I couldn't believe it.

She was really here.

Standing right in front of me.

For years, she had only existed as words on a page.

Now—

She was real.

Far more beautiful than the novel had ever described.

Her crimson hair shimmered beneath the afternoon sunlight, cascading like silk down her back.

Her violet eyes were striking.

Sharp.

Unreadable.

The kind of eyes that looked as though they had already witnessed every cruelty the world could offer.

She wore a dark wine-red dress.

Elegant.

Simple.

Without excessive jewels or extravagant ornaments.

She didn't need them.

People often said Lady Elara was the most beautiful woman in the empire.

I disagreed.

If beauty alone decided the heroine—

Then Isolde could have easily taken that place.

For several seconds, I simply stared.

I forgot to blink.

Forgot that I had almost been run over.

Forgot everything except the woman standing before me.

She sighed.

"…Are you trying to bore a hole through my face?"

I froze.

One perfectly shaped eyebrow lifted.

"Or…"

Her lips curved ever so slightly.

"Did you fall in love with me?"

My eyes widened.

"W-What?"

"The way you're staring."

She folded her arms.

"I've seen men look at me like that."

A brief pause.

"But never another woman."

Heat rushed to my face.

"I-I'm sorry."

She tilted her head.

"You blush easily."

"I don't…"

Without thinking, I touched my cheeks.

Warm.

Very warm.

Wonderful.

Now I looked ridiculous.

A quiet laugh escaped her.

It wasn't loud.

Nor was it mocking.

Just...

Amused.

For the first time, her face softened.

Then her gaze shifted downward.

To my hands.

The laughter disappeared.

Small cuts covered my palms from falling onto the stone road.

"What were you thinking?"

"..."

"Standing in the middle of the road."

"I..."

The words refused to come out.

Because I wasn't sure myself.

She watched me for a long moment.

Then spoke again.

"Are you so afraid of getting hurt..."

Her voice became quieter.

"…that you've stopped trying to avoid it?"

The question stole my breath.

I slowly looked up.

For the first time—

Our eyes truly met.

Something flickered within her violet eyes.

Not pity.

Recognition.

As though...

Somewhere deep inside...

She understood exactly what I was feeling.

Neither of us spoke.

The busy street continued around us.

Merchants shouted.

Carriages rolled past.

People hurried by.

Yet for that brief moment—

The world felt strangely quiet.

Then the silence shattered.

"Oh my goodness!"

"Lady Seraphina!"

"What happened?"

People rushed toward us.

Several noblewomen hurried over in alarm.

Their eyes immediately landed on Isolde.

Expressions changed.

"I knew it..."

"Lady Isolde is here."

"Did she push Lady Seraphina?"

"How horrible..."

The whispers spread through the crowd almost instantly.

No one asked what had happened.

No one questioned whether it was true.

They had already decided.

Because the person standing beside me...

Was Isolde Marianne Virelith.

And everyone believed the worst of her.

Isolde didn't defend herself.

She didn't argue.

She didn't even react.

As though she had heard those accusations so many times that they no longer meant anything.

She simply looked at me.

"You should be more careful."

Her voice was calm.

Almost indifferent.

"Next time..."

A brief pause.

"Don't stand still."

Then she turned away.

"Take care."

She hesitated for only a heartbeat.

"And... let's hope we don't meet again."

Without another word, she disappeared into the crowd.

Alone.

No attendants.

No ladies-in-waiting.

No knight escorting her.

Just one lonely figure walking through a street full of people.

Somehow...

That image hurt more than the accusations.

"Seraphina!"

Mother's voice pulled me back.

She hurried toward me, her face pale with worry.

The moment she reached me, she wrapped both arms around me.

"My dear..."

Her hands trembled slightly.

"Are you hurt?"

I slowly shook my head.

"I'm alright."

Mother looked me over from head to toe before finally letting out a relieved sigh.

Then she noticed the direction I had been looking.

"...I saw Lady Isolde with you."

I nodded.

"She didn't push me."

Mother looked surprised.

"She saved me."

The surrounding whispers quieted.

I continued before anyone could interrupt.

"If it weren't for Lady Isolde..."

I looked down at my scraped hands.

"...I might have been hit by that carriage."

Mother remained silent for a moment.

Then a gentle smile appeared on her face.

"I know."

I looked at her in surprise.

"You... do?"

She nodded.

"I've met Lady Isolde before."

There was no disgust in her voice.

No prejudice.

Only quiet understanding.

"She's a good child."

The words caught me completely off guard.

Mother looked toward the street where Isolde had disappeared.

"What a pity."

I blinked.

"What is?"

"She left before I could thank her."

Mother smiled faintly.

"Perhaps next time..."

"We should invite her for tea."

I stared at her.

Invite...

The future villainess?

For tea?

Mother gently squeezed my hand.

"But first..."

She smiled warmly.

"Let's go home."