🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 25
Marienne quietly stepped up beside Vaileon.
He already knew why his aide had left her post, and while keeping his gaze fixed forward, he spoke.
“Ten minutes ago, His Highness and the Duke finished their first dance.”
The first dance at a ball traditionally belonged to the evening’s main hosts.
Just imagining the two of them gliding across the grand hall under everyone’s gaze made Marienne feel instant disgust.
She responded with a sound somewhere between “ugh” and “ew.” Something halfway between yes and bleh.
“My lord and lady left right after the first dance, and Cloise accepted a dance request and went out to the floor.”
Which meant it was safe to speak freely—just between the two of them.
“What happened?”
“Well…”
Marienne sighed.
“An unexpected intruder showed up.”
“Who?”
Vaileon immediately turned his head to look at her. His eyes lingered for a moment on her hair, which was now a little messy.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“Your hair…”
“Oh, this? It got messed up while I was making a fuss earlier.”
Marienne turned her gaze back to the hall. Noble men and women, beautifully dressed, were dancing in elegant pairs, forming circles as they twirled.
And beyond the dancers, she could see a few young ladies discreetly watching for their chance—like predators crouched in the tall grass.
Their target was none other than the man standing beside Marienne.
The Empire’s rising sun—young, handsome, and brilliant Minister, Vaileon.
Such discerning taste, these ladies have, Marienne thought, genuinely impressed by her peers, only a couple of years younger than she was.
Good looks, noble lineage, talent, gentle manners… Even if he rejects a dance request, he’d never embarrass the lady.
It was perfectly understandable that they were all aiming for him.
Maybe the Empire’s social scene wasn’t doomed after all—so many people here had excellent taste.
“Deputy Didi.”
“Yes, Lord Beers?”
“Not dancing tonight?” Marienne asked with a grin.
“You wore full dress uniform for once. You practically sparkle just standing there.”
“…”
“It’s a waste not to show that off on the floor.”
“…Thanks for the compliment.”
Vaileon hesitated for a second.
“Deputy Didi, you too—”
“Wait—one o’clock direction, young lady incoming,” Marienne interrupted in a low voice.
If Vaileon accepted a dance invitation, she’d be left alone until he returned. Cloise looked ready to dance ten songs in a row, so she wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon.
Surely that fraud of a priest won’t come here, right?
Even Leslie had enough sense to realize how strange it would be for a priest to appear at a ball.
Marienne decided to trust that his dignity would stop him from chasing her here.
But at that moment, her eyes landed on the group by the windows—and her heart dropped.
There stood the Second Prince—and beside him, Leslie, dressed in white priest robes, smiling directly at his liege.
“When did that creep get here?” she muttered without realizing it.
“Who are you talking about?” Vaileon asked.
“There—Father Anais.”
Vaileon glanced toward the Second Prince’s entourage.
“And how do you know Father Anais?”
“He’s the intruder I mentioned earlier. He showed up behind me out of nowhere. I got so startled I never even made it into the room…”
While explaining, Marienne subtly shifted to stand behind Vaileon.
“Sir Beers, I’ll just… hide behind you for a bit.”
Just then, the young lady approaching from one o’clock reached them and shyly asked Vaileon for a dance.
Unlike a certain northerner, Vaileon declined her with impeccable courtesy and warmth.
The lady paused briefly at his refusal but soon smiled and withdrew gracefully.
When they were alone again, Marienne whispered from behind him,
“Sorry for keeping you from dancing.”
“There’s no need to apologize, Deputy. I didn’t come here to dance.”
Was it her imagination, or did his tone sound a little sterner than when he spoke to the young lady?
Was he… annoyed?
“Start from the top,” he said. “When the intruder appeared behind you—tell me everything, carefully.”
“Uh… okay.”
Marienne retraced the events, explaining everything while staring at his back, unable to see his expression.
But when she got to the part where Leslie tried to kiss her hand, Vaileon took a deep, sharp breath. His broad shoulders, wrapped in black formalwear, expanded slightly.
Wow, he’s huge.
Honestly, his build wasn’t that different from that northern guy’s—only about two centimeters shorter, maybe.
Marienne quelled a small pang of disappointment. Vaileon had a great physique too, but Odette apparently wanted something “plus alpha.” Whatever that meant.
“Anyway,” Vaileon said in a firmer tone, “you made the right call. Don’t give that priest any excuse to act. And his timing was too perfect—it wasn’t a coincidence. He was likely following you from the start.”
“Hah…”
“Don’t be discouraged. You’ll get another chance.”
“Yes, I hope so too,” she said weakly. After failing so many times, frustration was giving way to exhaustion.
Leslie Anais, why are you even following me? You’ve got your own things—manipulating courtiers, flirting with noblewomen. Stick to that!
Just leave me alone. What I’m doing has nothing to do with you. You’re barking up the wrong tree!
Let me make that idiot bald already.
Sure, turning the original male lead bald wasn’t exactly a normal goal—but did the priest have to get in her way too?
Her inner rant ended in something close to pleading.
Vaileon informed her that Leslie was standing with his back to the hall now.
Marienne cautiously stepped out from behind him.
Good. The priest’s back was turned, and that northern idiot was deep in conversation with another man. Perfect.
Hopefully they’d stay busy talking until the ball ended.
At that moment, a neatly dressed young man stopped in front of her.
“Good evening, my lady. If you have no prior engagement, would you grant me this dance?”
Marienne blinked in shock. Me?
When she pointed to herself, the young man smiled and nodded.
“My gaze kept drifting toward you. You seem close to Lord Beers—are you related? I don’t recall seeing you at an event like this before.”
“Uh, well…”
“My aide is currently on official duty, Lord Franchetio,” Vaileon interjected smoothly.
“I’m afraid she can’t leave her post.”
Official duty? So that was the excuse he was using tonight. He’d used the same line earlier to turn down another lady.
And really, “official duty” carried enormous weight—anyone prying further would be the one committing a breach of etiquette.
A flawless excuse!
Marienne was honestly impressed. Even his excuses were refined.
“…Ah, so she’s Lord Beers’ aide.”
Not a noble lady, but a civil official. And on duty, no less. He really should’ve backed off at that point.
But the young man smiled again.
“If it’s work for the Ministry, surely it falls under Lord Beers’ discretion. Would one dance truly be an issue?”
Then, turning to Marienne, he added with a charming smile,
“I’d also like to hear the lady’s own opinion.”
Oho, not bad, young Lord Franchetio.
Younger than Vaileon, but gutsy! Indirectly asking for her own answer like that—smooth.
Marienne silently applauded him in her head. Credit where it’s due.
Vaileon, caught off guard, looked momentarily taken aback. Then he turned to her.
“Well, Deputy Didi, it’s your call. Sorry for answering for you earlier. Would you like to go out to the floor? I don’t mind either way.”
“Ah, n-no. Actually, I can’t dance. I’ve never learned. Sorry.”
“She says no,” Vaileon replied almost too quickly.
“Then I’ll continue my work with my aide.”
“I see… what a shame. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
The young noble bowed politely and withdrew. Marienne watched him go, then turned back to Vaileon.
Huh?
She’d faced multiple life-threatening situations before without flinching—mainly because she was too dense to notice danger.
But now, even she could sense it—Vaileon was not pleased.
His smile looked forced, and his eyes were devoid of warmth.
Several possible reasons crossed her mind, but they all sounded embarrassingly self-centered.
“Thank you,” she began cautiously.
“I really can’t dance. Never had lessons. So when you declined for me like that, it sounded so convincing.”
“…What’s wrong with me,” Vaileon muttered, rubbing his forehead and blinking, looking genuinely confused.
Meanwhile—
Odette, who hadn’t returned to the dance floor since the first song, happened to glance at Kain’s hair.
And naturally, one particular someone came to mind.
Honestly, what was all that fuss about?
She had always trusted Vaileon’s judgment, but this time… maybe he’d slipped up.
He’d brought someone truly strange into the Ministry.
Come to think of it, the Duke always kept his hair long…
Odette tried to push away her suspicion about the Duke who had stormed out half-dressed because a few strands were cut.
Granted, anyone would be furious if someone suddenly chopped their hair.
Even she would be livid.
But still—running half-naked through the halls?
She’d even heard he went to the aide’s quarters afterward and broke down her door.
Her normally cold, ruthless fiancé losing his mind like that—it was almost unsettling.
“Your Highness, is something the matter?” Kain asked.
Had she been staring too obviously? Odette quickly lowered her gaze.
“No, nothing.”
He probably hadn’t realized she’d been looking at his hair.
Still, she felt like a child caught doing something naughty.
So unfair. She’d only been looking at her fiancé’s hair!
And now I’m thinking about hair again…
Was there any way to purge that word from her mind?
Odette sighed inwardly.
It seemed Marienne Didi’s strange hair obsession was contagious—even before they’d formally met.
