CH 32

In the finals on the last day, Leslie won first place. Olivia and Callie, as well as the servants, congratulated him on his victory.

However, one person–Brandon–reacted sourly. 

“Since I didn’t join, Leslie won first place. If I did, that would have been impossible.” 

“If you’re that confident, why didn’t you participate, too, hyung?”

“What’s the point of joining a competition that’s trivial enough for you to win? There’s an overwhelming difference in skills to compete with you.”

Either Leslie agreed with it or didn’t see the point of refuting it, but he just smiled. 

The last day of the rowing competition was also the party hosted by Callie. 

Callie placed flowers at the banquet hall entrance where the party was to be held and throughout the drawing room and hung pictures on the walls. They also prepared tea, snacks, cakes, fruits, jelly, and wine cocktails on a long white table.

Soon, it was evening.

The party began with the performance of a five-member band that arrived early.

The guests arrived one after another, most of whom were Olivia’s acquaintances.

Callie stood by the door, wearing a more flashy evening dress with asymmetric shoulders, to greet the guests.

“Welcome. Thank you for coming.”

The wives responded appropriately to Callie’s greeting and greeted her back.

“Ah, it’s nice to meet you. I was very curious after hearing from Olivia.”

“You’re as beautiful as I heard.”

“I was curious about what kind of lady captivated Sir Brandon, and I finally met you.”

Although they attended the party because of Olivia, it was also true they were all curious. They were filled with curiosity and sympathy for the poor woman married to the famous womanizer of Irze.

Callie could also clearly read the pity in their eyes but chose to feign ignorance instead.

This marriage was the beginning of my plans, not the end, so I didn’t mind the glances of the chatty society ladies.

After midnight, the mood of the party grew even more ripe. 

The topics of the wives were diverse, and one of them brought a party they attended a few days ago. When one person spoke, the other wives mentioned the party they attended as if competing, subtly comparing it to Callie’s party.

“At Baron Blio’s party the other day, a promising painter from General Arts School was invited. He introduced us to painting, and his speech was so good that all the wives fell in love with him.”

“I went to the Varian family party yesterday. They even called a fortune teller to do palm reading. They did palm reading while others danced, but it was so fun that even when the dance started, everyone gathered at the fortune teller instead.”

“It must have been a fun party. I heard the Demolier family invited an actor for their party tomorrow. I’m very excited to hear they’ll perform a play they recently performed in the capital.”

“I am very much looking forward to the Demolier family party tomorrow. By the way, what have you prepared for the party today?”

Olivia, who had been listening to the wives’ chatter, came forward, pretending to be on Callie’s side. She said, “It’s Callie’s first time hosting a party. She didn’t attend many social parties because she couldn’t afford it. I helped prepare the party, but I think it would be better to have one where we meet and get to know each other today.”

She basically said: ‘Today’s party won’t be much.’

Lisa, who was quietly going back and forth between the kitchen and the parlor, refilling the lack of food and drinks, heard what Olivia said and looked at Callie’s expression.

‘What kind of manners do these noblewomen have to compare parties to the host’s face? My lady, you must be upset.’

But Callie, who met Lisa’s eyes, winked as if saying, ‘It’s okay, so don’t worry.’

Amid this, Brandon did not comfort or defend Callie, and instead, only drank wine and played card games with the men.

At that time, Callie checked the time on the clock hanging on the wall in the drawing room.

‘Looks like it’s time to arrive…’

Eventually, the eyes of everyone in the banquet hall widened when they saw the person who arrived exactly on time. 

“Oh my, that person, isn’t he…?”

“That’s right, the most famous magician in Irze.”

“That person coming to the party?”

“Several madams have asked to invite Anton to their party, but he never responded to any of them.”

Noble wives held several events to brighten up their parties.

Of course, there were balls, fortune-telling, art lessons, poetry recitals, and theater performances. Musicians and acrobatic troupes also came.

Each of them tried their best to throw a unique party, and as a result, Anton, the most famous magician in Irze, was asked to come to theirs and put on a magic show. However, Anton always declined.

So everyone was surprised when Anton showed up at Callie’s party.

Callie approached Anton and greeted him as the wives stared at them in surprise and anticipation.

“Welcome, Anton. Thank you so much for coming.”

“It’s nothing. Looking at you, you seem to be doing well?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

No one noticed that it wasn’t a formal greeting but one for a situation genuinely asking for one’s welfare. When Anton glanced around the room and made eye contact with Leslie, he smiled and nodded at him.

“Are there a lot of people at the party?”

“I wouldn’t call it a big one yet.”

“Oh, my.”

“It’s alright. Now that you’re here, this will be a successful party people will talk about.”

“It’s a heavy burden to expect that much.”

“Just show them half of what you normally do. I think that alone would be enough.”

At Callie’s words, Anton smiled softly and bowed. 

When Anton appeared, and the magic show began, the party’s atmosphere heightened to the fullest. And after the show ended, the band played again, and the dance started.

The ladies, asked to dance by the gentlemen, headed to the dance floor one by one. 

Feeling proud, Callie watched the guests.

Around that time, when the party was in full swing, someone suggested that the host couple, who hadn’t danced before, should dance.

“Brandon, shouldn’t you be doing a song at this point? Everyone seems to be waiting for the two of you to dance.”

“Are they?”

“Are you going to refuse dancing today as an excuse that it’s only for men in a hurry to win a woman’s heart?”

The infamous womanizer, Brandon, never danced at parties. While he lived the life of a playboy for a reason, he wasn’t very interested in entertainment.

Above all, no lady caught his eye enough to make him want to ask her for a dance, so even when he attended parties, all he did was drink and play card games. 

Since his wife held the party today, people around him encouraged him to dance with Callie. 

Breaking the expectation that he would refuse this time, Brandon readily stood up. 

“What? Are you really going to dance?”

“It’s my wife’s party.”

Then he walked up to Callie and held out his hand. “Madam, may I have this dance?”

“You may.” 

When Brandon asked for a dance with a playful look on his face, Callie laughed and placed her hand in his.

As the two started dancing, the couples dancing earlier slipped away one by one.

After one or two couples left the floor, only Callie and Brandon danced in the center. 

He wrapped his arms around Callie’s waist as Callie moved along with him. Brandon’s dance skills he had never shown at a party, were better than expected. 

Callie’s thick, wavy blonde hair swayed gently as Brandon led her to turn. A fragrant scent tickled Brandon’s nostrils. He said, “This is how it feels to dance with a beautiful woman.”

“Why didn’t you dance? A playboy who doesn’t dance at parties sounds odd, doesn’t it?”

The two of them moved their bodies to the music and whispered softly enough for only the two to hear.

“Because I feel like a monkey doing tricks surrounded by people.”

“So, do you still feel like a monkey?”

“I feel like it doesn’t matter if I become one.”

“Ah.” The corner of Callie’s mouth curled up following Brandon’s soft smile.

“Now I understand why men do monkey tricks, Madam.”

“If you had refused to dance today, rumors would have spread widely in the social world that I was the wife of a cheating husband. Thank you for getting me out of that position.”

“A word of thanks doesn’t feel sincere.” Then he smirked and put his lips close to Callie’s ear. “I will only feel your gratitude if you allow me to sleep with you. Can I look forward to tonight?”