Chapter 33

Chapter 33

So instead of reconsidering whether his actions were appropriate and rational, he chose to take Chloe’s hand.

The moment she saw Alphonse, Chloe felt as if the sun had risen in her heart. Her face brightened just as much as her heart did, though she didn’t realize it.

The young man, not recognizing who Chloe was, felt drawn to her beauty and asked her for a dance. But even if he had known who she was, he didn’t think it would have been his fault. In other words, dancing was merely a form of socializing, a kind of sport, and dancing with a married woman was no disgrace.

There were, very occasionally, some people who were obsessively attached to their spouses. But the young man had not the slightest thought that Alphonse could be such a type. Wasn’t Alphonse Battenberg, the cold-blooded man renowned for his indifference toward his own wife, the very same Duke of Battenberg?

“Your Grace.”

That was why the young man tried to remain confident even when the Duke of Battenberg appeared before him. However…

“What business do you have with my wife?”

‘…!’

A fierce energy radiated from the Duke’s red eyes. Even without emotion, his gaze exerted an immense pressure. Now that emotion was in those eyes, no one would find facing them pleasant.

Feeling the full brunt of that pressure, the young man’s legs began to tremble. At that moment, the charm of the Duchess no longer mattered. The only thought in his head was that he had to run.

“N-no, nothing. Please enjoy your evening, Your Grace, madam. I’ll take my leave now…!”

With those hastily muttered words, the young man bolted from the scene. Left behind were only Alphonse, who still seemed displeased, and Chloe, who hadn’t quite grasped what had just happened.

Chloe, who had watched the young man flee as soon as Alphonse appeared, turned back to look at Alphonse. He had returned to his usual indifferent gaze… and he was still holding her hand.

Chloe suddenly felt shy about it. She giggled and tried to slip her hand away, but Alphonse didn’t let her go. Instead, he gripped her small hand even more tightly.

Chloe’s cheeks flushed slightly. In the end, she gave up trying to pull away. Instead, she spoke.

“Um, Your Grace.”

“Yes?”

“I’m glad you came to find me.”

She spoke honestly. Alphonse looked down at her face with an unreadable expression. His gaze made Chloe feel even more embarrassed.

And the response that came was:

“Is that so.”

It was so calm and flat that Chloe felt even more flustered.

“Yes.”

“Then, wife,” Alphonse said in a low voice, “Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

Chloe felt her heart pound in her chest. It was just an invitation to dance, and yet her heart raced uncontrollably.

She closed her eyes briefly to calm herself, then opened them and smiled.

“Yes.”

However, she had overlooked one thing.

The former Chloe, a proper lady from a noble household, had of course learned to dance. And because she had inherited all of that Chloe’s memories, the current Chloe remembered each dance step.

But remembering with the mind and moving the body were two very different things. Just because she remembered how to dance didn’t mean her body could execute it.

“…!”

She realized this only too late—after the music had started and in the very center of the ballroom. 

As the people around them began to spin in time with the melody, Alphonse also moved. Chloe tried desperately to match his steps then whispered,

“Y-Your Grace. The truth is…”

“Yes?”

“I can’t dance.”

People nearby began to whisper. Chloe already had a less-than-stellar reputation, and many were just waiting to find fault with her. Her poor dancing became easy prey.

She could hear whispers all around. Even stifled laughter, as if mocking her. Her face grew hot. Cold sweat trickled down her spine.

Alphonse, looking down at the flustered Chloe, said,

“Wife.”

“Yes?”

“Lean on me.”

Chloe looked up at him in confusion, but did as he said.

And then something amazing happened.

Alphonse shifted his posture to support Chloe’s back. Making her lean on him entirely, he began to gently lead her.

Alphonse was an excellent dancer. As he guided her movements, supporting her body, Chloe managed to appear like a passable dancer.

The embarrassment that had filled her disappeared, replaced by confidence. Though it wasn’t really her skill, just looking decent was enough to satisfy her. She lifted her head high, looked Alphonse in the eyes, and smiled.

The murmurs and laughter around them faded. In Alphonse’s arms, Chloe began to enjoy the dance.

.

The banquet grew livelier, and more people became drunk. Chloe, feeling the need to fix her makeup, told Alphonse and headed to the powder room.

The powder room was spacious and neat. Several women were already inside, touching up their makeup or adjusting their clothes. One side of the room resembled a communal lounge, where groups of women sat chatting.

Just as Chloe finished fixing her makeup—

“Oh my, Duchess Battenberg!”

It was an unfamiliar voice. Chloe turned to see several women waving her over.

“Hello.”

“Duchess Battenberg, come here. Join our conversation.”

“Yes, come and satisfy our curiosity.”

Curiosity? Chloe approached them without much thought.

There were quite a few women gathered, about fifteen or sixteen. They seemed a bit older, and most were visibly tipsy.

As Chloe joined them, the woman who had first called out spoke.

“Duchess Battenberg, we were having a rather improper conversation. We hear all sorts of stories, but there’s always one person we’re most curious about.”

Improper conversation? Chloe had a bad feeling that she didn’t belong here.

But it was already too late to escape. With a curious expression, the woman asked:

“What we really want to know is—how is the Duke of Battenberg in bed?”

“I heard from the ladies who have dated the Duke that his stamina is incredible, and once he starts, he can go until dawn. Is that true?”

A relatively young lady asked, her cheeks flushed pink.

“What about the Duke’s ‘thing’? Is it big enough?”

“What are the Duke’s sexual preferences?”

“Do you often sleep together? How many times a month?”

Questions poured in from all directions. But Chloe couldn’t answer any of them. It was because of a sudden realization that hit her.

Yes, they were husband and wife. A couple with a legal obligation to have a sexual relationship and produce an heir.

In fact, the marriage vows written by Alphonse and Chloe—or, to be precise, Alphonse and the previous Chloe—included an item related to their bedroom life. It stated that they were to have sexual relations once a month, as an obligation to produce an heir. And the previous Chloe had indeed had relations with Alphonse once a month.

Of course, she had always possessed those memories. But she had never once thought to retrieve or recall them. The memories, neatly folded in her mind, began to unfurl like a scroll the moment she became conscious of them. 

The previous Chloe’s tension and fear, her body stiff as a log, Alphonse’s muscular nakedness, the wrinkled bedsheets…

These were Chloe’s memories now, but they were also someone else’s. After all, she hadn’t experienced them herself. Having memories of someone else’s sexual encounter was a truly strange feeling. 

Guilt, as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have, and an even more intense shame, washed over her.

Chloe bit her lip and said,

“You are being rude. Intimate conversations can be had among close friends. But how can you be so disrespectful to someone you’re meeting for the first time?”

“Huh? Th-that’s not it, Duchess. We just…”

“Considering you’ve had too much to drink, I won’t impose any further implications. However, from now on, before you speak, think about how the other person would feel hearing those words. If you speak or act in this manner again, I will not let it slide easily.”

The women, who looked about fifteen years older than Chloe, pressed their lips shut, their embarrassment evident. Chloe left them without a backward glance and headed towards the ballroom.

Soon, she saw her husband waiting for her outside the powder room. The moment she saw his face, the shame and humiliation that Chloe had been suppressing burst forth. 

The recent flashback resurfaced. His beautiful body and the embrace of his slightly cooler temperature. The memory of the body that had been held by him…

“Wife.”

Alphonse naturally put his arm around her shoulder to escort her. Chloe reacted in a way she had never shown before. She was startled.

“Ah! I-I’m sorry.”

Chloe stammered. Alphonse noted her tense demeanor and flushed cheeks. He didn’t touch Chloe as he quietly asked,

“Wife, has something happened?”

“No. Nothing happened. Don’t worry.”

Chloe quickly replied. She absolutely didn’t want him to know the fact that she had recalled the memories of her nights with Alphonse, and that she was conscious of them.

Alphonse stared at her with an unreadable expression. Chloe felt uneasy, as if his gaze was piercing right through her. Finally, Alphonse spoke.

“You look very tired. Would you like to go back?”

Chloe nodded, unable to do otherwise. 

***

Inside the carriage on the way back, Chloe thought.

Of course, she wasn’t without romantic experience. When she was Park Hajeong, she had dated and had sexual relations with her boyfriends.

But this was a separate issue. Chloe found it difficult to look Alphonse in the face. She felt sorry for him, and more than anything, seeing him kept bringing back those memories. 

His embrace, his warmth, and all the experiences of the previous Chloe being held by him…

Moreover…

‘I… I have to do that too. With him.’

Chloe suddenly thought. Of course, she had vaguely expected it since she learned she was someone’s wife, but what had felt like something in the distant future suddenly felt like it was happening tomorrow.

Becoming his wife… she didn’t dislike it. But, she wished she had had a little more time to mentally prepare. Chloe sighed.

***

The next morning, the first thing Chloe thought of when she woke up in bed was Alphonse. More precisely, the memory of being held by him.

This was a truly strange feeling. It was as if, against her will, and without her knowing, her body had done that kind of thing.

‘Ugh, I need to get a grip.’

Chloe slapped her own cheeks. She couldn’t be caught up in this memory forever.

Soon after, the maids appeared. Chloe did her hair and put on a house dress, then asked the maids to call Ellie.

“You called, Madam?”

Ellie arrived shortly. It was a welcome sight. Chloe smiled sweetly at her.

“Come in. It’s nothing serious, I just called you because I wanted to have tea with you.”

“Really?”

Seeing Ellie’s face light up, Chloe chuckled inwardly.

“Yes. Shall we choose some tea together?”

They went to the tea storage room and selected some tea and tea utensils. Chloe was quite satisfied with today’s selection. Ellie probably felt the same way.

‘Nothing calms the mind quite like this.’

Feeling content, Chloe headed down to the parlor with Ellie.

Looking at the tea leaves, which were a distinct green unlike the black leaves of black tea, Ellie commented:

“This isn’t black tea, madam. Is it oolong, like the one you showed me at the last tea party?”

“No, this is green tea. Unlike black or oolong tea, the leaves haven’t been oxidized at all.”

Chloe asked a passing maid to prepare boiling water. Before long, steam was rising vigorously from the hot water. Chloe and Ellie chatted idly while letting the water sit for a moment.

Ellie kept glancing at the kettle, clearly concerned.

“Madam, didn’t you say you have to use freshly boiled water to brew tea? I think it might cool too much like this.”

“Yes, but green tea is different from black tea. You need to let the water cool a bit first. Green and oolong teas brew better at lower temperatures.”

Once the water had cooled sufficiently, Chloe brewed the green tea. The resulting liquor was a pretty pale yellow, almost light green.

Pouring a cup for Ellie, Chloe said:

“Try it first and tell me how it’s different from black tea.”

“Really? May I?”

Hesitant at first, Ellie finally brought the cup to her lips after Chloe encouraged her. She blew gently on the warm tea before sipping. Her eyes sparkled with surprise.

“Wow… this is…! It’s so savory! Is this really brewed from leaves? It tastes like grains!”

“That’s right. Good green tea has a nutty, roasted flavor. It must be a high-quality tea.”

Chloe smiled contentedly as she drank. Indeed, it was excellent green tea. A roasted, grain-like aroma lingered on the tongue, and a fresh scent distinct from black tea tickled the nose.

“And what else? How is it different from black tea?”

“Hmm… Ah! Black tea is very smooth, but this one doesn’t feel quite the same.”

“Exactly. Black tea feels like silk against the tongue. But green tea isn’t like that. Black tea is oxidized to create a smooth flavor for easier drinking, even for first-timers.”

The parlor filled with the light, savory scent that was different from the sweet aroma of black tea. After a few more sips, Chloe suddenly said to Ellie:

“You have a good sense of taste for tea. You’d make a fine tea taster.”

“Huh…? R-Really?”

Ellie blushed deeply at the compliment. She was usually the youngest laundry maid, always being scolded or pushed around by senior maids. Compliments were a rarity in her life.

To think that someone like Madam Chloe—beautiful, kind, knowledgeable about tea, and skilled at making it—would praise her! Ellie felt as though she might cry. There was no one else in the world like Chloe, who took such good care of a mere maid like her and let her taste such a rare treat.

In that moment, Ellie vowed to remain loyal to her lady and protect her with whatever little strength she had.

Unaware of what Ellie was thinking, Chloe continued:

“By the way, when green tea leaves are ground into powder and mixed with water, it’s called matcha. It’s stronger and more bitter than regular green tea, but when made well, it’s very smooth. You can also make sweets with it, and they’re delicious.”

Chloe smacked her lips. In her previous life, she had loved matcha-flavored treats—matcha cookies, cakes, ice cream, chocolate… She found herself missing them all.

“I should ask the kitchen maids to make some next time. Ellie, let’s share them together.”

“R-Really?”

“Of course.”

Ellie blushed, unsure of what to do. Chloe smiled, pleased.

After drinking tea with Ellie, Chloe realized it was about time. It was time to discuss business with Alphonse.

Leaving the cleanup to Ellie, Chloe headed to Alphonse’s office with a sense of familiarity. Though it had once felt like an intimidating place, she had visited it many times in the past few weeks and had grown used to it.

“You’re here, wife.”

Alphonse greeted Chloe as she entered the office. He stood and pulled out a chair for her. Chloe nodded and smiled in gratitude.

Their conversation started with small talk and quickly moved on to the main topic.

Unbeknownst to Chloe, Alphonse had been looking forward to this moment. He had glanced at the clock several times throughout the morning.