Chap 1

Prologue

"Damn, it's starting again."

I muttered quietly behind my fan.

He was approaching me, attracting the piercing gazes of the young nobles filling the ballroom.

Duke Kaidel's eldest son, Duke Rocard Kaidel. Handsome in appearance, excels in both civil and military affairs, with a remarkable background, erratic personality, lack of conscience, and more…

While I was searching for four more letters to describe him, he was standing in front of me.

He's unnecessarily tall, so if I want to look him straight in the eye, I have to tilt my chin up, which I find annoying.

Every single strand of his smoothly brushed black hair seemed to be showing off. His purple eyes, fixed on me, were so full of passion.

There's only one word to explain those shining eyes situated on such a perfect face. Unfair. God is unfair.

Before he could open his mouth, I winked and whispered with a smile.

"Would you please go away?"

"Duke Rocard…"

This guy, look at him pretending to be hurt.

I straightened my fan to hide my sneer.

Then the heat that hooked from behind him. It was the jealous flames coming from the eyes of the nobles who were pretending not to watch us.

Ah. That's it.

This guy is trying to kill me by burning me in those flames without dirtying his hands.

I know his dark intentions. The reason he's putting on this act right now.

Though my tone was incredibly rude and chilly, he took a step closer with a serious face, as if he would cherish even the wounds I gave him.

I glared at him as if to say, 'Stop right there!' but then I met his moist eyes.

Such a pitiful face, making me the trophy of the empire's nobles.

I don't know if he's charmed the whole empire with that overwhelming expression, but I'm not going to fall for it.

By the way, where can you buy such an eye expression? Good grief.

When I momentarily lost my focus, he made his move.

"Duke Rocard, I wanted to ask you to dance, but if I have offended you, I apologize first. However, if there's a misunderstanding, I want to clear it up. May I ask for a moment of conversation?"

Apparently, he doesn't listen when told to go away.

"What kind of conversation would someone with bad hearing want?"

Then he answered, puffing out his chest.

How irritating his shining selfesteem and confidence must be to someone like me, he probably doesn't even realize it.

"Duke Rocard, why don't you give me a chance...."

I cut off his words and whispered venomously so only he could hear.

"You think I don't know your scheme, you devil?"

Mom, I am a bad child. When I was little, I thought the village kids were the bad ones, but now I see it was because I was bad that they threw rocks at me.

I pondered. Should I accompany him with a little drink to lubricate his mouth, or should I pretend to comply with his request, take him to the balcony, and kick his shins?

But both were difficult. If I dared to publicly insult the first lion of the empire, Duke Kaidel's only son, the repercussions would reach my father, Count Roar. Because he's a count's daughter in rank.

Nor could I accompany him to the balcony without public testimony that I had fallen for him.

The people watching us now wouldn't believe that a woman who spent time alone with Duke Rocard Kaidel didn't fall for him.

This guy knows that too. That's why he's doing this. He will rub my singed shins, laughing at being rejected.

I scanned the piercing gazes directed at me and then spoke quickly and softly.

"Go back now. In everyone's eyes, you're the victim, Duke, that's enough, isn't it?"

Then he smiled thinly and said,

"They say that in matters of emotion between men and women, the one who feels more loses. So maybe you're right, Duke Rocard."

"Ah. Yes."

He must have picked that up somewhere. It's really funny.

"Even though we serve different masters, it doesn't mean we can't be close. Duke Rocard… Would you open your heart if I were to kneel?"

"Oh my."

I approached him closely before he attracted any more attention, carefully controlling my movements as I felt enveloped by his broad embrace.

"Even with heels, I'm too short, so look down," he said, bending slightly at the waist. Only then could I bring my lips near his ear.

A faint perfume mingled with expensive fragrance caught my breath. Must he brag about being wealthy even with his scent? It smells good, though.

I whispered quickly.

"Don't you realize that no one else is dancing right now? They're all watching us! Could you please stop showing off?"

He immediately showed his true colors. His malicious and playful breath grazed my ear.

"Dinner in town? If you accept, I'll leave immediately."

"In a fancy restaurant crowded with idle aristocrats in the middle of the day?"

"Of course. Étranger would be nice. I'll send a carriage."

"So you want rumors to spread that I, the princess's maid, have betrayed her and fallen for you?"

"That's fine. Or it's good because it's an opportunity to expose your trickery."

"Oh, such evil words! Someone might misunderstand, Duke Kaidel."