“I felt this way last time too, but Your Grace dances exceptionally well.”
As she smiled brightly and complimented him, Nobert’s eyebrows twitched in surprise. He still bore an angry expression, but she no longer feared that face.
“I’m good at anything that involves the body.”
His words exuded a sense of abundant confidence. Considering the achievements he had amassed as a knight, it was understandable.
“Are you also good at enduring the attention and gazes of others? You must be, for tomorrow the rumors will spread throughout the capital.”
Ariella added in a small voice.
[The fake princess danced her first dance with Duke Ashbon at the debutante ball of the real princess.]
What a sensational piece of news that would be. She was confident that it wouldn’t take more than a day for various newspapers to carry articles about it.
“It doesn’t matter. However, if you don’t want it, I will prevent the reports.”
“No, you don’t need to do that for me. It would be better for me to appear friendly with the Duke.”
Ariella, who was always calculating, had surely thought ahead about this situation. She had already prepared a way to utilize it.
If the fact that she danced with the Duke became known, Duke Bedford would likely be furious.
This was partly due to the already strained relationship between Bedford and Ashbon, but more importantly, it would hinder his plans to marry Ariella off to a suitable family.
Today, Ariella had showcased her beauty, significantly increasing her marketability. However, the number of people wanting to purchase her would likely decrease.
It would be known that the great Duke Ashbon and she shared a playful intimacy, exchanging whispers during their first dance.
There was no one here bold enough to touch a woman marked by Nobert Ashbon. Even those who had intended to buy the fake princess would likely back off, licking their wounds in disappointment.
In conclusion, today’s events were a loss for the Duke. Conversely, it was a significant gain for Ariella.
‘Lizzy will find out about the Duke, but… it doesn’t matter.’
This was something she could sufficiently consider. Given the many eyes in the capital, it was not a secret that could be hidden for long anyway.
“Are you really okay, Your Grace? Getting involved with a woman of unknown origins could lead to various troubles for you. You might even get blamed along with me… Aaron will be furious too.”
The one who would suffer in this relationship would be Nobert, not herself.
Though he had given a good impression for a moment, a fake was still a fake. She could never truly be a noble. Anyone who valued their family’s honor should keep their distance from her.
Moreover, he could even attract unnecessary suspicion from the Emperor. They might wonder if he was trying to side with Bedford and the Crown Prince. Thus, he had many complications to deal with.
However, Nobert continued speaking with an unconcerned expression.
“No one would dare to dishonor you in my presence. Not even that thunderous Crown Prince. So don’t worry about me.”
Ariella was astonished by his audacity to insult the Crown Prince in the middle of the ball. Fortunately, they were far enough away that no one else could hear, or it could have been a disaster.
‘Well, he did knock down Count Fletcher without hesitation.’
A fact she had forgotten, hidden behind his kindness, suddenly came to mind.
This man was not a reasonable person. Sometimes he was excessively polite to those who didn’t deserve it, yet at other times, he showed no awareness in situations where he should have.
And all that irrationality seemed to flow in a direction that ultimately benefited her.
“Ah.”
Perhaps because she was lost in thought instead of focusing on the dance, or maybe it was because it had been a while since she wore such high heels, Ariella suddenly lost her balance and stumbled.
In a hurry, she stretched her foot forward, causing her weight to shift. A large hand gripped her waist to prevent her from falling, but it couldn’t stop her upper body from tilting.
Thud. Her white forehead met something solid.
She couldn’t bring herself to realize it was Nobert’s chest and opened her eyes wide. It was far too broad and hard to be the chest of someone like her.
Thump, thump.
The rapid heartbeat echoed against her skin. Every part of her that touched him felt as if it were on fire.
Was that sound coming from her, or was it his?
Unconsciously biting her lower lip, Ariella looked up at him. At that moment, her gaze met Nobert’s.
In that fleeting moment, her breath completely stopped.
Once again, she felt a delusion. It seemed as if they were the only two left in this space, in the Violet Hall filled with people, a foolish illusion.
