<CHAPTER 15>

Judging by the way everyone laughed in ridicule, it seemed Alosha was the only person planning to bid for Duke Whisler.

Still, letting her guard down was never an option.

People always went through the same predictable stages whenever interest was involved. First came denial, then the classic fox-and-the-sour-grapes routine.

“I don’t even like that person.”

“They’re not my type.”

And yet, somehow, it always ended with—

“Well… this happened.”

There were television dramas packed with affairs, secret births, and completely absurd plot twists that still pulled in massive ratings despite endless criticism.

So, in Alosha’s opinion, the same people gossiping about Duke Whisler right now could suddenly throw out a bid of 120 million won in cash the moment the auction started.

Taking another sip of champagne, she quietly listened to the conversation.

One of the elegantly sneering nobles shrugged.

“Perhaps some lady simply has… unusual tastes. Or maybe someone wants to discuss business with Duke Whisler.”

“That’s true. Even if it’s Duke Whisler, lesser nobles would love to establish connections with him.”

They spoke as if they had no personal interest whatsoever.

What a joke.

Everyone in this ballroom wanted a piece of whatever Duke Whisler possessed.

“Then again, maybe it isn’t business at all. Who knows? Perhaps someone with… rather perverse tastes wants to buy a single night with the Duke.”

The speaker was a sharp-looking woman with dull blond hair, upturned eyes, protruding cheekbones, and an unnervingly thin frame.

A secretive smile curled across her lips.

The people around her burst into laughter.

They were talking about a man they had never even met, yet irritation surged inside Alosha anyway.

She crooked her lips into a smirk and muttered just loudly enough to be heard.

“Speaking from experience?”

“Pardon?”

“Oh my, I was only talking to myself. I didn’t realize you could hear me. Your hearing must be exceptional.”

“…Were you speaking to me just now?”

“I couldn’t help listening. It was all so fascinating. Normally, people don’t immediately imagine buying someone to satisfy bizarre fetishes, do they? So I just thought…”

In every fight, the first strike was everything.

Attack first.

Win first.

Straightening her shoulders and puffing out her chest, Alosha deliberately looked the woman up and down before smiling crookedly.

“Maybe you said that because you’ve had personal experience?”

“…If I may ask, which family do you belong to? I don’t believe we’ve met before.”

The woman’s meaning was obvious.

If your family isn’t worth mentioning, stay in your place.

“I’m Alosha of House Nocturne.”

“Rosensia of House Epel.”

The moment Rosensia heard Alosha’s family name, her chin lifted slightly.

Apparently, she had decided their houses were comparable enough to challenge.

Her gaze grew openly arrogant.

“Does House Epel teach its daughters to gossip about people in public?”

“Then perhaps House Nocturne teaches its daughters to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations?”

“Weren’t you speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear? Or is everyone in House Epel naturally loud?”

“Loud? How rude!”

“The rude one is you, Lady Rosensia! You openly insulted the Duke in front of everyone!”

And he’s going to be my man!

Rosensia’s eyes darted around after Alosha landed such a direct hit.

Then she smiled sweetly.

“I believe you’ve misunderstood. I was merely expressing concern that someone with… unusual tastes might harm His Grace.”

“T-That’s right. Even if it’s for charity, buying and selling a noble gentleman with money has never happened since the Empire was founded.”

Another blond woman—someone Alosha hadn’t even noticed standing nearby—hurried over to support Rosensia.

The situation had become two against one.

But the indomitable Korean spirit burning inside Alosha simply responded—

“And who are you supposed to be?”

“Even so, you shouldn’t gossip about someone who’s not even here. Haven’t you ever heard that if you can’t say something to a person’s face, you shouldn’t say it behind their back either?”

Her words were so undeniably reasonable that Rosensia was left speechless.

Watching her face cycle between red and blue was strangely satisfying.

If she had simply walked away then, everything would have ended peacefully.

Instead, unwilling to lose to Alosha, Rosensia clenched her teeth.

“…What exactly is your relationship with the Duke?”

“Why do you suddenly ask?”

“Because I’ve never heard any rumors about Duke Whisler being engaged… or having any connection with House Nocturne.”

In other words—

Whether we insult him or not is none of your business.

“Who knows?”

Alosha smiled confidently.

“At the very least, I’m much closer to him… and far more special than you are.”

The Duke himself had absolutely no idea.

But since Alosha fully intended to date him eventually, calling herself “special” wasn’t exactly a lie.

As their argument escalated, nearby nobles gradually turned to watch.

Whispers spread throughout the ballroom.

“Duke Whisler…”

“House Nocturne…”

“Engagement…”

The scattered words reached Alosha’s ears.

Oops.

She realized too late what she’d implied.

But what was said was said.

She couldn’t exactly shove the words back into her mouth.

Whatever. I’ll figure something out later.

Trying to look brave, she simply doubled down.

Feeling everyone’s eyes upon them, the young woman beside Rosensia leaned over and whispered nervously.

“Sister… everyone’s staring.”

Grinding her teeth, Rosensia shot Alosha one last vicious glare before snorting and turning away.

Had she simply apologized after being called out, she might have salvaged at least her pride.

Instead, she stubbornly insisted on fighting—

And handed Alosha her first victory.

“What a couple of nobodies.”

Once the two women disappeared into a corner of the ballroom, everyone’s attention settled squarely on Alosha.

She wanted to continue acting boldly.

Unfortunately…

The murmurs and countless stares were starting to feel just a little overwhelming.

“I’m not chickening out.”

“I was planning to head to the terrace anyway.”

Remembering Emil mentioning its location earlier, Alosha exchanged her empty champagne glass for a fresh one, grabbed a few finger foods, and headed toward the terrace.

Behind her, Rosensia watched with burning eyes.

Then quietly followed.

“Sister, where are you going?”

“I refuse to let this end with me being humiliated. I’ll make that insolent woman regret provoking me.”

“But if you cause another scene, won’t it become an even bigger problem?”

“Lily…”

Rosensia smiled like the villainess of a story.

“Who said revenge has to be done openly?”

Unlike Rosensia, Alosha reached the terrace in high spirits.

“I always imagined places like this only had glass doors and blackout curtains.”

Unlike romance fantasy novels, where appearances mattered more than historical accuracy, real castles preparing for war used heavy wooden doors and thick shutters instead.

Only now did she realize that.

Gripping the handle carved into the shape of the imperial lion, she pulled with both hands.

The old hinges creaked as the door slowly opened.

The beautifully landscaped garden spread out before her.

Her eyes widened.

“Wow!”

A warm spring breeze brushed past her.

The songs of insects preparing for summer blended with the gentle splash of the fountain.

It was the sort of scenery where romance itself seemed destined to bloom.

And the sky…

Not the dusty, polluted sky she’d known in modern Korea.

Instead, brilliant blue stretched endlessly overhead, painted with soft lavender hues by the setting sun.

“Ahh… this is amazing.”

Lifting her champagne glass, Alosha admired the breathtaking garden through the rising bubbles.

Her best friend might have used such a romantic setting to shove someone off the terrace without mercy.

But Alosha’s imagination always leaned toward romance.

“This is exactly where the male lead should chase after the heroine and kiss her on the terrace!”

If she succeeded in winning Duke Whisler at the auction…

Then she was absolutely going to make her long-planned project—

“Two Lovers Whispering Beneath a Star-Filled Sky”

—a reality.

The enchanting violet sky gradually darkened as evening descended.

“Guess it’s time to head back.”

She reached for the door handle.

It wouldn’t budge.

“Wait… wait?”

She rattled it harder.

Click. Click.

Nothing.

Putting all her strength into it—

The handle suddenly came off in her hand.

“Why did it come off?!”

Panicking, Alosha tried shoving it back into the hole.

Of course, once something was broken, it wasn’t magically going to work again.

I’m screwed.

“What do I do? Do I just wait here until someone finds me?”

Eventually, Emil or Alexis would notice she was missing.

But…

What if she remained trapped until the auction ended?

The thought alone made her sink to the ground miserably.

“This is so unfair! The fortune teller said this year would be my lucky year! That both my career and my love life would flourish!”

After venting to absolutely no one, she sniffled and suddenly jumped back to her feet.

Her mental resilience, which had collapsed in only two lines, recovered just as quickly.

She clenched her fists.

“That’s right. Every story throws hardships at the protagonist so they can overcome them.”

Nobody paid money to read a novel where everything simply ended with—

“And they all lived happily ever after.”

She looked around hopefully.

No miraculous ladder appeared.

Which left only one option.

Climb down from the terrace into the garden.

Leaning over the railing, she looked below.

Fortunately, the stone wall wasn’t completely smooth.

Protruding stones and shallow indentations dotted the surface.

If she stepped carefully, she could probably make her way to the staircase at the far end.

I really should’ve exercised more…

Who would’ve thought a novelist would one day need muscles other than the ones supporting her spine while sitting at a desk?

She silently regretted every time she’d laughed at her fitness trainer’s advice.

“You never know what life will throw at you. Keep your body strong.”