IHMEB - Chapter 91 < First Dance With My Husband >

“Would you like to dance together, Ma'am?"

The moment my eyes met his, my whole world slowed down.

On a bright summer day, Kaian was dazzling under the brilliantly shining chandelier that looked as if it had been hung from fallen snails collected from the surface of the lake in the back garden of Rowen Castle.

As I stared at him in fascination, the eyes beneath his straight eyebrows became slightly crooked.

I felt like I was captured and trapped in the red eyes that met me.

"Great."

As I went to dance with an escort, my feet felt excited as if I was stepping on clouds.

As I surrendered my body to his skillful attitude, my movements seemed natural to others.

The triple-quarter waltz was not a bad speed for me to dance at.

I felt like my heart was being tightened every time the steps that matched Kaian's rhythm touched the floor.

As I danced on the polished floor, beams of light bounced off the mirror-like floor onto the pavement.

So I felt like I was dancing alone with him, stirring up a cloud of light.

Kaian asked me.

“When did you do your debutante?”

“When I was twelve.”

“You were young.”

“Irena was fourteen years old. I did it with my sister.”

As soon as I said it, I regretted saying it for no reason.

When I got married, Kaian didn't have the slightest interest in me. He even asked my name early in the night.

I didn't want to make a man like that guess about my location or my unstable situation in Castle de Valmonde.

'I wish we could talk about something else.'

I, who was wondering what to say, lost my mind egg pop beat, and lost my footing.

When I came to my senses, I was held tightly in Kaian's arms.

Kaian whispered in a low voice.

“Who did you have your first dance with?”

“With the Duke of Vermont.”

“I heard there are quite a few dance parties in the North, right? Were there many men asking to dance?”

I shook my head.

“No one asked me to dance.”

“Really?”

“This is my first time dancing since my debutante.”

“I want to believe it.”

"Really. And even if I had, I would never have danced with someone as cool as you.”

Kaian smiled as if he liked the answer.

A sound of exclamation was heard from afar, and only then did I slowly begin to see my surroundings again, as if I had woken up from a dream.

Numerous nobles look at us with curious eyes.

And Kaian walks alone, holding me around my waist after I misplaced my foot.

"Excuse me. Please get off.”

“It must be difficult. It would be obvious that you missed a beat.”

“But I still have to dance.”

It was my first time going to the prom with my husband, who was dressed to the nines.

"Why? During the Territory Festival, you were good at pretending to dance.”

But Kaian didn't seem to understand my feelings.

I soon gave up and looked at him with my head straight and my back straight.

When our eyes met, Kaian laughed again, and there was a commotion everywhere, with someone making a sound that was close to screaming.

"Yes. I’m trying not to show it like that.”

I didn't realize it when I was distracted, but everyone was looking at Kaian.

We eat together every day, and even when we fall asleep, I miss him and have a smiling face that I can't wait to see.

I felt bad when I thought that it was enjoyed by the noble ladies of the capital.

“I want to stop dancing.”

At my words, Kaian's expression completely changed to usual.

“Do your legs hurt?”

“I just want to rest. I’m tired from waking up early and getting dressed.”

“Let’s go to the break room.”

As I left the floor, Irena and the Duchess of Vermont, who had just finished dancing, naturally came to my side.

“Can I talk to you girls for a moment, Duke of Temnes?”

Kaian nodded at the Duchess of Vermont's words.

“I will guide you to a place where you can talk comfortably.”

Kaian walked around the spacious and complex palace without calling the servant.

'He said he often came to the castle when he was young.'

Before Madame Elise's death, one could only guess how often his mother brought Kaian to the Queen's palace.

Naturally, the Duchess of Vermont was quite happy when he led her to the lounge provided for royals.

"How... Thanks to Claudel, I enjoy this luxury.”

"It was nothing."

As the Duchess of Vermont saved face, Kaian responded softly.

“Then I’ll come pick you up later, so rest comfortably.”

When Kaian, who lightly kissed my cheek, disappeared, the Duchess of Vermont sat on the sofa, holding my hand. As soon as Irena sat down across from me, a servant brought refreshments.

“How are you feeling?”

“As you can see, it’s okay.”

I looked at Irena's eyes and quickly answered. My aunt knew I had Herzol, but she could not prevent my arranged marriage with Temnes. Looking at Irena's reaction, it was clear that she did not know that I had Herzole.

Nevertheless, the Duchess of Vermont seemed to have been bewildered by my pain, and even as her daughter Irena noticed, she poured out her deepest health concerns to me.

“I was worried the whole time. I wonder what if something goes wrong with you.”

“My health is recovering well.”

“Your face looks as good as before.”

I nodded quietly.

“If you can dance like this, you must have recovered well.”

Fortunately, Irena seemed to think her mother was talking about my rumored leg being bitten by a crocodile.

“The Duke of Temnes is a much better person than I thought.”

The Duchess of Vermont raised her teacup and she smiled.

“I think he's being kind to you.”

"Yes. He doesn’t give me a hard time.”

“That’s the way the affection between a married couple is.”

She must have thought that my married life was going well, and she cheerfully shared her well-wishes with a relieved expression on her face.

Knock knock.

A servant found the Duchess of Vermont outside thr door.

“Duchess of Vermont. The Marquis Duval asks to see you.”

"Oh. My brother?”

The Duchess of Vermont's face lit up.

“I guess I’ll have to go and say hello to my relatives for a moment.”

"Yes, mother."

“Are you guys going too?”

Irena shook her head at her invitation.

“We’ll rest here a little longer. I couldn’t eat well today and I’m tired from decorating.”

“Sure.”

When the Duchess of Vermont went out, Irena lazily lay sideways on the sofa.

"Ugh. I got scolded because I was tired.”

Irena didn't seem particularly upset or distraught.

That was a good thing, but I was worried.

In fact, the fact that the King unusually invited Vermont to the capital's social circle and did not even ask her to dance was no different than humiliating Irena.

"Sister, are you okay?"

"What?"

“Because His Majesty the King did not ask my sister to dance.”

"Right."

Irena stood up and laughed.

“For some reason, I thought that might be the case.”

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Irena closed her mouth tightly and exhaled through her nose.

“It’s difficult to explain it in words. What can I say?”

She chose her words carefully.

“It felt like he was wearing a mask.”

"Mask?"

"Yes. My father said that His Majesty wanted to see me, but he wasn’t in that mood at all.”

I was a little surprised.

'I thought that too when I saw him today.'

He seems like a completely different person from the 'Bark' I talked to in the Hanging Gardens, and to the Hunting Grounds.

Irena must have had a meal and chatted with the Duke of Vermont at a formal invitation.

At that time, I don't think Valquiterre could have treated Irena kindly, as he had asked me to call hin 'Bark' even though the Duke of Vermont was there.

I felt like he was wearing a mask because he was being picked on like this.

Irena shrugged her shoulders as if I knew what she was thinking.

“Maybe he was just trying to curry favor with my father.”

“Is there any reason for His Majesty to do that to my uncle?”

“There is a Northern Sea Route.”

"Ah...”

“So is the territory tax.”

Irena's eyes became serious.

“The King will want to bring Valmonde into Oberon’s kingdom.”

In fact, Valquiterre appeased the Duke of Vermont during the drought-stricken years of the past decade.

He said that the food problem could be solved more easily if the kingdom of Oberon paid land taxes.

Now, if Temnes seizes it by telling them not to export it to Valmonde, they have no choice but to starve.

Although the food collected in the plains near the capital was sent to the north, it was not enough to feed the entire population of Valmonde.

This was the reason why Rowen, the kingdom's grain warehouse that was warm and capable of three crops a year, could not be ignored.

However, after being subordinated to Oberon's kingdom, Valmonde's rule also became the King's.

Then, there will be no need to worry about Lord Rowen, his subject, in making up for his country's shortcomings.

“My uncle will never respond.”

The Duke of Vermont was just a Duke, and even if a Grand Duke or a King came, there would be no room for him to rub up against him.

King of the North.

That's because it wasn't a nickname, it was actually like that.

If he had to give up such power because his bowl was empty, the Duke of Vermont was a great man who would rather starve.

“Anyway, His Majesty, who cannot tell what he is thinking, ended up getting into trouble with my father today.”

“...”

The Duke of Vermont will never forget how he gathered so many people, called them from the North, and made them do nothing.

He was a man of tremendous character.

It was then.

Rattling. Bang.

The door opened roughly, and the Duke of Vermont walked into the lounge, wheezing.

“Were you here?”

"Father."

“Duke.”

It's been a long time since I saw the Duke of Vermont angry.

It was only in the Castle de Valmonde that the Duke sometimes called me to cross the river of my death and bring out the souls of my sleeping parents, shaking them and insulting me.

It was pure anger.

Now I know that the Duke of Vermont is not mad because of me.

However, when I faced the rampaging Duke as if poison had spread throughout his body and he was paralyzed, I was unable to move even a single finger.

“I have something to talk with Claudel for a moment, so you can go out.”

“Even if I’m with her...”

“Didn’t your father command you?”

The Duke of Vermont was angry and acted as if he could not hear his daughter, whom he loved so much because his words were not understood.

Irena looked at me for a moment with her anxious eyes, hesitated, then lowered her eyes and obediently left the room.

I felt miserable and held my trembling hands together. I did not want the Duke of Vermont to discover that I was frightened and agitated.

“You’re not doing anything right. What on earth are you doing?”

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