Contrary to what I thought, I accepted the cup with a bright smile.
“Thank you”
“You're welcome”
Clovis sat next to me naturally.
"I heard you were very sick. Are you feeling better now?"
“Yes, you see, I'm perfectly fine.”
“That's good. I was so worried I couldn't eat.”
“You seem to be in good health though.”
“If it appears so, it is probably because I am so happy to see you again,” Clovis replied smoothly.
I thought he had a gift for words.
According to Audrey, Clovis was still single. Considering that Ethan had been married for five years, it was unusual for someone of Clovis's stature and appearance to remain single.
Because of his title and appearance, it is unlikely that he will find a wife.
Maybe he's enjoying his freedom to the fullest.
I didn't know how far Clovis intended to go with his courtship, but I had no intention of participating.
Especially now that I've been able to dispel rumors of an affair with Liam, I can't give anyone any more ammunition.
“The song is almost over,” Clovis remarked, his gaze fixed on the couples dancing in the center of the hall.
While I was thinking about how to get out of this situation, Clovis spoke.
“If you have no other commitments, may I have the honor of the next dance?” He asked, bending slightly and extending his hand.
“Count Brunkel, indeed-”
“She came here with her husband.”
The cold, firm voice made both Clovis and I turn our heads at the same time.
“Isn't that right, Camille?” Ethan said as he walked towards us.
“Yes, that's true”
Ethan moved next to me.
“I haven't had a chance to dance with my wife yet. If you don't mind, I'd love to win the next dance.”
Although his words were polite, his tone and expression were clear, “It's not that important if you mind.”
“Sure. I almost intruded on your private time,” Clovis said, masking his annoyance with a gentle mask, “Well, I’ll be leaving then. Duke, Duchess,” he spoke, retreating much faster than he approached.
“I came back faster than I expected. Did your conversation go well?”
“Were you hoping I would stay longer?” Ethan's voice was hoarse.
“No, not at all. I was bored with myself.”
“It seemed like you were quite bored, since you were having fun with this superficial guy,” he noted.
“He just approached me. Are you…jealous?” I said jokingly.
Ethan snorted, "Jealousy? Hardly. Jealousy is over things that aren't yours. You're my wife, so there's no need to be jealous."
“Well, that's true,” I thought. I couldn't believe he was jealous.
If he had any attachment to me, he wouldn't have ignored me for five years.
“It makes me feel like an object, which is very unpleasant.”
“……”
Ethan paused at my words, then continued with an embarrassed expression, “That's not quite what I meant. But we exchanged wedding vows, so saying that we belong to each other isn't completely wrong.”
'Wait, is he apologizing?'
That in itself was surprising, but what he said next was even more surprising.
“So does this mean you belong to me too?”
“Of course, it has to be mutual for the sake of justice,” Ethan immediately agreed.
I don't need to, really. Honestly, I just wanted to become a stranger to him as soon as possible.
But saying that out loud in a public place wasn't appropriate, so I remained silent, looking at the hand he offered me.
“What?
“I just told that guy you're going to dance the next song with me. We have to keep our promise,” he reminded me of what happened earlier.
I didn't notice that the orchestra had already stopped.
“Should we? “No one is watching us closely.”
“Have you forgotten the purpose of attending this party? We are here to show everyone that our relationship is still strong,” Ethan reminded me.
“……”
I sighed quietly. I didn't need this trick.
My goal was simply to secure a safe divorce from Ethan.
“Do you want to make me look like a rejected husband in front of everyone?” I urged her.
I sighed resignedly, and took his hand, “It's been a long time. “I may make mistakes.”
“You won't easily forget a whole week of training.”
I raised my eyebrows.
Like Ethan said, I spent a lot of time dancing this past week. In my previous life, I had never danced socially, and I was worried about embarrassing myself at a party.
But things went well. It is said that muscle memory remains even if the brain does not remember it, and my body automatically followed the tune.
However, I was surprised that Ethan knew this because I was mostly training when he was out during the day.
“Since when did you become interested in me?”
“Is this a hint at the accusation I'm hearing?”
“If you feel this way, then maybe there is something making you feel guilty.”
“I won't deny it”
We stood in the middle of the hall, facing each other, holding hands.
Ethan put his other hand on my waist.
“So, I decided to care more from now on,” he said, looking directly at me.
I felt a strange feeling. I looked away from him.
“There's really no need for that.”
“I'm the type of person who takes chances, especially if it's the last one.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?"
At that moment, the music started.
Spontaneously, I started to follow Ethan's lead, keeping up with the rhythm.
***
“Indeed, Duke Dumont is exceptional. His dancing skills are impeccable,” commented one observer.
“Right. He rarely attends such events, so you might think his skills have eroded. But it's still amazing,” another added.
“By contrast, don’t the Duchess’s steps look a little awkward?” One woman commented.
“Yes, it is very embarrassing to watch,” agreed the other.
Berenice and Marianne exchanged these comments as they watched Nadia.
Since her confrontation with Camille, Nadia has remained silent.
Her skin, which had been pale, seemed to have regained some of its pallor, but it returned to paleness when the Duke and Duchess of Dumont stepped onto the dance floor holding hands.
Their remarks about Camille's dancing were intended to please Nadia's mood. In fact, there was nothing wrong with the Duchess's dancing.
Despite their efforts, their conversation did not reach Nadia.
“…Could it be?” Nadia whispered almost inaudibly.
“Excuse me, Marchioness Leroy, what did you say?” Berenice leaned over to ask.
“Does the Duke know about the Duchess and Baron Bernard?” Nadia repeated.
Berenice and Marianne exchanged glances.
Not long ago, rumors spread about an affair between Camille and Baron Liam Bernard. Then they suddenly disappeared.
The Dumont family announced that the Duchess was recovering from an illness, but Liam's whereabouts remained unknown.
Nadia was the first to express doubt.
“The Duke has clearly discovered their affair. The illness is just a cover; in fact, the Duchess is under house arrest while the Duke decides her fate.”
“Really? What about Baron Bernard?”
“He should be imprisoned in the ducal palace. He may have been banished from the capital, or worse...”
“Worse?”
Nadia paused dramatically, then whispered something in Berenice's ear, hiding behind her fan.
"Oh my God! Really?" Berenice shouted, her eyes wide in shock.