He naturally took my hand. He wrapped his hands around my waist, and I started dancing following his lead. To be precise, I was just drawn to his lead. He couldn’t take his eyes off my face. I was trying to observe his face, but I stopped looking down when he looked at me passionately. I felt like my body was melting at his blatant confession, and I couldn’t think of anything.
“Irwen.”
I raised my head without realizing it. He focused his drowsy eyes on me. His sweet voice rang in my ears.
“Of course, you’re prettiest when you’re just looking at me.”
It was an ordinary and unfamiliar compliment, but it was even better when Pervin said it. He added, kissing my hair.
“I first fell in love with your lovely appearance, but now everything about you is so pretty that I don’t know what to do.”
As I looked at his dreamy gaze, my body began to itch more and more. I felt my eyes getting hotter as I looked at him. It is said that the eyes are the window to the heart. So I stared into his eyes. Because I want to know his sincerity. I want to know what he thinks of me. For some reason, I felt nervous and put strength into the hand I placed on his shoulder. Pervin blinked his eyelashes as if he sensed my feelings. Then he turned his gaze back to me. His dark green eyes were so dark that my eyes seemed to be swallowed up.
“Do not doubt it, Irwen.”
He buried his face in my shoulder.
“Because there is no reason for me to lie to you.”
* * *
“Oh my goodness.”
Stella leaned towards Romeo Montague. Her eyes were filled with Irwen and Fervin.
“Aren’t those two a really good pair?”
“That’s right. I was worried that we had been fighting a cold war for the past four years, but that was unfounded.”
“I’ve seen Lord Carlisle since I was young, but I’ve never seen him so obsessed.”
“An obsession?”
Lady Stella shrugged her shoulders.
“I told the Duchess of Carlisle earlier, but I’ve never seen the Duke of Carlisle care so much about something that’s his, biting and spitting on it since that cat.”
“You never kissed a cat like that. I don’t know if he’s grooming her wife or something like that.”
“You are the kind of person who will do that and stay.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Montague Youngsik and Stella looked at each other and nodded repeatedly. Their eyes suddenly turned to the two men and women who were tangled together. Pervin hugs her tightly and whispers something. Irwen blushed in response. And Sibel Rom, who keeps glancing at Irwen while hugging her voluptuous lady, who has a perplexed expression on her face. Stella shook her head.
“How did such a dung fly get caught?”
“Why are you doing this? aha…”
Romeo, realizing that Sibel Rome was in the direction Stella was pointing, made her sigh and said,
“Really, why are you in that person’s eyes…? I heard that he doesn’t care about married women either.”
“But it seems like the Duke of Carlisle is protecting it well. Oh my god, who would want to spread spit like that?”
The Duke and Duchess of Carlisle are glued together as if glued together. Why does it look so dirty when Pervin whispers something in Irwen’s ear? Is it because of the veins that protrude on the back of his hand, which supports Irwen’s waist? Or is it because of a ray of strangeness that appears on her beautiful face? Romeo covered his eyes as if he had seen something embarrassing. Lady Stella next to her slightly raised the corners of her mouth and covered her face with a fan.
“The heat is almost reaching here.”
Then he added, as if telling Romeo next to him to listen.
“That’s what a man’s temptation is all about.”
* * *
Around the time I was playing, eating, and having fun. Some nobles left home early as it started to rain heavily. However, the Duke of Carlisle stayed in his position until the end as much as possible at the request of the Marquis Celestine.
“What if my best friend doesn’t grace this occasion, huh?”
“Isn’t His Highness Sibelom there too?”
“Oh, you and him are of different rank. Anyway, we’ll be good to you, so you’ll stay until the end, right?”
Irwen was having an enjoyable conversation with Lady Stella, perhaps because she was attracted to her charming personality. Pervin felt tense at that sight and bit his lip. When he was young, he was secretly worried about Lady Stella’s remarks because he had been caught in the past for biting and sucking a cat.
‘Maybe those two are talking about my childhood. Yes, I can sacrifice my past to give Irwen some girlfriends.’
Pervin had no choice but to stay late into the night.
* * *
The night when the banquet was coming to an end. There was dancing, and she was tired from socializing, so she sat down at the table with Pervin. However, the organizer, Marquis Celestine, was seen calling a man in the corner toward him. Pervin, who was sitting next to me, explained it to me who was curious.
“He’s a bard specially invited by Lance,” she said. “They are excellent at pleasing our ears with sweet songs and poetry.”
The man called by Marquis Celestine was showing off his talents by playing the harp and reciting poetry, surrounded by numerous noble ladies. He was the only bard of the troupe who was invited to perform today, and he especially captivated the psychology of women with his eloquent speaking style and gentle sensibility. Marquis Celestine, heavily drunk, played the small harp held by the slim bard.
“I heard that you are the most famous bard in the capital. Then, please recite a poem to please the ladies here.”
The bard nodded his head. He first presented a poem praising the beauty of the host, Marchioness Celestine. Marquis Celestine couldn’t help but be amazed when she said, “I was blinded by the beauty that deserved the adoration of men all over the world.” When his wife’s eyes sparkled, the jealous Marquis Celestine waved his hand away.
“Sleep, stop now.”
“What’s wrong, honey? It was really great. I will invite you to banquets often in the future.”
She held out the back of her hand to her bard and allowed him to kiss it in return. That was when the bard seemed satisfied and was about to sit down. Suddenly Sibelom stood up. Everyone’s eyes were focused on his standing. Everyone was paying attention to what important things he would say as he attended this event on behalf of the emperor. But isn’t he approaching me in a strange way? I instinctively moved my chair back out of caution, but he paid no heed, sitting down at the table and leaning towards me.
“When I heard the bard’s poetry, an inspiration came to me. I dare to dedicate a poem to the Duchess of Carlisle. What do you think?”
Embarrassed whispers spread around them. It wasn’t because he was a terrible poet. As a womanizer who made countless women cry with his tongue, his tongue was trustworthy. However, timing was an issue. And those burning eyes that look at me.
“The Duke of Sibelome to the Duchess of Carlisle?”
“Do you two have something to do with each other?”
“Are you a secret lover?”
“Nonsense. The Duke of Carlisle is clearly widening his eyes?”
“Ah, but Duke Sibelom has been keeping an eye on the Duchess these days.”
I looked at Pervin in confusion. She seemed to be looking at Sibelom in bewilderment, as was Pervindo. Originally, poetry was usually a tribute to a woman one admired or to the host’s wife. Of course, there were also men who occasionally serenaded her married women. The fact that she was a married woman who loved but could not have him gave rise to a dramatic romance. But Sibelom and I had nothing to do with each other. Especially when someone has a history of being rejected by me, why are they like that? Sibelom gave me a look, acting as if he had affection for me. Pervin, who was sitting next to her, could see his fist shaking. It seems that Sibelom has really offended Pervin. I could see him trying to speak politely.
“Your Highness the Duke, I am very honored, but I think it would be better to have someone else do it.”
“No, it’s because I want to do it to her myself.”
Sibelom ignored him and made eye contact with me. He continued to smile and dedicate poetry to me.
“You are a very beautiful flower. The sharper the thorns, the greater the glory gained by overcoming adversity. You are a very beautiful flower…”
If I listened carefully, I realized that this was a poem of courtship. As he explained that he would overcome her hardships to gain me, Pervin bit her lip. Sibelom looked at me as if satisfied with her own poetry.
“I want to hear your answer.”
Instead of answering, I took a gulp of alcohol. Her throat felt like it was burning. Did that man really say something like that even after being humiliated at the hunting ground earlier? Originally, when a man offered a love poem, it was customary for the other lady to hold out the back of her hand. But let alone his lips, he didn’t even want to touch his body. Before he could even touch it, it felt like chicken skin had sprouted all over his body.
‘What should I do about this?’
At that moment of confusion, Pervin suddenly stood up. His face was extremely pale, as if all blood had drained from it. Only the redness under his eyes proved that he was overflowing with emotion. It seemed somehow dangerous. If I do something disrespectful to Sibelom… He hastily pulled the hem of his clothes from underneath, but the die was already cast… Pervin looked at Sibel Rom and slightly lowered his head.
“The poem that Her Majesty the Duchess dedicated was truly beautiful, but there could have been even more beautiful ways to show her lady that she cares.”
At first glance, it may seem that he is daring to rebel against the emperor’s younger brother. However, Sibelom, who prides himself on being the best when it comes to pushing love, received it a little differently. He stared at Pervin with her strange expression.
“Is there a more beautiful way? Besides this beautiful poem?”
“Yes that’s right.”
“Let’s hear what method they came up with. I wonder what people like you who don’t know anything will say that they speak well, and who don’t know how women feel.”
Other nobles responded to Sibelom’s rude words. Faces were frowning, and some were looking at Pervin with concern. Romeo, who was sitting nearby, was about to raise his hand to object, but Marquis Celestine, who was next to him, stopped him.
“Stay still, Montague Youngsik.”
“But I can’t stand it when my brother is being humiliated like that! The Duke of Carlisle would not be in a position to listen to such remarks!”
“Duke Sibelom is the emperor’s brother. “Even if he is a noble who lives in the empire, he must show courtesy in front of the royal family.”
For some reason, Sibelom seemed to become more triumphant upon hearing this. Lady Stella comforted Romeo’s arm and helped Marquis Celestine.
“The Marquis is right.”
“But…”
“For now, let’s wait and see. Everyone knows that the Duke of Carlisle has never allowed himself to lose since he was young.”
Stella smiled strangely and trustingly. Meanwhile, Sibelom seemed annoyed and urged him on.
“Tell me quickly, how on earth can you praise female beauty other than sweet poetry?”
Pervin smiled to himself. Sibelom, who prided himself on being the best at bewitching women, was caught. Pervin looked at him and declared.
“No push in the world, not even love, can beat this.”
“So tell me what it is, Lord Carlisle.”
“It must be a kiss of love. A kiss between lovers who love each other.”
“I can do that too.”
“Only I, her husband, can kiss my wife.”
The nobles around him began to whisper about Pervin’s actions.
“I think His Highness Sibelom has gone too far. I wonder if the Duke of Carlisle would react like that.”
“I can’t believe this icy guy got so angry like that. It’s a desperate act to protect the duchess.”
“No, that’s…”
A nobleman present stuck out his tongue.
“I guess Lord Carlisle is more than infatuated with his wife. You must not touch it carelessly.”
Sibelom’s face turned red as if it were going to explode due to Pervin’s subsequent actions. Pervin walked her steps towards Irwen, who was sitting. She saw Ir Wen widen her eyes. He bowed his head towards her. This wasn’t something that was drunk or impulsive, but it was a strong mixture of jealousy and possessiveness. As embarrassing as it was to show her affection in front of others, it was more important to nail Irwen as her own in front of Sibelom. I dare you, make sure he can’t target her again. Pervin gently cupped Irwen’s face in one of her hands. Her plump, red lips looked brilliant. Gently closing her eyes as if she understood, he hotly devoured her Irwen.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. I will be taking 2 weeks vacation so next post will be released on April, 23. Sorry for the trouble this can cause you!
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