CHAPTER 41…………………………
. A Triangle (1)
In the darkness, the features that had seemed merely decent at first glance now revealed themselves to be perfectly balanced and beautiful. His short blond hair was neat, as if it would not permit even a single strand to fall out of place.
Mariana, who had expected a middle-aged man with a face suitably lined for his years, blushed faintly.
Algernon, who had been glancing toward the ballroom, suddenly reached out his hand toward her.
“When the Emperor begins the first dance, everyone joins on the dance floor, don’t they? Then shall we begin ours here?”
When Mariana only stared at the offered hand, Viscount Algernon playfully twitched his fingers.
“Would you grant this prodigal son the honor of sharing the first dance with you, my lady?”
And it was to be his last dance as well.
Algernon intended to pack his bags and leave for abroad again as soon as he returned home.
The imperial palace of his childhood memories no longer existed.
The only place that remained unchanged amid the dazzling splendor of the palace was this desolate, abandoned garden.
Disappointed, Algernon had planned to stay only briefly—to recall the memories of his beloved mother—and then disappear once more.
As he looked at Mariana, who still hadn’t taken his hand, a gentle smile appeared in Algernon’s eyes.
“So—how is Joseph these days?”
“You know my brother?”
Algernon shrugged lightly.
“I met him a few times when we were young. But it’s been so long—I’m not sure I can say I know him anymore.”
He gave an awkward smile. And then, suddenly, the emptiness in his hand was filled with the warmth of hers.
When Algernon looked down at their joined hands, Mariana spoke.
“As you can see from the fact that I’ve escaped here, I’m not very good at dancing. No matter how much I practice, it just never works.”
Her nose wrinkled in self-deprecating complaint, and Algernon couldn’t help but laugh.
His short, bright laugh carried lightly into the clear night sky. Then, lifting their joined hands to shoulder height, he took the first step.
Mr. Algernon must truly be an excellent dancer.
As soon as the music ended, their dance stopped as if by magic.
No missed beats, no tripping over her own feet, no stepping on her partner’s toes.
For once, Mariana’s waltz—which had always ended in disaster—finished smoothly, the two of them making one grand turn across the grassy garden.
Unable to believe it, Mariana looked from her feet to Algernon and back again.
“It was a delightful dance, my lady.”
“Oh, yes—indeed.”
She had even enjoyed it. Bewildered by that unbelievable fact, Mariana answered a beat too late.
“It was truly wonderful.”
Smiling, she lifted her gaze to Algernon.
But as their eyes met—his deep green ones locking onto hers—the smile slowly faded from her face.
The fireworks had ended, and the loud bursts had given way to a quiet garden bathed in gentle moonlight.
Though their dance had long since ended, the two stood facing each other, gazing endlessly in silence.
Who knows how long that lasted—until the stillness was broken by an unexpected round of applause.
“Bravi! A most enchanting dance.”
The intruder was Count Martin.
He had been scouring the vast palace gardens in search of Mariana—something he normally would never have done.
At last, in this neglected and remote corner of the grounds, he found her… and then noticed the man beside her.
Impossible. Could this dull, plain young lady actually have a man with her?
He had hidden himself in the shade of a tree to watch the situation unfold.
Unbelievable.
Their steps were so mismatched, so clumsy, that it was a miracle they hadn’t fallen over.
Do they really call that a dance?
Count Martin clicked his tongue inwardly.
There are always people who ruin the atmosphere at a ball—those who can’t talk, can’t dance, can’t keep pace.
In that sense, these two were at least considerate enough to remove themselves from view.
“Oh my—Count Martin!”
At Mariana’s voice, Algernon turned his gaze toward the newcomer.
Unlike himself, the count’s well-maintained, muscular frame exuded confidence; his skin glowed like ripe summer fruit.
“Do you know me, miss? I don’t recall that we’ve ever been introduced.”
Of course she did. At every ball and tea party, Mariana had stared at him so ardently that he’d half expected her eyes to burn holes in his face.
But Martin preferred women of a far more sultry nature—Mariana had never interested him then, and she certainly didn’t now.
Still, this was business.
Hildegard had promised him a fortune—enough to last a lifetime—if he could only win Mariana’s heart.
Marriage, even an engagement, wouldn’t be necessary. His social life would remain untouched, she’d assured him.
There might be some gossip, of course, but people forget quickly.
“Ahem.”
Mariana, momentarily dazed by the count’s seductive smile, snapped back to herself at Algernon’s soft cough.
Algernon’s pale face had subtly stiffened. Was he unwell?
“Oh my—Mr. Algernon, are you all right? Are you feeling unwell? I heard there’s a physician always on call near the ballroom. If you’re uncomfortable, you really should—”
“I’m fine.”
“Please, don’t be stubborn. You don’t look well.”
Count Martin interjected smoothly, his words dripping with false concern—less to help Algernon than to send him away. Mariana, of course, didn’t notice.
Algernon’s expression hardened at the interference.
“I said I’m fine.”
His green eyes turned sharp, fixing on Martin.
“If you insist,” Martin said lightly, ignoring the tension. Then he turned to Mariana with a charming smile.
“So, where was it that we’ve met before? You do look familiar.”
Mariana’s cheeks flushed bright red. She had always found balls unbearably dull—until tonight.
Not only had she met a gentleman as charming as Algernon, but now she had also run into Count Martin himself.
To cool her burning face, she pressed her cold hand against her cheek and replied,
“I’ve actually seen you several times from afar—at tea parties. But you always left just as I arrived, so we never had the chance to speak.”
“Then I’ve been terribly rude without realizing it.”
Martin stepped closer and gently took her hand.
“May I know your name, my beautiful lady? Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Martin François.”
“I’m Mariana Side.”
Mariana gave a polite curtsy.
Pretending to be shy, how quaint.
Suppressing a smirk, Martin François dutifully brought her hand to his lips for a light, courteous kiss.
If the lady was going to play the innocent, it was a gentleman’s duty to play along.
“The ball is in full swing. What brings you to such a dark, lonely place?”
“Ah, well… that’s…”
Because this is the only place in the palace where I feel at peace.
But she knew that someone like Count Martin—or Hildegard—would never understand that.
Unable to find the right words, Mariana bit her lower lip.
It’s not such a hard question. Why can’t I just answer?
Watching her hesitate, Martin frowned slightly in the dim light.
Every timid movement she made only irritated him further.
“This place hardly suits a lady as lovely as you. Shall we return to the ballroom? That way, I can ask you for a proper dance.”
Mariana’s brow lifted slightly.
But hadn’t he just praised her dance with Algernon as beautiful? Was that a lie?
Now, he was implying their dance hadn’t been a real one at all.
“But…”
Tightening her grip on Martin’s hand, Mariana looked back at Algernon.
And as if he had been waiting for that cue, Algernon stepped forward.
“Let’s go back together.”
Returning to the ballroom had not been part of his plan.
But Algernon decided to accept it willingly.
Even though his still-ailing body screamed for rest, and the infuriating count beside him was strong and healthy beyond comparison—
So what.
For the first time in over a decade, Algernon Frederick felt his nerves tightening with pure, unfiltered irritation.
Whether that was because of the naïve young lady before him, the smug-faced count, or his own inexplicable urge to interfere—he couldn’t quite tell.
