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Chapter 49
There was Lerazier’s broad chest right in front of her.
When his arms, which he had just freed from their linked position, came toward her head, she instinctively took a startled step back.
‘W-what?’
It looked almost as though he were about to embrace her.
While Calliope stood frozen in confusion, she heard a clicking sound near the left side of her head, as though something had been fastened into place.
Lerazier took a step back and tugged up the corners of his mouth.
“It suits you pretty well.”
Calliope raised a hand and felt around her head. Her fingers touched a hair ornament made of a series of round, hard gemstones strung together.
At the same time, exclamations erupted from all around them.
“Oh my. How romantic!”
“That hair ornament…….”
Calliope quickly glanced around the banquet hall.
Eyes filled with surprise and admiration were all directed toward them.
‘It must be quite an expensive hair ornament.’
At the very least, it seemed they had succeeded in drawing everyone’s attention at once. That made Calliope feel rather pleased.
‘Not bad.’
She looked at Lerazier and lifted a hand, giving him an elegant little wave of her fingers. He immediately understood and leaned his head toward her.
To anyone watching, it looked like a tender scene between lovers whispering sweet nothings to each other.
But in reality, it was quite different.
“You’re actually pretty cute when you try. When did you even prepare something like this?”
“I told you. I’m taking this seriously in my own way.”
“I see. I completely underestimated your resolve. I sincerely apologize for that.”
As Calliope nodded as though acknowledging his words, Lerazier narrowed his eyes.
“What’s gotten into you? You’re making me nervous for no reason.”
“Now that I know how serious you are, can I ask you for one favor?”
“No. Don’t.”
“Yes. I will.”
“Hey.”
While Lerazier stared at her incredulously, Calliope said what she wanted.
“Lend me one cheek.”
Fortunately, it was a fairly harmless request. That much was easy enough.
Lerazier readily agreed.
“You’re going to hit me? Go easy.”
Calliope’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“I’m not such a piece of trash that I’d resort to violence against the fiancé who gave me a present.”
“Then why are you asking me to offer you my cheek?”
When Lerazier asked in confusion, Calliope dropped a bombshell.
“A kiss on the cheek to show my gratitude?”
Crack.
This time, Lerazier’s face really did crumple spectacularly.
He discreetly raised a hand to cover his face so that the people in the banquet hall wouldn’t notice and ground his teeth.
“…Calliope Verdi. Have you finally lost your mind?”
“I’m perfectly sane.”
“Hah.”
Lerazier let out a hollow laugh, utterly dumbfounded.
“Why don’t you just say you want to hug me and kiss me outright?”
“Would that be okay?”
Calliope asked as though she had absolutely no problem doing so, and this time Lerazier was left looking completely stunned.
“Come to think of it, kissing in front of all these people…… That would certainly be an effective way to officially announce that we’re lovers.”
As Calliope genuinely began considering the idea, Lerazier hurriedly tried to stop her.
“Wait, who said you could decide that on your own……!”
“Who was it that said he was taking this seriously?”
“Let’s compromise on one cheek. How about that?”
“You should have said that from the beginning.”
Calliope gave him a meaningful grin and stepped away from Lerazier.
She deliberately swept her gaze around them, making sure everyone could see, then rose onto her tiptoes.
Smack.
Her lips touched Lerazier’s cheek and quickly pulled away.
“My goodness. Did you see that?”
“I heard young people these days were something else, but they’re really doing it so openly…….”
“How daring. Truly.”
Some nobles frowned at the blatant display of affection, but they were in the minority.
Calliope’s reputation was hardly fragile enough to be damaged simply because she had kissed a man on the cheek.
Above all, Calliope was admired by young nobles throughout high society.
Once again, her actions were interpreted as a bold and unconventional act that broke through the rigid conventions of aristocratic society.
“I was curious what Lady Calliope would do if she kept a man by her side. As expected, she’s quite proactive even when it comes to romance, isn’t she?”
“Look at her dress, too. No one but her could pull off such a daring color.”
Letting those comments drift past her, Calliope gave Lerazier a mischievous smile.
“Did you hear that? That’s the discerning eye of the number one socialite in high society…… Hm?”
The tips of Lerazier’s ears were slightly red.
Oh?
Calliope’s smile became meaningful.
“Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed—”
“No way.”
Lerazier had already composed himself and calmly retorted,
“Seems my eye for things isn’t half bad either.”
He nodded toward another group nearby.
“His Highness the Seventh Prince can pull off a daring design like that, too. They say it’s not the clothes that matter, but the person wearing them.”
“That rebellious gaze and that strange, decadent aura! Don’t they suit His Highness’s carefree personality perfectly? Whatever else you might say, when it comes to looks alone, he’s a masterpiece unrivaled even within the Imperial Family……”
“Hmph.”
Calliope snorted and linked her arm through Lerazier’s again, whispering quietly as though she were performing ventriloquism.
“If you know that, then take better care of your face.”
Lerazier turned slightly to face Calliope.
“Apparently, you still don’t understand.”
He reached over and tucked a stray lock of red hair behind her ear before continuing.
“Tall, handsome men are extremely rare. You could almost say they’re creatures like dragons from legends.”
“So?”
Calliope raised a fingertip and gently traced it down Lerazier’s cheek.
The red lipstick mark in the shape of her lips smeared downward along her finger.
The strangely provocative gesture caused the people around them to widen their eyes.
Lerazier smiled, his eyes curving gracefully.
His beautiful, flower-like face seemed to bloom in full.
“So, what does it feel like to be dating a dragon?”
By now, their voices were no longer quiet whispers.
Calliope could see the people sneaking glances at them perk up their ears.
She gladly accepted Lerazier’s provocation.
“It’s so thrilling and exciting that I think I’m going crazy.”
She said it in her normal voice, loud enough for everyone to hear properly.
“Oh my!”
“Good heavens……!”
People’s eyes widened in astonishment, and exclamations erupted from all around them.
It was such an explicit and unabashed display of affection.
Of course, Lerazier knew that the thrill and excitement Calliope was talking about had nothing to do with what everyone else was thinking.
He lowered his voice and whispered into her ear.
“That wordplay of yours is practically an art form.”
“It’s not a lie, is it?”
Calliope proudly straightened her shoulders and shrugged.
Then, as she gently touched the trace of her lipstick still left on Lerazier’s cheek, she said,
“I do like the feeling of having marked you as mine, but it’s a shame that it ruins your pretty face. Hmm. What should I do?”
“You have a surprisingly possessive side.”
“Of course.”
Calliope tapped Lerazier lightly on the chin and frowned.
“Do you have any idea how strong my possessiveness is? Sylvia has a lifetime contract. Agnes agreed to pay back everything she’s received from me if she takes on work for another family without my permission. And Harold agreed to work for the Verdi family until the day he dies.”
“That means all three of them have lifetime contracts.”
Lerazier looked dumbfounded for a moment.
Then he suddenly remembered something, and his expression turned horrified.
He hurriedly brought his lips close to Calliope’s ear and whispered,
“Don’t tell me I’m included?”
“Ah, you’re definitely a temporary contract worker, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Only after hearing Calliope’s answer did Lerazier finally relax.
“Thank goodness. That would have been a disaster.”
He smiled in satisfaction.
For some reason, Calliope felt strangely irritated.
‘Seriously, what exactly would have been such a disaster?’
But before Calliope could dwell on her feelings, a deep horn echoed throughout the banquet hall.
She immediately closed her mouth and straightened her posture.
The sound meant that the Emperor would soon be entering.
The long, resonant blast of the horn continued before finally fading away.
Then a court attendant raised his voice and loudly announced,
“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince are entering!”
