IWRY 08

Chapter 08

“Hey you!”

Siere shouted with reddened eyes, but Ariel was faster.

“Don’t you remember? Because you couldn’t get along with people, I always helped you. Your father even personally asked me once. To help you, who was so lacking.”

Siere’s face turned bright red.

To think she would crumble from something like this. Compared to the humiliation she had suffered, this could barely even be called an insult.

Ariel glanced around at the crowd and extended her hand toward Siere.

“Anyway, Siere, I’m truly sorry. For ruining your party, and for not being more considerate of you.”

“……”

“And about the donation I mentioned earlier, it’s fine. You may not know this, but noble charity events aren’t meant for private purposes. You can’t just use that money however you like.”

“Ha!”

Siere gaped, her face flushed with rage. Humiliation and confusion left her unsure what to do.

Of course it would be. This wasn’t the outcome she had expected.

Siere bit her lip tightly and glared at Ariel.

Even in this situation, Ariel’s emerald eyes shone with dignity. Those eyes felt as if they were condemning her as trash.

Finally losing her temper, Siere threw the box to the ground and shouted.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about! At the very least, I know better than you how terrible you are right now! Acting all high and mighty with some cheap antique like that!”

The box hit the floor harshly, and a pocket watch tumbled out.

Clink.

A 500-year-old magical pocket watch. One of the precious treasures of the Blante Marquis family.

Such a watch lay disgracefully on the floor.

Ariel’s expression turned as cold as frost. The nobles who had been watching Siere’s outburst with amusement now looked unsettled.

The party hall fell into silence in an instant.

Siere seemed to regain her senses and looked around nervously. The center of gossip was no longer Ariel. Everyone’s gaze was now on Siere.

She stammered and stepped back.

“I… that is… this is…”

And then, two men moved.

Ariel, who had been looking down at the discarded watch with cold eyes, did not notice the two approaching figures. She slowly bent down to pick it up.

Just as she reached for it, a large hand suddenly entered her view.

Before she could react, the hand picked up the watch first.

Startled, Ariel straightened up and met the gaze of the man who had taken it.

He had gray hair and brown eyes. An otherwise plain-looking man with unremarkable features.

He gave Ariel an unreadable smile.

“A very valuable item. To throw something like this on the ground… Lady Bayern certainly has poor judgment.”

He clicked his tongue at Siere.

Ariel froze for a moment. The man’s voice felt strangely out of place for his ordinary appearance.

Not just a pleasant low tone—but precise pronunciation and refined speech. It was not something an ordinary man would possess.

And yet… why did it feel familiar?

Yes. Ariel strangely felt as if she had heard his voice before. As if she had met him somewhere long ago.

But… I’ve never seen him before.

Just as Ariel narrowed her eyes, the man turned his attention fully to Siere.

“Lady, do you not think you should apologize to Lady Blante for throwing such a valuable item?”

Startled, Siere looked at him.

She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. The man’s gaze sent a chill down her spine.

Despite his plain face and modest clothing, an overwhelming presence radiated from him.

Who is this person?

Siere did not recognize him. Was there such a noble among them?

As Siere examined him, the man spoke again.

“Lady Bayern, why are you silent? I’ve heard you lack social skills… or perhaps you don’t even know how to apologize?”

He openly mocked her.

At that moment, another deep voice echoed.

“With that kind of pressure, it would be difficult for anyone to speak.”

A voice Ariel knew all too well.

Without even looking, she could tell who it was.

Kailens Seaird.

He had come near her without her noticing.

Ariel instinctively turned her head toward the empty space beside her.

Her eyes wavered.

Then she realized where Kailens was standing.

Not beside her—but next to Siere.

Feeling her gaze, Kailens looked at her.

Their eyes briefly met.

But soon, Kailens turned his attention back to the unknown man.

“This kind of pressure toward a young lady is not gentlemanly behavior. Please step back.”

Though his tone was formal, his gaze was sharp.

Kailens, when angry, always maintained etiquette.

As one raised in imperial protocol, his anger was not fiery—it was cold like ice. And because it was so rational, it was even more intimidating.

Others might not notice, but Ariel did. Kailens was extremely angry right now.

Why is he so angry?

Even when she had been insulted, he had remained composed. So why was he suddenly this enraged?

Was it because of Siere?

Ariel’s heart pounded uneasily.

Kailens was cold toward those he had no interest in. For him to step in and show such anger… did that mean something?

There was no known connection between Kailens and Siere in her memory.

But the intensity of his reaction could not be dismissed as coincidence.

If… there was a connection I didn’t know about… if the reason he grew distant from me was… because of someone else…

No. It can’t be Siere. Not her. Not my friend.

Ariel clenched her fists, staring at Kailens—but he did not look at her.

Then Siere, as if deliberately, grabbed Kailens’ wrist with both hands.

“Your Highness, thank you for helping me. I’ve never seen someone openly show such hostility before… I was really scared.”

She moved closer as if seeking protection.

He did not push her away.

Ariel’s heart dropped.

Kailens, who normally could not stand physical contact, did not reject her touch.

Instead of pushing her away, he even stood protectively in front of her.

The worst fear she had considered… turned out to be real.

Kailens at Siere’s party. Kailens not rejecting Siere.

Ariel felt her blood run cold.

Since when…?

“No, I shouldn’t have come here today…”

The price of stepping into a place she should not have entered was too great.

At that moment, the unfamiliar man stepped back with a crooked smile.

“So the Grand Duke and Lady Bayern are this close. I was unaware.”

He shrugged.

“Since even His Highness the Grand Duke asks me to step back, I will of course comply. Lady Bayern, I apologize for frightening you.”

“An apology this short after such rudeness… how improper. And I’ve never seen you before. Are you even an invited guest? Show me your invitation…”

As the Grand Duke intervened, the atmosphere in the hall shifted.

Everyone seemed to forget Siere’s earlier misconduct, focusing instead on the confrontation between the Grand Duke and the unknown man. Even Ariel, momentarily abandoned in the situation, was being glanced at.

Siere, not missing the opportunity, tried to brush off her earlier behavior.

But just as she was about to speak, a cold, emotionless voice echoed through the hall.