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Episode 49. Would You Become My Son's Wife?

"Ah…"

Caught off guard by the unexpected remark, the lady only parted her lips.

"It was a joke. You're Baroness Pentson, aren't you?"

I said playfully to ease the chilly atmosphere.

"And the lady beside you is Lady Rittinger from the same region."

I'd read the guest list and memorized their details beforehand. Damian had scolded me for doing useless work, but this was basic when attending a noble party.

Especially for a first-time party, you had to memorize others' information to break into already-formed circles and not be left out.

"H-how did you know us…"

"As you're sponsored by the Hollen family, I naturally came to know you."

At the mention of Hollen, Baroness Pentson's stiff expression brightened.

"Oh my, you know of Hollen?"

"They're a famous family."

"Exactly! We were truly fortunate to receive sponsorship from the Hollen family."

The lady's mouth opened wide.

"If you're also seeking sponsorship from Hollen, miss, I could give you some advice. Though it's a difficult and demanding process, you can't establish a close relationship with the excellent Hollen family without some effort, can you?"

She shrugged.

"Then, does the lady know Ellis, the Hollen family's eldest daughter well?"

"Miss Ellis Hollen?"

The baroness asked back.

"Yes, we're the same age, so we often stuck together when we met in social circles. If you happen to see her, would you pass on my regards?"

We weren't particularly close, but we didn't dislike each other, so I asked as a favor.

"I-I shall."

The baroness said warily.

"Thank you, madam. Shall we save further conversation for later? I have much to discuss with Mrs. Carding."

"Ah… of course."

"Then enjoy the rest of the evening."

A smooth withdrawal. I extracted Mrs. Carding and guided her to where Damian was.

"Sorry for butting in— Madam?"

As we moved away from the window, I apologized, but the lady was looking at me.

Did I have something on my face? Her blue eyes, fixed on me, sparkled like a child's.

"Lucy. You really came."

"Of course."

"Then would you now become my son's wife?"

At her effortlessly natural words, I was stunned.

Excuse me?

Who's becoming whose wife now?

"You're not really interested in Damian?"

"I don't—"

"Even if he's sensitive, he's the type to treat his woman well! He's rich and handsome too."

So I've reached marriageable age. After Triton, this was my second proposal.

"Mother! What nonsense are you talking!"

Damian, rushing over breathlessly, shouted.

"Have you gone mad from cutting meat that doesn't suit your taste lately?"

What does meat have to do with anything?

"Son, there's no woman better than Lucy. Seize the opportunity while you can."

"Mother!"

"You'll be attending social gatherings often — it'll be hard without Lucy."

"Do you get married for such trivial reasons? And I despise these places. Mother, you shouldn't attend them either."

"Oh my, why?"

The lady blinked and asked.

"Do you enjoy going somewhere to be insulted?"

"Huh? Insult? What insult?"

The lady asked back cheerfully. At her innocent face, knowing nothing, Damian and I were speechless.

"I was insulted?"

Damian just held his forehead.

Whether she understood her son's feelings or not, the lady smiled brightly and said they should have come to the social circle together long ago.

Thanks to that, I witnessed Damian's energy draining in real time.

"Enough about marriage — now that we're at the party, it'd be a waste of time. I should introduce you to everyone."

The excited lady grabbed Damian's arm with one hand and mine with the other and moved along.

The first person she introduced was the hostess of this party and the owner of the estate. Unlike Baroness Pentson, she was a warm and dignified woman who welcomed us warmly and offered wine.

As a result, I drank wine that didn't suit my taste several times.

Not stopping there, the tipsy lady properly introduced us to several nobles. Though she called it introductions, it was mostly showing off her son.

Seeing his mother so happy, Damian stood there like a fool before belatedly cutting her off.

Up to this point, I could endure it.

The problem was that the lady not only praised Damian but also started praising me. Having met me only twice, she generously complimented me as a wise and beautiful woman.

I appreciated the compliments, but when she added the implication of 'Damian's future wife,' I had no choice but to intervene.

"So this is how exhausting social circles are."

When we finally had a moment to rest, Damian wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"You said you attended many social circles when you were at Ohan, right?"

"Yes."

"You must have had a hard time."

He gave me a sympathetic look.

At that gaze, I swallowed the words that today's party was the most exhausting of all the social circles I'd ever attended.

---

Finally, the exhausted lady went to the lounge.

While Damian escorted her, I stood by the wall of the manor, watching the rain pour outside.

"…."

Beside the lush trees, a large dirt road stretched evenly toward the village. If I went this way, I could reach Lapin in the west.

I hadn't heard much about the village he'd gone to, but it was said to be a remote place with about fifty inhabitants.

Was he eating well? What if he was shocked by the letter and got hurt by a monster in his confusion?

"…Haah."

The tempo of the music inside the manor quickened.

It was a waltz.

The nobles, who had been chatting until just moments ago, moved to find dance partners. When their eyes met, they exchanged lingering glances and shyly took each other's hands to move to the center of the hall.

"Are you alone, miss?"

As I sipped my wine, someone spoke to me.

A man with deep dimples. According to my advance research, he was the son of a viscount with a small territory.

Unable to find a partner yet, he smiled and approached me.

"If you don't mind, would you care to dance with me?"

A polite request.

Standing alone without dancing in a social circle would draw unwanted attention. But if a woman asked a man first, she'd get pitying looks.

Still, the latter was better. When I received no offers because I was incompetent, I used to ask first.

But being asked first? There was no reason to refuse.

"Wait!"

Someone grabbed my wrist.

"Director — no, Damian?"

"Sorry, but I've already made prior arrangements with this lady."

Damian spoke hurriedly.

"Ah… I-I see. My apologies."

The man, seeing Damian's angelically beautiful face, fled.

"Damn. I almost missed it."

Damian looked around for any approaching men and clicked his tongue.

"Don't partners usually dance together?"

He asked in an irritated voice.

"Not necessarily."

"Now you tell me — I've been turning people down."

"You got asked?"

"About two…"

The power of a handsome face is different. Most people here probably didn't know Damian's personality in detail, so it made sense they'd be attracted to that face.

"Then why not dance with one of the ladies who asked?"

"Mother won't allow it. She's got her eye on you."

Damian naturally pulled my wrist and moved to the center of the hall.

"Director?"

"Since you're here, dance with me. It's not hard, is it?"

"I think it might be."

"Don't be difficult. If it were that bastard Lapin, you'd dance with him, wouldn't you?"

He grumbled. Why did Lapin come up here all of a sudden?

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