Chapter 25

*Durong.* There was a sound of chair dragging as Citrina and Desian left behind the desperate baroness.

“Thank you.”

“Yes. You can count on me.”

Citrina nodded.

Desian’s arm was wrapped tightly around her shoulders making it seem like she was leaning on him.

Citrina needed this warmth even just a little. With only a bit of warmth, she could live in this world.

However, this warmth can disappear easily like her nickname ‘Rina’. So she didn’t intend to be with Desian for long.

At least not now.

Meanwhile, after Citrina left, after sitting for a while, the baroness got up. Now she also had to find a way to live.

Just like a prisoner, she returned to the Baron residence with a pale face like wearing a mask.

When she arrived home as pale as a ghost, the baron was scared out of his pants.

“Madam, what happened?”

The baron was holding a liquor in one hand and Elena’s letter in the other. Perhaps he read all of Elena’s letters that the baroness left behind.

“I got a letter from Elena. Someone told her that Citrina was with a man? Is he a rich man? Does she get a dowry?”

“Why aren’t you talking, Madam?”

“My Lord.”

“Well, did you get some money?”

When the baroness did not speak, the baron urged her in a hurry.

“I did not,” the baroness replied disrespectfully.

“Madam, what do you mean?”

“It’s over.”

“What do you mean?”

The baroness bit her lips as she looked at her husband repeating the same words like a broken clock.

At some point in time, they had become ruined nobles without even an inch of land. Therefore, it’s obvious that the baron brain became a mess after drinking too much.

“I have a lot of things to say, but it’s regretful.”

“So, our daughter didn’t give money? Eish.”

Baron Foluin threw out the bottle and shouted.

*Clink, clink!*

The sound of the bottle breaking was heard. After breaking the bottle, the baron staggered upstairs.

The baroness whispered as she looked at his retreating back, “Come to think of it, I think I used to call her Rina back then.”

Whatever her thoughts may be, now… It’s over. You can’t piece together a broken glass.

She thought she should write a letter to Elena. We can no longer buy you real swords. Also, Citrina left.

After breaking her relationship with the baroness, Citrina stayed with Desian.

He had been with her for a surprisingly long time. Without saying anything, he just sat still and gave her warmth.

“Desian,” Citrina’s voice choked up. Staying still gave her a deeper comfort than she thought.

She took a short deep breath and called Desian. It wasn’t a cautious tone.

“Why don’t we do something you like, Rina.”

“… What I like?”

“Yes.”

“… Yes. Let’s change the mood,” Citrina muttered softly.

“You said you wanted to go to the summer ball?”

“Ah… Yes.”

She said she liked the ball.

Citrina replied with a small smile, already feeling relieved. He has a pretty good memory.

‘He’s definitely more sensitive.’

The word sensitive seemed like a billion light-years away to describe Desian Pietro. But it also seems like Desian Pietro, who’s gradually being conscious of his feelings, acquired a delicate corner.

“I’ll make you a ball.”

“How?”

“Close your eyes.”

“Okay.”

Citrina closed her eyes and imagined the ballroom in Cinderella.

As she closed her eyes, slowly the surroundings of the room started to change.

The change that Desian’s finger brought was bold and surprising.

“This is what you imagined, right?”

Citrina opened her eyes. She was in awe for a while. It was so fascinating that she forgot the conversation with her mother.

“It’s perfect.”

Citrina opened her eyes wide and looked around.

The wallpaper was transformed into a colorful one, and the flat ceiling was transformed into a dome. The chandelier that was hanging from the dome sparkled brilliantly. The sofas in the living room disappeared, and a gorgeous venue with a red carpet appeared.

While she was in admiration, the window opened. The summer night breeze blew. Even a little bird flew in, it perfectly aligned with her imagination.

“Desian, are you a fairy?”

“No…. I’m not a fairy.”

Citrina laughed, covering her mouth. It was because she wondered where she knew of a fairy.

‘Cute.’

She covered her mouth and laughed until she felt a strange sense of discomfort on her fingertips. There was a white lace glove on her hands that wasn’t there previously.

“Pretty… ”

It wasn’t just that. Citrina looked down. Glass shoe and a silver dress.

Desian was also in the same outfit as what Citrina had imagined. A white uniform with gold stamens on his shoulders. It’s the same as the prince in the fairy tale.

Desian was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. So, he… They matched surprisingly well.

“Would you like to dance?”

Desian gave her a hand in a modest attitude. He pulled out a sentence she never thought she would hear from him.

He looked at her with a neat but hot gaze.

She thought that all of these were weird and dangerous.

Citrina smiled playfully and placed her hand over his. His fingertips were cold. But she knew instinctively, the fact that his coldness will not hurt her.

“Of course.”

At the end of her remark, a beautiful dance took place inside the Ting Bin Ballroom.

“Is this your first dance?”

“What about you?”

“This is my first dance”

“So is mine. I haven’t had my debut yet.”

If the baron’s nobility title was confiscated before that, the debutant may never be accepted.

They made a full turn in the absence of everyone, and danced ceaselessly.

Citrina often stepped on his feet, but by the time dawn came, the state of their dance became quite neat.

“Tired?”

“Yes. I feel tired… ”

They barely stopped dancing and danced so much that their legs hurt. Citrina thought, receiving Desian’s soft touch as he gently wiped the sweat off her forehead.

Is it the magic of the night or the magic of the dance?

Somehow, Desian seemed to give her a deep meaning. She also predicted that he would have a profound influence on her life. Her intuition was often sharp.

And Citrina was afraid of it.

Being moderately acquainted with someone and getting absorbed in trying to maintain a deep relationship are definitely not the same.

‘I cannot save other people. So let’s think about my life.’

She had to do what she wanted to do.

At the happiest time of her life, she made up her mind to leave this place.

***

The night when they had their own ball was over. After that dreamy night, she came back to reality.

Fortunately, the messenger from the House of Baron Foluin no longer visited her. It was quiet since there was no news.

What’s strange is that the period of the Duke’s fighting against the disease has become endlessly longer since then.

As the absence of the Duke prolonged, the senate gradually began to intervene in the family’s affair. She heard from Aron that Desian proposed the process of succession of the Duke title.

Desian seemed to be watching the situation at ease because time was on his side.

He gradually took over the title of Duke. It wasn’t difficult for those with absolute and wicked powers.

Little by little, time passed.

After the dance that night, Desian and Citrina got closer and closer.

It was a little awkward to face him after that dreamy time but she returned to reality where she had countless thoughts.

Desian was unchanged and modest. Citrina taught him the moral laws and introduced him to good servants. As he, oddly enough, became docile to her words.

To give an analogy, like a dog with a leash.

She was relieved by his kindness.

Two months have passed since she came to the Duke’s household, she got paid again.

When she got paid this time, it was on Desian. As she checked the amount of money, Citrina stumbled.

‘When should I leave?’

There was not much time left for Citrina. There are times when dwarves do not accept disciples, and if the timing is not right, the gem spirit could leave the dwarf’s Atelier.

I can live by relying on the favor of Desian and Aron, but I don’t want to live with only the help of others, because I also have a dream.’

She wants to touch, love, learn, and further develop the gems of this world with the help of craftsmen, spirits, and dwarves.

She wanted to run her own jewelry business and make it in a small Atelier. While making jewelry for people, she wanted to build her own career.

Thinking about the future, her heart was pounding with anticipation.

‘When we meet again, we’ll be older, then we could really be equal friends.’

To do that.

She also needed time to grow.

‘So I’ll have to leave now.’

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