Chapter 2
“You there… what are you?”
After Chloe stood there for a long time without answering, the man holding Roeni tilted his head and asked.
…Lucian Edmont.
Chloe’s fiancé.
He was the youngest son of the Marquis Edmont family. Since he had spent many years studying abroad from a young age, the official ballroom he attended in the Babelheim Empire that day had been his first.
So even though he came from a prestigious marquis family, he had not been very noticeable in Babelheim’s social circles.
But at that late debut party, he quietly drew attention.
That day, Lucian—
Among countless beautiful young ladies making their debut—
Was the only man who said that the one he fell in love with at first sight was not them, nor Roeni Enrite—
But “Chloe Enrite.”
At that time, Roeni had been too busy dancing with countless young nobles who had asked her for dances.
And then, four years passed.
For four whole years, they shared a love that was always warm and gentle.
Lucian’s gaze had always been on Chloe.
As if she were the center of his entire world, he remained endlessly kind.
Every season they spent together stayed in her mind like a painting.
Sometimes, when she remembered them, she would smile to herself like a fool.
Her father, Count Enrite, had even said—
“Chloe, ever since you met Lucian, you smile much more often. It makes me very happy.”
“Marry me, Chloe.”
After many seasons passed, in the summer Chloe turned twenty-five—
She received a proposal from the man with those sincere eyes.
She believed that with this man, she could spend the rest of her life.
And so, Chloe embraced him tightly and accepted his proposal.
While preparing for the wedding, at her parents’ suggestion, they even set up a temporary home in a separate residence of the Enrite estate.
Though still awkward, their early newlywed life filled her with excitement and happiness.
But—
That winter, when heavy snow fell again and again—
She never imagined that Lucian would prove so clearly that he had taken her younger sister, Roeni, as his mistress.
“Can’t you hear me?”
Lucian’s voice, colder and harsher than ever, rang out again.
“How could you…?”
Her trembling hand itched to slap either of them.
Crash—!
The sound of glass shattering echoed from somewhere.
Chloe froze.
She lowered her head for a moment.
Then, in that instant, she thought calmly.
This is not the time to act irrationally.
Making a scene here would solve nothing.
This was not an official social gathering—
Just a secret meeting hidden under the name The Invitation of the Deep Dawn.
Everything that happened here would remain secret.
Everyone had already agreed to that without written proof.
And whatever she did here—
She alone would bear the responsibility.
If she thought about it again—
For Chloe Enrite to remove her own mask just to expose her cheating sister and fiancé…
That would not be a smart move.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were someone I knew. I must have been mistaken.”
Chloe forced her voice out, keeping it as calm as possible.
“Someone you know?”
Roeni stepped down from the table and frowned.
“Even if you know someone, you shouldn’t act like you do. That’s an unspoken rule here. I wonder how they manage their members.”
As Roeni’s cold scolding drew attention, Lucian frowned and brushed back his hair.
“I can’t exactly welcome you as a new guest. You suddenly showed up and ruined a perfectly good time.”
Her tone, sharp and mocking, was nothing like the Roeni Chloe knew.
Her younger sister had always been bright and cheerful.
Never rude.
At least—not until today.
She had always chosen her words carefully and politely, earning endless praise from noble ladies.
But now—
Both Lucian and Roeni felt like completely different people.
Chloe clenched her trembling fist.
At that moment—
“Shall I join you for a moment?”
A man spoke from behind her.
Chloe felt a chill run down her spine.
Just his presence alone made her body stiffen.
Before Chloe even turned, Roeni’s gaze had already fixed behind her.
Chloe quickly noticed it.
Roeni’s eyes looked… captivated.
What kind of man could make her react like that?
Just as Chloe was about to turn—
A cold, low voice whispered near her ear.
“If you want to end this situation quietly, you should follow me.”
She knew he was right.
For now, leaving was the best choice.
Saving what would come next, Chloe followed him to a quiet corner of the tavern.
“You’re silent. Are you displeased with me?”
Under his dark hair, his ruby-like red eyes gleamed dangerously.
His large build alone filled the space across from her.
Even the air felt heavier around him.
Yet, he calmly drank from his glass as if nothing mattered.
Chloe frowned slightly, then spoke calmly.
“Thank you for stepping in. I don’t know your reason, and I’m not curious. I’ll take my leave now.”
Just as she was about to stand—
“That’s a good idea. You came all this way, yet you don’t seem to fit in here. Don’t disturb things further—just leave.”
His tone sounded almost like an order.
Chloe did not like him at all.
From the start, he had been speaking to her rudely.
Even if names and status didn’t matter here—
He was clearly looking down on her.
“Do I have any reason to listen to you? Especially when you speak so rudely to someone you just met?”
At her sharp reply, the man’s lips curved slightly.
“You do.”
His confidence made Chloe let out a faint laugh.
“There’s no such reason.”
“Then I’ll tell you myself.”
The man suddenly stood and walked around the table.
He stopped right in front of Chloe.
Then, he reached out his large arm—
Wrapped his hand behind her silver hair—
And slowly leaned down near her ear.
“Listen carefully.”
His warm breath brushed against her ear and neck.
Chloe froze.
She knew what kind of place this was.
Men and women came here to indulge freely.
She had expected it.
She had seen it.
But—
That didn’t mean she had come here for that reason.
“What kind of rude…”
The words rose to her throat, but she swallowed them.
It was true—
She had come here like a lonely woman of the night.
But she had no intention of doing anything with a stranger.
Still, making a scene again would draw attention.
She felt trapped.
Standing so close to this unfamiliar man, her hands damp with sweat—
“I broke the glass on purpose… to help you come to your senses.”
His words came suddenly.
“Take your family fight back home.”
Chloe’s eyes hardened.
