Violet is a beauty who can be said to have a top-tier appearance even in high society.
Her looks are captivating, exuding a strangely alluring vibe, and her figure is free of any excess.
Even her voice clings to the ears like syrup.
She may not be as enchanting as Francia, but any man would inevitably be charmed by her beauty.
However, the only thought circling in Yohan’s mind after hearing Violet’s whispers was one: ‘Is she insane?’
He thought it was a jealousy tactic to catch Cassis’s attention, but it turned out she was targeting him.
‘I don’t know what she’s thinking, but…’
He had no intention of falling for her tricks.
He also didn’t want to betray Francia.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Yohan replied coolly, lowering his gaze as he spoke.
He then turned his head and stood up, but Violet tugged at his collar.
“Are you really going to leave just like that? You might never get another chance like this.”
“Yes. I’m leaving. If my shoes are broken, call a servant to deal with it.”
“Really? Am I the only person you could secretly have an affair with?”
This woman is quite persistent.
Yohan sighed deeply and met Violet’s gaze.
“I have no interest in you. I’m not a dog with my instincts between my legs.”
Violet’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Yohan, her expression unreadable.
Yohan held her gaze for a moment before steeling himself and speaking.
“To be honest, I don’t understand why you’re interested in me.
If it were a pure feeling, I might feel sorry and let it go, but your feelings aren’t pure, are they?”
At least if he could understand why she liked him, he wouldn’t be as guarded as he was now.
There’s nothing purer than liking someone or falling for someone.
However, Violet’s feelings seemed strange, as if she had some ulterior motive.
“Hm. What if I really were showing you kindness with a pure heart?”
“…That makes even less sense. There’s no reason for that.”
Yohan continued, “You are using me as a means to an end.
Kindness born from pure feelings aims at the person, not treats them as a means.”
Purpose and means are important in relationships.
Someone who views others as a means will end up like Crown Prince Fedelian.
“Violet, you are targeting me for some purpose. Am I wrong?”
“Hm…”
Violet smiled knowingly, her eyes not reflecting the same amusement.
“I understand what you’re saying.
You’re implying that my feelings aren’t genuine, right?
If they were genuine, would you be willing to have an affair with me?”
“That’s not the case.”
“Okay.
Still, if it ends like this, I’ll feel wronged, so let me show you my true feelings.”
Suddenly, she grabbed Yohan by the collar and pressed her lips against his.
Without giving him a chance to react, her tongue slipped in and tangled with his.
Her movements were clumsy.
Yohan’s eyes widened as reality hit him.
He never expected such a thing to happen, taking advantage of the moment when he was intoxicated and dazed.
Yohan quickly pushed Violet away, who was still kissing him with her tongue in his mouth.
He hurriedly scanned the surroundings.
Fortunately, it seemed no one was watching.
“…What the hell are you doing?”
“I thought you wanted me to show my true feelings.”
Violet giggled, her eyes sparkling as she touched her lips.
“Did you know? That was my first kiss.”
“You understand that my feelings are genuine, right?
I like you.”
Violet tilted her head, her red hair cascading down.
“I’ve thought about it too.
Why do I like you?
Why am I drawn to you so strongly?”
Yohan furrowed his brow, covering his mouth with his hand.
Violet’s scent still lingered at the corners of his lips.
“Because of the complex reasons involved, I couldn’t reach a clear answer.
It’s just that, as the beloved of the Grand Ducal of Renokhanan, you were incredibly attractive.”
Violet laughed again, softly.
“Your face, your body, even the way you raise your value for your lover—I liked everything about it.
I wished that your feelings were for me.”
Yohan felt a rush of heat in his head.
It wasn’t that Violet’s confession of love was sweet; it was that he was dazed from the alcohol and flustered.
“Is a grand reason really needed to fall in love?
If feelings develop into affection, then that’s it.
Hehe.”
Yohan sighed deeply and brushed his dark brown hair back.
His expression was like stone.
‘What am I supposed to do about this?’
His thoughts weren’t functioning properly.
The intoxication was clouding his mind, making his breath irregular.
Oxygen wasn’t reaching his brain properly, and he wasn’t hydrating, leaving him dazed.
The pressure to speak carefully and wisely was suffocating him.
“Ha…”
Yohan exhaled.
‘Let’s think calmly.
Even if I come on strong, Violet can’t spread this around.’
The fault lay entirely with Violet.
She had brazenly suggested having an affair with her lover.
Even using somewhat extreme expressions shouldn’t be a problem.
Moreover, behind Yohan was the grand Ducal of Ferbache, a powerful family.
He spoke honestly, as thoughts came to mind.
“Are you really out of your mind?”
“…What?”
Violet blinked rapidly, startled by Yohan’s aggressive words.
“You casually suggest having an affair, and when I say I don’t understand why you like me, you kiss me to prove it?
Is that sincere?
Have you lost your mind?”
Yohan glared at Violet, pointing a finger at her.
“You think I endured and worked hard to become a top-tier mage and step into this crazy high society for you?
It’s for Francia, not for you.”
“If you really want me, tell Francia.
Ask her if she can give up her lover because you want me so much.
But that’s unlikely.”
Violet looked at Yohan’s dazed eyes, and found them oddly sexy and charming, causing her heart to race.
Yohan coldly warned Violet.
“There’s a limit to rudeness.
If you pull another stunt like this, it won’t end the same way.”
“Y-Yes…”
“Be grateful that my title is only that of a junior of the family.
I’m leaving.”
Having firmly laid down the law, Yohan slowly distanced himself from Violet, gripping his head in frustration.
“Ah…”
Violet felt her whole body tremble as she watched him walk away.
“You’re totally my type.”
To be honest, she was confident that he would come over.
If Violet showed her true feelings, there wouldn’t be any man who wouldn’t be enamored by her, except for Cassis Renokhanan.
In fact, she felt more genuine now than when she had thrown glances at Cassis Renokhanan.
She had even boldly uttered words she had never said before, during a first kiss that was unprecedented for her.
But he didn’t come over.
That only touched Violet’s heart.
A man who, despite the significant temptation, does not betray his lover—where else in the world could there be such a man?
Although she had heard some rather harsh words in the end, she had long since forgotten about him.
She had no intention of clinging to it or bringing it up again.
“Yoto…”
Excited, Violet recalled the earlier Yohan and let out a heavy breath, closing her legs together.
Tonight might deepen.
A man and a woman were in the middle of a heated argument.
“I don’t want to! Why should I be your partner?”
“Because the princess’s only partner betrayed her.”
“Do you have proof? Yohan betrayed me? You should know when to stop joking.”
“I have clear evidence, but it’s not appropriate to show it to you. It could be hurtful.”
Francia was getting agitated. In front of her stood Cassis, responding expressionlessly and blocking her way.
“Francia. Were you here?”
And then, Yohan’s voice echoed.
“Oh, Yohan!”
As Francia’s face lit up, Cassis’s body flinched. He turned around to look at Yohan’s face.
“How did you…?”
Cassis’s eyebrows furrowed.
Regardless of what he muttered, Francia smiled and asked,
“Have you been drinking? Your face is so red.”
“I’ve only had two glasses, but I’m not feeling great. The alcohol seems strong.”
“Oh, the drinks at tonight’s party are indeed stronger… I didn’t mention that. Sorry.”
Francia’s previously sharp demeanor and piercing gaze softened and became warm and gentle.
At that moment,
“Oh, this is a rare combination. Ducal Renokhanan and Princess Francia. And Sir Harssen.”
The Crown Prince and his partner, Rudella Bismark, emerged from the lounge.
“It’s a pleasure to meet the Empire’s little sun.”
While this might not be a big deal in an official capacity, here, they needed to be welcomed as a Crown Prince.
Thus, everyone present bowed their heads politely.
“Don’t be so stiff. It’s a party, after all. Enjoyment should come first.”
Fedelian smiled widely at Francia.
“Are you enjoying the party, Princess?”
“That’s not something you should concern yourself with, Your Highness.”
“Still sharp as ever. Well, that’s one of your charms.”
Rudella Bismark, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, felt displeased as she glanced at Fedelian.
‘Is the Ducal of Ferbache the woman that His Highness is so smitten with?’
She was indeed an attractive woman.
Her black hair and ruby-like red eyes made it hard to look away—something rarely seen in the Empire.
So how about her pure appearance? Even if all the nobility present at tonight’s social gathering were gathered, she would overshadow them all.
But,
‘…That’s unpleasant.’
That didn’t justify ruining Rudella’s planned marriage.
“How about it, Princess Ferbache? Shall we share a table?”
“Excuse me, but the Princess Ferbache is my partner.”
At that moment, a noble cut in, interrupting Fedelian.
Rudella widened her eyes in surprise at his audacity to provoke the Crown Prince.
“…Sir Harssen.”
“We’ll be taking our leave now. I trust Your Highness will understand, given your generous nature.”
He pulled Princess Ferbache’s shoulder and added,
“As you can see, they’re in the heat of a passionate affair.”
The man called Sir Harssen smiled and politely bowed after his provocation.
Then he firmly held Francia’s hand and walked past Fedelian and Rudella.
“Yoto…”
Rudella discreetly turned her gaze and observed Fedelian, whose face had gone cold.
He must have been irritated by that noble’s provocation.
Rudella thought Sir Harssen was foolish and arrogant for provoking the Crown Prince.
But at the same time, his bold choice stirred something in her heart.
He had stepped forward for his partner without hesitation or fear, hadn’t he?
Of course, she couldn’t deny that it was a foolish judgment.
Sir Harssen likely knew that too.
However, the reason Rudella felt moved while looking at him wasn’t just that he stepped forward for his partner.
…Do I have someone like that?
Memories of her upbringing, where she was treated like a tool and her family regarded it as normal, surfaced in her mind.
They always said,
“Your feelings don’t matter.”
What mattered to them was solely the political gain of the Bismark family.
In such a life, she had never been truly protected by anyone.
Yet, despite that, Rudella had always harbored the foolish dream of someone stepping forward for her.
‘Whoever it may be, someone who will protect me.’
Rudella’s gaze fixed on the man called Sir Harssen and Princess Ferbache.
Not only did he have such a presence around him, but even his lover, Princess Ferbache, made her envious.
Deep within her chest, various complex emotions churned chaotically.
“Lady Bismark?”
“Oh, yes. Your Highness.”
“Let’s be off now.”
“Yes.”
Rudella hurriedly followed Fedelian.
She had almost forgotten about the Crown Prince beside her.
The man called Sir Harssen was slowly seeping into her heart.
‘Was it Yohan Harssen?’
Rudella wrote his name in the tattered part of her heart that no longer existed.
Among the crumbling pieces of her heart, the name Yohan Harssen was etched.