Chapter 62
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Was someone watching him with ill intent?
The one who reacted first to the covert gaze sent by Bill Caneze wasn’t Ephinia, but Kasselard. When those cold blue eyes turned toward him, Bill flinched in shock and quickly hid behind a nearby pillar.
…What was that? Who was that?
He had clearly been looking this way. But the moment their eyes met, he ran away? Any ordinary noble would have plastered on a loose smile and bowed obsequiously.
‘Was he watching Ephinia, not me?’
How dare he.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, killing intent surged toward the unknown noble. The fact that he hid himself the instant their eyes met made it obvious that his intentions were not honorable.
When Kasselard flicked his finger, the Marquisate’s steward, who had been waiting nearby, hurried over.
“Do you require anything, Your Highness?”
“I’d like to know the name and status of the person hiding behind that pillar. Is he a guest here?”
When the steward turned his gaze, he could only see the hem of the person’s clothing behind the pillar, so he couldn’t identify him. At the very least, none of the guests invited by the Marquis and Marchioness would try to avoid the Crown Prince’s attention like that. The steward bowed his head.
“I will find out immediately.”
After bowing to Kasselard and stepping back, he immediately summoned the servants. It was also the steward’s duty to remove suspicious individuals who had entered the ballroom.
“Check the invitation of the person hiding behind that pillar and confirm his identity. Keep him under watch even after his status is verified.”
At the steward’s order, the Marquisate servants moved at once. Before large events like this, they were trained to memorize the faces and identities of the capital’s high-ranking nobles.
At a glance, he appeared to be a minor noble of count rank or below, so none of the servants approaching Bill Caneze felt any tension.
“Pardon me.”
Startled by the two servants blocking his path, Bill turned back, only to see two more approaching from behind. One side was a wall, and the other was blocked by a thick, large pillar, so he was momentarily flustered.
“W-What is the meaning of this?”
“There has been a complaint that someone who wasn’t invited is among the guests, so we are verifying identities. May we see your invitation?”
Servants were not allowed to accompany guests into this ball. After entering, Bill had received the invitation from his attendant and was carrying it himself.
“My invitation is perfectly valid.”
When he took the invitation from his coat and handed it over, the servant looked at the name on it and then at Bill. He spoke in a somewhat cold voice.
“May I have your name?”
“I-Isn’t it written right there?”
“Count Nicol Armand is an elderly gentleman who walks with a limp. I will ask again. Please state your name and status.”
Bill flinched and stared at the servant’s face. In a household of a Marquis’s standing, it wouldn’t be strange if some of the servants were illegitimate children of noble families or fallen nobles.
‘Could it be that they recognized me and came looking for me?’
Ephinia had come to the party with the Crown Prince at her side. If she had recognized his face, she might have alerted the Marchioness to have him thrown out.
‘I absolutely can’t let them know I’m Bill Caneze!’
“O-On what grounds are you saying this? The old count and I are close acquaintances, so—”
As he raised his voice, the servants covered his mouth and began dragging him away. Since he had been hiding behind a pillar, it was easy for them to use force.
When several nearby nobles looked over in surprise, the servant who had spoken first said with a polite expression,
“He is merely a suspicious individual who slipped into the ball. Please do not concern yourselves.”
Since it wasn’t uncommon for swindlers to sneak into the parties of famous nobles, the surrounding guests nodded in understanding and turned away. Bill’s face flushed with humiliation.
‘To suffer such disgrace!’
He looked around for Helena, but perhaps she had hidden herself after seeing him being dragged away, because she was nowhere in sight. Although the situation was unsettling, he believed there was still a chance as long as Helena had not been kicked out.
‘Helena, you must handle this somehow!’
His daughter had a vicious and persistent streak, so she would never leave Ephinia alone. She had always hated that wench fiercely.
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