The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 85

“It seems you’ve often visited Sasha’s performances.”

 

Caleb, who had been observing the greetings between the two, pulled Shailoh close to him. Albert, with a knowing smile at this silent display of possessiveness, offered an explanation.

 

“That was before I knew she was your lover. She was quite famous, you know.”

 

“I see. Caleb nodded, though his expression was still somewhat unconvinced.

 

Albert, noticing this, turned his attention sharply to Shailoh, a smile playing on his lips. “By the way, if you don’t mind my asking, what is it that you find most appealing about my brother, Miss Griche?”

 

“The most appealing…” Shailoh had considered many possibilities, but this was a question she had never pondered before. She pretended to think deeply, trying not to show her surprise. Then, a thought struck her, and she answered kindly. “Well, I suppose it’s his ability… to keep promises.”

 

“Keep promises?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Albert chuckled softly, almost involuntarily.

 

“I’m sorry, but Sasha Griche is off-limits.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“She’s the only exception. Choose something else.”

 

Caleb’s tone was as unyielding as steel, leaving no room for negotiation.

 

“Your Highness?”

 

If Caleb had given her easily, it would have been boring. Albert would have quickly lost interest.

 

Watching Albert laugh to himself, Shailoh tilted her head in curiosity. Albert shrugged in response to Caleb’s sharp gaze, wrapping up the conversation. “Thank you for sharing. Well then, enjoy your time, Brother.”

 

“…”

 

“Miss Griche as well.”

 

“Thank you. I hope Your Highness enjoys the evening too.”

 

Albert nodded and moved away to converse with others. Shailoh, noticing Albert wandering alone while everyone else had a partner, suddenly became curious.

 

“Come to think of it, Duke Cornwall has a fiancée, yet he doesn’t bring her to events like this.”

 

“He’s always been like that lately.”

 

“Why is that? Do you know anything about Lady Perus, Your Highness?”

 

Instead of answering, Caleb stared at her intently. She was always sensitive about his relationship with Octavia Perus. It was both annoying and secretly amusing to see her face twist as if she might cry whenever Lady Perus’s name was mentioned. But now, for some reason, it bothered him that she could mention that name to him so casually.

 

“Well, I don’t really know.”

 

“It seems she hasn’t returned to the south.”

 

Unable to resist, he finally mocked her thoughtful expression. “Either way, isn’t it a good thing for you? She’s an obstacle.”

 

“Ah, yes…” Shailoh, who had been silent as if pondering, nodded in agreement. “Now that I think about it, I suppose that’s true.”

 

From across the room, Albert sent a discreet glance her way. Shailoh, as if to show off, opened a fan in one hand and linked her arm with his. Then, she whispered in a voice only Caleb could hear.

 

“By the way, I think this dress and hairstyle I’m wearing today are closest to the third prince’s taste. He’s been staring much more intently than last time.”

 

“That’s a good observation.”

 

For some reason, Caleb, who seemed to be in a low mood, covered her hand resting on his arm. Surprised, Shailoh looked up to see his face, but he quickly removed his hand from hers.

 

Spotting Count Dwibon, Caleb gave her instructions without even looking at her. “That’s enough for today. Find a suitable moment to either head to the powder room or take the waiting carriage back.”

 

“Alright.”

 

No sooner had she replied than he disappeared into the crowd. Left alone, Shailoh began to walk towards the balcony. She bumped into someone, or more accurately, her face collided with a man’s chest coming from the opposite direction.

 

“Ah, my apologies.”

 

“No, I should be the one apologizing… Miss Griche?”

 

Both apologized almost simultaneously, then froze, facing each other.

 

Shailoh tilted her head in curiosity. “Pardon me, do we know each other?”

 

“Do you truly not recognize me?” The man pouted, looking a bit hurt.

 

His childlike expression made Shailoh chuckle unintentionally. The man also smiled in response.

 

“You look much better when you smile like that.”

 

His voice was familiar. Taking the liberty, Shailoh scrutinized him closely. He was a man almost matching Caleb’s height, with rare gray hair slicked back. A handsome man with a somewhat cold aura… As she rummaged through the drawers of her memory, Shailoh finally found the answer, albeit a bit late.

 

“Could you be… Mr. Nox?”

 

“Yes. Am I that unrecognizable?”

 

“Well…”

 

He had changed so much from his previous appearance, which was more like someone who might be found wandering the streets, dressed in shabby clothes, with unkempt curly hair, and a bluish shadow of a beard. It wasn’t unreasonable not to recognize him immediately. However, instead of explaining all that, she summarized it briefly.

 

“Your hair is very different.”

 

“Ah, this?” Nox patted his hair and confessed outright. “It’s really stubbornly curly, so I had to use a ton of mousse to keep it in place.”

 

“…You didn’t have to be that honest.”

 

Shailoh looked around, trying to find his partner. It was customary for men and women to attend such events with partners. Talking too long with a man who had a partner would be disrespectful to the woman. He might have come with his wife or fiancée. But her assumption was quickly proven wrong. As if reading her mind, Nox spoke first before she could even ask.

 

“Oh, I don’t have a companion.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I came with my younger sister, but as soon as she caught a whiff of alcohol, she left immediately. For us siblings, alcohol is like poison.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Coming with his sister meant he didn’t have a wife or fiancée, at least.

 

“So she went back alone? Aren’t you worried?”

 

Nox waved his hand dismissively, as if refusing an offer of food, and shook his head politely. “No need to worry. My sister, Cecil, is stronger than I am. If anything, Cecil would be the one worrying about me.”

 

“Pfft.”

 

“…Miss Griche?”

 

His playful remark drew a chuckle from her before she could stop it. She belatedly raised her fan to cover her mouth, but it was too late. “Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. You must be very close with your sister.”

 

“Close? Not at all. She’s a burden I’d like to marry off and set down as soon as possible. Though I’m sure Cecil feels the same about me.”

 

“You two seem to get along well.”

 

“More or less.”

 

“How do you manage to get along so well?”

 

The fact that he could speak so freely about his sister was proof enough of their closeness. Compared to when she had seen him before in Wyson’s office, he seemed like a completely different person. Back then, she had only thought about him as strangely and overly familiar. Now, somehow, he seemed witty and intriguing.

 

“Do you have any siblings, Miss Griche?”

 

“Siblings…”

 

Claire and Evan briefly flashed through Shailoh’s mind. They were people she once believed were family, but not anymore.

 

“Yes, I do. I have an older brother.” Of course, she meant Declen, not Evan.

 

“Then you must know well enough.”

 

“Um… I’m not particularly close to my brother.”

 

“Ah.” Perhaps sensing there was a complicated story behind it, he didn’t press further. “If there’s ever a problem, I find that having an open conversation helps the most. And one more thing.” Nox raised his index finger and added kindly. “Remembering and taking care of even the smallest things makes a big difference. Even the tiniest bit of attention. Family relationships are often touched more by those small gestures than grand ones.”

 

Shailoh nodded with a smile, clearly impressed by his thoughtful and kind demeanor. “I’ll give it a try. Thanks for the advice.”

 

“If you’re grateful, how about accepting Wyson’s proposal?” He was suggesting she take the lessons.

 

Shailoh gave an awkward smile at the uncomfortable suggestion, just as she was about to say something. “Ah, well…”

 

“Sasha.”

 

A large hand wrapped possessively around her waist. Shailoh, caught off guard and almost enveloped in his embrace, stood frozen as Caleb whispered in her ear. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

 

“Ah…”

 

Regaining her composure, Shailoh was about to introduce Nox to Caleb, but Nox took the initiative and spoke first.

 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Caleb. My name is Nox Wyvern. I’m the cousin of the playwright Wyson, who is acquainted with Miss Griche.”

 

“Aah.”

 

Recognizing Wyson’s name, Caleb nodded and extended his hand. Nox smiled warmly and shook his hand with courtesy.

 

“It’s an honor to meet you.”