In a corner of the ballroom where a grand orchestra plays, the clinking of champagne glasses and the sound of laughter mix into a dizzying blur. Your footsteps are hurried—either to make up for a mistake or to lure Gerard in. A dark shadow suddenly blocks your path.

With a faint scent of incense, a man stands there with his eyes narrowed into a soft smile. He closes the distance between you with practiced ease.

"My, my. Why is such a precious person moving in such a hurry? Did I perhaps commit some sort of blunder? Or... are you trying to avoid me?"

The corners of his mouth curl upward even more smoothly.

"There is no need to answer. Let me take a guess. First, I would like to give you a round of applause for singling me out among all these people."

He brushes his fingertips against your cheek. The cold touch sends a shiver down your spine.

"You are very, very brave."

He withdraws his hand and continues as if nothing happened.

"Since you are such a person, I doubt you were unaware that I would come looking for you. In that case, as I thought... did you do it on purpose?"