My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 67
Chapter 34.1 — Honeymoon Night (7)
“Oh, my goodness…”
Someone among the guests exclaimed as if in disbelief.
Grand Duke Acheron never danced with any woman other than Princess Penthesileia. It was already a well-known fact in Helios. He was a man who steadfastly ignored the subtle hints from any lady of the house. Even when the men from those houses bowed their pride and asked him, he blatantly refused them.
The rumors of him and the Princess weren’t circulating for no reason.
“Lariette de Chalonné! Come here immediately…”
“Cough! Ahuk… heuu…”
Ceres quickly stood up from her seat, but she quickly had to turn her attention back to her first daughter, who had started to cough dryly after being hit by the wind. While Jacques Saint-Cyr put a coat on his wife, Ceres nervously instructed him to bring warm water, but Bea’s cough wasn’t something that could be stopped with warm water. Eventually, he lifted her into his arms, and Ceres and the royal physician, who had been waiting, hurriedly followed them.
Since this was something most guests had anticipated, there was no major confusion at the wedding reception. After all, whether the host was present or not, the reception was supposed to continue throughout the night.
“Then.”
Cain briefly bowed to Narkissis. Then, gently grasping Riette’s hand, he proceeded towards the center of the reception hall. In the midst of the wedding reception hall, where the harmonies of the orchestra blended with the summer breeze, the two faced each other.
Their body heat mingled through the hands that clasped together and the hand that slipped lightly around her waist.
The music, having finished the warm-up, began to beckon the gentlemen and ladies who would become lovers for the day. Once the dancing commenced, the attention that had initially been directed at today’s protagonists of tumult quickly shifted to the partners in front of them.
Such was the nature of youth intoxicated with alcohol and music passion.
Riette glanced back at Narkissis.
As if the discord between them had never happened, he was smoking a cigar and mingling with the gentlemen and ladies with a calm and leisurely smile. She stuck out her tongue as she watched the dignified smile on his lips.
Anyway, he was a formidable, strong-willed opponent.
“Thank you, Grand Duke. Dancing with His Highness… I really hate it!”
Cain led Riette’s steps very slowly. It was graceful and smooth, like a dancer on ice. There was no doubt that he was taking care to ensure her feet didn’t hurt.
“I’m a bit drunk right now… But next time, when I’m sober, I’ll definitely tell him.”
“Princess, you don’t have to meet His Highness alone. I’ll take care of that as well.”
“No, I have to meet him at least once. It’s my responsibility, isn’t it?”
“I’m not someone who declares that I will protect you while not being able to do a single thing properly. Even if you can’t trust me right now, don’t worry too much.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you…”
Normally, she might have questioned further, but perhaps due to the alcohol, the topic quickly faded from her mind. Riette gazed blankly at him as he stared down at her against the ultramarine blue sky.
“Grand Duke. By the way, you’re a good dancer, aren’t you?”
Of course, it wasn’t like the head of the grand ducal couldn’t even handle a ballroom dance…
He seemed more like a man whose natural gesture was to gracefully decline an invitation to dance rather than the movements of dancing. Moreover, his dignified demeanor, commanding the guards while on horseback, seemed to suit him better than gliding across the ballroom.
“I’m not as proficient as the princess. I would appreciate your guidance.”
Even the polite response was perfect.
“You have to do it in moderation, Grand Duke.”
“…I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“You’re too perfect!”
Due to the lingering effects of intoxication, her pronunciation was somewhat unclear.
She gazed up at him.
She had cried her eyes out with her mother while giving a congratulatory speech at dinner, and her eyes were all reddened. The reddish tint at the corners of her eyes made her look innocent and yet somehow mischievous.
“Your appearance is handsome, your posture is upright, and you follow etiquette well. You speak eloquently, dance gracefully, and even ignore His Highness Narkissis well… There’s nothing you can’t do.”
As she continued to stumble as if it was difficult to concentrate on dancing while chattering, Cain naturally adjusted his steps so that she wouldn’t fall. Thanks to this, they were dancing in a distinctive, independent style, unlike others.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Wow… That’s, that’s not even a response!”
His lips loosened slightly.
It was strange to see him suppressing a smile when he was always wearing the same stern expression. In truth, it wasn’t unwelcome. It would just be plain annoying for a man of his stature to show such obvious humility.
However.
“When you’re that perfect… it must be tiring. Everyone only sees the Grand Duke as impressive, but they probably have no idea how exhausting it is. Being good at something doesn’t mean it’s not difficult.”
A life with high expectations was burdensome.
She knew this well as she watched her sister from the side. How tiring it was to have to be modest, quiet, wise, and beautiful. Bea’s sense of responsibility and Riette’s feelings of alienation were like mirrors reflecting each other.
“Don’t try to be too good. It’s okay… Ah!”
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