Zion was momentarily at a loss for words and slowly came to a halt.
He had indeed observed the Duke Ternein's daughter, but since she was with the Duke, his wife, and their children, it was hard to distinguish them clearly.
How did Hanette notice?
"Can't I look around? What's so wrong with that?"
"Do you want to look at another woman while your fiancée is right here?"
"And I told you I was looking at the Duke."
"Your gaze was directed towards the Duke's daughter."
"She was behind the Duke, so I saw them together."
"So you did see her?"
"Do I need to explain again? I was looking at the Duke!"
Zion sighed, feeling his throat tighten with frustration.
Was it such a big deal to glance at the Duke Ternein's daughter?
"So, you had no intention of looking at the Duke's daughter?"
"Sigh... Think about it. Why would I look at the Duke's daughter?"
"Um... Because she's pretty?"
"What... By that logic, you could look at handsome noblemen."
"Why would I, when I'm engaged? I never had any interest before either."
"I'm the same as you."
"Your answers aren't convincing."
"What did I say that was so wrong?"
"Well..."
Hanette glanced towards where the Duke Ternein was.
Like Duke Adelaira's family, they held the Duke title, and their prestige and reputation were on par.
Noble families had to choose between the two Dukes, and even the royals paid attention to them.
"I don't like this."
Hanette looked at the girl with a displeased gaze.
Of course, the girl hadn't done anything wrong.
The problem was the people who made baseless comparisons between her and Hanette.
But since they had many similarities, it was hard not to notice her.
"Oz Ternein..."
She was also a Duke's daughter but was always compared to Hanette.
Even though they had different behaviors, their similar conditions made them subjects of comparison.
Naturally, Hanette received negative criticism while Oz received praise.
This was a common topic in social gatherings, and even Robbenz and Yenid knew about it.
"She's not bad, acts like a noble lady."
It was irksome.
They praised her manners, elegance, beauty, and the way noblemen lined up to propose to her.
Being from rival Dukes' families, the royals and nobles talked about them often.
"This is why I didn't want to come..."
Hanette had stopped attending social gatherings and events for a while.
It was tiring to maintain a façade, engage in meaningless conversations, and waste time.
Especially today, with her comparison subject present, she felt even more uncomfortable.
"Zion is also a problem. Why is he looking at her?"
Of course, Zion might have been looking at the Duke, not the daughter.
But the feeling was too clear to ignore, and she didn't want to accept that her fiancé's attention was drawn to her.
"Is she really that pretty to you?"
"How many times do I have to say I didn't look at her?"
"Even if you say no, it looks like it to me."
"Sigh... Should I always look at you then? Would that be okay?"
"I'm not saying that. Just... sigh..."
Hanette couldn't respond, frowning instead.
She knew her argument was baseless.
She was only assuming Zion had looked at the girl, and it wasn't a big deal if he had.
Yet she was persistently pestering Zion.
"Did something bad happen with the Duke's daughter?"
"Of course not. I've never met her."
"Or maybe you've heard bad rumors?"
"Hers are probably better than mine."
"Then there must be a reason."
"You created the reason."
"Blaming me again?"
"It's all your fault."
"Sigh..."
Zion sighed, recalling the related storyline.
Hanette and the girl's relationship, their mutual feelings, and the awkward distance between them.
In the story, Hanette and the girl would meet and resolve their misunderstandings in the middle chapters.
"It wasn't a key plot point, but now it makes sense."
Zion realized Hanette's thoughts and her actions.
Hanette disliked her, but the girl admired Hanette and wanted to change herself.
But they never met or talked, so misunderstandings accumulated.
"They even ran away around the same time. Different methods, though..."
Hanette ran away with the protagonist, while the girl awakened her magic through her secret sword training.
Eventually, both became stronger in their own ways and met near the borderlands.
In the end, both achieved their desired lives.
"Hmm... Let's say it's my fault this time. I didn't consider your feelings."
"What?"
"I'll only look at you today. Is that okay?"
"Don't say silly things..."
Hanette looked at Zion with her mouth slightly open.
Zion was looking only at her.
He showed no hesitation, and his violet eyes seemed to shine brightly.
"Why... why are you doing this?"
"You told me not to look at other women."
"When did I say that?"
"You questioned me first. I think you're right, so I'm doing what you asked."
"What's wrong with you?"
"I'm your knight, so I should only look at you. Is that okay?"
"It's embarrassing, so stop!"
"What's embarrassing? We're engaged."
"Oh, really..."
Hanette turned and hurried away from Zion.
Even if Zion's behavior was a bit annoying, she never asked him to only look at her.
She thought a simple excuse would suffice, but he was making her feel awkward.
"Do you hate me now? You wanted me to stay by your side."
"Stop it, okay?"
"I'm doing what you want. What's wrong now?"
"Show it with words, not actions. I used words."
"But I can't talk to you when you're running away."
"It's your fault I'm running!"
They quickly disappeared from the ballroom.
A young lady watched them, slowly turning her head.
It seemed nothing had changed before or after the engagement.
"Even with an engagement, things stay the same."
Oz Ternein, the third daughter of Duke Ternein, covered her mouth and laughed.
She had heard many rumors about Hanette Adelaira.
While others spoke ill of her, Oz saw her as very free-spirited.
That's why she acted without care, even being called the Crazy Young Lady.
"I want to live like that..."
Oz wiped her smile away, denying the thought.
She couldn't live like Hanette Adelaira.
She was bound by too many restrictions and always felt self-conscious.
Without running away, she couldn't achieve her desires.
"Even if I run away... could I do well?"
Oz doubted she could leave.
Her secret sword training wasn't enough to join a knight order, let alone a mercenary group.
She hadn't awakened her magic, so fighting monsters would be difficult.
Without her family's help, surviving alone seemed impossible.
"I can't do anything..."
- Draw the Magic Sword. It is your destiny.
Oz stopped abruptly, looking around.
A deep, resonant voice filled her ears.
It was the first time she heard it, and it was so clear it seemed to awaken her mind.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I'm fine."
Oz answered her maid softly, continuing to walk.
A strange noise echoed around her.
Her vision blurred, and fatigue overwhelmed her.
What was happening to her?
"What's going on?"
Duke Ternein's mansion, Oz's room.
Oz returned to her room as soon as the event ended.
She was supposed to stay until the Duke left, but she couldn't endure it.
After hearing the voice, her ears felt muffled, and dizziness filled her head.
Her family gave her questioning looks, but it was better to leave than to collapse suddenly.
"I don't understand. Draw the Magic Sword..."
Lying on her bed, Oz recalled the voice.
She didn't know where it came from or whose voice it was.
What was the intention behind those words?
"I can't do anything."
Oz slowly closed her eyes, pulling the blanket up.
Her destiny started in this mansion, and it still bound her.
She couldn't defy her fate alone, and her desire for her own life had long faded.
No one would help her, and whatever she did, only the worst outcomes awaited.
"I'm not Hanette Adelaira."
Hanette Adelaira acted confidently, ignoring others' stares.
She did what she wanted, disregarding noble connections, and even defied her family.
Thus, Oz envied her, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't become Hanette Adelaira.
"I can only live like this..."
- Accept your destiny. You must wield the Magic Sword.
Oz quickly sat up, scanning the room.
Still, no one was there, not even a hint of presence.
Yet the voice she heard in the ballroom echoed again.
"Who... who's there?"
- Draw the Magic Sword. Your true destiny will begin.
The mysterious voice shook her mind.
Though her mind felt hazy, her eyes seemed to clear.
A fiery sensation surged within her.
"I don't understand..."
- You've denied your destiny for too long. Accept it now. You can no longer delay.
"No, I'm fine like this. I..."
- Your destiny is set. You were chosen by the Magic Sword. The eighth Magic Sword calls to you.
"Huff... huff..."
Oz clutched her head, breathing heavily.
Her headache worsened, and her body burned.
She felt like she might collapse any moment.
- Seal all Magic Swords with the eighth Magic Sword. It is your mission.