Chapter 33

“The first son of the Duchess of Teneb is a little rude. Standing behind me rather than greeting me first.”

“…….”

“How did I know you were Jedia Teneb without turning my head? Because your tone was arrogant and inflexible. They say that kind of tone is mostly used by the people in the Ministry of Finance. The end of your words dropped lower, it’s a rude way of speaking.”

“…You’re a very strange woman.”

“Now you know, how slow. Jedia.”

“Speaking my name carelessly…….”

Eliana suddenly turned her head and looked straight at him. Jedia frowned slightly. Eliana continued speaking without hesitation.

“This is Eliana Rose. Baron Karman Hunter’s fourth wife.”

Jedia’s expression looked as if his pride had been offended. He raised his eyeglasses once and spoke in a stiff tone.

“Do not approach my quiet mother.”

It was just before the first song started. Eliana let out a chuckle as she turned away from him.

“You seem to be just like your father.”

“What?!”

“Hush… Pffft. It was fun, Jedia.”

She forcibly ended the conversation and nodded towards Ulysses, who was looking at her from the other side. Ulysses immediately approached her with a smile the moment he saw her nod her head; even though she hadn’t said anything.

“My lady, haven’t I asked for a dance yet?!”

“What do you think? I even held my hand out first.”

As if Ulysses was hurt, he bent his knees slightly and reached out to her. Eliana took his hand and set her gaze on Jedia.

“Don’t be like your father. It’s not very attractive.”

“Look. El-…….”

Before Jedia could finish speaking, Ulysses led her into the center of the banquet hall. Jedia’s mouth closed, and Eliana smiled at Ulysses’ timing.

“Great timing. Right?”

“He’s more stuck up than I thought. Jedia Teneb.”

“That kind of man has a cute side.”

“Like, Karman Hunter?”

At Ulysses’ words, Eliana’s smile disappeared.

“That’s an incorrect example.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t really want to talk about it.”

Ulysses smiled at her words and bowed to her as the song began. As the dance started, the men and women exchanged bows and danced to the beat. It was a dance where they gracefully leaned against each other.

The hem of Eliana’s voluminous dress swayed beautifully. Like a wave or a cloud, her colorful outfit made her look more alluring and beautiful.

“If you had answered the opposite.”

“What if I did?”

“I may have been a little upset.”

Eliana moved away from Ulysses for a moment according to the music, but smiled as she drew closer.

“You were needlessly worried.”

Eliana moved her lips so close that only Ulysses could hear it.

“Prince.”

Ulysses broadly smiled at the words whispered like sweet nothings. The crowd watched. but they were unable to tell what kind of conversation they were having. What was certain was that both the Duke of Norton from Conter and Baroness Hunter both seemed happy, as if they were lovers.

Besides, both of them had outstanding looks, so their dancing was as beautiful as a painting. Karman’s eyes continued to follow the two of them. Although it started with the bodyguard Joseph, he had been most wary of Gillian, and now the Duke of Norton had appeared and even Jedia. He had a headache.

“Ouch!”

Karman, who was skilled enough with dancing, stepped on Sharchen’s feet. Karman immediately apologized and backed away, but Sharchen’s eyes narrowed.

“Can’t you just focus on me at this moment, Karman?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re strange these days. You keep looking at Eliana.”

“I am worried that she will cause trouble. Because she’s an unpredictable woman.”

“Then I should cause trouble too.”

“Sharchen.”

“Then I’ll get your attention.”

Sharchen’s weeping voice grew louder as they danced. Karman answered while patting her back as if he was stroking it.

“Stop behaving like a child.”

“……!!”

“I don’t really want to be your father. You know.”

Sharchen felt like she had been hit in the head with a hammer. Karman was saying things that Eliana would have said.

Karman continued, gently leading the frozen Sharchen.

“You can’t be this childish if you want to be the baroness.”

“Are you thinking of putting me up there?”

“It doesn’t look like you want to be up there.”

“Karman!”

“Keep it down.”

The two were so close together but their expressions were not good. The atmosphere also felt unusual. People laughed and whispered that it was because Eliana was dancing with another man.

Sharchen wanted to run outside in the midst of such gossip. The people’s attention was clearly focused on Sharchen until Eliana appeared. Her expensive jewelry and beautiful appearance, her dress that has been torn and re-arranged over and over again. They had approached her with a look of envy and spoke to her with adoration.

But after Eliana appeared, everyone’s eyes turned to her. The words that floated around weren’t good, but interest could be seen in their eyes. Her dress, her hair ornaments, what she said, and the people she was with, everyone seemed to be engrossed.

What’s more, the only people she interacted with were distinguished figures. Gillian Hutt, Jedia Teneb, Oliver Norton. As soon as the men appeared, they all showed interest in the lady.

‘Crazy. I think I’m going to go crazy. How the hell did you get here? The carriage was definitely changed!’

Sharchen bit her lip. Before she knew it, Karman’s gaze was once again directed at Eliana.

***

After the first dance, Gillian escorted the Duchess of Teneb to her seat. Taking a light sip of wine, the Madam uttered words of relief.

“I don’t know how long it has been since I danced to that song. It was a complete mess.”

“It was fine. It was also an honor to hear Madam’s laughter up close.”

“If it weren’t for Gillian, I would have fallen. Gillian, if it isn’t rude, will you teach my daughter to dance? This child had just made her social debut, so she doesn’t know much about dancing.”

Eileen looked at Gillian, blinking her big eyes. Gillian became horrified that things were going the way Eliana had expected. But he managed to hide his feelings and continued.

“Of course. If I can hold the hand of the most beautiful young lady in this banquet, I will do anything.”

Gillian said politely and lowered his body. At the words ‘the most beautiful young lady’, Eileen touched her cheeks then let go. Somehow, her cheeks felt hot.

Jedia looked at the two with disapproval but couldn’t dare speak. It was because of what Eliana had said. Jedia hated his father, but he resembled him more than anyone else. It was something he himself knew.

However, for a woman whom he had just met for the first time to recognize this was another matter.

She was a boldly dressed woman, with a loud laughter and heavy makeup. It was the style that Jedia hated the most yet his eyes kept turning towards her.

After Eliana finished her dance, she loosened up the awkward atmosphere between Helen and Ray. With her gentle gestures and humor, the frozen man and woman slowly relaxed. Count Odelli, the host of the party, was even looking at the sight with fascination.

‘What kind of woman are you? What do you want? What’s your reason for sweeping this party when you don’t even get along with your husband?’

Jedia wanted to know what Eliana was up to. He also wanted to talk to her a little more. Jedia had to forcibly stop his footsteps as he kept unconsciously moving towards her. Without a doubt, they would get caught up in strange rumors if he approached her again.

“You must like Eliana. Jedia.”

“That’s absurd, mother.”

Jedia furiously responded to Madam Teneb’s words. Madam Teneb laughed softly and told him.

“She’s astoundingly charming. And she’s such a clever child.”

“She’s just an unchaste woman.”

“And what if that was calculated too?”

As Madam Teneb spoke gracefully, Jedia froze. To apply even her immodest behavior in her calculations……. It was outrageous.

By simply bringing her beloved Helen to the banquet, Madam Teneb had become fond of her. But she didn’t stop there. It was not enough that she recreated her own look in the past, she made her dance for the first time in decades.

And in front of everyone, with the most popular man, Gillian Hutt.

She even built a bridge to connect the youngest son of Count Odelli with Helen. In some ways, it was so great that she couldn’t even put it into words.

Madam Teneb gazed at Helen, who looked exactly like her friend, shyly conversing with Ray Odelli. There were a lot of things that caused her eyes to get hot today. Eventually, unable to hold back her tears, she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief.

Eliana glanced at the Duchess of Teneb, and separated from the two. It was time for her to approach her and talk to her. But at that moment, someone blocked Eliana.

“You seem to forget who you are too often.”

It was none other than her husband, Baron Karman Hunter.