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Chapter 11
“Your Grace?”
Yurita turned around in surprise to find Zachary standing there.
As if by perfect timing, the music stopped the moment he appeared. Everyone in the hall turned to look at him.
“I’ve been looking for you for quite a while, Duchess.”
Zachary wore a stylish suit, and his usual messy hair had been slicked neatly back with wax. A strand or two of red hair had fallen loose across his brow.
Yurita’s eyes widened when she noticed the fourth finger on his hand.
“…He’s even wearing a wedding ring?”
He had forced himself to wear one once when they went to see the Emperor, but aside from that, she had never seen him wear it.
“I was wondering why there was such a crowd gathered around the Duchess.”
Zachary glanced over the people surrounding Yurita.
His gaze passed over Eustace and Helena before stopping on Lady Nora. She visibly flinched.
“D-Duke Killerster. I was just looking for you. I wanted to greet you personally. Congratulations on your marriage.”
At the greetings from Lady Nora and the other ladies, Zachary shot Yurita a sideways glance.
Yurita stood there with her arms crossed and a half-defeated expression, looking away.
There’s no way that bastard is going to behave properly.
This must be a festival for Lady Nora. She was finally about to witness the true nature of the Duke and Duchess of Killerster. A pitiful duchess pushed around by her delinquent husband.
“My, I can only feel grateful that such lovely ladies are congratulating us like this.”
“Huh?”
For the first time in her life, Yurita saw Zachary respond to noble greetings with perfect etiquette.
Lady Nora looked shocked, but the most shocked person there was Yurita herself.
Did he take medicine or something? What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?
Hiding her surprise, Yurita continued watching Zachary’s social performance.
“The banquet is so unique and beautiful, Your Grace.”
“It’s all thanks to my duchess. I didn’t do a thing.”
“This is the first banquet the Killerster household has hosted in decades, isn’t it? Will you continue hosting them in the future?”
“Ah, well…”
Zachary nearly lost his composure for a second.
“We’ll think about it.”
Pfft.
Yurita mocked him inwardly.
For someone who hates banquets so much, I could hold them over and over again just to torment you, Zachary.
As if sensing her reaction instantly, Zachary shot her a sharp glare. Yurita pretended not to notice.
Fortunately, none of the ladies noticed the silent war between them.
“Oh hoho, now that the Duke is here, we’ll excuse ourselves.”
Lady Nora fanned herself and tried to slip away casually.
“But.”
At Zachary’s low voice, the air itself seemed to shrink.
His expression changed as he looked directly at Lady Nora.
“You were talking about the rumor that ‘the Duke of Killerster didn’t attend his own wedding,’ weren’t you, my lady?”
“P-Pardon?”
Zachary stepped toward her. His massive frame cast a shadow over the woman.
“I’d appreciate it if you stopped paying attention to such ridiculous rumors.”
Under the sharp crimson gaze in his eyes, Lady Nora froze as though she might faint on the spot.
“Understood, ladies?”
When Zachary turned his eyes toward the others, the women nodded frantically.
“Of course, Your Grace! There’s no way such absurd rumors could be true!”
Helena merely gave a small nod. As she looked at Zachary, her cheeks reddened and she turned away.
Satisfied by the audience’s agreement, Zachary smiled frighteningly.
“Well then.”
This time, he turned to Yurita and extended a gloved hand.
“Shall we dance, Duchess?”
Only then did Yurita hear the changed melody of the orchestra. Until now, tension had stiffened her body so much she hadn’t even realized the music had started again.
He’s even asking me to dance?
She stared at Zachary in disbelief.
His lips moved silently, forming two words.
What are you doing?
Take my hand already.
Yurita understood his intention.
So she placed her hand atop his.
With his firm grip, Zachary led her to the center of the dance hall.
Eustace quietly watched Yurita growing farther away.
Everyone’s attention—including the Emperor’s—focused on Yurita and Zachary.
The first official appearance of the rumor-ridden Duke and Duchess of Killerster.
The sight of the two dancing hand in hand was so mesmerizing that, for a moment, people forgot all the rumors surrounding them.
“It looks like a vampire dancing with a ghost bride.”
That was how someone described the pair.
Yurita spun gracefully under Zachary’s lead.
When her shoulder leaned against his chest, he whispered casually,
“I’m pretty good at acting, huh?”
“…Apparently.”
“This is what nobles are like. Since childhood, we’re taught manners, how to hide expressions… it becomes second nature.”
“Then why don’t you hide yours normally?”
“Because I don’t need to.”
Zachary answered with a smug grin.
Coming from a man with power second only to the Emperor, there was no argument against it. It was simply infuriating.
“I thought you were going to skip today too.”
“Hey, I could’ve just not come at all. But you looked so desperate to impress the Emperor, I figured I’d play along a little.”
“Should I thank you or something?”
“My demanding duchess, what more do you want me to do?”
At that moment, Zachary suddenly dipped Yurita backward.
“Is this what you want? Should we kiss here too, just to play the role of a happily married couple?”
he murmured lowly, his lips hovering dangerously close to hers.
The shock Yurita felt quickly turned into anger.
This insane bastard—in front of everyone…
No matter how affectionate a married couple was, none would openly flirt in a banquet hall under the Emperor’s watchful eyes. There was an unspoken line that any dignified noble was expected to respect.
Even Yurita, who hadn’t been born and raised in this era, knew that much.
His question was an insult to her as a noble lady.
Yurita’s expression darkened as she pressed her lips shut in silence. Zachary watched her briefly before straightening her back up.
Right then, the music ended, and applause erupted around the duke and duchess.
Ignoring Zachary as he tried to speak to her, Yurita left the banquet hall.
The night air was cold enough to raise goosebumps.
Anger radiated from Yurita’s steps as she walked along the outdoor corridor.
Having worn heels for hours, pain throbbed in her heels. She felt a sting in the back of her throat. The emotions she had been suppressing were beginning to surface.
As she hoped the cold air would rush into her lungs and carry away her anger, she heard footsteps approaching.
“Excuse me, Duchess Killerster! Wait a moment!”
Thinking it was Zachary—and ready to punch him if necessary—she turned around, only to find Eustace standing there.
“It’s cold out here. Where are you going? Just in case, don’t wander around without an escort. It’s dark outside.”
“…I’m simply heading back to my room, so don’t worry.”
“Ah, then I interrupted you. Forgive me. I just… wondered if perhaps our earlier conversation upset you.”
Yurita and Eustace met each other’s eyes.
“I’m not upset at all. Honestly, it was a very enjoyable conversation.”
Eustace smiled at that.
“That’s a relief. I didn’t want to fall out of favor with the Duchess, so even though I knew it might be rude, I followed you out here.”
Yurita barely managed a faint smile.
“You did well. That was thoughtful of you.”
At her words, a blush spread across Eustace’s cheeks. Perhaps it was because of the cold wind.
“The wonderful banquet you hosted isn’t over yet, Duchess. Would you consider returning and enjoying the rest of it?”
“Marquis Eustace, I need some time alone—”
“Duchess.”
A low, rough voice suddenly cut into their conversation.
Behind Eustace stood Zachary.
His hair was slightly disheveled, as though he had run there.
Zachary glanced once at Yurita before glaring at Eustace.
“And who are you?”
The refined manners he had shown inside the banquet hall had completely vanished.
Eustace bristled slightly at being addressed so rudely, but quickly composed himself like a gentleman.
“I am Marquis Eustace Heinjack, Duke Killerster. I saw the Duchess outside and was simply speaking with her for a moment.”
“If you’re done, then go back inside. I have something to discuss with my wife.”
“Very well.”
Eustace glanced at Yurita and started walking away, but stopped beside Zachary.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t keep such a beautiful wife waiting by arriving an hour late to a banquet.”
“…You’d do well not to interfere in another couple’s marriage, Marquis.”
A dangerous aura began radiating from Zachary.
“Zachary.”
At that moment, Yurita’s voice cut cleanly through the tension between the two men.
