“Then Your Highness, since we still have time, I’ll teach you what to be mindful of when dancing with elderly ladies.”
“We’re not done yet?”
“We’re far from finished.”
While Lord Osius, the royal treasury keeper, was organizing the box, Kaela tried to continue imprinting the necessary information into the Crown Prince’s mind.
“Dancing with elderly ladies… ah, right, that will happen.”
Gregory squeezed his eyes shut as the faces of several elderly noble ladies, including the former emperor’s youngest sister, flashed through his mind. He found the strict elderly ladies too difficult to handle.
“My mother is also waiting for Your Highness’s dance invitation,” Lord Osius interjected, which caused gentle laughter to spread.
Lord Osius’s mother, the Marchioness of Rambouillet, was famous for being a strong woman who had preserved an ancient family line and was second to none in her strict personality. Kaela smiled briefly before continuing.
“Since many of them have knee or back problems, when the music shifts to slower dance tunes, that’s when you should appropriately select elderly ladies to invite.”
Gregory wanted to say that was too difficult. How was he supposed to know when the music would shift to slower dance tunes?
And what was the proper way to select elderly ladies? However, since he didn’t want to appear incompetent in front of the Grand Duke of Lusenford, he nodded.
“I understand.”
“Dealing with elderly ladies is intimidating.”
“Indeed, it’s frightening. I just stay glued to the wall.”
The high officials laughed heartily.
“How does the Grand Duke of Lusenford handle it?”
“I’m grateful that the elderly ladies seem to have no interest in me.”
Everyone present thought, ‘That’s not true.’ It wasn’t that they had no interest.
Rather, they despised him as an illegitimate child who deserved contempt. Add to that a spoonful of pity for fighting in the war in the North when he was young. That was about it.
“His Highness the Grand Duke should learn some of this too. His Highness the Crown Prince will be busy alone, and since there are many elderly ladies, they’ll naturally turn their attention to you as well.”
Lord Osius laughed.
“Why would they have such interest in me?”
“A newly married groom always receives much attention. Though in that sense, His Highness the Crown Prince will receive the most attention.”
Gregory’s face gradually began to pale. Among the men laughing heartily, he, still showing traces of youth, laughed awkwardly.
It was uncomfortable. Although they were both in their twenties, unlike the Grand Duke of Lusenford who was already recognized as a ‘man’ to the point where many men yielded to him, everything was difficult for Gregory.
He kept wondering if he was doing well, why people were saying certain things, and why they made certain expressions.
‘…Am I really the Crown Prince?’
Why did he keep feeling the need to read the room? Gregory alternated between feeling intimidated and indignant.
‘The Grand Duke of Lusenford probably doesn’t worry about trivial matters.’
Then he habitually made the comparison that had rubbed off on him from the Emperor’s constant remarks, even though such bad habits only left anger and resentment in their wake.
****
All symbols of wealth, power, and honor didn’t shine just by being prominently displayed.
There was a clear difference between ladies and gentlemen who received good education and knew proper etiquette, and the nouveau riche who were only eager to show off their money.
That’s why the Emperor kept Kaela by the Marchioness of Schroz’s side. That’s why Peon liked Kaela. That’s why Beatrice hated Kaela.
Peon stood in a corner, watching his wife who had somehow succeeded in soothing the now dazed Crown Prince and turning him into a decent dancer.
“Very good, now that you’ve mastered it completely, let’s practice together one last time.”
The Crown Prince, now seemingly too exhausted to even respond, just nodded.
“I’ll play the role of the princess.”
The Crown Prince bowed respectfully when greeting the princess, and the princess returned the bow. Peon watched them with his arms crossed.
Would the princess coming from Keruzhan curtsy as gracefully as Kaela? He doubted it.
Though Gregory seemed mentally exhausted, his body moved well thanks to his military training.
On the other hand, Kaela was already physically tired but enduring through sheer willpower. If Kaela hadn’t said this was the “last” time, Peon would have been tempted to stop the practice midway.
‘Since she’s working so hard, it would be awkward to interrupt…’
What was making her work so hard anyway? Peon watched Kaela with a disapproving expression. Thanks to all this, even the orchestra was forced to practice, with the conductor straining, red-faced.
‘A banquet.’
He occasionally had to attend banquets. It was his mother the Empress’s wish that her son somehow play the role of a normal nobleman. That’s how his mother hoped he would survive.
But had he ever danced with Kaela at those banquets?
‘I’ve never once asked her to dance.’
They had only danced twice, following the tradition where bride and groom dance first at their wedding reception. Despite Kaela being such a good dancer that she could teach others, she had only danced with him twice.
Perhaps that’s why Gregory irritated him so much. He stood askew, watching the two dance, using the excuse that he came to fetch his wife.
This is why dance invitations at banquets were meaningful. It allowed men and women to get close enough for romance to bloom, working together to match their steps.
‘Just twice. Unbelievable.’
Finally, the dance tune ended, and Kaela and the Crown Prince stepped back and completed their farewell bows.
“Well done, Your Highness. Perfect. You’ve learned so much in such a short time – you really put in great effort. Thank you for following along so well.”
Gregory looked sheepish at Kaela’s praise, which came with applause.
“No, it’s because I had an excellent teacher. Thank you.”
“You’re too kind.”
The Crown Prince could only spare this much time. As soon as he bowed and moved away from Kaela, Peon immediately approached her.
“Did you wait long? Hm?”
Regardless of who might be watching, Peon scooped her up and strode right out of the banquet hall.
“Your Highness, put me down. People are watching.”
“So what? Everyone knows you’re frail.”
He set her down on a plush sofa and had cool water brought immediately.
“Drink slowly.”
It was perfect timing as she was already thirsty. As she drank, Peon bent down and sat before her feet.
“Show me your feet.”
He had no intention of rudely pulling out her slender ankles buried in her dress.
“W-why my feet? I’m fine!”
Of course, when she widened her eyes like a rabbit and tried to hide her feet more, it made him want to pull them out.
“Are you going to keep saying you’re fine when you’re not? You were already kneeling because of that Marchioness of Schroz woman before, and now you’ve overworked your feet again.”
He really didn’t like that mother and son. Peon’s voice dropped dangerously as he added:
“…Take off your stockings too.”
“That’s absolutely not happening!”
Are you crazy, in broad daylight at the palace! Kaela hurriedly pressed down her dress hem as she cried out. Peon raised his eyebrows as he looked at her.
“Not even here?”
He had deliberately brought her to a completely enclosed room and even sent Sir Renar away.
“W-we need to go back to take the carriage anyway. Let’s just go now. It’s better to keep moving than to sit around.”
“You think you’re going to walk there on your own feet?”
Kaela faced the resolute Peon. While the couple engaged in a staring contest, Cecile tiptoed backward and slipped out the door.
No matter how stubborn Kaela was, it was difficult to win against Peon when she was exhausted from dancing so much with her weak body.
“Hey.”
It wasn’t an appropriate way to address her husband.
“Can’t you work in moderation?”
Though aware of the irritation in Kaela’s voice, Peon asked back:
“Why do you work yourself to this state without any restraint?”
She had always worked diligently, like a machine, when ordered. She worked herself to pieces on whatever task fell before her. It was a terrible habit that started in Lusenford.
She had no reason to spare her body. Because there was no tomorrow.
One day, while working, this woman would suddenly look up, stare at him blankly, then collapse and stop breathing. Since they wouldn’t let her die but made her work, these old habits of self-exploitation had surfaced.
“Can’t we just continue as before?”
She countered.
“Can’t you just leave me be?”
Like how it was originally, like their four years of marriage where he paid no attention. Now his considerate care and kindness poured out one-sidedly. It was too consistent and earnest to be mere ‘goodwill.’
Knowing full well what this was, Kaela just wished Peon would stop. Leaving her alone was bothersome, burdensome, and honestly, she disliked it.
His kindness now felt strange. Unfamiliar, and therefore uncomfortable. She preferred the familiar indifference and neglect. It was very comfortable.
“You were good at that.”
When she wanted to sink below the surface and sleep, he kept shaking her awake and pulling her up.
“Please leave me alone.”
The occasional sweet candy-like kindness was terrifying to Kaela.
She feared having her heart stolen again, thirsting and gasping in that terrible emotion that burned her body. Then slowly realizing again. Ah, I had nothing. The heart to give had already disappeared.
Then why was she still afraid, why did it still sting?
Even the painful ache was an ominous signal feeding her anxiety. All of Peon’s actions – his worry, his attention, his gentle care – felt good. They shouldn’t feel good. If they felt good, if she liked them, all sorts of contempt would pour down in that moment.
“You’re hurt. You can’t walk. Let me just look at it before we go home.”
Finally, Kaela’s brows furrowed sharply.
“This doesn’t even count as pain. You didn’t care when bones were broken or frostbite set in.”
She shook off his hand and irritably forced strength into her feet. The stiff leather squeezed her feet tight again. Pain was familiar. Enduring it, she did even better.
“When I was in pain, it annoyed and tired you. You just wanted to get rid of me because you couldn’t stand the sight of me, so why are you acting like this now?”
Kaela could stand and walk without changing her expression. But after standing once, she lost her balance and sat back down.
Whether it was because her legs had given out or because Peon was kneeling at a close distance in front of her, she still gritted her teeth and tried to stand again.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for ignoring you then and not taking proper care of you. I’m sorry for causing you pain even now that upsets you.”
It was a pitiful apology. So pitiful that even Peon grimaced as he said it.
“Get out of the way.”
“I’m not making excuses. I just want to look at it now, at least.”
“Leave me alone.”
There was no way Peon would quietly listen to those words. He simply reached under her dress and swiftly grabbed her slender ankle, pulling it out. As soon as he removed the shoe, he could clearly see how swollen her foot was beneath the stocking.
“Stop…!”
When Kaela tried to twist her foot away, before she could hit it hard against the sofa, he stopped her while lifting her dress and said quietly:
“I won’t make excuses. I won’t make them for the rest of my life.”
“How do you know if you’ll even see me for the rest of your life?”
Kaela, who was trying with all her might to pull her foot away while saying things she normally wouldn’t as her temper flared, glared at Peon as he firmly gripped her calf with one hand.
“Do you want to never see me again?”
In the hot summer, the room where wind had collected between the shadows and entered stirring the closed curtains was growing dark as day waned.
At the pinnacle of the black darkness was the man sitting before her. The sharp-edged man smiled.
“That won’t do, I’m afraid.”
The stocking garter came undone with a snap, and the stocking slid down all at once.
After pulling off the stocking, Peon cradled her reddened foot. The strength she used trying to shake him off was laughably weak. Though weak, it was better than giving up from the start.
He knew well what the strong-willed, hardworking-to-the-point-of-breaking Kaela had let go of.
“I told you I have to see you for life, Kaela.”
“You’re enjoying this now?”
“I am. I’m overjoyed that you’re finally showing anger.”
Still smiling, he grabbed her other foot and removed both shoe and stocking. With her ankle firmly held, Kaela glared at him and asked:
“What do you want from me? Do you want me to just say ‘yes’ to whatever Your Highness says like before, and have a one-sided love for you like when I was young?”
Peon looked at her with dark eyes before starting to cool her reddened feet.
“I want you to enjoy your meals.”
For her to mention both her pride as the former Her Highness the Princess and her old one-sided love, she must be extraordinarily angry.
“I want you to sleep well and look forward to tomorrow.”
Her pitifully swollen feet were soaked in clean water.
“I don’t even expect you to smile – I just want you to shout in anger and cry all you want.”
That was all he wished for.
