Chapter 15
She was pretending to reach out her hand while actually insulting me—implying that I had no acquaintances in high society.
“Let’s get along, madam.”
This was clearly not an act of genuine goodwill, but an attempt to get close for her own benefit. I didn’t know what she stood to gain.
It was true that I was a loner in social circles, but becoming close to this young lady because of that? Anyone could see it was a foolish choice.
I wasn’t sure how the original Eketra would have handled this situation. She might have forced a smile and accepted it without showing any displeasure.
Of course, I couldn’t be that compliant.
“I’m sorry, young lady. You’re not the type I’d like to be close with.”
But Lady Stover was not someone who would back down after a single refusal. She was the type to persistently pester others.
“Then what type do you prefer? I can adjust myself.”
“Adjust yourself, you say. Anyone watching would think you’re trying to flatter me.”
“Hmm… I prefer kind people.”
“…Pardon?”
She asked back as if she had misheard.
“Unfortunately, you won’t do, young lady.”
The people who had been watching our conversation with interest couldn’t help but let out small laughs. Lady Stover shot them a fierce glare.
“Oh, I’m not talking about appearance—someone with a kind heart.”
Lady Stover’s expression quickly soured. Her face, which had been pleasantly smiling just moments ago, now twisted into something harsh.
“I… have never been told anything like that before.”
“You asked, so I answered. Don’t take it too hard.”
“I’m not offended. I’m just speechless. I’ve never been told I’m unkind anywhere.”
“Your negative feelings toward me are written all over your face, Lady Stover.”
I looked steadily at her as I spoke.
Her hands resting on the table trembled slightly. Being spoken to so bluntly in front of everyone must have been a first for her.
Go ahead—experience what it feels like to hear humiliation in public.
“Duchess, you’re quite harsh. For you to say such things…”
I could guess the rest of her unspoken words. Something like: “Do you think you can look down on me with this?”
Perhaps because many eyes were on us, or perhaps she was trying to maintain her dignity, Lady Stover glared at me for a few more seconds before abruptly standing up.
It seemed she didn’t want to stay in the waiting room any longer. She ignored the order of entry and walked straight out through the door leading into the banquet hall.
An awkward silence lingered in the waiting room.
Some people were whispering, asking whether the Duchess had always been like this.
Still, I felt relieved that I had dealt with one of the people who used to torment Eketra.
Those who remained exchanged awkward small talk among themselves, and no one else approached me after Lady Stover.
That suited me just fine.
I finished the cookies I hadn’t yet eaten and waited for my turn to enter.
When I grew bored and was idly playing word-chain games in my head, my turn finally arrived.
Most of the others in the waiting room had already entered by then.
Stepping out through the banquet hall doors, I found a long corridor, and at its end stood Kairon.
“Weren’t you bored?”
“Yeah. The wait was long. I should’ve come later. Was anything unusual in the waiting room?”
There had been something—but telling Kairon would feel like tattling. Since I had already handled it myself, I decided not to mention it.
“No, nothing major.”
“Good. Let me know if anything happens later.”
“Don’t worry. I say whatever needs to be said.”
He extended one arm, and I linked mine with his.
“Let’s go in.”
At Kairon’s gesture to the servants beside the door, the doors swung open to both sides. Bright light from the banquet hall spilled out.
Most of the attendees were already inside, so the hall was quite crowded. Their gazes turned toward us as we entered.
“It’s the ducal couple!”
“They’re attending together!”
As expected, everyone seemed surprised by our presence.
“What’s going on? They rarely attend banquets.”
“Perhaps His Majesty ordered them to attend this time.”
Kairon seemed to notice the atmosphere as he walked toward the center of the hall.
“Looks like all eyes are on us. Are you okay dancing in a situation like this?”
He was asking if I could handle dancing under everyone’s attention. I was aware of my own clumsiness.
“We’ll have to try.”
If I refused to dance, people would have something else to gossip about.
“Just stay near the edge and dance casually.”
I wasn’t confident—I hadn’t practiced much.
“I’ll lead. Just follow as best as you can.”
“Alright.”
A loud trumpet blast filled the hall, and our conversation came to a halt.
“It’s time for the imperial family’s entrance.”
The imperial family used a separate waiting area, so we hadn’t seen them yet.
With the trumpet sounding, they entered side by side with their partners—the princes, the crown prince, and the emperor himself.
The emperor was an elderly man with graying hair, but his eyes were sharp and lively. He was the one who would select the best couple.
Before the banquet officially began, the emperor stepped onto the platform.
“Beloved citizens of the Empire, thank you all for attending today. We have prepared much for this occasion, so please enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”
One might have expected a solemn speech, but the emperor unexpectedly curled his lips into a playful smile. It was a youthful expression, not one befitting an old man.
“As every year, the highlight of this banquet is the dance, is it not?”
Kairon frowned, as if already bored.
“We will select the couple that dances best among the many pairs present. Their score will also count toward the final ‘Best Couple’ award. Everyone is aware of that award, yes?”
The Best Couple award. Since dance performance was included—and Kairon and I weren’t exactly close—our chances of winning it were zero.
Moreover, Kairon himself seemed displeased with the whole event.
“How tiresome. Just a performance for the emperor.”
He muttered, frowning.
“Still, we’re here, so we should dance.”
As we had discussed, we stood not at the center but in a modest, less conspicuous corner.
Even so, since we hadn’t shown our faces in a while, people’s attention naturally drifted toward us.
“Even after all this time, His Grace the Duke is still so handsome.”
“That cold expression that seems to reject everyone—that’s what makes him so attractive!”
“And that’s why he’s so distant with the Duchess, kekeke.”
“I heard the Duchess can’t even dance. I doubt he’d catch her if she fell. Tsk tsk.”
How is it that my name reaches my ears so clearly? I needed to focus on the dance.
I forcefully pushed the whispers I had just heard out of my mind.
Soon, the music began.
Fortunately, the first piece was a slow-tempo song. This might be manageable. If I could get through just this first dance, I planned to slip away and watch afterward.
I began stepping in time with Kairon’s lead.
It was a relief that Kairon was skilled. He had a remarkable ability to read his partner’s condition and lead accordingly.
If he sensed I was losing rhythm, he adjusted immediately. If my steps tangled, he quickly steadied me.
“Is it manageable?”
While I was focusing on the dance, Kairon asked.
“D-don’t… talk…”
I had no mental space—keeping track of my steps, glancing at his face, and answering him all at once was overwhelming.
Then I missed a beat, my steps tangled, and I lost my balance.
“Ah—!”
Damn it. I think I twisted my ankle.
Expecting to fall, I squeezed my eyes shut. But… strangely, instead of falling, my body was suddenly pulled upward and floated horizontally through the air.
I was being supported by Kairon’s arm.
“Are you hurt?”
I was in his arms—carried bridal-style.
“I think I twisted my ankle…”
How did he react so quickly? His reflexes and agility were impressive.
Kairon glanced at my ankle and frowned.
“Dancing is out of the question.”
He murmured.
The music was still playing, and Kairon and I remained standing in a corner of the hall—still in that position with him holding me.
To make matters worse, instead of putting me down, Kairon started walking.
“W-wait, where are you going?”
“If you leave it alone, it’ll swell more. We need to ice it.”
Perhaps due to his experience in combat, he was firm when it came to injuries.
“There should be a resting area outside the hall. Let’s go there.”
We had barely danced, and now we were leaving? This was going to be extremely embarrassing.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, I realized something.
Everyone had already stopped dancing and was now watching us.
