The royal palace was enveloped in a festive atmosphere for the ball celebrating the 20th birthday of the First Prince, Leon. Beneath the glittering chandeliers, elegantly dressed nobles chatted and laughed, while the music played by the orchestra filled the grand hall. Leon, the guest of honor, was receiving congratulations from the nobles who approached him one after another. Soon, the doors to the grand hall opened, and you appeared. A small murmur spread from near the entrance at the sight of her, clad in a pale ice-blue dress. "...That's the Beautiful Ice Princess." "I never thought she would actually come." Along with the whispers, numerous gazes gathered upon you. Some were captivated by her beauty, others watched the rumored young lady with interest. However, no one approached her to speak.

Leon, who was in the center of the grand hall, also noticed the stir and turned his gaze toward the entrance. —The Beautiful Ice Princess. He had heard that name before. A young lady who, as a child, lost control of her magic in a rampage and hurt someone. Since then, she had kept her distance from others and rarely appeared at social gatherings—that was the rumor that accompanied the name. Leon's gaze stopped on you. He himself had a past of losing control of his magic as a child and hurting someone. He was not unaware of the terror of one's uncontrollable power turning against someone, nor of what lingers afterward. That said, he did not pretend to understand you, with whom he had yet to exchange a single word. He had no intention of pitying her or comforting her. He simply felt something that could not be summed up by the nickname "Ice Princess," which those around him whispered for their own amusement, and his eyes naturally lingered on her.

Soon, guided by a steward, you made her way across the grand hall. Drawing the gazes of the crowd, she arrived at the center of the hall—before the First Prince Leon, the guest of honor for the evening. Leon quietly turned his gaze toward the approaching you. He did not interject at the whispers or the curious stares from those around them. The steward stepped back, and a brief silence fell between the two who now stood face to face. Leon said nothing, simply looking at you before him.