The crystal chandelier shimmered with sunlight-like radiance, bathing the banquet hall in warm gold.
Mahina ascended the steps with poise.
“Miss Mahina.”
“Hmm.”
With Ruby at her side, Mahina entered the hall. The guests’ conversations suddenly softened.
She never liked attending banquets, but tonight’s occasion was particularly important—even the head of the family was present. There was no reason for her not to come.
Mahina sighed inwardly and braced herself, heading towards the center of the hall.
A middle-aged man with a white beard greeted her.
“Miss Mahina, good evening,”
“Uncle Chris, hello. You’re here as well.”
“Haha, well, the expedition to clear out the magical beasts is coming up soon. Boosting morale is still important.”
Mahina lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting butterfly-wing shadows across her cheeks.
“I’m truly sorry I won’t be able to help this time.”
“It’s not as if the Taran family would stop turning without you, Miss. Please, enjoy your youth to the fullest.”
“Thank you.”
Mahina had been able to adapt quickly during her first time on the battlefield all thanks to Chris. Whether it was his advice on using magic or arranging positions on the front lines, Chris had helped her immensely.
Chris could be called the Taran family’s right-hand man, capable both in combat and handling household affairs.
He was also the first person to introduce her to the head of the family.
One could say Chris was Mahina’s mentor.
“Well then, I won’t disturb you any further, Miss.”
Chris waved his hand and, with a look, dispersed the men around her before returning to his work.
Mahina watched his broad back blend into the crowd, her fingertips gently rubbing the folds of her dress.
As the duke’s daughter entered, naturally all eyes were drawn to her. Mahina responded to every gaze with polite, composed smiles.
The nobles all knew that Mahina’s engagement had been decided since she was very young.
But to this day, no one knew the identity of her fiancé. Some doubted the engagement’s authenticity, while others claimed it was a family secret, not yet ready to be revealed.
Regardless, Mahina’s engagement was a fact even the Taran family head acknowledged—there could be no mistake.
Beautiful, powerful, gentle. Always so considerate of others’ feelings.
To become the fiancé of such a perfect girl—how blissful would that be? All the young people present thought the same.
The older nobles, on the other hand, pondered: If only they’d been the ones to find Mahina first, back when she was still in the slums…
Just by entering the hall, Mahina became the focus of all eyes and thoughts.
Such was the presence of Mahina, a figure who stirred the empire’s very winds and clouds.
And yet, even though Mahina already had a fiancé—even though Chris’s fierce glare had warned off the men—
A few self-assured young nobles still came forward to make conversation.
They knew full well that since Mahina began appearing in public, she hadn’t danced with anyone, not even the head of the Taran family.
Mahina sighed inwardly again, forcing down the irritation welling up in her chest.
She curled her lips in a subtle, flawless, sweet smile—perfect and unassailable.
Mahina pulled herself together. Ruby stepped half a pace ahead, shielding her from anyone who might try something inappropriate.
She must be polite. She could not let them sense her weakness.
Even if she was disgusted, she couldn’t afford to brush them off.
Ah, how tiresome.
Did these people really think they were clever, that trouble would never find them?
Some only locked eyes with her during greetings, others pretended to look at her brow, but their glances actually drifted to places they shouldn’t.
Their mouths were full of lofty words about the empire’s survival, magical achievements, labyrinth beast waves, world affairs.
They feigned discussion with Mahina, making it all sound proper—so much so that she couldn’t even find a polite excuse to shut them up.
Really, isn’t it basic courtesy to not let your eyes stray where they shouldn’t when speaking to someone?
She could clearly sense those stares, supposedly fixed on her brow, gradually, greedily inching downward without a trace.
Mahina felt a chill run down her legs, goosebumps threatening to rise.
They went to all this trouble to lower her guard, cultivate intimacy, and put on an act of discussing grand affairs—
But in the end, it was all for her beauty.
Disgusting, shallow, vulgar, and base.
These men had never touched her body or heart, and never would.
Truly… an endless monkey show.
Mahina couldn’t help but mock herself. Was it because this shell, this mask of hers, was too exquisite, too perfect—
That she attracted so many buzzing pests?
The only place where Mahina could truly let her guard down was that narrow cave, and that clumsy boy.
And that boy… the one who would blush crimson at a single tease from her, whose hands trembled as he offered her roasted potatoes, so awkward and endearing.
If she acted spoiled, he would surely grant any request.
In fact, even this very mask of hers was influenced by that boy.
Perhaps he never noticed, but in every story he told, the heroine’s character, personality, and appearance were always similar. The difference lay only in the story and its heart.
Even after being adopted by the Taran family, Mahina searched for popular novels across the country, pored through the Taran family’s library of myths and legends, but none matched the stories the boy had told her.
Where did he learn so many tales? Even the children in the slums had never heard them—they couldn’t be just passed down by word of mouth.
This question had been buried in her heart like a tiny grain of sand for years.
But one thing was certain: that boy liked the pure and innocent type of girl.
Because really… although his stories were interesting, almost every single one featured a pure, gentle, long-haired girl who encouraged and supported the main character from the shadows.
They always had waterfall-like long hair, smiles that healed hearts, and their hands were always warm.
Wanting to be his type, Mahina did her best to move in that direction.
She started growing out her hair and practicing her smile. She learned to soften her voice when speaking with others.
Before every word and action, Mahina would wonder—what would the heroines from the boy’s stories do? How would a pure, innocent girl dress? How should she do her makeup?
After becoming the duke’s adopted daughter, in order to avoid attack and slander from outsiders, Mahina continued perfecting her mask, constantly approaching perfection, always adjusting herself according to the boy’s stories.
What began as imitation born from longing gradually became a disguise for survival.
But… him.
Hmph, he’s just someone from the past. There’s nothing worth longing for. Hmph.
Besides, now he’s even become a she.
Ruby stood firmly in front of Mahina, shielding her from the men’s gazes.
“Excuse us, it’s time for the meeting between the head of the family and Miss Mahina. We’ll be taking our leave.”
With a slight bow, Ruby unhesitatingly took Mahina’s cold arm, escorting her out of the hall for the time being.
Ruby knew—Miss Mahina was thinking of that person again.