Chapter 24

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: 24

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Her words were indeed true.

In a place where it was customary for those of higher status to initiate conversation first, Julia had a hard time even getting a proper introduction.

The relative grandmother she was staying with had long since retired from high society, and with few families she kept in touch with, she couldn't provide Julia any real help.

Not to mention Yonas.

He had volunteered to escort the Duke under the pretext of looking after his sister, yet he showed no interest in her whatsoever. He claimed it wouldn't make any difference since he didn't know anyone here anyway.

'My brother doesn't understand these things at all.'

Wallflower—a term for a woman who spends the entire party standing guard by the wall because she can't mingle with the crowd.

That had been Julia's situation up until now.

But then, someone she never would have expected stepped up to help.

"Well, of course I'd be delighted. You don't have to go to such lengths to help me like this. I wouldn't even know how to repay the favor..."

"If I marry the Duke, won't that make Miss Julia and Sir Yonas close to me as well? It's all just to make a good impression, so don't feel burdened."

With those words, Iona naturally drew Julia toward the center of the room.

Julia straightened her back from where it had been leaning against the wall and gazed at Iona's back, utterly entranced.

The ballroom alongside Iona felt like an entirely different world from before.

They hadn't taken more than a few steps before someone came rushing over to greet them.

"No way, Sir Iona! Seeing you here—what's the occasion?"

"Why? Am I not allowed at places like this?"

"I've always wondered why someone like you, who loves drink more than life, has zero interest in parties. If you or the Commander enjoyed a bit of fun now and then, our shifts would end a lot earlier."

The man bantered familiarly with Iona before turning his attention to Julia standing beside her.

"But who's this lovely young lady with you?"

"Ah, this is Miss Julia, the sister of Sir Yonas, a close retainer of Duke Leroy. Miss Julia, this is Sir Florian of the Imperial Knight Order, same as me."

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Julia of the Becker Barony."

Julia managed to reply, forcing down the tremor in her chest.

Once the ice was broken with that first conversation, everything else came even easier. People started flocking to them of their own accord.

Iona didn't know many people, but the handful she did were all young, promising knights.

For Julia, who needed to dance with as many men as possible, there could be no better opportunity.

Julia danced with each man Iona introduced her to, then returned to the floor with a new face after every song ended, repeating the cycle endlessly.

These were dreamlike moments the likes of which Julia had never experienced before.

"Oh my, has it gotten this late already?"

After some time had passed, Julia caught her breath with a sip of champagne and spoke in surprise.

In the frenzy of dancing, the time to head home had already arrived.

For Julia, who always eagerly awaited the moment to leave, this was an unbelievable experience.

Iona asked in a calm voice, as if soothing her.

"Do you have a set curfew?"

"Yes, my brother promised to come pick me up. Oh, would you like to come out and say hello to him too?"

You couldn't send a lady home alone in the dead of night.

If Yonas was in his right mind, he wouldn't forget something as simple as fetching his sister.

Iona nodded readily.

"Sure."

The party was still far from over, leaving the entrance hall deserted.

Iona and Julia quickly spotted Yonas waiting nearby.

"Brother, over here!"

"Hey, Julia. When time's up, you should come out right away..."

Yonas trailed off mid-sentence as he hurried toward them and came to a halt.

His face went slack as he asked,

"Sir Iona?"

A brief, awkward silence fell. Yonas's expression slowly hardened as he stared at Iona.

He strode forward and roughly shoved Julia behind his back.

In a frightening voice, he demanded,

"What's your game?"

That was far too aggressive a reception for someone returning a simple favor.

Julia looked equally stunned by her brother's behavior, her eyes wide like a startled rabbit.

Iona replied flatly,

"Game? That's putting it a bit strongly."

"Did you look into my background?"

"Was it such a state secret that Miss Julia is your sister?"

"Everyone knows you never show up to events like this. Did you approach my sister on purpose?"

Iona had half-expected a reaction like this. His delivery was clumsy, but even in her past life, Yonas had cherished his family fiercely.

Just as Iona pondered how to clear up the misunderstanding and opened her mouth,

Thwack—the sound of a watermelon splitting rang out, and Yonas's head jerked forward.

Julia had punched her brother square in the nape of the neck.

Julia shouted, her face flushed with fury,

"Why do you go around slandering people when you don't even know the full story?!"

As if unable to believe his own sister had struck him, Yonas turned around with a dumbfounded look.

Veins bulging in his neck, he glared at her in frustration.

"Julia! You really...! Haa..."

He started to raise his voice but let out a long sigh instead.

Quickly reining in his temper, he pushed Julia behind him again.

"...Forget it. Just get in the carriage. This isn't for you to worry about."

"Why isn't it? This is about me, isn't it? I'll explain it myself. Problem solved."

"Julia! You keep acting like such a child!"

Before they knew it, the situation had devolved into a full-blown sibling spat.

Julia stood her ground without flinching at Yonas's scolding.

She hadn't noticed from inside, but up close, that stubborn face really did take after her brother's.

Julia thrust her chin up defiantly.

"So what if she knows I'm your sister? Are you out here pretending to be an only child? What's the big deal to make such a fuss?"

Yonas rubbed his face in exasperation, looking like he was about to lose his mind. Seeing that only fueled Julia's anger further, her voice rising.

"That's right—she acted like she already knew I was your sister! And? What did Sir Iona do by approaching me? Do you have any idea what she did for me in there?"

"Just calm down first. I don't know what's got you so upset, but we'll talk about it after we get home."

"See? You don't even know what I'm talking about, do you? You're wondering why I'm suddenly flipping out, right?"

Yonas had no chance to argue back—Julia had shut down his stance at the root.

She had pierced straight through his thoughts.

Yonas flinched as if struck, and Julia's face twisted in pain.

All her pent-up frustration came pouring out in an instant.

"Of course you don't know—you just dumped me here and never once cared what I was up to!"

After the coup seven years ago, the ducal family had stayed away from the capital for a long time.

Their vassal houses were no exception.

With ties severed, their standing in the capital had naturally eroded, to the point where even their family name was now forgotten.

The impoverished Becker family couldn't buy connections like the others. Yonas and his parents weren't the type to leverage their friendship with the Duke to build power anyway.

"I didn't know a soul in the capital, so I spent every party glued to the wall. There were times I left without saying a single word the whole night."

Julia bit her lower lip, as if ashamed to admit it aloud.

Iona figured it was high time Yonas shut his mouth, but he clearly lacked any talent for reading the room.

Flustered, he stammered,

"What? How is that even related...? No, why are you only telling me now? If you'd spoken up sooner, I could've..."

"Spoken up sooner, and what? 'If you'd explained it properly, I might've come myself'—is that it?"

Yonas fell silent, utterly at a loss for words.

Julia glared at him with eyes full of resentment.

Moisture began to glisten in her voice.