Chapter 1

It was an ordinary night when a ball was held.

The host of the ball was Lord Holloway.

Opal, the Earl's daughter who had just made her debut in society, was a little tipsy and stepped out into the familiar garden.

The garden of the Earl's mansion in the capital, where Opal had come many times since childhood, was a perfect playground for the mischievous girl, and even the dim light was enough for her.

However, the garden at night during the ball was completely different from the daytime.

Opal was suddenly embraced from behind and, before she realized it, was pushed down on the grass and kissed.

A slimy sensation fell upon her lips, and the disgust was so overwhelming that she scratched the man's face.

Taking advantage of the man's groan of pain, Opal screamed.

There were guards in the garden, and knowing this, Opal called for help, but she did not realize that this incident would be a fatal blow to an unmarried woman.

As the sound of the guards approaching grew closer, the man fled, leaving Opal, whose dress and neatly tied hair were now tousled, alone in the garden.

Surrounded not only by the guards but also by many of the guests, Opal sat in a daze. The guests' gazes were filled with curiosity rather than pity.

She does not remember much after that.

Her attendant maid hurried to her, took her back to her room, and helped her into the bath.

After that, she got into bed and fell asleep, not fully understanding the situation she was in.

The next morning, upon waking, she received a message from her father to come to the study.

After getting ready, Opal went to the study without having breakfast and knocked.

She was immediately invited in and saw her father, Lord Holloway, sitting in his chair with an angry face.

"Good morning, Father. I was told you wanted to see me—"

"What are you calmly greeting me for? Do you know what you did last night?"

"Indeed, I caused a disturbance at the ball last night, and I apologize. But nothing happened to me—"

"It's not what happened that matters. The problem is that you were seen by everyone in that state."

Opal shuddered at her father's angry voice.

He did not even ask if she was okay or inquire about what had happened last night.

Though she knew it, the thought of her unfeeling father made her rebellious spirit rise.

"I did nothing wrong! The man is the one who did wrong!"

"Do you know this man?"

"I don't. He fled when I struggled and screamed."

She intended to show her strength, but her father sighed deeply.

"That was the problem. If you hadn't made such a fuss, it could have been kept from the public—"

"But if I hadn't made a fuss, something worse could have happened to me."

"If you had protected your reputation, even if you were damaged goods, we could have found you a better match. But now, the news of your being damaged goods is spreading at an alarming rate. Your options are limited. However, the young man who visited this morning is not an option."

"…Young man?"

Opal wanted to deny that she was not damaged goods, but she was more shocked that her father did not care about her at all and forgot to protest.

She was only curious about his last words and asked for clarification.

"The young man who came forward claims he was the one who had a rendezvous with you last night and wants to marry you to take responsibility."

"He came forward? After he fled last night? And he calls it a rendezvous after attacking me?"

"For that young man, your wandering alone in the garden was a golden opportunity. He is the second son of a poor viscount. He fled because you made a fuss. I was foolish to invite such a young man to the mansion."

"Poor viscount…"

Opal muttered, recalling the young man who had been following her recently.

Originally, Opal had a considerable dowry, and those who had heard about it saw her as a prime target.

However, Opal's defenses were strong.

She lost her mother at a young age, and her father, who was obsessed with increasing his wealth, ignored her. Her older brother, two years her senior, was away at boarding school, and she grew up alone in the manor on the estate.

Of course, the servants were kind to her.

Still, she envied families who got along well and had always dreamed of building a warm home.

Therefore, she wanted to marry someone she loved, not for money, but for someone who loved her for who she was.

She had a childhood friend on the estate whom she got along with well, but unfortunately, he was the third son of a baron, and her father would never allow it. Besides, their relationship was just friendship.

In the capital, where she had high hopes, she had not met any men who captured her heart.

(No, there was one…)

Opal remembered the man she had danced with once.

He was a young duke who had just graduated from university and rarely attended balls.

Moreover, his status as a duke made him a target of fierce competition among women, making it difficult to approach him.

Still, when her father introduced her, he invited her to dance out of politeness.

Though he was quiet, his touch was very gentle, and his occasional smile still had a boyish charm. She imagined that spending time with him would be enjoyable.

"You are no longer in a position to expect a good match. However, someone who needs your dowry will likely come forward. I will vet that person and decide your marriage. Until then, do not cause any more trouble. Do you understand?"

"…Yes, Father."

Opal answered meekly, but she had not been paying attention.

The Earl seemed satisfied and waved her off.

With an empty stomach, Opal obediently left and headed to the breakfast room.

That night, Opal attended a ball hosted by a marquis.

There, she finally understood what her father had meant.

The debutantes who had been friendly with her ignored her.

The young men who used to gather around her when she entered the venue were no longer there.

However, a few men were present, but their clothes were not new.

Moreover, the disdainful gazes and whispers from the so-called ladies were directed at her.

In a situation where a normal debutante might have fled, the strong-willed Opal remained composed and stayed.

She had done nothing wrong.

The second son of the viscount, who should be blamed for attacking a weak woman, was not there.

He probably could not show his face in public for a while due to the scratches from Opal's sharp nails.

On the way back in the carriage, the accompanying woman complained about how much Opal had disgraced herself, but Opal ignored her.

If she did not like it, she could quit.

Since Opal had no suitable older women among her relatives to accompany her, she had to pay someone to do it.

In the end, the woman, unable to give up the high salary, continued to accompany Opal in society.

No matter how badly she was rumored, Opal always carried herself with dignity, but it was difficult to fend off men interested in her wealth and playboys looking for fun.

This only made her seem more experienced, and the rumors grew worse.

Now, she had no friends, and the number of invitations had decreased.

She was only invited formally because she was the daughter of a wealthy earl.

When the season finally ended, Opal sighed in relief.

Now she could return to her beloved estate and manor.

As the carriage swayed, Opal thought about the future.

Her father was still busy increasing his wealth and had ignored her since the incident.

Her brother planned to spend his long university break at a friend's house and had no intention of returning to the estate.

(Next season, everyone will probably have forgotten about me. New scandals are born every day.)

The optimistic Opal thought this and continued to dream of marriage, spending her time as the lady of the manor in place of her deceased mother.

Of course, she enjoyed riding and climbing trees, showing her mischievous side.

The neighbors, who had heard the rumors, still treated her the same.

When she visited the villagers, they showed her respect and consulted her about their problems.

Her childhood friend, Claude Arthrey, returned during his university break and accompanied her on rides and fishing trips.

Claude, being a year older than her brother, still had two years before he graduated, but she encouraged him and saw him off to university again.

Living such a fulfilling life, Opal regained her energy and welcomed the next season, only to realize that her thoughts were too naive.