Chapter 4 (Edited)

The banquet had already begun, and Father had introduced Claudius and me as his sons, putting on the guise of a proud parent to maintain his image. But to me, he would never be a good father, and I no longer cared.

After the introductions, we were free to mingle with the guests—or rather, free to "socialize." I wore a black steampunk brocade waistcoat over a white long-sleeved shirt, with a red diamond brooch to match my eyes, and black slacks to finish the look.

I wasn't fond of socializing, even in my past life. Glancing around, I saw Claudius surrounded by a group of children our age, smiling warmly as he chatted. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I didn't have the energy.

I sighed, wishing I could be with Mother. I was sure she was beside Father, so I simply stood off to the side with a glass of grape juice in hand, gazing through the window. The full moon shone brightly in the starry sky, and I smiled, taking a sip. In that moment, I felt a rare sense of peace.

As my glass emptied, I turned to refill it—and noticed a girl sitting alone in the corner. My mother had encouraged me to make friends, so I figured I might as well try.

Leaving my glass on a nearby table, I approached her. "Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked, smiling gently.

The girl looked at me, blinked twice, and nodded. I sat down beside her, studying her for a moment before asking, "Don't you want to join the others?"

She was quiet, then turned to me, her golden eyes gleaming. "How about you? Don't you want to join them?"

I shook my head, leaning back with a small sigh. "I don't really know anyone here," I chuckled. "Socializing is exhausting, and I'm not as interesting as my brother."

"Is that so?" She glanced at the crowd, then back at me. "Me too."

"Oh?" I asked. "What do you mean?"

"I also prefer not to socialize much."

I smiled. "By the way, your dress suits your purple hair very well. It looks beautiful."

She was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you."

"I'm Oliver, by the way. Oliver Ashford." I offered her my hand. She looked at it for a second, then placed her small, soft hand in mine.

"Meredith," she said. "Meredith Stallard."

Wait… what? I was shocked but kept my expression composed. Smiling warmly, I said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Meredith," and gently released her hand.

In the novel, Meredith was part of Claudius's harem. She was different, though; Claudius genuinely liked her from a young age. But Meredith didn't feel the same way, which only fueled his obsession with her.

In the future, Claudius would orchestrate the financial ruin of her family without their knowledge, then offer Meredith a deal: he would save her family if she agreed to become his wife or a part of his harem. Out of love for her family, Meredith accepted. She ended up living in a manor Claudius gifted her, where he restricted her contact with the outside world, even hiring an old maid to oversee her daily needs and keep her isolated.

I felt a pang of pity for Meredith and the future I knew awaited her.

I stood, facing her, and placed my left hand on my chest, extending my other hand. "May I have the pleasure of this dance, Lady Meredith?" I asked with a gentle smile.

Meredith looked at me for a long moment before I chuckled. "It's alright if you'd rather not, Lady Meredith."

Then, to my surprise, she rose and placed her hand in mine. "I'm not very good at dancing. I hope you won't mind, Young Master Oliver." For a fleeting second, I thought I saw her smile.

I grinned and shook my head. "I'm not the best dancer myself, but I'll do my best for you, Lady Meredith." She nodded, and we moved to the dance floor.

Though she said she wasn't a skilled dancer, I thought she moved gracefully. As we danced, I found myself captivated by the way her long lashes fluttered each time she blinked.

In my past life, I'd never danced before. But as a noble in this world, dancing was mandatory, and now I was grateful for all those lessons. For the first time, I was genuinely enjoying myself.

When the song ended, we made our way back to our seats, but Claudius appeared before us, smiling brightly. Had I not known him so well, I might have believed that smile.

"Hello, brother. And it's been a while, Lady Meredith," he greeted us, as if we were on good terms.

I smiled back. "Hello, brother. You know Lady Meredith?"

Claudius's smile remained. "Yes, she came to our seventh birthday. Unfortunately, you were sick and couldn't attend."

"Oh, I see," I replied, feigning interest.

It was unnerving seeing Claudius act so friendly, but I had the feeling he was more uncomfortable than I was, which amused me.

Meredith didn't respond to his greeting, but Claudius continued to smile as he turned to her. "I saw you dancing with my brother, Lady Meredith. Would you honor me with a dance as well?"

Meredith looked at him for a full five seconds, then stepped forward. I could see Claudius's smile widen, but his hope shattered as she walked right past him, not even acknowledging his outstretched hand.

I watched as she disappeared into the crowd, while Claudius shot me a resentful look. Ignoring him, I followed Meredith back to our quiet corner.

Curiosity got the best of me. "Lady Meredith?" She looked up at me, and I hesitated. "If I may ask… why did you turn down my brother's offer?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Can I not?"

Her gaze was sharp, almost cutting. I quickly shook my head, holding up my hands. "Of course you can! You have every right to decline anyone you wish, Lady Meredith."

She nodded, glancing back at the crowd. I sighed, smiling faintly as I looked at her.

Tonight had been exhausting, but somehow, I'd enjoyed it.