Chapter 47

As the sun was setting, I sat in the carriage with Nine.

The four days I spent at the Blueberry estate had truly flown by, and today was already the day the social season began.

Looking out the window, I could see the path from the capital Kalifa to the imperial palace bustling with splendid carriages.

‘This brings back memories.’

When I was a count’s daughter, I had to leave the manor around noon, much earlier than 6 PM when the imperial banquet started.

To do that, I had to wake up early in the morning, spend the entire morning getting dressed for the ball, and sit in the carriage in uncomfortable attire for hours stuck in that procession…

The ducal carriage passed through the crowded procession and arrived at the main gate of the imperial palace.

‘The ducal house really is different.’

I knew that the four ducal families in the empire were special, but this was my first time experiencing it so directly.

“The Eclipse ducal family may use that gate.”

Normally, inspection is mandatory to enter the imperial palace. However, the Eclipse ducal carriage wasn’t properly inspected by the Imperial Knights—they just confirmed the occupants and let us through.

Moreover, they guided us to a different gate instead of the imperial banquet hall gate, and ours was the only carriage on that road.

The regular gate visible on the opposite side still had a long line of carriages with no end in sight. They would take even longer since they had to go through individual inspections.

‘Wow, power really is nice.’

I had spent four days resting comfortably at the Blueberry county estate, and I was pleased with how pretty I looked dressed up for the ball, so I was in fairly good spirits today.

But that was only momentary. As the imperial palace visible through the window gradually drew closer, tension washed over me.

My good mood from just moments ago felt meaningless. I tried to calm my nerves by looking at the scenery outside, but it was of little use.

“Are you nervous?”

Moreover, looking at my companion made me even more nervous in a different sense, making it nearly impossible to calm down.

Nine, who had been dazzling even in a basted fitting, was on another level of impact when dressed from head to toe.

Beyond what I had braced myself for, he exceeded my imagination.

When I first saw him standing in front of the carriage, I was so stunned I thought I might faint.

I barely managed to pull myself together and avoided mishaps like missing a step on the stairs, but I thought it really could have happened.

“Um… a little.”

I couldn’t look directly at him and lowered my gaze slightly.

I saw a beautiful dress more luxurious and splendid than anything I’d ever worn, one that could capture all the attention of high society.

Actually, the reason I was nervous wasn’t just because of the imperial banquet.

This dress was pretty, true. My appearance wasn’t comparable to the main characters, but I was considered a beauty, and the Eclipse servants had done their best to dress me up.

However.

‘I probably look inadequate standing next to Nine.’

Wouldn’t I look like a sack of barley standing next to him?

‘Though it would actually be fortunate if that’s how they treat me.’

I let out a faint sigh.

I had my debutante ball at fifteen and had experienced five social seasons since.

Yet I was this nervous because I knew high society all too well.

Nine was someone who only had rumors swirling about him in high society.

Since Nine had suddenly gotten married, it was obvious that attention and interest would be focused on me, his partner.

The more I thought about it, the more my stomach churned.

“…Are you alright?”

My face reflected in the window looked quite gaunt. Perhaps my expression had worsened since earlier, as Nine suddenly asked.

Momentarily flustered, I looked directly at him…

“Ugh.”

I involuntarily closed my eyes tight and let out a groan at the dazzling sight.

Someone might think I was overreacting, but my gesture was a truly sincere response.

‘Just looking has this much destructive power!’

I could feel Nine, who had become noticeably gentler toward me, drawing close to check on my condition.

When I carefully opened my eyes, sensing his hand approaching, Nine’s face was right in front of me.

Startled by the closer-than-expected distance, I jerked my head back.

“I-I’m fine!”

My voice trembled terribly, lacking credibility, but I really was fine.

Having Nine fully dressed up right in front of me was actually what wasn’t fine for me.

But I couldn’t say that!

‘At this rate, I’ll become a duchess who stands around dazed like an idiot at the ball!’

As I pulled away and squeezed my eyes shut, Nine said: “If you feel unwell at any point during the ball, please let me know.”

“Yes, yes!”

Only then did Nine move away. I exhaled comfortably.

While I was calming my pounding heart, the carriage had already stopped in front of the banquet hall.

‘It’s okay.’

I steeled myself and disembarked from the carriage with Nine’s escort.

I adjusted the white dress I had put so much effort into for today, matched with Nine’s attire. Nine patted the back of my hand a few times as if to ease my tension.

Then he naturally placed my hand on his arm. When I looked up, he was already facing forward.

Though it was just a brief reassurance, the fact that he had done it made my remaining tension seem to melt away.

Just a while ago, I couldn’t relax in front of him.

Making those past days feel meaningless, in this moment, Nine standing by my side felt incredibly reassuring.

I steeled myself once more.

Just as I was about to tell Nine thank you, that I was okay, the imperial attendant standing at the entrance shouted loudly toward those inside the banquet hall:

“Entering: the Guardian of the North, the Silver Wolf of the Frozen Snowfield, Duke Nine Eclipse, and Duchess Chacha Eclipse!”

The massive doors before us slowly opened.

The music and conversations pouring through the small gap suddenly ceased, and the bustling banquet hall was engulfed in silence.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Inside the splendid banquet hall where no corner remained dark. People standing on transparent marble beneath dazzlingly brilliant chandeliers were showing off all manner of poses.

Various gazes—from intrigued to unfriendly—all turned toward Nine and me.

‘This is incredible.’

I was familiar with high society, but only as Helena’s lackey, participating like an extra, so I wasn’t used to receiving this much attention.

Tension washed over me again at the crowd, making my stomach churn.

‘But… it’s not such a bad feeling.’

No, rather, I felt a bit proud.

Because there was actually something I had been looking forward to about participating in the social season.

‘You didn’t know what kind of person Nine really is.’

They must have carelessly spread words around just because it was more interesting, saying he was a murderous lunatic who cut people down like monsters, or a cold-blooded man who used power and money to ruin those he disliked into invalids.

They knew nothing, yet talked merely because that version was more entertaining.

Since Nine didn’t attend social events, they must have gossiped even more.

It was obvious what these people, pickled in such interest and stimulation, were expecting to see in Nine.

Would the rumors match reality?

If they differed, that would be fine too. After all, what they wanted wasn’t the truth but just something to talk about.

“…”

“…”

However, Nine, who had revealed himself before them…

‘He’s handsome.’

Very much so. So handsome that all the rumors that had described him until now could be forgotten.

White evening clothes difficult to pull off, yet skin that shone even more beautifully white. Distinct features that stood out even from afar.

Even the expensive and splendid jewelry accessories showing his wealth paled before his beauty.

His broad shoulders and prominent lines proved how solid his body was and what an excellent knight he was.

Though he had dark hair and equally deep-colored eyes, the gloominess from the rumors was nowhere to be found; instead, he was a man who possessed the cool presence befitting the master of the North.

There was a reason Nine was the male protagonist of a romance fantasy novel.

Sure enough, people were looking at Nine with vacant expressions, as if they’d forgotten what they’d just been thinking.

In the quieted banquet hall, only the sound of Nine’s and my shoes echoed.

‘Yes, this is what I was hoping for.’

For the label that had stuck to Nine while helping me that day to fall off.

I’d harbored guilt all along but hadn’t been able to apologize or express gratitude.

Even if I hadn’t helped, the rumors would have disappeared eventually when he attended the social season with the female protagonist, but there was no benefit to holding onto them for long.

I knew that the attention now focused on Nine would come to me entirely as jealousy and envy, but I was satisfied enough with this moment to forget that fact.