Duke, Please Let Go of My Ankle! - Chapter 39

Audrey turned to Claude with a clear face.

He also seemed concerned about his brother’s bluntness.

“Audrey’s right. You should spend some quality time with Mother. You’re always making excuses about work and running around outside.”

“No, that’s!”

“Mother must have felt quite hurt. Even if she didn’t show it.”

“……”

Hans felt like he was dying of injustice.

Who wants to run around outside? It’s because of that girl, chasing after him!

Her face, pretending not to care, was truly annoying.

Once again, a sulky feeling welled up.

“You’re the one who’ll disappoint the ‘killer guys’.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I heard it all from Robert. Wasn’t your blind date so amazing? Why don’t you just go with those people, why are you trying to go with brother?”

“……!”

Blind date.

The impact of that one word was enormous.

Claude and Claude’s girlfriend, even Duke Frith’s confession flashed before her eyes like a kaleidoscope.

But Hans, who had no idea what kind of misunderstanding he had made, looked dumbfounded even though he was the one who started the argument.

“You, you, ha! Look at this. You’re completely lost.”

Hans, who’s no help in life at all.

Audrey’s eyes immediately sharpened.

“……Hmph. What’s it to you?”

“This!”

“Claude Oppa, then I’ll see you on Wednesday!”

“Okay. I’ll come pick you up.”

“Hey! You’re not even saying goodbye now? Huh? Am I invisible?”

Having already gotten what she wanted, Audrey turned away without hesitation.

Not even dreaming that Duke Frith would also ask her to be his partner.

Her mind was completely sold on Claude.

***

As soon as Derek returned home around lunchtime after finishing the interrogation of the prisoners, he immediately took a bath in water filled with rose petals.

‘Dodori has a weak stomach, she said.’

It was to remove any lingering smell of blood that might remain.

After the bath.

He even generously sprayed on a perfume famous for captivating the opposite s*x.

‘Oh no. What if other women get involved?’

However, after spraying it liberally, he worried about its excessive effect and immediately sent the scent out the window.

When styling his hair, he watched the servant’s hand movements with a very sharp gaze.

He couldn’t tolerate even a single hair being out of place.

“It’s done.”

Finally dressed in full attire, he looked satisfied.

However, Lucas couldn’t feel the same.

‘My goodness……’

Even putting a cute ribbon on a black panther’s neck wouldn’t be this dreadful.

The tiny, precious cravat compared to his huge body, the gap in the light blue lace shirt that couldn’t withstand his broad chest.

The buttons barely holding the two pieces of fabric together seemed to be screaming for help.

And what about the three-tiered frills fluttering ostentatiously from the sleeves?

If they had consciousness, they would have probably overbid 55 times already.

“Whew. Why am I nervous over this?”

“……”

However, Duke Frith’s interest was solely on Dodori.

He was about to rush to the office and ask Dodori to be his partner for his birthday ball.

Since he had confessed his feelings completely, maybe Dodori’s feelings had changed too.

He checked his voluminous sleeves one last time before leaving the bedroom with an excited heart.

But soon after.

Derek had to try hard to hide his despairing face.

“……You say you have, a partner.”

“Yes.”

“……”

Could it be that his Dodori already had a partner?

“Well, I’m not surprised. Of course… she would.”

Just who could it be?

What lecherous bastard snatched Dodori away before the ball was even announced?

‘I deliberately kept it under wraps.’

Derek had acted quite sly.

Even after deciding to hold the ball for memories with Dodori, he postponed the announcement as much as possible.

He was worried that someone else might snatch Dodori away while he was at the imperial palace.

‘I wanted to be the first one to ask Dodori to be my partner……’

Who knew some bandit would ruin all his romantic plans?

‘What do I do? What should I do?’

Duke Frith paced back and forth, not knowing what to do.

Of course, his face looked murderous enough to kill someone right then and there.

The one who suggested an unexpected solution to him was his aide, Lucas.

“Your Grace. There’s a saying in the back alleys, ‘If there’s no toilet paper, use leaves’.”

“That’s disgusting.”

“The meaning is what’s important. If you can’t choose the best option, choose the next best thing.”

Not the best, but the next best.

“……!”

Suddenly enlightened, Derek immediately left the office.

And two days later, on the day of the ball.

The carriage of the Frith duchy headed towards the duke’s castle, full of people.

Inside were Claude and Audrey, Arnold and Rosie, paired up with each other.

And in the farthest corner……

“It’s an honor that you personally came to escort me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Duke Frith and Count Kevelson sat facing each other awkwardly.

Audrey realized anew just how terrible a man she had gotten entangled with.

‘W-What is this……’

It was just two days ago that she had declined Duke Frith’s offer to accompany her.

Seeing his calm face despite being rejected, she thought inwardly that it had been resolved well.

But to think he would immediately run to her father and ask to be his partner!

It was behavior that was incomprehensible by common sense.

“Thanks to you, Count, we get to ride in the Frith duchy’s carriage. It’s an honor.”

“No need for such formalities.”

“……Hehe. No, really. I’m so grateful.”

“Your Grace, is this really gold? Ouch! Drey, why did you do that?”

“Mmph. Sht sthll.”

“Hmm? Stay still?”

“……”

30 minutes ago.

Claude, who had come to pick up the Kevelson family, had to send his own carriage back.

It was because of Duke Frith, who appeared in an eight-horse carriage pulled by black horses.

The protagonist of the ball arrived raising dust and suddenly offered to ride together.

“We’re going to the same place anyway, let’s ride together. No need to decline.”

“……”

There was no particular reason to refuse.

And so, in an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere, the carriage arrived at its destination.

At the same time, Duke Frith’s brief deviation came to an end.

“Your Grace! Where have you been…!”

“You’re making a fuss.”

“The guests have been waiting for a long time!”

“The protagonist always appears late.”

As soon as Derek arrived at his residence, he was led away by his aide and disappeared.

The five people left behind headed to the hall where the ball would be held, along with familiar faces.

“Countess Emilton!”

“Arnold! My goodness, how long has it been? Look at how your face has aged!”

“Huh? That’s strange, Drey didn’t say anything… Has it really aged? A lot?”

“You’re still handsome though.”

Arnold and Countess Emilton, meeting after a long time, exchanged greetings warmly.

Hans, who had arrived earlier with his mother, also appeared with a face full of complaints.

“You must have had a veeeery nice time?”

“Hmph.”

“Oh my, now you’re not even answering?”

“Claude Oppa! Let’s go over there!”

“Hey, you, that hand…!”

However, Audrey quickly brushed past Hans, arm in arm with Claude.

‘That little…!’

The sight of them linking arms already seemed ominous.

He wanted to follow and monitor just how much skinship they would engage in under the pretext of the ball, but…

“Hans, say hello. This is the young lady from the Rogpeta Viscount family.”

Thinking of his mother who would be left alone, even that wasn’t feasible.

“Hello. I’ve heard a lot about you from my brother.”

“Ah, yes. Robert’s younger sister…”

However, he couldn’t help but keep glancing at Audrey.

***

Before heading to the ballroom.

Derek made a final study of the book.

You can’t discuss romance without parties.

Subtle glances were exchanged amidst the crowd, a world just for two unfolding beyond the terrace, starlight more stylish than any lighting, and on top of that, romantic dancing!

Do you know where most men and women have fallen in love throughout history? It’s in ballrooms or banquet halls. It could be called the cheat key of love.

I congratulate your love in advance. May you be full of luck!

“Exchange glances, then to the terrace. Stargaze. And dance.”

The reason Duke Frith, who was far from social activities, held a ball under the pretext of his birthday was solely because of Dodori.

A romantic ball…

Isn’t it the perfect turning point for their love to ignite again!

Fate shouldn’t be left only to the heavens.

Sometimes, it was necessary to create it directly based on proper planning and intentionality.

“Announcing His Grace, Duke Frith!”

At the end of that fate was Dodori.

Derek took a strong step towards his destiny.

“……!”

However, before long, his heart took quite a hit.

It was because his Dodori was standing in front of the ice sculpture that he had spent a whole week preparing.

The mint green dress that was still madly lovable and the sculpture shaped like a climbing rose blended like a picture.

‘How did she know it was hers!’

Ah, truly an appropriate position selection.

The ice sculpture, almost as tall as the ceiling, cost nearly as much as a crystal chandelier including the maintenance magic stone.

But Derek didn’t think it was wasteful at all.

‘Money is meant to be used for things like this.’

Because for that lovely Dodori, giving her the whole world wouldn’t be enough.

He had so many things he wanted to give her, feed her, places he wanted to take her.

But all he could do now was ‘just’ place a ceiling-high ice sculpture.

That hurt his pride and made him feel regretful.

‘……I wish I could spoil her with money soon.’

Derek, suddenly feeling impatient, quickly found his place.

He planned to finish his duties as fast as possible, then deal with that bothersome young Count Emilton.