CH 27

Blake opened the Count’s letter roughly. 

“Well, let’s read to see how much the bugger was in pain….<To the great Duke Blake Upus, whom I have always admired> The greeting is long.”

“My Lord.” 

IIDexter, his aide, was not at ease. He said only business was in Blake’s office at the moment, and as time went on, he would not be able to hide this incident. Blake, however, was tough.

“Wait, let’s read the letter first. Let’s skip the greeting…this is where it gets interesting. <I can’t face up to the fact that my insufficient wife seems to be bothering His Excellency with her evil thoughts. I will take my wife as soon as you permit my men to go to your home…..> The rest is useless.” 

IlDexter kept trying to dissuade him. The newly tailored silver glasses were raised.

“Sir!”

“The greeting is long, and the back part is useless. Isn’t the rhythm good?”

“….”

“It’s funny, he thinks he can get Lily back. Stupid Count.”

“Sir, you can’t keep it a secret from Miss Lily!” 

“She doesn’t need to know right away. You’re the only one who needs to keep quiet.”

Blake was determined to hit the spot if he was going to have an accident anyway. He already had a picture in her head of how Lily would act when she found out. 

She was prepared enough to leave at any time.

Even now, her square luggage was ready.

‘It’s enough that you protected me until now. I don’t want to cause any damage to the duke, so I’ll leave now. Thank you for everything.’ 

He could see Lily saying goodbye like that…….

‘That darn lady. Where is she going when she has nowhere to go back?’

That was why Blake decided to keep it a secret from her until he sent a reply to her ex-husband.

The reply saying that he is not going to send Lily back. Furthermore, he would be Lily’s guardian, and he would be satisfied if her ex-husband decided to sue or send an army, whatever he wanted to do.

And even the reply must be sent to him at a distant future date.

“You must tell Miss Lilly!”

But IIDexter couldn’t read the thoughts within Blake’s head.

“This is madness. This is a big deal. You know the capital hates the Upus. Moreover, if Miss Lily finds out about this fact later, she’ll have a stroke!” (IIDexter)

“I’ll give you a promotion.” (Blake)

For a moment, IIDexter stopped the eloquence that had been going on loudly.

Then he slowly mimicked the speech as if he had been drugged.

“Promotion….?”

“I’ll promote you to General Aide at the appropriate time. It’s a position that allows three generations to receive a pension.”

For a moment, many thoughts flashed through IIDexter’s mind. It was a tremendous temptation for a man who always spoke of ‘promotion.’ 

But Lily, who would be playing with the pony right now, suddenly came to his mind.………

Oh, no…….. Still, I………….”

“I didn’t know that IlDexter was the kind of guy who could turn down a promotion. The Lady is amazing.”

Blake clicked his tongue.

The original IIDexter would jump to the first floor as soon as he was promoted.

Blake had no choice but to come up with an alternative.

“We’ll wait until we get at least three letters then. The Count will lose his reason and make the case bigger. That’s the right time to send the signal for all-out war.”

“But sir….”

“That’s an order. Then I’ll tell Lily the truth.”

When the word “order” was even mentioned, IIDexter couldn’t rebel anymore.

He could feel the line that Blake had to protect.

“…If it goes wrong, it’ll spread the word to everyone in the winter castle.” (IIDexter)

“We need to handle this properly. How much they love the Lady?I don’t want to die a lowly death impaled on a cannon either.” (Blake)

The spectacled aide only sighed.

***

Moments later, Blake came down from the winter castle and exited the main gate.

The weather had warmed up somewhat, though there was still white snow visible on the ground. It was noon, so it was even warmer.

And the man was a big man, so he was wearing very light clothes this time.

Lily was just coming back from the stable alone.

“Lord Blake, you look like you’re in a good mood.”

“Is that so?”

The man couldn’t hide his happiness, thanks to Fox or whatever he was, who was just grunting and waiting for a reply.

Lily followed Blake and her expression brightened. The happiness was contagious.

“I’m sure you’ll be dancing soon enough.” (Lily)

“That’s not a bad idea.” (Blake)

“Oh my, then can I ask the princess for a dance?” (Lily)

“What? Of course I’m kidding. If you’re serious, I’ll reject it. I’ve never danced with anyone even at parties.” (Blake)

There was no way that the high and mighty Pure Imperial Aristocrat was going to accept a request for a dance.

Blake had never suggested it, either.

So he was inwardly surprised when Lily actually reached out her hand.

“There’s no band, and it’s not even indoors.” (Blake)

“I can’t believe how graceful and far-fetched it is to say you don’t like it. You are the epitome of aristocracy.” (Lily)

Lily took the man’s hand and led him slowly.

“Come on.”

The steps they took left their footprints intact on the snow.

The first was one of the most popular dances these days.

The big footprints were mixed with tiny shoe prints that were clearly different as they moved. They weren’t under a luxurious chandelier or on a red carpet, but it was enough.

Instead of music, the winter wind made a noise as it passed them by.

“Look at that, don’t I look strange?”

The man mumbled as he followed Lily with rough gestures.

“I can’t hear you over the sound of the wind. Like someone’s strange complaining.”

Lily smiled softly. She hadn’t danced since her marriage, but she was as graceful as ever.

It was much more fun now than it had been when she had danced to the format.

Her hair swayed in time with her movements. Her platinum hair met the afternoon sunlight and sparkled in the man’s eyes.

They fell gently, but became active again.

Lily entered his arms and spun around on the snow. They could feel each other’s body heat.

“…”

Blake froze for a moment.

For he felt his heavy, still breath mingle with the scent of her peaches.

Suddenly, the texture of Lily’s skin began to make him feel excited.

The blood in his whole body flowed with passion.

They moved to the waltz.

The dance that had kept them apart and reunited turned into a dance of close contact between the young couple.

“The waltz is pretty good, too.”

Lily and Blake began to move slowly.

“Are you serious? It sounds like a lie. I haven’t learned to waltz since I was young. And now I forgot everything. Who would have danced the waltz with me?”

“I know, I know. I know, I know. I’m a little awkward now, too. My ex-husband wasn’t a fan of dancing either.”

Lily’s statement was obviously thoughtful. Compared to his awkward movements, she was as natural as flowing water. 

“Your ex-husband was not a good dancer either? He was just like a guy like me.” 

“What?”

Lily laughed, frowning in exasperation.

No matter how much so, her ex-husband was a socialite, educated under parents of aristocratic lineage. To compare that to Blake, who was flying a stone bow at the time………..

“I’m sorry. I misspoke.”

Blake grumbled.

Lily stopped circling and became very amused.

“If you don’t learn that much, it’s no wonder you’re not very good at it. Don’t worry about it too much, Lord Blake will be better than my ex-husband in no time.”

“How many people like me?”

“Oh, a perceptive question. If you look hard enough, you’ll find at least one or two………”

As soon as the words came out, Blake turned Lily around a few more times.

“I’m dizzy!”

“Of course you are. I told you.”

The steps were chiseled into the snowfield.

Blake liked the way Lily smiled.

From the time she came to the Winter Castle, she had been very bold.

She was mischievous and graceful, and she was quiet even though she knew she was advancing the dialogue.

For example, she was the one who completely changed Blake. She converted him into a “princess” or a “mother chicken.”

‘I’m sure this woman was like that before.’

The young Blake waited only a day to go to the capital.

Lily must have been as cute then as she was now.

She was, so Blake couldn’t forgive her ex-husband even more. How dare he (Lily’s ex-husband) laid his hands on Lily?

It was more of an insult than being beat up on the street.

Because Blake was Lily …….

“….”

The man stopped waltzing with a shocked look on his face.

Lily couldn’t handle the immediate movement and bumped into him.

“Oh my gosh. What are you doing? Even a man 50 years ago wouldn’t have done this to me.”

Lily tried to back away with a joke of laughter.

But Blake wouldn’t let go of Lily, who was now in his arms.

The man had a very confused look on his face. Lily was worried that the war neurosis had suddenly returned.

“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden? Are you okay?”

“No, I’m fine.”

No, he wasn’t fine.

Because….who was he to Lily?