It was already dark outside, as the sun had long since set.
'Where on earth did this guy go... If he isn't here either, isn't the only option left to break into the men's restroom?'
I searched every indoor area I could access, including the ballroom and even the front of the restroom, but Nine was nowhere to be seen. I only grew more and more anxious.
“Damn it……”
I felt like tearing my hair out, but since it was the hair that Martha had painstakingly put up into an updo this morning, I barely held back and silently spat out a curse instead.
Eventually, I made my way towards the only place I hadn't searched yet, the small outdoor garden located behind the ballroom. Under the needlessly clear spring night sky, needlessly gorgeous spring flowers welcomed me.
But the flower I was looking for—which is to say, a handsome man—was nowhere to be seen.
I resolutely sharpened my eyes and thoroughly searched the surroundings with a piercing glare. Because I didn’t want to advertise that I had lost my partner, I couldn't exactly call out Nine’s name at the top of my lungs while searching, which made me feel like I was going crazy from frustration. If anyone had seen my expression at that moment, it would have been so terrifying that they would have foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
My earnestness allowed me to discover a figure. Although it was not easily visible because the moonlight was hidden by clouds, it was definitely a person. The next moment, I noticed that the person's hair texture was a flowing curl.
Is it Nine?
Forgetting all about a young lady's decorum, I ran over in a single bound and shouted.
"Hey, where did you go...!"
But I could not continue speaking.
The blurry face of the person who turned around as if surprised by my voice was definitely one I was seeing for the first time, yet it was by no means unfamiliar.
As if mocking me, the clouds parted and the streaming moonlight revealed the face even more clearly. Brilliant golden hair tracing soft curves like waves fell down to her shoulders, and the corners of her eyes drooped slightly, giving a gentle impression, while both eyeballs were large and blue, resembling the deep sea. The appearance of the plump lips slightly parted was lovely, and her thick eyelashes were visible every time her eyes blinked.
A girl as lovely as a single stalk of pure water lily blooming under the moonlight. A beautiful woman so gorgeous that anyone would fall for her at first glance, enough to even make the male protagonists swoon.
There was only one such person.
"Yuri……?"
The female protagonist of this novel, Yuri Elizabeth.
"Oh ……………."
Even her voice was like jade beads rolling along a silver tray.
I just stared at her blankly, simply unable to even think of catching my runaway soul. Yuri tilted her head slightly and raised the corners of her mouth a little, but even that was movingly beautiful......
"Do you know me? Because I feel like I am meeting you for the first time...……."
Gasp.
Only then did I belatedly come to my senses and shook my head.
“Uh, no. It’s true that we are meeting for the first time, which means………… well…….”
At my stupid response, Yuri seemed to think for a moment, then let out a small laugh and said.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I keep forgetting that my name is quite well-known. Surely you must have heard the rumors too? It’s embarrassing, but yes, I am Yuri Elizabeth, who was recently brought in as the adopted daughter of Baron Elizabeth's family.”
Even if a commoner becoming the adopted child of a nobleman is rare, it is not something that would become a massive topic of discussion.
However, becoming the adopted child of the 'Elizabeth' family is certainly enough to make headlines.
The Baronial House of Elizabeth. Although they hold the lowest title of Baron, they are a bizarre family where it wouldn't be strange even if they had actually received a ducal title, and it is a place where only magical geniuses gather. They are a considerably closed, authoritative, and incredibly powerful family, and the reason their title is not high is also because they refused higher titles.
To think that such a family took in an adopted child...
It was written in the novel that this was an unprecedented event worthy of gossip among the people who knew the Baronial House of Elizabeth.
However, it was a lackluster rumor among the commoners or the nobles who considered magic as taboo, and instead, it must have been buried since my scandal with Ian came across as more stimulating to them this time. And crucially, I forgot that Yuri was attending this ball.
'Am I seriously insane? Even if it's a romance fantasy novel I binged just once, a month ago, how could I forget such an important scene?'
No matter how distracted I had been recently, how on earth could I forget a fact like this?
If a time machine existed, I wanted to grab my past self by the collar and slap her across the cheek. The stupid past version of me would have to meekly offer up the other cheek as well.
Screaming on the inside, I barely managed to force the corners of my mouth up. My cheeks trembled violently.
“Yes……. You are a beauty just like the rumors say—no, even more beautiful than the rumors, Miss Yuri.”
“Pardon? Ah, thank you.”
Babbling whatever random words that came to mind, I thought only of leaving the spot as quickly as possible. Although I do like the female protagonist, I never expected to meet her so suddenly in a place like this.
Seriously, why on earth did Nine have to bolt in the first place!
I eventually even started blaming others as I began to stealthily take steps backward.
“Well, I hope you have a wonderful time, and I shall take my leave now……”
“Melissa? Are you out there?”
Damn it.
I bit my lower lip hard.
Ian Basilious pushed through the flowers and revealed himself. Why is that bastard coming out here?
He had probably seen me heading outside alone and came to fetch me to drag me into the marriage announcement.
Even with bad luck, how can it be this bad?
That was what I thought, but I soon realized that Ian was destined to come here anyway. He was staring at Yuri with a blank, dazed expression. Yuri raised her head slightly and met his gaze. A strange light flickered in his golden eyes and her aqua eyes. Everything was silent, and only the moonlight illuminated the two of them.
I tightly gripped the hem of my dress with my hands in the darkness.
Ian Basilios just fell in love.
The spring ball was originally the place where Ian and Yuri’s first meeting takes place. One of the famous scenes in the novel, which the author had predetermined as such, was unfolding right before my eyes.
The one who had intruded upon the destiny of these two people was none other than me.
I staggered, turned around just like that, and left the spot. For some reason, I didn't feel good.
“In the end, all I gained was wounds, Yona……”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Why am I really this unlucky?"
“Yes, my lady.”
“……Yona, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“I’m boiling and eating my shoes.”
“Yes, my lady.”
At Yona's insolent attitude, making it absolutely clear she wasn't listening to a single word of my grumbling, I simply wiped my dry face with my hands and couldn't say another word.
The end of the ball was full of misery and wretchedness.
In the end, I failed to find Nine, and I had to board the returning carriage all alone, turning into some partner-less ducal young lady who arrived as two but left as one.
If there was at least a silver lining, it was that the marriage announcement was called off.
However, this was absolutely not because of me or because they respected my wishes. It was simply because Ian had fallen head over heels for Yuri. It seems even he wasn't a big enough piece of trash to announce his marriage to another woman on the exact same day he fell for someone else.
No, he was actually a jerk only to Melissa. Thus, contrary to one's expectation, he played the role of a sweet character in the novel.
Anyway, to think things went Ian's way right to the very end. I felt like all my efforts had been reduced to nothing. I felt hollow.
'Still…………… it really seems like things are going exactly according to the novel, so if I just wait like this for a little over half a year, Ian’s side will be the first to bring up the matter of breaking off the engagement.'
When that time comes, all I have to do is readily accept. That is, assuming I don’t lose my temper during that long stretch of time and crack Ian’s skull open. Maybe I should put off asking to break off the engagement for now.
I let out a deep sigh and threw my body onto the sofa. For now, I just didn't want to think about anything anymore.
Thinking about Nine made me feel like a pathetic prince doing a nationwide tour with Cinderella's glass slipper to find her, or like a desperate ex-boyfriend begging to at least know the reason for the breakup, so I became even more resolute to just drop it.
Of course, a barrage of curses came out of my mouth.
'To repay grace with pure crap.'
“Let’s see if I ever trust a man again……”
I cradled my head in my arms and muttered.
I heard the sound of Yona snickering, so I snapped my head up to glare at her, but Yona put up a completely straight face—and not just a straight face, but a total poker face.
“…………I'm so pissed off”
I eventually began to beat the sofa cushions.
***
Nine held his breath.
He never imagined that his 'kin' would appear at a human ball. If his presence was discovered, the safety of the young lady holding his hand would be endangered, so he had hurriedly fled.
The young lady's face flickered before his eyes, but Nine forced himself to grit his teeth and lunged into motion to find a hiding place. First, he had to escape his gaze. After that, he would have to go find her and apologize.
However, as always, fate was not on Nine's side.
Nine glared at the familiar dark shadow that blocked his path ahead.
“Well, well, look who it is.”
A sarcastic voice. It was annoying, yet the dangerous growl made Nine's hairs stand on end.
“Well, if it isn't the blue-haired bastard?”
His deep red eyes gleamed.
Grinning, he bared his teeth, revealing sharp fangs.
“Why didn't you stay dead instead of crawling out here, Nine Forton?”
At the sound of that hateful surname in his ears, Nine squeezed his eyes tightly shut.
'Just like back then, I had to run away desperately this time as well. Otherwise, I would have died.'
Nine heard the sharp sound of claws slicing through the air.