The Obsession of a Fallen Paladin

6. Once Again, at the Ball (3)

t was no mere request for a dance. It was a condemnation and a warning to Lady Odette and everyone else who agreed with her.

Stop this reckless behavior.

Truly chivalrous, flawlessly just conduct.

However, Leon himself, seemingly upright and neat, seemed unaware.

The moment Odette’s face turned blotchy with anger. The moment she glared at Kasha as if she could kill her.

Unfortunately, Kasha herself didn’t realize that moment.

No, she might not have realized it at all. She was simply distracted by the heat radiating from Leon’s hand, which pierced through his glove, forgetting Odette.

“Um, thank you for helping me…”

It took her a long time to muster the courage to murmur that one sentence after the dance started.

“As a knight, it is only natural to do so. Please do not mind.”

However, his response upon his return was overly formal.

Despite this, the dance that followed was like a midsummer night’s dream. Unforgettable for her lifetime.

Leon’s expression was so plain that it could be felt cold at first glance, but his face alone was unrealistically beautiful.

His eyes, as beautiful as amethyst nicknamed “Imperial Jewel,” dazzled brilliantly every time they caught the light from the chandelier.

The platinum blonde hair flowing smoothly along his forehead shimmered, and his high and neat nose bridge and strong jawline revealed masculinity.

The angular shoulders, fitting perfectly in his uniform, were broad, and the arms that held her waist were long and sturdy.

His dancing skills were impeccable. He calmly led the stumbling Kasha and stabilized her with his strong arms.

He was a man to fall for. Anyone would.

Even if he was rescuing the lunatic Lady Kasha.

Even if he wasn’t beautiful, it would have been difficult not to hold such a man in one’s heart after rescuing her from such a predicament.

But he was beautiful. He was just. In that moment, he was superior to anyone else in the ballroom.

As she swirled around the ballroom in his arms, Kasha’s heart pounded seriously the whole time.

However, after the dance ended and Leon escorted her out of the ballroom, frighteningly, she had to quickly return to reality.

“Well then. I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening.”

Leon bowed politely towards her. Outwardly, he still seemed calm and composed.

“Um… are you okay?”

However, Kasha, who had danced with him, knew. His breathing was strangely rough, and his ears and neck had turned red. As the time they danced together prolonged, his posture subtly became unsteady.

She didn’t know why, but she wanted to help him.

“Of course, I’m fine.”

However, his response was unexpectedly sharp.

His face turned crimson as if asking her such a thing was unpleasant. His expression was so hostile and his gaze so wavering that it was hard to believe he was the same person who had just rescued her from danger.

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

Flustered, Kasha even swallowed her apology before it could leave her mouth.

As if finding her repulsive, Leon turned away disdainfully and disappeared.

His change in behavior hurt more than the scornful remarks of petty nobles.

Was she such an unpleasant presence that even the person who helped her with kindness ultimately turned away from her?

It was another moment of despair that opened its mouth under her feet.

Of course, Kasha knows now. Why he had to react that way. What kind of pain he was enduring at that moment.

He was a much more just man than she had dared to imagine at that moment. He even held the hand of the ostracized Lady Kasha despite enduring his own curse.

But the nightmare of that day didn’t end there.

Clatter.

“Oh, sorry. I spilled my wine glass.”

Someone spilled a wine glass on her dress.

Clank, clank.

“Um, can you please open the door? There’s someone inside!”

The door of the restroom she entered to clean her dress was locked.

Although she had clearly seen the servants standing at the entrance before entering the restroom.

After the ball ended and everyone left, it was Daryl who found her slumped on the bathroom floor.

After that day, she spent a week in bed, not stepping outside the mansion until she fell into Simon’s trap and fled to the tower.

* * *

“Greetings to the Young Lord and lady of  Ruschino’s Lord Daryl and Young Lady Katiana!”

At the shout of the usher opening the doors to the hall where the ball was being held, Kasha snapped out of her reverie.

The scene of the reception hall was eerily identical to before her recollection.

The gazes of the people standing around were fixed on Daryl and Kasha. Even Odette, who stood prominently among the crowd, noticed Kasha’s presence.

Odette’s beautiful blue eyes, like azure marbles, looked arrogantly at the two.

‘The Ruschino Lord’s ragtag minion.’

Although the Ruschino Lord’s family was a prestigious household guarding the northern borders of the empire, they had little standing in high society. Odette considered them beneath her notice.

Yet, one of the Lord’s sisters walked straight towards Odette.

“Hello. Young Lady Odette. I’m Kasha… Ruschino.”

“…”

“It’s been a while. I really missed seeing you.”

Kasha distinctly heard her being introduced as Katiana Ruschino, but she seemed to prefer being called Kasha, the Northern style.

But under the gaze of the woman looking straight at her, Odette’s throat inexplicably dried up.

‘Didn’t they say she couldn’t meet people’s eyes?’

She had been virtually invisible during her debutante days. Mocked by people and stuck in a corner of the hall like a fool.

That sight oddly piqued Odette’s curiosity.

The rebellious defiance that seemed impervious to poking was amusing.

She had considered making her a toy to play with if the ball got boring.

But what’s with that look in her eyes now? Burning as if she dared to devour the Tyrolean lady.

Odette deliberately straightened her neck and gracefully unfolded her fan.

Tap.

Although Kasha’s eyes, looking at the unfolded fan, seemed oddly chilly, she ignored it, covering her mouth and speaking with a slightly mocking tone.

“You… missed me? Oh, were we that close?”

Tap, tap, tap.

As if flattering her, laughter spread around at just the right moment.

Amidst the overt mockery, the face of the earnest Count Ruschino stiffened. However, the subject of the mockery, Kasha, remained composed.

“Oh, I must see you more often… so I can leave a lasting impression.”

“…?”

“Sometimes, with just one meeting, you can leave a deep impression… on people.”

The peculiar eyes, with colors resembling flower petals, were so intense that despite the somewhat vague tone, the words pierced through the ears.

“What are you saying, really.”

Odette murmured audibly from behind her fan. The gaze of Viscount Ruschino became slightly fiercer, and it seemed like he was about to say something. However, Kasha was the first to speak.

“And, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a close relationship… for someone to be missed.”

“…?”

“There are relationships that are worth remembering. Whether one likes it or not.”

“So, right now-“

“I hope this becomes a memorable ball. Lady Tyroth.”

Interrupting subtly, Kasha Ruschino bent her knees slightly and stepped back.

After casting warning glances all around, Daryl grabbed her arm and disappeared.

That bear-like Daryl Ruschino. During the previous debutante, he seemed to only care about his own business, leaving his sister to suffer alone or not, but now, is he trying to act like a protective older brother?

“I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s annoying.”

But if Daryl is coming out like this, then playing with that woman tonight is out of the question.

Although they may not have much influence in high society, aren’t the Ruschino, the red bulls of the emperor’s shield, highly esteemed? It wouldn’t be good if something happened between the families that would embarrass them.

As she watched the fluttering and receding fancy dress, Odette bit her lip.

The pink irises of the woman and the perfectly matching color of her red dress were more striking due to the wind, which further heated things up.

‘Her dress just had to match mine.’

Odette, unaware that she wasn’t convinced that she carried off her dress better, folded her fan with a rustle.

But strangely, the atmosphere around her seemed restless. Normally, her entourage would react promptly to even a slight frown from her.

Yet, upon closer observation, their gazes lingered behind Kasha.

“That lady, doesn’t she seem different today?”

“The atmosphere. Isn’t it? It’s not just me, right?”

“And to pull off such a glamorous dress like that.”

“It seemed like her face looked different.”

“It’s not just ‘a little.'”

Odette’s hand holding the fan trembled.

It seemed like someone had to become the target of her frustration, just for the time being, in order to draw everyone’s attention back to her.

* * *

“Are you okay?”

Daryl asked Kasha as they moved away from the crowd surrounding Odette and reached the end of the hall.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s about Lady Odette. I knew she was a haughty woman, but just now, her behavior seemed like she was ignoring you.”

Looking at Daryl, who spoke with quite a serious face, Kasha tilted her head.

To think that he would consider this level of attention to be a form of neglect, after how indifferent he had been to her all this time.

But anyway, the fact that he was paying attention to her was a good change.

Whether Kasha’s silence was seen as affirmation or not, Daryl continued seriously.

“Although the Duke Tyroth is a powerful figure, our Count Ruschino is the shield of His Majesty, guarding the empire’s borders. You don’t need to feel intimidated.”

‘…Is he trying to comfort me?’

Kasha slightly lowered her head and blinked.

Though still clueless, his serious attitude was novel, so she didn’t feel like rejecting it.

Then, people scattered around the ballroom began to form pairs, getting ready for the first dance.

Excitement and tension filled the air, crossing each other, making it noisy. The sound of musicians tuning their instruments. The reenactment of the scene from before made her feel uneasy for no reason.

‘In that case, what will happen next……’

While Kasha pondered without knowing what was going on, Daryl continued earnestly.

“Today, you should also greet my friends. Oh, there, Viscount Penilton is coming.”

Right.

Kasha muttered inwardly. It was Viscount Penilton’s turn, at Odette’s command, to pull Daryl away from Kasha.

“Oh, Daryl. Is this the famous younger sister who’s the talk of the ball tonight?”

“Teo. It’s been a while. This is my sister, Kasha.”

Now he’s going to drag Daryl away like that. That was what Kasha thought.

“Kasha Ruschino, Lady. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“?”

Kasha looked surprised as she turned to Viscount Penilton, Theo. He had definitely looked down on her before, so what was with this polite greeting?