“Don’t you remember me from ten years ago? We met at court when I was a little girl.”

“I’m sorry. But I can’t simply remember every single person who passes by.”

Killian, who answered coldly enough to make the opponent embarrassed, suddenly threw his gaze at Rowena like a sensible wild beast.

When their eyes met defenselessly, he had an expression as if he was asking her to come over here, and Rowena took a step forward without a second thought. However, she only took a couple of steps before stopping, and then she avoided his gaze that was relentlessly piercing her.

As Killian and Rowena remained in their own private world out among the people, Veronica, with her face flushed with frustration, broke through the silence and interrupted.

“Still, it’s all right. You can just remember me from tonight.”

It was a statement made with her utmost courage, but she didn’t get an answer.

“… I’ll get going then.”

Veronica, who pursed her lips under the hot crowd’s gaze, quickly turned around. The attention that had gathered briefly quickly dissipated once one of the parties left the exciting scene.

After the situation was over, Killian locked his gaze on Rowena until the end. His gaze was so persistent that it seemed as if he was hiding in the bushes, stalking his prey. Making Rowena involuntarily try to retreat, and at the moment….

Shatter

Someone bumped into her causing the spilled glass to roll across the floor with the clatter of the silver tray falling. The waiter who bumped into her and the countess opened their mouths at the same time.

“Miss Philone!”

“I’- I’m so sorry!”

“It’s all right.”

Rowena reassured the waiter, who was too panicked to sit up, and gestured to Joanne, who was a few steps away.

“I think it’s on my dress and shawl, so I’m off to change. Countess.”

“By all means! I understand. You must come back quickly though. The voting will take place soon.”

“Of course.”

To Rowena, it was rather a good thing. She needed an excuse to get away from him even a little.

When she returned to her seat with the pretext of taking a break to change her clothes, the highlight of the evening was already in progress. In front of a simple platform, the host was presenting the vote cards that had been collected throughout the dinner, one by one, in front of the ladies and gentlemen.

“Why are you coming just now!”

The countess, who had pulled Rowena to her side, whispered in her ear as the whole room was silent with each vote.

“You’re leading right now. Don’t worry about it, Miss Philone”

“How many votes?”

“A staggering ten votes. That’s amazing!”

“It’s probably thanks to his Excellency coming in first place in the hunting. You said it would give me extra points. The rest is just from people who are trying to look good to his excellency too.”

“Modest as always I see hehehe.”

Although she said she didn’t care much about this, some of the words she had said during the day came to her mind, and her lifted shoulders dropped involuntarily.

“Where is his excellency?”

“Hoho, why would you ask me that, Miss Philone?”

“Ah, yes…”

“Just kidding. He’s right there.”

The Countess, smiling, pointed with her fan somewhere. Killian was far away from the people, and it seems as if he was having some serious conversation with  Jenok. As she squinted to see the expression on his face, the countess crossed her arms in a friendly manner.

“I’m sure his excellency too is standing on his toe for when you are announced as the queen of tonight, of course, I don’t think he will show it, though.”

“You really think so?”

“Of course! What other reason is there! It would prove that his woman is the most beautiful of them all.”