Chapter 55

 “W-what is it? Did something happen?”

The sudden change in Nine’s attitude made it difficult for me to regain my composure. Knowing the original story, I had never once imagined that Nine would develop feelings for me. But seeing him suddenly check my complexion kindly, treating me as if I were something precious and fragile, I felt like my heart was going to burst.

‘I thought it was just a whim yesterday!’

Even when he suddenly announced that he would attend the ball with me today, I thought there must be some other reason.

But.

“If you are tired, please tell me anytime.”

The moment Nine whispered in my ear, I couldn’t help but let a hopeful thought creep in. His body was bent low as if to worry about me, our eyes met, and there was his affectionate whisper and his hand holding mine. Everything registered at once, causing my heart to pound fiercely and my face to flush with heat.

My mind went blank for a moment.

“Gasp.”

My body, losing control, flinched, and a strange sound escaped, clearly exposing my confusion.

“…Hmph.”

What I thought was a sigh turned into a small laugh that reached my ear.

‘Huh…?’

Nine chuckled softly and looked down at me with a smile I had never seen before. My whole body stiffened at the sight of that new smile.

“I apologize if I startled you. Let’s go greet Count and Countess Bernard now.”

He whispered into my ear again. This time, he bowed his body very slowly, as if trying not to surprise me.

“Yes, yes.”

I somehow managed to pull myself together and answer. In fact, I think I answered while still utterly confused.

Nine led me towards Count and Countess Bernard, holding my hand.

While calming my racing heart, I suddenly realized that Nine’s steps were too slow. I wondered if he was giving me time to compose myself, but even when I signaled that I was fine, his pace didn’t change.

Finally, I put a slight pressure on the hand I was holding and looked up at him. Nine immediately bowed his head to bring his ear close to me. I hadn’t intended to whisper, but I just decided to go along with it.

I felt my cheeks warm slightly as I softly whispered to him.

“Th-The walking seems too slow.”

I briefly glanced at Count and Countess Bernard, but they weren’t speaking with anyone else, so there seemed to be no need to delay.

When I questioned him curiously, Nine looked at the hem of my dress and replied.

“Your shoes looked very uncomfortable. Your gait is not as good as usual.”

‘Wow.’

I didn’t know whether to call it the keen eye of a Sword Master or a talent for unknowingly charming women. The shoes I was wearing now were indeed ones I had bought for this social season, and the leather hadn’t softened yet. The pointed toe was already uncomfortable, and the stiff leather kept scraping my heel with every step, making my feet ache.

Still, having lived as a noble for some time, I wasn’t showing it, but he noticed.

Feeling my heart flutter pleasantly, I couldn’t help but smile faintly.

‘Seriously, I don’t want a divorce.’

It was such a happy moment that I couldn’t help but think that.

Of course, I didn’t plan on clinging to the position of Duchess against his will. Nine wouldn’t love me, after all.

I slowly approached Count and Countess Bernard, matching his steps.

After hearing his words, my steps felt incredibly light, and I no longer cared about the sharp gazes or whispers of the social scene.

‘I shouldn’t feel this way.’

I knew that the kinder Nine was to me, the more it would provoke Helena and the more severe the backlash would be after the divorce.

But my immediate happiness, this moment that I couldn’t enjoy for long, was so wonderful that I couldn’t control my feelings.

“Oh, Duke Eclipse.”

Count Bernard greeted us as we approached. The Count and Countess seemed slightly surprised that Nine had personally come to the ball, but they smoothly moved on and concluded the conversation pleasantly.

Since we had greeted the hosts, I expected Nine to leave to converse with other nobles. I thought he might have accompanied me to the unplanned ball because he had some business to attend to.

But…

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Contrary to my expectation, Nine did not leave my side. He even held out his hand to me and said, “Shall we dance the next one? It has the fewest steps, so your feet will hurt less.”

“Pardon?”

It was an unexpected request for a dance. Since this wasn’t an Imperial banquet, there was no necessity for him to dance with me here.

However, the option to refuse didn’t even occur to me. I nodded impulsively and took his hand, heading for the hall.

Even in the wide, open hall for dancing, we stood in the center. It was a very daunting spot for me, who had always been Helena’s attendant at balls, but that nervousness was quickly forgotten as I faced Nine.

I followed Nine, dancing lightly. Thanks to Nine’s consideration for my aching feet, the rich skirt of my dress fluttered in beautiful curves. It must have been a magnificent sight for those watching from outside.

“D-Duke…”

“It’s alright.”

In reality, he was practically lifting me. I called out to him softly in embarrassment, but Nine simply said it was fine, showing no intention of making me take the steps myself.

My face flushed automatically.

‘You don’t have to go this far!’

Nine only gently lowered my body, which had been held like a doll, after the song ended.

My feet finally touched the ground after the dance.

“Ugh.”

I didn’t have to look to know.

‘Those cursed shoes must have ruined my heels!’

I took a deep breath to avoid limping, but Nine, being a Sword Master, seemed to have acutely sensed my condition, just as he had upon our entrance.

“Your foot.”

“I-It’s fine!”

I quickly forced a smile, embarrassed, but the more I did, the more Nine’s expression hardened.

Nine urgently led me toward the balcony. His mind was anxious, but in reality, he walked slowly out of concern for my steps.

Although the balcony wasn’t far, my feet ached terribly. But since no noblewoman in the social scene would show such discomfort, I followed him onto the balcony, trying my best not to let my expression falter.

The moment Nine crossed the balcony curtain, he lifted me with a flash, sat me on a chair, and knelt on one knee. I was briefly stunned by his seamless actions and almost let out a shriek when he lifted the hem of my dress.

“W-Wait a moment…”

He paid no mind to my flustered voice, took off my shoes, placed my foot on his raised knee, and examined it with a serious face.

Heat immediately rushed to my face. I quickly pulled down the hem of my dress and tried to hide my foot out of embarrassment, but Nine asked, “Is there anyone else you must meet here?”

“Pardon?”

I hesitated for a moment and then shook my head. I had only attended this ball because Count Bernard’s family had a close friendship with my family. Also because they were an emerging powerhouse among the central nobility.

“No, there isn’t.”

“Then it would be best to return now.”

“Yes, in that case, my shoes…”

Before I could finish the word “can you give them to me?”, my body was suddenly lifted, and my perspective heightened. Nine had scooped me up in a bridal carry!

“D-Duke? Surely not.”

“It would be difficult for you to even walk on that foot. Do not strain yourself.”

“No, I can walk!”

I strongly voiced my opinion to be put down, but Nine carried me out onto the balcony just as he was. It was natural for attention to flock to a large man, already conspicuous, carrying a woman in a rich, sparkling dress.

My face turned bright red.

“Norman, call for the carriage.”

Nine commanded Norman, who had rushed over in surprise at our appearance. Norman looked at me, held in Nine’s arms, with a brief look of confusion, then quickly ran toward the exit.

“Oh, my…”

“Were the rumors really true?”

‘Rumors? What rumors?’

I could hear the whispers around me as Nine walked. Catching the eye of a noblewoman who was looking at us fondly, I ultimately buried my face in my hands out of shame.

Nine then whispered in my ear, asking if I was in a lot of pain.

‘It’s not because of that!’

Struggling inwardly with embarrassment, I belatedly remembered the single shoe left on the balcony.

But after briefly lifting my head to look past Nine’s shoulder, I immediately gave up on the shoe. I didn’t want to go back to the balcony amidst such excessive attention.

‘Am I Cinderella or something? How will I ever show my face in society tomorrow?’

In the end, I had to remain in his arms until we returned to the mansion and my foot could be treated.