Ch.115115. The Ball

The nobles gathered at the ball were all heirs from prestigious families. Though there was an implicit hierarchy among them, the key point was that each enjoyed considerable power and influence across the continent.

Noble conduct.

Watching others’ reactions, hiding daggers behind smiles, never offending anyone’s sensibilities. Such conduct was necessary for those who wished to survive in the aristocratic world throughout their long lives.

That is, if one were an ordinary noble.

‘This is unbearable.’

Rex was well aware of his position. Even Claine, whose grandfather was an Apostle of Judgment, had shown him favor. “I’ll call you Aura, so call me brother,” he’d said. Was Claine simply generous by nature? What an utterly foolish thought.

The principles of nobility always revolve around judging value. In Claine’s eyes, Rex possessed value worthy of being addressed as a brother.

There is no kindness without reason. While wearing a friendly smile on the surface, cold rationality lurks beneath the skin. Rex’s value was high enough that the future head of the Regent family, which ruled the Empire, felt compelled to establish a connection with him.

Of course, even without such calculations, he wouldn’t have stood by idly.

“Let’s go, Chloe.”

Rex took Chloe’s hand with an indifferent expression.

He had noticed the situation unfolding long ago. That presumptuous girl. The mockery that followed. He had seen and heard it all. Though he didn’t know the details, it was clear that a confrontation had occurred. As much as he wanted to return the insult, engaging with such lowly creatures would only soil him equally. Chloe also seemed eager to leave as soon as possible.

Chloe, who had been fidgeting, looked up at Rex with anxious eyes. When Rex smiled gently, she finally rose cautiously.

“Wait! What do you think you’re doing?”

Just as they were about to leave, a young man frowned and blocked their path. The five or six young men in his group also glared at Rex with dissatisfied eyes. Rex responded in a calm tone.

“What?”

“Why are you trying to take Lady Chloe away as you please? Our atmosphere was pleasant until just now. There was a brief commotion, but… it would have been resolved soon. Besides, no one has decided who will be her partner yet, so isn’t barging in like this against proper etiquette?”

“Nonsense.”

“Nonsense…?”

Rex twisted the corner of his mouth and sneered.

“Can’t you tell that Chloe has been uncomfortable with all of you from the beginning?”

“That’s…”

“You’re the ones who made her uncomfortable by pestering her when she clearly wasn’t interested. And partner? Can’t you see?”

Rex chuckled and placed his arm around Chloe’s waist. Chloe flinched, but Rex continued without concern.

“Unfortunately, you never had a chance from the start. Let me be clear so you don’t misunderstand—even if I weren’t here, the outcome wouldn’t have changed. None of you are impressive enough to catch Chloe’s eye.”

“…Is, is that true?”

“Yes.”

Chloe nodded without a moment’s hesitation at the young man’s bewildered question. The young men gritted their teeth and glared at Rex, but they couldn’t do anything more.

Looking at the situation objectively, they were entirely in the wrong. If only she had mentioned having a partner from the beginning. They felt some resentment toward Chloe, but…

“None of you are impressive enough.”

What irritated them most was that they couldn’t deny those words. The golden hair that gleamed brilliantly under the chandelier’s light. Blue eyes like deep lakes. Broad shoulders and a robust physique, handsome facial features… While they might have confidence in their family’s power, they were incomparably inferior in masculine charm.

“Nothing to say?”

Rex looked around with a stern expression. The young men who met his gaze unconsciously shrank back and stammered.

“…I apologize, Lady Chloe. I acted foolishly.”

Chloe merely nodded slightly without looking at the young man’s face. Shocked by her response that clearly indicated she didn’t even want to exchange words, the young man opened his mouth. Rex waved his hand as if shooing away an insect.

“Move.”

“I, I think… there’s been some misunderstanding.”

The young man stepped aside with a gloomy face, but Matilda did not. She roughly pushed the young man aside and stepped forward.

“I just, I just wanted to spend time with Lady Chloe… She looked lonely by herself, and I was curious where she came from, and, well, that brooch is too shabby for a ball. I was going to recommend a good store for new accessories…”

Her rambling words were so confused that they were incomprehensible. Even Matilda herself didn’t understand what she was saying. She was simply blurting out whatever came to mind, driven by the feeling that she couldn’t let Rex leave like this.

‘He’s, he’s handsome.’

Her mind had gone blank from the moment she first saw Rex. Her heart was pounding, and she found it difficult to meet his eyes. Matilda lowered her gaze and murmured.

“I’ll apologize for the rudeness shown to Lady Chloe. So, please, set aside your anger, and join me at the ball…”

“…Lady Matilda.”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but my family name is the Morland Earldom… How about we visit together after Her Highness the Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony? I’m sure my father would welcome…”

“Lady Matilda!”

Matilda looked up with an expectant face. But Rex was nowhere to be seen. The young man who had called her cleared his throat and said:

“He’s already gone.”

“…What?”

“He left with Lady Chloe as soon as you started talking.”

“That, that can’t be…!”

“Ahem. What’s the point of chasing after someone who’s already left? We were enjoying the ball just fine before they came along. Let’s just dance among ourselves as we were doing.”

The young man offered his hand with an awkward smile. After coveting Chloe so much, now that she’s gone, you’re settling for me? Matilda looked around with a distorted expression, filled with rising indignation.

He really was gone.

All that remained were monkeys consumed by lust. She had thought their faces were somewhat decent, but after seeing Rex, they all looked utterly hideous.

“…Get lost.”

“Hmm? What did you just say?”

Matilda roughly grabbed the hem of her dress and shouted.

“Get lost! I can’t stand the sight of any of you, so just get lost!”

At her piercing scream, the young men lowered their voices and whispered among themselves.

“My, how harsh. She’s the one who got rejected, yet she’s taking it out on innocent people?”

“I had expectations when I heard she was the daughter of Earl Morland… but while white powder can hide an unsightly face, it can’t conceal one’s true nature.”

“Honestly, Lady Chloe’s beauty was far superior. What a shame. Even if she were a commoner, her beauty would be too precious to let go.”

“With such beauty, she must already have someone. As for Lady Matilda, she’s below expectations. If not for her family’s power, I would have left long ago.”

“Since she told us to get lost first, let’s go find other ladies. The night is long. We have plenty of time left.”

“…What?”

Matilda glared at the young men with fierce eyes. Those monkey bastards! Before she could spew out curses, the young men hastily left. Other women who had been watching Matilda’s reaction also quietly disappeared.

“……”

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

She should have been the one to shine at today’s ball.

She should have found a man worthy of her status, basked in the admiration of other ladies… and enjoyed the gazes of men who couldn’t have her, but instead…

‘I can’t end it like this.’

All her preparations for today had crumbled in an instant.

All because of that damn woman.

“Owen! Are you listening?”

[…My lady.]

“I have a favor to ask.”

She would return the humiliation she had suffered, at the very least.

***

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I meant to come back quickly, but I ran into someone I know and it took longer than expected. Really. I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

Chloe made a small “hmm” sound and turned her head away. Rex smiled wryly and poked Chloe’s back. She arched her back like a bow and blushed.

“Where do you think you’re touching!”

“Only because you keep sulking.”

“I’m not sulking!”

Chloe glanced at Rex with narrowed eyes. She was about to snap back at his mischievous teasing, but contrary to her expectations, Rex’s expression was serious.

“I’m sorry.”

“…From now on, let’s move together. Don’t leave me alone.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Rex nodded readily. Chloe tucked in her protruding lips and chuckled. She wasn’t really angry with Rex. She found his apologetic demeanor amusing, and since she had the opportunity to sulk a bit, she wanted to tease him. Her disappointment had dissipated long ago, and since Rex seemed genuinely sorry, it was right to stop the sulking here.

“Then that issue ends here! I don’t even want to talk about it anymore. You shouldn’t either.”

Chloe smiled and took Rex’s hand. Rex turned the topic with a surprised face.

“Come to think of it, we left our food behind.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t have much appetite anyway.”

“Why?”

“Seeing men putting on airs and trying to impress me made my appetite disappear.”

Chloe shrugged and asked:

“So, who was this person you met?”

“Oh, that. It was Lady Maya.”

“…What? Lady Maya?”

Chloe’s eyes narrowed. Her grip on his hand tightened. It didn’t hurt, but rather made her soft skin more noticeable. Somehow, it made something deep in his heart twinge. Rex swallowed dryly and explained:

“Nothing happened with Lady Maya. Just, since we met after a long time, it’s only right to greet her, isn’t it?”

“Did I say anything? Lady Maya… certainly, Lady Maya is young and pretty. Talented too. It’s understandable if Rex wanted to dance with her at least once. Right?”

“No way. I swear on everything I have that I’ve never seen Lady Maya as a romantic interest. Well, she is female… but I mean I’ve never looked at her with those kinds of eyes. How could I look elsewhere when I have you?”

“Hmm. What about Lady Elin?”

“…Right now, there’s only you by my side, Chloe.”

Though he hadn’t even broken a sweat during training with his subordinates, cold sweat was now running down Rex’s back. Chloe, who had been staring intently at Rex, burst into laughter.

“You pass.”

Though he didn’t know what exactly he had passed, it seemed he had overcome the crisis. Chloe relaxed her grip and rested her head on Rex’s shoulder.

“Today, look only at me.”

“…Okay.”

“What did you talk about with Lady Maya?”

“I really just exchanged greetings with Lady Maya. The conversation got longer because of the person next to her.”

“A woman?”

“…A man.”

Rex recounted what had happened in a disgruntled voice. Claine von Drahenfelt. The heir to a family that had held the position of Regent for generations, and whose grandfather was an Apostle of Judgment. Moreover, they had become close enough to address each other as brothers.

“Brother invited us to join him, but I thought I should get your permission first, so I postponed it.”

“I don’t particularly mind. As long as he’s not annoying like those men earlier.”

“He’s not that kind of person… probably.”

Not all nobles are the same. While some are devoted to their desires and arrogant, there are those who are truly “noble” in character. And in Rex’s opinion, Claine was the latter.

They climbed the stairs, passed through the rooms on the second floor, and headed to the terrace. Due to the terrace opening in several directions, they couldn’t immediately find Claine. After walking down a long corridor, they finally reached the last spot.

“Oh, you’ve come.”

Claine waved his hand.

“Please, sit down. And beside you… is that your partner, brother?”

“Hello. I’m Chloe.”

“You mentioned having a companion. I’m glad you got permission. Pleased to meet you. My name is Claine von Drahenfelt, but please call me Claine. A friend of my brother is no stranger to me.”

Claine momentarily admired Chloe’s face but didn’t flirt with her like the other young men had.

“There’s no better accompaniment to wine than the night view from here. The wind is pleasantly cool, the stars are twinkling… isn’t it wonderful?”

Rex sat down with an awkward smile. Chloe, who sat down after him, cleared her throat and greeted:

“It’s been a while, Maya.”

“…Yes.”

Maya responded with an embarrassed face. She had heard on the way to Elysium that Chloe had entered the latter half of her Sanctification. To her, both Rex and Chloe were equally difficult to deal with.

“So, did you enjoy the ball?”

“Well…”

Claine poured wine into a glass for Rex. Rex brought the glass to his lips and added:

“There were too many people being overly familiar.”

“I understand the situation. Not everyone born with noble blood is truly noble. Sadly. Especially with Lady Chloe’s outstanding beauty, it’s natural for men to flock to her. And women would likely be envious.”

“I had a confrontation with a woman named Matilda.”

“Matilda? That’s a name I haven’t heard before. Ah, no, I have heard it. The eldest daughter of the Morland Earldom. A lady notorious for her foul temper. So she was at the ball today. I didn’t notice because I had no interest in her.”

Claine laughed heartily and drank his wine. Placing a grape in his mouth, he stroked his chin.

“If the rumors are bad enough for me to remember, the reality is likely worse rather than better. You must have had quite a hard time, brother?”

“Hard time?”

“A woman’s grudge is the most venomous of all poisons in this world. Ah, I apologize. Maya and Lady Chloe are of course refined ladies, so this doesn’t apply to them. Please don’t misunderstand. Anyway, judging by your reaction, it seems she hasn’t done anything yet.”

When Rex tilted his head, Claine said with a peculiar smile:

“Originally, what happens within the Darmua Club stays within the club—that’s an unwritten rule. Someone with a heart vicious enough might break it and openly pick a fight. But even then, they’d have to consider their opponent. No matter how high the Morland Earldom’s power might be, it can’t match your backing. So there’s no need to worry.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

“Of course, there is one method.”

“Pardon?”

Claine set down his wine glass.

“A proxy duel between ladies. Speak of the devil, here she comes.”

He had noticed someone approaching from afar. Rex turned around.

“My lady, this…”

“Enough. I’ll accept punishment when we return to the family, so be quiet now.”

Matilda snapped sharply and shifted her gaze. She looked at Chloe and bit her lip tightly.

“My lady, please. This is absurd.”

“Whether it’s absurd or not is for me to judge, not you.”

The man who had followed Matilda sighed. Regardless, Matilda shouted with a triumphant face:

“Now, Lady Chloe. Let’s settle this.”

“…Settle what?”

“Let’s duel with Lord Rex as the prize.”

“What are you saying?”

Rex blurted out before he could stop himself.

“I’m about to witness something entertaining. I’ve chosen my brother well. Even though we’ve only known each other for a day.”

Claine chuckled with amusement.