I AM NOT THE LOVE INTEREST!

Chapter 61: Don’t Care

—ARIA—

"It needs to be unforgettable," I muttered while sketching rapidly across another sheet of paper. "Elegant enough to compete with noble fashion, but different enough to stand out immediately."

A different kind of beauty. Something refined enough to blend naturally into aristocratic society at first glance, yet impossible to forget after seeing it once.

Meanwhile, Ren had gone strangely quiet beside me.

I barely noticed while continuing to sketch.

"If I appear wearing the design publicly during an important social event," I continued thoughtfully, "then the dress itself becomes conversation."

A pause followed afterward before Ren finally spoke.

"There is a banquet in three days."

My pencil stopped instantly.

I slowly looked up.

"What banquet?"

"It is being hosted by Marquess Everstein," Ren explained calmly. "His youngest son is celebrating his coming-of-age ceremony."

Oh.

Oh, aristocratic networking event.

Perfect.

Actually perfect.

I immediately sat upright while Ren continued speaking.

"Several noble families throughout the capital are expected to attend," he explained. "Including influential noblewomen from prominent households."

My eyes widened more with every word.

"Tell me everything immediately."

Ren looked faintly helpless now, probably realizing he had accidentally fed dangerous ambition directly into my bloodstream.

"The gathering itself is relatively formal," he explained carefully. "Not grand enough for imperial attendance, but important enough that many aristocrats will appear."

Perfect.

Medium-scale noble events were ideal for visibility.

At larger imperial gatherings, attention scattered too easily. Too many jewels. Too many nobles. Too many people aggressively competing for relevance while pretending not to care.

But banquets like this?

People noticed details.

Especially noblewomen.

And noblewomen noticed dresses before they noticed personalities.

I slowly lowered the pencil while excitement steadily built inside me all over again.

A public debut.

My first design.

My first appearance wearing it. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

And an audience full of wealthy noblewomen professionally trained since birth to silently judge appearances within three seconds of eye contact.

This was no longer merely an opportunity.

This was marketing.

Then Ren added quietly,

"Coming-of-age banquets differ slightly from formal ceremonies."

I glanced toward him curiously.

"How?"

"They are often treated as social introductions," he explained. "Particularly for unmarried noblewomen."

I narrowed my eyes slowly.

"Huh?"

Ren continued calmly.

"The young master being celebrated is typically encouraged to meet prospective women suitable for future engagement consideration. Many families attend specifically for that purpose."

I blinked once.

"...So this is essentially aristocratic speed dating disguised as etiquette."

Ren looked confused.

"I do not understand the comparison."

"Good. Preserve your innocence."

He ignored that entirely.

"Although," he added more hesitantly, "it is not necessarily an event my lady should attend."

I immediately looked up again.

"And why exactly not?"

"My lady is still an unmarried noblewoman," Ren explained carefully. "If you attend without a proper escort, others may assume you are open to receiving attention from the marquess’ son."

"...And?"

Ren paused briefly before continuing.

"And likely from every other unmarried nobleman present as well."

I stared at him silently.

Then pointed directly at him.

"You are coming with me."

Ren visibly froze.

"My lady..."

"You will escort me."

He immediately lowered his head.

"Apologies, but I am unworthy of escorting my lady in such an environment."

I frowned deeply.

"What does that even mean?"

Ren remained calm despite my irritation.

"These gatherings are political spaces," he explained quietly. "An escort reflects directly upon a noblewoman’s status and dignity. I possess neither title nor proper standing suitable for such occasions."

I scoffed immediately.

"That is ridiculous."

"It is the rule."

"Well, the rule sounds stupid."

The corner of his mouth twitched faintly before he continued more seriously.

"I also do not possess proper formalwear suitable for standing beside my lady publicly."

I opened my mouth immediately.

"Then I will buy you one."

"My lady."

"And before you refuse," I interrupted while narrowing my eyes at him suspiciously, "remember that I am becoming a businesswoman now. Which means this is no longer spending. This is investment."

Ren looked deeply unconvinced.

"Three days is far too short for proper preparation," he said patiently. "I still need to arrange an appropriate gift for House Everstein if my lady intends to attend. Security arrangements must also be considered."

Then after a slight pause, he added more quietly,

"If you go, I can only accompany you as your guard."

I sighed while studying him more carefully now.

Ren always carried himself so delicately.

Too delicately.

It was almost like he had been taught noble etiquette once upon a time and simply buried it beneath years of silence. The way he stood. The way he observed conversations before speaking. The way he instinctively noticed political consequences before I did.

None of it felt ordinary.

Sometimes I genuinely forgot Ren was a slave back then.

Honestly, if somebody suddenly revealed he was secretly the exiled heir of some ruined noble family, I would not even be surprised anymore.

This world seemed emotionally addicted to dramatic backstories.

I tapped the pencil lightly against my lips while staring at him thoughtfully.

"Ren."

"Yes, my lady?"

"Hypothetically speaking..."

He immediately looked cautious.

"If someone ignored social expectations entirely and brought whoever they wanted as an escort..." I paused. "What exactly would happen?"

Ren sighed softly like a man already regretting this conversation.

"My lady already knows the answer."

"I want to hear you say it."

"...People would talk."

"People already talk about me."

"They would criticize you."

"They already criticize me."

"They would question your dignity."

I blinked slowly before staring at him in disbelief.

"My dignity?" I repeated. "Ren, these people watched me self-destruct over Duke Sebastian Blackwood for years. I assure you my dignity already died long ago."

Ren looked mildly alarmed.

"My lady should not say such things carelessly."

"I am saying them accurately."

He exhaled quietly before speaking again.

"My lady’s reputation has only recently begun stabilizing. Appearing publicly beside someone of unknown status could create unnecessary rumors."

I leaned back further afterward while staring toward the ceiling thoughtfully.

Rumors.

Scandals.

Judgment.

Aristocrats really dedicated their entire existence to professionally overreacting.

Still...

He was not wrong.

As much as I hated it, appearances mattered right now. Especially if I intended to establish myself properly before leaving the Valen household someday.

But at the same time...

Something about the entire situation irritated me deeply.

Because Ren had stood beside me through everything recently.

And now society expected me to suddenly pretend he was someone invisible because nobles disliked inconvenient truths wrapped in lower social status?

Ha!

In a week’s time I am no longer a noble.

I don’t want these rules to restrain me? I am making my own rules.

I sat upright again before pointing the pencil toward him dramatically.

"Ren."

"Yes?"

"I don’t care about rumors. I now decide for myself. You are coming with me."