Chapter 006
I finally managed to push my way to the front after covering my ears and taking a few steps forward.
And the moment I saw the duke’s face just a few steps ahead, a ringing filled my ears.
It was as if time had stopped.
“……You’re alive.”
When I saw the man with his head held high and his uniform perfectly in place, I couldn’t help but feel a lump in my throat.
Seeing him not with a face smeared in blood and a gaunt appearance from poison, but rather looking vibrant, an indescribable emotion surged within me.
At that moment, the duke turned his head toward me, and our eyes met directly.
“What is it?”
When I came to my senses, I realized I was standing frozen in front of the duke.
He was looking down at me with one eyebrow raised, scrutinizing me closely.
“Ah, um…”
Now that I was face-to-face with the duke, my mind went completely blank.
The pressure he exuded was overwhelming.
I felt as though if I stayed there any longer, not just my mouth but my whole body would freeze under his gaze.
“Well, if you have some time, could we…?”
I wanted to ask if we could talk for a bit.
But just then, my gaze fell on the group of nobles who had been badmouthing him earlier.
‘Is there really any lady who would want to marry such a man?’
At that moment, I felt something surge up inside me.
Why wouldn’t there be a lady who would want to marry him?
“Will you marry me?”
“…… What did you just say?”
I snapped back to reality when I heard the Duke’s bewildered voice.
‘What did I just say…?’
I looked at the duke with a face even more shocked than his, recalling the meaning of my earlier words.
“D-Dahlia…?”
At that moment, someone behind me called my name in a trembling voice.
When I turned around, I saw my father standing there, his face devoid of color.
Furthermore, the others around him had expressions that were no different from his.
In that moment, I realized…
‘I’m in big trouble.’
I had caused a major incident.
A chilling atmosphere filled the banquet hall, as if someone had splashed cold water everywhere.
If it weren’t for the soft music gently filling the hall, it would have been an absolute, chilling silence.
Just as everyone was frozen in stunned silence…
“Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Prince are entering!”
Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, the main characters of the day arrived in the hall.
Everyone in the hall immediately turned to face the stage and bowed.
First, the elegantly adorned Empress stepped forward and spoke.
“Everyone, please raise your heads.”
As I lifted my head, I caught sight of the Empress’s satisfied smile and the somewhat anxious-looking Delos.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all the distinguished guests who have gathered to celebrate the birth of the prince today. Please enjoy the festivities to your heart’s content.”
After her brief speech, the Empress turned to Delos.
Delos, who seemed distracted, finally snapped back to reality and stuttered out a greeting.
“Please enjoy the banquet…”
As he finished his speech, the music started playing again in the ballroom.
Delos, who had been on the stage, immediately started scanning the entire hall as soon as the Empress left.
His demeanor suggested he was looking for someone, and I couldn’t help but frown at the sight.
‘Could he be looking for me?’
Since the day Delos and I broke up, neither of us has made an effort to contact the other.
Given his personality, he must have thought I would come to apologize within a few days, but the fact that I haven’t been in touch at all until now must have hurt his pride.
‘What nonsense would he say if we ran into each other…?’
The news of our breakup had already spread throughout the social circle.
If we were to have a public argument today, it would be a headache in many ways.
As I tried to subtly shift away from Delos’s line of sight, a large shadow loomed over me.
“…….”
It was Duke Ballestain.
He was standing with his back to the stage, quietly looking down at me.
His gray eyes, which seemed to be hiding his thoughts, met mine.
‘…did he intentionally block my view?’
I wasn’t sure, but for now, his presence had shielded me from Delos’s sight.
However, this wasn’t the time to feel relieved.
‘I just proposed to him, didn’t I?’
I glanced around and saw that many people were still watching us, their eyes fixed on us.
It seemed like I needed to say something, and just as I was about to open my mouth…
“Um…”
“Ahem, Dahlia.”
Just behind me, my father wrapped his arm around my shoulder and said,
“You haven’t looked well since this morning, and your complexion has worsened. You don’t have to push yourself, so let’s get you home and rest.”
I could see the corners of my father’s mouth twitching uncontrollably, despite his gentle smile.
“But, Father, I…”
“Don’t complicate things any further here; just quietly follow me.”
Before I could even ask what he meant, my father’s warning, delivered with expert ventriloquism, left me no choice but to shut my mouth.
I could see sparks flying from my father’s eyes as we faced each other.
“Good grief, look at you sweating! Let’s go.”
In the end, I couldn’t say a word and was dragged out of the banquet hall.
As my father pulled me along, I hurriedly turned my head toward the Duke.
He was still standing there, looking at me.
“Dahlia! What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
At that moment, I noticed Cesar rushing over after spotting my father supporting me, jumping up and down in a flurry.
Without understanding what was happening, I was practically carried out of the banquet hall, thanks to Cesar helping my father from the other side.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
On the way home.
“Dahlia!”
My father’s angry voice thundered through the carriage.
His rough breathing made it seem like hot steam was coming out of his nose.
“What’s wrong? What happened? Dahlia, you weren’t really sick, were you?”
To make matters worse, the oblivious Cesar made the situation even more chaotic.
“I thought you finally came to your senses, but then you go and stab your old man in the back like this!”
My father patted his chest with a thud, then lowered his head toward me and added,
“Look! How much have you made me worry that my hair has turned completely white like this?”
In front of me was his silver hair, exactly like mine, shimmering.
I was just quietly bowing my head, listening to my father’s words, when a forgotten variable appeared and ruined the moment.
Cesar, his face flushed from drinking, had lost his sense of judgment and caused trouble.
“But, Father, your hair has been like that since you were born!”
“You little rascal! Just how much have you had to drink?”
“Ack!”
My father, unable to take it anymore, started slapping Cesar’s arm.
“Ow! That hurts!”
“Well, that’s a relief!”
Watching my father’s vigorous hand movements, I turned my head outside the window, secretly relieved.
I was glad I had stayed quiet.
With Cesar’s sobs in the background, I sank into deep thought.
‘What should I do now?’
Why did I have to make such a mistake?
I felt like pulling my hair out, just like my father.
“Why did it have to be the Duke of Ballestain?”
At that moment, my father, having somewhat collected himself, looked at me with a troubled expression and asked
He let out a soft sigh and continued,
“I’ve heard he has a violent temperament. According to rumors, he’s infamous for being merciless on the battlefield. And…”
“Father.”
I interrupted my father’s words and looked him straight in the eye.
“That’s just a rumor.”
midori
thanks! ahahahaha the public proposal, so funny! sometimes, if you say what you’re thinking without thinking it through…that’s probably what you’re really thinking! GO GET ‘EM DAHLIA!