CH 16.9

“I’m sure Your Highness knows how I’ve been treated in society. And while I don’t resent it, I don’t see any reason why I should be on good terms with those people again.”

It wasn’t an emotionally charged, indignant voice, but a calm, uneven tone that seemed to chastise him even more.

When she said those people, that included him, and Theobald knew it.

“Lucas and I are to be formally married. It is my will, and I have discussed it with my husband, and no one can come between us.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t feel resentful, and it wasn’t that she didn’t want revenge, now that she was here.

She wanted to laugh in the face of those who had mocked and despised her for her appearance, and she wanted to return the favor.

What would you do if I, whom you despised so much, were to ignore you in return, and if that were to happen to you, would you understand my feelings?

She thought about this before coming to the ball. And her conclusion was this.

Instead of understanding her feelings, they’ll be busy finding other things to criticize about her…

As a result, people will not change. For a long time, she was in a position of weakness. How many nobles would sincerely repent and apologize to her?

Instead, they would only try to take advantage of her.

Lila was now fully aware of how the nobility works. She still had the mindset of Yoon Seol, who lived in a capitalistic, modern world, but now she was here.

She would no longer be used or ignored.

Thinking only about Lucas and Michael was overwhelming for her. As she thought about them and the others from the duke’s household – Jessie, Vincent, Owen, and Kate – Lila felt a sense of calm.

Smiling gracefully, Lila turned to Theobald.

“The will of my beloved husband is my will, Your Highness.”

As she spoke, she rested her hand on Lucas’s arm, which was clasped around her waist, and looked up.

Her flushed cheeks reflected in the light. Lila rose on her heels and kissed Lucas on the cheek.

“I love you, Lu.”

Lucas’s eyes sparked at her confession. He grabbed Lila’s chin, his gaze changing so quickly it was hard to believe it was just a moment ago.

She lowered her head, smiling her usual gorgeous smile. Lucas bit her upper lip lightly, then released it.

“I love you more, Lala.”

Theobald’s eyes lit up at this act of affection. Unable to contain himself, he jumped to his feet, but before he could take another step, someone interrupted him.

Monaca, who had been standing on the sidelines, felt like she was about to lose her mind as the Crown Prince couldn’t take his eyes off Lila.

But she was relieved to see that the relationship between Lila and Lucas seemed to be solid. And envious at the same time.

“Your Highness, here you are.”

Monaca stepped up to Theobald’s immediate side, pretending not to notice the ambiguous trio.

“The Duke and Duchess are here as well.”

Lucas glanced at Monaca with a polite smile, and she returned it.

“Good evening, Lady Arias.”

Lucas, who would normally have ignored her, looked at Monaca appraisingly and returned the polite gesture.

He resented having the Baron and Baroness Este in her employ, but from the way she was acting, he felt she was worth using.

When he offered her a slightly crooked smile, Monaca quickly lowered her eyes. She felt intimidated.

“What brings you here?”

Monaca couldn’t look up at Theobald’s cold question, which sent a chill down her spine. She chewed on her lip, for he had never been this cold.

People sat in their seats, enjoying their drinks or wandering around the hall, some dancing on the dance floor in the center of the room.

Still, their eyes never left Lila’s. They were busy discussing the Crown Prince’s change in demeanor.

Before they came to the greenhouse, they had been busy chattering about Lila, but now they only have one thought on their minds.

They had to get to her.

“Why did you get stuck in that seat without noticing?”

Charlotte muttered in a low voice, covering her mouth with her fan. She hadn’t taken her eyes off Lucas since earlier.

He was the man of Lila’s choice, the supposed heroine, and if she made him her man, she would be the heroine of this place.

Heinrich stood right next to Charlotte, who had turned away and watched their behavior, his eyes dark and intense.

“The makeup looks familiar. Do we have cosmetics like that?”

Charlotte had used the Count’s alchemist to create something similar to the cosmetics she knew.

But it hadn’t been very good.

Charlotte grew jealous as she watched Lila use the cosmetics she wanted.

“How good of an alchemist does she have?”

Deciding that the Duke’s alchemist must be different, Charlotte coveted Lucas even more.

If she could get him, everything would go smoothly.

“Charlotte.”

Heinrich called her impatiently.

“Yes.”

Charlotte, whose heart had already left him, replied impatiently, not even looking at him. Ignoring the wild beating of his heart with anxiety, Heinrich called out again.

“Charlotte, will you look at me for a moment?”

Charlotte jerked her head in irritation at the glazed tone of his voice.

“Duke.”

How could he be so different even though they have the same rank as Duke? Charlotte smiled wickedly, comparing Heinrich to Lucas.

‘I don’t need you anymore, but I’ll make good use of you until the end.’

“Charlotte, I do not expect you to answer today. Count Pinatelli has said that you are welcome at any time, so all I ask is that you give me an answer.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes at his recent insistence.

“Why don’t we have a premarital cohabitation period like everyone else? I’d love to be married right away, but as a duke, I can’t break what the law says, so I’d like to have a premarital cohabitation period as soon as possible.”

Heinrich’s cheeks flushed red, and he pulled a small box from his jacket pocket.

“It’s nothing much, but I thought it would be fitting for you, so please accept it…”

Inside the small box was a dark ruby ring. The hexagonal rubies sparkled brightly.

Charlotte liked the ring, but she looked away immediately. He wasn’t going to give her the honeymoon she wanted.

“Um…”

Heinrich’s mouth went dry as she lowered her eyebrows in confusion.

He felt like he was about to burst into tears of frustration, but he persevered.

Clearly, she loved him, so he just had to be patient.

Soon she would give him the answer he wanted. He wanted to be loved by her as much as he loved her, or at least just as well.

But then, crushing his expectations, Charlotte pushed his hand away. The hand that clutched the box containing the ring.

“I’m sorry, Duke. I’m still a little overwhelmed. If you would understand?”

At her words, Heinrich’s eyelids lowered and raised slowly, a look of defeat on his face.

His golden eyes met hers for a moment, then quickly disappeared. Heinrich pursed his lips, unable to formulate a response.

Closing the box without a sound, he stared blankly into space. There was a crunch, something crunching in his ears, but he couldn’t tell if it was a noise from the surroundings or from him.

Heinrich’s eyes were dark and somber.

Lucas turned to Theobald, who glared at Monaca for her sudden interruption.

“Well, I hope you two have a good time.”

Lucas took Lila and left, not needing an answer. He carried her lightly, and Lila threw her arms around his neck in a sensation that made her toes curl.

“Shall we dance after all these years?”

Lucas asked, stepping onto the dance floor for the second time since they’d danced together at the coming of age ceremony.

Lifting her up as if she were a light flower, Lucas set Lila down on the floor.

Her dress rose and fell with her movements.

He placed a hand over his heart and bowed respectfully, and she followed suit, spreading the hem of her skirt wide.

Taking his large hand and interlocking them together, they began to move in time to the music.

Lucas led the way, his hands firmly on her slim waist. With each twirl, the gems moved in waves of light.

As they danced in the center of the dance floor, which was brighter than most, people exclaimed and sighed.

“Now that I think about it, what a matching pair…”

“I was wondering earlier, the Duke and Duchess are dressed similarly?”

“Yes, they were both dressed similarly like last time.”

“I thought it would be nice to match my husband.”

“Oh, you and your husband?”

The lady replied with a tone of helplessness.

“What can I say, I can only come with my husband to a banquet like this.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. Oh, there’s your husband’s best friend.”

“Hoo-hoo, isn’t he cute?”

People giggled, not taking their eyes off Lucas and Lila.

Lila looked up at him as Lucas tugged hard on her waist.

“What if you attracted another man while I was gone?”

Lila pouted her lips at the deliberate way he asked, even though he knew she didn’t want to.

“You think I wanted it. How could I turn him down when he came to me out of the blue. It’s not another man, it’s His Highness the Crown Prince.”

His brow narrowed not liking her answer, and he spoke bluntly.

“Just turn him down, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Come on, you’re going to get yourself and Michael in trouble if you play games with the Imperials.”

When he said he needed a potion to stop his hormones, he meant he’d need it for Michael later.

As she lowered her eyes in concern, her ears caught the sound of splashing water.

Lila’s gaze flicked upward at the sound of rain, which had begun to play a soft melody.

Autumn rain pelted the clear glass roof. As they looked up, Lucas raised the corner of his mouth and whispered to her.

“I can only tolerate my jealousy towards Micheal. Not to other men.”

Lila’s cheeks flushed at the playfulness of his words.

“I just need you and Michael, too. But you can’t act recklessly.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

“My wife thinks complicatedly. Who would dare sanction you, the mistress of the Montefeltra family. If there’s any such lunatic, tell me, and I’ll deal with him appropriately.”

It sounded a little arrogant, but Lila felt reassured.

“Really? You mean anyone is okay? Even the Crown Prince?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, and if you don’t like it, just ignore it.”