Upon hearing the response, Leonid froze, still holding the silver button in his hand like a piece of ice carved into a statue.

His expression faded, and his face slowly began to frown. Silence stretched on for a few minutes.

Just when the air grew heavy and suffocating, his low voice finally broke the silence.

“…First love?”

It was closer to a mutter than a question. He repeated the words “first love” a couple of times, as if the term were foreign to him.

Leonid, his gaze moving slowly, glanced at the silver button in his hand before looking back at Johanna.

“When exactly was that?”

His voice sank so low it was almost terrifying. His gaze was equally icy, making Johanna break into a cold sweat as she wondered what could have soured his mood again.

“It was when I was sixteen. About five years ago….”

“…You still haven’t forgotten your first love from five years ago?”

“Well, he was my savior….”

Johanna kept glancing at him, her gaze filled with discomfort. She couldn’t bring herself to say that he was, in fact, that first love, leaving her in quite the predicament.

“If you’re suspicious that I’m still meeting that first love…”

“Who was it, that first love of yours? Is it someone I know?”

“No, it’s not like that. We were just distant acquaintances. He didn’t even know I existed.”

“Then why did you like someone who didn’t even know you existed? Don’t tell me… you still like him?”

Words caught in her throat. She needed to lie and say she didn’t like him anymore, but facing him directly made it hard to speak.

Perhaps interpreting her hesitation as affirmation, Leonid’s gaze on Johanna turned even colder.

A sardonic smile slowly appeared on his lips.

“I didn’t realize you were such a romantic, Miss Lucerne. Impressive. Unable to forget a first love for five years.”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Enough. Listening further is just a headache. You’re sure there’s no contact with this first love?”

“…Yes.”

She wondered what expression he would make if she told him the truth. That her first love was the very person standing right before her…

But saying that would likely be seen as breaching their contract, and in the worst case, she could be cast aside.

When she thought about it, she’d practically deceived him. She knew Leonid Neubitz despised Omegas who approached him with ulterior motives, and yet she had hidden her feelings.

If he discovered her messy, lingering affection that had lasted five years… she feared just imagining how much he would despise her.

“I never thought I’d say the same thing my mother once did. But it has to be said. Conduct yourself properly. Even if you happen to see that first love, don’t acknowledge him… don’t even smile at him.”

The demand he added at the end was a bit strange. However, Johanna nodded, choosing to accept it rather than try to understand him.

Leonid stared at Johanna, who seemed oddly unenthusiastic, before sighing and lightly tossing the silver button in his hand.

In the dim space, where only the faint glow of dawn seeped in, the silver button glimmered softly.

“…You know what they say about first loves—they never come true.”

Suddenly, he asked. Though the question was thrown out indifferently, it had an oddly sharp edge to it.

And the words that followed pierced Johanna’s heart like a wedge.

“So forget it. There’s no hope anyway.”

Hearing such words from the object of her unrequited love was far crueler than she’d anticipated.

Leonid glanced briefly at the stunned Johanna, her lips barely moving, then turned his back to her, still clutching the stolen silver button without returning it.

Chapter 8

While industrial and commercial sectors now formed the foundation of the Vinesheim Kingdom’s economy, it was once an agricultural nation. As such, harvest festivals were grandly held everywhere, whether in cities or rural areas.

In the capital, the royal family’s birthplace, there was an elaborate festival open to all, regardless of status, featuring performances, exhibitions, and balls throughout the entire week.

Among these, the royal palace ball was undoubtedly the most popular event, especially cherished by the upper-class unmarried population.

For Alphas and Omegas still holding onto romantic ideals, this ball held the promise of meeting a fated partner. Others simply came for enjoyment or to seek a suitable marriage match.

Betas, too, aside from lacking distinct traits, were no different from Alphas and Omegas.

“They say the Marquis and Marchioness Neubitz are planning to attend… well, of course they are.”

People would find it odd if they didn’t appear at such a grand event as the palace ball.

Pretending to be a loving couple must be quite tiresome. Josephine muttered to herself, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

“Of course, I’ll be wearing diamonds. Pearls are for smaller gatherings. Now, choose some flowers for me. What suits better, roses or lilies?”

To avoid displeasing the temperamental Josephine, the maids quickly exchanged glances and chose lilies.

Dressed in a pale yellow gown, Josephine adorned herself with diamond necklaces and earrings, decorating her updo with lilies. She smiled with satisfaction as she admired her reflection in the mirror. It was a beauty that none could rival.