Chapter 88
It was definitely the Duke and Elber.
I really wanted to take off this cumbersome dress quickly.
Still, wouldn’t it be better to show the Duke once and say, “Dad, thank you for the pretty dress!”?
Let’s just show it off quickly and get it over with.
I flung open the door. A short scream rang out.
“Ahk, Sol!”
The voice belonged to Elber.
Beside him, the Duke looked startled too, his shoulders raised slightly.
“…Why are you both so surprised? Especially you, Elber oppa. Did I ambush you or something?”
“I—I wasn’t ready yet!”
“What kind of nonsense is that? You’ve got eyes, don’t you? Just look.”
Hands on my waist, I straightened my back in front of the Schlaeger father and son.
Elber, apparently truly unprepared, covered his whole face with both hands. What’s with him.
Of course, the Duke was stronger than his son. He simply nodded as he looked at my attire.
“You look beautiful.”
“Right? The seamstress really had great sense. If it were up to me, I would’ve glued flowers all over it in the name of spring!”
The dress was called pale sky blue, I think.
At first glance, it looked like the smoggy Seoul sky.
But whenever the light hit it, the fabric glowed softly, like the Han River holding a sunset.
The silver thread stitched in chain patterns along the frills shimmered like rippling waves.
The Duke nodded again.
“It suits the spring night’s ball perfectly. Truly beautiful.”
“Hehe, thank you!”
“Then I’ll look forward to tomorrow as well. Elber, aren’t you going to look? Doesn’t Sol seem burdened by the dress?”
At those words, Elber hastily lowered his hands. His blue eyes fell on me.
“Ah…”
His face reddened, but he didn’t cover it again.
“You’re… pretty.”
“Right?”
I had only planned to show it quickly and leave, but hearing genuine compliments got me excited.
I spun around in front of them. I heard Elber suck in a breath.
“It’s like you just emerged from the waves. This must be what a siren looks like. No wonder people are bewitched…”
“Calm down.”
“Can I see you from another angle? Stand by the window, and I’ll walk from the end of the hallway. I want to see you backlit too.”
“…”
Am I really supposed to put up with this dramatic nonsense?
I thought about refusing, but changed my mind.
“Y-yes, fine. Do as you like. You’ll be with Seraphina the whole time at the ball anyway, so you won’t have time to look at me.”
“Ah…”
“Go on, hurry.”
I pushed him toward the hall, then walked to the window, standing with the sun at my back, facing the corridor. The red-brown hallway glowed with afternoon sunlight. From the far end, Elber strode toward me.
“…”
Wow. He’s not even fully grown yet, but he’s already so handsome.
That neat face, that kind smile, and those sharp blue eyes that even sunlight couldn’t soften.
As the son of the northern duke-villain, and as a romance-fantasy male lead, he had both majesty and beauty.
But after walking up so gallantly, Elber stopped about two meters in front of me—and then dropped to his knees.
“What do I do… My little sister is pretty even in backlight…”
“…Human.”
“What if I take you to the ball and some random guy falls for you? Huh? You’re beautiful in the light and even in the dark!”
“Talk sense, will you.”
With Seraphina at the ball, who on earth would fall for me instead of her? Duke, please tell your son to get a grip.
I turned to the Duke. He nodded reassuringly.
“Don’t worry. The townhouse cellar can hold up to three prisoners, so if a few fools follow you, I’ll deal with them.”
“I think you should lock yourself up first, Father.”
Too many weird people live in this house.
…No way some poor guy would actually approach me and then get dragged off by the Duke, right?
At last, Sunday evening came. The Duke’s pitch-black carriage rolled toward the ball.
Inside sat a black-haired man and woman, and one silver-haired man with the mood of a black hole.
In the middle of them, the cheerful, golden-haired Seraphina shone like the sun.
“Hello, I’m Seraphina Tillon. I’ve heard so much about you from Sol, sir.”
The Duke widened his eyes in amusement. It was rare for anyone to speak so calmly right in front of him.
“I see. I am Latiger Olt Schlaeger, this child’s father. I too have heard much about you from Sol. It seems my daughter owes you a great deal.”
“Oh no, it’s me who owes Sol! She makes school life so enjoyable. She even helps so much with temple volunteer work!”
“Oh? I didn’t know my daughter was such a devout child. Perhaps she just used volunteering as an excuse to get close to you.”
“Oh my, surely not!”
It’s true, though.
But wow, the Duke’s insight is terrifying. How did he see through that?
His sideways glance burned on me. I stared determinedly out the window.
Please, you two, just get along.
Seraphina is kind and honest. She’ll definitely be more helpful than me in looking after both the Duke and the silver dragon’s mental health!
…However.
“How is Count Tillon doing? I think the last time I saw him was at the Assembly two years ago.”
“Oh, he was stripped of his council seat! Turns out even nobles have to meet the property requirements. You won’t be seeing him in court anymore.”
“…I see. My apologies for bringing up such a sensitive matter.”
“No need! My parents try to hide it because they’re embarrassed, but isn’t that deception? At least I can be honest.”
“…”
Seraphina, you’re too honest!
If this were an official marriage meeting, it would’ve been broken off instantly. After marriage, she’d probably go around spilling all the in-laws’ secrets!
Even the Duke seemed taken aback by her attitude. After a long silence, he finally spoke again.
“You’re like the embodiment of the values Gruner Bandt Academy strives for. On graduation day, they may even ask you to stay on as a teacher.”
“Oooh, I wouldn’t mind that!”
“Then legally, you wouldn’t be able to marry.”
“That’s fine. Living alone still means living with God.”
Out! The more she talks, the worse this is getting!
I hurriedly cut in.
“Ah, I’m hungry! Father, will the food be good there? What did you say the host’s profession was again?”
“…He’s in finance. President of a bank.”
“Oh, then the food should be great! Hahaha! I’m looking forward to it!”
“Were you dissatisfied with the townhouse chef’s cooking?”
“That’s not what I meant!”
While I bickered with the Duke about trivial things, Elber and Seraphina just sat there smiling warmly at us without a word.
The carriage sped along and stopped in front of a mansion. Not as grand as the Marquis’s estate, but still breathtakingly beautiful.
“Wow…”
A garden overflowing with white flowers like a sea of clouds, and tall fountains everywhere. As a bank president, he must indeed be a great magnate.
Maybe it was just me, but the servants at the gate all held their heads stiffly high as we passed.
…But that changed before we even got out of the carriage.
“Y-your Grace, Duke Schlaeger, sir!”
Why are they trembling like that? Is it just because he’s a high-ranking Duke?
…Or is it the very existence of Latiger Olt Schlaeger that’s the problem.
Clad in black, his massive frame striding forward, the Duke didn’t look like a guest invited to a party. He looked like a grim reaper come to reap enemy heads alone.
Wherever he passed, people held their breath. Only after we’d gone by did they exhale and chatter nervously.
“Th-that, that’s really Duke Schlaeger, isn’t it?”
“Why’s he already here? I nearly had a heart attack…”
“Don’t make eye contact. Nothing good comes from getting involved.”
Some of those voices surely reached the Duke’s ears. But he walked on, as if such trivialities weren’t worth caring about.
The one who tried to respond was Seraphina. She kept whipping her head around as if to correct them, but I stopped her every time.
“It’s fine, Seraphina. No need to answer them one by one. Honestly, the people who don’t react that way to Father are scarier.”
“…Really?”
Thanks to the Duke’s overwhelming aura, Seraphina seemed persuaded.
In the grand dining hall, full of guests, the musicians were so startled by the Duke’s entrance that one even broke a string—but the music continued anyway.
The bank president skillfully gave his toast, though his hand trembled as he held the wine glass.
“Thank you all for joining us for the 50th anniversary of our bank’s founding. May we continue on to days of greater prosperity…”
50th anniversary? Duke, you said this wouldn’t be a major event!
No wonder all the guests looked wealthy…
As we ate, I scanned the faces. Among the strangers, one broad-shouldered man stood out. I thought he shot me quite the hostile glare just now… or was it my imagination?
“Elber oppa, is that General Fine?”
“Yeah. …Don’t stare. Look away.”
“I don’t want to either, but…”
How am I supposed to ignore Lady Fine, who was practically desperate for Elber’s attention?
She tapped her plate, tipped her wine, reached exaggeratedly for distant salt…
Then she even bit into raspberries and gave Elber a sultry look—ugh, I felt embarrassed on her behalf.
“If the servants weren’t here, she’d have run straight to you already…”
“Don’t say ominous things. I’m not ready for that.”
…Well, but Elber did have the strongest bodyguard by his side tonight.
Seraphina.
Even during dinner, many people sneaked glances at her.
She whispered to me.
“Sol, am I eating wrong? Am I breaking etiquette?”
“You’re fine. Why?”
“People keep staring.”
“Probably because you’re pretty.”
“Oh, I see. Still, I’d prefer if they didn’t watch me while I’m eating.”
That was so very Seraphina—confident, honest, wholesome.
Whereas Lady Fine was shameless and childish, constantly trying to get under people’s skin.
Now then, what will happen when those two clash?
