Chapter 35
While Sophia fumed alone, Count Selberin’s daughter and the other young ladies continued their lively chatter.
“Did you attend the ‘Ball of Flowers’? Is it true that women danced together without waiting for men to ask them?”
A freckled young lady asked excitedly, and Lady Selberin smiled nostalgically as if recalling the moment.
“Yes, that’s true. I couldn’t join in because I had to be mindful of my uncle’s presence, but many ladies participated. Not a single one was left standing as a ‘wallflower’—every flower bloomed beautifully on the dance floor.”
With a blush, Lady Selberin shyly added,
“If I ever get another chance to visit the Clina Salon, I’d love to be part of the ‘Ball of Flowers.’”
The other young ladies gazed at her with admiration.
“Me too! Honestly, it’s embarrassing to admit, but since my debutante ball, I’ve never had a chance to dance with a man.”
“I’m the same. The popular girls always get all the attention.”
“A ball where we don’t have to worry about that sounds amazing.”
Hearing this, Lady Selberin leaned in as if about to share a secret.
The other young ladies eagerly leaned in closer to hear her words.
“I heard this at Clina Salon… The ‘Ball of Flowers’ is just the beginning. There will be even more events in the future—things you wouldn’t experience at regular parties.”
“Events that don’t happen at normal parties? Like what?”
“I don’t know the details.”
Lady Selberin smiled mysteriously, leaving the others frustrated with curiosity.
Watching them, Sophia scoffed inwardly.
‘Go ahead and be jealous. I’ll be the one enjoying it firsthand. Next time, I’ll sneak into Clina Salon no matter what.’
She made up her mind once again.
***
Mathieu sat by the sunlit window, gazing absentmindedly at the flowers outside.
That dance at the salon… Everyone called it the ‘Ball of Flowers,’ right?
A ball of flowers…
Amidst all the elegantly dressed ladies in colorful gowns, there was one who stood out the most.
Even in that crowd, he could spot Claire instantly.
For the first time, he saw her smiling so brightly, like a flower in full bloom.
She had never looked like that before.
The Claire he remembered was…
Like a withered plant left alone in the dead of winter.
She had always been someone who let others push her around, who accepted whatever came her way without resistance.
But now…
Now, she looked alive.
She radiated presence, like a vibrant summer flower in full bloom.
Which one was the real her?
A memory from the past surfaced.
***
10 years ago – Duke’s banquet
Trying to escape the dull banquet, young Mathieu stepped into the garden, only to find Claire trailing behind him.
“Stop following me.”
Claire flinched, her small shoulders trembling. She mumbled in a timid voice,
“S-Sorry…”
She looked down, then hesitantly added,
“But my father told me to stay by your side…”
“And how would you know where I’m going?”
Mathieu frowned at the tiny girl standing behind him.
At 15, Mathieu was already tall and mature-looking, often mistaken for a grown man. Women secretly admired him from afar.
Meanwhile, Claire, at 11, was so small and frail that she looked more like an 8-year-old.
“If you keep following me around, you might get kidnapped by some creep in town.”
He only meant to scare her, but Claire took it seriously and looked as if she might cry.
Mathieu sighed deeply.
“Fine. Just don’t cry. You can stay.”
“S-Sorry…”
Hearing her apologize again, Mathieu exhaled in frustration.
She was such a tiny, timid thing.
He recalled hearing that she lost her mother a few years ago.
Unlike him—who had lost his mother so young that he barely remembered her—Claire at least had memories of hers.
Mathieu slumped onto a bench, lazily locking his hands behind his head.
Claire hesitated, unsure of what to do, keeping some distance from him.
Frowning, Mathieu spoke up.
“If you’re going to stand there awkwardly, just go back inside. Don’t just stand there being annoying.”
Startled, Claire hesitated before slowly sitting down beside him.
Mathieu sighed again, feeling ridiculous.
An engagement with a kid like this?
Sure, she would grow up someday, but to him, she still looked like a toddler.
“Do you even like me?”
Claire blinked at him in confusion.
“Am I… supposed to?”
What kind of answer was that?
“Could you really marry someone you don’t even like?”
“…I’ll try my best to like you from now on.”
“What…?”
Did she mean she didn’t like him now but would try because they had to get married?
Mathieu frowned deeply, and Claire, realizing what she had just said, quickly corrected herself.
“N-No! I do like you. I really like you!”
She lowered her head as Mathieu gave her a doubtful look.
Letting out a small sigh, Mathieu leaned back against the bench and stared up at the starry night sky.
“You know… Just because the adults say so doesn’t mean we have to get married. Right now, we’re too young to do anything about it, but when we grow up, we’ll be able to make our own choices.”
Since their situations were similar, he decided to give her some advice as someone a few years older.
But Claire murmured softly, almost too quietly to hear.
“I can’t.”
“What?”
“I have to marry you, Young Duke.”
Then, as if talking to herself, she added,
“That way, Father will be happy.”
Mathieu, not catching her last words clearly, frowned and asked,
“What did you just say?”
Claire simply smiled at him, looking almost foolishly cheerful.
“I’ve actually liked you so much for a long time.”
Mathieu stared at her weak smile in silence before turning away and looking back up at the sky.
“I’m sorry, but no matter what, I’m not going to live the way my father wants me to.”
Claire quietly gazed at him as he continued.
“As soon as I inherit the dukedom, I’ll kick that bastard out, just like he threw my mother away.”
He spoke of rebellion against his father as if it were nothing, leaving Claire puzzled.
Sensing her eyes on him, Mathieu turned and saw her staring directly at him. He cleared his throat awkwardly.
“So don’t expect anything from me. And anyway, little kids like you aren’t my type.”
Even after hearing his cold words, Claire simply lowered her head and replied softly.
“It’s okay. I’ll try harder.”
“No, I told you not to try.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Ugh, can you stop apologizing?”
“Sorr—”
Mathieu gave up and held his forehead in frustration.
***
That had been ten years ago.
But now…
“One thing’s for sure—I don’t have the slightest interest in you anymore.”
He recalled Claire’s confident words, spoken with an air of complete indifference.
Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, she had completely changed.
She shone brightly, drawing everyone’s attention—even his.
Thinking back to the way the men at the salon’s ball had admired her, he felt an odd sense of irritation.
Especially Crown Prince Mikael, who seemed to be unusually interested in her…
