“This is the first time Lady Borden is making a public appearance, isn’t it?”

The number of nobles attending the engagement ceremony was not large—just a few with connections to the Borden family. They stood outdoors, each holding a glass, engaging in what they considered “refined” conversations.

“It’s a shame her first public appearance happens to be her engagement.”

The sun was shining brightly that morning, a faint haze rising from the distant lawn of the Borden estate. The temperature wasn’t particularly high, and the sound of summer and the chatter of people filled the air.

“Still, this is the Borden family we’re talking about. It’s been a while since we’ve had such an elegant social event. They’ve really outdone themselves.”

“We’re lucky to witness her mysterious debut at such an exclusive event.”

The nobles of the capital, tainted by vanity, commented on the occasion with self-satisfaction.

“I suppose we won’t see anything like this for some time.”

“That’s true...”

A sweet aroma filled the back garden, the scent of fruit wine. Although the ceremony had not yet begun, the nobles had already begun their toasts, and their breath reeked of the sweet smell of indulgence.

“It seems we’ll soon find out if the rumors from the social circles are true or not.”

“Baron Borden’s daughter... if only I could have her married into my family.”

“Well, we still don’t know, do we? She could be a great beauty or shockingly unattractive.”

Such gossip was noisy, overly so, and it grated on Maxim’s nerves. From behind the door, Maxim frowned as he listened to the nobles' conversation.

“Maxim?”

Marion, standing beside him, noticed the way his expression contorted, and her soft eyes met his. Maxim quickly forced his expression to relax, but Marion turned her melancholic gaze toward the hall where the gathering was taking place.

“Don’t pay them too much mind.”

Maxim looked down at Marion, who had gently grabbed hold of his sleeve. It seemed as though Marion was more concerned about his discomfort than her own. Maxim asked her quietly, not bothering to hide his true feelings.

“Are you okay?”

Marion looked up at him and nodded, her hand still clutching his sleeve.

“I’m okay.”

Her eyes, as she said those words, were calm and steady. But Maxim could sense that her indifference wasn’t natural—it had been learned through years of enduring. His heart sank. Was it really okay to call that state “being fine”?

At least, the small, intimate nature of the gathering was a relief.

Maxim didn’t know what to say, so he reached out and took her gloved right hand. Marion smiled softly.

“Really, I’m fine. I’m... actually happy.”

Maxim’s hand trembled slightly as he held hers. Marion’s cheeks flushed a soft pink.

“I’m happy... not just because of the occasion, but because we’re here together.”

Marion’s hand, which held his, was warm for the first time as she clasped it gently in return.

“I’ve grown... grown enough that words like that don’t bother me anymore.”

She smiled, her expression heartbreakingly sincere and pure.

“Yes. I’m really okay.”

Maxim carefully lifted his hand and patted Marion’s hair, the way one might praise a child who proudly declares they’ve grown. Her black hair, tied neatly behind her, didn’t shift much as he stroked it.

“I’m sorry.”

When this time was over, when his stay in the capital ended, he would have to face the monsters again—return to the no-man’s land where death loomed constantly. He would have to confront Behemoth once more. And yet Marion smiled, knowing all of this, telling him everything would be okay.

“...Don’t apologize. You don’t need to feel sorry.”

Marion returned the words he had once spoken to her. Did Maxim remember?

Maxim met her gaze for a long moment.

“Because we’re the same?”

At his question, Marion nodded. Maxim barely managed to pull the memory from his fractured thoughts. For now, he could still recall it. For now, everything was okay. The door leading to the back lawn and the waiting reception area remained quiet. The distant sounds of the gathering could still be heard.

“When are they coming out?” “It’s almost time for the main event.”

The nobles’ trivial complaints drifted by, but Maxim and Marion remained at the doorway. A man approached them.

“Are you ready?”

It was Emil Borden, his voice cold as he regarded them both. Marion’s response was strained as she forced herself to answer.

“Yes.”

Emil’s gaze swept over Marion, then turned to Maxim with a twisted smile. Without another word, Emil Borden pushed open the door and stepped out into the reception area. Marion’s eyes remained downcast, her blue gaze filled with the same light they always held when she looked at Maxim, even as she watched the hall ahead.

“Maxim, Marion, why are you two still here?”

Another voice called out behind them. It was Maxim’s father, Louis Apart, who approached with a relaxed smile, despite his words.

“The guests may expect the stars of the show to arrive fashionably late, but if you’re too late, they might start grumbling.”

Louis stopped in front of Maxim and fished something out of his pocket, handing him a small box.

“I can’t believe I even have to take care of things like this for my son.”

Maxim looked at his father, his expression apologetic. Louis waved it off as unnecessary.

“No need to say anything. Just don’t embarrass yourself.”

He then turned to Marion and offered her a kind smile.

“After the ceremony, Marion, you’ll likely be coming to our estate.”

Marion nodded. Louis gave her a sympathetic look, his gaze briefly lingering on her mask. He understood why the Borden family had been so quick to agree to the engagement. His eyes returned to the mask that concealed Marion’s scarred face.

“Enjoy the ceremony. But if it becomes too much, you can always end it quickly.”

“Thank you,” Marion replied, her eyes softening as she smiled.

“Once I’m out, it’ll be your turn. It’s about time things started, anyway.”

With that, Louis Apart exited through the door to join the reception. The noise outside grew louder. Marion hesitated, watching Louis leave, but Maxim gently took her shoulders and turned her to face him.

“Maxim?”

“Just a moment, before we go out.”

Of all times, it had to be now.

Maxim let out a bitter chuckle. In his right hand, he held the small box Louis had given him. Marion looked at the box with a curious expression.

“I’m a little late, but...”

Maxim opened the box. Inside were a pair of rings, simple silver bands adorned with sapphires that matched the color of Marion’s eyes. She stared at the rings, wide-eyed and speechless.

“This is...?”

“Engagement rings.”

Maxim smiled as he took out one of the rings. There was a heaviness to it—a story told not just through words but through the very object itself, a symbol of their arranged marriage, filled with unspoken truths.

“Is it... really okay for me to take this?”

Marion asked hesitantly, her expression a mix of surprise and gratitude. Maxim nodded.

“Will you accept it?”

Both knew these rings weren’t given out of love. They understood that the wall between them was too thick, a result of their shared burdens and guilt.

The ring sparkled in the sunlight. Marion hesitated before offering her left hand.

“...Put it on me.”

She blushed as she spoke, her blue eyes glistening with moisture. Maxim, moved by her quiet strength, carefully placed the ring on her left ring finger. The matching rings on their hands shone under the sun.

“Let’s go.”

Maxim extended his arm, and Marion, following the etiquette she had learned, gently took it.

So close.

Her heart raced. The ring on her left hand brushed against Maxim’s right arm as she rested her hand there. She pressed a little more weight into his arm, testing the solidness of it.

Can my heart beat like this and still be okay?

Marion looked up at Maxim.

“What is it?”

“Nothing... it’s nothing.”

Her voice trailed off, and Maxim responded with a faint smile as they stepped outside.

Maxim’s feet touched the lawn. The air, while not as hot as a typical summer day, was still stifling, made worse by the heat radiating from the ground.

“They’re coming out.”

“Can you see clearly?”

As Maxim and Marion walked out, the nobles who had been waiting fell silent, their murmurs replaced by hushed whispers. There weren’t many, but there were enough to fill the space of a proper social gathering. All eyes turned toward the couple, arms linked as they made their entrance.

“Ah, there’s the lucky man from House Apart who managed to marry into Borden.”

“Handsome, isn’t he? Tall, too. Is he a knight?”

They first spoke of Maxim’s background and appearance.

“I heard he’s a knight. Serving with the capital’s knightly order, I believe...”

“Which order, though? Not that I care. I have no interest in those orders. It wouldn’t matter what they said.”

Then their attention shifted to Marion, who clung to Maxim’s arm. Their murmurs grew louder.

“There she is, the youngest of House Borden.”

“Oh...”

Half the murmurs soon turned into sighs of disappointment.

“What’s with that mask?”

“I’m not sure...”

“And she’s wearing gloves, even in this summer heat.”

“What could have happened to her?”

Someone whispered nearby.

“I suppose the rumors were true about her face being disfigured. That must be why she’s covering it with that mask.”

A nobleman clicked his tongue softly.

“What a shame. If it weren’t for that...”

The visible half of Marion’s face was undeniably beautiful. If the face hidden beneath the mask were the same, she could have been considered one of the most beautiful women in the capital. The nobles sighed in regret.

“Well, it’s not hard to see why Baron Borden made this decision.”

“I’d even say it was a shrewd move.”

She heard them. Their words reached her ears.

It’s okay.

Maxim felt Marion tighten her grip on his arm. As they walked toward the center of the reception, the whispers continued.

“Ah, the stars of the show have arrived.”

With a fabricated smile, Emil Borden approached them. When he glanced around at the nobles gathered there, the murmuring ceased entirely.

“As the host of today’s event, I’d like to say a few words before we begin.”

Emil clapped his hands lightly.

“I thank you all for attending my daughter’s engagement ceremony. There’s no grand event planned—just music, food, and drink to enjoy. So after a brief word from the happy couple, let’s all celebrate together.”

With a smile, Emil passed the floor to Maxim. Maxim, keeping his expression composed, stepped forward. Marion released his arm and watched him with a mix of nerves and concern.

“I am Maxim Apart of House Apart.”

He took a breath.

“I would like to thank Baron Borden for hosting this event and express my gratitude to all of you for coming to celebrate our future together.”

As Maxim looked out at the gathered nobles, he felt a wave of disdain. Many of them weren’t truly listening—they were just evaluating him, sizing him up.

“I hope you all enjoy the reception Baron Borden has prepared. I’ll keep my remarks brief.”

Marion stepped forward. Maxim discreetly squeezed her hand for support.

“I am Marion Borden.”

Her voice was soft, and the nobles fixed their attention on her, as if preparing to pounce. Maxim bristled at the intensity of their stares. He was also annoyed by Emil Borden, who seemed completely indifferent to his daughter’s discomfort, though that hadn’t been a surprise. Maxim allowed a small amount of his hostility to slip. Several nobles who noticed the shift in his demeanor lowered their gazes nervously.

A few guards instinctively reached for their swords but hesitated, unsure what had just happened.

In the meantime, Marion finished her greeting without incident.

“...Thank you.”

A moment of silence hung over the gathering before Emil Borden began to clap, breaking the stillness. The other nobles followed suit with subdued applause.

“Now, let the reception begin.”

At Emil Borden’s command, the musicians struck up a light minuet, the sound of strings filling the air.

“You were warned to be careful.”

Emil Borden’s voice was a low whisper as he approached Maxim. Maxim met his gaze with a cold, empty stare. Emil shook his head.

“You can’t even see straight now that the curse is in effect, can you?”

“Shouldn’t you have stopped worrying about this by now?”

Maxim’s sharp retort was met with a derisive laugh as Emil walked away.

“Maxim?”

Marion’s voice called to him from behind. Maxim turned to see her standing in the bustling reception, her presence drawing the attention of the other guests. He moved closer to her, shielding her from their stares.

Maxim offered his hand, and Marion, though shy, accepted it gratefully.

At that moment, a new stir rippled through the crowd. A guest had arrived late, and the nobles were quick to murmur among themselves as they took notice.

“...They’ve come?” “I didn’t expect them to attend in person...” “I heard they were invited, but I didn’t think they would actually show up.”

From the snippets of conversation, it was clear that the newcomer held a high status, though no one mentioned the name directly. Curious, Maxim glanced toward the entrance to see who had arrived.

And then, walking into the reception, was someone he hadn’t expected at all.

Platinum-haired, but with her usual sharp aura replaced by something softer, Theodora.

Theodora had dressed for the occasion, her attire suited to the formal atmosphere of the reception.

Her stormy eyes met Maxim’s briefly, before her gaze dropped.

Theodora’s eyes lingered on Maxim’s left hand—and on the matching sapphire-studded rings worn by him and Marion.