“Then, Your Highness, since we still have time left, I’ll tell you what to be careful of when dancing with elderly ladies.”

“It wasn’t over yet?”

“We’re still far from finished.”

While Lord Osiris, the imperial treasure storehouse manager, was packing up the box, Kaella tried to engrave the necessary points in the Crown Prince’s mind.

“There will be occasions to dance with elderly ladies… Ah, yes, there will be.”

Gregory tightly shut his eyes as the faces of several aged noblewomen, including the late emperor’s youngest sister, flashed through his mind in an instant. He found the strict elderly ladies too difficult.

“My mother is also waiting for Your Highness’s invitation to dance,” Lord Osiris interjected, eliciting gentle laughter.

Lord Osiris’s mother, the Marchioness of Langbuie, was famous for being a strong woman who had guarded an ancient family line and for her exceptionally stern character, second to none in inflexibility. Kaella, who had laughed briefly, continued speaking.

“Especially since many of them have knee or back problems, if the atmosphere seems to be shifting to slower dance tunes, that’s when you should appropriately select elderly ladies to invite.”

Gregory wanted to say that was too difficult. How would he know when the atmosphere was shifting to slower dance tunes?

And what was the method for appropriately selecting elderly ladies? But because he didn’t want to appear clumsy in front of the Duke of Lucenford no matter what, he nodded.

“I understand.”

“Dealing with elderly ladies is frightening, isn’t it?”

“Oh my, it’s frightening indeed. I just stick to the wall.”

The high-ranking officials guffawed.

“How does the Duke of Lucenford handle it?”

“I’m grateful that the elderly ladies don’t seem interested in me.”

Everyone present thought, ‘That’s not true.’ It wasn’t that they weren’t interested.

It was just that they detested him as an illegitimate child deserving of contempt. Add to that a spoonful of sympathy because he had gone north to fight in wars when he was young. That was about it.

“The Duke should learn a bit this time too. Naturally, attention will turn to Your Grace as well, since His Highness the Crown Prince will be busy alone, and there are many elderly ladies.”

Lord Osiris laughed.

“What interest would they have in me?”

“A newly married groom always receives a lot of attention. In that sense, His Highness the Crown Prince will receive the most attention, of course.”

Gregory’s face gradually began to turn pale. Hahaha, among the laughing men, he, still showing traces of youth, laughed awkwardly along.

It was uncomfortable. Unlike the Duke of Lucenford, who was already recognized as a ‘man’ despite being in his 20s, to the point where many men deferred to him, everything was difficult for Gregory.

He kept wondering if he was doing well, why that person was saying such things, and why they were making such expressions.

‘…Am I really the Crown Prince?’

Why did he keep finding himself watching others’ reactions? Gregory alternated between feeling intimidated and indignant.

‘The Duke of Lucenford probably doesn’t care about trivial matters.’

Then he habitually made the comparison that had rubbed off on him from the Emperor’s constant remarks. Despite the fact that after a bad habit, all that remains is anger and resentment.

*

The symbols of all wealth, power, and honor did not shine simply by being prominently displayed.

There was a clear difference between well-educated gentlemen and ladies who knew proper etiquette, and nouveau riche who were only eager to show off their money.

That’s why the Emperor had placed Kaella beside the Duchess of Schroeder. That’s why Peiron liked Kaella. That’s why Beatrice hated Kaella.

Peiron stood in the corner, watching his wife who had somehow managed to soothe the now dazed Crown Prince and successfully turn him into a passable dancer.

“Good, you’ve mastered it completely, so let’s do it together one last time.”

The Crown Prince, now seemingly too exhausted to even respond, just nodded.

“I’ll be the princess.”

The Crown Prince bows politely to greet the princess, and the princess returns the bow. Peiron watched with his arms folded.

Would the princess coming from Keruzhan bow as gracefully as Kaella? Doubtful.

Gregory looked psychologically exhausted, but his body moved well enough due to his military training.

On the other hand, Kaella, who had taught him, was already physically tired but persevering through sheer willpower. If Kaella hadn’t said it was the “last” time, Peiron would have been tempted to interrupt the practice midway.

‘It seems a shame to interrupt when they’re working so hard…’

What on earth was she working so hard for? Peiron looked at Kaella with a disapproving expression. Thanks to this, even the orchestra had been forced to practice, with the conductor striving with a flushed face.

‘A banquet.’

He occasionally had to attend banquets unavoidably. It was the wish of his mother, the Empress, for her son to play the role of an ordinary nobleman somehow. That’s how his mother hoped for her son to survive.

But had he ever danced with Kaella at those banquets?

‘I’ve never asked her to dance, not even once.’

The only times were the two dances they shared at their wedding reception, following the tradition of the bride and groom dancing first. Despite Kaella being such a good dancer that she could even teach others, she had only danced with him twice. That was all.

Perhaps that’s why Gregory irritated him so much. Using the excuse of coming to fetch his wife, he stood askew, watching the two dance.

That’s why asking someone to dance at a banquet is meaningful. It allows a man and woman to get close enough for sparks to fly, and to practice moving in harmony together.

‘Just twice. Unbelievable.’

In the meantime, the dance music finally ended, and Kaella and the Crown Prince quietly stepped back and finished with a bow.

“Well done, Your Highness. You’re perfect. You’ve learned so much in such a short time, you must have put in a lot of effort. Thank you for following along so well.”

Gregory looked embarrassed at Kaella’s praise, which was accompanied by applause.

“No, it’s because I had an excellent teacher that I was able to learn well. Thank you.”

“You’re too kind.”

The Crown Prince could only spare this much time. As soon as he bowed and moved away from Kaella, Peiron immediately approached her.

“Did you wait long? Hm?”

Peiron, not caring who might be watching, picked her up in his arms and strode out of the banquet hall altogether.

“Your Grace, put me down. People are watching.”

“So what? Everyone knows you’re weak.”

He set her down on a plush sofa and had cool water brought first.

“Drink slowly.”

It was perfect timing as she was already thirsty. As she was drinking, Peiron bent down and sat in front of her feet.

“Show me your feet.”

He had no intention of rudely pulling out the slender ankles buried in the dress.

“Wh-why my feet? They’re fine!”

Of course, when she opens her eyes wide like a rabbit and tries to hide her feet even more, he wants to pull them out.

“Are you going to keep saying you’re fine when you’re not? You’ve overworked your feet again after kneeling because of that Duchess of Schroeder woman last time.”

He really doesn’t like that mother and son. Peiron’s voice lowered menacingly as he added one more thing.

“…Take off your stockings too.”

“That’s really not necessary!”

Are you crazy, in broad daylight at the imperial palace! Kaella hurriedly pressed down her dress hem and exclaimed. Peiron looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“Not even here?”

He had deliberately brought her to a completely enclosed room and even sent Lord Renard away.

“W-we have to go back to the carriage anyway. Let’s just go now. It’s better to keep moving than to sit down.”

“Do you think you’ll be walking on your own feet when we leave?”

Kaella faced the resolute Peiron. As the couple engaged in a staring contest, Cecil quietly backed away and left the room entirely.

No matter how stubborn Kaella was, it was difficult for her to win against Peiron in her weakened state after dancing so much.

“Hey.”

It wasn’t an appropriate way to address her husband.

“Can’t you work in moderation?”

Even knowing that there was irritation mixed in Kaella’s voice as she called him, Peiron asked back.

“Why do you work so mindlessly to this extent?”

She had always worked diligently, like a machine, when instructed. She worked her body to the bone on the tasks that fell before her. It was a terrible habit that had started from Lucenford.

She had no reason to spare her body. Because there was no tomorrow.

This woman would one day suddenly look up while working, stare at him blankly, and then collapse and stop breathing. Making her work while not letting her die, this old habit of self-abuse had emerged.

“Can’t we just do things the way we used to?”

She countered.

“Can’t you just leave me alone as before?”

Couldn’t he just ignore her like during their four years of married life? Kind consideration and kindness poured out one-sidedly. It was too consistent and full of sincerity to be called mere ‘goodwill’.

Knowing exactly what it was, Kaella just wished Peiron would stop. It was annoying, burdensome, and honestly, she disliked it.

His kindness was now unfamiliar. Unfamiliar, and therefore uncomfortable. The familiar indifference and neglect were good. Very comfortable.

“You’re good at that, aren’t you?”

She wanted to sink below the surface and fall asleep, but he kept shaking her awake and pulling her up.

“Just leave me alone.”

The occasional sweet candy-like kindness was terror for Kaella.

She was afraid of having her heart stolen again, of thirsting and gasping for that terrible emotion that burns the body. And then slowly realizing again. Ah, I had nothing. The heart to give had already disappeared.

But why was it still frightening, still stinging with pain?

Even the painful ache was an ominous signal fueling anxiety. All of Peiron’s actions – worrying, caring, kindly looking after her – were good. They shouldn’t be good. If they were good, the moment they became good, all sorts of contempt would pour down.

“It hurts. You can’t walk. Let me look for a bit and then we’ll go home.”

Finally, Kaella’s brows furrowed sharply.

“This doesn’t even count as pain. You didn’t care whether bones were broken or frostbite set in.”

She shook off his hand and nervously put strength into her feet. The stiff leather tightly squeezed her feet again. Pain was familiar. She was even better at enduring it.

“When I said I was in pain, you were annoyed and tired of it. You just wanted to get rid of me because you didn’t want to see me, so why are you like this now?”

Kaella could stand up and walk without changing her expression. But once she stood up, she lost her balance and sat back down.

Whether it was because her leg strength gave out, or because Peiron was sitting in front of her with his knees bent at a close distance, she still gritted her teeth and tried to stand up again.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for ignoring you then and not taking proper care of you. I’m sorry for hurting you enough to make you upset even now.”

It was a pitiful apology. Even Peiron frowned at how pitiful it sounded coming out of his mouth.

“Move aside.”

“I’m not making excuses, I’m saying I want to look now.”

“Leave me alone.”

There was no way Peiron would quietly listen to those words. He simply reached into the dress and swiftly grabbed her slender ankle, pulling it out. As soon as he removed the shoe, it was clearly visible how swollen her foot was inside the stocking.

“Just…!”

As Kaella tried to twist her foot away, he quietly spoke while stopping her from hitting her foot hard against the sofa before she could.

“I won’t make excuses. I won’t for the rest of my life.”

“How do you know if you’ll be able to see me for the rest of your life?”

Kaella, who had been trying with all her might to pull her foot away while saying things she didn’t usually say as her temper flared, glared at Peiron as he firmly grasped her calf with one hand.

“Do you want to never see me again?”

In the hot summer, the wind that had been stagnant between the shadows entered the room, shaking the closed curtains, and the room was dark as day was fading.

At the peak of the black darkness was the man sitting before her. The man with a sharp edge smiled.

“What should we do, that won’t work.”

The stocking garter came undone with a swish, and the stocking slid down at the same time.

Peiron, who had pulled off the stocking, wrapped her bright red foot. The strength with which she struggled to shake him off was laughably weak. Weak, but better than giving up from the start.

He knew well what Kaella, with her strong will and hard-working nature, had let go of.

“I told you I have to see you for the rest of my life, Kaella.”

“Are you enjoying this now?”

“I am enjoying it. I’m very happy that you’re finally getting angry.”

He continued smiling as he grabbed her other foot and removed the shoe and stocking as well. Kaella, with her ankles firmly grasped, glared at him and asked.

“What do you want from me? Do you want me to unconditionally say yes to everything you say like before, and to have a one-sided crush on you like when I was young?”

Peiron looked at her with dark eyes and began cooling her reddened feet.

“I’d like you to enjoy meals.”

Seeing her mention her old crush directly, on top of her pride as the former Duchess, she must be extraordinarily angry.

“I’d like you to sleep well and look forward to tomorrow.”

Her pitifully swollen feet were soaked in clean water.

“I don’t even hope for you to smile, I’d like you to shout in anger and cry to your heart’s content.”

That was all he wished for.