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Chapter 13
“Let’s have a dance.”
“With me?”
Rose forced an awkward smile at the Grand Duke, who had taken hold of her. He knew she felt uncomfortable, but he had no intention of letting her go.
“Yes.”
“…I was going to dance the first song with my husband.”
It wasn’t true, but wasn’t this the time to use her husband as an excuse if she could? At Rose’s words, the Grand Duke glanced toward the center of the ballroom.
“Your husband is already dancing with another woman.”
When Rose turned her head in the direction of his gaze, she saw that her husband truly was dancing with another lady.
You’re really no help at all.
With no excuses left, Rose awkwardly took hold of the Grand Duke. She decided it would be best not to provoke him—just dance quietly and disappear.
“You’re clumsy.”
That was only natural. It was her first time dancing a waltz.
I never did anything like this back in Korea.
She had hurriedly learned the waltz in the short time after receiving the Grand Duke’s invitation, so her posture was quite sloppy. Rose fumbled through the steps—stepping on his feet as a matter of course, and even bumping her head into his chest more than three times. Each time, she swallowed nervously, watching his expression, afraid the mad Grand Duke might throw her aside at any moment. She wanted to say she would stop right away, but standing before a man said to make even birds fall from the sky, Rose found it hard to open her mouth. She looked at the Grand Duke of Arteum before her with an awkward smile. His natural blond hair, as if untouched by grooming, swayed lightly above his brows.
I only ever thought he was terrifying, but…
He had a fierce look, yet he was undeniably handsome. The beautiful melody faded, and unlike her worries, the first dance ended without incident.
Thank goodness. I don’t think I made any major mistakes, right?
With a sigh of relief, Rose bowed politely to the Grand Duke and quickly slipped away. As she hurried toward a corner of the ballroom, a black shadow fell over her.
“To dance with the Grand Duke with skills like that.”
The sharp voice belonged to none other than Eric.
“You don’t seem to feel any shame.”
He looked at her with clear displeasure—no, anger—as if he had watched her fumble through the dance.
“Heh, did you see?”
Whispers floated through the air.
“How pitiful. Maybe it’s because she never even had a debutante ball—her waltz was terrible.”
“If it were me, I wouldn’t dare step out with skills like that.”
Mocking gazes were directed at Rose. Eric likely thought her behavior had damaged his reputation. Even if their relationship was only for show, she was still a member of the Count of Wens’ household.
I shouldn’t have brought a woman like that here.
Regretting his decision to attend the Grand Duke’s banquet, Eric dragged Rose out of the ballroom.
“Enough already.”
In the pitch-dark night, Eric’s glare toward Rose was razor-sharp.
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you suddenly doing things you never did before? And what was that hideous waltz?”
Frowning irritably, Eric continued,
“You must’ve asked the Grand Duke to dance just to get back at me for dancing with another woman. Stop doing stupid things. No matter how hard you try, I have no interest in you.”
At those words, Rose felt as if her breath had stopped.
Stop it. No matter how hard you try, I’m not interested in you.
The cruel words Do-hyeon had once stabbed into her heart in a past life resurfaced.
Rose could say nothing, only stare blankly at Eric. With trembling lips and unfocused eyes, she looked utterly hollow. Seeing her shaken gaze, Eric flinched. Perhaps he had pushed her too far. Thinking he should placate her a little before she did something pointless again for attention, he softened his tone.
“I suppose I’ve been rather indifferent to you lately.”
He fiddled with her neatly braided hair, then untied the ribbon holding it together. Rose snapped back to her senses and weakly gathered her loosened hair.
“What are you doing?”
“Haven’t I always said it’s better to let your hair down at night?”
Eric’s hand, which had been caressing her face, slowly moved down, gently stroking her hair—only to suddenly clutch a fistful of it.
“Let go.”
“You like this kind of thing too, don’t you?”
What…? Staring at him blankly, realization struck Rose. She turned pale at the sight of Eric looking at her with half-lidded eyes.
Don’t tell me… here?
Though it was late and dark, the garden they were in was a place where people could pass by at any time. Whatever this madman was thinking, his face was already flushed.
“It makes sense you’d act like that. We haven’t done it even once in the past three weeks.”
Eric’s eyes were already clouded with greed as he reached out to grab her.
“Come here. I’ll make up for everything I haven’t been able to do…”
Goosebumps spread over Rose’s body.
…Run.
She quickly searched for a way out. Knowing Eric usually relied on brute force, she hurriedly thought.
“Wait.”
She stopped him.
“I can’t today.”
“Why not?”
“I’m on my period.”
Eric paused, then irritably ran a hand through his hair.
“You should’ve said that sooner.”
Only then did Rose let out a relieved breath.
“Then I’ll go back inside first.”
She fled the garden, leaving Eric behind. He remained there alone, letting out a deep sigh.
“Damn it.”
His heated desire wouldn’t subside. He wanted to whisper sweet words to someone right now. Like a hyena searching for prey, Eric prowled near the mansion. With his looks, seducing a woman wasn’t difficult. While highborn ladies were harder to approach now that he was married, maids were different. To them, his attention was an opportunity for social advancement. Then he spotted a maid with twin braids and a cute face. Without hesitation, he approached her.
“Could you spare me a moment?”
His gentlemanly tone—one that usually worked well on women he’d just met. Blushing, the maid nodded quietly. Smiling as if he’d expected it, Eric took her hand, loosened her hair ribbon just as he had with Rose, and led her deeper into the garden.
“I’m exhausted.”
Instead of returning straight to the ballroom, Rose wandered around. Going back in this state would gain her nothing. She sat near a flowerbed, where the chirping of insects replaced the noisy banquet.
“Let’s rest a little, then go back. I should approach the other nobles first.”
That was the goal of this banquet. After steadying herself, Rose stood and turned to return—
“Ugh… s-save me.”
A faint, agonized voice reached her ears.
What is that sound?
From nearby—
“Aaagh!!”
A man’s scream tore through the night, followed by the vivid sounds of stabbing. Then, as if it were a lie, everything fell silent. No more groans.
Is he… dead?
The chirping of insects sounded eerie in the silence.
He must be dead.
Frozen in fear, Rose stood there. Footsteps approached—slow, deliberate—then gradually faded away. Cold sweat ran down her forehead. Only when the sound disappeared did she dare to move.
Is he gone?
She tried to flee—but at that moment—
Rustle!
The sound was loud.
Please… please don’t let him hear…
But then—rapid footsteps. She collapsed, shaking, squeezing her eyes shut.
So my second life ends this meaninglessly…
She waited for death.
“…”
Nothing happened. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
“What were you doing here…?”
Standing before her, covered in blood, was the Grand Duke of Arteum.
“Y-Your Grace…?”
Rose’s face filled with terror as he approached.
