Chapter 13
***
Kanna gulped down the champagne she was holding, then swirled the empty glass around, looking for an opening.
The music that filled the ballroom was unfamiliar, but it was a good way to organize her thoughts.
‘I want the moment the music stops.’
When the tunes faded and the dancers moved away.
She planned to capitalize on the moment when there was a gap in the dance.
But no matter how long she waited, the music never ended.
The songs didn't stop until the men and women in front of her had moved away at just the right moment, and the place was getting crowded.
But no one thought anything strange. Only Kanna, waiting for the crack in the space, chewed her lip nervously.
Just then, Finberg, who had been with the gentlemen, left the room.
‘Where are you going?’
She turned in the direction of his movement.
Finberg walked for a while, then stopped.
It was Lynette who stopped him. She was too far away to hear his voice, but his expression was distinctly different from a moment ago.
The two seemed to be chatting for a while, and then took a step forward.
The air in the ballroom shifted in an instant.
All the instruments poured out new notes, and the cornet's plaintive sound rang out.
The girl's feet stamped the floor in time with the beat.
Her skirts billowed prettily, then brushed past the prince.
They stared at each other as their clasped hands raised and lowered again.
It was a beautiful scene, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
‘No, this is...... No way.'
Kanna’s stomach began to twist as if she had swallowed a live snake whole.
She turned my head to meet a sudden gaze.
Pisco was looking at her, grinning from ear to ear.
‘Sh*t.’
When she saw him stick his tongue out at her, she couldn't hold it in any longer.
Kanna stomped away, clutching her champagne glass.
Her heart beat in sync with each step she took.
Not far away, she saw a servant carrying a large tray. The silver tray was piled high with wine glasses. Kanna pushed forward, creaking like a broken-down carriage.
"Ah!"
Then she collapsed, her knees buckling.
Thud!
The servant collided with her, and the wine on the tray spilled over as she fell.
As the two tumbled to the ground, wine splashed everywhere like blood.
Bang!
"Ah!"
Screams erupted from everywhere at the sudden noise.
"Gah!"
The servant scrambled to his feet.
But Kanna could not get up, sprawled on the shattered glass.
"Oh, my God."
"......what in the world?"
The laughing, chattering crowd shrank back.
Cutting through the stagnant air was Hyperion, the master of the manor.
"What's the commotion?"
But before he could answer, he recognized Kanna at a glance.
Hyperion's eyebrows twitched as he realized the cause of the commotion was the child he had sent to Renpesi’s house.
"This young lady suddenly collapsed in my direction, I mean, I was carrying a tray at the master's request."
Hyperion nodded appropriately and raised his hand.
The circumstances were neither curious nor important; all he could do now was to stop the sudden commotion and calm the startled guests.
"Seth, help this lady up."
"Yes, sir."
"You go and find Angelman."
Three or four servants rushed out and tried to help Kanna.
"What's going on?"
At the sound of Finberg's voice, the gathering parted on either side.
"Someone has fallen."
Lynette stood at Finberg's side and looked down at Kanna, who hung like wet laundry.
‘I see you haven't changed.’
'You're just as bad, maybe even worse, than the glass-breaker you used to be.’
Lynette's shoulders slumped at the unpleasant memory that seeped in like smoke.
"It'll be okay."
Finberg raised his right hand to shade Lynette's eyes. He seemed to think she was frightened.
"...."
With a hand large enough to cover her entire face, Lynette's vision went dark in an instant.
Lynette held still and closed her eyes.
She felt something hard and warm against the tip of her nose and her eyelids.
The scent that had wafted through her earlier, when she'd waltzed with him, when they'd talked... .......
This time it was very close.
Lynette's long eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes and touched Finberg's palm.
At the same time, Finberg sensed something strange.
More than the girl's eyelashes, he felt a tickle in the center of his chest.
He couldn't see, but Lynette could tell by the sound of it.
Servants seemed to be picking up the fallen Kanna and moving her to one side, and she appeared to have suffered serious cuts from the broken glass.
"Careful with the arm, further in."
"Ouch."
The sound of skirts dragging on the floor was accompanied by a woman’s moans.
"Ugh......."
"It's going to be ugly if it's not treated properly."
"When is doctor Angelman coming in?"
Lynette asked, suddenly curious about Kanna's expression.
If it was old Kanna, she'd be doing a great job of pretending to be unconscious.
Her bloodless face was already a selling point.
"There's a lot of fun stuff going on in the backwoods."
She heard a mocking voice from behind.
She didn't have to turn to know who it was.
There was only one person who talked like this.
It was Argos.
"You think it's funny to see a wounded man lying down."
A pitchless voice answered Argos's words.
"I was referring to you, but I find the two of you very amusing."
Despite Argos's sarcasm, Finberg did not remove his hand from Lynette's.
It was Lynette who made the first move.
She raised her hand meekly, grasped Finberg's arm, and slowly lowered it.
Then she turned and looked up at Finberg.
"Thank you for your consideration. You have as warm a hand as you do a heart."
For a moment, a thin smile spread across the boy's pale skin.
“By the way, Miss, are you going to be okay?”
Lynette hastily changed the subject as Argos began to ramble again.
The two boys turned their heads to follow her gaze.
Kanna was still lying there, her eyes squeezed shut as if she were unconscious.
"Do any of you know this woman?"
Finberg asked, and Hyperion, who was standing right next to him, gave him a troubled look.
Kanna had come from the mines not long ago.
Moreover, she lived in a lower-class neighborhood, so it was unlikely she knew anyone here.
‘Who is she with? I don't think Renpesi would come all the way down here.’
Judging by the blackened hem of her skirt, she had traveled a long way.
Just then, a well-dressed young gentleman pushed his way through the crowd.
"Your Royal Highness."
All eyes turned to the man.
It was Delcan, the youngest son of Viscount Kaleo.
He opened his mouth, looking somewhat reminiscent.
"I know a little about this woman."
Delcan's words startled Hyperion.
"You know her, how?"
"Yes, even though she looks perfectly fine on the outside."
"...?"
"They say her mind is wandering."
***
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