Chapter 23

Left to stand alone, with everyone seemingly avoiding coming within two meters of her, Isabella bit her lower lip nervously.

‘At this rate, I won’t just miss out on the first dance, I’ll be completely left out.’

As the young nobles around her began pairing off one by one, her growing isolation made her feel increasingly anxious and out of place.

‘What am I supposed to do…?’

Desperate, she began scanning the room, grasping at even the faintest sliver of hope. The only familiar face in this entirely foreign ballroom, her parents had yet to arrive, was someone she clung to as her last thread of comfort.

Isabella searched for Cedric.

It didn’t take long to find him. At the center of the largest crowd, there he was. Like the one real gem among counterfeits, Cedric stood out even while surrounded by others. Buried in the throng, and yet, somehow, he shone.

‘Can I approach him?’

She hesitated. Something about him felt too distant, too different from her, dark, quiet, and alone as she was. And then, it happened.

Their eyes met, perhaps he’d sensed her gaze.

But was it just her imagination? Or had he deliberately looked away? His eyes drifted off almost immediately.

He made his way through the crowd toward the Crown Prince.

‘They must be close.’

She couldn’t see clearly from this distance, but the way the Crown Prince naturally extended his hand in welcome made it clear. They shared a certain familiarity.

Only then did Isabella realize how foolish her earlier hopes had been.

‘Someone that far out of reach… Get it together. I need to stand on my own two feet if I’m going to face my parents later with any shred of dignity.’

Steeling herself against the harsh reality that she had no allies here, she took a decisive step forward. Then, as if she had nothing to lose, she turned to a green-haired young noble who had been sneaking glances at her as if she were an exotic animal in a zoo.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Isabella of House Hellen. I noticed you’ve been looking my way for a while… If you haven’t found a partner yet, would you do me the honor of the first dance?”

It was a complete breach of etiquette for a noble lady to initiate conversation, let alone ask for a dance. But Isabella knew that if she didn’t break the rules, she wouldn’t be able to move forward.

Pride be d**ned, she wanted to enjoy her one and only debutante ball without regret.

“Ah…”

The young man stared blankly at her, clearly flustered by her bold approach. His eyes flicked over her gloved hand and the black veil covering her face. Then, all color drained from his face as he stammered out a response.

“M-my apologies. P-please spare me!”

“I-I didn’t mean—”

“F-forgive me!”

And with that, he fled in a panic.

Was that what it meant to be rejected?

Isabella looked down at her hand, still hovering in the air, then clasped it with her other hand and let out a soft laugh.

‘Well, if no one else will take my hand… I’ll do it myself.’

They say humans are adaptable creatures. After enduring so many disdainful stares the moment she entered the ballroom, this level of rejection barely fazed her anymore.

‘Whatever. There’s still time. Now, who’s next on the list?’

They also say hardship reveals one’s true self.

Now that she found herself in such a dismal situation, Isabella realized she was more adaptable and resilient than she had thought. This was starting to feel less like humiliation and more like a difficult but beatable game.

After several more failed attempts, Isabella sighed deeply and looked around the room.

‘Sigh… The music will start soon, and still nothing.’

The ballroom was now packed with guests who had already selected their partners. The only ones left were herself, Camilla, and Diana. And, of course, the cluster of young men hovering around the two ladies.

‘I didn’t expect those two to still be unpartnered. Anyone else, maybe, but them?’

Isabella watched the scene from a distance.

Camilla, scanning the room with a composed expression that barely masked her tension, seemed to be waiting for someone in particular. But it was Diana who caught Isabella’s attention.

There was a dark cloud on Diana’s face, as though something had deeply annoyed her.

‘Is she unwell?’

Diana rubbed her temples, clearly weary, and though Isabella wasn’t sure why, the sight bothered her. But then she gave her head a firm shake.

‘No! This is not the time to be worrying about someone else’s health! Focus on the task at hand!’

She clenched her gloved hands into fists, then released them. Just as she was about to take another step. 

“It’s been a while, Lady Hellen.”

A smooth male voice sounded directly behind her. Startled, she spun around to find a man standing there, so silently that he’d completely caught her off guard.

“Wow…”

The gasp escaped before she could swallow it back.

With soft, curly blond hair and deep black eyes, the man had a gentle, almost luminous aura. His warm smile reminded her of dandelions blooming in the spring sun, and Isabella found herself momentarily dazed.

Thankfully, the veil covered most of her stunned expression. Then he asked an unexpected question.

“Do you remember me?”

The question snapped her out of her daze.

Of course she remembered seeing his name in the registry, he was royalty. Hayden Elond, heir to the Duchy of Elond.

She quickly curtsied.

“Isabella, eldest daughter of House Hellen, greets the Young Lord of Elond Grand Duchy.”

“Hmm…”

But Hayden’s reaction was… odd. He looked faintly disappointed.

Then, as if brushing it off, he smiled again and said warmly, “I suppose it has been a long time. It’s only natural that you wouldn’t remember me.”

She tilted her head, confused.

“Do you… know me?”

He smiled even wider.

“Of course. I met you six years ago.”

“Six years ago…?”

Isabella searched her memory and studied his face carefully.

‘Twelve years old… Did I ever meet someone this handsome back then? He does look a little familiar…’

But honestly, her memory was hazy. Noticing her hesitation, Hayden gave her a hint.

“We first met at the village harvest festival.”

In that instant, a memory came flashing back.

“Oh! The hotdog brother!”

“Hotdog…?”

Clearly flustered by the bizarre outburst, Hayden blinked and repeated her words. Realizing her mistake a second too late, Isabella clapped her hands over her mouth.

“My apologies, Lord Elond. That was terribly improper of me.”

Even Isabella, as wild and free-spirited as she was, had some sense of decorum.

Knowing the man before her was of such high standing, she broke out in a cold sweat. But she couldn’t help sneaking glances at him, remembering the blond boy she’d met all those years ago.

Not yet a grown man, but already kind and quietly dashing, he’d had a youthful charm back then.

‘What a small world. I never expected to see him again, let alone learn he’s the Young Lord Elond…’

Six years ago, she’d run away from home for the first time to attend a local harvest festival, driven by curiosity. Everything had been foreign – people, buildings, even the food sold on the streets.

She’d tried to buy a delicious-looking hotdog with a jewel from her dress, unaware of money’s value or that the gem could’ve bought out the entire stall. It had nearly caused a scene.

And the one who stepped in to help her was Hayden. He not only paid for the hotdog, but also spent the day showing her around the festival, gifting her a precious memory of the outside world.

That’s why she was glad to see him, but also uneasy.

Sensing her discomfort, Hayden pressed his lips together briefly, then spoke again.

“That was quite a misstep. Under normal circumstances, I might’ve taken offense. But in your case, I’ll let it slide. On one condition.”

He paused, a playful gleam in his eyes.

“If you can recall the name I gave you back then.”

“Name…? Hm…”

Isabella wracked her brain. Then it hit her.

“Eden.”

At once, Hayden broke into a smile warm enough to melt the air around them.

“You remembered. I was worried you’d forgotten. I’m truly glad, Lady Isabella.”

Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he took her hand and pressed a kiss to her gloved knuckles.

“…!”

She didn’t feel his lips through the gloves, but the unexpected gesture left her thoroughly flustered. She tried to pull away, but Hayden tightened his hold, still smiling with his lips pressed to her hand.

‘Ah… My poor heart can’t take this!’

She hadn’t even gotten used to Cedric’s looks, and now another heartthrob was flashing that killer smile at her. Her resolve wavered dangerously.

Then Hayden asked, “By the way, have you chosen a partner yet?”

“N-no… I haven’t had any luck…”

“Then may I offer myself? After all, it seems fate has already tied us together.”

“W-what?!”

Even a deep breath wasn’t enough to steady her nerves. She nearly bit her tongue trying to respond.

Noticing how flustered she was, Hayden gently took her hand again and gave a graceful bow.

“Forgive my haste. Let me ask you properly, my flower of April, would you do me the honor of sharing your precious time with me?”

“Ah… With pleasure…”

And yet, for some reason, she found herself briefly glancing toward where Cedric stood.

Why had she done that? She didn’t understand it.

Still, to someone like her, whom everyone else had avoided, Hayden’s gesture of kindness meant the world.

“Thank you… for helping me.”

A pang of guilt crept up on her for no real reason, and she lowered her head slightly.

Watching her, looking a little deflated, Hayden pulled her gently to his side and said lightly, as if it were nothing at all. 

“There’s nothing to thank me for. Don’t lend your ears to hollow words. If anything, I’m just glad those people fail to recognize how beautiful you truly are.”

His warm, considerate tone put her at ease, and Isabella finally let out a soft laugh.

“But I’m wearing a veil. How can you tell if I’m beautiful or not?”

“You showed me your face once when we were young, remember?”

“Oh! Did I?”

“You did. And…”

Leading her smoothly toward the center of the ballroom, Hayden suddenly lowered his head and leaned in slightly to whisper. 

“You don’t need to see someone’s face to know they’re beautiful. You just know.”

“What? How?”

“You can sense it in their presence. Especially when the beauty comes from within.”

His black eyes gazed steadily at her, his expression serene and smiling. Overwhelmed, Isabella quickly turned her head away. Her cheeks were burning.

‘I… I need to be careful. He must be one of those… those infamous flirts I’ve only heard about.’

It was the first time she’d ever been seduced, and Isabella didn’t know how to respond, completely flustered.

Just then, breaking the awkward air between them, a familiar melody began to play in the hall. It was the first piece, specially chosen for the débutantes’ opening dance.

“My lady, shall we take to the floor?”

“Yes.”

As the music began, the paired noble sons and daughters began stepping onto the ballroom floor one by one. Hayden led Isabella there, hand in hand.

…… 

T/N: I smell something sus from Hayden 🤔