IHIMML Chapter 56

 

Kaien’s expression was so infinitely serious that it didn’t feel like he was showing off.

Philome took it seriously.

‘Well, Kaien can do anything.’

It wasn’t surprising that he was good at dancing, considering he excelled at everything else.

“Do you really believe that?”

Kaien burst into laughter when Philome accepted his words without doubt.

“Isn’t it true? Or is it not?”

When Philome widened her eyes and asked, Kaien nodded with a lingering smile on his face.

“No, it’s true. It’s a natural talent.”

Then he added,

“Hmm. Should we stop now?”

It was about time to change partners.

Philome twirled and answered, “Yes.”

It felt good to dance after a long time. She had moved just enough, so there was no sense of regret.

Just as she was about to stop and take Kaien’s hand,

“Ah, I’m sorry!”

Someone stumbled and collided hard with Kaien. As a result, she lost her grip on Philome’s hand.

Kaien reached out to catch her.

“Phil…”

But what Kaien grasped was empty air.

“…Philome?”

The spot where Philome had been was completely empty.

It was a brief moment.

“Your Grace?”

Having lost her grip on Kaien’s hand, Philome was pushed back by the crowd.

She felt like a child who had lost her parents in an amusement park, blinking in confusion.

She tried to push against the people to avoid being shoved back, but it was useless.

“Ugh!”

With the strong force, her feet got tangled, and she lost her balance.

At that moment, a large hand grabbed Philome.

“Ah, thank you…”

Philome, who had been looking around for Kaien, turned her head late.

It was a striking golden eye.

Philome recognized the owner of that golden eye immediately. It was a gaze she could never forget.

Even if the memories of that time had faded, she could never forget the golden eye that had stood out during their first meeting.

The large golden eye stared intently at Philome.

In a panic, she quickly lowered her gaze and bowed her head.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

She gently pushed away Winston’s hand, which was still on her shoulder. Winston snapped out of his daze.

“Ah… I’m sorry. You just reminded me of someone I know, so I was rude.”

Winston immediately removed his hand.

However, the gaze he directed at Philome was complicated. Philome felt a strong urge to take off her mask and greet him properly, but removing her mask here wasn’t a good choice.

Moreover, since she had been separated from Kaien, she needed to find him again as soon as possible.

Philome lightly lifted the hem of her dress and said,

“I’ll take my leave now. Enjoy the banquet, Young Master.”

“Ah, um…!”

Winston urgently grabbed Philome’s wrist.

His grip was quite strong, causing Philome to involuntarily grimace. She bit back a scream that almost escaped her lips and grabbed Winston’s wrist with her other hand.

“Young Master, what are you doing?”

She spoke as calmly as possible, but her voice trembled slightly with the anxiety that Winston might recognize her.

However, Winston was too confused to notice.

Their hair and eye colors were different. Moreover, it had been ten years, so he couldn’t clearly remember her facial features; there was nothing certain about it. Still, he felt a strong conviction that he shouldn’t let this woman go.

Thinking he had to do something, Winston asked the woman who was on guard.

“Lady, may I ask… what is your name?”

“Isn’t it strange to ask for that in this situation?”

As Winston’s grip on her wrist didn’t loosen, Philome began to consider whether she should cause a scene.

“Let go of me.”

Philome said once more, but Winston did not release her.

Winston grew anxious as Philome looked around.

“Please, just tell me your name. If you tell me your name, I’ll let you go.”

Philome realized that Winston truly had no intention of letting her go.

She hesitated, wondering if she should give a fake name to escape.

Noticing her inner conflict, Winston slightly relaxed his grip.

Just then, as Philome was about to say something,

“Darling.”

A sweet voice accompanied by a firm arm wrapped around Philome’s waist. Soon, the hard mask pressed against her cheek.

“What were you doing here?”

Before Kaien’s hand even touched her waist, Philome caught his scent and relaxed her body. As a result, she was able to respond without being startled by his touch.

“You’re here?”

Philome naturally leaned her head against Kaien’s chest and looked up at him. Kaien rubbed his nose gently against Philome’s shoulder before lifting his head.

“Who?”

“It’s someone I don’t know. He suddenly asked for my name.”

“Hm, my Darling?”

Winston, who met Kaien’s sharp gaze contrasting with his soft voice, instinctively released Philome’s wrist. Philome wrapped her other hand around her aching wrist.

Kaien placed his hand over hers. His warm body temperature seemed to ease the pain in her wrist.

“Let’s go. It’s too boring here. I told you we shouldn’t have come.”

Philome turned her body toward Kaien.

When she lifted her head to meet his gaze, her heart sank. The look in Kaien’s eyes, fixed on Winston, was chilling.

It was a heat hotter than burning rage.

“Honey.”

Philome smiled and placed her hand on Kaien’s chest.

“Let’s go. I’m tired.”

“…If my Darling is tired, we should leave quickly.”

As Kaien turned to look at her, relief washed over her. He wrapped his arm around Philome’s shoulders and turned away.

“Wait…!”

Winston’s urgent voice was drowned out by the surrounding noise. As Kaien moved quickly, Philome had no choice but to match his pace, almost jogging.

When Philome started to pant, Kaien realized it too late and immediately slowed down.

“Sorry. Are you okay? Should we take a break, Darling?”

Kaien spoke playfully on purpose.

Philome noticed that he was trying to lighten the mood and smiled.

“Really, honey?”

He suddenly burst open the door to the terrace beside them and quickly drew the curtains.

“Philome.”

“Yes?”

He then lifted Philomeinto the air. He could feel her surprise, but he didn’t give her time to react.

Having thrown off his mask, Kaien sat Philome on the railing and immediately checked her wrist.

Even under the dim lighting of the terrace, her reddened wrist was clearly visible.

“Ha…”

Kaien muttered a curse softly as he carefully grasped Philome’s slender wrist with both hands.

He pressed down gently as he examined it.

“Does it hurt? Here?”

“Ah.”

Philome narrowed her brows at the throbbing sensation.

“Yes, it hurts there.”

“It’s red. It looks like it’s going to bruise, so let’s go get some ointment right away.”

“There’s no need to rush. I’m fine.”

Kaien rubbed the inside of her wrist with his fingertips. His touch was slow and gentle, enough for her to feel his fingerprints.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“Just a little.”

As Kaien looked down at Philome’s wrist, he raised his head.

“…Just say the word. I’ll disguise it as an accident and break that guy’s wrist for you.”

“Is that possible?”

When Philome asked with wide eyes, Kaien smiled.

“I guess my darling doesn’t know that the Third Prince often breaks bones because of his own clumsiness.”

“…No way?”

Kaien shrugged his shoulders.

“Just occasionally for venting frustration.”

Philome looked at him incredulously, and Kaien used her uninjured hand to grasp his own shoulder, then knelt down.

“Duke?”

Philome was puzzled for a moment, but when his hand gripped her ankle, she paused. His large hand completely enveloped her ankle.

He carefully removed her shoe and wrapped his hand around her slightly swollen ankle.

“Sorry. I think it got worse because of me.”

“No, it was when I briefly stepped away from you that I twisted it.”

“Still, I was walking fast earlier.”

“It’s not broken, just a little sprained, so it’s fine.”

“As an apology, I’ll carry you until this ankle heals.”

Why is he acting like this?

Philome narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t indulge your own desires, Duke.”

“You caught me, darling.”