Chapter 10

The engagement proceeded as quickly as roasting beans in a lightning storm. However, due to the dignity of the noble families, they could not omit the formalities. They agreed to hold a simple engagement ceremony in the capital and then the wedding at the Winterfell estate.

On the fourth day after all the tedious procedures were completed, an outdoor party to celebrate the union of the two families was finally held. The venue was the rear garden of the Balazit mansion. Nadia had to wake up early in the morning, dress up beautifully, and prepare to welcome her fiancé.

As she appeared in her splendid attire, the nobles whispered quietly.

"Do you know? The Winterfell March is almost half winter for a whole year. I can't believe anyone can live in such a place."

"Being from such a place, it's no wonder this young lady, who is quite pretty, is marrying the Marquis."

"Well, if not, there would be no reason for him to marry a second daughter..."

Even after the hastily arranged engagement ceremony ended, people's gossip did not subside. Despite their attempts to lower their voices, their words were mysteriously clear.

But Nadia ignored them completely. More accurately, she had no time to pay attention to them.

'I am a woman in love... a woman madly in love... a woman who is so happy to be marrying the man she loves that she doesn't know what to do...'

A woman so in love that she publicly confessed to a man. That was the current Nadia Balazit. Therefore, in a place with many onlookers, she had to act like a naive woman who had just fallen in love. She kept glancing at the entrance of the party, pretending to be nervous and excited.

To anyone, she looked like a woman eagerly awaiting the appearance of her fiancé. The conservative nobles even clicked their tongues at her.

The Duke of Balazit approached her, engrossed in her act, and spoke to her.

"Nadia."

"You're early, Father."

"Since I'm hosting this party, I need to be here. But you look quite excited. Anyone would think you're head over heels for that Winterfell fellow. The marriage is practically set in stone, you know."

He was one of the conservative old nobles. Perhaps he disapproved of his daughter not acting more dignified, even if the marriage was a pretext?

Nadia thought for a moment and chose a response that would please her father.

"I confessed my feelings to His Majesty the King."

"Huh?"

"If I suddenly changed my attitude after achieving my goal, it would be an insult to His Majesty. It's unpleasant to hear people talk about our family's loyalty, isn't it?"

"Hmm... Well, that's true."

Her father nodded in agreement.

At that moment, the crowd at the entrance of the party began to stir. Turning her head, she saw Glen, dressed impeccably, pushing through the crowd.

Nadia's facial muscles moved, and she broke into a wide smile.

"Lord Marquis of Winterfell!"

Then, almost running, she hurried over to him. It was such a brilliant performance that even the Duke of Balazit, who knew the whole story, was taken aback.

'Could she really have fallen for him...? He is quite handsome, after all.'

Nadia, with her flushed face, was the very picture of a woman in love. Even the duke was momentarily confused, so one could only imagine the reactions of the others.

"I remember her as a quiet and well-behaved young lady... Love really changes a person."

"Isn't it said that the most well-behaved cats are the first to jump onto the stove?"

"Even so... tsk tsk."

Elegance and composure were the basic virtues that the noble society demanded of women. To see her laughing so carelessly was not a common sight in the conservative noble society.

Regardless of the tongues wagging about her, Nadia continued to smile and speak.

"I've been waiting for you. I wanted to enter with you..."

"..."

Glen looked down at her with a stiff face. Her overly enthusiastic welcome made him momentarily think they were really close.

He even wondered if they had some childhood connection he had forgotten.

'This woman is the daughter of the Duke of Balazit. An enemy of Winterfell.'

Despite knowing the relationship between her father and the Winterfell family, she could act so naturally.

In any case, the Balazit bloodline was truly insidious.

"I'm sorry if I kept you waiting. I should have informed you that I would be late."

In fact, he had come late on purpose. Whether she knew his intention or not, Nadia just had a cheerful expression.

"I wasn't waiting long at all. You arrived right on time. It's just the dance time."

"Ah... right."

"Come, let's go over there."

Nadia linked her arm with the stiff Glen and led him to the center. He seemed reluctant but followed her, perhaps aware of the onlookers.

As the main characters of the party appeared, people made way for them. Thanks to this, the two of them easily took their place in the center of the party.

As they danced to the music, Nadia thought to herself.

'Oh, this is not easy at all.'

She had been smiling for an hour. Her facial muscles were starting to strain, and her raised corners of her mouth were trembling slightly.

Still, she had to keep smiling.

After all, she was dancing with the man she supposedly loved passionately, and she couldn't look indifferent.

Nadia forced a bright expression.

In contrast, Glen's expression, who was reluctantly dancing, was extremely sour.

The deeper her gaze towards him became, the more his face darkened.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Excuse me?"

Nadia wasn't stupid enough to think he was asking about her current thoughts. He was likely asking her to confess the reason for her deception.

Having anticipated such an interrogation when they were alone, she boldly replied.

"I'm just thinking that you look even better up close."

"Besides that."

"Then, I'm thinking that the time with Ren is like a dream."

"Ren?"

His jaw seemed to tighten. She was using a nickname that only close friends would use.

She had a reason for deliberately using the nickname, even though she expected it to anger him.

'This way, I can shift the conversation to the topic of addressing each other.'

Sure enough, his reaction was exactly as she intended.

"Isn't it too soon to use a nickname? We are still quite distant."

"But we will soon be family..."

"Lord Marquis of Winterfell. Or just my name. Choose one."

"Then I'll call you Glen."

Despite his almost insulting attitude, Nadia smiled like a girl excited by her first love.

She then rolled his name around in her mouth, as if she was truly thrilled.

"Glen."

"..."

"Glen."

She could feel him looking down at her with a look of utter disbelief, but she didn't care.

If she had been intimidated by such a look, she wouldn't have stood before the king that day.

The music was in the middle of a piece, so it didn't take long for it to end. When the music changed, so did the dance partners.

She left Glen with a very disappointed look.

"See you in a bit, Glen."

"..."

When dancing with others, she wouldn't have to force a smile.

Nadia turned to rest her facial muscles. The new dance partner approaching her was...

"Oh, Sir Jiho? When did you arrive?"

The foreigner with black hair, Jiho Yi. He had been there since the party started, but she hadn't noticed him.

Wasn't he usually reluctant to mix with the noble society due to his foreign origins?

She was a bit puzzled, but before she could hesitate, the next song started.

Nadia had no choice but to place her arm around his waist.

"I just arrived. It was shortly before the dance started."

"Oh, so you arrived around the same time as Lord Marquis of Winterfell."

That explained why they hadn't met.

She nodded slightly and started dancing.

'He's one of Father's people, so I don't need to act.'

Continuously smiling was a very tiring task. She was so exhausted that she couldn't manage her expression. Nadia relaxed her face and moved her steps mechanically.

Then, Jiho's voice came from above her.

"I have a question for Miss Nadia."

"I'll answer if I can."

"Did you hate the idea of marrying me so much?"

"..."

She was in a state of mindlessness and only realized a half-beat later that his voice was extremely cold.

"Did you hate me so much that you were willing to leave your homeland? To bear the dishonor of being seen as mercenary? To the point where you preferred the heart of the enemy?"

"..."