The Obsession of a Fallen Paladin

4. Once Again, at the Ball (1)

“A request? From you? To me?”

Daryl blurted out the question in astonishment at the unexpected response.

“Yes.”

But Kasha was firm. It was as if she knew he would grant her request, or as if she was demanding something she naturally deserved, with a calm demeanor.

Come to think of it, her shoulders were straighter than usual. Her gaze and posture were different, making her seem like a different person.

“What… request?” 

Daryl asked cautiously, feeling inexplicably nervous.

“Will you… escort me to the ball tonight?” 

“Sure. I guess so.”

Finally, a topic he could respond to emerged. Tonight’s ball was also a matter he had been contemplating.

“Are you here to say you won’t attend the ball? That’s not acceptable. Since your debutante ball, you haven’t participated in any social events.”

Daryl had escorted Kasha at her debutante ball as well. But… frankly, they had only gone together, and he hadn’t done much once they were there.

Since the death of the Countess seven years ago, the Ruschino family had completely withdrawn from social activities. In fact, it would be more accurate to say that they had lived without realizing such activities were necessary.

His father was relatively easy-going with relatives, and since there was no one pressuring him to marry as the heir, he could live a free life without any interference.

Therefore, he thought he had fulfilled his duty by taking Kasha to the ball and introducing her to society at her debutante ball. Just standing awkwardly together with Kasha had been unbearable enough.

So he left to have a few drinks with some friends. But it took longer than expected, and when he returned, the atmosphere seemed oddly tense.

In the bustling hall of the palace, there was a distinct circle around Kasha as if no one dared to approach her. He had been gone throughout.

“Hey. Are you okay?”

When he cautiously approached and spoke awkwardly, Kasha didn’t even glance at him. She just turned her body as coldly as the chilling wind and walked away.

He asked if anything was wrong when they returned in the carriage, but as expected, there was no response.

After that day, a few invitations arrived from the Ruschino family and some closer families, but Kasha declined them all.

Even though Daryl was oblivious, he could tell that her debutante ball hadn’t been successful. But he didn’t think it would be such a big issue.

After all, she was always alone. Maybe she preferred it that way? If something bothered her, she would have said it.

He dismissed the thought so simply.

Today’s ball wasn’t appealing to either of them, but the host was none other than the Duke of Tyroth. Considering that the entire social circle of the capital would attend, they couldn’t afford to skip it.

Recalling his father’s letter, the obligation. Responsibility. The Ruschino family’s injunction.

“So we should go. It’s our duty.”

Thinking it was the first time he had said something quite like an elder brother, Daryl looked at her. But her response was unexpected.

“Of course, I’ll go. Definitely.”

What sparkled in her deep pink eyes as she looked at Daryl was… something that could only be called determination.

But determination about what?

Moreover, sparkle? Wasn’t that an expression that didn’t suit Kasha at all?

With that thought in mind, Daryl asked absentmindedly, “What…?”

“The request… that’s not it.”

“Then what is it?”

After hesitating for a moment, Kasha slowly opened her mouth.

“…At the ball, the lady being escorted… shouldn’t be left alone.”

“What?”

“I… have nothing like chaperone, and I don’t know anyone in the social circle. That’s why you have to fulfill your duty as my elder brother and escort me.”

Daryl remained silent, his mouth agape. He had never imagined receiving such a comment from Kasha. But because the point was valid, he couldn’t say anything in response.

Suddenly, he recalled Kasha standing alone at the debutante ball, and his conscience pricked him. Then Kasha spoke again.

“Today, please… don’t leave my side.”

“…Huh? Uh, well…”

“Don’t leave me alone, please.”

Thump.

As Kasha spoke, locking eyes with him, Daryl felt a shock as if something had struck his head.

Though she didn’t say it aloud, her resentful eyes seemed to reprimand him.

If you’re my elder brother, if you’re family, protect me.

Superficially fulfilling obligations isn’t really fulfilling them.

Anxiety crept over him as if he had done something terribly wrong.

Then, Kasha did something strange once again.

A faint smile.

She smiled at Daryl.

Though slightly awkward, it was a smile that conveyed her best efforts. A gesture of trying her best to reach out to the other person.

Daryl felt the pressure in his chest intensify.

“To you, my mere existence is a huge burden… I know that.”

He had only thought of her as ignorant, as an innocent troublemaker.

“But from now on, at least, I won’t be a disgrace to the family… You’ll see.”

With that, Kasha wiped away the unfamiliar smile.

Suddenly, her expression turned cold and sharp, like that of an old person who had weathered harsh storms, emanating an atmosphere that was difficult to grasp.

Daryl felt a chill at the back of his neck for no apparent reason.

* * *

After receiving his promise once again, Kasha quietly turned her back and left, closing the door behind her.

Daryl Ruschino knew well enough how important duty and responsibility were to him, to the point of being naive.

Though they were family who had never even faced each other once, hadn’t they lived under the same roof for nearly seven years?

He might not have been fond of her presence, but he had never directly harmed her even once.

Despite disliking her, as her elder brother, he had fulfilled his duty thoroughly.

So, this time too, he would fulfill the obligation pointed out by Kasha.

His past neglect of Kasha’s isolation stemmed from his sheer ignorance of the social and aristocratic women’s lives.

Past Kasha knew that too, but she dared not point it out or try to change it.

Because she thought her existence itself was a nuisance and shame to Daryl, she had simply crouched down and tried to erase herself in the room. Afraid of being hated or rejected for no reason.

But now, she had nothing to fear or lose.

Hate? Rejection?

None of those things were as painful as frozen toes in a midwinter prison cell. Not to mention the excruciating pain of a severed throat.

As she walked down the hallway, she felt the gaze of the servants murmuring about her.

“Why is the young lady strolling around the mansion in broad daylight?”

“And she even went to Lord’s room….”

Everyone’s gaze had changed.

From disgust and pity to curiosity and confusion.

She found it amusing.

How would it be at the ball tonight? The aristocrats with their heads full of shit like fat pigs. Would they recognize the new her?

* * *

Thud, thud.

The Ruschino family crest fluttered on the carriage running at a steady pace.

“…”

Seated facing each other inside the carriage, the two siblings maintained silence throughout.

‘Actually, this is more comfortable.’

Kasha thought so as she continued to feign sleep.

Even with her eyes closed, she could tell that Daryl was still observing her.

Was he still flustered because of their conversation earlier? Or was it because her appearance seemed unfamiliar?

The expression on Daryl’s face when he saw her descending the stairs before leaving the mansion was quite interesting.

It was like witnessing a baby monkey chanting a magic incantation, alternating between astonishment and admiration.

‘Well, it’s understandable.’

Trying to ignore the discomfort of her tight dress, Kasha thought to herself.

The expression of the maid, Senna, who saw the dress Kasha chose earlier wasn’t much different.

“Miss. Are you really going to wear this? Really? Really, really?”

Was it that strange? Kasha almost felt a bit embarrassed, but she quickly regained her composure.

After all, she had made up her mind, hadn’t she?

Doing what she wanted and having what she desired.

Among the dresses hanging in the dressing room, this dress was the most magnificent and beautiful one Kasha owned. One of the four dresses tailor-made for her debutante ball.

In the past, she wouldn’t even look at such a design. She firmly believed it wouldn’t suit her and that others would ridicule her if they saw it.

But now, the opinions of others no longer mattered to Kasha.

What do I want? That was what mattered most.

In fact, the past her fell in love with this dress at first sight.

The vivid and intense colors, like freshly bloomed roses. The chiffon fabric that wrapped around her like layers of mist, creating a dreamy atmosphere. The puffed sleeves and slender waistline emphasized both girlishness and sensuality, along with the exposed shoulders.

Late at night, when everyone was asleep, she often stood in front of the mirror, holding the dress against her body.

She wanted to secretly try it on once, but she always failed because she couldn’t reach the straps behind her.

So she didn’t care who laughed.

Wasn’t this a chance she gained from coming back from death? She was determined to wear this dress.

However, Senna’s reaction to seeing her fully dressed and adorned was unexpected.

‘Oh my, Miss! You’re so… so beautiful…!’

Her convincing gesture of holding her cheeks with both hands and widening her eyes had credibility. It definitely wasn’t an act to appease Kasha.

While Senna was doing her makeup, Kasha, who was reading magical research materials, finally looked at herself in the mirror.

And then, she was startled and almost dropped the materials she was holding.

‘Yes… It’s pretty, isn’t it?’

This was an unexpected result. Was it the surprising effect of accepting Senna’s opinion and lifting her hair up?

As her jet-black hair, which always covered her face like seaweed stems, was lifted, her densely packed features became clear. Her pale but smooth skin, slender neck, and the shadows under her collarbone were revealed. 

Especially her eye color, which was the same as the dress, became vivid. Even her pale lips, without any blood, showed a tempting outline thanks to the makeup.

Senna placed a bright pink flower on top of her hair, which she had tied up. Whether out of nervousness or excitement, her fingertips were trembling slightly.

‘Lily.’

At Kasha’s murmured words, Senna’s eyes widened.

‘You know all the flower names. I brought it from the garden earlier because I thought the color would go well with the dress.’

Senna seemed delighted. The uncomfortable gaze she had when they first met after Kasha’s return was nowhere to be found. Instead, she seemed to be enjoying her duties as a noble maid, which she hadn’t done for years.

Kasha decided to let her enjoy that pleasure. As someone with almost no sense of aesthetics, Senna’s passion was simply welcome.

Thanks to Senna’s enthusiasm, Kasha, as she stepped out of the room, could enjoy quite a spectacle.

Everyone they encountered stared wide-eyed and gaped at her.

“Who is that beauty? Why is she walking around our mansion so confidently?”

Even the clueless servants murmured such things.

Given the circumstances, Daryl would also find his unfamiliar sister quite surprising and burdensome.

Kasha muttered to herself suddenly.

“…I wonder what he’ll think when he sees me today.”

Knowing the disaster she might face at today’s ball, the reason she still decided to attend, risking it all. Leon Aranias.

He would also make an appearance at the ball today.