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There was no shortage of noble ladies suffering from lovesickness, all hoping to become the Countess of Weatherwood.
‘He’s never refused a woman who approached him, but…’
The woman now was in urgent need of marriage.
And he himself needed to refrain for a while, with marriage in mind.
‘It’s best to connect her with someone suitable and keep some distance.’
A moment later, Lady Farraway approached.
She seemed to take a liking to Marie.
“Count? Won’t you introduce me to this lovely young lady?”
“Oh, Lady Farraway. Of course. This is…”
‘Perfect. If she’s caught Lady Farraway’s eye, there’s not much to worry about. Helping a woman in distress really is a noble thing to do.’
Feeling satisfied as both the host and a gentleman, he nodded internally.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Whitehouse. This is…”
As Knox stepped away, Lady Farraway promptly introduced Marie to Calix.
“…Pleasure to meet you. I’m Calix Bloodstone.”
Calix greeted her cautiously, as if it were truly their first meeting.
“I’m Marianne Whitehouse.”
Finally exchanging greetings with him, Marie’s cheeks flushed.
It felt as refreshing as finishing overdue homework.
Calix, seemingly aware of the attention around them, initiated light conversation.
Whether he was a good actor or not, his expression was very gentle.
“It’s a new piece of music. Would you care to dance?”
“Yes, I’d love to.”
When he asked Marie for a dance, as expected, small gasps of shock rose from the onlookers.
“Oh my, what is going on? Lord Bloodstone is asking someone to dance?”
“Not just anyone — it’s Lady Whitehouse, from a bankrupt family!”
Knox, who had been smiling surrounded by lovely ladies, was startled.
‘Bloodstone asked her to dance?’
Sure enough, the two were walking hand in hand onto the dance floor.
‘What? Was he into that type?’
“What do you think it means? Could Lord Bloodstone be trying to ruin her reputation?”
“No way… He’s never treated women lightly before.”
“Then… is he actually interested in her?”
“But the Whitehouse family is bankrupt!”
“That may not matter. With the wealth of House Bloodstone, he might not care about her fortune.”
Listening to the young ladies around him, Knox’s face slowly began to twist.
‘No way…!’
As the music flowed, Calix and Marie began their dance.
Although he hadn’t attended many social gatherings recently, Calix danced with the skill of a high-ranking noble.
Marie’s lack of experience showed.
Still, with Calix leading, their dance was flawless.
From the moment the dance began, Calix stopped speaking.
It was as if he felt no need to pretend affection during the dance.
“You’re rather quiet.”
Marie’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“…I’m not much of a talker.”
He was the one who suggested this contract relationship, yet he seemed so uncooperative.
Did he dislike dancing with her that much?
“I know I’m not the best dancer, but I hope I’m not making you uncomfortable.”
“…You’re not.”
“I’m glad.”
In truth, Calix felt the opposite.
The moment Lady Farraway brought Marie to him, his foul mood had lifted.
The moment he looked into her green eyes, the stuffy air of the ballroom seemed to mix with the scent of a meadow.
Even while leading her onto the floor, the fresh fragrance seemed to form a clear, cool veil around him.
“Oh my!”
“Ooh!”
Whispers filled with jealousy and surprise tickled his ears pleasantly.
He was surprised to find himself enjoying their reactions.
That was strange.
“I haven’t danced much before…”
Though Marie made no major mistakes, she wasn’t a skilled dancer.
So he gently guided her to rely on him.
“…This much is fine.”
At that, she subtly leaned her body into his.
The weight of a woman gave him a strange sense of calm.
It felt like being wrapped in lush greenery.
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Grace.”
“From now on, call me Calix.”
His voice carried a gentle resonance.
“We’re trying to draw attention in society anyway, aren’t we? If we’re suddenly close enough to be on a first-name basis, they’ll be even more shocked.”
“…Then please call me Marianne too.”
“Marianne…”
He could feel his own sharp gaze softening.
Maybe it was the amused reactions of the onlookers, puzzled by their pairing.
He had never cared much for other people’s opinions before.
But this wasn’t so bad.
“…”
They should probably be discussing how to generate profit from their business idea.
Not that anyone nearby could hear them anyway.
Yet he found himself slipping into a personal conversation.
“…Your nickname is Marie?”
“Yes. My parents and Henry used to call me that. Do you have one, Your Grace?”
“I’ve always been just Calix. My parents didn’t like nicknames.”
Their conversation wasn’t particularly special.
Just the kind of thing anyone in high society might say.
But talking with this woman, who mistook him for a kind gentleman, felt different.
With her, the air was as clear as a forest breeze.
“…”
Calix’s furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
Even the black silk mask couldn’t hide the warmth beginning to flicker in his red eyes.
Each time he spun with Marie in his arms, his bangs brushed against his forehead like a feather.
“…”
A subtle smile crept across his lips.
Of course, it was probably just because his forehead kept itching.
“Could the Duke of Bloodstone really be interested in her?”
“Of all people, a girl from a bankrupt, socially awkward family…?”
“Maybe he wants someone with weaker prospects because of his own scar?”
Knox couldn’t say anything as he listened to the girls around him.
‘Well… it’s possible.’
After all, House Whitehouse had noble blood.
If Calix had decided to marry for the sake of succession, it wasn’t out of the question.
Calix had never cared about sticking to societal expectations and often made unexpected choices.
Instinctive and bold, he never hesitated once he made up his mind.
‘But that guy wouldn’t choose a woman just because she’s lacking in some way.’
As if he’d be self-conscious.
If he were, he wouldn’t even consider marriage.
‘Besides… if he was just picking a convenient marriage partner, there’s no reason he’d look like that!’
The Calix he knew had never worn that expression.
Even before the fire, he had always seemed on edge.
‘Did he actually like her?’
It was certain.
The way he looked at Lady Whitehouse with those soft red eyes—there was no mistaking it.
If Calix made that face, it meant genuine affection.
‘Was it love at first sight?!’
Knox’s mood soured.
He should have been the one to ask Marie for her first dance.
‘If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve escorted her longer!’
Calix Bloodstone and Knox Weatherwood were the same age, with similar builds.
Their parents were close friends, so they had grown up together.
But unlike their parents’ hopes, Calix and Knox had never gotten along.
Mostly because Knox was always jealous of Calix.
Every competition between them ended in Calix’s favor.
Knox, wounded in pride, always tried to challenge Calix but never once succeeded.
‘If that bastard really intends to marry her…?’
“……!”
Suddenly, Marianne Whitehouse looked like a gleaming golden trophy to him.
—
As soon as the music ended, Knox approached Marie and Calix.
“Marianne, I see you’ve met Bloodstone.”
“Oh, Lord Knox.”
Marie smiled.
She was happy to have completed her first dance safely.
And she could feel everyone’s eyes on them.
Just as she’d planned.
“Knox…?”
At that moment, Calix beside her wore a displeased expression.
One might even think he was annoyed Marie called Knox so familiarly.
He really could act.
“These ballroom dances must still feel unfamiliar, yes?”
“Yes, but Calix led so well that I was fine.”
“Calix…?”
Now Knox’s expression turned meaningful.
‘What’s going on? He doesn’t seem pleased either?’
Marie felt momentarily confused.
‘They’re reacting the same way?’
It was like they were performing a rehearsed scene.
“So… what were you two chatting so happily about? How did you get so close in such a short time?”
As Knox asked, everyone around them
turned to listen.
It was clear they all wanted to ask the same question.
Marie knew this was her moment.
“Well… I’m thinking of starting an interior design business.”
