The laughter, chatter, and music that had once filled the hall now carried a different rhythm.
The tension from earlier still lingered faintly in the air, like smoke after a fire.
Still, the nobles had already shifted their focus, as they always did, toward gossip, speculation, and convenient flattery.
The orchestra resumed a soft waltz.
Couples danced, servers passed trays of wine, and the nobles' smiles once again stretched into practised perfection.
Only now, every pair of eyes seemed to glance occasionally toward one particular couple standing near the stage.
Soren Arden and Esper Rupindolf.
"Looks like you're the talk of the evening, darling," Esper whispered teasingly, her fan flicking open with a delicate snap.
Soren sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Stop calling me that."
"Oh? But everyone else thinks it's romantic," she said, her voice lilting as she fluttered the fan in front of her face. "Shouldn't I play the part of your loving fiancée? It'd be strange if I didn't."
He gave her a side glance, his face deadpan.
"You don't need to look that happy about it."
"Why not? I just got engaged to the infamous Soren Arden," she replied sweetly, then leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Do you have any idea how many jealous noblewomen are glaring at me right now? It's so funny, hehe~"
Soren exhaled through his nose, half amused, half exasperated.
"It can't be as many as the guys who are trying to explode me with their eyes right now, can it?"
Before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Seriously! I knew you were insane, but was there any need!?"
Soren turned his head to see Louise striding toward them, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and embarrassment.
Her usual confident posture was slightly off, her shoulders stiff, and her tone defensive.
"Louise," he greeted warmly.
She jabbed a finger toward him, then toward Esper.
"You… You were supposed to defuse the situation! Not make it worse!"
Esper hid her grin behind her fan.
"Oh, come now, Lady Cruentus. I simply followed your advice. You were the one who brought up faking an engagement. I'd say I did quite well, wouldn't you agree, darling?"
"That's not—" Louise's voice cracked mid-sentence, and she looked like she might actually scream. "That's not what I meant, Esper!"
Soren's lips twitched slightly.
"I mean, it all worked out in the end, didn't it?"
Louise shot him a look so sharp it could cut steel.
"You're not helping."
Esper giggled softly, her shoulders shaking behind the fan.
"You're so adorable, Louise."
Louise's face reddened.
"Adorable–!?"
"Relax," Soren said dryly, picking up a glass of wine from a passing tray. "It's over now. Let's just survive the rest of the night without starting another scandal."
Louise muttered something under her breath, then sighed, rubbing her temples.
"You two are impossible."
Soren chuckled quietly, sipping his drink to hide the small smile that escaped him.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
The night pressed on.
Nobles surrounded Esper like bees to honey, eager to congratulate the daughter of a Duke and the "fiancée" of Countess Arden's son.
She handled them with perfect grace, every smile gentle, and every word calculated.
Her utterly effortless charm worked flawlessly.
Soren watched from a short distance, leaning against a marble pillar near the edge of the hall.
The wine glass in his hand reflected the golden chandeliers above, though his focus remained on the crowd.
Across the room, Sofia Arden stood among her peers, her polite smile as flawless as a doll's.
Her fan waved slowly, rhythmically, hiding half her expression, but Soren could see the tension in her movements.
The small, controlled gestures.
The faint tightness in her jaw when Esper's laughter drew another round of admiration.
He could almost hear the words behind her eyes: 'You've made me look like a fool.'
The thought made him smirk faintly, the corner of his mouth lifting, before quickly lowering once more.
'It's a shame this is all I can do for now.'
But for now, it was enough.
He had shown her that he wasn't just a toy that she could play with whenever she felt like it.
"Enjoying the show?" Esper said softly beside him.
He hadn't even noticed her approach.
She now stood at his side, holding a half-finished glass of champagne, her eyes bright with amusement.
"You're surprisingly good at blending in," he said. "I still can't believe this is the same Essy from the academy."
She smiled.
"Adaptability is a noblewoman's greatest weapon."
He huffed softly.
"You're starting to sound like her."
"Her?" Esper tilted her head.
He nodded toward his mother.
"Sofia."
Esper followed his gaze briefly, then hummed thoughtfully.
"Mmm. I suppose she and I do share one thing."
"What's that?"
"We both like to win."
He gave her a look.
"I feel like you enjoy watching people suffer more than winning."
"That is part of the fun," she said with a soft laugh.
Soren almost laughed, too, but held it in.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Crusch Aurelia Fialova POV
Elsewhere in the hall, Crusch Aurelia Fialova observed the scene with quiet calculation.
From her vantage point near a gilded pillar, her topaz eyes followed Esper with interest.
The red-haired princess had spent most of the night watching, listening, measuring every shift in the room's atmosphere.
'Lady Rupindolf… bold, confident, politically untouchable.'
Her fan tapped lightly against her gloved hand.
'And she just humiliated Countess Arden without so much as raising her voice.'
Her lips curved ever so slightly.
'Perhaps this pairing will be worth getting to know.'
She turned away gracefully before anyone could notice her watching.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Soren Arden POV
By the time the clock chimed, the celebration had thinned.
Many nobles began to excuse themselves, claiming early travel plans or fatigue.
The servants padded through the hall, refilling glasses, collecting plates, and extinguishing excess candles.
Sofia maintained her mask until the very end, smiling and bidding farewell to each departing guest.
But her eyes, whenever they passed over Soren or Esper, flickered like a blade catching the light.
Soren caught one of those glances.
Her smile never wavered, but he saw it, the faint, venomous hatred beneath the surface.
'You lost, Sofia.'
He raised the corners of his lips in a mocking smirk.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Eventually, a butler in a fine uniform approached.
"For those of our esteemed guests remaining overnight, accommodations have been prepared. Please allow our attendants to guide you."
Esper stretched her arms slightly, exhaling with exaggerated relief.
"Finally…"
Soren handed off his empty glass to a servant.
"Guess that's our cue."
They followed one of the attendants through a long, candlelit corridor lined with golden drapes and marble statues.
The air was quieter here, yet still heavy with the scent of wine and roses.
After a few turns, the attendant stopped before a large oak door.
"Here you are, my lord, my lady," he said with a respectful bow. "Your shared room has been prepared. Breakfast shall be served at dawn."
Soren blinked.
"...Shared?"
Esper smiled sweetly.
"Well, it would be improper for an engaged couple to sleep separately, wouldn't it?"
The attendant's polite expression didn't waver.
"Of course not, my lady. This is just a present from the Countess."
Soren's lips parted, but no words came.
He glanced at Esper, who looked far too smug, then sighed.
"...Fine."
There was no way he could refuse in a situation like this.
The attendant bowed again and departed, leaving them in silence.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
The room was large, lavish and far too extravagant for his taste.
Golden mana lamps lined the walls, and thick velvet curtains were drawn halfway across the windows.
A grand bed rested at the centre, one bed, of course, with sheets so soft they looked like they would swallow a person whole.
Esper gave an impressed hum.
"At least they have good taste."
Soren walked past her, loosening his collar.
"I'm going to get changed first. Don't peek," he said half-jokingly
"I might," she said under her breath, grinning when he shot her a look.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
By the time he returned, hair damp and shirt loosened, Esper had changed into a white nightgown that shimmered faintly in the candlelight.
She was sitting cross-legged on the bed, absentmindedly braiding her hair.
"Took you long enough," she said without looking up.
"You didn't have to wait."
"I like making you uncomfortable."
"I'm not uncomfortable," Soren said flatly, roughly tying his hair up.
She glanced up at him and smiled.
"Really? Then why are you avoiding eye contact?"
He sighed and climbed onto the other side of the bed, facing away.
"Because you're annoying."
"Thanks," she replied cheerfully, lying down beside him.
They both fell into silence.
The mana lamp on the bedside table flickered, casting a golden glow across the ceiling, and the muffled sounds of distant footsteps and wind against the glass faded into the background.
After a moment, Esper spoke again.
"So… what's next for you, Soren Arden?"
He blinked, glancing over his shoulder.
"What are you on about?"
"I mean, now that you've humiliated your mother and gained a fiancée overnight, what are you planning to do with the rest of your summer?"
He let out a low breath, staring at the ceiling.
"Honestly? Leave."
"Leave?"
"Yeah. I've had enough of this place, of the nobles, of everything. I was thinking about heading out for a while, travelling, maybe taking a few adventurers' guild requests. Just… breathing a bit."
Esper hummed softly, resting her head on her arm.
"You really don't like being here, do you?"
He closed his eyes.
"Would you? Everyone in the estate hates me. This is the first time I've been treated like a noble in the past two weeks."
"Fair point," she said with a small chuckle.
Then, after a pause, her tone softened.
"You know, I could help you."
He turned slightly toward her.
"Help me?"
She nodded.
"I'm leaving tomorrow morning. If you want to get away quietly, I could take you with me. No one would question it. You are my fiancé, after all."
He stared at her for a long moment.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course." Her smile was gentle this time, without the usual teasing edge. "It'll be more fun than travelling alone."
He blinked, then chuckled faintly.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "For everything…"
Esper's eyes softened.
"Don't mention it."
The silence that followed was comfortable.
Soren turned onto his side, closing his eyes as the exhaustion of the day finally caught up with him.
Beside him, Esper shifted slightly, her hair brushing against his shoulder.
He didn't move away.
As sleep began to pull him under, he heard her voice again, soft and drowsy.
"Goodnight, Soren."
He smiled faintly.
"Night, Essy."
The candles burned low, and the faint glow of moonlight slipped through the curtains.
For the first time in a long while, Soren drifted to sleep peacefully.
————「❤︎」————