Chapter 70
Riena had no intention of getting caught up with this man any longer.
“…I’m really going home now. Goodbye.”
Better to ignore him. With that thought, she turned her back and pushed aside the curtain.
Dante, who had been watching her with lazy amusement, raised an eyebrow.
“Do you even know the way?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not planning to use the staff entrance, are you?”
He knew perfectly well where she’d go—so why was he asking? Riena barely managed to suppress her irritation as she answered.
“No. I can’t exactly walk out through the lobby or the main gate.”
“Is that so?”
His unhurried tone made her whip her head around.
“…Why are you asking?”
“I was just wondering if you could make it out safely without getting caught.”
Riena blinked, not understanding what he meant.
“It wasn’t a coincidence that you didn’t run into anyone on your way here, Riena.”
Dante’s lips curved upward smoothly. The leisurely smile he gave her was that of a predator toying with its prey.
What he meant was clear—he’d already calculated her arrival and made sure no staff or guests would be around.
Just like that time, when he had shown her around the resort.
Riena frowned.
“…When do the employees go home, then?”
“Let’s see. Probably after the opening party ends and the guests have gone back to their rooms.”
The party wasn’t going to end anytime soon—it would last all night. Which meant… she couldn’t go home.
“Then how am I supposed to get back?”
“Well, Riena…”
He hummed as if thinking deeply, then offered with mock sincerity,
“Should I bring you a sack of flour to sneak out in?”
“…What?”
Her voice trembled. Dante’s expression was so serious that for a moment, it looked as though he were actually proposing a solution.
Then, he rose from his seat and stepped closer to her. The booth was narrow; there was nowhere for her to retreat. Riena shrank back, glaring up at him.
He looked down at her, amused by the way she bristled in wary defense. Too late for that now, he thought silently, swallowing the words before they reached his lips.
He reached past her and pulled the curtain aside.
“Stay the night.”
His clear voice brushed against her ear.
“Didn’t Callis tell you? You can rest in the suite.”
“That’s what he meant…?”
“Why else would I have cleared out the entire fifth floor? It’s a loss for me to keep those rooms empty, Riena.”
The suite rooms were several times more expensive than regular ones. And yet, Dante had cleared an entire floor—because of her.
His gaze pinned her in place, sharp and unyielding.
“I’ll send them all back to their rooms by dawn. The staff will be busy cleaning up the hall.”
“…”
“Then, I’ll let you go.”
His voice was softer than usual, his tone almost coaxing as it grazed her ear.
“Promise me.”
The teasing lilt from earlier had vanished. This time, Dante spoke with quiet gravity.
Riena lowered her head and bit her lip before murmuring,
“…Just for a little while. I’ll leave at dawn.”
***
“His Grace isn’t joining the party, I see. I haven’t spotted him for quite some time.”
“I know. I was looking forward to seeing him this season too…”
A few nobles enjoying the lavish party looked around, searching for Dante.
The ones most disappointed, of course, were the women—both married and unmarried alike.
It was no surprise. The Grand Duke was the most desirable man in the kingdom. Just the sight of him was enough to please the eyes.
They had all lamented his absence from Behern’s social season this year. And now—here he was, suddenly reappearing as the owner of a newly opened resort.
They all knew what kind of stir this would cause. They’d even seen a few reporters earlier. Within a few days, they would rush back to the capital to spread the story themselves.
After all, whoever spread a rumor first always shone the brightest in society.
Still, since rooms had been provided for them, no one wanted to waste the opportunity.
The nobles glanced at one another, hiding their true thoughts behind polite smiles as they exchanged gossip.
And soon enough, another name slipped into the conversation.
“I heard Lady Winfield still carries feelings for His Grace, doesn’t she?”
“Oh, such pure devotion! I never imagined Lady Anaista had that side to her.”
“She must be so restless! By the way, Lord Winfield isn’t here tonight, is he? Surely he wasn’t uninvited?”
At that, one lady huffed, fanning herself indignantly.
“Of course not! The Duke is simply still sulking over that incident, that’s all.”
“He ought to let go of his grudge if he wants to ally with the royal family through marriage.”
“We’ll see who triumphs in the end, but for now… it seems the Winfields will have to bow their heads. Lady Anaista isn’t exactly a desirable match anymore.”
“That’s only in terms of marriage prospects. You’ll hardly find another woman as beautiful as her. I once saw her beside His Grace and thought—they’d make the perfect Grand Duke and Duchess. And then suddenly…”
One noblewoman trailed off. Another quickly pressed a finger to her lips.
“Let’s not speak of the dead. It’s a happy night, after all.”
“Yes, of course. Who knows—before the year ends, we might hear some delightful news.”
The lady smiled sweetly. Waiting made things all the sweeter, after all.
***
Click.
As Dante closed the door behind them, silence fell between them like a heavy curtain.
It was too quiet.
Even the booth they’d just left had the distant hum of music and voices from the banquet hall. But here—having cleared out the entire floor—there was nothing. Only stillness.
And the large man standing close behind her.
Feeling his presence, Riena stepped forward hastily.
“…You’re not planning to stay here too, are you?”
Her awkward question made Dante blink in mild amusement.
“You’re not serious.”
“…No! Go to another room!”
She backed away in alarm, her voice high and shaky.
Dante gave a short laugh, incredulous.
“What, do you think I’m going to eat you?”
Yes! You absolutely would!
The thought shot up to her throat, but she bit it back. After everything he’d done, how could she not think that?
Riena shook her head fiercely.
“No. Not the same room.”
“Fine. I’ll leave.”
Dante chuckled quietly at her determined tone and nodded with disarming ease.
He’d expected more resistance—but she was so earnest, it amused him.
Then he tilted his head.
“Before I go, shouldn’t you at least show me what I gave you?”
“…What?”
“The earrings. Where are they?”
He reached out and tapped her ear with his fingertip.
“Oh.”
Riena’s breath caught as she realized—she hadn’t worn them.
Before coming here, she’d meant to put them on, but Callis had interrupted her, and she’d tucked them into her clutch instead. She’d completely forgotten.
“They’re… in my clutch.”
She rummaged through her small bag until she found them—two delicate earrings that matched her necklace.
But before she could say anything, Dante plucked them from her hand.
“I’ll do it.”
“What? You’ll… put them on me?”
She blinked, startled by how swiftly he’d taken them.
“You don’t even have your ears pierced.”
“I know.”
“Then do you even know how?”
Her doubtful gaze made him raise an eyebrow.
“You really think I can’t handle something as simple as this?”
“…That’s not what I meant. I was just asking if you’ve ever done it before.”
Ah, that’s what she meant.
A low laugh slipped from Dante’s lips, soft and deep, as it lingered in the quiet room.
