Chapter 15

If you’re going to go crazy, at least do it by yourself.

After the banquet ended and the Emperor and Empress departed, the remaining guests moved into the ballroom, where the atmosphere became completely different.

With the Emperor gone, everyone relaxed. Socializing, gossip, and indulgence quickly reached their peak.

And there was no doubt about the hottest topic of the night.

Lucius and Celia.

The two of them.

***

The ballroom felt nothing like the grand golden formality of the banquet hall.

It was softer, more luxurious, and more elegant.

Under the gently domed ceiling, violin and viola melodies drifted through the air.

Celia lifted her wine glass with little grace.

“Ah, I’ll have the same thing my wife is having.”

Across the small table, Lucius accepted the same wine.

The way he casually referred to her as my wife drew even more attention after the nonsense he had said earlier.

One by one, the nobles kept stealing glances toward them.

“Are you very tired?” he asked.

“…No. Why all of a sudden?”

“You look bored.”

“I was wondering when we should leave.”

A spark instantly appeared in Celia’s lifeless eyes.

She reached over and snatched his pocket watch.

After checking the time, she tapped her finger against it and quietly called him.

“Maybe…”

At her small voice, Lucius leaned closer.

She spoke near his ear.

“About an hour.”

“I think we can leave in about an hour.”

The platinum pocket watch ticked smoothly.

Every time the minute hand moved, Celia looked at it with something close to affection.

Unlike the banquet hall, the ballroom required far more attention.

Private conversations could happen here.

That made everything more dangerous.

And, contrary to Lucius’s expectations, Celia barely knew anything about his personal relationships.

If someone came over to talk to him, she had no confidence she could help.

***

“Lucius! Long time no see! How have you been?”

The gods clearly weren’t on her side.

For a brief moment despair crossed her eyes before she hid it and looked up.

The man who had approached first was—

Who was he?

Celia had never been good at remembering faces.

Her expression immediately darkened.

She was sure she’d seen him before.

But she couldn’t remember who he was.

The fact that she was now panicking because she couldn’t remember Lucius’s acquaintances was irritating enough.

Then Lucius casually covered her hand with his.

The warm contact made her nose wrinkle slightly.

Her gaze naturally shifted toward him.

“Abel. It’s been a while.”

After giving her hand a brief squeeze, Lucius stood.

“Really has been a while! Last time I saw you was before I went west, right? Has it been six months?”

“Only four.”

“Was it really? Either way, it’s good to see you again.”

Lucius spoke smoothly.

Not only did he know the man’s name, he sounded completely certain about their relationship and history.

Only then did Celia understand.

Of course there were many people who knew Lucius far better than she did.

And since absorbing information like a sponge was one of his strengths, he had apparently learned all about his former relationships.

***

“Ah, I should greet your wife as well.”

Normally, it was unusual for Lucius to remain by Celia’s side.

Actually, unusual wasn’t a strong enough word.

It had never happened before.

Even when they attended the same events, they would quickly separate and move among different groups.

Because of that, the man looked awkwardly toward her.

“I’m sure you remember me, but… I’m Aberon Colton.”

“Yes… Lord Aberon.”

Aberon briefly kissed the back of her hand before stepping away.

Behind him, Lucius’s shoulder twitched ever so slightly.

No one noticed.

“Abel.”

Lucius stepped forward and naturally positioned himself between Aberon and Celia.

Then he continued talking casually.

“Speaking of which, how was the West? I’d love to hear about it.”

“That’s a topic I’ll always talk about! The men there are obsessed with proving who rides horses better—”

While Celia silently scoffed at Lucius’s fake smile, more and more people gathered around him.

Most of the faces were unfamiliar.

For a moment she felt nervous.

Then she quickly lost interest.

Whether it was because he was perceptive or simply skilled socially, Lucius managed every conversation flawlessly.

No one seemed to suspect anything was wrong.

***

Boring.

Uninteresting.

Seeing Lucius wrapped in a kindness that had always excluded her felt strange.

Had he always smiled like that?

Or was this smile simply another act?

Many thoughts crossed her mind.

Yet she couldn’t stop looking at him.

Every time the shadows beneath his golden eyelashes shifted, light scattered beautifully through his green eyes.

Then, through the crowd, their eyes met.

For some reason, Celia couldn’t endure it any longer.

She stood abruptly.

Maybe she would take a walk through the gardens.

“Cel—”

Someone seemed to call her.

She knew exactly who it was.

Which was why she stubbornly kept walking.

Without looking back, she left the ballroom in search of somewhere quiet.

***

Amilda Rostin finally saw her chance.

The moment Celia disappeared, she immediately moved closer to Lucius.

The distinguished daughter of the Duke of Brickwell and the only wife of the Young Duke of Windmere was gone.

There were no obstacles left.

Gentlemen who wanted something from Lucius approached under the pretense of conversation.

Ladies who had been waiting for an opportunity quietly slipped into the spaces they created.

Lucius Elier Rowan Windmere.

Was there truly any woman who didn’t desire him?

Amilda’s eyes sparkled.

She was the eldest daughter of an old count’s family that had once wielded great influence in financial affairs.

But now the family stood on the verge of ruin because of her father’s gambling addiction.

And after seeing Lucius again, she could only think one thing.

He was still beautiful.

Unlike thin, fragile noblemen, Lucius possessed the build of a soldier.

A straight back.

A broad chest.

Wide shoulders.

A strong waist and hips beneath them.

No unnecessary softness.

No indulgent belly like so many other men proudly carried.

***

“The Treasury submitted another tariff reform proposal this session.”

“Ah, that’ll be adjusted eventually. Merchants can complain all they want, but we’re still above them.”

The men’s exaggerated discussions were boring.

They were clearly trying to impress the ladies gathered around Lucius.

Still, Lucius listened patiently.

When he tilted his head slightly while maintaining eye contact, Amilda felt certain she was one of the few who recognized that habit.

How can he be so handsome?

She moved toward him almost unconsciously.

Then suddenly stopped.

Lucius held a glass in one hand.

Occasionally he tapped it lightly with a finger.

And every time he did, his eyes drifted in a particular direction.

Repeatedly.

Toward the place where someone had disappeared.

The place where Celia had left.

Each glance made his eyes grow slightly darker.

No… I must be imagining it.

Amilda shook her head.

There was no way Lucius was looking for Celia.

Everyone in the Empire knew how terrible their relationship was.

They seem a little different after marriage…

But that’s probably just appearances.

Even his shocking behavior earlier must have had some reason behind it.

Perhaps because the Emperor had been watching.

Satisfied with that explanation, Amilda finally approached.

“Young Duke.”

Lucius’s distant gaze settled on her.

“It’s me, Amilda. Have you been well?”

“…Lady Amilda.”

He answered a moment later.

Fortunately, Amilda was too captivated by the movement of his red lips to notice the delay.

“It’s wonderful to see you again.”

“My father asked me to thank you for helping him.”

“I’m glad I had the chance to do so personally.”

She clasped her hands politely before her.

Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at her for a long moment.

His gaze was so fixed that her eyelids trembled.

What is this?

Why is he looking at me like that?

Her heart began racing.

“Please give my regards to your father.”

“Y-Yes, of course.”

Yet his gaze still didn’t leave her.

That habit of his appeared when he was listening carefully or trying to understand something.

Amilda’s nervousness slowly transformed into hope.

“Speaking of which, Young Duke…”

“A new opera has become very popular among the ladies recently.”

“Have you heard of it?”

Normally she would’ve retreated by now.

But that hope encouraged her.

“An opera?”

“Y-Yes.”

“It’s called Donavera.”

“It’s become very difficult to get tickets.”

“It’s supposed to be a wonderful play for couples.”

To her surprise, Lucius turned fully toward her.

“Could you tell me more about it?”

Amilda had never received such interest from him before.

She had loved him since her debutante days.

Yet he had never once given her an opening.

Why is he acting like this?

Her cheeks flushed red.

Even after marriage, his value hadn’t changed.

His handsome face.

His noble character.

His elegant speech.

Any woman with eyes would be drawn to him.

Which was why so many women still dreamed of becoming his mistress.

Some would have been happy with just a single night.

Everyone knew how dirty the hidden side of high society could be.

Of course, Lucius was famous for not being easily tempted by pleasure.

Still…

***

“Well… Donavera is about a man who goes off to war…”

“The woman waits for him, and her heart slowly withers away.”

“The war ends, but he doesn’t return for a long time.”

“And a terrible misunderstanding develops between them.”

Lucius listened just as attentively as he had listened to the men earlier.

Amilda’s mouth felt dry.

“But in the final act, the man finally confesses his feelings while looking into her eyes.”

“I’ve heard it’s a very sweet story.”

She looked directly at him.

More and more people had begun watching them.

“It’s sad, touching, and beautiful.”

“They say couples leave the theater feeling grateful for one another and reaffirming their love.”

“Lovers… gratitude…”

But Amilda saw only Lucius.

If only he would love her once.

If only he would look at her with affection.

Many ladies still cherished that dream.

Amilda was no different.

Perhaps, she thought, Celia Brickwell—now Celia Windmere—simply enjoyed the superiority that came from possessing a love most women could never obtain.

“Young Duke…”

“Do you like stories like that?”

Gathering her courage, Amilda reached out.

“The way you treated your wife earlier…”

“That was only because His Majesty was present, wasn’t it?”

His wrist beneath the glove looked strong.

Just brushing it seemed as though she would feel his warmth.

And then—

“I suppose this is my fault.”

Lucius suddenly grabbed the hand that was reaching toward him.

His expression twisted horribly.

Contempt mixed with belated understanding flooded his brilliant eyes.

“It never occurred to me that a lady would have the courage to approach a married man despite the existence of his wife.”

His voice was cold.

“Lady, it seems no one has taught you how rude it is to touch another woman’s husband without permission.”

The blush on Amilda’s face vanished instantly.

In its place remained nothing but humiliation.