Upon being called by my mother, the duke was startled and greeted me.

“Ah! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Richard Fortis, the head of the Fortis family. To see the son of Princess Adelaide, who was shrouded in veils, is a fortune that seems destined to be recorded in history.”

He had a reason to come directly to my mother through the crowd. It seemed my guess that they were acquainted was right. The way Duke Fortis addressed my mother as a princess, and the fact that my mother, who would usually have strictly forbidden others to call her by such a title, seemed not to mind at all, indicated their familiarity.

It appeared he had been friends with my mother since her princess days.

“It’s an honor for me as well to meet the master of this fortress. Thank you once again for the invitation.”

However, to call it a fortune was an overstatement. And if he was friends with my mother, he must be a decent person. Thus, I greeted him, smiling and taking the hand he extended, but the duke did not let go of my hand.

After a moment of silence, the duke who had been staring at me opened his mouth.

“Goodness, unbelievable.”

After marveling for a while, the duke turned to look at my mother and shook his head gently. Then, as if enchanted, he said,

“Princess Adelaide, what on earth did you eat?”

Hmm, in what context did such a question arise?

As I tilted my head, I caught the duke’s eye again. He stared at me in disbelief once more. When I blinked and smiled slightly, waving my hand, he was startled and released my hand.

“I have made the impoliteness of holding onto a precious person for too long. I have taken too much of the young one’s time.”

“Oh, not at all.”

Impoliteness? It wasn’t a remark one would expect from a duke, considering just the status.

The duke stared at my face for a long while, then suddenly whispered something closely to my mother. Upon hearing the whisper, my mother laughed heartily.

“……”

Left awkwardly alone amidst the bustling crowd, I managed an uneasy smile, feeling utterly out of place.

Of course, having perused countless books, I had a rough idea of how one should conduct themselves at their social debut. Yet, those were merely words on a page. Real-world experience, learned from those more seasoned, would undoubtedly prove more valuable.

I had hoped to lean on my mother’s guidance for what to do next.

‘It must be a sign for me to figure things out on my own.’

It seemed my mother had an abundance of trust in me, perhaps too much.

To the casual observer, she appeared deeply engrossed in her conversation with the duke. However, the mother I knew would never neglect me. Thus, this must be deliberate, a gentle nudge for me to initiate my own interactions and introductions.

Resolved to honor her unspoken wish, I slowly scanned my surroundings. The crowd around my mother and me seemed even denser than before.

‘There’s quite a number of people my age.’

This soiree was in honor of Mona Fortis, the duke’s second daughter, but the atmosphere hadn’t quite tipped into that of a dance party, possibly due to the guest of honor’s absence. Perhaps it was the impending nuptial season for the duke’s daughter that had attracted more individuals around my age.

‘I don’t recall ever hearing that making eye contact was polite.’

Since arriving, I’ve locked eyes with far too many attendees. Every turn of my head seemed to ensnare me in another gaze. Initially, I dismissed it as mere coincidence, but it grew increasingly uncomfortable.

‘Why do they stare so intently? Are they expecting me to approach and greet them?’

Feeling intimidated was natural, given that not a single face in the crowd was familiar. Typically, acquaintances are formed in childhood, but my frail health and our family’s insular nature had prevented any such interactions.

‘Should I make the first move?’

Aristocratic society was even more intricate than I had anticipated. And to navigate it required a level of cunning that I feared I lacked.

While it would be easier if someone approached me first, it seemed the onus was on me to initiate conversation.

Just then, I noticed someone whose gaze had met mine several times. Judging by the brooch adorning his attire, he appeared to be a son of the Gardenta earldom.

‘Brown hair, green eyes.’

I hadn’t ventured into this soiree unprepared. Knowing that a bit of study was essential, I had memorized the coats of arms and identifying traits of the various noble families’ offspring.

The eldest son of the Gardenta earldom boasted bright blonde hair, while the second and the youngest were noted for their brown locks. I also remembered that the youngest was a rather immature seventeen-year-old. Spotting a cluster of brown and blonde hair in the distance, I approached.

“Pleased to meet you. You must be Isaac, the third son of the Gardenta earldom.”

Ah, so the person before me was the notorious troublemaker, Isaac.

True to the rumors, Isaac carried a certain roughness about him. While his appearance was rather handsome, an undeniable air of frivolity was palpable.

‘Well, it’s just a greeting, after all.’

Isaac was just the beginning. I would have to greet everyone here, so his reputation as a troublemaker held little significance to me.

“I am Oscar Serpentine, the second son of the Serpentine family.”

I had learned that nobles tend to take kindly to those who remember their names. Hoping to make a favorable impression, I extended my hand.

“?”

Isaac hesitated, taking a step back. Perhaps my sudden greeting had taken him aback?

Confused, I tilted my head, hand still outstretched. As our eyes met, I felt the distance between us growing, and looking down, I saw…

“……?”

Isaac was indeed retreating step by step.

His overtly evasive reaction left me momentarily flustered, my hand still hanging in the air. In the meantime, Isaac had briskly put distance between us, soon disappearing into the crowd.

‘Why did he react like that?’

What was that strange behavior all about, and why was he avoiding me? Could he possibly be drunk? Sure enough, upon closer inspection, I noticed something odd about Isaac’s condition.

The party had barely started, and yet Isaac seemed to have indulged in alcohol to the point where his neck was flushed red.

He even appeared to struggle with keeping his balance.

“…Isaac, my lord?”

Aren’t you going to accept my greeting? I desperately wanted to just leave it at that and walk away, but aristocratic society wasn’t so forgiving. Once a greeting was made, it needed to be acknowledged to be concluded properly. Moreover, with so many eyes upon us, I couldn’t simply ignore Isaac’s drunken state and move on.

Ah, it seems I’ve chosen the wrong person to greet. He was right in front of me, and our eyes met frequently, so I merely intended to say hello.

But I couldn’t just turn around and pretend nothing happened. Ignoring me, Isaac had committed an act of rudeness towards me, so I tried to finish the greeting by stepping forward with a forced smile and extending my hand.

But it wasn’t just Isaac anymore.

The nobles nearby Isaac also simultaneously took a step back.

“…….”

What’s this about? Do I have germs or something?

I couldn’t hide my baffled expression as I looked at them, but their reluctance to approach remained the same.

It seemed none of them had any intention of greeting me. They all kept their distance, merely staring blankly. And above all.

‘Ah, not this again.’

Just the mere act of me stepping forward seemed to make them flinch or freeze.

Eventually, I had to conclude that perhaps I wasn’t as approachable or likable as I thought.

‘Even so, to react like this to a simple greeting….’

Could I really be that off-putting? A surge of frustration bubbled up inside me, but the embarrassment was far more overwhelming.

Desperate to escape this humiliating situation, I searched for a natural way to excuse myself. I subtly covered my mouth and turned my head.

Cough. Pretending to cough was as easy as breathing, something I’ve done countless times throughout my life.

After a few coughs, I lifted my head, feigning fatigue, and scanned the room for a place to rest. I wished I could retreat to a room for a proper break, but as long as the guest of honor hadn’t made her appearance, leaving the party entirely wasn’t an option.

My gaze settled on a balcony, obscured by curtains. It was uncommon for guests to venture there right after the party had started. Typically, people would seek out such a quiet spot only after mingling and when the party reached its peak, to get some fresh air.

But no matter how much I braced myself to endure the awkwardness of remaining in the hall…

‘It’s too embarrassing.’

I am only human, after all.

The rejection from the crowd was so mortifying that I wished for a mouse hole to hide in, if only such a thing existed. With my cheeks burning with embarrassment, I decided that, in lieu of a mouse hole, the balcony would have to be my escape.