Surprisingly, Giselle wasn’t the only one who wasn’t in her right mind at that moment.
Vientin tightened his grip around Giselle’s waist and murmured in a low voice. As expected of my wife. You’re just too adorable.”
“Yes, Giselle is very, very adorable~♡”
“By your command, should anyone so much as lay a finger on my beloved wife, I shall behead them in the name of chivalry.”
At Vientin’s outrageous declaration, the entire room froze. It was absurd enough for him to invoke ‘chivalry’ with such a murderous look on his face…
“My beloved wife?”
…Yes, that was the real problem. There were already some who’d grown immune, since Vientin had previously shown his possessiveness over Giselle at a council meeting. But to publicly declare his love with that terrifying expression was a whole different matter!
With just that one declaration of love, Vientin instantly silenced all the rumors swirling around Duke Reshaniel and Giselle. Noticing the undercurrents of this silent battle, Duke Reshaniel’s expression twisted into a scowl. I saw it that day, but it’s laughable how he acts like he’s head over heels for a first love. To someone like him, who didn’t believe in such feelings as love, their affection seemed utterly trivial.
Duke Reshaniel narrowed his brow slightly, as if looking at something filthy, then finally began to move again. Before anyone realized it, a saintly smile had appeared on his lips. As the host of the party, his appearance drew the attention of everyone in high society.
“Oh my, Giselle. You’ve taken off your mask.”
“Yes. So what? Is there a problem? Giselle loves attention! It makes Giselle look special!”
“There’s no problem. Ah, it seems it’s about time for the first dance to begin.”
Giselle shrugged as if to say, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ and Duke Reshaniel stepped back with an unreadable expression.
Giselle had been ready to push him further, so she felt a bit disappointed, but just then, the orchestra’s music began to play. Right now, Duke Reshaniel probably thinks I’m just some reckless woman he’s graciously tolerating. But still, considering all the rumors that had spread about Giselle and Duke Reshaniel up to now, this situation was hardly in his favor.
Both Duke Reshaniel and Marquis Berto had always been rather ruthless when it came to Giselle. Whenever she clung to them, they played the part of merciful benefactors. But now, Giselle no longer clung to them. The shift in the dynamics among the three was highlighted by her little game of love today.
For today’s ‘mosquito extermination’ plan to work… I need to make sure everyone’s paying attention to how things have changed between Duke Reshaniel and me.
As if he could read her thoughts, Vientin fixed his gaze on Giselle, stealing her attention as he reached out his hand. “Don’t look at anyone else for too long. I get jealous.”
“Yes! I’ll only look at you, Duke! I swear!”
A smile, as if painted on his lips, spread across his face, and the atmosphere grew noticeably colder.
“Then, shall we dance, Wife?”
“Yes, I’d love to!”
Giselle grinned and grabbed Vientin’s hand, stepping into the ceremonial first dance. Feet tangled and glances exchanged in the bustling time of the dance. Amidst the lavish waltz, Vientin Kalinos leaned in and whispered in a low voice.
“I once heard a story about a certain knight. He cut off the arms of anyone who so much as touched his lady…”
“What?”
“It’s not too late, even now.”
He means he’d kill Duke Reshaniel! Giselle quickly lowered her voice and muttered quietly. “No, that would start a war between territories. Even if you want to kill him, you need a reason. A proper justification!”
Just then, hushed voices from the crowd drifted to her ears.
“A-Am I really seeing this?”
“Is Giselle truly with Duke Kalinos…?”
“Scandals with both dukes, can you believe it?”
“…And Duke Kalinos even made a public declaration. I thought it was just a political marriage.”
Though the excited onlookers tried to keep their voices down, Giselle’s keen senses picked up every word as she danced. Everything’s going according to plan. She needed to make it absolutely clear, visually and shockingly, that things were over between her and Duke Reshaniel, and that she had someone new. So it was time to deliver a triple shock to these people.
“Haa, Giselle, is ve~ry excited to be out on a date with Darling after so long ~♡” Smiling faintly as if driving in the final nail, she spoke loudly. “Duke! What would you do if some strange man tried to lay a hand on Giselle?”
At that, Vientin leaned in, his expression icy, as if just talking about it was enough to enrage him. He whispered coldly. “I’d destroy him in the name of my family.”
“Giselle too! If anyone dares lay a finger on Giselle’s beloved duke, Giselle will make them regret it! Because Duke is the only one for Giselle~♡”
“Of course. In that case, I’ll hold your hand even tighter.” He had only been resting his hand lightly on hers, but now he gripped it firmly, drawing close to the point their lips were almost touching.
She could hear the startled gasps from the crowd, but Giselle just blinked, looking dazed. This level of physical contact wasn’t in the plan! And since when did he get so bold after realizing his feelings?!
His grip tightened, his gaze burned hot. And yet, his face was so nonchalant, as if this heat was the most natural thing in the world!
“As fake lovers, is this the moment when a kiss is required?”
Giselle thought to herself. I’ve really gotten myself into trouble this time. With her face about to burst from blushing, she shook her head furiously. “No, that would be public indecency!”
A fake like her could never beat that kind of genuine madness.
* * *
The dance finally ended. Of course, thanks to Duke Kalinos’s intimidating presence, I had no choice but to dance only with him. Still, after spending hours waltzing around, practically advertising to everyone that ‘Duke and Duchess Kalinos are happily married,’ the night of the masquerade ball had finally arrived.
“Shall we head out to the balcony, Lady?”
“Yes, Lord. Let’s go have a glass of champagne.”
People began to drift away in small groups, champagne glasses in hand. Some would sneak off for secret conversations on the balcony, others would pass the time with a game of poker.
It’s about time for Duke Reshaniel to make his move on me.
As the gathered guests scattered, I sensed a strange atmosphere. Something’s off. I turned to Duke Kalinos, who still had his arm around my waist, and gave him a gentle smile. “Your Grace.”
“Yes, Giselle. Shall we go to the balcony as well?”
“Umm…” I whispered something quietly to Duke Kalinos, who was standing guard at my side like a knight, then flashed a bright smile. “But first, I’m going to visit the powder room!”
“I’ll come with you.”
“Alone. I’m going alone!”
I quickly slipped away from him, walked a few steps down the hall, and soon opened the door to the powder room. But…
“Huh?”
The door was clearly labeled as the powder room, but inside, it was completely empty. I muttered under my breath. “An illusion spell?”
No way. Did Duke Reshaniel really act this fast?
…And just then, someone answered from within the smoke. “Of course not. It’s just a simple spell. Ah, Giselle. You’ve finally come to me of your own accord.”
At Duke Reshaniel’s voice, brimming with delight, I openly frowned. “No, you’re the one who used a trick to get me here, aren’t you?”
The room was so filled with smoke that it was hard to see anything inside. Through the haze, he fixed his clouded gaze on me. At that moment, Duke Reshaniel reached out toward me, his hand moving slowly as if to trace my collarbone, but then he paused.
“My, how pitiful…”
I could sense him murmuring a quiet prayer. Is that the incantation? The skill to activate the lucky stone? Seeing his eyes grow cloudy, I figured there must be something to it. If that’s all it takes, it’s too easy. Maybe there’s another method.
While I was still half in doubt, he whispered to me in his usual razor-sharp voice. “You’re a fool. You walked right into a place that could be dangerous.”
“Oh? Suddenly criticizing me, are you?”
“Do you really think Duke Kalinos loves you? That’s nothing but filthy lust.”
“Aah, sure.”
I nonchalantly picked my ear, and he gave me a strange look, but that wasn’t what mattered. What mattered was that his touch was drawing closer.
The temperature, humidity, and lighting of this place are confirmed. It was a skill from my ten years of part-time work experience. If I just think of Duke Reshaniel not as some pesky mosquito, but as a ‘problematic customer,’ I can pretty much predict how this will go. Problematic customer radar activated. Narrowing my eyes, I watched Duke Reshaniel’s every move, memorizing them as fast as I could.
At that moment, he reached out to me and whispered softly. “Today will hurt quite a lot, Giselle. I’m very angry because of your deviation.”
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