Genevieve let out a small exclamation as she called out her name. Laura seemed to be acquainted with Dave, Genevieve’s husband, as well, as she approached closer while giving a light greeting.

“I came to greet Genevieve, and I was surprised to find someone with the same name as my brother.”

I stared, mesmerized, at her face as she greeted me with a bright smile. Perhaps it was her black hair and brown eyes in a world filled with various colors. My gaze was inevitably drawn to her.

“Ah. I’m sorry for being rude before introducing myself.”

Her kind, bright brown eyes, as if studded with stars, curved into crescents.

“I’m Laura, the first daughter of Baron Anastasia’s family. It’s nice to meet you.”

Laura Anastasia, how could I have forgotten about her all this time? I had recognized her even before she introduced herself. I couldn’t not know her. Because she was…

‘The female protagonist.’

She was the female lead of this novel.

I found myself immediately staring at Zachary. Zachary’s gaze was fixed on Laura, and the same was true for Laura. The moment I confirmed that the two were looking directly at each other, my heart sank.

“You must be the Lady Anastasia who’s been the talk of the town lately. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

At that moment, Erhan moved first. As he extended his hand, Laura accepted the greeting with a bright smile.

“I’m just fortunate to benefit from the mine inherited from my family. It’s an honor for me to meet such a distinguished Duke.”

Seeing her smile as she spoke with a bright expression, a sense of reality hit me. My mouth gaped open at the fact that I was really looking at the female protagonist of this world.

‘Laura Anastasia from the original work. What kind of person was she again?’

She was from a nearly ruined family and caught Zachary’s eye solely through her kindness and goodwill towards others. Moreover, didn’t her warm heart melt Zachary’s frozen heart and even cure his madness?

“…Oscar?”

As I was staring blankly without greeting, Genevieve lightly nudged me, probably finding my behavior strange. I snapped back to my senses. After lightly bowing my head and apologizing for being rude, I extended my hand.

“I’m sorry, I was so captivated by the Lady’s beauty that I lost my composure. I’m Oscar Serpentine. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I don’t know what state of mind I was in when I apologized and greeted her. I hurried to greet her before committing an even greater discourtesy, but I couldn’t even be sure of my own expression. I just hastily spoke while forcing a smile.

“Oh my, please don’t say such things.”

Fortunately, Laura Anastasia didn’t seem to mind. She lightly placed her hand on top of mine and responded brightly while slightly bending her knees.

“I should be the one saying that. Will there ever be another day in my life when I meet such a beautiful person again? It’s wonderful to meet you. I’m Laura Anastasia!”

It was a bright face that seemed to have not a trace of darkness. Her face was like sunshine, making one lose their senses. How could a person radiate such light? I felt overwhelmed, just like when I first saw Zachary.

“Oscar.”

While I was unknowingly in a daze, Zachary called out to me. Only then did I come to my senses, unable to hide my bewilderment at the various gazes focused on me.

“I’m sorry.”

It was because I hadn’t let go of her hand. Where was my mind? I quickly withdrew my hand in surprise and looked at Zachary’s face. And upon seeing his expression, I froze.

Zachary was looking at my hand that had been holding hers with a frown. It was a fierce expression, as if he didn’t like it. That expression felt as if he was reprimanding me for holding Laura’s hand.

“…Well.”

I felt like I had to say something, make some kind of excuse. As soon as I carefully opened my mouth, Zachary immediately looked at me with a cold gaze, as if interrogating me. It was a different kind of coldness from when he was with Erhan. How long had it been since I’d seen such a chilling side of Zachary? Strangely, I couldn’t bear to meet his eyes any longer.

As I unknowingly turned my gaze away, I noticed a servant passing by with a tray of wine glasses. The path of the servant, who was walking unsteadily, was behind Laura.

‘That looks like it’s about to spill.’

Thinking that it would surely spill if left alone, my body moved first. I grabbed Laura Anastasia’s wrist and gently pulled her towards me. As she widened her eyes in surprise.

“I’m, I’m so sorry!”

Just then, one of the glasses on the tray that the servant was holding precariously tipped over towards me. My clothes were stained red with the spilled wine.

“Are, are you alright?!”

The servant looked at me with a pale face. Genevieve and Laura also cried out softly and immediately grabbed hold of me.

“Oh my. How could this, because of me…!”

Laura hurriedly took out a handkerchief from her possession and wiped my cheek. The glass had spilled towards my left shoulder, and it seems some had splashed onto my face as well.

“Oscar, are you okay?!”

“It’s not that wet.”

“Not wet? Even your face is splashed with wine!”

Genevieve also came close to me, looking surprised, and Erhan, after being silent for a moment, sternly reprimanded the servant. Erhan’s expression wasn’t very good either, making me wonder if I should have intervened.

‘My body moved on its own.’

There was no time to shout anything. Wasn’t the situation that was about to unfold clear before my eyes? And it’s much better for me to get wet than for Laura, who was wearing such a thin dress.

“I’m sorry. I should have been more alert.”

She really is kind. That thought crossed my mind as I watched Laura Anastasia repeatedly apologize and wipe even my shoulder with her handkerchief. Who would have thought a glass would spill from behind? Yet she kept insisting it was her fault until the end.

“It’s okay, don’t worry about…”

Before I could properly stop her from trying to wipe me while worrying, someone had grabbed her wrist. A large hand swiftly grasped the slender, white wrist, and then slowly pushed it away.

“I’ll do it.”

The person who firmly refused and stepped between Laura and me was none other than Zachary. Laura stood still with her hand awkwardly raised. Zachary, who had blocked Laura from me, reached out his hand towards me. In his hand was a handkerchief that I didn’t know when he had taken out.

He gently dabbed and wiped my eye area that she hadn’t managed to clean. However, while he was tenderly and carefully wiping my face, my gaze was directed elsewhere. I noticed Laura’s straight brown eyes looking up at Zachary, those sparkling eyes and slightly flushed cheeks.

‘It seems like fate.’

Will Laura fall for Zachary as she did in the original work?

‘If so, what about Zachary?’

Until now, there was no chance of that happening because he hadn’t met Laura, but now it was different. If left like this, wouldn’t Zachary also fall for Laura? If that were to happen, would I be able to prevent such a situation?

‘That can’t be.’

Zachary wouldn’t choose Laura so easily. Zachary and I had confirmed our feelings for each other after going through a long and winding path. Although the process wasn’t smooth, in conclusion, we were able to become confident and strong in our feelings for each other, but…

‘I feel strange.’

When Laura said something from behind, Zachary glanced back at her. As the two looked at each other, the discomfort I had been feeling from earlier now became uncontrollably chaotic.

I felt nauseous and like I might throw up at any moment.

I gently pushed Zachary away and looked down at my body. Since only the outer garment was wet, it seemed I could just change into another outfit and come back.

“I’ll just go tidy up my clothes a bit and come back.”

In truth, I just wanted to leave this place. So it seemed best to use my clothes as an excuse to visit the lounge or somewhere.

“Then I’ll…”

“Stay here.”

Although Zachary naturally tried to follow, I shook my head firmly.

“I’ll be right back.”

Even as I said this, I couldn’t look at Zachary properly. I kept feeling anxious. I didn’t want to properly take in his face. I just gave a quick nod to Genevieve and Erhan and immediately slipped away through the crowd. It must have looked like I was running away to anyone watching.

Only after entering the lounge, guided by a servant, did I roughly take off my outer garment, set it aside, and let out a deep sigh.

“Damn it…”

I thought I would feel better being alone, but I felt even more nauseous. I looked at the empty space with a complicated expression and then pressed my eyes firmly with both hands.

‘There was no need to react so sensitively.’