The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 23 - Birthday Party – 2

“…Rufus.”

I called his name without thinking. Rufus widened his sharp eyes in surprise and said, “Why are you here?”

I had heard that he also knew Eliza, but judging by his face, he seemed confused as to why I had been invited to her birthday party. I don’t know why he’d look so surprised.

Standing next to him was Lord Kevin, whom I had seen the other day.

“Oh my, is some kind of trouble about to start?”

“It’s Lady Sadie, after all. She might complain about something.”

Even though it was just a coincidence, just by standing face-to-face with Rufus, people around us were already starting to whisper and make a fuss.

Not wanting to cause any trouble, I quickly tried to step away. That’s when Lord Kevin came between us.

“Good evening. I see you’re wearing it.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you very much.”

“I think the person who gave that to you would be very happy.”

He was looking at the ring on my right hand.

“I really like this ring. It made me so happy. Could you please tell the person who gave it to me?”

“Of course, I’d be glad to.”

“I’ll wear it always and take good care of it.”

I hoped even a little of my gratitude would reach him. I glanced at Rufus—he was looking down, holding a hand over his mouth for some reason. Was he feeling sick?

“Being around a woman like her brings down your dignity, Lord Rufus.”

“It really does.”

I was about to speak to him out of concern, but I heard those words and quickly closed my mouth. I could still feel many cold, judging stares around me.

“Um… excuse me.”

The truth is, I really wanted to talk to Rufus, even just a little. But since he gave me the ring without putting his name on it, it was clear he didn’t want to be directly involved with me.

I told myself it was enough to have thanked him in person, and I was about to walk away quietly.

“…?”

Just as I turned to leave, Rufus suddenly grabbed my wrist tightly.

I turned back in surprise. He looked confused too, staring at his hand like he didn’t understand what he was doing. The part where he was holding me felt unusually warm.

He seemed like he wanted to say something, and after a short pause, he finally spoke.

“…It really… looks good on you.”

My heart jumped at the unexpected words.

I never thought he would say something like that to me directly. When I looked up at him in surprise, his face was visibly red.

Could it be that he was embarrassed? A quiet happiness spread through me, and I couldn’t help but smile a little.

“I’m really happy to hear that from you, Rufus. Thank you.”

“…Yeah.”

Then he gently let go of my arm and gave a small smile. It was the first time I had seen him smile like that since we were adults. It was so kind and beautiful that I smiled too.

“…I hope we can keep talking like this sometimes, even just a little.”

I was so happy that he had spoken to me that I ended up saying that without thinking.

Saying I want to be close friends would be too much, too bold. But I hoped we could at least exchange a few words now and then.

However, the moment I said that, Rufus’s expression suddenly changed—as if the world had ended.

A heavy silence fell between us. Then he finally spoke.

“…No.”

It hurt, but it was the obvious response. I was just being foolish to think anything had changed. I instantly regretted getting carried away.

“Y-yeah… I’m sorry. Someone like me shouldn’t—”

“No! That’s not what I meant. I—”

Just as Rufus started to speak, flustered—

“Sadie?”

I turned at the voice and saw Gerald smiling and standing right next to me.

When I realized I’d stopped walking and made him wait, I apologized, but he said, “It’s okay,” and gently took my hand.

He looked back and forth between me and Rufus and said, “You shouldn’t be here,” then pulled me along with him.

“Let’s go, okay?”

“Y-yeah…”

I hesitated a little, but Gerald gave me a firm smile that didn’t allow any refusal. I bowed slightly to Rufus and Kevin and walked away.

Behind me, I could hear Lord Kevin’s tired voice:

“How clueless can you be?”

◇◇◇

“…You don’t like him, right?”

“Huh?”

“You don’t like Rufus Langridge, right? You’re not falling for him, are you?”

Gerald had been holding my arm and walking quickly through the crowd, but once we were past the people, he suddenly stopped and asked me that.

Of course I like Rufus. He didn’t abandon me, even though I was once a terrible person. He cared about me deeply.

I also accepted that the broken engagement was something that had to happen. And above all, he still worried about me enough to give me that ring.

“Rufus is actually a really kind person.”

“So what?”

“Huh?”

“I’m much kinder to you than he is.”

His words didn’t sound like him at all, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. Maybe he noticed my confusion, because he gave me a small, troubled smile.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel awkward.”

“…It’s okay.”

“He’s not good enough for you, Sadie.”

He said that clearly, and gently touched my cheek.