CHAPTER 50,…………………………………….
The banquet hall was simply peaceful.
Even more so because no one knew that Princess Hestia had almost been poisoned.
The Emperor had headed straight back to his palace, and neither Hestia, Millard, nor Count Bourbon returned to the hall.
Only Edwin and Trisha came back, and even if everyone pretended otherwise, all eyes were on the two of them.
Meanwhile, Edwin’s gaze swept quickly across the room.
Trisha’s expression stiffened at the unmistakable look of someone searching for someone else.
Since she had come as Edwin’s partner, she had to take the first dance with him.
“Edwin, you…”
“Oh, Grand Duke Mason!”
Just as Trisha was about to call out to Edwin, another voice drowned hers.
“…Princess Regina?”
Edwin hesitated for a moment at Regina’s sudden approach.
Regina smiled brightly, her face innocent as if she knew nothing.
“Did the banquet end early?”
“Well, um…”
“Or did you come early because you were worried about me?”
Regina’s eyes sparkled.
Edwin, unable to admit that the banquet ended early because the princess had nearly been poisoned, simply nodded vaguely.
“Well… something like that…”
Then, with a “Kyaa!” the ladies behind began chiming in one by one.
They were all friendly toward Regina.
“As the princess said, Your Grace is truly kind!”
“Indeed. If you’re so considerate to your friends, how much more so to His Highness?”
“I’m so envious!”
“Well, um… haha.”
No matter the context, it was praise directed at him, and Edwin gave an awkward smile.
Watching him, Trisha almost let out a bitter laugh.
How could Edwin, who had clearly ignored her—his wife—while attending to a friend publicly, be called “kind”?
‘They can’t really think that, can they?’
Probably, they just didn’t want to miss the chance to flatter Grand Duke Mason.
No need to care about a duchess who never shows herself in high society.
“Grand Duke Mason, have you had your first dance?”
“First dance?”
Edwin tilted his head, and one of the ladies’ eyes lit up.
“The princess hasn’t had her first dance yet either. But…”
Her gaze briefly met Trisha’s, who was watching from the back, before shifting away.
“We were curious who Your Grace would choose for the first dance.”
“Indeed, I’m really curious too.”
Hearing that, everyone subtly kept their eyes on the three of them.
Hestia, the focus of the banquet, was nowhere to be seen, and neither the Emperor nor Millard had appeared.
In this situation, it was only natural for attention to focus on Edwin, the highest-ranking person present.
“First dance…”
“Of course, you’ll dance with the princess, right?”
“Or perhaps with His Highness instead.”
Some said that, but without much expectation.
From the moment he entered the hall, Edwin had never once lingered on Trisha.
“You should take the hand of the person who has waited for a long time.”
Saying this, Edwin reached out his hand.
“Isn’t that the proper thing to do?”
As everyone expected, Edwin took Regina’s hand and headed toward the center of the hall.
“Oh, as expected, you chose Princess Regina.”
“It was a predictable result, indeed.”
“How unfortunate for a woman not to receive her husband’s love.”
Left alone, Trisha took a sip of champagne, raising her glass.
People whispered around her, but none of it reached her ears.
Her mood plummeted in an instant.
Even if she held no affection for Edwin, being openly ignored couldn’t feel good.
Although she had reported the Marchioness of Devon and made it clear that the Mason household was not involved in the incident, Edwin had not acknowledged her efforts.
‘Of course, that’s only natural.’
Edwin had been born the Emperor’s son and heir to the Mason dukedom.
He had no reason to be grateful for others’ devotion.
It was only natural.
If he treated everyone with that mindset, no one would remain by his side in the end.
‘I’ll make sure of that.’
Determined, Trisha set her glass down and prepared to quietly fade into the wallflowers.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
A voice held her back.
“Sister-in-law.”
Millard Winchester.
Realizing it, Trisha turned to meet his gaze.
He had just entered the hall himself, his face slightly disheveled, and stared at her quietly.
Trisha asked coldly,
“What is it, Grand Duke Winchester? Do you have something to say to me?”
“Of course I do, or do you think I called for no reason?”
Ignoring the implicit reminder that this was a formal event, Millard made no effort to step back.
“I haven’t had the first dance yet today.”
“Oh, how unfortunate. But what does that have to do with me…?”
“That’s why I’ve come to request a dance from you, sister-in-law.”
Trisha froze for a moment at Millard’s words.
The same went for those around them who had been watching.
“Is the Grand Duke Winchester asking the Grand Duchess Mason for a dance?”
“Even if casual romance is fashionable, this is…”
Murmurs spread, but Trisha heard nothing.
She finally asked,
“…Grand Duke, did you eat something bad?”
“Of course not. We both ate the same thing.”
Millard replied with a slight, mischievous smile.
“It’s just how I am.”
Just as expected, Millard had a reputation in the capital’s social circles as a rake.
Though he hadn’t even kissed anyone, it was curious how that rumor had started…
‘Not my concern.’
Trisha drew another boundary.
“I…”
“You should take the hand of the person who has waited for a long time.”
Millard whispered, close enough for only Trisha to hear.
“Isn’t that the proper thing to do?”
“….”
Hearing Edwin’s words echoed back by Millard, Trisha froze.
Looking up, Millard still smiled, but his violet eyes were deep and serious.
In the end, Trisha took his hand.
Even knowing the storm this action might stir, she couldn’t refuse.
They moved toward the center of the hall, Trisha leading and Millard following.
Just then, Edwin, dancing with Regina, turned his head toward them.
Meeting Trisha’s eyes as she approached through the crowd, he let out a small chuckle.
“Wait a moment, Trisha. Once this song is over, I’ll dance with you too.”
What?
Trisha furrowed her brow at the sudden words.
‘What nonsense is that?’
She didn’t voice it.
“There’s no need, brother.”
“…Millard?”
Millard appeared from behind, bowed politely, and extended his hand to Trisha.
After a brief hesitation, she took it.
“Trisha!”
Edwin, forgetting he had been dancing with Regina, stopped in his tracks.
The music in the hall cut off as well.
The flow broke because Edwin and Regina had halted mid-dance.
“…Trisha, what are you doing with that man?”
Edwin Mason.
Amusingly, he looked as if he had just been betrayed.
