# Chapter 24: 24
He did not laugh at her when she fell so shamefully, nor did he mock her atrocious dress.
He was just trying to help a girl who had fallen to the ground.
—...ah? Um, yeah.
—Let me help you. Hold my arm.
Radis logró ponerse de pie con su apoyo. It was uncomfortable.
It was the first time anyone had held her in so long. The last time that happened was during his childhood, when he still couldn't walk well.
Holding someone's arm like that was also a first.
His warmth poured over her, and it was so vivid that Radis had to let go of her arm as soon as she managed to stand on her own feet.
—T-Thank you.
Suddenly, Radis realized how close they were.
When he was about to take a step back, the man grabbed Radis's arm.
—…!
There was a small smile on his red lips when he saw how nervous Radis was.
—No quería sorprenderla. Hay algo de polvo por aquí.
He took a silk handkerchief from his coat pocket and wiped the dust off Radis's arm himself.
The handkerchief felt more like a feather when it touched her arm, and every time the handkerchief fluttered, a sweet aroma wafted around it.
Radis sintió que estaba soñando.
As he gently brushed off the dust with the handkerchief, he spoke to her in a low, beautiful voice that sounded as if he were singing.
—Debe ser un día difícil para usted.
Radis couldn't understand if she was saying that about her shoes, her dress, or something else entirely.
However, he continued to speak as if he didn't want her to question him.
—Still, if you have courage, you can overcome anything, no matter how difficult it is.
He smiled softly, looking at her with those purple eyes.
Qué bonita era esa sonrisa. Radis didn't even realize I had given him the handkerchief.
He nodded slightly to Radis in farewell, then returned to the garden, to the crowd, to the world where he belonged.
───── •????• ─────
All the people who moved from the second floor balcony to the garden crowded around one person, praising him just to get on his good side.
—The garden is so beautiful.
—I can't believe I can spend a dream moment in a beautiful mansion with centuries of history! Thank you for inviting me today, Marquis Russell!
Surrounded by those people was Yves Russell, the head of the Marquisate Russell and the host of that spectacular banquet.
—To be more exact, this is a separate building.
Amid the clamor of the people around him, his voice was dry and muffled.
He definitely stood out among the nobles who wore colorful clothes.
Even his clothes expressed his behavior.
Except for the barely visible collar of his shirt, everything else was black, including the vest that covered his sculpted chest, the coat draped over his broad shoulders, and the pants that fit tight around his thighs.
Additionally, most of the men had their hair combed with pomade, neatly combed back, or at least tied back to reveal their faces, but the marquis had almost half his face covered with his black bangs that reached to the bridge of his nose.
With his entire face dyed black, even his eyes, Marquis Russell, who was a difficult man to read, looked quite intimidating.
The terrifying rumors surrounding him also contributed to fueling that atmosphere.
It was rumored that monsters had cursed him or deprived him of his soul. Worse still, people said he was a monster himself.
His gaze, which showed no enthusiasm for the conversation, stopped in one place.
The corners of Yves Russell's lips rose. With a posture of apparent deference, he greeted the true protagonist of that night's banquet.
—Tonight we celebrate the birthday of the Third Prince of the Cardia Empire. Does the banquet meet the expectations of His Highness, Prince Olivier Arpend?
When he returned to his place in the spotlight, there was no trace of the beautiful smile that Olivier Arpend had shown Radis.
It looked like a glass sculpture with sparkling purple jewels embedded where the eyes should be.
—I'm very happy. I'm even happier now than when I spent my coming-of-age ceremony in silence last year.
With that cold but dignified voice, the crowd's attention instantly shifted from Yves Russell to Olivier.
—I wish you a happy birthday once again, Your Highness!
—Next year, how about spending your twentieth birthday once again at Marquis Russell's estate?
Contrary to the sweet voices of the people congratulating him, there was no feeling of joy or pleasure reflected in Olivier's clear eyes.
He was like a doll that only spoke when the rope on his back was pulled.
—Now it's time for the party to start in earnest tonight. Shall we all go back to the banquet hall?
At someone's suggestion, the crowd began to move back toward the second-floor balcony.
Then Yves Russell, who until then had been watching Olivier with curiosity, spoke to him.
—So, that is His Highness's preference?
Olivier averted his empty gaze and looked at Yves.
His look was the same as when all those people were congratulating him before.
—I don't understand what you mean, Marquis Russell.
Surrounded by his followers, Olivier returned to the banquet hall.
As he watched the prince's retreating figure, there was a strange smile on Yves Russell's lips.
Valiz