The moment the music stopped, I quickly stepped away from him.
One dance had completely exhausted me.
As I tried returning to the table where I’d been sitting earlier…
He gently guided me in the opposite direction.
“I suppose we danced a little too well.”
He smiled.
“Everyone seems to be staring.”
“Personally, I’m rather shy.”
“…?”
He wasn’t wrong.
Nearly everyone outside the dance floor was looking at us.
Most were probably curious about him…
Or jealous of me.
Still…
The claim that he was shy made me laugh quietly.
“Then…”
I smiled.
“So am I.”
Following his lead, I walked toward the far end of the ballroom.
There, on the second floor, was a semicircular terrace extending slightly beyond the building.
Once he drew the curtains shut behind us…
The space became quiet and secluded.
The fragrance of flowers drifted up from the vast gardens below.
The cool night breeze brushed gently across my skin.
Little by little…
The lingering heat faded.
So did the haze clouding my mind.
Ron placed two glasses on the railing.
“I never knew this place existed.”
I smiled.
“It’s quiet… cool…”
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
“Heh.”
He laughed exactly as he had before.
“You say ‘thanks’ quite often.”
“‘I’m grateful.'”
“‘It’s thanks to you.'”
“You really do use those words a lot.”
Do I?
I searched my memory while taking a sip of my drink.
Does he still think I’m nervous?
It was the same lightly alcoholic drink he’d recommended earlier.
“I don’t say it to just anyone.”
Unable to become angry over such harmless teasing, I answered with a faint pout.
“I thought you were simply a kind-hearted person.”
His teasing smile gradually disappeared.
“Which is why…”
“I think I can finally ask you for a favor.”
His expression shifted completely.
One moment he was cheerful.
The next…
Utterly serious.
Every expression suited his handsome face.
Being alone with him made every tiny change impossible to ignore.
And once I became conscious of that…
My thoughts began drifting again.
“I’d like to give you the chance to repay your debt.”
“…?”
“After all…”
He looked directly into my eyes.
“We’ve met again.”
“Before either of us dies.”
“Ah…”
So…
He had recognized me from the very beginning.
That night in the red-light district, I’d told him I’d repay his kindness—if we ever met again before we died.
I’d only said it because I never expected we’d meet again.
He’d pretended not to know me so perfectly that I’d completely believed him.
Still…
Perhaps it was fortunate that I finally had the chance to repay him.
“Please become my lover.”
“…What?”
His voice remained perfectly calm.
That only made the words seem more unbelievable.
“I only need you to pretend.”
The playfulness vanished from his face.
It was strangely cold now.
“But I…”
I had to choose my words carefully.
If I mentioned I was already engaged…
He’d surely think I was making excuses.
After all…
What engaged woman secretly met another man like this during a banquet?
And if I told him my fiancé was the Third Prince?
He’d probably think I’d lost my mind.
Maybe I should’ve asked Rohen to announce our engagement after all…
Just because we met in the red-light district… does he think I’m that easy?
Nobles were experts at hiding their true intentions.
Perhaps this was simply another example.
Looking up at him…
I found it impossible to read his expression.
Though he seemed slightly tense…
His true thoughts remained hidden.
He simply blinked those long eyelashes slowly…
Without rushing me for an answer.
“…I’m not very good at acting.”
It was the only response I could think of.
And it was the truth.
Pretending to be his lover…
Just imagining it made me shrink inward.
A woman standing beside someone as dazzling as him ought to shine even brighter.
Unless she possessed extraordinary beauty…
Anyone else would merely look like a tarnished ornament.
“Oh?”
He smiled faintly.
“I asked because I thought you were better at acting than anyone.”
“…!”
The instant I understood what he meant…
I fell silent.
Apparently…
Not everything I’d done earlier had been pure acting.
My face burned with embarrassment.
My eyes drifted toward his lips before I hurriedly looked away into the dark garden.
Seeing that I remained silent…
He cautiously studied my expression.
Finally…
With a long sigh, he spoke as though reluctantly confessing something.
“The truth is…”
“I’m in no position to marry a woman.”
“Yet those around me keep pressuring me.”
“And…”
“For certain reasons…”
“I absolutely must appear to have a lover.”
Unlike his usual composed self…
He rambled awkwardly.
His cheerful smile had disappeared completely.
His strange expression only deepened my suspicion.
Then…
It hit me.
“Oh!”
Like a bolt from the blue…
I suddenly understood.
I hated myself for realizing it so quickly.
So…
He liked men.
I didn’t want to believe it…
But that was the only explanation.
No wonder he never paid any attention to women.
He only approached me because he needed my help.
Suddenly…
Everything made perfect sense.
A cold wind seemed to sweep through my chest.
“Um…”
“If it’s because…”
“You like… men…”
“Yeees?”
His voice rose sharply in surprise.
I had tried to sound perfectly calm.
Apparently, I’d failed.
He looked utterly stunned.
Probably because I’d figured it out so quickly.
“I only meant…”
“I understand your situation.”
“Oh…”
He blinked.
“…Thank you…”
“…for understanding.”
“I think love comes in many different forms.”
My voice cracked slightly.
“I wish you happiness.”
“…Yes…”
He looked strangely thoughtful.
At least I won’t end up developing feelings for him.
That should make pretending much easier.
And more than anything…
I wanted to help him.
