His eyes met Elena’s as she emerged wearing the emerald green dress. Looking directly into her clear and beautiful eyes, Rudfelix defined his emotions.

It was goodwill directed at a woman.

Her golden hair stood out in stark contrast to the bright dress. The golden waves sparkled alluringly as if light was cast only on her head. Most striking of all were her fresh green eyes looking at him. Two mysterious pools that seemed endlessly deep yet clear, as if one could fall in without knowing where they ended.

“It feels awkward after so long.”

Elena was feeling awkward wearing a dress again after just a few days, though she had worn them for 8 years since coming to this world.

‘To show off a dress after changing to His Grace the Grand Duke of all people.’

She felt like Alice who had entered a strange land.

Her heart fluttered as much as when she was first called Elena.

As Rudfelix took a step closer, their distance shortened until they could hear each other’s breathing.

“We’re not done yet.”

“Did I put something on wrong?”

Elena looked back at her dress. While she was checking if something was lacking, Rudfelix handed her something.

It was an accessory that matched the dress.

Elena touched her hair that she had tied up. After putting on the dress and looking in the mirror, she had let it down because the tied style didn’t suit it. But the mark from tying it remained, so she couldn’t go out like that.

Having no choice, she had tied it back up before coming out, but seeing the perfectly matching accessory made her let out a laugh, almost like a sigh.

Rudfelix moved his hand like he was about to put the accessory in her hair but then just held it out. Unlike a badge, he couldn’t touch an accessory.

Elena smiled as she took the accessory and put it in her hair.

“Does it suit me well?”

Instead of answering, Rudfelix nodded.

“I’ll be entering as Elena Jellisto.”

At Elena’s awkward words, Rudfelix opened his mouth then closed it. When he opened it again, he had returned to being the Grand Duke from when they first met.

“I waited to escort the young lady.”

Elena’s eyes widened at his formality in treating her as a young lady rather than an aide. Then they soon narrowed in a smile.

“Thank you.”

Elena gently placed her hand on his outstretched one. The Grand Duke’s large hand firmly grasped hers.

“Lean on me while walking.”

Elena laughed out loud at his look that seemed to say it must be unfamiliar wearing heels after so long. As he said, she had been wearing comfortable shoes while working as an aide.

“I never dreamed I would receive Your Highness’s escort.”

The same was true for Rudfelix. Had he ever shown so much interest in one woman before?

“But this direction leads to the hall entrance, doesn’t it?”

Elena accurately remembered the path she had already walked once.

“Of course we’re going to the entrance.”

“But Your Highness has already been announced.”

Her tone sounded even more confused, as she had assumed they would enter through the side door if they were going in together.

“Not me.”

Still holding Elena’s hand, Rudfelix looked at the imperial chamberlain.

“This is Lady Elena of House Jellisto. Announce her.”

He was merely her escort; the protagonist making an entrance now was Lady Elena Jellisto.

“Wait.”

Elena stopped the attendant who was hurriedly raising his trumpet.

“You know what will happen if I enter holding Your Highness’s hand.”

“What happened to the young ladies who received escorts from knights?”

Rudfelix shook his head firmly.

He didn’t think there had been any such incidents.

Elena swayed their joined hands up and down.

‘How can a regular knight compare to the Grand Duke.’

While they might both be called Sir, there was nothing else similar about them.

‘This isn’t something that can be taken lightly.’

“Something will happen to me.”

“I’ll protect you.”

“Your Highness.”

“Lady Elena.”

When he called her name in that deep voice, Elena froze.

“I led you to this ball. Don’t you think I alone have the right to hold your hand?”

If it weren’t for him, Lady Elena wouldn’t be here.

‘It sounds strange when he puts it as a ‘right’.’

He wasn’t just her superior anymore, but someone standing beside her as a man while escorting her.

Elena shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts. The accessory made a clear sound as her hair swayed.

‘Don’t think too deeply, just enjoy it.’

“Please make sure to protect me.”

Elena relaxed her hand in resignation.

At the same time, the chamberlain blew his trumpet. The trumpet sound seemed unusually long.

The doors opened as her name was announced.

Elena squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again.

A heavy silence settled, and even the soft music that had been playing stopped.

‘I can’t believe I’m entering while holding the Grand Duke’s hand.’

While the looks Rudfelix received when standing alone were of surprise and awe, now there was a whirlwind of different surprise, confusion, and doubt.

“A young lady escorted by the Grand Duke…”

A different kind of confused atmosphere spread compared to when the Grand Duke had appeared. Everyone was shocked that the Grand Duke had appeared holding someone’s hand.

Until now, he hadn’t budged despite many women’s advances, but now he had someone who, if not a lover, was close to being one.

“Who is that young lady?”

“Find out quickly.”

The aides’ movements became frantic. Those trying to find out who Elena was gathered together and left the ballroom. Some recognized Elena but remained skeptical.

“She’s His Grace’s aide.”

Count Ephraim’s aide recognized Elena with hawk-like sharp eyes.

Having stood beside Elena during the meeting between the Grand Duke and Count Ephraim, he recognized her immediately.

“She’s the young lady from the Jellisto Guild.”

If not that, those who had connections between guilds tilted their heads in confusion.

What kind of relationship could this capable young woman they had been watching have with the Grand Duke?

As Elena descended the stairs, she whispered so only Rudfelix could hear.

“Everyone is staring at me. Some are trying to figure out who I am, and others look surprised because they recognize me. Some are whispering to others while keeping their eyes fixed on me – it’s really strange. I thought I’d be too nervous to see anything, but I can see everything so clearly.”

“After today, more people will recognize you.”

Though many didn’t know Elena yet since she hadn’t had her debutante and didn’t frequent social circles, today’s fact of being escorted by the Grand Duke would catch everyone’s attention.

“I suppose so. But today is the biggest crisis.”

Elena awkwardly smoothed her hair that had fallen forward.

“You’ll come running if I seem to be in danger, right?”

She said half in exaggeration but also half sincere.

Their piercing gazes made even taking one step difficult.

“They must be thinking ‘Who is this woman coming out holding the Grand Duke’s hand? What kind of relationship does she have with the Grand Duke?'”

Speaking with clear discomfort, Elena looked up at Rudfelix.

“Do you receive these kinds of stares every day, Your Highness?”

Knowing all this attention was because of Rudfelix, she felt both burdened and somewhat understanding of his position.

“Have you gotten used to it?”

Rudfelix opened his mouth to answer but closed it again for some reason.

When he didn’t say anything, Elena felt slightly awkward and focused on walking.

Halfway down the stairs, on the wide landing, both of them stopped as if by agreement.

“‘Used to it’ isn’t quite right. This has always been my life.”

“That’s true. You’re different from me, Your Highness.”

Unlike her, who suddenly opened her eyes here and had to adapt.

“Then are you alright with it?”

She changed her question to ask if he was okay living with such an abundant attention from others.

“Mostly.”

Rudfelix added as he released her hand.

“Sometimes not.”

With her hand free, Elena unnecessarily fiddled with the wide sash at her waist.

The dress wasn’t tight at all and beautifully accentuated the waistline that could have looked puffy.

“You have amazing taste. How do I look?”

When Elena deliberately lifted her skirt to show him while asking, Rudfelix gave a brief critique.

“Like a leaf.”

Though it seemed an odd thing for someone who prepared the dress to say, Elena accepted it warmly because that’s just how he was.

“Alright. Let’s go, Mr. Swan.”