IWRY 07

Chapter 07

“Oh my, isn’t that Lady Arriel Blante?”

“It is. Did Lady Bayern invite her?”

“No way. Everyone knows the current situation of the Blante ducal house. Unless someone wants to fall out of favor with His Majesty the Emperor, there’s no way she’d be invited.”

“Then did she come without an invitation? How shameless.”

“So unbecoming of a noble lady. Losing all dignity just because her house has fallen.”

“Lady Bayern is truly unfortunate. Even if they were once friends, for her to barge in and ruin her party like this…”

“She probably never considered her a friend. Wasn’t it always like that? Lady Blante always treated Lady Bayern like a mere extra, don’t you remember?”

Murmurs spread through the crowd as they watched her—words of criticism and contempt.

None of it was true, but Arriel had neither the will to refute them nor to care.

From the beginning, her attention had been fixed on one person alone.

The man who had kept averting his gaze finally looked at her.

Their eyes met precisely. Dark, expressionless eyes as cold as ice. Arriel did not look away.

Why are you here? No—why are you standing next to Sierre?

Just as the words rose to her throat, unable to be spoken, the sound of footsteps echoed through the ballroom. Arriel turned toward the approaching figure.

“Arriel! It’s been so long!”

The one who stopped in front of her was none other than Sierre Bayern.

“…Sierre. It’s been a while.”

Arriel replied a beat late, the greeting not fitting the situation.

Sierre stepped closer and suddenly changed her expression. She furrowed her brows in sympathy and scanned Arriel from head to toe.

“Oh my, oh my. Look how thin you are. You must have suffered so much…”

“Sierre, I’m fin—”

“Arriel, I’m terribly sorry I couldn’t attend your father’s funeral. I really wanted to go, but my mother and father absolutely forbade it… they said attending the funeral of a traitor would itself be treason.”

Traitor.

At that piercing word, Arriel’s composure cracked.

“Sierre, no verdict has been reached yet. Don’t speak recklessly.”

Arriel’s sharp tone made Sierre flinch.

It was foolish to respond like this when she had come seeking help, but she could not tolerate her father being insulted. And judging by Sierre’s eyes, it was clear she had no intention of helping the Blante family.

“Ah… if I offended you, I’m sorry. I understand. It’s not easy to accept, right? Your father being called a traitor… I’m not sure I could accept it either.”

“….”

“But Arriel, the evidence has already been presented, and your father took his own life… I just hope you accept reality soon. Nothing is over yet.”

“You should gather yourself if you want even a title left for the family.”

Sierre muttered softly.

Just as Arriel had suspected. Her face looked sympathetic, but her violet eyes were filled with contempt. Every word of comfort was laced with mockery.

So even friendship had been a misunderstanding. To think she had believed they were friends…

Another betrayal. After love, even friendship.

Was I the one who lived wrong?

The repeated betrayals made her feel less anger and more self-reproach. Everyone here was rejecting her.

Perhaps just swallowing her pride would not solve anything.

Arriel realized the cold reality she had been avoiding and turned to leave.

“…Alright, I understand. I’m sorry for coming so suddenly. If I had known there was a party, I wouldn’t have come. I’ll be going now.”

But before she could fully turn away, Sierre grabbed her wrist.

Arriel looked at her in confusion. Sierre returned a gaze full of expectation.

“You’re leaving already? Come on, don’t go. If you leave like this, it’ll look like I kicked you out.”

Then she continued.

“Besides, judging by how you came here without notice, you must have come to ask me for a favor. You can tell me anything. I’ll help you. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Friends…”

Arriel let out a dry, incredulous laugh. Had the meaning of the word “friend” been rewritten without her knowledge?

Sierre continued as if nothing was wrong.

“Yes, friends. And everyone here already knows our relationship. I’m sure they’ll overlook your rudeness—or I’ll ask them to.”

Sierre looked around theatrically.

“Lady Blante may have disrupted the party atmosphere, but I ask for your understanding. She is my dear friend, and the Blante house is currently in a difficult situation.”

“We understand.”

“It’s fine.”

The nobles responded with laughter clearly laced with ridicule.

They were openly humiliating her.

But unlike Sierre expected, Arriel did not tremble with shame or anger. She simply looked at Sierre calmly.

That steady gaze made Sierre hesitate.

Once called the jewel of high society, Arriel was now merely the daughter of a traitor—but for some reason, she felt an inexplicable pressure, as if she were the one being judged.

Sierre averted her gaze, then noticed something in Arriel’s hand and feigned surprise.

“Wait… is that a gift for me? Well, I suppose you wouldn’t come empty-handed if you were asking for a favor.”

She took the box from Arriel’s hand.

Before Arriel could stop her, Sierre quickly opened it and widened her eyes.

“Oh my! Isn’t this one of the Blante family’s treasures?”

“….”

“I know things must be hard, but bringing even a family treasure… how desperate you must be…”

She sighed dramatically for everyone to hear.

“Arriel, I was careless. I’m sorry. Don’t worry—I’ll help you. Our family is hosting a charity event soon. I’ll donate all the funds raised to your house.”

Snickers erupted around them.

Donating charity funds to the Blante house as if they were beggars—her words reduced the once noble family to nothing more than paupers.

It was an overt insult.

But Arriel did not lash out. Instead, she looked past Sierre.

Behind her stood Kaillens.

For a brief moment, she wondered if he might show some reaction.

Their eyes met, as if he had been waiting. Yet Kaillens showed no hostility, nor discomfort.

He simply watched as if observing a play—utterly unmoved.

Then, as if she were not even worth noticing, he lifted his wine with a graceful motion.

If only you would mock me like the others.

That indifference—acting as if they had never known each other—pierced her chest more painfully than ridicule. Unlike him, she had not erased him.

So to you, was I someone so easily forgotten?

Before Arriel could steady her trembling emotions, Sierre spoke again.

“Arriel, I’ll do my best to raise funds. So even if it’s hard, please endure a little longer.”

That voice, pretending to be kind, sharpened her mind again.

Arriel looked straight at Sierre and spoke.

“Stop it.”

“…What?”

“Stop pretending to be my friend. Stop pretending you care about me.”

Sierre’s smile twitched.

“What do you mean pretending to be friends… Arriel, that’s too harsh…”

“Too harsh?”

Arriel smiled.

Just as Sierre had done—except colder, sharper, more perfect.

“You’re right, Sierre. I was too harsh. I’m sorry. I just forgot for a moment because I’ve been so exhausted… that your sense of social awareness is seriously lacking.”