“Are you okay? Hang in there.”

As I was about to fall backward, Luciano caught me.

At that moment,

A faint red-purple light shimmered in the dim space in front of me.

Along with a metallic sound, a figure suddenly appeared.

“!”

The person who appeared by teleportation magic was none other than Sevigny, dressed in a sensual burgundy dress under a white robe.

“Se, Sevigny Professor…!”

Her soft smile was so tranquil that it seemed to dissipate the tense atmosphere until a moment ago.

Her sultry voice spilled from her red lips.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, you two.”

Two…? Me and Luciano?

“Shall we?”

“Yes, we’re ready anytime.”

In response to Luciano’s question, Sevigny spoke briefly about the magic stone attached to her bracelet.

Then, the image in front of me zoomed in, and the focus suddenly shifted to Richeli.

Richeli shuddered slightly.

She looked around and tried to go somewhere, holding the hem of her blue dress.

“Where are you going?”

Richeli stopped at Zinon’s words, turned around elegantly, and smiled.

“To the powder room.”

“Hmm, I’ll accompany you.”

“No, Zinon, I’m not a child. I can go alone.”

“Don’t hesitate.”

Flustered by Zinon’s words, Richeli hastily tried to correct herself.

“It’s fine. I can go alone now.”

As Richeli tried to leave hurriedly, Zinon casually told her to wait.

“Wait, Eloise.”

Startled, Richeli suddenly turned pale and looked back at Zinon with a terrified expression.

“What… what did you say?”

Zinon’s deep blue eyes were shaking strongly as they stared at Richeli.

“Did you think you could fool me? Eloise.”

At that moment,

The accordion curtain in front of me was suddenly pulled back, and the dark curtain hanging to separate the ballroom and this side collapsed with a thud.

“!”

(It’s dazzling…)

Suddenly, the dazzling lights of the ballroom flooded my eyes from the dimness, and I instinctively shut my eyes and turned away.

What a sight.

A large cage on the other side of the dark curtain, where questionable acts could have been performed. Scattered chains and ropes.

Luciano and I, who appeared as if we were having a tryst in the dim, narrow room, were revealed in front of the ballroom people.

As expected, the nobles and ladies were all in an uproar.

Among them were not only Zinon and Richeli.

Looking closely, even the king and queen were there.

Julian and Patrick are holding Muguet and Axel.

Miranda, Karina, and even Christopher.

Everyone was staring at us with wide eyes.

I was scared, sad, and didn’t know what to do. Tears naturally started to flow.

Luciano gently cuddled up to me as if to protect me, which was even more problematic.

“Where are you going, Eloise?”

Once again, Zinon’s firm voice echoed across the floor, and for some reason, the entire ballroom grew quiet as if the water had been still.

“What’s going on? Zinon, since earlier. Such a disgraceful man and woman have intruded on the ball. I’m feeling unwell. I’m leaving.”

As Richeli tried to leave, the royal guards blocked her path.

Seeing Zinon calling Richeli ‘Eloise’ from earlier and having the knights restrain his fiancée, everyone in the ballroom was confused.

“Eh? Is it Eloise?”

Surprised by Zinon’s words, my tears stopped, and my small murmur echoed surprisingly well on the quiet floor.

Richeli, who was called Eloise, turned sharply to me and snapped.

“What? You’re rude. Do you understand your situation now? What were you doing with such tools with a man? You’re an indecent person, aren’t you?”

Indeed… With that agreement, the tense atmosphere stretched around us dissipated. The curious gazes of the crowd were piercingly painful.

“The farce is enough. Let me go.”

As the disguised Eloise tried to brush off the guards who were restraining her, the king spoke.

“Zinon, what is this commotion? In such a social setting.”

“Your Majesty.”

The blonde hair was sparkling in the chandelier light, and the eyes were deep blue. The strong gazes of the father and son, who looked very alike, crossed in the ballroom, causing tension.

“Did you just call Richeli as Eloise? Why is the future queen being restrained by the palace guards? The Grand Duke, Eloise’s father, is also here. I won’t tolerate any nonsense.”

With his resolution, the majestic king stands next to Eloise’s father, the Grand Duke, who anxiously stands by. Unlike the strong-willed Eloise, he has a slightly weak aura, with chestnut-coloured hair and eyes. He is a refined and kind gentleman.

“As you say, Your Majesty and the Duke, and everyone involved, I must explain what this fuss is all about,” Zinon says with a charming smile.

“Are you okay? Can you stand up?”

Luciano and Sevigny, who had appeared at my side at some point, helped me to stand from both sides. My knees are shaking, but it’s pathetic to sit forever, isn’t it? Zinon, what are you trying to do? Could it be that Zinon knows I am Richeli, even though I look like Luna?

“First, we must present evidence as to why the prince called Richeli, who is there, as Eloise.”

Before me stood Christopher, dressed in the dark blue robe of a clergyman.

“What… what are you doing? You!”

Seeing Christopher suddenly appear, Richeli, restrained by the palace guard, panics and lets out a wild scream. Ignoring that, Christopher looked down at me with a gentle smile. Then, he held up his crystal wand in front of me, and a rainbow-coloured light emitted from the wand enveloped me gently. Then…

A platinum blonde lock of hair fluttered at my chest, and a dazzling blue dress came into my view.

“You’re back, Richeli.”