•?••? ? ?••?•

 

 

 

Ray was halfway to the balcony when he spotted Iva and stopped awkwardly.

 

 

 

“Please come in.”

 

 

 

Iva spoke without even looking at Ray. As soon as Ray stepped in her direction, Iva turned to leave. Startled, he extended his palm, blocking her path.

 

 

 

“Where are you going?”

 

 

 

“I was going to leave.”

 

 

 

“I didn’t mean for you to step aside.”

 

 

 

“Oh, I didn’t mean to stay with you together.”

 

 

 

The longer we stayed together, the more I felt like I was on a shortcut to the execution ground. But the man in front of me refused to drop his hand.

 

 

 

“There’s no need for that. I’ll leave first after just a brief moment.”

 

 

 

He briefly glanced inside the hall. Following his gaze, Iva could hear the chatter of other young ladies and young lords.

 

 

 

“I was surprised. You can’t imagine how hard I tried to avoid making eye contact.”

 

 

 

“I was tense, afraid that I might get scolded if I made a mistake with my steps.”

 

 

 

“Ladies, you must have been scared, who knew someone who could only use his body would come to the debutante.”

 

 

 

Though not explicitly mentioned, the words clearly referred to Ray.

 

 

 

He was not loved by everyone, even as the male lead of the novel.

 

 

 

The Castello family, long ago, had a lineage of knights who protected the royal family as counts.

 

 

 

The previous generations had built up their skills and eventually rose to become the Commander of the Knights, earning recognition for sacrificing even their lives for the royal family, and thus becoming a Duke. However, other nobles did not acknowledge it.

 

 

 

Seeing a Count who suddenly became a Duke overnight, boiling jealousy rose among others. Although the time spent as a Duke had now surpassed that as a Count, the label of Count still clung to him.

 

 

 

‘That scar on his eyebrow played a part too.’

 

 

 

The noble children had no scars on their faces or bodies. Their appearance was also their wealth and honor. Everything about Ray was contrary to the ordinary nobility, and the disregard towards him grew day by day. It seemed as if the treatment he received inside the hall followed him to the balcony.

 

 

 

It was a regrettable situation, but that didn’t mean there was a reason for me to stay here.

 

 

 

“Please stay here. I’ll leave.”

 

 

 

As Iva tried to leave first, Ray lowered his hand and physically blocked her way.

 

 

 

“I didn’t intend to take your place. I’ll leave first after just five minutes.”

 

 

 

Ray demonstrated his chivalrous side, even in this situation.

 

 

 

“I just wanted to spare you the trouble.”

 

 

 

“…If my appearance is unpleasant to you, then I’ll leave immediately.”

 

 

 

Misinterpreting Iva’s actions, Ray hurriedly raised his hand to cover the scar at the end of his eyebrow.

 

 

 

It was a thoughtful gesture as if he didn’t want her to feel as scared as the people inside.

 

 

 

Iva’s anger surged within her at that sight.

 

 

 

Those who can’t say a single word upfront, but gossip from behind, and Ray, who can’t even say a word to those people, were all pathetic.

 

 

 

In my previous life, he had no problem spitting out cold words to me, but why does he cower and remain silent in front of those guys?

 

 

 

“I thought being the Commander of the Knights would make you different, but you’re nothing special.”

 

 

 

Finally, Iva couldn’t hold back and blurted out a remark. Ray’s expression, which had shown consideration just moments ago, stiffened.

 

 

 

“What did you just say?”

 

 

 

“Do you think pretending not to hear and avoiding it, will make it disappear? Do you think those people will stop talking?”

 

 

 

“It’s just the way I am.”

 

 

 

“You’re a coward.”

 

 

 

Iva looked straight at Ray as she spoke. He, too, didn’t avoid her gaze.

 

 

 

“You don’t even have the courage to confront and strike first. I hope you continue living your life, unable to say a single word and always running away.”

 

 

 

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

 

 

 

“Figure it out for yourself. Well then, I’m done here.”

 

 

 

Iva pushed past him and started to go inside, but then she stopped again, blurting out what she wanted to say.

 

 

 

“And do you know Duke, your eyes are really bad?”

 

 

 

“…Are you talking about my eyesight?”

 

 

 

Ray’s pupils shook visibly, unable to grasp the meaning of her words.

 

 

 

“Take a good look in the mirror. Is that face unpleasant to you? Even if it comes to a fight with your face, you would win.”

 

 

 

Rai blinked, still covering his scar, at the unexpected praise of his appearance.

 

 

 

“It’s not cool to be intimidated by the words of people you don’t even know.”

 

 

 

“…”

 

 

 

“Rather, as a knight, you should be proud of your scars as your badge of honor. That way, others won’t disregard you or the Castello family.”

 

 

 

I was annoyed at Ray’s inability to say a word and his evasiveness.

 

 

 

Did I really cling to a guy like that and listened to his harsh words? Shouldn’t I be ashamed of the past, I liked?

 

 

 

Iva lifted her foot to go towards the hall. However, Ray grabbed her with an urgent voice.

 

 

 

“Have we really never met anywhere before?”

 

 

 

He asked the same question with trembling eyes as when they were dancing. Iva replied, her expression tense.

 

 

 

“I have never seen the Duke. We probably won’t even see each other in the future.”

 

 

 

After uttering a cold farewell, she finally entered the hall.

 

 

 

•?••? ? ?••?•