But what was different was.

A heavy silence began between the two.

I thought about what to say, but I couldn't think of any words worth being said to a noble lady from a prestigious family.

I'm used to this silence, but was she?

As I was pondering, she lowered her eyes and shouted in a loud voice.

You're hurt!

Her eyes, wide as a rabbit, reached out to the spot where there was a small scar on Lucian's neck.

Lucian covered the wound with a puzzled look.

He had an ability that automatically heals his wounds. But he hid that fact from people as much as he could.

Because he knew he would hear terrible words about him, such as being a monster.

It's not a big deal. Don't mind it.

He thought it would draw attention if he said otherwise.

But Pernia pulled a medical band out of her pouch and came to the seat next to him.

As she approached, there was a strong scent of roses at the tip of her nose.

Lucian got stiff without even realizing it.

The scent was too strong for him, who had been on the battlefield for a long time.

Not knowing what to feel, Pernia wrapped the bandage around his neck with an innocent face.

She said, pressing the band on his neck with thin fingers.

Even small wounds need to be treated properly. It'll hurt a lot if it's infected.

Lucian has often been hurt worse than this.

He has been cut, pierced, and beaten on the battlefield.

So Lucian was amazed when she said that about a nail-sized wound.

Then their eyes met.

Pernia, whose eyes widened as big as a frightened cat, said, ah,' as her face hardened.

Just as she finally realized how daring she was.

Lucian looked at her and opened his mouth with a smile.

Lady Pernia is a little different from the rumors.

She replied proudly, as if she knew clearly what the rumors said about her.

Rumors are just supposed to be a provocative story made up by noisy people. It's totally different from the rumors, right?

Her eyes were intense like she'll never forgive those people.

Lucian ended up smiling.

I see.

She doesn't know, but it's the first time he genuinely smiled as of late.

* * *

It was Paul who greeted Lucian when he arrived at the mansion.

Paul looked carefully at his boss's face.

Paul is the son of a baron, so he had seen Penia once in a while at parties.

She was literally the embodiment of an arrogant, vicious aristocratic lady.

That type of aristocrats would hate people with a lower status than him.

It doesn't matter if he was a hero of the empire, it was obvious that she would ignore his boss, who was an orphan commoner.

Was everything all right?

Lucian nodded at Paul's cautious question.

Yes. Unlike what you said, she was sweet.

Sweet?

Since when has the meaning of the word sweet changed? Then, Lucian said to Paul, who was bewildered.

And she gave me an idea I never thought of. She said I could do the dance of blessing with the saint at the engagement.

Eh?

Paul blinked.

Of course, there have often been special occasions when these saints were asked to do the dance of blessing.

When you're an adult, when you're celebrating your birthday, or when you're being crowned.

But I've never seen a scenario where the saint does the dance at an engagement ceremony.

No matter how holy a blessing it is, no woman ever wanted to see her man stuck with another woman.

So did you accept the offer?

Yes, because I didn't have a good cause to refuse.

Listening to Lucian's undesirable answer, Paul desperately used his brain.

Why on earth did Pernia make such a proposal? There must be a reason.

A moment later, one answer came to Paul's head.

Paul spoke to Lucian with a serious face.

Maybe it's meant to make it difficult for Lord Lucian and the saint.

What?

On the day of the engagement ceremony, all the best nobles come. What would I say if Lord Lucian and the saint were dancing? It's clear that she's trying to take the both of you down, saying that you dance like that because you're a commoner. It's a dirty tactic used when you want to crush those below you.

Lucian's eyes widened at Paul's words.

Is that so?

He never imagined that she had such an intention when she looked at him with clear eyes.

It was unexpected, but not surprising.

He knew that nobles were originally able to wear smiling masks and stab a knife to the heart with their hands.

But why?

He felt as if her smile when they met was a lie.

Lord Lucian, please refuse now. Lucian doesn't have to be swayed by Lady Pernia.

Lucian lowered his eyes.

It didn't matter if it was his own problem, but he couldn't go on like this if Estelle would be involved in that.

So Lucian nodded.

Ok. I'll send her a letter tomorrow morning.

I appreciate what you said, but I don't want to dance with Estelle. With all due respect, I refuse your offer.

I won't be able to say anything if she gets mad and asks why I changed my mind when I had already accepted.

But the letter arrived that evening.

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It was a letter from Pernia.

I just met you today and you wrote to me already?

I opened the envelope thinking, What the hell is the rush?

The letter had a short sentence written with nice handwriting.