Chapter 5
Time passed, and the day of Duchess Diane Fraser’s birthday banquet finally arrived.
From early morning, Juliana was surrounded by attendants and hadn’t had a single bite to eat while being dressed and prepared.
Countess Barnett sat on the sofa, giving orders with the flick of a finger, directing the entire process.
“Not that one. The pearls from earlier looked much better.”
At the Countess’s gesture, the dress and accessories kept changing. Juliana simply stood there, offering her body like a mannequin.
Although everything was being placed on her body, not a single choice reflected her opinion. In fact, no one in the household had ever thought to ask what she wanted.
After nearly half a day, the preparations were finally complete.
It was common practice to skip meals on the day of a party to keep the figure looking slim, so Juliana was terribly hungry.
Still, she showed no sign of discomfort and held herself with perfect, picture-like poise.
Her perfect posture was not born of grace, but of punishment. Whenever she had slipped even slightly as a child, a long ruler would strike her palms or knees. The elegance she now showed was the result of that constant discipline.
Countess Barnett looked at her creation with satisfaction, pleased with the flawless noblewoman she had shaped.
“At the banquet today, Viscount Felix Everett will ask you for a dance,” the Countess said, making it clear that Juliana was to win his favor.
In her previous life, Juliana had thought of Felix as just one among many suitors. But it seemed that even at this point, some kind of secret agreement had already been forming.
Thinking of Felix, who had treated her as nothing more than a well-packaged product just like the Count and Countess had, made her feel as if a bitter winter wind were sweeping through her chest.
“You do know he is considered the finest suitor in the Kamina Empire, don’t you? No matter what happens, do not offend him.”
As the Countess repeated her warning, Juliana spoke quietly.
“Aren’t there men even more eligible than Viscount Felix Everett?”
She was thinking of Duke Braeden Ortis.
The Countess gave a dismissive snort. “Yes, there are. But have you ever seen that strange duke show interest in any woman? Don’t waste time on foolish dreams. Focus on winning over Viscount Everett.”
“But what if… what if, just maybe…” Juliana began.
Juliana had never spoken back at such length before, which made Countess Barnett raise one eyebrow.
“If His Grace, Duke Ortis, were to show interest in me, wouldn’t it make more sense for me to focus on him rather than Viscount Everett?”
Though she found Juliana’s attitude unusual today, Countess Barnett reluctantly gave a short answer.
“That would be true.”
“Yes, I understand. I only asked because I wasn’t sure how I should respond if something unexpected happened.”
“Stop talking nonsense and go get ready to leave.”
“Yes, Mother.”
It was Countess Barnett herself who had instructed Juliana to call her “Mother,” yet every time she heard it, she responded with a look of discomfort, as though the word gave her chills.
Not that Juliana cared.
As the sun began to set, the Barnett family carriage arrived at the Fraser estate.
When Juliana entered the banquet hall, already filled with distinguished guests, all eyes turned to her.
As the woman praised as the greatest beauty in the Empire, her entrance sparked both curiosity and envy.
Cold, piercing gazes flew toward her from all directions.
“Remember what I told you,” Countess Barnett said in a low voice from behind her fan, then walked off to join a group of noble ladies who had come to greet her.
Just as promised, Felix, who had been standing off to the side of the banquet hall, began making his way toward her.
The moment she saw him, her breath caught in her throat.
She remembered all too well how, in her previous life, Felix had approached her at this very banquet and wouldn’t leave her alone. The memory made her skin crawl, as if insects were creeping up from her toes.
It’s fine. Nothing has happened yet. So it’s fine.
She forced herself to stay calm and collected.
Just then, the voice of the herald rang out through the hall.
“His Grace, Duke Braeden Ortis, has arrived.”
Juliana didn’t even have time to turn toward the entrance before Felix stepped in front of her.
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Barnett. I am Viscount Felix Everett.”
“Good evening, Viscount. I am Juliana Barnett.”
Following etiquette, she lowered her knees slightly in a graceful curtsy and extended her hand.
Felix took her hand and pressed his lips to the back of it. Even through the fabric of her gloves, she could still feel the touch.
The feeling of his lips made her skin crawl.
On this same night in her previous life, Felix had acted as if he had been granted permission to do whatever he wanted. He had touched her inappropriately under the guise of courtesy and tried to lead her somewhere out of sight.
Juliana had firmly refused him, but when she returned to the Barnett estate, she had been beaten and locked in a room alone.
Now she realized what Countess Barnett had truly meant when she warned her not to offend Felix. There had been more to those words than polite advice.
As Juliana was lost in her thoughts, Felix gave her a smooth smile and asked for a dance.
“Would you grant me the honor of a dance, my lady?”
She didn’t answer right away. She didn’t want to dance with him. Her lips wouldn’t form the words.
So nothing has changed after all.
Her thoughts were in turmoil. She didn’t have a proper reason to decline, and if she went along with him, everything might repeat just like before.
But then, Felix’s expression suddenly stiffened.
Juliana felt his gaze shift to something behind her. She turned her head—and froze in surprise.
Braeden was standing directly behind her, tall and unmoving like solid stone. She hadn’t even noticed him approach.
“Your Grace,” Felix said stiffly, bowing his head.
Juliana quickly followed and gave a proper curtsy.
“Your Grace,” Juliana said, bowing respectfully.
Braeden gave a slight nod, lowering his chin in acknowledgment. His confidence came so naturally that it didn’t feel out of place at all.
Without hesitation, he stepped smoothly between the two of them.
“I have something to discuss with Miss Barnett. Would that be alright?”
It sounded like a polite request, but anyone could see it was nothing short of a command. There was no room to say no.
“Of course, Your Grace,” Felix replied, lowering his head. His clenched fist gave away his frustration.
“Thank you, Viscount Everett,” Braeden said calmly, then extended his arm to Juliana.
Understanding the gesture, she placed her hand lightly on his arm.
Felix, now left behind without a partner, glared after them. But Braeden showed no reaction at all. Not even the smallest trace of concern touched his expression.
As he led Juliana away from Felix with practiced ease, he asked in a low voice,
“I didn’t interrupt a pleasant moment, did I?”
It was the kind of question that made it clear he already knew the answer.
Juliana was relieved not to be facing Felix any longer and replied sincerely.
“Not at all. In fact, thank you for rescuing me.”
Braeden let out a short laugh at her honest gratitude.
Even as they walked further into the banquet hall and greeted Duchess Fraser, his eyes remained on Juliana’s face. Unlike when she had barged into his townhouse, now her expression showed no spark of life—and strangely, that bothered him.
She looked like someone who would follow anyone, anywhere, just to escape the room. That alone made his feet turn in her direction without him realizing it.
“If we’re going to draw attention, we might as well do it properly,” he said, escorting her toward the center of the ballroom.
The music was about to begin, and couples were gathering on the dance floor with their partners.
It was almost unheard of for Duke Ortis to dance at such events, so when people saw him choose Juliana as his partner, they couldn’t hide their shock.
“Should I take this as Your Grace’s answer to my proposal?”
Standing in the middle of the floor, Juliana looked straight into Braeden’s red eyes as she asked.
“Yes, my lady.”
Braeden took a step back, becoming the image of a proper gentleman. He gave a polite bow and offered his hand to Juliana.
Her heart pounded as she reached out and took it.
The hope of escaping Felix Everett, who had felt like a terrible shackle in her previous life, mixed with the dazzling presence of the man standing before her. His appearance felt so unreal it took her breath away.
The music began, and the dance started.
As they moved together, parting and coming close again, the whole situation felt like a dream. It was hard to believe this was actually happening.
“There are too many eyes watching tonight. It wouldn’t be wise to have a serious conversation here,” Braeden said as his hand gently touched Juliana’s waist.
The warmth of his large hand felt unfamiliar and strangely comforting.
“Please send a letter to the Barnett estate.”
“Are you actually asking me to arrange a date?”
“Would you… not want that?”
Juliana’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she asked, her voice unsure and soft.
Braeden watched her reaction with quiet amusement. He was clearly enjoying the moment.
“It’s not that I don’t want to. I just haven’t done it before.”
“Oh…”
“Have you?”
“Yes, once or twice.”
“I see.”
She had only been taken out a couple of times by Count Barnett—once for tea in a busy shopping district and another time for a walk in the park. It barely counted, but technically, they had been called dates.
Still, for some reason, Braeden’s response seemed slower than usual.
But before Juliana could wonder about it, he quickly masked his expression with practiced ease.
“Then let’s go with this. Tonight, I was struck by you at first sight. I couldn’t get you out of my head, so I’m asking you on a date.”
If he presented it that way, everything would go much more smoothly for Juliana. It would make her situation far easier to manage.
“Thank you for being considerate,” she said sincerely.
Braeden lifted one corner of his mouth in a mischievous smile.
“I’m the one who fell for you, so why are you the one saying thank you?”
Juliana knew he was teasing her, but still, her heart gave a small, unexpected flutter.
While she tried to steady herself, the music came to an end.
It was customary for a gentleman to kiss the back of his partner’s hand as a polite gesture after a dance. Following the etiquette she had learned by heart, Juliana extended her hand without hesitation.
But instead of kissing it right away, Braeden gently removed her glove.
“Your Grace…!”
Startled, Juliana tried to pull her wrist back, but the glove was already off, revealing her pale hand.
“I don’t care for the idea of kissing where someone else already has.”
Then, his lips brushed against her bare skin. The sensation was unexpectedly bold and intimate.
Because of his action, the ballroom erupted into whispers and murmurs. The atmosphere instantly shifted as all eyes turned toward them.
