WHCTA 06

Chapter: 06

Covering my ears as best I could, I finally managed to push my way to the very front.

The moment I saw the duke standing only a few steps away, a ringing filled my ears.

For an instant, it felt as though time itself had stopped.

“…He’s alive.”

The sight of the man, his hair neatly swept back and his uniform impeccably arranged, made my eyes sting before I even realized it.

Seeing him full of life instead of covered in blood with a face drained pale from poison stirred an indescribable emotion within me.

Just then, the duke turned his head in my direction.

Our eyes met directly.

“What is it?”

A low voice, cold enough to make my fingertips tingle, reached my ears.

I snapped back to my senses and realized I was standing blankly right in front of him.

One eyebrow arched high, the duke silently looked down at me.

“Ah, well…”

Now that I was actually face-to-face with him, my mind had gone completely blank.

His presence was overwhelming.

It felt as though if I remained under that gaze for even a little longer, not just my mouth but my entire body would freeze.

“I-I mean… if you have some time, could we…”

I wanted to ask if we could talk for a while.

But then my gaze landed on the group of nobles who had been badmouthing him just moments ago.

“Do you really think there’s any noble lady who would want to marry a man like him?”

The instant I heard those words echo in my mind, something surged up inside me.

What do you mean there’s no lady who would marry him?

“Will you marry me?”

“…What did you just say?”

His bewildered voice jolted me back to reality.

What… did I just say?

Remembering the words that had just come out of my mouth, I blinked at him with an expression even more shocked than his.

“D-Dahlia…?”

Someone called my name from behind in a trembling voice.

When I turned around, my father was standing there with all the color drained from his face.

Everyone else nearby looked just as stunned.

At that moment, I realized it.

I’m in serious trouble.

I had caused an enormous scene.

The banquet hall instantly turned as cold as though someone had thrown icy water over everyone.

If not for the soft music still filling the hall, the place would have fallen into absolute silence.

In that deathly quiet, no one dared speak first.

Then—

“Her Majesty the Empress Consort and His Highness the Second Prince have arrived!”

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, the stars of today’s celebration entered the hall.

Everyone immediately turned toward the stage and bowed in unison.

The elegantly dressed Empress Consort stepped forward first and spoke.

“You may all raise your heads.”

As instructed, everyone looked up.

The Empress Consort wore a satisfied smile, while beside her Delos looked strangely anxious.

“I extend my gratitude to all the distinguished guests who have gathered today to celebrate the birth of the prince. Please enjoy tonight’s banquet to your heart’s content.”

After finishing her brief speech, the Empress Consort turned toward Delos.

He looked as though his mind was elsewhere, only snapping back to attention after she subtly prompted him.

“H-Please enjoy the banquet…”

As soon as he repeated her closing remarks, music once again filled the hall.

The moment the Empress Consort left the stage, Delos immediately began scanning the entire banquet hall.

He looked as though he were searching for someone.

My brows furrowed automatically.

Surely he isn’t looking for me.

Since the day Delos had suggested we break up, I hadn’t gone looking for him, and he hadn’t come looking for me either.

Judging by his personality, he’d probably expected me to come begging for forgiveness within a few days.

The fact that I’d remained completely silent until now must have badly hurt his pride.

If we run into each other, who knows what ridiculous things he’ll say this time…

News of our breakup had already spread throughout high society.

If we ended up arguing here today, it would only create even more trouble.

I quietly edged sideways, trying to move out of Delos’s line of sight.

Then a large shadow fell over me.

“…”

It was Duke Ballestein.

Standing with his back to the stage, he silently looked down at me.

Our eyes met.

His calm ash-gray eyes revealed nothing of what he was thinking.

…Did he block me on purpose?

I couldn’t be certain.

But thanks to him standing in front of me, I was no longer visible to Delos.

Still, that wasn’t what I should be worrying about.

I just proposed to this man.

Glancing around, I saw plenty of people still staring in our direction instead of returning to their conversations.

It felt like I had to say something.

“Um…”

“Ahem. Dahlia.”

My father, who had come up behind me, wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“You looked unwell since this morning, and your complexion has gotten much worse. You shouldn’t push yourself any further. Let’s head home so you can rest.”

He smiled gently as he spoke.

But the corners of his mouth were twitching nonstop.

“N-No, I…”

“Don’t make this any more complicated. Just quietly come with me.”

Before I could even ask what he meant, my father warned me through impressively skilled ventriloquism.

I had no choice but to close my mouth.

Flames practically blazed in his eyes.

“Oh dear, look at all this sweat! Come on, let’s go.”

In the end, I couldn’t say another word before being dragged out of the banquet hall.

As Father pulled me away, I hurriedly turned my head toward the duke.

He was still standing exactly where he had been, watching me.

“Dahlia! What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

Only then did Cesar notice Father supporting me.

He rushed over in alarm, making a huge fuss.

Without understanding anything that was going on, he took my other arm to help support me.

Thanks to him, I ended up leaving the banquet looking like a patient being carried away.

On the way home—

“Dahlia!”

Father’s booming voice echoed throughout the carriage.

His breathing was so heavy that it almost looked like steam was coming from his nose.

“Why? What’s going on? Dahlia, weren’t you sick?”

To make matters worse, the completely oblivious Cesar had been ruining the atmosphere ever since we left.

The situation was only moments away from becoming total chaos.

“I thought you’d finally come to your senses, but instead you’ve stabbed your own father in the back!”

Father pounded his chest so hard that loud thuds echoed through the carriage before leaning toward me.

“Look! Do you see this? You’ve caused me so much worry that my hair has turned completely white!”

Silvery hair, the exact same color as mine, swayed before my eyes.

I simply lowered my head and listened quietly.

Then, just when things couldn’t get any worse, the forgotten wild card struck.

Cesar’s face was bright red from however much he’d had to drink.

Unable to think straight anymore, he blurted out the worst possible thing.

“But Father… your hair’s been white since the day you were born!”

“You little brat! Just how much did you drink?”

“Aaaah!”

Apparently Father had reached his limit.

He began smacking Cesar’s arm over and over.

“Ow! That hurts!”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Watching Father’s impressively powerful slaps, I quietly turned my head toward the window.

At least I had kept my mouth shut.

Using Cesar’s sniffling as background noise, I sank into deep thought.

What am I supposed to do now?

Why on earth had I let something like that slip out?

If I could, I’d have liked to grab my own hair and yank it out, just like Father probably wanted to.

“Why did it have to be Duke Ballestein?”

After finally calming down somewhat, Father looked at me with a troubled expression.

When I hesitated instead of answering, he let out a quiet sigh and continued.

“I’ve heard he’s a violent man. According to the rumors, he was infamous on the battlefield for his utter ruthlessness. And…”

“Father.”

I interrupted him and looked him straight in the eye.

“Those are only rumors.”