I saw Marquis Jayce smiling at me.
‘This guy...’
“Lady Peneloti?” Marquis Jayce said.
‘Is he seriously... infatuated?’
I couldn’t help but think that way. I hadn’t completely dismissed the possibility, but considering the situation where I had essentially received a confirmation from someone who was him, but not really him, I assumed the odds were fifty-fifty between a genuine romantic interest or a desire for talent.
‘Maybe it’s seventy-thirty... No way it’s more than that, is it?’
I felt bewildered by the attention coming from someone who didn’t seem like the type to even read romance books. I didn’t know where Commander Jin got his information from, but he wasn’t the kind of guy to spout nonsense, so it was fair to assume the probability was quite high.
He just couldn’t reveal his source because he couldn’t bear the humiliation of doing that. Whether he had heard it from the Republic’s terrorists, directly from Marquis Jayce, or came to the conclusion himself, it was a fact that Marquis Jayce had some sort of interest in Aina Peneloti.
‘Postponing his grand plan?’
It was hard to understand the situation logically. A cold-blooded man like him delaying his great mission because of a lady he had happened to meet at a party? No matter how I looked at it, that wasn’t something he’d do just out of a desire to recruit talent.
For someone like Commander Jin, schedules and plans were everything. He needed to control the situation himself and wouldn’t tolerate even the slightest disruption. His obsession with perfection wasn’t limited to hygiene; in operations, he never allowed the smallest discord.
Even Ji-Hye noona and I were astonished by his strictness, and despite that, he decided to delay a major plan he had personally devised... Whatever the reason behind it, there was no denying that personal feelings were definitely involved.
‘Just what on earth... made him fall for her?’
Was it her shining talent? Her mild temperament? Perhaps her appearance happened to match his taste? Or damn it, could it be that he was just laying the groundwork to make a move on her?
"Just so we’re clear, if you’re lying, that’s gonna be really disappointing, Commander. I clearly told you that Marquis Jayce is right here beside me."
— Damn it. It’s not like that.
"Then where’d you even get that info?"
— I already told you, I don’t know exactly.
"Oh, come on. You don’t just say something like that out of nowhere. You must’ve heard it somewhere. Seriously, can you even imagine it? Whispering love confessions, going on dates, and walking down the aisle? Because I can’t imagine you doing that, Commander Jin. That’s why I’m asking. Aren't you basically what—asexual, right?"
— And I’m supposed to answer to that kind of nonsense?
"I just don’t get it, that’s all. How does someone like you end up catching feelings?
— I-I... don’t know either.
"No, I’m serious. I think I need your personal take here, Commander. I can’t make sense of this. What do you think it is about Aina Peneloti that’s got you interested in her?"
— ...
"You should answer, Commander."
— I really don’t know. I’m not Marquis Jayce... after all.
"Tch."
— But... I can make an educated guess.
‘Yeah, you’d better.’
— Maybe... maybe it started as simple curiosity.
‘Right. That’s what matters. Every connection starts with a curiosity, right?’
— Marquis Jayce just can't help but be intrigued by the Aina Peneloti you created. She’s an unpolished gem, a flower blooming through asphalt. Taking an interest in her isn’t all that strange. Back then, Jayce’s obsession with talent was...
"No, not that predictable buildup. I’m asking why he started seeing her as a woman. That’s the important part."
— Well... maybe he thought Aina Peneloti resembled him.
"Does that even make sense? Have you ever thought of Ji-Hye noona that way?"
— She and I are fundamentally different people. You could say we share no similarities, but what I’m trying to say is that we’re different in too many ways.
"And Aina Peneloti has a lot in common with the Marquis? Maybe that whole shadow thing hit home. Two lonely souls cut from the same cloth, huh? He probably liked seeing her change—getting more energetic and brighter on the outside, but still holding onto that darkness inside.
"You’ve really got a thing for all that shadow and inner darkness stuff, don’t you, Commander?"
— I don't have a thing for that. And I can’t say with certainty that such a ridiculous reason is the truth, either. I’m not Jayce. I can’t know for sure what drives his interest.
— Can anyone really define why those useless emotions occur at all? You don’t always have a reason for liking someone, do you?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
— Anyway, I don’t know. I tried to answer as sincerely as I could, but... Jayce is not me. It’s impossible for me to fully understand him.
‘It doesn't sound like a lie.’
Commander Jin was too calculating to be completely detached from logic, but what he said made sense, too.
‘Maybe there really isn’t a reason.’
Perhaps he just fell for her unknowingly. It was not that different from me. I never really had a clear explanation for liking someone.
‘He’s already caught up in it without even knowing.Already shaken before he’s aware of it.’
While I sat there, quietly mulling it over and tapping my thigh, Marquis Jayce shattered my train of thought.
“It’s your turn,” Marquis Jayce said.
“...”
“...”
“Lady Peneloti?” he said.
“Ah, my apologies, Marquis Jayce,” I answered.
‘Sorry for the delay, I was busy wondering why the hell you’re so infatuated with me, damn it.’
No matter how I looked at him, everything about him seemed carefully constructed, like he was hiding his true self behind a polished facade.
‘How many times has he been to this salon again?’
I couldn’t even remember exactly how many times he had visited the salon. What was certain, though, was that whenever he visited, he would always have a genuinely good time, and for quite a while at that.
As for whether it was because he was trying to charm Peneloti or simply because he was enjoying himself, even I couldn’t tell.
His schedule was simple—walk in, present his gift, and talk. We’d share tea during the conversation, and the topics varied. Usually, he would do most of the talking while I listened and responded, but it didn’t feel like he was showing off.
It felt more like he actually wanted to connect. That alone kept the mood pleasant.
He would even react enthusiastically. By the time my throat started to feel dry, he was already refilling my tea or coffee, and after that came his favorite part—game time. We’d start with chess or cards to warm up. Then, we'd move on to that war game he loved.
Sometimes, he’d tweak the rules mid-match, experiment with new strategies, and when the game ended, we'd go over it together.
‘Now that I think about it...’
Did he actually look happy? Not pretending, but genuinely happy. Whenever he was done for the day, he would always have that satisfied face.
‘Maybe this is normal when people become close.’
Perhaps he really was making progress. Looking back on all the time we had spent together, it almost made sense that he would fall for Aina Peneloti. After all, we always had a good time.
I was someone he could talk to easily and naturally. I was also beautiful, sharp, and graceful. Her family background was a flaw, but she made it feel irrelevant; their conversations flowed as easily as water.
It was more than enough time for curiosity to grow into something more.
‘See? Look at him. He actually looks worried right now.’
His attention seemed elsewhere; he looked genuinely concerned about her.
“Are you all right, Lady Peneloti?” Marquis Jayce asked.
“Hm?”
“You seemed a little lost in thought... My apologies if I was being intrusive,” he said.
“Ah! No, it’s fine. I’m the one who should apologize for losing focus,” I said.
“If anything, I should be the one apologizing, Lady Peneloti. I hope I haven’t come at a bad time. If it isn’t too forward of me, may I ask what’s been troubling you? Perhaps the reason you haven’t attended the recent balls...?” he trailed off.
“...”
“Is it because of Duke Pinkrain? If it’s that matter, you needn’t worry,” he said, reassuring me.
“No, it’s not that. I’ve already put that behind me... I’m not the type to dwell on unpleasant things. Well, it was hard at first, of course, but your visits have helped a lot, Marquis. Come to think of it, I never did thank you properly,” I told him.
“I visit because I enjoy it. Lady Peneloti, you—”
“It’s just—” I interrupted him.
I felt like it was about time to drop a hint.
“Pardon?”
“I’m not sure how to say this, but... I’ve been having bad dreams lately,” I confessed.
“...”
“Dreams, you say?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“...”
“...”
“They’re... incredibly vivid, but when I wake up, I can barely remember the details. Only the feelings stay with me,” I answered.
“May I ask... what kind of feelings?” he asked.
“I’m not sure...” I replied.
Aina Peneloti revealed a faint, bitter smile. Sadness lingered in her eyes. Then, she didn’t give him any time to ponder her words.
“Actually... this isn’t the first time it’s happened,” I confessed.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Have you ever heard the rumor that I’m cursed?” I asked.
Of course, he had.
“It’s hard to explain, but... it was like this before, too. I kept having nightmares without reason. Over and over. And in the end... something terrible happened to my family,” I said.
It was the setup for what she truly was hiding, and that it hadn’t been a curse at all. Aina Peneloti could see the future through her dreams. Her family had branded her gift as a curse, but as always, the protagonist's uniqueness could never be hidden forever.
Misunderstandings were practically a rule. Sure enough, Jayce’s brow twitched. Of course, he knew better than anyone what was destined to happen at this debutante ball.
‘Naturally.’
Unintentionally, Aina Peneloti had stepped closer to his grand design. She sensed that something ominous was approaching. Perhaps she really could see slivers of the future in her sleep, and First Life Commander Jin would certainly catch on to that.
Jayce’s face became stiff.
Aina Peneloti stared into Marquis Jayce's eyes and said, “Marquis Jayce.”
“Yes, Lady Peneloti,” he answered.
“Why is it that you haven’t...” I trailed off before continuing, “...formally proposed to me yet?”
Marquis Jayce's eyes trembled.