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“I’m sorry, but I never forgot.”
“Eliana.”
“That I’m the baroness of nothing.”
“You keep saying that, you’ll end up falling.”
“Now what are you saying I’ve become? Aha, like a butler?”
Eliana said jokingly, but she didn’t laugh at all. Karman sighed and continued.
“Haa, how did you get here?”
“Are you the one who sent the wrecked carriage?”
“That’s not possible. Your absence will damage my reputation.”
“Well, I didn’t walk here. If you’re that curious, try to find the culprit first. You already know who it is.”
This whole time, Eliana spoke as if she wanted to end her conversation with Karman as soon as possible. Karman sighed again and said.
“We will find the culprit after the ball. How did you come?”
“I accepted a ride in the passing carriage of Duke Oliver. Otherwise, I couldn’t have come. Do you want me to tell you what the carriage was like? Hardly enough horses who were so old that their legs were shaking, a driver who looked like he was about to die, and a wheel fell off before we could even depart. It was rather fortunate. If I had gotten on board and it fell then, I might have died in an accident on the side of the road.”
“She probably didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Of course that’s what you think.”
“Stop being sarcastic. Eliana.”
Eliana looked straight at Karman and told him.
“Don’t try to stop me in such a high-handed manner. Karman Hunter.”
“…….”
“This is not the barony, but a banquet hall provided by the royal family. Would Count Odelli like it if the Baron and his wife fought here?”
Eliana smiled and approached Karman. She then continued as she pretended to carefully brush the dust off his shoulder.
“Try to think harder. If we make a scene here, it will only be a matter of time before it reaches the ears of Duke Jerik Hunter. Then won’t your Sharchen be in a lot of trouble?”
“Are you threatening me?”
“It’s not a threat, darling. I only worry about you. You and your lover. A wife like this is rare, isn’t it?”
Eliana laughed amusedly. However, Karman’s expression did not change. He sighed then took Eliana’s hand that was on his shoulder.
“Dance the next one with me.”
“You want to dance with me? Now isn’t that funny?”
“I don’t want any more rumors about the Baron and his wife.”
“Alright. I will accept that request. Can you release my hand now?”
“Eliana.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know what to do with you. You’re a woman who is really…….”
Karman said as if he was truly confused. Then from behind them, someone said loudly as if to continue his words.
“Vulgar.”
Eliana turned her head. Eliana recognized her at once. She was Baroness Daisy Seamus.
“It’s embarrassing to be a fellow baroness. With that outfit, you smile and attract the gazes of all the men in this banquet hall, like a hostess in a bar.”
The loud-voiced Baroness Seamus openly said, behaving as if she was prepared to put Eliana in a lot of trouble. Karman said as he moved Eliana behind him.
“Be careful of what you say. Madam Seamus.”
“Why? Shouldn’t the Baron be glad that I’m taking your side? I heard you two talking a little while ago. A couple that doesn’t get along well. Just as I’ve heard. After all, when the Madam goes out, her husband suffers!”
Baroness Seamus said, turning her body towards the people, purposely trying to humiliate Eliana in front of everyone. She spoke clearly and loudly.
Eliana then said as she grabbed Karman’s arm that was blocking her.
“I’ll take care of it. You are too noble to be involved in a messy quarrel. Where is Baron Seamus? His wife is calling someone else’s wife a lowly barmaid.”
“I never used such a crude word!”
Eliana then proceeded to grab Daisy Seamus’ hands whilst looking downcast. Her eyebrows drooped down and she looked sorrowful.
“I think you want to embarrass me, but you shouldn’t make such a commotion. Madam Seamus.”
She said then turned around, just like what Madam Seamus did. Everyone’s eyes were on Madam Seamus and Eliana.
“This is a party that hasn’t been held in a long time. It is also a meeting place for families who have not been able to talk comfortably because there have been no social parties. Seeing each other’s faces, dancing together, and telling stories.”
Eliana smiled brightly and looked at Ray and Helen. The two of them blushed at Eliana’s gaze. Eliana slowly turned her eyes back to Count Odelli, who was sitting high up.
“Madam Seamus, please refrain from doing anything disrespectful to Count Odelli, who made this possible. You can curse at me in the square, or you may also come to the barony to do it. Regardless, I’m used to being fed curses, so my stomach won’t burst just because I eat it once from a different place.”
Pffft, a laugh could be heard. It was Ulysses. At the sound of Ulysses’ laughter, the laughter that had been suppressed in various places burst out one by one. Eliana whispered as she turned around and hugged Madam Seamus.
“Unfortunately, it isn’t me who is cheating with Jackson Seamus. If you want to know who it is, come to the end of the hallway on the right outside the banquet hall after the second song.”
“You…….”
Eliana gently grabbed Madam Seamus’ finger that was pointing at her.
“It’s not ‘you’, Baroness Seamus. My name is Eliana Rose. I am Baroness Hunter. Karman, I have talked to the lady, you will forgive her rudeness, yes?”
When Eliana turned around and asked, Karman let out a short sigh and answered.
“I will do as you please, so come here. It’s dangerous.”
“Yes.”
Eliana smiled and walked over to Karman and linked arms with him. Karman took her and headed to where Sharchen was. Fragile tension flowed between the three of them, but Eliana casually touched Sharchen’s hair.
“You did something cute, my daughter.”
“It’s creepy, so get your hands off me.”
Sharchen said, making little movements with her lips. Still maintaining a smile around her mouth. Eliana said, pinching her cheek painlessly.
“Adorable.”
“…….”
“If you do that again, I’ll make you sure you end up like that carriage.”
Sharchen gulped down saliva. It was no different than saying that she will ruin her. Karman grabbed Eliana by the arm and said,
“Eliana. Do not threaten Sharchen.”
“I’m not threatening her. If she doesn’t know about the carriage, Sharchen wouldn’t have any reason to be threatened. Am I wrong? Our baby?”
“…….”
To others, it looked like the three of them were having a friendly conversation, but in reality, it was like walking on a dangerously high tightrope.
“My wife was cursed at by someone?!”
Then appeared Jackson Seamus, dressed in disheveled clothes, making a ruckus in the banquet hall. Eliana said in a low voice.
“Don’t look at anyone. Even if it’s not us, there are a lot of people who will say something.”
For the very first time, Karman and Sharchen followed Eliana’s words without qualms. They didn’t want to get involved in a noisy argument.
“Did the Seamuses attend this banquet with the intention of ruining it? Even though the opposing family had generously forgiven you, you are making noise again. It’s no different than ignoring the Count of Odelli, this banquet’s organizer.”
It was just as Eliana had expected. The banquet’s organizer, Count Odelli, spoke loudly. Turning to look at Seamus and his wife, she had an expression like she didn’t know what to do. She then said in a slightly louder voice as she grabbed Karman and shook him.
“Darling. Shouldn’t we do something? I feel bad.”
“Stepmother, it’s alright. We’ve done what we could.”
Sharchen teared up and grabbed her arm. In this instance, they were a good match. Even though her grip on Eliana’s arm was so strong that it was enough to make one scream. Hiding behind Karman, Eliana hugged Sharchen with a crushing force.
Jackson Seamus told the Count of Odelli that it wasn’t like that and had to apologize for a long time. Eliana held Sharchen in her arms as she watched the situation.
“Let go. Witch.”
Sharchen whispered softly, and Eliana looked at her and smiled.
“I’m sorry, but we have to stay like this until the next song starts.”
“When the next song starts, you will seduce Karman to dance!”
“Exactly. I don’t want to dance, but let me borrow him once.”
“…B-Borrow him?”
“Of course. He’s not even mine.”
Eliana smiled brightly. As the prelude to the second song began, Karman reached out to Eliana. Eliana let go of Sharchen and took Karman’s hand.
The timing was good. It was just after their quarrel with Madam Seamus so the attention will be focused on them. There was nothing better than watching two people who had been at odds for quite some time. Eliana leaned close to Karman.
“Please understand if I step on your foot by mistake. It’s because I am not very good at dancing.”
“I think you will deliberately step on it and call it a mistake.”
“Now you know me a little.”
Eliana smiled and Karman followed suit. Eliana looked at his smiling face and told him.
“You look so good when you smile.”
“…….”
“You’ve been frowning all the time, but now I know.”
“Eliana.”
Just as Karman was about to rebuke her with a serious tone, the second dance began in earnest. Eliana smiled and moved her feet first. Karman stood with his mouth opening and closing as if he had lost, and moved his body to match her movements.
People’s eyes reached the baron couple’s dance steps. Those gazes included those of Ulysses Mill, Gillian Hutt, and Jedia Teneb.