TSIMG 20

Chapter 20

Four or five elaborately dressed young ladies were approaching Lodia. Among them were some who had been lingering near Histein just moments before, and faces Lodia recognized.

‘Surely they’re not coming here…’

Lodia firmly believed they weren’t, but the moment she made eye contact with the woman at the front, she resigned herself. Their target was indeed her!

“Hello? You’re the one accompanying Mr. Roatt as his partner, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yes…”

Lodia swallowed nervously. Her heart, which hadn’t pounded even when she was speaking alone with the Chancellor just moments ago, was now racing as if it might leap out of her chest.

“It’s nothing really, but you seem to be someone we’re seeing for the first time. Your face looks familiar, though…”

‘Of course it’s familiar.’

The woman at the front who spoke to Lodia first was someone Lodia also recognized. She was one of the group who had ridiculed Lodia at that banquet over a decade ago.

The good mood that had blossomed while dancing with Histein came crashing down in an instant. Lodia unconsciously wiped the expression from her face and opened her mouth.

“I don’t recall you, my lady.”

“But…”

“Then, may I ask what your relationship is with Mr. Roatt?”

“I heard you’re his ward. Are you truly accompanying him as his partner simply in that capacity?”

The others fired questions one after another. For the first time, the emotion of ‘displeasure’ rose on Lodia’s expressionless face. But her lips remained sealed like a tightly shut clam.

The gathered women, ignoring Lodia’s crumpled face and mood, began to chatter.

“Look over there. Isn’t he just dashing?”

“I heard that some family sent a marriage proposal to Mr. Roatt last year and was mercilessly rejected.”

“What family hasn’t? Honestly, even if they don’t say it openly, every household in Parnue with an unmarried woman our age has probably sent one at least once.”

“Just once? He’s capable, handsome, tall, and from a good family.”

“That’s true. Look over there. That’s the granddaughter of the Wald Trading Company. You’d need that level of wealth just to be able to greet Mr. Roatt, I suppose.”

“As for us… we don’t stand a chance, I guess.”

Those gathered around Lodia subtly grouped her with ‘us,’ implying she was in the same situation as them. Even though they knew she was his partner.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get some air, so I’ll be going now.”

“Oh!”

“Oh my, my lady!”

She couldn’t stand the atmosphere here any longer.

Placing her wine glass on a nearby empty table, Lodia fled the spot in a hurry.

‘My lady, my foot…’

She could almost hear those voices behind her. But with a pale face, Lodia stepped out onto an open terrace and closed the door.

People don’t forget the major shocks they received in childhood. Whether good memories or bad.

—

“Haa, haa…”

Gasping for breath, Lodia leaned against the terrace railing as if collapsing.

Back then, long ago, children her age had also surrounded her and whispered. Calling her a half-breed, a mongrel. Even when Histein had asked for her help, those memories had reflexively surfaced.

Still, she had thought it would be alright since it was so long ago, that she was just psychologically averse to this banquet hall. She realized only after coming here that wasn’t the case.

Lodia bit her lip.

‘…How do I go back?’

Having stepped outside once, she couldn’t bring herself to re-enter. But if her partner remained absent for too long, Histein would be troubled.

Hesitating, Lodia turned and quietly gazed at the scene beyond the closed door.

The person attracting the most attention in the ballroom, where the main guests had yet to appear, was undoubtedly Histein. He was shining brilliantly, as if he were the protagonist of this banquet. Everyone was scrambling to have even a single conversation with him.

As Lodia quietly watched Histein, who wore a gentle smile while dealing with people, something caught her eye.

‘Is he… not drinking?’

Throughout the ballroom, simple finger foods and low-alcohol beverages were prepared to appease hunger.

Even Lodia herself had been drinking wine just a moment ago. But Histein didn’t touch the champagne or wine.

Even now.

Histein called someone over and made a request, and shortly after, what he received was a glass of cold water.

Except for the moments when someone was by his side, he never touched a drop of alcohol. As she watched this quietly, she saw two people approaching Histein.

Lodia recognized their faces, at least a little.

‘That person is…’

He was the owner of a new trading company that had appeared like a comet in Heint. If Lodia could recognize his face from newspaper articles, there was no way Histein wouldn’t know him.

The man was greeting Histein with a daughter who looked young enough to be his. Histein took the hand the man amiably extended and shook it lightly up and down.

The nameless girl, her face flushed, stood behind her father and stole glances at Histein.

Just then, the man said something, and Histein’s face showed a faint hint of embarrassment.

When Lodia noticed that, he began to look around.

‘Is he looking for me?’

Lodia wondered if she should go out right now.

Her right hand repeatedly reached for and withdrew from the terrace door handle. It was a gesture full of hesitation.

She needed the courage to break free from this place and move forward. Even just a tiny bit of courage.

And that courage burst into flame the moment she saw the lovely girl step out from behind her father’s back and take a step forward toward Histein.

“…Don’t lose, and don’t give up.”

“Oh, well…”

Opening the terrace door, Lodia strode quickly toward Histein.

As she drew closer and overheard the conversation between them, it seemed the request was for him to be the daughter’s partner.

“It seems Mr. Roatt also came without a partner, so would you reconsider?”

“As I’ve said, I truly do have a partner.”

Histein’s face, refusing the man’s request, was full of embarrassment. The man seemed not to believe Histein’s claim that he had a partner.

Approaching closer, Lodia took a deep breath. Then, straightening her back, puffing out her chest so her shoulders wouldn’t curl in, and lifting her chin slightly.

These were things she had heard so often they were etched in her mind.

‘Think that I’m the best in this space. I am the hero who saves Mr. Roatt from his predicament. Heroes don’t panic.’

Lodia approached Histein’s side and glanced sideways at the girl passing by her. With her chin slightly raised, looking down at the girl, she was the very picture of haughtiness.

“I stepped away for a moment because it was stuffy. Were you looking for me?”

“Lodia.”

Histein’s face lit up when he saw her. Lodia stood beside Histein and lightly placed her hand on his arm.

“You truly did have a partner?”

“Hello. I’m Lodia Proxheit, Mr. Roatt’s partner.”

“Hello, Miss Proxheit. I’m Jerome Proteiler, I run a small trading company. If I had known you had such a beautiful partner, I wouldn’t have made such an awkward request to Mr. Roatt.”

The man said with a hearty laugh. Lodia smiled gently at his words, then looked up at Histein. He gave her a small nod.

“You’re welcome for saving you, right?”

“I can’t say you didn’t.”

After sending off the affectionate father and daughter, Histein sighed and moved away from the center of the ballroom with Lodia.

“If you’re willing, would you like to take a short walk?”

“Um, as long as it’s not dirt. These shoes have high heels, so they’re a bit uncomfortable.”

At her words, Histein nodded and led her toward the stairs.

“Wow… Look at the sky.”

The sun had set, and stars were beginning to appear one by one in the twilight sky.

“Where were you earlier?”

“Mr. Roatt seemed so busy, so I enjoyed some time alone. Her Excellency the Chancellor kept me company for a bit.”

“Did she say anything else?”

“No. Why?”

“Nothing. She just enjoys talking about me so much.”

Roatt chuckled. Sensing there was no hidden intent in his words, Lodia turned her head and began to look around the vicinity of the banquet hall. The path looked familiar.

“Ah.”

Lodia let out a low exclamation. If they kept going this way, they would reach the garden. The very garden from her dream. Lodia stopped walking.

“Could we not go that way? I don’t really like that garden over there…”

“Well, alright.”

Histein tilted his head, then turned right. A small side path surrounded by small ornamental trees appeared. The early chirping of insects could be heard, and a slightly chilly breeze blew.

Lodia involuntarily shivered her shoulders.

“So, what happened?”

“Pardon?”

Lodia asked back. Histein was looking at her with a face that seemed dissatisfied with something. She had no idea why.

“Didn’t you go out to the terrace?”

“I already told you, didn’t I? I went out for a bit because it was stuffy.”

“I saw you leave while you were talking with the others.”

Lodia clamped her mouth shut at Histein’s words.

“Is it something difficult to tell me?”

“Rather than difficult… You were watching me?”

“I wasn’t exactly watching…”

Histein’s voice trailed off. Lodia didn’t pay much attention to his answer, since her question wasn’t one that required a proper response from him.

With her hands clasped behind her back, Lodia began to walk ahead of Histein. He followed quietly behind her, as if guarding her back.

“It’s true that I went out because it was stuffy. Because I felt suffocated. Because I still can’t forget things from so long ago and can’t speak properly. So I ran away.”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t you think I’m pathetic? Mr. Roatt, you don’t seem like someone who would ever run away.”