Chapter 26
Just behind me, Dwyn, who had been following, jumped forward in surprise and almost bolted ahead.
“Your Grace…! Are you all right?”
It wasn’t a wine shower, just water, something I had often experienced. So, without realizing it, I responded as if nothing had happened.
“Ah… I’m fine…”
But I came to my senses when I saw the wine dripping from the back of my hand onto the grass.
I couldn’t just brush it off—the fine sky-blue dress was soaked in wine and completely ruined, beyond wearing again.
I quickly changed my expression, reminding myself that I was here as the Grand Duchess.
“I was just… a little startled.”
Perhaps misunderstanding my flustered expression, Dwyn seemed at a loss and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. Then, as if intending to scold the one responsible, he turned around.
Even before Dwyn could speak, the culprit began to cry pitifully.
This left only Dwyn, who had done nothing wrong, in an awkward situation.
I stared at the trembling woman who looked like she was about to collapse in shock.
“I’m so sorry, Your Grace… I’ve made a terrible mistake…”
The woman standing before me, looking pale as if she were the one drenched in wine, was—surprisingly—Verodica.
Verodica was not someone who made clumsy mistakes like this. Even without referencing the novel, just thinking of the way she usually acted made that clear.
So this had to be intentional—something Verodica had done with malicious intent. Just like the persistent bullying she inflicted on Iris in the original story.
Cassien’s gaze, now focused on me instead of Iris, and Verodica sudden outburst—it all added up.
A troubling thought crossed my mind.
‘Does she still think Cassien likes me?’
Even if Cassien hadn’t lost interest in me, there was never any love there to begin with. It was obvious there had never been any affection.
Still, the misunderstanding seemed to have affected not only Cassien but also Verodica.
Like it or not, this was one of the consequences I had to deal with going forward.
Eventually, Cassien would come to realize he didn’t care about me.
‘For now, I need to get her away before she tries anything else.’
While I accepted that this was a price I had to pay, there was no reason to get tangled with someone like Verodica, who clearly had bad intentions.
“I’m so sorry, Your Grace. I really made a terrible mistake.”
“Don’t cry, Lady Florna”
“I’m fine.”
“But Your Grace’s dress…”
“It was an accident. It’s fine…”
“But…! If I leave it like this, I’ll feel so…”
“Lady Florna. You can go now. Really, it’s fine.”
Yet, for whatever reason, Verodica hesitated and didn’t leave, despite my repeated refusals. Then, suddenly, she took a step closer.
“Your Grace… Please allow me to make up for my mistake—”
But Dwyn quickly and firmly blocked her path before she could come any closer.
“Lady Florna…! Please leave the cleanup to me and return to the ballroom.”
“Yes. I’m truly fine, so it’s best you go back now, Verodica.”
“If that is truly Your Grace’s wish, then I will return.”
Verodica looked quite pitiful as she reluctantly bowed her head. But the moment our eyes met briefly, I froze.
The emotion that flickered in her eyes, even if just for a moment, was unmistakably malice.
After safely sending Verodica away, I went to the VIP lounge on the second floor of the Britain Palace with Dwyn.
Luckily, the lounge was empty. Dwyn left to find me a new dress.
I walked toward the window and looked out at the lake, its outline blurred under the dark sky.
I saw Iris on the stage set above the water, thanking the crowd.
The stage she was standing on, the servants and knights she trusted—none of them were truly hers. Everything was part of the Empress’s carefully laid trap.
As soon as Iris lit the candle, the stage would collapse. She would fall straight into the lake.
I clenched and unclenched my fists in frustration.
‘Even knowing all this, there’s nothing I can do…’
After this event, Iris would undergo a major change—triggered by this traumatic incident. Though meant to awaken her as the main character, the problem was that no one at the banquet would try to save her.
As I mentioned, the knights guarding the event and the servants nearby were all under the Empress’s control. And expecting help from the nobles?
It was hopeless. Every guest had been carefully chosen by the Empress—either loyal supporters or powerless nobles from minor families.
That’s why Cassien was crucial today.
‘Where is Cassien when I need him…!’
It wasn’t that I expected him to act just because that’s what happened in the original story.
Cassien was the only guest not on the Empress’s invite list. He wasn’t part of her faction, and his family was powerful enough not to fear her wrath.
In fact, he was one of the few people capable of ruining her plans.
Cassien was the only person here who fit all those criteria.
I pressed my face closer to the window, scanning the crowd for a man with black hair and red eyes…
But no matter how hard I looked, Cassien was nowhere to be seen.
“He was just there a moment ago… where did he go?”
Then it happened.
Mechanical applause echoed through the hall as Iris lit the candle.
Creak—
‘No…!’
What good was it to freeze up and clench my hands?
As expected, the accident occurred without fail. The wooden stage creaked ominously, then tilted sharply and collapsed before anyone could react.
Splash—! I heard the sound of Iris falling into the lake even from here.
The hall, previously filled with a strange tension all day, now burst into shocked voices. Applause and murmurs vanished. All that remained were gasps and cries of disbelief.
As expected, no one moved to save her.
Everyone stared at the ripples on the lake with pity on their faces—but that was it.
Not just the nobles—the servants only panicked, and most of the knights turned their heads away or shut their eyes tightly as if the sight itself was unbearable.
So where on earth was Cassien at a time like this…!
I had felt something was off since the middle of the banquet and even thought things might not go according to the original story.
But right now, Iris truly had no one else who could save her, so I foolishly held on to the hope that Cassien would appear.
“What should I do…?”
I couldn’t take my eyes off the lake, and suddenly, someone came to mind.
Dwyn. That’s right—Dwyn!
At that moment, I heard the door open behind me and turned my head instinctively.
“Dwyn…! Outside right now…!”
Shameful as it was, I had planned to ask Dwyn to save Iris. But the person who locked eyes with me wasn’t Dwyn.
“There you are, Loelle.”
It was Cassien—the one who, if I hadn’t meddled with the original story, would have already been out there saving Iris without hesitation.
“Why are you here?”
“Why? I came to find you.”
“But why did you—”
“I have something to say, Loelle. Just give me a moment…”
That same old excuse—‘a conversation.’ We were over a long time ago.
Just as I frowned at Cassien, trying to guess what was going on in his head, hurried footsteps echoed in the hall.
Dwyn burst into the lounge, pushing between Cassien and the door with urgency, carrying a dress.
“I didn’t explain properly last time… That’s why you… you misunderstood and made this decision…”
“You can’t go in!”
“Sigh…”
Cassien frowned in irritation. Anyone would flinch under his glare, but Dwyn stood firm. Then Cassien, clearly annoyed, tried to push past Dwyn and enter the room.
“Move.”
“You absolutely cannot enter…! Please leave. Don’t trouble Her Grace.”
“Get out of my way.”
Of course, Dwyn didn’t even blink.
After all, the person he served… was Reus.
Realizing he wouldn’t get anything from Dwyn, Cassien looked past him and fixed his gaze on me.
“Loelle. Just a moment. That’s all I need…”
“I have nothing to say to you, Cassien.”
“You heard her, Sir Ersian. I’ll close the door now.”
Just as Dwyn was about to push Cassien out completely, a loud splash echoed from outside, followed by even more chaos.
Someone had jumped into the lake to save Iris. But who?
‘There shouldn’t be anyone who would…’
I rushed back to the window, forgetting all about Cassien.
Before the ripples could settle, the person who had jumped in rose to the surface.
‘Reus?’
To my surprise, the one emerging from the lake with Iris in his arms… was Reus.
