The garden where the Moonlight Ball was being held looked rather bare, since Giselle had gone around snapping off every stray branch she could find. Still, with the musicians playing for the ball, the numerous desserts placed on the round tables, and the distant relatives dressed in elegant gowns and suits, the atmosphere had its own kind of charm.
Right there, Giselle stared intently at Hwairi as she reached out her hand to Duke Kalinos.
T-That’s…!
“Duke, would you care to dance with me?”
“Not a bad idea.”
Count Teren, who was standing nearby, clapped his hands in support. “Of course! The first dance should be danced by the ducal couple!”
Hwairi watched with an expression as if she might shatter at any moment. They’re mine…! The duke, all this attention, everything should be mine! But because of her carefully maintained image, she couldn’t easily step in to stop such an irritating display. All she could do was bite her lip, over and over, until it bled. Even Garno didn’t try to intervene.
Soon, the elegant melody for the couple’s first dance filled the air. Under the moonlight, the couple’s dance that opened the ball drew everyone’s eyes.
“Madam Giselle is dancing so gracefully. She even leads the duke!”
“More than that, aren’t they just beautiful together? They look like the perfect couple.”
Seeing so many maids and servants gazing at Giselle with admiration, Hwairi bit her lip even harder. Even Garno looked impressed. The same Garno, whose life she had saved!
It was the worst feeling, being pushed out of the center of attention. Moreover, that Giselle was the one basking in everyone’s admiring gaze…
I really hate her. Hwairi hated her so much that it made her teeth chatter. Watching Giselle dance with Duke Kalinos under the gentle moonlight, her radiant smile on full display, the inferiority complex Hwairi had been suppressing finally exploded. I wish a woman like her would just drop dead.
Hwairi’s eyes darkened with malice. In her vision, only Giselle dancing beautifully, like a performer, stood out clearly. For a moment, Hwairi imagined large hands reaching out and roughly dragging Giselle away. That’s when she snapped back to her senses. No, calm down. The real event hasn’t even started yet.
Forcing a bright smile, Hwairi chimed in, “I’m so jealous. I wish I could dance as beautifully as Lady Giselle.”
“Hoho, is that so?” Garno smiled kindly and nodded. He extended his hand toward Hwairi and said, “Then would you care to dance with me?” His warm, gentle gaze was like that of a grandfather doting on his granddaughter.
Hwairi nodded in response. Yes, she still had Garno. Hwairi wore her sweetest smile yet. “Yes.” So please help me again this time, Lord Garno.
Just as she reached out her hand toward Garno’s—
“Uurgh!” Garno suddenly clutched his head and staggered, collapsing toward the ground.
“Lord Garno!”
“Gasp!”
“Oh my goodness, Lord Garno has collapsed!”
At Hwairi’s exaggerated cry of concern, everyone’s attention snapped to them.
“What in the world…?!”
“Kyaa!”
Everyone approached them, shock written all over their faces.
Someone grabbed Garno’s wrist and shouted, “His heartbeat is way too slow!”
Even the gentle music that had been floating through the garden came to an abrupt halt. Worried glances poured over Hwairi as she stayed by the fallen Garno’s side. She struggled to suppress a giddy thrill and forced herself not to smile.
“Hwairi can heal him with divine power!” Hwairi immediately reached out toward Garno. A faint glow shimmered at her fingertips. But just then—
“No, you can’t. Move aside!” Giselle charged forward like a racehorse, forcing her way in front of Garno. Overwhelmed by Giselle’s almost menacing force, Hwairi was helplessly pushed aside.
“I-If Hwairi uses divine power…”
This was supposed to be her moment. She was supposed to be the one to heal Garno. But then Duke Kalinos stepped up beside Giselle, shielding her as if he’d been waiting for this. Giselle exchanged a glance with Hennessy, who quickly handed over a prepared potion.
Up until that point, Hwairi had still felt pretty confident. No, no. There’s no way they’ll be able to heal him! Before the ball began, she’d given Garno some tea. Only Hwairi knew about a certain ingredient she’d slipped in. But then…
“Cough, cough!”
“You’re awake.”
Hennessy clapped his hands together, clearly pleased. “As expected of our family’s potion.”
“As expected! See, I told you it was a good idea to keep emergency potions on hand.”
“Our family’s potions really are something else. They’re practically miraculous. Hohoho.”
What on earth is going on?! Since when was the Kalinos family famous for their potions?!
Seeing the color return to Garno’s face, Hwairi bit her lip hard. The stage where she was supposed to show off her divine power had unexpectedly turned into a platform for singing the praises of the Kalinos family’s potion.
“My head started hurting all of a sudden… What on earth happened? I guess this is what they mean about getting forgetful with age… Hwairi?”
Hwairi glared at Giselle, her face on the verge of tears. I was supposed to heal him spectacularly… but she ruined everything! It’s all a disaster! Her plan had been to heal the fallen Garno in a dramatic fashion, then take care of Giselle afterward. But now… With her first plan in shambles, Hwairi’s anxiety spiked. All the spotlight had been stolen by Giselle and that damned potion.
My first plan might be ruined, but I won’t let the second one fail.
Hwairi looked up at the night sky. It was right now, with the moon at its highest point. If she poured her power into this object, the one Giselle cherished most, and shattered it… If I lock eyes with my target and break an item filled with their energy and attachment, the spell will activate.
Hwairi’s heart pounded so loudly she could almost hear it in her ears as she fixed her gaze on Giselle.
“Lady Hwairi, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Well, you see…” The moment she spoke, Hwairi clenched the object in her hand so tightly it made a sharp click. Her hand was brimming with her divine power.
I was told I could become the lady of the Kalinos family.
Her target was right in front of her.
“Cough!”
Giselle started coughing up blood. Duke Kalinos hurriedly wiped her mouth with his cravat, and Hwairi clenched her teeth. Come on, let me take everything from you.
Hwairi spoke insincerely, but added a touch of charm at the end, whispering affectionately. “Oh dear, Lady Giselle. Are you all right? Shouldn’t you go inside and rest?”
Giselle covered her mouth with a handkerchief. Up until that moment, Hwairi was filled with elation. She was certain Giselle would soon collapse, just as she’d planned. But then…
Hwairi suddenly felt eyes on her. When she looked, she saw a pure white bird perched on a broken branch, staring straight at her. That’s odd. Why does this feel so familiar…? For some reason, she felt completely isolated from the rest of the world. As Hwairi blinked, a quiet murmur reached her ear.
“Now, Duke. Aim straight for the heart.”
“What—?” Startled, Hwairi instinctively took a step back.
Without a moment to breathe, the duke’s razor-sharp sword sliced through the air, coming straight before her eyes.
Comments (0)