“How was it? Was it beyond your expectations?”

“Yes. It was truly a time without regrets.”

Regardless, I answered with a refreshing feeling. Thinking that I wouldn’t have to see Julia for a while, either at home or outside, made me feel relieved.

Leopold smiled and led me.

“Well then, now that the troublemaker is gone. Shall we enjoy the ball in earnest?”

Just then, the king and his partner were heading to the floor for the first dance. It was the start of the official dance time.

Leopold smiled and bowed towards me.

“Madam Elisabeth. Would you grant me the honor of the first dance?”

“Of course, Your Grace Duke de Lenoir.”

I gracefully placed my hand on his shoulder.

Leopold wrapped his arm around my waist and playfully corrected me.

“Please call me Leo.”

I glanced around discreetly, then whispered softly enough not to be heard by those around.

“I’ll be in your care, Leo.”

“Just trust and follow me, Eli.”

Leopold responded with a broad smile on his face.

We stepped to the waltz that was neither fast nor slow. I could faintly hear the guests whispering around us.

“Oh my, isn’t that person the Countess de Tolomiès? When did she become so close with Duke de Lenoir?”

“I know. Leaving her husband behind and coming alone…”

Amidst the gossips of the busybodies, the nobles close to Madam Louise adjusted the direction of the rumors.

“Oh, everyone. It’s not like that. I heard Madam Louise personally asked Duke de Lenoir to escort her daughter-in-law. She couldn’t refuse the royal invitation.”

“Is that so? I thought…”

“I thought Duke de Lenoir and Count de Tolomiès were complete enemies. Given what happened at the last banquet, and now this, I guess they’re not as bad as we thought?”

I let out a sigh of relief. It was worth asking some nobles in advance to suppress the rumors.

Of course, some would have other motives. Duke de Lenoir was currently the highest-ranking unmarried man in Elendril.

Many noble families were eyeing Duke de Lenoir as a potential marriage partner for their daughters.

From their perspective, it was better for me, a married woman, to enter with the duke rather than other unmarried women.

“The atmosphere is good, isn’t it?”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one conscious of public opinion. While dancing, Leopold kept listening to the surrounding conversations and talking to me.

I smiled and nodded.

“It seems well managed.”

“I’m glad. How’s the pace? Are you not tired?”

Leopold carefully observed my mood throughout the dance. He skillfully led the dance and kept engaging me in light conversation to ensure I wasn’t bored.

“Who taught you to dance?”

To my question, he smiled and answered.

“I learned from my family’s tutor. Although he was a man, he was incredibly good at imitating women’s movements. What about you, my lady?”

“I received intense training from my mother when I was young. She was a very strict person.”

“Your mother must have been exceptionally skilled. I often danced with my mother too. After my father passed away, I took charge of escorting my mother. Though that didn’t last long either.”

Suddenly, Leopold’s gaze turned distant. He seemed to be reminiscing about his cherished childhood for a moment.

I stared at him intently.

Unlike me, who lost both parents at a young age, I heard that Duke de Lenoir lived with his parents until he became an adult.

What must it feel like to lose the family you believed would always be with you, all at once, just as you become an adult?

“You…”

Just as I was about to speak, the orchestra played the last note of the waltz.

Leopold skillfully twirled me once, then elegantly bowed.

The loneliness that had appeared on his expression was now gone. All that could be seen on his face as he looked down at me was a captivating smile.

“Thank you for dancing with me. Shall we go out to the balcony now for some fresh air?”

I willingly followed him.

***

Leopold was quite a good storyteller with a knack for turning serious stories into pleasant ones.

We lost track of time on the balcony, absorbed in each other’s stories.

“My mother always worried about me excessively. Even after I became an adult, inherited my father’s title, and ascended to the position of duke, she continued to treat me like a child left by the water’s edge.”

I laughed and agreed.

“I guess all parents’ hearts are the same. My parents were like that too.”

“So my parents weren’t the unusual ones.”

Leopold chuckled and then carefully asked.

“How did you come to Elendril?”

I let out a soft sigh.

“I met Felix when he came to study in Araz. My relatives were pushing me to get married quickly. At that time, I also thought getting married soon was a good choice.”

I recalled my naive self from my first life.

Me, who had much but no one to protect it. Me, in a time when there were no adults to rely on in the family, and the future seemed like an impenetrable fog.

And so, here I am, living a life completely opposite to what my parents taught me.

I smiled bitterly and murmured.

“I wonder what my parents would say if they saw me now? After all the trouble of marrying me off, I’ve failed at a perfectly good marriage, and my husband is wandering outside. Maybe they would scold me.”

To those words, Leopold shook his head.

“That’s not possible. They would tell you that you’re doing well.”

Surprised by the unexpected answer, I couldn’t help but ask.

“How do you know that?”

Leopold answered in a low voice.

“No matter what you do, you will always hold the most important place in your parents’ hearts.”

My parents passed away too early. They left this world praying for my peace and happiness until the very end.

However, I haven’t lived as peacefully as they had hoped. Not once, during the two times I died and returned to the past.

But indeed, would they tell me that I’ve lived well?

I chuckled.

It was a useless worry at this point anyway.

There’s no use regretting the past that has gone by. No matter what my position is, they can never return to my side.

“I wish my position in the family was as secure as that.”

To change the mood, I deliberately murmured as if joking.

However, Leopold didn’t seem to take my words as a joke. The look in his eyes as he gazed down at me suddenly became serious.

“How was Madam Louise? Did she say anything harsh to you?”

I smiled and reassured him.

“It was fine. Rather, it was helpful. Thanks to her coming, I was able to drive Julia out of the annex.”

“That’s a relief. I was actually very worried. I feared that bringing your mother-in-law here might cause you too much pain.”

Relief seeped into Leopold’s eyes. Sympathy and apology were clearly reflected in his red eyes. He was genuinely worried that I might have been hurt, even though he had only acted as I had agreed.

“What has Count de Tolomiès been up to since then?”

“He keeps going to meet Julia. It seems he wants to bring that woman back to the annex at any opportunity. But it’s impossible since mother is keeping a close eye.”

Leopold frowned.

“He still thinks like that? Even though he knows full well that you dislike it?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s better than bringing her into the main house.”

“Don’t say that. The annex and the main house are all your home. How can it be right for your husband’s mistress, of all people, to enter your home?”

Unexpectedly, Leopold spoke in a somewhat stern tone.

Suddenly, he took my hand and brought it close to his lips.

Because I wasn’t wearing gloves, I was momentarily flustered. But instead of pressing his lips to my bare hand, Leopold kissed the air.

“I will surely protect your position.”

A gentle voice reached my ears.

I stared at him intently.

It was an unfamiliar feeling. To receive such a promise from someone.

“Thank you.”

That was all I could say.

A faint smile appeared on Leopold’s pale face along with a hint of warmth.

***

The rest of the ball passed peacefully.

The Countess de Tolomiès and Duke de Lenoir together paid their respects to His Majesty the King, and exchanged appropriate conversation with other guests.

Before they knew it, it was time to part.

Leopold escorted Madam Elisabeth to where her carriage was waiting. Since his lodgings and Elisabeth’s accommodations were in opposite directions, they had to part here.

He asked, hiding his inner reluctance.

“Will I be able to see you again soon?”

Elisabeth shook her head.

“Not for a while. Felix is probably grinding his teeth right now because you appeared as my partner. He probably can’t do anything right away, but it’s best not to provoke him just in case.”

“I understand.”

Leopold withdrew without further comment.

“Please call me anytime if you need a partner.”

“I appreciate your offer, but I don’t want to impose on you multiple times.”

“Impose? As a comrade working together on this scheme, it’s only natural for me to help you.”

Leopold smiled as he saw Elisabeth off.

“Take care on your way back.”

“You too, Your Grace.”

Soon, the de Tolomiès family carriage disappeared into the distance.