Chapter 14
“Hehe. I wonder why you kept such a handsome face hidden all this time.”
“I’m quite embarrassed that you say that.”
He used to boast about being a “very noticeable face.”
Felix awkwardly scratched the back of his neck and gave a sheepish smile.
“Please show yourself more often in the future. The hall feels brighter with you here.”
“Yes. If that is what a beautiful lady wishes, I will gladly try my best.”
Wow. The two-faced Marquis Felix Gray was truly turning the banquet hall upside down.
I was blankly watching him, amazed at his incredible acting, when—
“Um, excuse me. May I ask something if it’s not rude?”
A lady fanning herself slowly glanced at me while laughing softly.
“Are you two perhaps… what kind of relationship do you have?”
“Oh, that is…”
I quickly tried to explain, but Felix lightly tapped my back and cut me off.
Then he glanced at me, smiled slightly at the lady, and said:
“No comment, madam.”
“……???”
No comment?!
I quickly grabbed his sleeve.
Then I covered my mouth and whispered.
“Marquis…! How can you answer like that?”
“Why? What’s wrong? I didn’t lie.”
“No comment is exactly the kind of answer that causes misunderstandings!”
At that moment, the lady who had been watching us carefully spoke again.
“Hehe. It seems you two have something to talk about privately. I’ll step away now. Please enjoy your time.”
She blinked slowly, gave an unreadable smile, and left.
Sigh. Please don’t let her be as loose-lipped as Madam Boura.
“Don’t stand so close.”
As I tried to move away from him, Felix instead pulled me closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
“Hey? Marquis? We never agreed to this beforehand.”
I asked through clenched teeth with a forced smile.
Felix leaned in and whispered teasingly.
“What’s the problem? It’s a party. Just enjoy it.”
If it weren’t for him, I would’ve been enjoying it ten times more.
As expected, once we entered the banquet hall with Felix as my escort, burning stares immediately landed on us from all directions.
Every time I made eye contact with someone, I forced a smile until my face started twitching.
This really doesn’t suit me.
Normally I would’ve been standing by a corner pillar with Aiden, eating dessert and joking around while watching people.
Ah—right. Now wasn’t the time to be dragged around by Felix.
In my panic earlier, I almost forgot why I came here.
While scanning the hall, I spotted Aiden surrounded by young ladies.
At that moment, Aiden turned his head—and our eyes met.
I raised my hand to wave…
“…Huh?”
But whether he didn’t see me or was pretending not to, Aiden suddenly turned away and walked out to the balcony.
Strange. I’m sure we made eye contact…
“Something wrong?”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing. I just feel a bit stuffy. I’ll go get some air.”
“Make it quick. My mouth is looser than you think.”
Worried by Aiden’s unusual attitude, I made an excuse and followed him to the balcony.
Aiden was leaning on the railing, quietly staring at the dark night sky as if lost in thought.
“Aiden!”
At my voice, he slowly turned his head.
“You came?”
“You saw me waving earlier, right?”
“I did.”
“Then why did you just walk away like that?”
At my complaint, he turned back to the night sky.
“Just… felt like it.”
I stood beside him.
“Just felt like it?”
“It’s nothing.”
Why does he feel so off today? Did something happen?
This is bad. If Agnes asks him for a dance while he’s in this mood…
In that instant, I recalled all the harsh things Aiden said in the original story:
“Get lost.” “Shut up.” “Disappear.”
Absolutely not!
That would push him straight into the regretful male lead route.
I quickly started talking, trying to lift his mood.
“Hey, did you see earlier? Lord Roten was dancing and then he—”
“Fell forward while rolling?”
“Oh? Y-yeah! He rolled like three times. It was hilarious.”
“Yeah. It was funny.”
Even if he says that in a flat voice, it doesn’t sound funny at all.
This isn’t working.
“Aiden, look at this.”
I stepped back a few steps and called him.
Then I lifted the hem of my dress slightly and spun once in place.
“How about it?”
“……”
“Madam Boura really didn’t exaggerate. ‘Clothes make the man’ really applies. Isn’t it much prettier than when I tried it on at the shop?”
I posed dramatically like a painting model, waiting for his reaction.
Sigh. He should laugh any second now…
Why is it so silent?
If it’s bad, just say it’s bad. Why is he not saying anything?
Aiden stared at me silently with a stiff expression.
Then he turned away again and looked back at the sky.
And muttered softly:
“It’s pretty.”
From the side of his face, I saw the faint curve of his lips.
Relief washed over me.
I stepped closer again.
“Huh?”
“Pretty. The dress. And… you.”
“What? I didn’t hear you because of the music.”
“You…”
“Hm? What? Say it again?”
I teased him, pretending I didn’t hear.
Aiden shook his head helplessly.
“It’s pretty. The prettiest in this entire hall.”
“Hehe. I know it’s a lie, but I’m happy anyway.”
“It’s not a lie. You are pretty. But more importantly…”
He hesitated, then stopped speaking.
Something is definitely wrong.
“Aiden?”
Worried, I asked him again.
He smiled faintly as if nothing was wrong.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go back inside. You’ll catch a cold out here. I told you to wear the dress I picked. Why are your shoulders so exposed?”
He took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, gently pushing me back toward the hall.
Not nothing at all. He’s clearly hiding something.
“You’re lying. Something is definitely wrong.”
I pouted.
Aiden sighed deeply and stopped walking.
“You’re the one lying.”
“Huh?”
“How is that?”
“What are you talking about?”
I blinked in confusion.
Aiden pushed his hair back in frustration.
“Last time, didn’t you say you only met him by coincidence?”
“Ah…”
Ah. So that’s why he’s been in a bad mood.
It’s because of Felix.
Of course. I suddenly showed up at the banquet with Felix as my partner.
I quickly explained.
“It really was just a coincidence. I stepped on his foot at the library, and he demanded compensation and made a scene, so—”
While I was explaining everything honestly, Aiden suddenly asked:
“Do you like him?”
“…Huh?”
What?
I stared at him in shock.
Aiden looked serious. Not joking at all.
“Do you like the Marquis Gray?”
“W-what are you talking about?!”
I panicked and denied it immediately.
But Aiden didn’t look convinced.
“When I think about it… it’s similar. That sickly weak noble kid you used to follow around when you were young. And he’s rich too. Isn’t he basically your type?”
I lightly punched his arm.
“That was ages ago! And ‘sickly weak’? Lord Burnt was just slim! His face was the only pretty thing about him!”
I coughed.
“Anyway, yes, the Marquis is rich and his face is my type, but—”
Aiden frowned slightly.
“That’s all? A guy who only relies on his face and acts however he wants is exactly the type I hate.”
“Do you really think that?”
I nodded firmly.
Only then did Aiden seem slightly reassured.
After explaining everything so desperately, my throat felt dry.
I was about to suggest going back for a drink when Aiden grabbed my wrist and stopped me.
“Hm? Anything else?”
“One more question.”
“Sure. What now?”
After hesitating, Aiden asked:
“What about me?”
“…Huh?”
“Do you… like me?”
