CH 1.6

CHAPTER 1: THE SUPPORTING ROLE IS ALSO QUITE DIFFICULT (VI)

Part 007

The back of Ailene’s neck, who was ahead of her, was dark. She was wearing an adult-like dress with her honey-like blonde hair lifted high and a red dress that was cut open quite boldly in the front and back, so that the wing bones were barely visible. It matched Ailene’s white skin like whipped cream so well that the small ‘gray’ on the back of her right neck stood out more. She came closer to see if there was something on it, and she saw that it was a stain or a dot. It was only a thumb nail. It was the first time she had seen it. Was it star shaped?

She couldn’t clearly see the outline because it was covered with makeup, but it seemed to be a star-shaped dot. How was it so pretty? Since the position was the same, the slender neckline was also highlighted and somehow it gives off a sexy feeling.

While greeting the group, the young ladies she saw for the first time were exceptionally kind, perhaps thanks to Ailene introducing her as her best friend. She knew because she had played Hyangdan for a while, so she could clearly see that those girls were appealing to her but aiming for Ailene. Hey guys… hey guys. But what Ailene was looking for was someone to deal with Duke Donovan.

She shook her head as she looked at the red-cheeked spirits.

“This is Duke Bigor.”

It was then. At the call of the attendant, everyone in the hall seemed to turn their gaze toward the door. Being mentioned as a candidate for Ailene’s boyfriend, she also looked at the man entering the banquet hall with her head removed.

‘Wow, you look good!’

The young ladies’ exclamations of admiration could be heard from all over the place. With his tall height, well-rounded shoulders, and the profound charisma that radiates from his short black-blue hair, was this male lead a genius?

His presence divided people like the Red Sea while he crossed the middle of the hall, but there was no runway. Wasn’t that what the graceful gait was like? It was an atmosphere where everyone was staring only at Duke Bigor, but no one could bear to speak. He had been away from the capital for a long time, so it seems that he has no close family.

When Duke Bigor settled down in a suitable place, Duke Donovan moved, showing what matured charisma was. Behind the Duke, the Duchess and Ailene’s half siblings followed, and Ailene quietly went and stood beside them. She couldn’t hear what they were talking about because they were far away, but she could see that Ailene’s cheeks were slightly red as she greeted them with a nice smile.

She liked it. She hoped it would go well. He’d rather be a good person.

‘Oh, a league of their own.’

People from the Duke of Galleon also approach Duke Bigor. It was a rare scene for the three dukes of the kingdom to gather and talk. As everyone was watching their conversation with interest, the booming voice of the attendant once again drew attention.

“His Majesty the King, Her Highness the Queen, His Highness the Crown Prince and other royal’s are entering!”

The people again became the Red Sea and parted. She also went behind her father and Lootvan and bowed her head. King Ortega IV climbed onto the podium and toasted.

“I am very happy to be here with you to welcome spring again. This year is a great joy to welcome a new Duke. May God’s glory be with Laurenty this year too.”

After the short New Year’s address, the King emptied his cup, and the nobles also toasted together.

She realized that her alcohol, which should have been a non-alcoholic cocktail for the young ladies and young children, was strong fruit wine. Her fever suddenly jumped up at the scent of turmeric alcohol that went down her esophagus.

Well, it tasted good.

When the full-fledged dance began, the King and Queen danced in the hall first, and from the next song, the married couple and other official couples blew off the hem of their dresses. Duke Bigor, who was garnering the attention of the ladies at a glance, stood with his back to one wall with the same cold face as when he entered. Seeing that, the young ladies couldn’t bear to talk to them first, so they only cared about it.

Then, the braves stepped up.

As if she was aiming for it, Philia, wearing a dark blue dress similar to Duke Bigor’s hair color, approached him. Wearing a dress exuding femininity that emphasized her cleaved breasts, narrow waist and voluptuous hips, her red lips matched so well today. Approaching Duke Bigor, she heard a muffled sigh close to her back. An aristocratic young man who looked a little older than her was looking at her from behind with a bewildered face.

She spoke to the Duke in a bewitching manner to the point where she wondered where she had learned it, but unfortunately it didn’t seem to be Duke Bigor’s taste. Lady Philia, who held her fan tight enough to expose her bones, turned her body around. When the young ladies, who were looking at them with their anxious eyes, were aiming for the next step, Ailene boldly approached him.

She was intrigued by the active appearance of her friend, whom she had never seen before, and crept closer to the sound of their voices.

“Duke Bigor, would you like to have your first dance with me?”

There was a slight tremor in her voice, one tone higher than usual. Even the slightly flushed cheeks and fluttering eyelashes. It was perfect. It was a dance application of a neat and fresh girl. In fact, she was sure that no one would be able to refuse to see that kind of fairy, who would feel no discomfort even if she stuck out his tongue, but Duke Bigor replied coldly.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t dance because my legs are hurt, young lady.”

Why was he making excuses for his perfectly fine legs? Everyone there saw him walking across this wide hall as a model! It was a false excuse to anyone’s eyes, but Ailene had no choice but to accept and back down. Even if the young lady only applied for a dance, how burdensome it was to refuse it. Pretend your leg really hurts, or even look apologetic.

Chunhyang, who used to swear at the bullshit, must have been more affectionate than him. When the two major mountain ranges of the Laurentian beauty world sank, the other young ladies were also stunned. Today, there was no lady who pretended to be a flower on the wall and approached Duke Bigor more crookedly.

“Ailene.”

She approached Ailene, who was away from the crowd.

“Damian.”

She seemed to be trying to pretend nothing was wrong, but her lower lip was toxic red as if she had bitten her lip.

“I guess my taste for playing is on the side of being unable to talk. What’s the point of doing that when he looks fine?”

As she speaks, squinting at the Duke of Bigor, who was sipping a glass, Ailene snorts her snort with her stern face.

“Let’s see if Jeong is there. It’s okay. I will decline such a cold person.”

As she turned her head, Ailene frowned for a moment as if she had seen something. She followed her gaze and crumpled her eyebrows as well.

Both of the women she was talking about getting engaged to broke up with other men, but Crown Prince Tyrelius was having a blast dancing with a young lady. Even though she danced politely, he held her waist so tightly that he was about to rub his face against the very woman’s chest. Also, when the two of them got together, Philia was dancing with the second prince, Dozern. Dozern was now nineteen, no, twenty. The young man at the peak of his glory looked much older than he was a year ago in their memories. His auburn hair was tied neatly, and he led Philia without difficulty. His expression was not bright, but his gestures towards the other person were polite.

That brother was fine.

She could understand why the aristocrats were persistently pushing the prince. As if the Crown Prince’s appearance was aroused, Ailene said that she would move to find another partner for her, so he was greeting her.

“See you again, young lady.”

She turned around at the voice she had heard before, and..

‘Oh my, that kind person.’

Ailene asked who he was with her eyes, but she would introduce him to her if she knew. While she was parenting, he introduced himself.

“I’m Homer, my Lady.”

Oh my gosh, this kind person, he was a person who almost accomplished the great task of reunifying the two Koreas. What she meant was, that if he did not tell his surname that meant he was a common citizen and it was a noble’s party.

Among the commoners who obtained official positions through the administrative officer exam, it seemed that they heard that if they were promoted to the 3rd grade or higher, they would be entitled to enter the royal banquet. Kindness wasn’t just a face. No, at this level, promotion was in order of looks.

She was surprised inside, but Ailene seemed to have lost interest, gave a light greeting and turned around. Homer looked at Ailene’s back. Yeah, she’s a bit insanely pretty. His amber eyes followed Ailene’s back, then he looked back at Damian and smiled exaggeratedly nice.

‘Don’t be like that, I’m still a student.’

“Are you feeling well today, young lady?”

“Yes, but I don’t know what will happen in the future.”

The truth was that things were getting worse. To be precise, she wondered if the alcohol was on the rise. The fruit wine on an empty stomach seems to rise gradually.

‘Stop, Damian! When you relax, the side shin bursts!’

As she strained her back and tried to save Jenny’s life, the kind Homer asked with a kind smile.

“Are you going to tell me your name today?”

She couldn’t help but laugh at Homer’s cleverness. Gently wrapped her skirt around her and slightly bowed her waist.

“This is Damian Etihart. Thank you for that day. Nice to see you again.”

“You can call me Homer. I may be here but I’m a lowly commoner.”

“You are too humble, Sir Homer.”

Was the level 3 administrative officer a joke? Rootban, the heir to the 8th year count, was also a 4th class. She knew it was a pretty quick promotion. She thought the qualification condition that commoners of level 3 or higher are given the right to enter the royal palace was just like a signboard hanging up, but a real person existed. It was not necessary to attach the title of ‘Sir’ because the executive position was not related to the title, but high-ranking administrative officers were usually honored regardless of their status.

She said that he was Sir Homer with a feeling of flattery, who might be senior, but he laughed and shook his head.

“Homer is enough, young lady, Since you said your name, shall we dance the next song together?”

His clear amber eyes attracted her heart very much, but even though she was standing upright, she was dizzy from the alcohol, so if she danced, she was sure to explode. No way.

Jenny’s life would be over so… She didn’t want to refuse but she had to.

“Thank you very much, but I don’t think today is a suitable day for dancing. Let’s put it off until next time.”

“Then, unfortunately, let’s make a promise for next time.”

Homer bent down and kissed the back of her hand. In the meantime, the song has changed. If you dance with your partner in a fast-tempo dance song, it’s really good.

The crowd went in unknowingly as they changed before they knew it. Ailene, who almost couldn’t keep it, was stuck on the dance floor. She was holding the crown prince’s hand, which she couldn’t avoid.

‘Tsk, tsk.’

Just as Ailene ran away at the timing when the young ladies changed partners after a few laps, she avoided the crown prince and joined hands with the second prince, Dozern. Dozern, who had a polite face that seemed to have been made up, looked at Ailene as if she were about to be pierced. Unlike when he danced with Philia earlier, he couldn’t take his eyes off Ailene’s back.

A shadow passed. As expected, the main character was different, but Homer asked extrovertedly.

“I heard that you are close to the young lady.”

“Yeah, we went through something together last fall and became very close.”

And for the past 24 years, they had been friends who grew up together in the same neighborhood.

“Oh, I see. What did you say happened in the fall?”

“We were at a picnic and fell into the water.”

“Oops. You must have been in big trouble.”

His kind face was full of concern. It’s only the second time she had met that person, and she was a little puzzled because he seemed genuinely concerned. Was he naturally kind and affectionate?

When he asked in a friendly voice and selflessly, she answered so quickly that she even came up with the story of drowning. She evaded it with a smile, saying, “It’s okay.”

“I guess I’ll have to go to my family. See you next time.”

“See you next time, Lady Etihad.”

“You may call me by name.”

“Lady Damian.”

She turned around to meet the bright amber eyes. She would have to sit somewhere. At this rate, she would really stumble.

After seeing Lootvan flirting with a young lady from far away, she went back to the place she and Ailene had gone earlier. Lootvan, her older brother, was already an old bachelor, so should she block his road to marriage?