The Necklace She Wore Again
A birthday party was held at the Rebellion Grand Duchy. It was a celebration for Cynthia Rebellion, the eldest daughter of the Grand Duchy. Such an event was extremely rare. The Rebellion Grand Duchy was famous for being far more conservative than other high-ranking families and rarely hosted parties unless the occasion truly warranted it. Unlike nobles who threw parties for social climbing, the Grand Duchy needed only to exist for people to flock to them. Yet this time, for reasons unknown, they were hosting a party in Cynthia’s honor. Naturally, the nobility scrambled to read the situation and were now rushing to prepare their attendance.
“Hey, isn’t that decoration a bit too plain?”
“What do you mean? Every other house uses it.”
“Is this just any house? This is the Rebellion Grand Duchy. Swap it for something more extravagant.”
“You think? Then…”
‘......’
Cynthia watched the party hall slowly take shape. Because the event had been arranged in haste, they had called in an outside company, but the result was less than satisfying. Of course, the Grand Duchy’s naturally austere atmosphere played a part in that impression.
‘I’m the one preparing my own birthday party.’
Was this self-loathing? Asking her father to host the party had been the easy part; actually carrying it out felt strangely unpleasant. Other young ladies would have thrown themselves into the preparations with boundless enthusiasm. Perhaps the environment she had grown up in was simply too different.
‘...... He will come, won’t he?’
She absently touched the necklace resting against her collarbone. It was the birthday gift Rian Veilburg had given her—the very one she had ordered Liner to throw away. She had fished it back out of the trash and fastened it around her neck once more. Under normal circumstances she would never have spared a second glance at something that had touched the inside of a waste bin, but this time she had no choice.
‘But this alone won’t be enough to improve his mood.’
She had shown sincerity, yet whether Rian would accept her apology was entirely up to him. She had already revealed her worst side to him; a half-hearted apology would never thaw his heart.
‘...... How tiresome.’
This was the first time in her life she had ever gone to such lengths for another person. Had she ever moved so deliberately for anyone? Her pride stung, and a faint sense of shame crept in. She had never imagined that accommodating someone else’s feelings could be this bothersome and humiliating.
‘... You carried out these tasks so naturally.’
Cynthia’s gaze drifted toward the tables placed throughout the hall. The party had not yet begun, but several prepared snacks already sat atop them—samples the maids had arranged in advance to check the visual balance with the décor.
“Now that I think about it, that person…”
On a day when Cynthia and Rian had been on a date.
“Mmm~ Munch, munch.”
“...You really like cake, don’t you?”
“!?”
Rian, who had been quietly eating his cake, looked up at her with a startled expression. He clearly hadn’t expected her to speak first.
Gulp.
“Ah… Did I look childish?”
“No. It’s just that you’ve already finished two plates. Most men tend to dislike sweet things, don’t they?”
Most male nobles avoided sweets in order to preserve their dignity. Enjoying desserts carried a somewhat childish image and felt incompatible with refinement. Yet Rian, unconcerned with such things, had polished off two full plates.
“Ahem. I happen to like sweet foods. I just can’t seem to stop once I start.”
“I see.”
“Would you like to try one, Lady Rebellion? I’ll recommend the best one!”
“No, thank you.”
“B-but it’s genuinely delicious…”
“Eat as much as you like.”
“...Yes…”
“He liked sweets…”
That expression Rian had worn still lingered in her mind. He smiled often enough, but when he ate snacks his face lit up with even greater happiness. If only she had accepted his recommendation back then… he might have looked even more delighted.
“...I’m not a child.”
“Pardon?”
“Ah.”
When a passing maid glanced back at her, Cynthia spoke with feigned nonchalance, as if the thought had only just occurred to her.
“We should increase the dessert selection.”
“My lady?”
“Surely what’s displayed here isn’t everything?”
“Ah, these are only samples to check the overall composition. We’ll bring out far more once the party begins.”
“Is there cake?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Increase the variety. The dessert table seems too small.”
“...Understood.”
When the Grand Duke’s daughter gave an order, servants simply obeyed. The maid hurried off to the head maid to rearrange the menu for the party once again.
“Quite the occasion. Hosting a full birthday party?”
“It just turned out that way.”
Some time later, Cynthia’s birthday party began in earnest. The nobles entering the hall were all influential figures from the capital, with a particularly large number of young aristocrats close to her in age—her acquaintances, friends, relatives, those seeking ties with the Grand Duchy, and even men who had once been considered as potential fiancés.
‘Because it’s my birthday party… there are far too many men.’
“Tsk. How bothersome.”
“Cynthia?”
“There are too many men here.”
“Well… it is your birthday party.”
Cynthia made an awkward face at Bihar, who was sticking closely to her side. The true purpose of today’s party was to create a natural encounter with Rian Veilburg. She felt sorry for the friends who had come all this way to congratulate her, but she needed the male guests to keep their distance.
“Bihar, step back for a moment.”
“Why?”
“I’m the host today. Don’t cling to my side and create unnecessary gossip—go spend time with your friends.”
“...I suppose that’s true.”
Bihar nodded in understanding and walked toward the group of his peers. As he turned away, Cynthia unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
“But… when is he going to arrive?”
The number of guests in the hall had already surpassed one hundred, yet no one from the Veilburg family had appeared. She had received confirmation they would attend, but their continued absence began to make her anxious.
“Haah… Why am I doing this…”
‘The Rebellion Grand Duchy…’
The Veilburg carriage continued onward for quite some time even after passing through the Grand Duchy’s main gate. Rian sat inside, quietly observing the vast estate. An endless line of carriages filled the expansive courtyard that the Grand Duchy had opened to all. Every crest engraved on those carriages belonged to a prestigious house. While the Veilburgs did not consider themselves inferior, it was impossible to deny that the overall caliber here far exceeded the nobles they usually encountered.
‘I knew it, but the difference in station is truly on another level…’
Once again he felt the gulf between himself and her. Cynthia Rebellion was a flower perched on a cliff that every man in the nation yearned for. Even if she had a fiancé, every young man in the empire still refused to leave her orbit—like bees swarming around a beautiful bloom.
“Rian hyung, are you all right? You don’t look well.”
“It’s nothing.”
“What is it? Don’t keep it to yourself—tell your little brother. I know more about women than you do, after all.”
“Don’t get cocky. More importantly, Hatz, we’re almost there. Fix your hair; it’s messy.”
“Yessir, yessir.”
Cynthia Rebellion’s mansion gradually came into view. As expected of the Grand Duke’s eldest daughter. Her personal residence was even larger than the main house of the Veilburg County. Had this not been the Grand Duchy, one might have mistaken the building before them for the family’s primary estate.
‘...I may very well receive the annulment request today.’
She was the kind of woman who could throw away a gift from her fiancé on the very same day. It was not an act an ordinary person could easily commit. Given how deeply she must despise him, even arriving with his family offered no guarantee of decent treatment.
“We’ve arrived. Let’s step down.”
“......”
Count Hidelus immediately descended from the carriage the moment they reached Cynthia’s mansion. Watching his father’s back, Rian could not suppress a wave of gloom. Because of his own shortcomings, the Veilburg family might suffer humiliating disgrace today.
‘Perhaps I should meet Lady Rebellion first…’
“Oh? This is an unexpected welcome.”
“...Pardon?”
Hidelus, who had alighted first, muttered something strange. Hatz and Madam Aichel, who followed, also let out surprised gasps. Rian, stepping down last, finally understood the reason for their astonishment.
‘Cynthia Rebellion?’
Cynthia Rebellion had come out to greet the Veilburg family personally, setting aside all the other nobles.
“Welcome to the Rebellion Grand Duchy, Count Veilburg.”
“...It has been a while, Lady Cynthia Rebellion.”
“Please speak comfortably, Count. I am, after all, the prospective daughter-in-law of the Veilburg County.”
“So you are aware.”
Knowing the circumstances between Rian and Cynthia, Hidelus’s reaction was far from warm. He glared sharply, his eyes openly expressing displeasure. While Madam Aichel hurried to calm her husband, Cynthia quietly lowered her head and turned her gaze toward Rian.
“Welcome, Rian.”
“......”
It was the first time she had addressed him by name alone, yet Rian’s eyes had already fixed on something else—the red ruby necklace resting at Cynthia’s throat. It was the gift he had agonized over for days, carefully choosing something that would suit her perfectly. It was also the very necklace Sir Liner had discarded in front of him only days ago.
‘...... What is she playing at?’
For an instant, anger flared in Rian’s chest and his eyes grew icy cold. Her actions no longer felt like goodwill, but rather deception. She knew exactly what she had done; he could not begin to guess what she intended by wearing that necklace now.
“...Happy birthday, Lady Rebellion.”
“...Thank you for coming, Rian. Please come inside. It will draw attention if we remain here. I will guide you to a suitable spot.”
Cynthia began escorting the group with impeccable politeness. Unlike the way she behaved when they were alone, she maintained perfect manners, yet Rian’s gaze toward her had already frozen over. No matter how proper she appeared, this was nowhere near enough to melt the ice in his heart.
“Wow, this is my first time seeing hyung’s fiancée. The rumors were true—she really is an incredible beauty.”
Hatz whispered excitedly, clearly captivated by Cynthia’s appearance. Oblivious to his older brother’s mood, the younger boy looked positively thrilled. Rian watched him silently for a moment, then turned his eyes back to Cynthia’s retreating figure.
“Is she?”
“Huh? Why are you reacting like that?”
“It’s nothing. Just… never mind.”
Rian ended the exchange curtly and continued walking in silence. He did not notice that the woman walking ahead was focusing intently on the sound of his voice.
Throb!
‘......’