61

Why are you causing a commotion by inserting yourself in the middle?

I felt the urge to escape immediately, but I couldn’t be sure if my neck would stay safely in its place if I actually did so.

‘It’s probably better to greet him quickly and leave.’

I stood up from my seat and chose to show courtesy to the Second Prince.

“Elze Lepherian, I greet the Second Prince.”

“…”

The Second Prince turned to look at me with narrowed eyes.

His gaze passed over me indifferently, like someone glancing at a bug beneath their feet.

It was filled with disdain.

Understandably so.

Elze Lepherian, the infamous villainess in the social circle.

She was merely a petty noble at best.

There was no corner left untouched by her mischief.

In normal circumstances, I wouldn’t dare to even offer greetings to the royal family, let alone receive an invitation to such a club.

Despite that, the Second Prince couldn’t completely ignore my greeting.

“…Fine.”

He nodded roughly, acknowledging my greeting.

A deep sense of shame passed over his stern face.

After all, he must have wanted to ignore me until the end.

Yet, he had to acknowledge my greeting under Dante’s pressure.

The Second Prince composed his expression and turned to the other members.

“Anyway, today we have a new member.”

Pointing to a corner of the club, he exclaimed with an energetic voice, “Let’s welcome Count Luneburg with applause!”

At the same time, a man emerged among the crowd.

He was a youthful young man with light brown hair and elegant purple eyes, possessing a refined beauty.

It was Benedict, impeccably dressed in a neat suit.

Dante’s forehead creased in irritation.

“…Why did that brat crawl in here?”

“…”

I glanced briefly at Dante from the corner of my eye.

Lately, I’ve been wondering, why does Dante dislike Benedict so much?

The female lead of the original work hasn’t even appeared yet, so there’s no reason for Dante to dislike Benedict.

Was there a slight clash at the debutante party?

But back then, it seemed like Dante was the one being overly sensitive, rather than Benedict being at fault…

But more importantly…

‘Surprisingly, Benedict tied his hair neatly.’

It looked much better.

At that moment, as if sensing my gaze, Benedict turned towards this direction.

‘Oh.’

Our eyes met.

And then.

Benedict glanced at me with a subtle smile.

“Huh?”

I widened my eyes.

At the same time, the Second Prince spoke cheerfully.

“It’s truly an honor to be able to introduce Count Luneburg as a member of our club.”

“It’s indeed an honor for me to be able to join as a member of the club.”

Benedict replied courteously.

Upon hearing this, the Second Prince burst into laughter.

“Oh, isn’t that too modest of you? It’s a well-known fact that Shmaikel Vander has a strong grip on the imperial market, even a passing child would know…”

“You flatter me.”

“Flattery? No! His Imperial Majesty also holds Count Luneburg in very high esteem. So, you see…”

The Second Prince continued to praise Benedict at length.

Well, even if the praise was getting tiresome to listen to.

It seemed to be a fact that Benedict was highly regarded in the imperial court.

But then.

Clack!

The sound of a match striking against a matchbox echoed loudly.

“…”

“…”

People turned to Dante with puzzled expressions.

By the way, I’m included in those ‘people’.

Dante, who had suddenly pulled out a cigarette, skillfully lit it up.

“Hu―.”

After taking a satisfying drag from his cigarette, Dante exhaled a long stream of smoke.

Then he smiled lazily.

“Oh, excuse me.”

With a completely unapologetic face, Dante offered an apology.

“After hearing so much excessive praise, I felt nauseous.”

“What, what did you say?”

“Because of the queasiness, I had to smoke.”

“Look here, you rascal!”

The enraged Second Prince raised his voice.

Understandably, smoking indoors was a clear breach of etiquette.

Moreover, wasn’t this supposed to be a moment to introduce a new member to the club?

Dante’s attitude was not only ignoring the Second Prince but also Benedict perfectly.

Nevertheless, regardless of the Second Prince’s anger, Dante took another long drag from his cigarette.

Then he blew the smoke directly into the Second Prince’s face.

“Cough, cough!”

The Second Prince, who had inhaled the smoke directly, coughed uncontrollably.

Dante smirked arrogantly as he stared at the coughing prince.

“Why don’t I offer one to the Second Prince as well?”

“Now…!”

The Second Prince barely managed to suppress his emotions before shouting.

In that regard, he managed to maintain some semblance of aristocracy.

Dante had already completely dominated the situation.

He realized that getting more excited would only make him appear more pitiful.

Suppressing his anger, the Second Prince demanded firmly.

“Right now, put out the cigarette.”

The only problem was that the person he was dealing with was Dante.

As moody as ever, he snapped at Dante.

“Then would you mind getting rid of that annoying praise?”

I really didn’t want to get involved in this colossal clash of egos.

You know?

Anyone would want to avoid being caught in the crossfire of a whale fight, right?

But…

“Cough.”

…Of all times, why does this cough have to come now?

It’s all Dante’s fault.

He’s smoking heavily next to me, and my weak lungs couldn’t take it anymore…

But that’s beside the point.

Objectively describing the current situation, amidst the tense standoff between the Second Prince and Dante,

Did I really have to cough so inconsiderately…?

‘I hope my throat isn’t going to betray me now.’

I pondered as I looked at Dante.

“…”

Dante silently stared at me.

His gaze was mysterious.

It seemed apologetic and self-deprecating, those reddish eyes.

Hmm, it seems like I misunderstood.

There’s no way Dante could feel such emotions, right?

“I’m sorry.”

I apologized hastily.

Upon hearing that, Dante frowned and retorted.

“What’s there to be sorry about?”

Then he tossed the cigarette to the floor and stomped it out with his boot.

The burn mark from the cigarette remained vividly on the luxurious carpet.

…What on earth is going on?

I was just dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, Dante casually dismissed the damage I caused to the carpet.

“Oh, well.”

He folded his eyelids and smiled brightly.

“Compensating for the damaged carpet is the least a guest can do, right?”

At his blatant sarcasm, the Second Prince’s face contorted in anger.

* * *

After that.

It seemed the Second Prince had made up his mind to ignore Dante.

Since introducing Benedict, he hadn’t uttered a single word.

Well, I think it was a wise choice.

Mixing words with Dante would only escalate the situation.

‘I should be careful too.’

This time, I didn’t pretend to know Benedict.

Instead, I sat up straight, making sure not to meet Benedict’s eyes.

It seemed Dante was strangely on edge since facing Benedict.

“…”

But this time, it was Benedict who caused trouble.

‘Why is he acting like that?’

As soon as Benedict noticed me avoiding him, his expression stiffened…

My heart chilled every time his displeased purple eyes passed over me.

“So.”

Fortunately, the Second Prince seemed desperate to assert control over the club.

To avoid Benedict’s gaze, I deliberately focused more on the Second Prince.

Even though Dante had ignored me several times already.

Still, the Second Prince persisted in speaking.

“For today’s play, I’ve commissioned a script from a playwright.”

“Really? You’ve commissioned a script?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Perhaps to change the chilly atmosphere, the nobles quickly engaged in conversation.

Only then did the slightly relaxed Second Prince stand up.

“Please wait a moment while the stage is prepared for the play. I need to go prepare myself as well.”

Oh.

I widened my eyes.

I’d heard rumors that he enjoyed theater, but I didn’t know he would personally participate.

As some people left to prepare, Dante, who briefly glanced at Benedict, smiled coldly.

“Seeing you again, Count Luneburg.”

“I greet Marquis Offenheir.”

Benedict responded with an elegant smile.

Dante shrugged.

“Meeting a Count here is regrettable. I’d rather not have met you here.”

“Well, I agree with you on that.”

Benedict’s smile deepened slightly.

“I heard that Marquis rarely attends the club, so it was a rare occasion to join.”