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Chapter 234

In any case, I was Shamashuut's official partner.

While I was lost in thought, she quickly composed her expression and offered a practiced smile.

"It is an honor to meet the Tower Master's first disciple—someone even most nobles rarely have the chance to encounter."

The Marquess's daughter, carrying the thick scent of roses, greeted me with a mechanical smile that only curved her lips.

"Let me introduce myself first. I am Rosetta Cilicia, eldest daughter of the House of Cilicia. Please do remember me."

"I am Tia."

In contrast to Rosetta's lengthy introduction, I answered simply.

She must have taken my plain attitude as a slight—a crack briefly crossed her face—but she soon turned to Shamashuut with a coquettish smile, naturally steering the conversation elsewhere.

"If it's not too forward, may I ask what your relationship is?"

"We are currently in the stage of getting to know each other."

'……Excuse me?'

My heart sank.

Shamashuut's bombshell statement was practically begging for misunderstanding.

I desperately clamped my lips shut to keep my jaw from dropping, composed myself, and carefully gauged the atmosphere.

Just as I'd feared.

Rosetta's expression grew increasingly rigid, and the young ladies eavesdropping nearby seemed to hold their breath, frozen in place.

Thankfully, the suffocating silence didn't last long.

Rosetta broke it herself.

"……Have you perhaps already become engaged?"

Her voice trembled, clearly shaken by the impact.

'Well, from the perspective of someone with a crush, this must have been shocking.'

At any rate, I didn't want to be her rival, so I quickly waved my hands to deny it—

"No……"

"We are not yet engaged."

But Shamashuut cut in, forcing me to stay silent.

I trusted that he would draw an appropriate line—but cruelly, my expectations were again shattered.

"However, I personally intend to pursue a relationship with marriage in mind."

"……!"

"……!"

This time, without needing to say who, both Rosetta and I fixed our gazes on Shamashuut.

'How exactly does he plan to handle the aftermath of this?'

Of course, I knew Shamashuut wasn't the type to make such reckless remarks without a plan—but still, I couldn't easily shake my unease.

"Oh my, I see. But since it's only a premise and not an official engagement, wouldn't you say I still have a fair chance to compete?"

"Opportunities are not obtained by wishing for them—they are granted to those who are worthy."

His resolute words plunged the ballroom's atmosphere into icy stillness once more.

Rosetta let out a hollow, u-ho-ho laugh, then smoothly changed the subject as if to dispel the awkwardness.

"Then could you tell me how your relationship began?"

"How unpleasant."

Yet an even colder aura emanated from Shamashuut.

"Pardon?"

"Are you intending to turn my private life into entertainment for the young lady?"

At his words, Rosetta's face turned pale as paper.

I, on the other hand, inwardly admired his way of speaking—pointing out the other's rudeness while seizing control of the conversation using his overwhelming status.

'I thought he disliked social events, so I assumed he'd be unskilled at dealing with nobles.'

But he understood the nobles' nature better than anyone—and knew exactly what they feared most.

"I apologize. My maiden heart, longing for Lord Shamashuut, got the better of me, and I overstepped."

"First the Marquess, now you—the two of you seem to find only things to apologize for. Are you testing my patience?"

Shamashuut, seeming to disregard the complex etiquette of high society while efficiently wielding it, pressed Rosetta relentlessly.

"Or do you think the Tower is soft enough to tolerate all your rudeness?"

"Of course not! That was never my intention."

"They say children resemble their parents—even your excuses are identical."

"……"

Under the clear threat, Rosetta trembled as if she might collapse at any moment.

'This might be going too far.'

Having watched as a bystander, I realized the situation was growing more serious than I'd anticipated, and discreetly tugged at his sleeve.

"Lord Shamashuut, with all the crowd, I'm feeling a bit dizzy."

The murderous aura around Shamashuut instantly subsided.

"I'd like to get some air—could you escort me to the terrace?"

Still glaring at Rosetta, he slowly nodded.

I felt the nobles' stunned gazes on my back, but I ignored them and hurriedly left the ballroom.

The moment the cool terrace air touched my skin, I let out a deep sigh and voiced what I'd been holding back.

"Lord Shamashuut! Saying things like that will make the other nobles misunderstand!"

"It doesn't matter. I said it precisely because I wanted them to take it that way."

Perplexed by his inscrutable actions, a dreadful suspicion crossed my mind.

Hoping desperately that my guess was wrong, I cautiously spoke.

"Surely… the reason you asked me to be your partner was to use me as a permanent shield—to fend off the young ladies aiming for the Duchess's position?"

"Hmm. So you've finally realized?"

Shamashuut, on the other hand, answered as if he couldn't understand my reaction.

His completely unabashed attitude left me speechless. I pressed my throbbing forehead.

'I was short-sighted.'

The problem was that, relieved at having escaped life-threatening crises, I had let my guard down completely.

Lulled into thinking I could finally rest, my judgment had grown clouded.

So when Shamashuut proposed the partnership, I'd dismissed it without suspicion, thinking it would be just one day of trouble.

The price for failing to consider his hidden intentions—or what consequences this might bring—was steep.

I had inadvertently become a prime target for all the noble ladies vying for the position of the Duke's future wife.

"If this turns out to be false later, what will become of your reputation, Lord Shamashuut?"

At my question, laced with worry and reproach, Shamashuut approached me very slowly.

Leaning against the terrace railing, he narrowed his cool eyes and smiled mysteriously.

"Even in a moment like this, you worry about me first?"

"That's not the point right now! This kind of lie could be fatal in high society."

"It's fine. Rumors tend to fade with time. As long as you stay officially by my side for a while, I'm willing to pay any price."

His face, standing under the moonlight, was so composed it felt almost surreal.

'What is this dialogue? It's like a male lead from a romance novel that starts with a contract marriage.'

My heart gave a sudden lurch—but I quickly regained my composure.

And I tried to gauge the true nature of the extravagant favor Shamashuut was showing me.

Perhaps he was just lightly teasing me as his little sister's friend—that thought crossed my mind.

But his blue eyes betrayed no emotion whatsoever.

'Sigh. Whether it's a joke or not, I'd better just be honest here.'

Even if his feelings were genuine, my answer was already set.

The weight of being a Duchess was far heavier than the glow of a chandelier.

To make that silent battlefield at the pinnacle of high society my lifelong stage would be thousands of times more exhausting than wielding mana.

I tried to refuse his proposal as politely as possible.

"Tia!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out on the terrace—where it should have been just the two of us.

What's more, it was a voice I never expected to hear here.

"Lord Osiris?"

Looking around to find the source, I soon spotted Osiris floating in the air, looking down at us.

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