"I really don't know him! I just heard his name for the first time today, and I've never seen his face before!"
"Sure, sure."
Wow, their expressions say they don't believe me at all. This is so unfair! I'd even bet on a lie detector to clear my name!
And while we're at it, don't you both have some explaining to do?
Annoyed by their 'Yeah, let's see how far this lie goes' looks, I decided to counterattack.
"Neither of you has explained why you're here either."
Both of them flinched simultaneously.
Guess they didn't expect the arrow to come flying back at them.
"Let's start with you, sister. You'd rather take away my dinner than let me gain weight. So why follow me all the way to an outdoor event just to monitor desserts, especially when you hate the sun so much?"
"…My skin's starting to tan. I'll head inside now. Have fun."
And with that, Natalie retreated.
Next up was Tristan.
He must have felt cornered because he spoke first.
"Ahem. What's there to question? I am a man who loves social gatherings."
"Allow me to add a little to that statement. As my sister mentioned earlier, Your Highness loves gatherings because there are ladies to meet. So why come to an event with no formal dance time?"
"…Dory Redfield. I hadn't noticed before, but you do have a bit of your sister in you."
"Well, Your Highness and I have rarely had lengthy conversations. It's only natural you didn't know me well."
It was an improvised excuse, but not an unreasonable one.
Tristan couldn't deny it.
I pressed on.
"And what's your business with me, Your Highness? Judging by your late arrival, you must have stopped by my house first. Is there something urgent?"
"Well, that's…"
Last time, he told me he'd never dance with me.
What kind of nonsense did he come to spout this time?
But surprisingly, Tristan's usually sharp tongue didn't seem ready to deliver any cruel remarks. What's going on?
"Your Highness, I'll accept anything you say. My feelings for you won't change, so please don't hesitate to—"
"There might be a chance."
"Pardon?"
"Really, perhaps, maybe, with low probability! There might be a moment when I ask you to dance. If that happens, there's no need to refuse. That's why I came to tell you."
Not exactly a cruel remark, but… what should I call this? A recyclable-trash comment?
As I stared at him in disbelief, he added more words to the heap of garbage—or recyclable trash.
"My business here is done. Don't concern yourself with me anymore. Just as I don't concern myself with you!"
Before I could ask further, Tristan spun around and hastily walked away.
In the colorful glow of the botanical garden, his silver hair caught every ray of sunlight, making him impossible to ignore, no matter how much he claimed otherwise.
Why did he even come here?
Did his mother scold him for flirting with other women while having a fiancée?
That seems like the most likely scenario.
What an infuriating man. Not even his good looks can make up for his personality.
I almost wanted to run after him and shout, "Let's cancel the engagement! That way, we won't ever have to bother with each other again!"
But—
"No."
Someone like him is still a good match.
I tried to calm myself by thinking about my ex-boyfriend in the real world.
He was a regular at the library where I worked, an unemployed guy preparing for civil service exams.
We first met when he broke up a fight between a resident trying to tear pages out of the library newspapers and another patron. Back then, he seemed so cool. But after we started dating, he began to change little by little.
"I just want to study in peace, so can't they keep the library open on holidays? Oh, and since you pack lunches to save money, why not make one for me too?"
When I finally had enough and asked, "Why should I take care of you?" he snapped back:
"What, are you looking down on me because I'm unemployed? You're just a library temp on rotation. You'll never meet a better man than me!"
I don't know what happened to that guy.
He was right about one thing—I did end up rotating between different libraries for the next 11 months.
But his words still linger in my head.
"You're just a temp."
No matter how hard I worked, people always judged me by my job contract and small paycheck.
"Even in this world, I'm just the insignificant third daughter."
Someone like Tristan is more than I deserve. He even redeems himself later.
"Maybe I'll just ask for one chance to punch him in the gut before then."
Taking a deep breath, I heard the host's voice call out.
"Honored guests, please make your way to the central garden! Would you join us in enjoying the music we've prepared?"
I decided to head there, hoping for a change of mood.
Now, the story of the male and female leads was about to begin!
As a circus troupe scattered flower petals to liven up the atmosphere, the host introduced recent arrivals from the capital to the other guests.
Of course, all eyes were drawn to the original male lead standing beside the host.
People whispered among themselves.
"The young lord of Frosthill—he's even more handsome than the rumors said. Every lady in society will be running after him barefoot."
"A lady rushing out is better than nothing. Look, there's even someone brazen enough to approach him directly without using an intermediary."
"You have to seize opportunities when you can. Who knows when you'll see him again after today's event? He's bound to only attend high-ranking nobles' gatherings!"
Then someone chuckled and added mockingly,
"And what will this season's most demure beauty do? Shall we place bets?"
The crowd's gaze shifted to Maria, who sat quietly in a corner of the central garden, sipping juice. One by one, they joined in the betting.
"There's no way she'll miss this chance. She'll definitely go talk to him."
"She's not going to drop her coy act so easily. I bet she'll 'accidentally' bump into him to start a conversation."
"I think the young lord will approach her first. A soldier who's lived his whole life in the North meeting a beauty like that? He's bound to lose his head."
Every completed sentence was followed by snickers. How unbelievably rude.
Amid this infuriating gossip, I spoke the truth.
"Neither of them will say anything to each other."
"Ha! They won't talk? That's ridiculous. At the start of the season, everyone's desperate to make connections—"
The person rebutting me turned their head, only to meet my gaze. The moment they recognized me, they smirked and raised the corners of their lips.
"Oh, Miss Redfield. It's you."
"Was I not supposed to come to this event?"
"Not at all! It's just that your answer struck me as so… pure. Very much like the most innocent lady of the Redfield family."
Someone nearby chuckled.
"Well, it makes sense coming from Lady Dory. She had her fiancé decided even before her debut, so when would she have had a chance to learn desperation?"
"Haha! True. But still, it wouldn't hurt to learn how to attract suitors now, Lady Dory. You never know when you'll need that skill."
Maybe the warm weather and the slight buzz from the event's alcohol had loosened their tongues. They were certainly enjoying themselves.
But their rowdiness didn't last long.
"Look, they're about to cross paths!"
All eyes turned to a single point in the garden. Arthur, newly freed from a noblewoman's conversation, and Maria, just having escaped from a gentleman, were heading toward each other. Their paths would inevitably intersect.
Everyone held their breath.
The two clearly noticed each other's presence. Their hesitant footsteps confirmed as much.
I knew the truth. Maria and Arthur would recognize each other immediately. Eight years ago, they had been friends and first loves, warming each other's hands in the cold North.
They were about to—
"…Huh? What's happening?"
"They're not even introducing themselves? Wait, are they seriously just walking past each other?"
"How can he ignore a face like that? Are they… already acquainted?"
"If they knew each other, the lady would've greeted him. She wouldn't dare ignore someone from a ducal family!"
No, she ignored him on purpose, you clueless fools.
Frustrated by their wrong assumptions, they started blaming Maria.
"Lady Maria is so rude! She should've at least greeted him—he's from the North Duke's family!"
"He hasn't inherited the title yet, so he's still just the young lord, not the duke."
"Regardless, the lady entered society first. She should've asked the host to formally introduce them—"
"Excuse me."
I interrupted their pointless debate.
"Argue all you want, but unless you ask them directly, you won't get a conclusion. Isn't there something more important to focus on?"
"…What?"
"I won the bet."
"Ah…"
A collective murmur of surprise rippled through the group.
"Miss Redfield, how could you possibly have known—"
"It doesn't matter. First, as the winner of this bet, I'd like an apology for your earlier rudeness."
"Rudeness? What rudeness?"
"All those remarks about me being naive or needing to learn how to attract suitors before it's too late."
"Oh, I assure you, there was no rude intent!"
"Why is it that people so eager to dissect others' actions for sport are so lenient with themselves? Unfortunately, I'm not as naive as you think, but fortunately for you, I'm willing to let it slide with just an apology."
Their eyes widened, not out of admiration for my magnanimity, but out of sheer shock at my response.
The meek little Lady Dory Redfield had apparently grown a spine.
Sorry, but that doormat is gone.
Not that I enjoy fighting—I still don't really know how to stand up for myself properly. But I can always borrow someone else's name.
"If you can't bring yourselves to apologize, perhaps I should follow the example of my esteemed sister, Natalie Redfield, and—"
"I'm sorry!"
The man who had mocked me the most hurriedly gripped his hat brim and apologized.
One by one, the others either bowed their heads in apology or took the opportunity to quietly slink away.
I've memorized the backs of your heads.
One of them cautiously asked,
"Miss Redfield, how did you know?"