Chapter 54
Now that I thought about it, it was true.
Seeing Andrew’s face didn’t make my heart drop or make me feel like I was going blind. It was strange to realize this, so I stared at Andrew’s face. He was handsome, but…
At that moment, Harold pulled me even closer to him.
“Didn’t I tell you? You’re crazy about my face.”
Half-embraced in his arms, my eyes widened in realization. It was like a lightbulb suddenly turned on in my head.
‘It’s all because of Harold!’
I had been looking at the most perfectly sculpted man every day. Of course, I wouldn’t react the same way to someone else’s face. Maybe my efforts to get used to Harold were finally paying off.
As I realized this, a small hope lit up amidst the self-doubt.
If I keep going like this, maybe one day, I’ll be able to look at Harold calmly too?
“Haha! You two look wonderful together! I’m sorry to separate such a loving couple, even for a moment.”
Andrew bent slightly and extended his hand toward me.
“The Duchess of Baisen, who gave me an unforgettable gift, would you grant me the honor of the first dance at this ball?”
Then, in a smaller voice, he added, “If I dance with one of the unmarried ladies, it’ll be a headache. I need your help.”
As the empire’s only prince and the emperor’s sole heir, Andrew was unmarried and of prime marriageable age. All the noble ladies without fiancés, as well as the noblewomen with marriageable sons, would be watching him like hawks. He had to be careful in choosing a dance partner.
And, of course, I was the perfect candidate. I wasn’t a young, unmarried noblewoman, and there was more than enough reason for him to dance with me.
I understood why Andrew had chosen me. But my dance partner was Harold, and by tradition, the first dance had to be with one’s partner. It wasn’t something I could decide on my own.
“Duke, since we’re in the same boat, help me out.”
“I’d rather throw you overboard, Your Highness.”
“Once you’re on the same boat, you can’t get rid of me that easily. You know, friends stick together till the end.”
Andrew smiled brightly as he whispered dangerously to Harold.
From a distance, they might have looked friendly, but up close, it was a complete mess.
“Diana, what do you want to do?”
“I don’t mind.”
Except for the fact that I wasn’t great at dancing.
“Harold, do you really dislike it that much?”
Harold was smiling since we were in public, but the veins on his forehead were bulging.
“Of course I dislike it. I want to be the only one dancing with you from start to finish.”
“……”
Had I been drinking too much? My heart fluttered at his words, completely ignoring the situation.
His deep blue eyes moved past me and landed on Andrew.
“In the future, I’d prefer if you asked a different lady, not my wife.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. And thank you both for allowing this.”
I walked with Andrew to the center of the ballroom. I could hear disappointed sighs from the audience.
At Andrew’s signal, the musicians changed their tune. It was a simple, graceful piece with minimal physical contact.
Hearing it, I let out a sigh of relief.
After all my hard work, I was confident in this particular dance.
As we danced, Andrew spoke to me.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, everything is going smoothly.”
“It is an honor to assist Your Highness as your dance partner.”
“My gratitude isn’t just for helping me escape from choosing a noble lady to dance with.”
“Huh?”
“But I can’t tell you what it is.”
He scrunched his nose slightly and let out a quiet chuckle.
At that moment, he looked less like the competent young emperor described in the side stories and more like a simple country noble’s son who loved to enjoy his life.
…Maybe that’s why people hadn’t recognized him as the prince despite his distinctive hair and eye color.
Suddenly, Andrew stumbled, and I instinctively grabbed him. He quickly regained his balance.
“Sorry about that. As you know, I’m clumsy and make a lot of mistakes.”
“I’m also nervous about making mistakes. I’m not a great dancer.”
“Really? To me, you look like a very skilled dancer.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
I felt a sense of accomplishment for all my practice and smiled at him. The music was reaching its final moments.
“Duchess Diana, I have one question.”
“Please ask, Your Highness.”
“Do you still see me as the bright future of the empire, beloved by the people?”
…Ah. So I had said that before.
Realizing I had made such a statement about his future right in front of him, I felt incredibly embarrassed.
At that moment, I stepped on the hem of my dress and nearly tripped, but Andrew caught me.
“Thank you for catching me.”
“It’s nothing.”
The competent emperor described in the novel and the Andrew in front of me were definitely different.
But I had no intention of denying the novel’s contents. After all, I was using that knowledge to build my wealth.
I had several theories in my head, but instead of confirming them, I simply answered his question.
Because the answer remained the same regardless.
“Yes. I believe you will become a bright sun, loved by the people.”
Like the young Dante, Andrew had been saddened by the hardships of the people and deeply loved them. Even if he truly was clumsy and prone to mistakes, in three years, he would likely become the competent emperor described in the novel’s side stories.
“Haha, then I’ll have to work hard to live up to your expectations.”
“I’ll look forward to it, Your Highness.”
As the music ended, Andrew stepped back and released my hand.
“It was a pleasure dancing with you, Duchess Diana Baisen.”
Andrew soon left, saying he had urgent matters to attend to.
I started scanning the room for Harold.
Just then, I sensed someone approaching from behind and quickly turned around.
“Harold…?!”
I had assumed it was Harold, but it was actually Kaiden.
‘Maybe he’s just passing by…?’
I stepped aside to let him through, but Kaiden furrowed his brows and didn’t move.
For a brief moment, I recalled the scene where he had presented me with a flower during the Eclipse Hunting Tournament.
I decided it was best to avoid him, so I turned away.
But before I could step away, Kaiden moved closer.
“I have something to discuss with you in private.”
He whispered quietly, then respectfully extended his hand toward me.
“Would you honor me with a dance, Duchess, as the winner of the hunting contest?”
Gasps of surprise echoed throughout the ballroom.
They were confused—just as I was.
‘Does this have anything to do with him giving me that flower during the tournament?’
Just then, I spotted Harold through the crowd.
Even from a distance, his face was pale.
…Was he in pain?
“Duchess.”
“Lord Kaiden, I appreciate your offer, but I cannot accept.”
I stepped past Kaiden. I had no idea what his expression was after my refusal.
The moment I saw Harold in distress, nothing else mattered.
I led Harold to a nearby terrace.
I kept a smile on my face until the curtain was drawn.
Then, in a panic, I took off my gloves.
His hand was burning hot.
A mere touch wouldn’t be enough to heal him.
As I reached to undo his clothes, Harold stopped me.
“Diana, there’s no need to heal me right now.”
“What do you mean…?”
“The Emperor’s attendants will be here soon. Until then, it’s better to stay like this.”
Hearing his words, my heart dropped to my feet.
“…So this isn’t because of your illness?”
Harold had only had a celebratory drink with the Handlérs at the banquet.
Suddenly, I remembered how he had stared intently at the servant who poured his drink.
Could it be…?
“Did you drink poison? Knowing it was poisoned? Why?”
“I had to take the hit this time. That way, the emperor will behave for a while. Ah, don’t worry—it’s not a deadly poison. I’ve had it before, so I’m sure.”
“You know I’m immune to poison! I should have taken it instead—”
“This is my problem to handle.”
Why did he have to handle something like this?
It wasn’t painless just because it wasn’t deadly.
I couldn’t speak, my throat tightening.
Instead, I reached for his clothes again.
“Diana.”
Harold called my name, as if trying to stop me.
But when I didn’t hesitate, he grabbed my wrist.
“Let go. I’m going to heal you.”
“Diana.”
“I’m going to do it.”
We silently stared at each other for a long moment.
“…Ha.”
Harold broke the silence with something between a sigh and a chuckle.
“…I forgot for a moment that you’re not someone who just stands by and watches.”
“If you understand that, then please let me heal you.”
“If I stop you, will you give up?”
“No.”
“…Alright.”
The strength of Harold’s hand slowly weakened on my wrist.
“Do as you wish. I suppose this will be my first time pretending to be in pain.”
Despite being caught up in my stubbornness, Harold gave me a soft smile.
I unbuttoned his shirt completely. But there was a problem. My dress sleeves were too tight against my arms, so I couldn’t roll them up.
I tried pulling at the fabric to rip it, but it wouldn’t tear easily. Frustrated, I bit down on the inside of my cheek.
At that moment, I reminded myself that simply hugging him wasn’t the only way.
“Harold, lower your head a little.”
Right now, the only thing I could see was his lips.
