145

The Emperor looked unable to believe it, glancing back and forth between me and the Duke.

“Th-two of you… you mean you’re… like that?”

The Duke wrapped his arm tightly around my shoulder and lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Yes. We are lovers.”

“!!!!!”

The impact was enormous. The hall, which had been as quiet as a mouse, suddenly filled with frantic whispering.

“Th-the Duke has a fiancée?!”

“And even the Chancellor?!”

“No, why would he choose someone from a fallen noble family like her…?!”

“He clearly said ‘lover’! From the Duke’s mouth—l-lover…!”

“Did I mishear? An auditory hallucination…”

“So does that mean they’ve been courting since he brought her as his partner last time?!”

“Why on earth would he leave so many young ladies and choose Countess Cornelia?”

Questions erupted here and there.

I was equally frozen and couldn’t move. Ren, on the other hand, wore a benevolent smile as if a ten-year-old weight had been lifted. Yet there was something predatory about it, as if his eyes might roll any moment.

“I liked her first, and I confessed first. I’m still desperate with love, so if any rumor arises that damages her honor, I won’t stand idly by.”

Those words were terrifying coming from him. It was a truly Chief Justice-like warning—to punish by law.

I struggled to collect myself and, signaling that this was enough, gripped his arm tightly.

“I almost forgot something like this.”

But instead of stopping, he took my hand, stepped to the opposite side, and knelt down.

“Will you grant me the chance to ask you to dance, Countess Cornelia?”

Looking more closely, his eyes seemed slightly unhinged—on the verge of madness.

Watching him, I suddenly felt uncertain myself. I took a small breath and placed my hand in his.

“Gladly.”

After dropping that shocking statement, he calmly led me onto the dance floor. Only then did the musicians, having come to their senses, resume playing. Perhaps due to the shock, only Ren and I were dancing.

“Are you feeling a bit calmer now?”

“A little.”

“I didn’t know I was engaged.”

“…I’m sorry for surprising you.”

Ren’s large hand supported my waist and back perfectly, and my startled heart gradually steadied.

Wait, sorry for surprising me?

“Did you plan this?”

He whispered in my ear as our bodies hovered close but not touching.

“Yes.”

Then, as if on cue with the music, he abruptly separated.

For the record, I’m not fond of him making such important moves without consulting me. Having worked with him several times, he can’t possibly not have known this.

As my expression hardened, he moved back into rhythm and lowered the corner of his eye.

“When we decided to go public, I had steeled myself to some extent. If we only said we were seeing each other, packs of jackals would flock to you. Marriage would be better… but I didn’t think you’d ever allow that. I thought we’d decide after seeing the situation on the day, but it was worse than expected. Honestly, I didn’t tell you on purpose because I thought you’d tell me not to. For that… I’m truly sorry.”

I could feel the anguish he’d carried.

He wasn’t wrong. If it were announced they were pledged to marry rather than merely courting, people would be less likely to intrude. It wasn’t a marriage announcement, so in his way he’d maintained a perfect balance.

I was upset he hadn’t consulted me, but I had no aversion to the engagement itself.

“Why would I oppose it? It’s going public anyway.”

He hesitated for a moment.

“Because your heart… might not be there yet.”

He always does this last-minute plea to make me waver. Does he know I’m susceptible to that?

“Don’t you remember why I stayed here because of someone?”

He kissed my hand as he continued the dance.

“I do.”

“And yet you’re still anxious?”

“I’ll probably be anxious for the rest of my life. I like you more than you like yourself.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“You really say that even after seeing me panting like a mad dog?”

The dance ended.

Instead of returning to the stunned Emperor, Ren took me out to the terrace. I was at a loss for words, but thankfully he didn’t let go of my hand and pulled something from his coat.

…It was a ring.

“So you really planned this.”

It flowed so naturally it felt like someone had run a simulation in my head.

Only Ren’s flushed face showed how nervous he was. I could almost feel his heart pounding through our clasped hands.

“Cornelia, will you date me on the premise of marriage? I like you very much.”

His voice trembled uncharacteristically. He was deadly enough to rip everyone apart outside, but in front of me he whimpered at the slightest strain.

“I think the order is a bit off.”

“That would never happen in a formal proposal. Consider this my best strategy to protect you, if you will.”

He hurried to explain as if afraid I’d refuse, which made me smile.

‘There’s no way I’ll refuse. He’s so pretty.’

I shyly nodded at him. My face warmed as if I’d just received a new confession.

“All right. Duke Vespera Ariadne Fortuna.”

He slowly slid a simple ring with two gems set side by side onto my ring finger: a ruby resembling our eye color and a brown diamond with a subtle gray hue. It was clearly crafted with delicate care.

“I’ll put one on you too.”

I slid the identical ring, a different size, onto his ring finger. Simply putting on a ring made my heart race and the moment feel suspended.

I looked up at him. Ren’s gaze was already on me. When our eyes met, we laughed for no reason.

“What now? I don’t have the nerve to go back in there.”

Seeing my frightened expression, Ren chuckled and pressed a light kiss to my forehead.

“You needn’t worry. I’ll handle it.”

As his face came closer again, I gave him a brief kiss on the cheek and stepped back. The situation outside demanded more attention than leisurely kissing.

“Be careful of the Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince was another reason it was hard to reveal our relationship. We feared he might exploit our situation to hatch a wicked scheme.

But judging by the recent plague incident, whether we revealed it or not, he loathed Ren and me intensely—enough to want us dead. So rather than hide in fear, there was a sense that since it would come out anyway, we should show ourselves boldly.

“He’ll have to worry about his own position now.”

Ren and I linked arms again. After taking a deep breath, we opened the terrace door. Immediately, an attendant stood before us.

“His Majesty is requesting you.”

Ren nodded.

“I should be fine alone. Ria, I’ll be back.”

“Come back safe.”

He strode out confidently, following the attendant.

I was already exhausted.

‘Should I wait in the carriage until he returns? I’m drained. Really.’

I turned my body, and then—

‘Gasp.’

A group of young ladies, poised for a barrage of questions, were hurrying toward me.

At that moment, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side.

“So? Think this is enough to forgive me for bringing Marcella as my partner without your permission?”

“Kiara!”

She stood there in a gorgeous red dress with a seductive smile.

“Of course. Marcella is yours now. But what about him?”

“My father took him. He said he’d introduce him to some gentlemen.”

“The Marquess didn’t object?”

The Marquess, known for doting on his daughter, wouldn’t easily look kindly on his daughter’s boyfriend. Kiara shrugged.

“Who knows. I don’t know why, but he seemed oddly pleased. Maybe it’s because of Coco?”

“Me?”

I know the Marquess is fond of me because of what I’ve done, but a daughter’s boyfriend is a different matter, isn’t it?

“Because I chose you. And so many good things happened after that, and the new aide I picked later also pleased my father. It’s like he trusts the people I choose, you know?”

Kiara certainly had a good eye for people.

But judging men is another matter. I stopped myself from belittling my brother unnecessarily. I didn’t know how he courted, but as a family member and as a person, he’d earned my trust.

“By the way, when did you get engaged?”

When Kiara showed a hint of hurt, I tilted my head and gestured, ‘And you?’ She gave up quickly.

“Honestly, I only learned I was engaged today too.”

I told her the whole story, and Kiara listened with rapt interest before bursting into laughter.

“You were off from the moment I first met you, but the Duke is incredible. I saw your ashen face earlier…”

“You two, what are you laughing about so merrily?”

At that moment, a bright dress, the polar opposite of Kiara’s, appeared before us.

Someone I never expected to come this way.

“Princess Seref?”

Kiara’s sharp gaze swept over her in an instant. Lillies received it with a disdainful composure. I felt a cold sweat run down my back.

‘Why are you two sparring here…!’

Time to switch back into aide mode. I won’t stand by and watch my lady be trampled, not in a million years.

“Long time no see.”

Since being named heir, Kiara had cut back on social activities due to management and succession lessons. She didn’t attend Princess Seref’s salon. She has many close young ladies, so why approach us specifically?

“Your Highness, a greeting to the Princess.”

I offered a polite greeting.