♡ TL: Khadija SK
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Hazel’s first step landed, as everyone expected, squarely on Theodore’s shoe.
“Argh,” Theodore stifled a groan with difficulty.
“Sorry!”
Hazel tried to pull away in a panic. But Theodore held her steady.
“It happens sometimes. It’s fine. Focus more.”
“I’ll do my best!”
Hazel endeavored to surrender herself to the music, for Theodore’s sake at least.
Dedication to everything was one of her strengths—whether she excelled at it or not.
She’d been that way even during her boarding school days.
And today, Hazel displayed that strength without exception.
In other words, she stepped on Theodore’s foot several more times.
“Oh my!”
“What do we do now?”
“So sorry!”
“Pardon me.”
Her apologies varied, and each time, Theodore responded with “It’s fine,” preventing her from abandoning the dance.
Theodore’s lead was impeccable.
Even with Hazel stiff as a rod in his arms, he managed to dance with grace.
It was as if he were skating across the strings of musical notes.
Even when Hazel lost the rhythm due to her apologies, he swiftly guided her back to where she needed to be.
“Don’t think about anything. It’ll be easier.”
Theodore whispered in her ear, pulling her closer.
Perhaps because her eyes were closed, his voice felt overwhelmingly loud—not shaking her ears, but her heart.
His words were like a magical incantation.
The moment she heard them, her mind emptied. Her senses heightened.
The scent of his body, his warmth, his breath—all grew sharper.
Without realizing it, Hazel began breathing in sync with Theodore. And with that, her movements smoothed.
As they neared the waltz’s end, they finally became one seamless entity.
Hazel no longer stepped on his foot, and Theodore no longer needed to pull her forcefully.
The moment of harmony sparked an odd sense of euphoria.
Hazel’s cheeks flushed.
Her feet were surely touching the ground, yet she felt as if she were flying.
She opened her eyes gently.
Their gazes collided directly.
Sparks flared powerfully from where their eyes met.
Everything else composing their world vanished, leaving only the two of them.
Their faces drew closer, neither aware of who initiated it.
One of them should’ve closed their eyes at that moment, but both were trapped in the other’s gaze, unable to blink.
And with eyes wide open, their straight noses aligned at just the right angle as their faces neared, their hot breaths—indistinguishable in origin—began to mingle.
“Sister! Sister!!! Father’s looking for you!”
Charlotte’s eager voice shattered the balcony’s calm.
“Sister? You’re there, aren’t you? Your Grace! If you hear me, release my sister quickly. Oh my goodness, Sister! Father’s coming this way!”
Charlotte’s voice brimmed with panic.
Hazel’s hazy eyes regained clarity.
She pushed Theodore away in alarm.
He tried to catch her, but her movement was too swift.
Hazel stepped far enough from him, then pressed a hand to her chest.
Her heart pounded as if it might leap from her ribs.
She’d nearly kissed Theodore just then.
Her face reddened as if it might burst.
“That was an accident.”
“Miss Hazel, it wasn’t an accident.”
Theodore took a step forward. His face was as red as hers.
But he didn’t tremble or shy away.
He acted as if everything had happened because it was meant to.
“No, it was an accident.”
“It wasn’t an accident. But I’ll apologize. I was too hasty.”
Theodore bowed politely.
Hazel bit her lower lip.
She didn’t want to accept his apology. It felt as if all the blame fell on Theodore.
The incident just now clearly bore her responsibility too. But she had no time to elaborate.
“Sister!”
Charlotte’s voice rose like a plea.
“Stand up, Your Grace. Later. Let’s talk again later.”
Hazel left the balcony without waiting for Theodore’s reply.
“Sister, were you with the duke? Why were you so late? But why is your face so red?”
The moment she stepped out, Charlotte scolded her.
“Yes.”
“What do you mean, yes? Where’s the duke? Did he leave?”
Hazel and Charlotte’s voices gradually faded into the distance.
Theodore stood on the balcony for a long while, facing the cool breeze.
He wiped his face with his hand several times.
He’d made a mistake.
No, it wasn’t a mistake.
If time rewound, he’d do the same again. So he couldn’t regret it.
And now, what should he do?
She must’ve been terribly startled, perhaps even disappointed in him for trying to kiss her without a proper confession.
What if she misunderstood him, as rumors suggested, and thought him a womanizer?
Or assumed he took kisses lightly?
“It’s not like that.”
Theodore was serious about Hazel.
True, he’d been swept up in the moment, but even if it hadn’t been tonight, it would’ve happened someday.
Theodore sighed in frustration, leaning against the balcony railing.
He tapped the floor incessantly with his shoe.
After a moment, he stopped and straightened.
“I need to explain.”
He had to meet Hazel again before the day ended.
Whether he encountered Viscount Easton or not, now wasn’t the time for caution.
He needed to ease her shock and dispel any potential misunderstandings.
Theodore flung the balcony door wide open.
The sudden appearance of the tall man drew some eyes.
Among them, a few recognized his identity from his elegant frame alone.
A faint whisper of “Duke Bernier” rippled through.
Theodore ignored the noise and stares, searching for Hazel.
The deep purple dress verging on black she wore today, the dove mask contrasting with it, her hair tied up haphazardly as usual…
“There she is.”
In less than a minute from stepping out, Theodore found Hazel.
It was tricky with the crowd, but for him, it was easier than sipping warm soup.
Because she always shone.
That’s how Hazel appeared in Theodore’s eyes.
She stood near a pillar, speaking with someone who seemed to be Viscount Easton, sipping lemonade.
Theodore moved his long legs to weave through the crowd…
Then grabbed Charlotte instead of Hazel.
Charlotte was crossing the hall, holding a tiny cake the size of a ring box in both hands.
“Miss Charlotte.”
“Your Grace?”
“Don’t acknowledge me and move naturally.”
As they walked side by side, pretending to be strangers, Theodore recalled his earlier talk with Hazel about the spy.
“Hazel…”
He wanted to speak with her alone, fast. His mouth dried from nerves.
“Miss Charlotte, I have unfinished business with Miss Hazel. Can you arrange a place for us?”
“What happened on the balcony?”
Theodore and Charlotte sidestepped a man in a bull mask boldly approaching, veering left. The man, targeting Charlotte, scowled.
“I need to meet Miss Hazel today, no matter what.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
Theodore frowned.
They say sisters resemble each other, and talking to Charlotte sometimes reminded him of Hazel.
Like she wouldn’t let her prey escape.
“Please. I’ll send the theater tickets you mentioned earlier by tomorrow. Private seats, of course.”
Charlotte’s eyes curved into crescents beneath her mask.
In a week, a musical troupe that had triumphed in U.S would arrive in Weston.
The performance was based on a novel Charlotte loved.
But sadly, she’d failed to secure tickets. She’d missed the bookings due to learning about it too late.
She’d asked Theodore about it half-jokingly, and his response was as expected.
“You’ve got quite the skill.”
“I think your skills rival mine, Miss Charlotte.”
“Did you bring the black carriage as promised? The one that can’t be identified as Bernier’s?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Good. Then park the carriage in front of the hall and wait. I’ll come out with my sister in half an hour.”
Charlotte rubbed her stomach lightly.
Theodore didn’t know how she’d slip past Lord and Lady Easton’s watchful eyes, but he trusted her and left.
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