Chapter 8
Blooming Against the Wall
Something unexpected had happened.
Could it be that there were finally signs of reconciliation between Rosenberg and Devonshire, two families as good as sworn enemies?
Though everyone maintained perfect composure and aristocratic dignity, their darting eyes betrayed their burning curiosity.
And amidst the restrained atmosphere, several bold individuals stepped forward to approach Leonardo directly.
“I heard you were in Chessmore.”
“I returned last night.”
“I see, haha…”
Leonardo offered no hint whatsoever, despite clearly understanding the awkward curiosity behind the forced laughter.
Why had he accepted the Rosenbergs’ invitation?
Even he did not yet have a definite answer to that question.
There was simply… someone occupying his thoughts.
More accurately, someone intriguing.
Turning his gaze, he spotted Ariel standing among the crowd in the distance.
The moment he realized their eyes had met, a faint smile curved his lips.
“Could there be something between the two families we don’t know about?”
Startled, Ariel quickly looked away toward a finishing school classmate who had just spoken to her. Calming her briefly racing heart, she shook her head.
“Well, we did send him an invitation. Whether he accepts it is entirely his choice.”
“That’s surprising. Did he come because he knew Count Rosenberg wasn’t here? Maybe he came to see you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Why ridiculous? It’s only natural for a gentleman to take interest in the flower of high society.”
If it were another gentleman, perhaps.
But her classmate knew nothing of the conversation that had taken place in the garden that night.
Even now, recalling it only brought back the sharp hostility that had filled every exchange.
Ariel frowned faintly.
An impossible man to understand.
“…!”
She glanced toward him once more and nearly jumped in surprise.
Leonardo was walking straight toward her.
What? Is he really coming here?
With so many eyes watching, she could not begin to guess what he intended.
Beside her, her classmate began whispering excitedly.
“See? Didn’t I tell you?”
No. It’s not like that.
Unless he’s coming over just to provoke me…
“Your performance was excellent.”
“Oh— thank you very much.”
The young lady who had just finished playing the piano blushed deeply.
Taking her place at the instrument, Leonardo seated himself gracefully before the piano as though Ariel did not exist at all.
“Oh… I guess not.”
Disappointed murmurs drifted from beside her.
Why was the embarrassment entirely hers to bear?
Feeling her own cheeks heat up, Ariel shot the arrogant man an irritated glare.
Unbelievable. Honestly.
First he appears unexpectedly, and now he casually sits down to perform at the piano?
Standing near the piano was my mistake!
Swallowing her annoyance, she suddenly held her breath as the first notes rang out.
Do-sol-do-re—
It sounded as though he were warming up, the lingering notes melting softly into the air.
Then Leonardo truly began to play.
The surrounding chatter quieted. Everyone’s attention shifted naturally toward him.
Four-four time.
C major.
Ballad for a Young Girl.
A masterpiece beloved for its beautiful melody, as lyrical as its title itself—a timeless composition that had survived generations.
It was not unusual for Leonardo to perform piano pieces before a crowd. Ariel had heard rumors of it often enough.
But—
“Don’t forget.”
Once again, the devil hidden beneath beautiful human skin cast his curse upon her.
Through the half-open piano lid, she could see the man’s face as he played with calm concentration.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Leonardo lifted his eyes and found her with unerring precision.
And in the space between their locked gazes, memories of that day overlapped.
As though caught in a trap, Ariel could no longer move.
The tender melody continued flowing around her, so unlike the disastrous performance from years ago that had ended in discord.
Why this piece…?
All the years she had spent desperately trying not to give meaning to the past became meaningless in an instant.
The devil overturned her heart far too easily.
As the orchestra struck the first beat of the waltz, the ball truly began.
Ariel, the flower of society and the host’s daughter, was expected to receive an endless stream of dance invitations tonight.
She danced four consecutive times without pause from the very first number.
The reason she ended up dancing a fifth time instead of finally resting was Valentin, who had rushed over breathlessly after finishing a shift change with the Imperial Guard.
“Why is Duke Devonshire here?”
Matching her steps to the rhythm, Valentin lowered his voice.
Ariel merely shrugged helplessly.
Though he refused to dance, Leonardo remained firmly present throughout the evening. He had not even offered the host’s daughter a single courtesy dance invitation.
Did he come here merely to show off his piano skills?
Secretly mocking him, Ariel focused on dancing with Valentin instead.
She was so exhausted her steps threatened to falter.
Noticing her condition, Valentin smiled teasingly.
“When this song ends, shall we get a glass of lemonade?”
Grateful for the suggestion, Ariel smiled brightly and nodded.
Then the uninvited guest appeared the moment they stepped off the dance floor.
“What an impressive evening.”
Leonardo approached wearing a perfectly social smile.
Still holding Valentin’s arm, Ariel instinctively sharpened her gaze.
“I’ve already danced five times in a row. I really can’t—”
Casually plucking a champagne glass from a passing servant’s silver tray, Leonardo effortlessly rendered her refusal meaningless.
Before she knew it, the glass had been pressed into her hand.
As Ariel let out a disbelieving laugh, Leonardo stared directly at Valentin.
The silent request for privacy was unmistakable.
Though visibly displeased, Valentin had little choice but to step aside.
After a slight nod, he exchanged one last glance with Ariel before walking toward his older brother.
Ariel watched the brothers disappear beyond the ballroom before sharply turning back.
“Why did you accept the invitation?”
“That hardly sounds like something the host should ask.”
“Did you come here just to torment me?”
“Hardly.”
As though asking whether he truly looked so childish, Leonardo smiled smugly.
The melody he had played earlier seemed to echo once more beside her ears, and Ariel bit lightly against the inside of her lip.
Why did you play that song?
The question lodged in her throat like a thorn, sharp enough to sting all the way to her heart.
“Is one glass of champagne enough?”
The strangely gentle question arrived just as couples with assigned partners began returning toward the dance floor for the next waltz.
Shall we rest for only one song, then dance together?
Was that merely her imagination?
Her heartbeat quickened unbearably, making it difficult to breathe.
She could not answer immediately.
Their gazes tangled silently together.
She could feel his eyes darkening with an unexpectedly serious intensity.
Then, just as Ariel’s lips parted—
Leonardo looked away first.
“Yes…”
“I should excuse myself now, my lady.”
With a graceful bow of his head, he turned and left.
Caught entirely off guard, Ariel remained frozen in place.
At that moment, the orchestra conductor raised his baton.
A lively waltz filled the ballroom, and elegantly paired ladies and gentlemen began to dance like butterflies across the floor.
And amidst that beautiful world—
Ariel stood alone against the wall, gulping down champagne after champagne.
[The Flower of Society Blooms Against the Wall]
Reading the headline splashed boldly across the gossip magazine, Ariel’s eye twitched violently.
The edges of the magazine crumpled beneath her grip.
“My lady, please don’t take it too much to heart. People just gossip thoughtlessly. They’ll lose interest soon enough.”
Mary’s comfort was no comfort at all.
Half on the verge of tears, Ariel replayed the humiliating memories that had kept her awake all night.
The sidelong glances.
The whispers that churned her stomach.
The orchestra music that had felt endless.
Fortunately, a savior had appeared before the next waltz began. But even while speaking with the Cayenne brothers afterward, she had been unable to regain her composure.
She could not shake the feeling that Leonardo had toyed with her.
That man had played with her completely.
And only after reading the gossip column did she finally understand.
Why Leonardo had accepted the invitation.
“He came just to drag the Rosenberg name through the mud. Because I became the flower of society!”
“Surely not…”
“What a horrible man.”
Throwing the gossip magazine aside irritably, Ariel sprang to her feet.
From this day forward, she would walk the same path as her father.
If the newspapers thrived on Heinz versus Leonardo, then the gossip magazines would become Ariel versus Leonardo.
“I need to start visiting people.”
With decisive determination, she sat at her desk and picked up her pen.
Letters quickly piled up.
To her finishing school classmates.
To the new friends she had recently made.
To the noble ladies she had greeted through her mother’s connections.
Each letter politely inquired after their health while arranging future visits.
The scratching of her pen against paper sounded cold enough to resemble the sharpening of blades.
Did he think I would simply sit still and suffer this quietly?
Fire blazed within Ariel’s eyes.
She intended to make it abundantly clear that Rosenberg blood flowed through her veins as well.
