Chapter 45
“Hic!”
“I’ll take her.”
Just as Eliana, flushed red from the alcohol and the embarrassment, reached out and placed her hand on Joel’s arm—a tall shadow parted the crowd and extended a broad hand toward her. It was Michalis, who had rushed over the moment he saw the Crown Prince move.
“Hic! Michal…”
Eliana’s eyes widened with relief at the familiar voice, and she instantly took his hand.
“Come here, Liana.”
Michalis gently pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, fixing a firm gaze on the Crown Prince, who stood frozen in place.
“Your Highness, it seems my wife could use some fresh air. Please excuse us.”
“Go ahead, Duke.”
At Michalis’s cold tone, Shainels quickly composed himself and managed to muster a faintly natural smile.
“Well done, Sir Joel.”
The terrace doors nearby stood open. Escorting Eliana with an arm securely around her, Michalis passed by Joel and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
His Grace praised me…
Joel’s lips lifted in genuine joy, a proud smile blooming as his heart soared.
“Ahem.”
Once the terrace curtains swept closed behind them, Joel turned briskly on his heel. His lord had taken charge of his lady—which meant he was officially off-duty. For now.
“……”
The “sun” and “star” of high society stood side by side, each radiating a completely different kind of brilliance.
“Kyaa!”
The ladies surrounding them gasped, utterly dazzled by the sight of Joel and the Crown Prince together.
Who would these shining men choose for a dance?
Hearts fluttered as if they might burst from their chests.
The Crown Prince—he was sunlight no one could hope to grasp. But Joel, the southern noble star—he just might be a star one could catch.
The true gem among them is…
Joel Terius. Who was he, exactly?
The son of the world’s most exclusive trading company, which dealt in nothing but the finest luxury goods. Raised amidst true quality from birth, Joel’s discernment was impeccable—whether in objects or in people.
“May I, Joel Terius, have the honor of a dance with the most radiant lady here tonight?”
Without hesitation, Joel extended his hand with practiced grace. He no longer needed to be subtle—his signature dimples were now fully engaged.
“Ah… I…”
Riela, daughter of Marquess Rancelloti and figurehead of the Emperor’s faction, froze. She was visibly conflicted.
But the first dance is supposed to be with His Highness…
Tch. How foolish.
Freya, watching from the side, scoffed inwardly. Always with her head in the clouds—why did she always go for the most troublesome options?
“She seems hesitant—perhaps it’s the glass in your hand?”
Joel offered Riela a soft, disarming smile and delicately took the empty champagne flute from her fingers, placing it effortlessly onto a passing servant’s tray.
Wait… why was I even holding that?
His dark gray eyes, partially veiled by soft brown lashes, crinkled sweetly as he smiled. Caught by the depth of his dimples, Riela’s cheeks burned red.
“Shall we?”
With his honeyed voice melting through her hesitation, Riela found herself taking his hand without even realizing it.
She had completely fallen—into the pull of Joel’s dimples.
It happened again…
Shainels, the Crown Prince, had lost yet another dance partner before his eyes.
Sigh.
Letting out a quiet breath, Shainels turned toward Freya. Just then, the music in the ballroom shifted—from the minuet to a waltz.
Joel Terius, the southern star of high society—had officially become a legend in the Wespera social scene.
“Hic!”
The champagne still hadn’t worn off. Her chest hurt from how violently her diaphragm kept contracting.
“Hic!”
Eliana stood at the edge of a cozy terrace, looking out over the magical garden of the Imperial Palace, glowing under enchanted lights.
“Hic!”
Beside her, Michalis stood silently with one arm wrapped protectively around her. He, too, was watching the illuminated garden below. Despite her embarrassment, Eliana found comfort in the warmth of his embrace, which spread softly across her back.
“Hic!”
Every hiccup made the back of her head bump gently against his chest.
“May I help you?”
After silently waiting by her side for some time, Michalis spoke in a low, tender voice.
“Hic… yes…”
Eliana blinked a few times, answering a beat too late.
Michalis gently turned her halfway toward him, holding her bare shoulder with one hand. Then he leaned down and placed the lightest of kisses on her lips.
“Hic…”
At the exact moment their lips met, a sudden hiccup caused Eliana’s lips to bounce away with a soft thump.
Unbothered, Michalis deepened the kiss. Their hands clasped tightly as their free arms wrapped around each other’s waists.
“Haa… hic!”
As her lips parted, her hiccup came out louder than before.
“Gck!”
Michalis seized the opportunity—drawing in her tongue completely, to the point that even the root of it ached. The shock of the intensity brought tears to Eliana’s eyes. But, at the very least, the hiccups stopped.
“Ah!”
She thought he would let her go now that the hiccups had ceased, but instead, he began nibbling her tongue ever so lightly, drawing her in even deeper. Eliana’s body trembled from the stimulation.
“Haa… haa…”
His arms tightened around her back, pulling her closer. The kiss was heady and overwhelming, lasting longer than she expected.
By the time he gently brushed his lips against hers to end it, the coral tint of her lips had completely vanished.
“……”
Their arms slowly loosened from each other’s waists. Standing face to face, Eliana found herself feeling strangely flustered. It had become so natural—so instinctive—to kiss him like this. Not just passively receiving, but exchanging affection, openly, willingly.
“Have you received all your congratulations today?”
She met his gaze, brushing off the lingering awkwardness with a steady voice.
“Not all of them. But most.”
The soft melody of a waltz drifted in from the ballroom, muffled behind a curtain.
“Then… would you do me a favor?”
“Of course.”
He answered without hesitation. On a night like this, there was no reason not to grant his wife a wish.
“Then let’s dance. I’ll explain more while we’re dancing.”
“May I have this dance, my lady?”
“Of course.”
With hearts aligned and hands gently joined, Eliana and Michalis stepped out onto the ballroom floor through the parted curtains.
“……”
The atmosphere shifted at once. The Duke and Duchess had finally returned from the terrace. Everyone’s eyes followed them—and many couldn’t help but notice that the Duchess’s lips looked slightly swollen, their color entirely faded.
“……”
As the stars of tonight’s banquet, the couple took their place in the center and began to waltz naturally.
“Michal, now look at me as if you’re utterly in love.”
Sensing the weight of every gaze on them, Eliana whispered low.
“Like this?”
To him, Eliana was always lovable—how else was he supposed to look at her? Michalis was genuinely confused.
“No, I mean the way you look at me before a kiss.”
I want to kiss her… I want to kiss her… I’m going to kiss Liana…
Hey! That’s the look of a man about to devour someone!
“Ugh… never mind the eyes. Relax them. Just smile, Michal.”
“Like this?”
Michalis lifted the corners of his mouth, though stiffly.
Wow. That’s so awkward…
Eliana sighed inwardly. Everyone in the world needed to see how handsome Michalis looked when he smiled properly—but a forced smile clearly had its limits.
Then I’ll just have to make him smile for real.
“Michal, you look incredible tonight.”
His lips twitched.
“You’re so handsome.”
They trembled again.
“Truly the best. Even more than the Crown Prince. You’re the most handsome man in the world.”
“Haha! What is that, even?!”
Michalis let out a genuine laugh—loud and bright.
Murmur…
The banquet hall stirred with surprise. The “Mad Tiger Duke”—laughing out loud while dancing with his wife?
“It’s true. The most handsome man in the world—my husband.”
“Well… that’s a bit…”
Michalis’s face turned red despite himself. He hadn’t expected Eliana to think such things, let alone say them aloud.
Is she drunk? Or just completely crazy now?
That terrifying Duke, not only smiling, but now blushing? The guests rubbed their eyes in disbelief as they stared at the couple in awe.
Liana called me… ‘my husband’…
The fierce blue glow in his eyes faded, softening into a gaze filled with warmth—like he was looking at the most precious thing in the world.
Yes. Let’s keep going like this.
Sensing the shift in the room’s energy, Eliana smiled brightly.
The hyenas may have turned into lambs for now, but tonight had taught her something: the image of the Duke of Ascher as a violent madman ran deeper than she expected.
“Michal, keep that expression as we keep dancing.”
“And then?”
“When the dance ends… kiss my forehead.”
“……”
Eliana was determined to flip public opinion on its head tonight—to transform the ‘violent madman’ into the ‘hopeless romantic husband.’
“Wow…”
Unconsciously captivated, the crowd parted their lips in awe. The Duke and Duchess—tonight’s main figures—looked as though they were glowing.
The matching deep navy outfits were perfectly coordinated. The Duke’s gold ceremonial sword shimmered at his side, but the real showstopper was the Duchess’s gown.
Each step she took made the red, pink, and purple cornflowers embroidered into the skirt sway as though they were dancing. The gold and diamond accents at the flowers’ centers scattered glittering light in every direction.
When she twirled, the hem of the gown fanned out like a full bloom—revealing her delicate white ankles and deep navy silk shoes beneath.
The couple’s enchanting waltz finally came to an end.
Chuu.
The Duke, who had gazed at his wife with soft affection throughout the entire dance, leaned down and kissed her forehead.
“Kyaa!”
“Oh my!”
Delighted gasps erupted throughout the hall at the sweet and unexpected display of affection.
But it didn’t end there.
That terrifying Duke—who had already kissed her forehead—tilted her chin up gently and kissed the center of her brow… then the tip of her nose… and finally…
…devoured her lips.
