Chapter 1392. Crimson Ball (2)

I could instinctively tell that this bastard was about to confess the truth. What on earth was he thinking? Was he really convinced that Aina Peneloti would forgive everything and go with him to the Republic as long as he confessed?

Was he thinking that everything would magically work out once he confessed?

“Something you want to say?” I asked.

“Yes,” Marquis Jayce answered.

A simple lie could be forgiven, but a lie capable of shaking the very foundation of a relationship would make anyone sensitive, and that was exactly the case between us.

From the very beginning, the meeting between Marquis Jayce and Aina Peneloti had been nothing but lies, completely fabricated. Even the small bond we built and the time we had spent together were all fake.

There was a reason Kim Hyun-Sung trembled so much when he was about to confess that he was a regressor.

The anxiety over how the other person could think of him and whether they would feel deceived or not was worse than anything one could ever imagine.

According to Kim Hyun-Sung himself, it felt like his heart was about to jump out of his mouth.

However, look at this bastard...

‘He doesn’t look anxious at all. There's not even a hint of nervousness.’

Perhaps he was confident that no matter what was about to happen, Aina Peneloti would still choose him. Of course, there was a chance that he wanted to confess and start from zero, or perhaps he just wanted to ease his conscience.

‘His arrogance truly pierces the heavens.’

“...”

“...”

While we were talking, the song ended. We stepped back slightly and bowed. The thunderous applause around us made it clear that our performance was a success, but I had no time to reflect on what had just happened or savor the moment.

The young ladies of the Black Rose Salon rushed toward me.

“A-amazing! Lady Peneloti!” Lady Brush said.

“P-Peneloti...” Lady Pastel mumbled.

‘Why are you crying, Pastel?’

“It was amazing! A revolutionary and perfect dance, Lady Peneloti! I’ve never seen a dance like that!” Lady Pastel shouted.

“

He... hehe...

”

“It was so refined and so elegant. Lady Peneloti, are you perhaps a princess from somewhere? That was talent—incredible talent at that. Your dance was so perfect that Marquis Jayce’s terrible dance skills were hardly noticeable,” Lady Palette said.

“N-no. The Marquis followed along well...” I said.

“So you’re not denying that Marquis Jayce danced terribly?” Lady Palette asked.

‘I can’t deny that. You all have eyes. If I had raised the tempo even a little, he would have fallen flat on his face like an idiot.’

“N-no, that’s not what I meant... It’s... really embarrassing, Lady Palette,” I answered.

“I’m joking, Lady Peneloti,” Lady Palette said.

It seemed that to them, the whole thing had looked somewhat romantic and even a bit dreamy. Marquis Jayce’s reputation, which had hit rock bottom, looked as though it had recovered at least a little, and that alone said everything.

Most of the gazes were still far from friendly, but at the very end, it seemed they believed Marquis Jayce had finally made a decisive move.

As expected, a barrage of questions came flying in.

“What did Marquis Jayce say, Lady Peneloti?” she asked.

“More importantly, w-why did you choose Marquis Jayce?! Why on earth? It should have been Count Kim Hyun-Sung! You rejected Count Kim Hyun-Sung’s dance request and chose Marquis Jayce.

"O-of course, it’s not that I want to question your choice or anything, but still... Marquis Jayce... has already hurt you once before. And—I don’t even know how to put this, but...” Lady Palette questioned.

“You should explain that first, Lady Peneloti,” Lady Pastel suggested.

‘Right. I do need to explain.’

“Well... I’m not sure...” I muttered.

Of course, emotions of this kind weren't something one could really explain.

“I just... without realizing...” I mumbled.

“...”

“I don’t know why. I just... saw Marquis Jayce. I saw all of you cheering for me, but somehow, I felt like I had to choose him,” I said.

“T-that’s crazy... You’ve become an adult, Lady Peneloti,” Lady Palette said.

“Lady Peneloti...” Lady Brush muttered.

All the young ladies looked as though they completely understood me.

“It can’t be helped. If that’s the reason, then...” Lady Pastel muttered.

“Well... there are things in this world we can’t do anything about. So, Lady Peneloti, what did Marquis Jayce say? We saw the two of you talking while dancing. Did he make some sort of decision? Or did his feelings change...?” Lady Pastel asked.

“I’m not sure. I don’t really know yet... but Marquis Jayce said he had something urgent to tell me,” I answered.

“What?”

“He said it's important—something he really wants to say,” I clarified.

“That’s... It has to be

that

, right?” Lady Pastel asked.

“Is it a proposal? Is it finally a proposal? Has Marquis Jayce finally realized his feelings and decided to make a move?” Lady Brush questioned.

It

was

understandable that they’d think that way. Anyone watching would misunderstand. The timing was far too convenient, and there had even been an event that made it seem that way.

“It seems he wanted to tell you directly rather than inform your family first,” Lady Pastel assumed.

“It’s intimidating. I mean Marquis Jayce’s energy right now,” Lady Brush commented.

“Peneloti, are you really going to accept it?

Hm

? Just like that? You shouldn’t accept him so easily. Just think about what that bastard did to you,” Lady Paint remarked.

“I-I don’t really know. He might really be planning to propose... and I haven’t heard anything about when or where he intends to arrange such a moment...” I answered.

At that exact moment...

“Lady Peneloti, may I borrow a moment of your time?”

Of course, when I turned my head, I saw Marquis Jayce standing there.

The young ladies of the Black Rose Salon simultaneously covered their mouths at his boldness. Could they feel his resolve not to retreat anymore? Or was it because they sensed the sincerity of a man who had decided not to hide his feelings any longer?

He looked so different from the Marquis Jayce they had known until now that the young ladies were stunned.

“S-sure. Where...” I asked.

I only had one problem, and it was the fact that there was no suitable place for us to talk to each other. Even if our relationship was practically an open secret, it still wasn’t appropriate for the two of us to be alone together.

Fortunately, Lady Paint gave me a way out. “Use the sixth balcony to talk. I’ll get permission in advance.”

“Thank you, Lady Paint,” I said.

“Just do not use it for too long. There will be eyes watching,” Lady Paint warned.

“...”

“...”

Marquis Jayce walked ahead first, and I followed behind him. I could hear the young ladies cheering me on, wishing that I would make the right choice.

Soon, a spacious balcony came into view; the scenery and atmosphere were surprisingly fitting. It was a place filled with Lady Paint’s sincere intention to give me, Lady Peneloti, an unforgettable memory.

The cool night air greeted me first, while the moonlight, the stars, and the view of the garden below created a picturesque scene. In a place like this, anyone would become romantic. Naturally, my heart began to race.

I stared quietly at Marquis Jayce, who had told me that he had something to tell me, and tried to set the mood. Of course, I knew that whatever came out of his mouth wouldn’t be sweet words, but it was just polite to show a bit of anticipation, at the very least.

“Lady Peneloti,” Marquis Jayce said.

“Y-yes!” I answered.

I was so nervous that I jolted in surprise.

“I-I’m sorry. I was just too nervous...” I muttered.

Aina Peneloti’s face reddened like a bright strawberry. In a situation like this, I couldn’t help but wonder how the buildup would unfold. She was unable to hide her feelings, as if she were in a dream, but what would follow wasn’t happiness but misfortune.

Marquis Jayce’s strangely quiet face seemed to be thinking of something completely different, and the feeling that he didn’t look like the Marquis Jayce I knew... Was all of that just my imagination?

He didn’t seem like the warm, smiling man I used to know. I could instinctively tell.

‘So he was never Marquis Jayce.’

The person standing before me wasn’t Marquis Jayce but something else—his real self. The fluttering and anticipation I felt moments earlier vanished in an instant, replaced by anxiety.

Then, the doubt that I had been carrying inside me since yesterday was unleashed from within me unknowingly.

“Who... are you?” I asked.

“...”

I received no answer. Instead of responding, he revealed a flicker of surprise. Aina Peneloti had realized what was going on before he could even confess. In the end, it looked like he couldn't hold it back any longer.

“Allow me to formally introduce myself, my lady. I am Jin Cheong, holding the Second Seat under the Republic’s Five Tiger General,” Jin Cheong said.

‘He’s really just going to throw out a self-introduction like that?’

“What kind of joke is—”

“You know better than anyone that this is not a joke,” he interrupted me.

“...”

“You may find this difficult to understand right now. I understand that this must be too sudden for you, my lady, but please... I ask that you listen to me just once. The Union of Kingdoms is far too small for someone like you to live in. It's too small for someone like you to realize your dreams.

"Lady Peneloti, I have seen your potential, and I have been watching over you since then. This place doesn’t suit you at all,” he explained.

“I cannot understand. I don’t understand any of this, Marquis Jayce,” I said.

“In the Republic, you will be able to have everything you seek, everything you wish for, your dreams, your future, all of it, my lady,” he said.

Aina Peneloti’s voice trembled. I-I don’t understand what you’re saying, or why you’re saying this to me. None of this makes sense, Marquis Jayce..."

Aina Peneloti was crying! Aina Peneloti was trying to deny it, telling herself that this couldn’t be real.

“I wish for you to come with me,” he said.

“I don’t...

hic

... I don’t understand anything. I don’t even know what’s happening right now,” I said.

Aina Peneloti knew nothing at all.

“Leave the ballroom immediately and return to the salon, Lady Peneloti,” he added, without letting me catch my breath.

“...”

“Don’t ask anything. Just follow my words, my lady. If you’re willing to come with me, then please wait for me in the garden,” he said.

“...”

“Everything I said was for your sake,” he added.

“...”

“...”

“I-I'm confused, Marquis Jayce. I don’t know what’s happening or why you’re saying these things to me. What was that dance we just had? Why are you bringing this up? And why are you speaking as if something is about to happen? I’m scared. I’m scared, Marquis Jayce,” I told him.

“...”

“Please say something. Please just tell me that this is all a joke,” I begged.

Aina Peneloti was desperate, and I also realized that the reason the bastard tried to keep me away from Count Kim Hyun-Sung wasn’t just because he was jealous. He had made that move, as staying close to the target could put me in danger.

There were probably other reasons, too, but that was the most apparent one.

The fragments of the future I had seen were becoming clearer. The blurry outline hidden in the fog was starting to reveal itself.

Something was going to happen at the ballroom, and the culprit was standing right in front of me. Then, seemingly confirming the veracity of what I had seen, Marquis Jayce said, “I only wish for you to know that I truly care about you."

At those words, Aina Peneloti lost all strength and collapsed.

He instinctively moved toward me. O

f course, I had no choice but to shout, “D-don’t come any closer!”

My voice, tone, and diction were perfect. I made use of every emotion out there, and even I was in disbelief at how engrossed I was with my role right now.

“Don’t—

hic!

Don’t come any closer.

Hic

—please... don’t come closer.”

I was so immersed that my nose genuinely stung.

“Don’t come any

closeeer!

” I shouted.

‘Get away from me, damn it!’