Louis met her at his own wedding reception. For formality's sake, a number of nobles have been cordially invited to witness the occasion. It somehow brought them a sense of relief, that, finally, the young Duke of Howard, decided to grace a dainty aristocrat the honor of accepting her hand in marriage. They were worried for a very long time that – with his parents gone, and Louis alone to oversee his duchy and certainly with no intention of finding a suitable partner (at least not too soon) – his indifference would mean the end of the line for the Howard Manor.

The blond duke found his newly-wedded wife to be very agreeable. She was once a candidate for the Princess Elect selection, and this puts her intelligence, beauty, and pedigree out of the question. He had met her a number of times before their engagement and he has, to a certain degree, harbored admiration for her.

Yet he didn't entirely feel affectionate towards her. Perhaps the long years of desolation have taken a toll on him. Looking at her with a bright smile on her face as she was congratulated by the nobles, he felt that as long as both of them stayed on each other's good sides, then their union can be fruitful.

His thoughts were interrupted by a repulsive sight of the last person he wanted to see, and the last thing he wanted to see that person doing. Sid had his arms wrapped around a woman's waist, their faces close, and their lips locked in kissing.

Sid opened his eyes and looked at Louis from the corner of his eye. He suddenly broke away from the woman and pulled her along as they walked towards the groom.

"Waddaya know." Sid began, his lips forming a smirk. "I would say congratulations, Louis, but I feel sorry for your wife."

"Excuse me?" The duke folded his arms.

"Well you know, her husband's a lot prettier than her." His childhood friend replied with a mocking laugh.

Louis was about to say something but the lady Sid brought with him suddenly voiced out.

"I think," the woman said, tilting her head to the side. "they look wonderful together."

The hat that was covering a part of her face revealed a pair of lustrous green eyes. It struck Louis at how gently she tipped her bowler hat off and at that moment, he could see her very well. He had met almost all the high profile people in Wysteria, yet he couldn't register any memory that would remind him of this lady. Perhaps she was not exactly a noble, and most probably she was one of Sid's many women. Yet Sid had never brought a partner for himself in occasions and her presence was highly intriguing.

"Stop looking at Ariadne like that." Sid scoffed.

"I don't look at women with malicious intent like you do." Louis retorted. "I'm merely wondering why you've never brought anyone with you before."

"Oh, Sid was rather jealous that you got married." Ariadne smiled.

There was almost a hint of laughter in her voice that made him look at her again. Sid let go of her and put his hands on his waist.

"Let me get us some drinks and I'll come back to torment you even more, Louis." With that, the heir of the Grandier archduchy disappeared into the crowd. Louis and Ariadne stood there in silence. She took a step back and placed her hat on her head again.

"Why are you wearing a hat?" The duke suddenly asked without thinking. "And that is a hat for men."

"Does it not go well with my dress?" She said confidently.

Louis felt his eyebrows twitch. It did look good on her, in fact, she was very beautiful. There was an air of novelty around her that seemed so refreshing.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Your Grace. I know I'm not supposed to be here. Sid was very insistent that I come along. He talks so fondly of you."

Louis narrowed his eyes and sighed. "Sometimes I can't comprehend why women fawn over a man like him. Are you even being treated well?"

Ariadne suddenly burst out in laughter that shook even Louis' calm demeanor.What? Was what I said even funny? He continued to look at her as she covered her mouth while trying to control herself. She was wheezing in between her breaths and the duke was looking both confused and worried.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She finally said, still catching her breath. "Sid was right, you can be entertaining to talk to." Ariadne tipped her hat again before looking at him. "Pardon me for being too blunt, but I find your seriousness rather amusing."

Louis said nothing but his thoughts were running around her words. He heard people often say how his stern regard for others to be most unpleasant. How can she even see my seriousness as something hilarious?

"What's all this friendly atmosphere I'm feeling?" Sid came back with drinks in hand.

"I was just telling her how incomprehensible you can be." Louis replied.

Sid smirked and handed Ariadne a glass of champagne. They gazed at her as her fingers gently rotated the glass around before bringing it to her lips for a taste. As the two men took a sip from their own glasses, the woman said,

"Sid and I aren't together. We just happen to be both unattached."