Amilda’s face burned crimson before she fled as though escaping the scene.
The people left behind cautiously watched Lucius’s reaction, but soon buried the empty space she left behind beneath a brand-new topic of conversation. Everything flowed on as if nothing had happened.
I know a banquet with drinks late into the night can’t possibly stay proper… but is it normal to approach a married man like that?
Having stepped away from the crowd, Lucius quietly thought to himself as he searched for Celia.
Ever since earlier, an indescribable discomfort had refused to leave him.
The high ceiling, the golden glow pouring from chandeliers in every direction, the circular pathways designed to let people drift effortlessly through the hall. Within it all, the guests themselves moved like parts of a grand mechanism.
Among the sea of familiar strangers, Lucius searched obsessively for only Celia.
Ha…
He had already lost count of how many times he regretted not following her when she left. His usually measured stride quickened.
Where did she go?
Then, in the distance, he noticed the attention of several men tilting toward one direction. Their hands paused halfway through raising wineglasses; conversations momentarily halted on their lips.
Celia was there.
I thought she went outside… so she was still inside.
A deep sense of relief washed over him.
The moment he saw her standing beneath the brilliant light pouring down like melted gold, the discomfort curled tightly inside his chest vanished instantly.
It felt as though the world brightened before his eyes, and a breath of relief escaped him unconsciously. He started toward her, drawn helplessly by the feelings that had overflowed ever since he woke.
But after only a few steps, he stopped.
…Why are they looking at another man’s wife like that?
The men’s gazes toward Celia were shamelessly obvious.
He knew perfectly well that she was not beautiful only in his eyes.
Her silver-white hair fell luxuriantly, noble and radiant. Beneath long, elegant lashes rested calm blue eyes as deep and tranquil as the sea itself. Her slender limbs stretched gracefully beneath the refined lines of her dress, emphasizing her aristocratic beauty even further.
Unlike the neat clothing she wore in private or the simpler garments she used for outings, today’s Celia looked more dazzling than usual.
Especially striking was the deep neckline beneath her collarbone and the intricate pleated decoration running along the center of her chest. The soft silhouette flowed naturally over her flawless figure, drawing the attention of everyone around her.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
And yet, the vulgar glances the men kept throwing her way disturbed him beyond reason.
The moment he recognized that fact, a strange new discomfort inside Lucius swelled into something unbearable.
…I think I’m getting irritated.
Reckless anger devours reason and clouds judgment.
Drawing in a deep breath, Lucius lowered his eyelids halfway. Beneath his calm exterior, his gaze moved with chilling precision, sorting through every person looking at her—examining exactly who they were, and with what intentions they stared.
And when his eyes finally returned to Celia after sweeping across the room once more, he unconsciously clenched his fist.
Celia was standing face to face with another man.
And on her lips rested the faintest curve of a smile.
A smile she had never shown Lucius even once since he regained consciousness.
The unexpected encounter rooted Celia in place.
“I heard you went abroad to study in the Principality of Valtan.”
“Yes. I only recently returned. I’d wanted to see you at least once… I suppose I’m fortunate.”
Farenheight Rowens.
He was the direct heir of the Marquis House of Rowens from the Northern Federation Kingdom—and once, there had even been marriage talks between him and Celia.
“Still, calling it a broken engagement seems excessive. We never actually signed a contract.”
“You’re as meticulous as ever. To be honest, I only said it as a small joke born from selfish feelings.”
Even at her stiff response, he merely smiled awkwardly.
There was no calculation in his eyes, no hidden desire. That sincerity was precisely why Celia had remembered him longer than most.
“Have you been well?”
“…I should be the one asking that. Have you been well?”
“As you can see, I’m much the same as always.”
Taking a glass from a servant, Farenheight handed another to her. After glancing once around the ballroom, he lowered his voice politely.
“You’re still surrounded by relentless attention, I see.”
Though she had no desire to drink, Celia lightly swirled the wine out of courtesy. Crimson liquid slid along the surface of the glass.
“This is simply daily life for me.”
“Haha, of course. I suppose I said something rather obvious.”
He scratched the back of his head and lowered it shyly.
“It’s embarrassing, but seeing you again after so long has made me nervous. My words keep coming out strangely.”
Celia looked up at him from an angle.
Though he had once been considered a possible fiancé, she actually knew very little about him.
Two meetings were hardly enough to truly know someone. Still, she clearly remembered his habit of speaking softly and his love of books.
I remember thinking he wasn’t the type of man who suited me.
A faint laugh escaped her.
After enduring the complete discord that was Lucius, failing to harmonize with ordinary people hardly seemed like a problem anymore.
“Celia.”
Had he somehow heard her thoughts?
The moment she turned her head, Lucius’s familiar scent enveloped her.
“I was looking for you. May I ask… what you were doing here?”
His low voice wrapped around her gently.
“I went for a walk in the garden. Why were you looking for me?”
“When do I ever need a reason to look for you?”
The instant Lucius stepped beside her, the center of the space shifted naturally toward him.
“Weren’t you cold?”
He lightly brushed over her exposed shoulder.
“I-I was… fine.”
The touch against her skin was polite.
At first, Celia instinctively wanted to avoid his hand. They were no longer standing before the Emperor, and she could find no reason to continue accepting these gestures.
But the eyes looking at her held not vanity or obligation, but overwhelming concern.
As she tried to avert her gaze, she stopped.
Like always. Just as she always had.
She intended to ignore him and turn away, but the warmth covering her chilled shoulder strangely held her still.
“And this gentleman is…?”
Right on cue, Lucius’s attention shifted toward Farenheight.
Failing to remember someone he had already met once was a grave insult among nobles, and Farenheight’s brow twitched faintly.
“It seems you don’t remember me, Young Duke.”
His tone remained respectful, though wounded pride lingered beneath it.
Instead of replying, Lucius casually turned toward Celia.
She endured the attention of the two men with visible annoyance.
He lost his memory, so of course he wouldn’t know. Though it seems the other man took it as an insult… He was behaving well enough earlier, so why make things troublesome now?
Distracted by the hand resting on her shoulder, Celia introduced them carelessly.
Perhaps he had never truly cared in the first place, because Lucius’s reaction remained lukewarm.
He used to act like this before too… Has some of his memory returned?
The fact that many men had once been considered potential fiancés for Celia was something only a handful of people knew. Among them, there were very few whom Lucius had ever left alone. He had despised not only Celia herself, but also any man who might stand beside her.
Ridiculous. He hated them all simply because they could become my fiancé… and yet the one who ended up marrying me was him.
Just then, Lucius deliberately wrapped an arm around Celia’s waist and pulled her against him. The delicate fabric of her dress smoothed beneath his palm.
“Luci… us?”
“Celia, it’s time.”
Lowering himself slightly, Lucius whispered beside her ear.
Startled by the sudden closeness of his warmth and scent, Celia reflexively covered her ear.
“We promised we’d return early tonight.”
His voice was lower than usual, sweet like candy hidden beneath his tongue.
“Shall we go?”
Straightening again, he returned his whispering voice to normal as though nothing had happened.
Farenheight, who had been speaking with Celia moments ago, looked utterly startled.
“W-Wait a moment! You’re leaving already?”
But before Celia could answer, Lucius tightened his arm subtly around her waist.
His fingers carefully brushed through the loose strands of hair falling over her forehead. The pearl ornaments tangled in her hair swayed softly beneath his touch.
Before Celia could even stiffen in surprise, he naturally continued the motion.
And then—
He pressed a precise kiss against the center of her forehead.
“No,” Lucius answered calmly. “We’re going to see an opera.”
He briefly closed his eyes before slowly lifting them again, as though savoring the lingering feeling of the kiss. Then he turned toward Farenheight with a gentle smile.
“It was recommended to us as something ideal for married couples.”
The declaration struck like a bolt from the heavens.
Celia’s lips parted slightly in shock.
