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Chapter 110

“Kaiden?”

“…….”

Coming to his senses a moment too late, he let out a low groan.

Emilia’s eyes were wide with puzzlement.

“……It’s nothing.”

At a loss for what a sane husband ought to say in such a situation, he could only run a hand through his hair and heave a sigh before finally forcing out the words.

“It’s fine.”

His patience, which had by now reached a certain level of mastery, was once again put to the test and nearly gave way—but fortunately, he just barely managed to hold it together.

“…….”

Hearing that answer, Emilia fell silent for a moment.

After all that waiting, the verdict was merely ‘fine’?

Of course, she could count herself lucky that he hadn’t said it was bad, but somehow a faint sense of disappointment crept in, and her gaze dropped of its own accord.

“Wait.”

Just then, a voice suddenly came from above her head, stopping her in her tracks.

Emilia replied with a hint of petulance.

“What?”

“Your clothes……”

Kaiden seemed almost struck dumb, unable to finish his sentence.

He had been keeping his eyes fixed solely on Emilia’s face, but now, belatedly, he had taken in her attire.

For a moment, Kaiden was left speechless with exasperation.

Her long, wavy hair draped over her shoulders, yes—but her shoulders were clearly bare to view.

“What about my clothes?”

When Emilia asked again, Kaiden scrunched up his face and signaled to the maid behind him with a glance.

“Bring a shawl.”

“Ah, yes, sir!”

Taking the shawl that was handed to him, Kaiden spoke firmly to Emilia, his displeasure plain.

“The weather is cold.”

“Pardon?”

Emilia was rather taken aback.

And for good reason—outside, it was by no means cold enough to call it chilly.

“I’m fine. If anything, I’m warm.”

Still a little miffed from earlier, her voice came out sharper than intended.

“Let’s go, quickly.”

With that, Emilia moved to step forward.

Kaiden, having failed to cover Emilia’s bare shoulders, swallowed a sigh.

‘Damn it.’

And for the first time, he regretted having summoned the Countess to the mansion.

---

“Presenting the Duke and Duchess of Valen!”

The attendant who had checked their invitations at the ballroom entrance announced in a booming voice.

The doors opened, and a dazzling flood of light spilled out from within.

Emilia’s body tensed slightly with nervousness.

At that, Kaiden briefly clasped her hand where it rested on his arm.

“……?”

As Emilia looked up with a questioning expression, Kaiden said in a composed voice,

“Let us go in.”

Emilia lowered her gaze to her own hand.

It had been only a brief touch, but it seemed his warmth had reached her.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Emilia gave a small smile and nodded.

And so, tightening her hold on his arm, she stepped forward into the hall.

---

As they entered the hall, a flood of gazes poured down on them, accompanied by a low hum of murmuring.

Emilia did her best to maintain a composed expression.

‘As expected, the attention is tremendous.’

She glanced sideways at Kaiden.

At the mansion, she hardly gave it any thought, but coming to a place crowded with nobles—like the hunting competition—made it all the more real.

“Are you all right?”

Kaiden asked in a low voice.

Emilia answered softly.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Still, having already experienced it once at the hunting competition, the stares felt somewhat more familiar.

“Kaiden, don’t those looks bother you?”

At that, Kaiden quietly gazed down at her before speaking.

“They don’t bother me, but today I find them displeasing.”

“Pardon?”

He frowned as if something didn’t sit well with him, and continued.

“To the point that I’d like to make them all turn around, if I could.”

“What, it’s not like you’re lining people up for punishment.”

As Emilia laughed incredulously, Kaiden let out a chuckle as well.

“Oh my.”

“Did you see that?”

The murmuring among the nobles watching them grew noticeably louder.

His face was already flawless even without expression, but with that gentle smile added, it was no wonder those watching let out sighs of admiration.

Just then—

“Your Grace the Duke!”

A middle-aged man approached with great cheer.

“Count Ernst.”

At the name that came from Kaiden’s lips, Emilia’s eyes widened.

‘Count Ernst……’

That meant he was Lucas’s father.

Emilia studied the Count’s face closely. Indeed, not only his features but even his smiling expression resembled Lucas.

“Heh heh, meeting you at the ballroom is quite refreshing, Your Grace.”

After greeting Kaiden lightly, the Count turned his gaze to Emilia beside him.

Then, with an intrigued look, he spoke.

“Oh ho, so this is the Duchess who has the Duke so utterly smitten. A pleasure to meet you.”

“……Pardon?”

As Emilia’s eyes went round, the Count laughed heartily.

“With such a lovely lady, I quite understand why His Grace was so restless.”

At the Count’s teasing, Emilia blinked repeatedly, utterly bewildered.

‘Just what was Kaiden so restless about……?’

And the Count, seeing the Duchess’s utterly confused expression, roughly grasped the situation.

Evidently, the Duke was the type who struggled with expressing himself.

‘Then let me help.’

Pitying the awkward Duke, the Count added an explanation.

“I heard you attended the hunting competition last time, Your Grace—and now you’ve even come to a ball you rarely attend. All for the sake of being with your Duchess, I presume.”

The Count added words with the clear implication that the Duke of Valen was head over heels for his wife.

‘At this point, surely the Duchess understands.’

He smiled inwardly with satisfaction.

‘Ah.’

And upon hearing those words, Emilia realized that Count Ernst was under some kind of misunderstanding.

She had attended both the hunting competition and this ball for separate reasons, but to outsiders who didn’t know the circumstances, it would certainly look like the Duke was doting on her foolishly.

Feeling sorry for Kaiden, who was being misjudged, Emilia gave him a pitying look.

But the Count, interpreting that gaze as one born of tender affection, sighed in admiration.

“Watching the two of you warms even my heart. Heh, if only my own son would hurry up and win the heart of the woman he loves.”

As the Count muttered with concern, Emilia’s eyes flew wide open.

‘Lucas has someone he loves……?’

While she was still startled by this new information, Kaiden’s brow twitched and he addressed the Count.

“Count, Sir Lucas surely has his own private life. Ought we not respect that?”

“Ahem, yes, I suppose you’re right.”

The Count cleared his throat awkwardly. Then, with an apologetic look toward Emilia, he said,

“Would you be so kind as to pretend you didn’t hear what I just said?”

“Ah, yes.”

Emilia nodded, somewhat dazed.

After exchanging a few more words, Count Ernst took his leave.

Then Emilia whispered to Kaiden.

“Kaiden, did you already know that Sir Lucas has a lady he cares for?”

Judging by his reaction earlier, he seemed to have known about it already.

“……Yes. I happened to learn of it.”

But Kaiden frowned as if even bringing up the subject was distasteful.

At that, Emilia recalled what Kaiden had said a moment ago.

“Count, Sir Lucas surely has his own private life. Ought we not respect that?”

‘……Come to think of it.’

It certainly wasn’t proper to casually pry into another person’s private affairs.

Agreeing with Kaiden’s words, Emilia resolved not to ask any further about Lucas.

Instead, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

‘But.’

Emilia tilted her head.

‘When did the two of them become close enough to share such secrets?’

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