"I unilaterally hated someone."
His voice trembled unsteadily as he tried to speak calmly.
Lucia stared at the man before her, holding her breath.
"I wallowed in self-pity, cursed at her and blamed her... I pushed all the responsibility onto her, saying it was all her fault that we'd ended up like this."Astin von Kardenos.
The Empire's infamous rascal, a man said to be arrogant and impossibly violent.
But Lucia couldn't see any trace of that side of Astin now.
He looked so fragile, as though he might break at any moment.
"It took me a long, long time to realize that every mistake and all the blame were mine."
His jaw trembled faintly as he swallowed and turned his gaze away.
In Lucia's eyes, the man called the Grand Duke's heir looked impossibly small.
She wanted to offer him some vague words of comfort.
"You realized it and reflected on it, even if it was late. Just sincerely apologize to that person. I'm sure they'd forgive you, the way you are now, Young Master."
"I can't anymore."
"......What?"
"I can't apologize."
Lucia's mouth fell slightly open.
It wasn't stubbornness, but resignation.
Guilt kept bottled up in one's heart only grew into a knot.
There was no hope left for this man, only regret.
The heaviest shackles weren't made of iron, but of regret.
Astin now was a frail man forged from regret.
He had hated and reviled someone, only to realize their worth after they were gone.
Someone who had left forever, someone he could never convey his feelings to, no matter how much he regretted it or struggled.
Lucia's crimson eyes wavered faintly.
She wanted to ask if he had once had a lover who had passed away, but soon closed her mouth.
She couldn't understand how deep a loss Astin had suffered.
Who was that person to him, to have left such a deep wound?
A fleeting thought crossed Lucia's mind.
Could the reason he'd become obsessed with Azelin and gone astray have had a lot to do with "that person"?
Someone who made him see another person in her and feel impossibly small...
Why he'd treated people in such a twisted way, why he'd been a misfit in his family and acted like a rascal.
That person had, knowingly or not, become part of Astin's world.
Lucia couldn't bring herself to look at him with pity. She forced her voice steady.
"That person..."
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
"What kind of person were they?"
Complicated thoughts crossed Astin's eyes.
He pulled his gaze back from the empty air and barely managed to speak.
"They were a good person, and it's hard to describe them. I was pathetic for hating someone like that."
Only after losing someone good did he regret it bitterly and suffer alone.
The real man hidden beneath the rumors of high society was so deeply sorrowful.
Lucia let her true feelings slip without realizing it.
"How tragic."
Astin turned at her careless words.
His face showed his dismay. He looked mortified to have revealed a weakness he didn't want anyone to see.
"What about me is tragic?"
Lucia's lips moved uncertainly.
His attempt to act indifferent looked like a sulk meant to hide his hurt.
She felt sorry for him as he tried to push away even words of comfort.
Lucia shook her head, but spoke firmly.
"No. Just... don't keep everything bottled up from now on. You look so pitiful."
She hoped this wounded man would hurt a little less. Lucia truly meant it.
A cool night breeze passed between them.
***
"Not over here, either."
"Where on earth did she go? Surely she didn't leave the ballroom early."
"Miss Sia! Where are you?"
The Partrian Merchant Guild Master, Raven, the second son of the Winterhart Grand Duke's family, and Crown Prince Zenon.
The three men swept their sharp gazes across every corner of the ballroom.
Needless to say, they were looking for Lucia.
"Oh my, look at them. They're still searching for Lady Lucia."
"Goodness. Even His Highness the Crown Prince and Young Master Winterhart are so frantic."
The young ladies hid their mouths behind their fans as they watched with interest.
Their expressions, filled with jealousy and envy, soon began to sparkle with anticipation.
"Aren't you excited for the Debutante Ball that's about to begin?"
"I know, right? Lady Lucia will undoubtedly be the star. Who will she choose as her partner?"
The Debutante Ball, said to be the highlight of Founding Day Festival.
In name, it was a debut for young ladies making their first appearance in high society.
But everyone who needed to know, knew.
Among the nobility, the Debutante Ball was regarded as a ritual for choosing a future spouse.
That was because the marriage rate of couples who had shared their first dance at a Debutante Ball was overwhelmingly high.
-The first partner at the Debutante Ball is your future spouse.
The pattern built up by statistics over many years had become a firm tradition.
Lady Lucia, the undisputed star of high society.
Whose hand would she take and promise to be with for life?
It was only an old tradition, but that was precisely why all the young ladies were so intrigued.
"The Deputy Tower Master of Sirius Magic Tower? Or the Partrian Merchant Guild Master?"
"I think it'll be the Young Master of the Winterhart Grand Duke's family. I feel like Lady Lucia would be into someone with a dependable, beastly charm."
The young ladies chattered excitedly and laughed as if it were happening to them.
The most renowned men in the Empire were currently vying to win one woman's favor.
It was the kind of plot one might expect in a romance novel. The young ladies' cheeks flushed pink.
"But isn't the choice already obvious? No matter how many strong candidates there are."
"Exactly. His Highness the Crown Prince is desperately searching for her. What young lady in the world could turn him down?"
In the end, all the young ladies' attention converged on one person.
Lucia would obviously choose Crown Prince Zenon.
The Crown Prince's looks, wealth, power, and elegance, not to mention his affection for her. And even the overwhelming status of being the Empire's future ruler.
No matter how much of a star she was in high society, she couldn't simply pass him by.
The Debutante Ball of Lady Lucia and Crown Prince Zenon would go down in high society's history as a romance for the ages.
The young ladies were excited as they imagined the romance that would soon become reality.
"......Lady Lucia!"
At Crown Prince Zenon's shout, the young ladies' gazes turned toward him.
Beyond the arched doorway leading to the balcony, the hem of a red dress fluttered. It was Lucia.
The three men rushed toward Lucia as if on cue.
The young ladies covered their mouths with their fans and squealed.
"Lady Lucia. Where on earth were you? I've been looking for you for ages!"
"I was terribly worried when I couldn't find you. I hope nothing happened."
"Miss Sia. I missed you so much. I was so anxious, wondering if you'd gone home without a word."
Questions poured out, mixed with sighs of relief.
Lucia gave them a practiced, formal smile. She had already returned the black uniform to its owner.
"I just went out for some air. It was stuffy inside with so many people."
The three men relaxed their stiff expressions and breathed a sigh of relief.
Their eyes were fixed solely on Lucia.
Looking into her ruby-colored eyes, each secretly believed she was meeting his gaze.
"......"
Lucia's gaze was actually directed over their shoulders.
It was fixed, as if spellbound, on the place where a handsome young man with blond hair stood.
***
The walk back to the ballroom was short.
The terrace's cool, still air instantly gave way to sweltering heat and noise.
Lucia gave me a light nod and disappeared into the crowd.
Back in her gorgeous dress, she vanished among the many noble young ladies.
"Brother! Where have you been?"
Celine, who had been lingering near a pillar, hurried over. I gently rested my hand on her head.
"I went out for some air. Everything all right while I was gone?"
"Yes! Though I was alone."
Celine smiled sweetly and nodded.
As I watched her, my hand moved on its own.
"What a cute little thing."
"Mmph? People are watching..."
"Let them watch."
"Mmmph..."
I kneaded Celine's cheeks like glutinous rice cakes.
'Ah, this is healing. I feel like all those pointless thoughts are flying away.'
Wasn't grounding a technique for calming yourself? I should keep squeezing Celine's cheeks whenever I'm bored.
After I let go of her cheeks, Celine felt them with both hands. She looked up at me with a faintly reproachful gaze.
I hadn't even squeezed that hard. What a drama queen.
Suddenly, Celine's eyes lit up.
"That's right, Brother! You know the Debutante Ball is coming up soon, right?"
"Yeah."
The grand finale that would bring Founding Day Festival to a close was the Debutante Ball.
Lucia would undoubtedly be the star. It wasn't an event that had much to do with us.
According to the original story, Lucia would pick the Crown Prince out of the four men.
"What should I do? I don't have a partner to dance with..."
"Better that way. That guy'd have to answer to me."
I was secretly relieved.
Better to let her watch than let her dance with some guy who crawled out of nowhere.
Of course, letting Celine watch her first dance instead of taking part would just be me holding her back.
I gently stroked Celine's little head.
"You don't have to worry. You can dance with me."
"With you, Brother?"
"Don't you want to? I don't have a partner to dance with, either."
"No, no!"
Celine shook her head vigorously.
"That'd be great! Absolutely!"
"Ahem!"
A cough came from right beside us.
Now that I looked, there was an unwelcome guest standing next to Celine.
Just looking at him made my fists clench. Damian, the Deputy Tower Master of Sirius Magic Tower.
He had his hands clasped demurely, and his cheeks were flushed like a shy boy's. God, I couldn't stand the sight of him.
"Young Master Astin."
Damian bowed to me at a crisp 90-degree angle.
"Please forgive my rudeness earlier. I must have lost my mind for a moment."
"What are you doing?"
"I humbly beseech this noble young master to grant me permission to share the first dance with the dazzling Lady Celine. I ask you to reconsider whether you might generously grant this request, which I make on bended knee with earnest entreaty, and I strongly implore you to give your gracious consent!"
"You're completely insane."
It was too much to take as a joke.
The Deputy Tower Master had thrown dignity aside and bowed just to dance once. His eyes were more earnest and desperate than ever.
So I answered without a second's hesitation.
"No. Get lost."
"......!"
Damian's body went rigid. His lips quivered and his eyes lost focus as they darted about.
Of course, I didn't care.
"Celine, let's go."
"W-Wait!"
Damian grabbed my wrist.
I barely held back the fist that was about to fly.
"Noble young master Astin! Please, I'm begging you! It's my lifelong wish! Let me hold Lady Celine's hand just once!"
"What if I let you hold it once, then cut off your hand?"
"Fine by me!"
"This guy's seriously a lunatic. Get lost, you lovesick creep."
"Th-Then how about asking Lady Celine? Isn't the opinion of the person involved the most important? Let her choose between you and me, Young Master Astin!"
'What is this, Produce 101?'
But now I was curious, so I gazed down at Celine. Damian's gaze followed mine and fixed on her, too.
Celine flinched, then looked at the two of us and hesitated for a moment. Naturally, that hesitation was only out of politeness.
Even if Damian offered her a fortune, Celine would choose me.
After a brief hesitation, Celine pointed at one of us with her fingertip.
Not me, but Damian.
"......Celine?"
"Kiyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaa!!!!! Lady Celine!! I knew it! You have feelings for me, too—"
Snap!
Celine straightened her finger, which had been pointed at Damian.
Now that I looked, it wasn't her index finger. It was her middle finger.
"Get lost!"