The number of people in the ballroom was overwhelming.

  Emily had expected a party, yes, but she had never imagi would be so grand.

  The gilded ns of the hall reflected the light from the enormous crystal deliers hanging from the ceiling, and in every er there was a group of nobles whispering, ughing, or simply with a critical eye.

  There was too muent, too muoise, but above all…

  Too many eyes!

  Emily swallowed hard.

  ‘Should I really be here?’ she wondered, feeling that her dress, although pretty, was far too simple pared to those worn by the other women.

  The reason Emily wore an inexpensive dress was that she didn’t want to stand out too much—but she hadn’t expected it to have the opposite effebsp;

  Her hands trembled slightly, but she hid them behind her back, trying to calm herself.

  Meanwhile, Non strode forward without a hint of . He didn’t seem to pay attention to anyone, walking with a fident pad the same usual expression: calm, rexed, as if he were strolling through a market rather than attending one of the kingdom’s most important parties.

  What surprised her most was that… Non was still wearing the same old clothes!

  It was a formal outfit, yes, but pared to the opulence of the nobles’ garments, it looked pin. He wore no adors, no jewels, not even a family crest broobsp;

  He was simply Non, just as he always was.

  ‘He doesn’t care what ahinks of him,’ Emily thought with a touch of admiration.

  While she worried about every little detail—how others looked at her, whether her behavior roper—Non simply did what he wanted without the slightest .

  As they moved along, he headed straight for one of the enormous tables den with food.

  Emily blinked, a little fused.

  ‘Really? The first thing he does upon arriving is eat?’ she mused.

  Meanwhile, Non was already seleg something from the tray with plete nonce. He grabbed a small bite—a cream-filled pastry—and without even looking at her, he said:

  "Open your mouth."

  Emily immediately felt her face heat up.

  "Wh-what?"

  She quickly looked around.

  No one seemed to be paying attention to them at that moment, but the idea of being seen…

  "e on, hurry up," Non insisted, calmly watg her while holding the pastry between his fingers.

  Emily’s heart raced.

  ‘Wait, wait! What kind of situation is this?!’ she thought, utterly bewildered.

  But seeing that he wasn’t l his hand and fearing someone might notice, she decided to act quickly. Leaning forward slightly, she bit into the pastry without overthinking it.

  It was too fast.

  She bit down too hard.

  And along with the pastry… she also bit Non’s hand a little!

  "Ah!"

  Emily immediately pulled away, her eyes wide open.

  "I-I'm sorry!"

  Horrified, Emily noticed that she had left a bit of saliva on Non’s fingers.

  Non blinked in surprise for a moment, then… he simply burst into ughter.

  "It’s nothing," he said.

  Emily wao disappear.

  "I really am sorry…"

  She tried to find a handkerchief to his hand, but before she could do anything, Non simply brought his own hand to his mouth and…

  Emily felt her mind go bnk at what she had just seen.

  ‘He ate it with the hand I licked! WHAT IS GOING ON?!’

  Her blush deepened and she lowered her gaze, far too embarrassed to say another word.

  However, the i did not go unnoticed.

  "Oh, how sweet,"

  Emily heard a nearby woman remark.

  "Young nobles who ’t even wait for some privacy to flirt…" added a man in a mog tone.

  Emily felt a pang of disfort.

  She ched her hands tightly but took a deep breath to calm herself.

  She didn’t want to cause a sdal or embarrass Non.

  When Emily dared to look up again, Non was still eating, pletely unfazed by the ents.

  ‘Does he really not care about anything?’ she thought, watg him in disbelief.

  Before she could drown further in her embarrassment, a loud voice echoed through the hall.

  "Yhness, Princess Iris, has arrived!"

  The murmurs ceased instantly.

  Emily lifted her head, curious, and watched as the crowd parted to let the prihrough.

  She was… dazzling.

  Iris wore a pink silk dress adorned with fine golden embroidery that curled like vines along the skirt.

  The fabric flowed gracefully with each step, and around her neck rested a delicate pearl neckce that shimmered in the light of the hall.

  Her blonde hair was gathered in an eborate bun, with a few loose strands artfully framing her fabsp;

  Emily felt a sharp pang in her chest.

  ‘She’s beautiful…’

  Seeing the princess’s poise, her grace, and the way everyone looked at her with admiration, Emily felt her insecurity grow even more.

  She wao ent on the princess, perhaps share her impression with Non…

  But wheuro look at him, she found him… eating another pastry.

  Emily felt her eye twitbsp;

  ‘Does he really not care about the princess’s arrival?!’

  Non tinued as if nothing was happening, a piece of bread in one hand and a k of meat iher, chewing calmly while the rest of the room gazed at Princess Iris in reverenbsp;

  Emily wasn’t sure whether to ugh or despair.