The girls in the ballroom all looked at Isabella in surprise. It was obvious to anyone that she was walking towards Duke Cesare.
Even if they interpret it positively, Isabella is heading to the dance floor without a partner, but with a partner.
In San Carlo's society, a young lady could not ask a gentleman to dance first.
It was also a great insult for a person of lower status to speak to a person of higher status first.
Isabella de Mare is not ignorant of social etiquette, so what on earth is she thinking?
Isabella walked briskly to the center of the ballroom where Duke Cesare was standing, with a smile as bright as a single flower.
Cesare also noticed the approach of Isabella, who was stylishly dressed in a turquoise dress.
It was impossible not to notice. Isabella, wearing a gold necklace with a net of turquoise topazes, a heirloom of Lucrezia, and her beautiful flaxen hair in a high braid, was sculpturally perfect.
It was believable that it was a decorative sculpture from some luxurious palace.
Duke Cesare and Isabella de Mare's eyes met. She smiled captivatingly, like a burst of juice.
At that moment, a pretty, white cotton handkerchief fell from her hand.
A smile appeared on Duke Cesare's lips, but it was a slightly different smile from Isabella's.
'Such a classic technique.'
It's something you can never do unless you're full of confidence in yourself. The confidence of a spoiled young lady who grew up receiving only love radiated from her.
Cesare felt a cruel impulse to crush the pride of that innocent girl with his toes.
In front of everyone. If she were to be cruelly rejected in front of everyone, would that blooming rosebud girl cry? Would she show her anger? The corners of his mouth curled up on their own.
'But I am a gentleman.'
If you ignore a girl who comes out like that, you're not a man.
Cesare slowly bent down and picked up the handkerchief.
Sporadic exclamations erupted from the guests seated at the tables.
“I think you dropped this.”
At the Duke of Pisano's first words, Isabella's face brightened with joy and pride that she could not hide.
Even though it was obvious what she was thinking, she was cute.
“Thank you, Duke Cesare.”
It was a sweet voice, like the chirping of a cuckoo.
Isabella met Cesare's aqua-blue eyes with her violet ones and smiled as she added.
“Congratulations on your elevation to the Duke of Pisano.”
"Thank you."
He only gave short answers and did not give Isabella the response she wanted.
It wasn't her style to be nervous. Isabella decided to just ask boldly.
“Aren’t you going to ask me to the first dance? Everyone is looking at you.”
At her words, Cesare tilted his head.
“Lady de Mare.”
"Yes?"
Isabella's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“I think I have done my best to save Young Lady’s face.”
People were still watching them, but the sound of their conversation was kept out of sight by the orchestra's rhythm.
Thanks to this, Isabella was able to get angry and raise her voice.
“What did you say?”
“I should have just given you a handkerchief. What more do you want?”
Cesare's retort was so direct that even the strong-minded Isabella blushed.
“Your Highness the Duke!”
Cesare began to feel a little irritated by Isabella's temper. He only let her off once because she was cute.
Then, a girl in a rose-colored dress sitting far away came into his sight.
If Isabella in front of him was a dewy flower bud about to bloom, there was something about the young lady in the red dress that caught his attention like a queen of roses in full bloom despite her young age.
Cesare's lips curved upward once more. A thought occurred to him that would kill two birds with one stone.
He extended his right hand to Isabella.
She thought that Cesare had asked her to dance, so she smiled and placed her left hand on Cesare's right.
“Oh, you misunderstood.”
Instead of taking her hand and leading her out onto the dance floor, he lifted her outstretched left hand and kissed the back of it. The hand for kissing the back of the hand is the right hand.
Cesare continued to speak calmly, leaving Isabella flustered after being kissed on the back of his hand.
“It was an honor to speak to you, Lady Isabella de Mare.”
Isabella's face turned bright red with shame as she sensed her fate.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
The Duke of Pisano leisurely left Isabella's seat.
Isabella turned red with embarrassment and blue with anger. It was a massive failure of facial expression management. She bit her lip in defeat.
It seemed as if everyone was looking at her. And that was true not only to Isabella but also objectively.
“Is she rejected now?”
Even if they interpret it positively, Isabella is heading to the dance floor without a partner, but with a partner.
In San Carlo's society, a young lady could not ask a gentleman to dance first.
It was also a great insult for a person of lower status to speak to a person of higher status first.
Isabella de Mare is not ignorant of social etiquette, so what on earth is she thinking?
Isabella walked briskly to the center of the ballroom where Duke Cesare was standing, with a smile as bright as a single flower.
Cesare also noticed the approach of Isabella, who was stylishly dressed in a turquoise dress.
It was impossible not to notice. Isabella, wearing a gold necklace with a net of turquoise topazes, a heirloom of Lucrezia, and her beautiful flaxen hair in a high braid, was sculpturally perfect.
It was believable that it was a decorative sculpture from some luxurious palace.
Duke Cesare and Isabella de Mare's eyes met. She smiled captivatingly, like a burst of juice.
At that moment, a pretty, white cotton handkerchief fell from her hand.
A smile appeared on Duke Cesare's lips, but it was a slightly different smile from Isabella's.
'Such a classic technique.'
It's something you can never do unless you're full of confidence in yourself. The confidence of a spoiled young lady who grew up receiving only love radiated from her.
Cesare felt a cruel impulse to crush the pride of that innocent girl with his toes.
In front of everyone. If she were to be cruelly rejected in front of everyone, would that blooming rosebud girl cry? Would she show her anger? The corners of his mouth curled up on their own.
'But I am a gentleman.'
If you ignore a girl who comes out like that, you're not a man.
Cesare slowly bent down and picked up the handkerchief.
Sporadic exclamations erupted from the guests seated at the tables.
“I think you dropped this.”
At the Duke of Pisano's first words, Isabella's face brightened with joy and pride that she could not hide.
Even though it was obvious what she was thinking, she was cute.
“Thank you, Duke Cesare.”
It was a sweet voice, like the chirping of a cuckoo.
Isabella met Cesare's aqua-blue eyes with her violet ones and smiled as she added.
“Congratulations on your elevation to the Duke of Pisano.”
"Thank you."
He only gave short answers and did not give Isabella the response she wanted.
It wasn't her style to be nervous. Isabella decided to just ask boldly.
“Aren’t you going to ask me to the first dance? Everyone is looking at you.”
At her words, Cesare tilted his head.
“Lady de Mare.”
"Yes?"
Isabella's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“I think I have done my best to save Young Lady’s face.”
People were still watching them, but the sound of their conversation was kept out of sight by the orchestra's rhythm.
Thanks to this, Isabella was able to get angry and raise her voice.
“What did you say?”
“I should have just given you a handkerchief. What more do you want?”
Cesare's retort was so direct that even the strong-minded Isabella blushed.
“Your Highness the Duke!”
Cesare began to feel a little irritated by Isabella's temper. He only let her off once because she was cute.
Then, a girl in a rose-colored dress sitting far away came into his sight.
If Isabella in front of him was a dewy flower bud about to bloom, there was something about the young lady in the red dress that caught his attention like a queen of roses in full bloom despite her young age.
Cesare's lips curved upward once more. A thought occurred to him that would kill two birds with one stone.
He extended his right hand to Isabella.
She thought that Cesare had asked her to dance, so she smiled and placed her left hand on Cesare's right.
“Oh, you misunderstood.”
Instead of taking her hand and leading her out onto the dance floor, he lifted her outstretched left hand and kissed the back of it. The hand for kissing the back of the hand is the right hand.
Cesare continued to speak calmly, leaving Isabella flustered after being kissed on the back of his hand.
“It was an honor to speak to you, Lady Isabella de Mare.”
Isabella's face turned bright red with shame as she sensed her fate.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
The Duke of Pisano leisurely left Isabella's seat.
***
Isabella turned red with embarrassment and blue with anger. It was a massive failure of facial expression management. She bit her lip in defeat.
It seemed as if everyone was looking at her. And that was true not only to Isabella but also objectively.
“Is she rejected now?”
“Oh my God, if I looked like that I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.”
“Isabella de Mare, I thought she had fixed her bad habits, but she's still the same.”
“The dog stops pooping.”
Isabella wanted to die. Even the Count and Countess of Baljo were among those who were watching her from afar and whispering.
Countess Baljo, who could be seen from a distance, had a frowning expression and was whispering something to her husband sitting next to her.
Is it fortunate that Baroness Loredan could not attend due to her status?
Cesare's back was seen walking leisurely into the miserable Isabella's sight.
He followed the same path Isabella had taken to approach him. He ended up at the table where she had originally been sitting.
At the table where one seat was now empty sat her half-sister, dressed in a deep rose-colored dress, and Cesare held out his right hand in front of her.
“Miss, won’t you give me the honor of the first dance?”
Isabella suddenly snapped and crushed the fan ribs she was holding in her hand.
Ariadne de Mare looked up at the owner of the hand. Her green eyes were cold and sunken.
“I’m honored that you asked me to do my first dance, but I’m not feeling well.”
The man who was reborn as Cesare de Carlo, Duke of Pisano, felt like he had been splashed with cold water.
At a moment when it seemed like he had everything in the world, he received an unexpected rejection. He raised his eyebrows and asked.
“What is wrong, Lady?”
Ariadne answered calmly but without hesitation.
“I feel a little dizzy.”
It was true.
But Cesare did not hide his suspicious eyes.
“My debutante girl. I danced with you for your first dance.”
Ariadne, who was about to refute, swallowed her words. It was true that she had her first dance with Cesare.
In this life, in the last, it had never been otherwise. Her first dance in society was always with Cesare.
“Even if it’s a little dizzying, won’t you trust me and entrust yourself to me? I can take care of you even if you don’t do anything.”
Just as Ariadne was about to answer, the orchestra finished playing the opening song and began playing the first dance.
Tan, tta-ra-ran, tan-tan!
Cesare did not wait for Ariadne's answer, but took her hand and pulled her into his arms.
It was at the same time that the last note of the first verse resonated firmly that Ariadne was sucked into Cesare's arms.
He whispered in her ear, standing close to her.
“Just trust me and follow me.”
The most unbelievable man in the world told her to trust him.
With their first move, the rest of the men and women waiting around the dance floor rushed in and started waltzing.
Ariadne also had no choice but to follow Cesare's steps.
“You said it was dizzying, but you’re doing well, right?”
“I’m good at everything.”
Ariadne answered sharply. It was a defensive answer. As soon as she said the words, she felt a sense of self-loathing.
What good is he at doing? He ruined Alfonso's right to the throne. The only way to gain an advantage is to keep Cesare as an illegitimate child.
In her previous life, Cesare not only did not receive the King's recognition, he was merely a margrave with the fief of Pisano.
Now, in addition to his official title of succession, he is also the Duke of Pisano.
'If his rank had been just a little higher, he could have been the Grand Duke of the North.'
She tried to cheer herself up by making silly noises, but it didn't do much to comfort her.
“Yeah, you’re good at everything. I know that.”
The one who blurted out the unexpected words was Cesare, right in front of her. Cesare was definitely not the type of man who would acknowledge his woman.
Ariadne made a sharp turn and came closer to him, her face wrinkled in suspicion.
“That is not like what you say, Duke.”
Wasn't Cesare de Como in her previous life a man who, despite having benefited greatly from Ariadne's base, would often say things like, "Your military acumen is worthless," and "What are you doing meddling in?"
There were parts of Cesare that were the same and parts that looked different.
As always, he responded to Ariadne's attacks with counterattacks rather than answering them.
“My debutante still doesn’t keep her promise.”
“What promise?”
She didn't promise that man anything. Ariadne frowned. Duke Cesare chuckled, perhaps liking the frown.
“Name. We decided to call me by my name.”
"Ah."
Ariadne shook her head.
“You’re still obsessed.”
“Obsession? I just want to get what’s mine.”
He took a step away, then came back closer and whispered.
“I’m very attached to what I think I deserve.”
Having barely escaped the clutches of Leo III, Cesare was looking forward to the trip he would take to see the Pisano estates.
Finally, I leave my father's clutches and have something 'of my own'.
Unlike the Duchy of Como, which only paid taxes to the King, the Duchy of Pisano was a truly autonomous duchy with its own army.
“You try to take all the good things from me while making things difficult for me.”
Ariadne answered coldly. Cesare pretended to be startled.
“Me? That I caused you trouble?”
If he hadn't been dancing, he would have waved his hand. Ariadne thought that Cesare looked very happy today.
It's the feeling he gets when he's full of energy and sociable.
Ariadne had seen this a lot, but she's rarely been the target of his teasing. It was a world apart.
“I wouldn’t have caused you any trouble! I wouldn’t do something like that even if a knife was held to my throat.”
To Cesare's wife, Ariadne nodded casually to the other end of the floor.
In that direction, a beautiful blonde girl in a turquoise dress was leaning against the wall with an expression that seemed to curse all living things in the world.
“Because of you, I’m in big trouble when I go home. I won’t be able to sit down at the breakfast table tomorrow morning.”
Cesare smiled as he noticed Isabella at the end of Ariadne's gaze.
The smile was so annoyingly refreshing that Ariadne glared at the side of Cesare's face.
“You can handle small things like that on your own. What are you afraid of?”
He walked along, looking at her face for a long time.
“My debutante girl is secretly a bit timid. She doesn’t look that way.”
Ariadne shook her head. She spoke honestly about her feelings.
“Irresponsible man.”
“Do you want me to take responsibility?”
Duke Cesare was delighted. He added happily.
“I’ve already been rejected once. Are you allowing me to try again?”
Ariadne clicked her tongue internally. She was thrilled to receive the title, she was thrilled.
Luckily, the song was almost over. Only the last turn remained.
Ariadne took a large step back and struck a finishing pose, clinging tightly to Duke Cesare.
As she voluntarily approached him, Cesare felt himself flinching and tense up. After playing around with her, why was he now pretending to be a gentleman?
She whispered in his ear.
“Congratulations on receiving the ducal title. But you will have to find your Duchess somewhere else.”
“Isabella de Mare, I thought she had fixed her bad habits, but she's still the same.”
“The dog stops pooping.”
Isabella wanted to die. Even the Count and Countess of Baljo were among those who were watching her from afar and whispering.
Countess Baljo, who could be seen from a distance, had a frowning expression and was whispering something to her husband sitting next to her.
Is it fortunate that Baroness Loredan could not attend due to her status?
Cesare's back was seen walking leisurely into the miserable Isabella's sight.
He followed the same path Isabella had taken to approach him. He ended up at the table where she had originally been sitting.
At the table where one seat was now empty sat her half-sister, dressed in a deep rose-colored dress, and Cesare held out his right hand in front of her.
“Miss, won’t you give me the honor of the first dance?”
Isabella suddenly snapped and crushed the fan ribs she was holding in her hand.
***
Ariadne de Mare looked up at the owner of the hand. Her green eyes were cold and sunken.
“I’m honored that you asked me to do my first dance, but I’m not feeling well.”
The man who was reborn as Cesare de Carlo, Duke of Pisano, felt like he had been splashed with cold water.
At a moment when it seemed like he had everything in the world, he received an unexpected rejection. He raised his eyebrows and asked.
“What is wrong, Lady?”
Ariadne answered calmly but without hesitation.
“I feel a little dizzy.”
It was true.
But Cesare did not hide his suspicious eyes.
“My debutante girl. I danced with you for your first dance.”
Ariadne, who was about to refute, swallowed her words. It was true that she had her first dance with Cesare.
In this life, in the last, it had never been otherwise. Her first dance in society was always with Cesare.
“Even if it’s a little dizzying, won’t you trust me and entrust yourself to me? I can take care of you even if you don’t do anything.”
Just as Ariadne was about to answer, the orchestra finished playing the opening song and began playing the first dance.
Tan, tta-ra-ran, tan-tan!
Cesare did not wait for Ariadne's answer, but took her hand and pulled her into his arms.
It was at the same time that the last note of the first verse resonated firmly that Ariadne was sucked into Cesare's arms.
He whispered in her ear, standing close to her.
“Just trust me and follow me.”
The most unbelievable man in the world told her to trust him.
With their first move, the rest of the men and women waiting around the dance floor rushed in and started waltzing.
Ariadne also had no choice but to follow Cesare's steps.
“You said it was dizzying, but you’re doing well, right?”
“I’m good at everything.”
Ariadne answered sharply. It was a defensive answer. As soon as she said the words, she felt a sense of self-loathing.
What good is he at doing? He ruined Alfonso's right to the throne. The only way to gain an advantage is to keep Cesare as an illegitimate child.
In her previous life, Cesare not only did not receive the King's recognition, he was merely a margrave with the fief of Pisano.
Now, in addition to his official title of succession, he is also the Duke of Pisano.
'If his rank had been just a little higher, he could have been the Grand Duke of the North.'
She tried to cheer herself up by making silly noises, but it didn't do much to comfort her.
“Yeah, you’re good at everything. I know that.”
The one who blurted out the unexpected words was Cesare, right in front of her. Cesare was definitely not the type of man who would acknowledge his woman.
Ariadne made a sharp turn and came closer to him, her face wrinkled in suspicion.
“That is not like what you say, Duke.”
Wasn't Cesare de Como in her previous life a man who, despite having benefited greatly from Ariadne's base, would often say things like, "Your military acumen is worthless," and "What are you doing meddling in?"
There were parts of Cesare that were the same and parts that looked different.
As always, he responded to Ariadne's attacks with counterattacks rather than answering them.
“My debutante still doesn’t keep her promise.”
“What promise?”
She didn't promise that man anything. Ariadne frowned. Duke Cesare chuckled, perhaps liking the frown.
“Name. We decided to call me by my name.”
"Ah."
Ariadne shook her head.
“You’re still obsessed.”
“Obsession? I just want to get what’s mine.”
He took a step away, then came back closer and whispered.
“I’m very attached to what I think I deserve.”
Having barely escaped the clutches of Leo III, Cesare was looking forward to the trip he would take to see the Pisano estates.
Finally, I leave my father's clutches and have something 'of my own'.
Unlike the Duchy of Como, which only paid taxes to the King, the Duchy of Pisano was a truly autonomous duchy with its own army.
“You try to take all the good things from me while making things difficult for me.”
Ariadne answered coldly. Cesare pretended to be startled.
“Me? That I caused you trouble?”
If he hadn't been dancing, he would have waved his hand. Ariadne thought that Cesare looked very happy today.
It's the feeling he gets when he's full of energy and sociable.
Ariadne had seen this a lot, but she's rarely been the target of his teasing. It was a world apart.
“I wouldn’t have caused you any trouble! I wouldn’t do something like that even if a knife was held to my throat.”
To Cesare's wife, Ariadne nodded casually to the other end of the floor.
In that direction, a beautiful blonde girl in a turquoise dress was leaning against the wall with an expression that seemed to curse all living things in the world.
“Because of you, I’m in big trouble when I go home. I won’t be able to sit down at the breakfast table tomorrow morning.”
Cesare smiled as he noticed Isabella at the end of Ariadne's gaze.
The smile was so annoyingly refreshing that Ariadne glared at the side of Cesare's face.
“You can handle small things like that on your own. What are you afraid of?”
He walked along, looking at her face for a long time.
“My debutante girl is secretly a bit timid. She doesn’t look that way.”
Ariadne shook her head. She spoke honestly about her feelings.
“Irresponsible man.”
“Do you want me to take responsibility?”
Duke Cesare was delighted. He added happily.
“I’ve already been rejected once. Are you allowing me to try again?”
Ariadne clicked her tongue internally. She was thrilled to receive the title, she was thrilled.
Luckily, the song was almost over. Only the last turn remained.
Ariadne took a large step back and struck a finishing pose, clinging tightly to Duke Cesare.
As she voluntarily approached him, Cesare felt himself flinching and tense up. After playing around with her, why was he now pretending to be a gentleman?
She whispered in his ear.
“Congratulations on receiving the ducal title. But you will have to find your Duchess somewhere else.”
I start to like Cesare in this life 😂😂
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