"I'm sorry, but it's really not today. You'd better prepare to go to the Princess's Banquet."
"..."
Evangeline's eyes, which were like dolls, opened up in bewilderment. His lips twitched in satisfaction, but the words he uttered were still cruel.
"I can't break the important invitation that I sneaked out so far."
"But if you go there..."
"It's better than sleeping with me."
The ends of the murky voice cracked. There's no way he doesn't know what it means for her to go to the Princess's party. No, he knew it so well that he was already annoyed, but he didn't want to turn back.
He guesses she thinks he's a beast anyway.
If that's the case, it's not bad to live up to expectations. As soon as he grabbed her wrist, her resigned look scratched Deccarno's insides.
Who knows. If she can give her the right answer now...
"Yes, then I'll prepare."
"..."
Evangeline gave a compliant answer again and returned to her perfect doll. Her smile and expression, which he once thought was easy, and who was so satisfied with the feeling of a Duchess, cannot be so annoying today. When Evangeline, who was perfect for saying goodbye to go to a good rest, closed the door and disappeared, he took out a cigar from his coat as was his habit.
To be precise, the empty cigar case that was burned here today.
***
"If you have to go through it at least once, it's better to laugh. Not to you, but also to the other person."
He did everything she wanted, but sometimes he was firm. Whether it was when he refused to take a merchant ship because he hated seasickness, or when he had to deal with people who couldn't speak at all, it was mainly something he had to go through once in his life.
If you had seen him today, you might have said the same thing.
"..."
She stood in front of the mirror in a gorgeous silver dress. The thought of attending the Princess's party already made her feel sick, but even this was something that would pass at least once
'Yes. That's it.'
As long as she holds the title of the next Duchess of the Theses, she cannot live in hiding forever. Above all, she didn't have the heart to say anything more sorry to Deccarno, so she had to hurry up and get ready. With only a short departure time left, she was busy arranging her clothes.
Normally, the maid would have done it for her, but after her father's work, she stayed away from them as much as possible. The previous Duchess said that the most threatening enemy was within. She didn't want to show weakness to anyone in the worst situation. There is no one to comfort and pat her anymore.
The door opened with a knock, and Evangeline hurriedly wiped away her gloomy expression.
"... Come in. It's all there is, just button the back of my back."
"Is this it?"
"Why are you?"
Without any reward for forcibly clearing her voice, Evangeline's face was stained with astonishment. Naturally, she thought it was a maid, but the Duke behind her was not calm. Looking at her back, which was clearly exposed through the gaping hem of her robe, he was as calm as when he looked at the papers.
"Turn around. It's too late to leave now."
"Oh, I know. So if you just leave for a minute..."
"Well, what do you think? It's not even the first time."
She didn't mean to, but she felt a little grumpy when Deccarno said what he said a few days ago. Not wanting to be disturbed by this, Evangeline was forced to straighten her bent back. It's not the first time he's seen her body, as he said. They spent the night together, and instead of her, who was exhausted, he tied up a robe.
"Raise your hair."
"..."
Deccarno's hot breath touched the nape of her neck, and her back tensed. She was so thirsty that she hurriedly lifted her hair with both hands. She could feel his hand as he buttoned up one by one.
"Amazing. This kind of thing goes into your body."
"I've worn it before, so it's okay."
"You say you wear something more than once?"
At his words of disbelief, Evangeline raised her mouth helplessly. This man, who is quick to calculate everything, may not know exactly what his situation is right now. She didn't know how to answer, and while she smiled faintly, his hand picked up something else.
"This is a good necklace."
"...This is too gorgeous. Everyone is just looking at me."
"It's something you have to go through once anyway. If that's the case, you'd better blind the stares."
"..."
"Why do you see it that way?"
Deccarno picked up the most gorgeous diamond among the previous Duchess's keepsakes and suddenly felt her gaze in the mirror. It was surprising that Evangeline's rarely agitated eyes fluttered, but it was better than playing like a freshly made doll.
"Keep your head up."
"..."
As he carefully fastened the collar, his gaze also fell on Evangeline in the mirror. Perhaps it was even stranger now that they saw each other on a point than the time they spent together in bed.
"...If you have something to say, just do it."
"There is no such thing."
"If you don't want to go or something like that, even now."
"No, I don't. I'm going."
Finally, she took her eyes off the mirror and turned to him. His eyes, which seemed so hot in the mirror, became extremely calm when she met them again.
Evangeline didn't seem to like his answer, and she fiddled with the necklace.
"I just want this necklace."
***
Unfortunately for Bellona, the ball held by the Princess was not very popular in the social world.
First of all, everything in the banquet imitated the Duke of Theses excessively, and it was difficult to please the high-nosed Princess.
The fact that it was held at the imperial palace was also one of the points of dislike. The real pleasure of a partridge banquet is to relax and enjoy it moderately with drunkenness, but in the imperial palace where the Emperor was, she was cautious about anything. Therefore, when the Princess's banquet was held, there were many nobles who were worried about how to refuse.
Her party was a great success for the first time in her life. There was nothing to see if it was a reason.
"His Excellency the Duke of Theses and his fiancée, Young Lady O'Hara."
"..."
Following the booming voice of the knight standing at the entrance, the heads of the crowd turned all at once. They were two people who couldn't find fault with their appearance. In addition to envy and jealousy, admiration and adoration, there was another special emotion today.
She really came here!
She was the first to appear in public after O'Hara's bankruptcy. There was a lot of open curiosity about Evangeline, who had fallen from the queen of the social world to the bottom of the basement overnight. Many men admired her existence as beautiful as the finest handiwork, and many women pulled the forearms of their husbands and fiancés and shed tears.
Nevertheless, the expressions of the two people who walked, only looking straight ahead, were dull as if they had transcended somewhere.
"Are you satisfied now?"
"..."
In front of the fountain, Deccarno lowered his head to her ear for a moment. Even the slightest movement made the ladies' eyes sparkle, but the words he uttered were not very romantic.
"Straighten your shoulders, you said you'd come."
"...I know."
"No matter what others say, you are a Theses. Do your part properly."
His voice stood strangely sharp. It was like that all the way out of the mansion and on the carriage. She doesn't know where the judging was twisted... She doesn't know if the word judging suits him.
"Don't worry. I won't cause any more damage."
"...Hah."
At Evangeline's words, Deccarno's eyebrows became steep. Obviously, he started it himself, and he had a hard time keeping his jaw firmly closed to see what he didn't like so much. He looked like he had been forcibly dragged into a party that some people didn't like.
"Yes. We'll see how well you do."
"Go. It looks like they're waiting for the Duke over there."
She pretended not to notice his gaze and pointed to the smoke room where the men were gathered. Until the host, the Princess, arrived, it was a tradition for men and women to gather separately to greet and chat. However, for some reason, Deccarno was hesitant and acted as if he did not know the tradition.
"...Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
"Who?"
Evangeline tilted her head, and he turned around belatedly. As if to make up for the hesitant time, he sped up his pace as he strode away. Wondering what people would whisper about him like this, she swallowed a bitter laugh.
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