Chapter 38

When you hear the phrase “a woman falls toward a man,” everyone imagines the same scene.

Catherine was no exception. However, this time, the scene that unfolded was different from what Catherine expected.

Hugo dodged Annie, who was falling toward him with a drink in her hand.

As a result, she flailed and plopped down on the floor.

It was so ridiculous that, while worried about her knees, Catherine burst into laughter. She bit her lips to avoid laughing out loud.

“Oh my, Annie! Are you alright?”

Madame Smith made a big fuss.

Hugo took a step back from the fallen Annie. He even stopped Brian, who was about to extend a hand to her.

‘If it were me, I’d want to hide in a hole out of embarrassment.’

Catherine, holding her gaze to avoid making Annie more embarrassed, approached Hugo.

“Ahem, Hugo.”

Catherine lightly tapped Hugo’s back.

Hugo turned around. The deep wrinkles on his forehead smoothed out instantly.

“Catherine, you were here.”

“Yes, you have to come early to the ball if you want to fill your dance card.”

Catherine dangled her dance card from her wrist.

“You don’t need that.”

Hugo took Catherine’s dance card from her wrist and filled it with his name.

Catherine was about to say something to him but closed her mouth.

It was a reward for not falling for Madame Smith’s trick.

Though it was unfortunate for Annie, Hugo’s actions were very appropriate from Catherine’s perspective.

“You could have at least caught the arm of a lady in distress.”

“Did you see?”

Hugo asked as he led Catherine to the floor, holding her hand.

“Yes, I saw. It seemed like she wanted me to see.”

“Ah.”

Hugo pondered how he should respond. His actions were certainly not gentlemanly.

However, Hugo had no desire to help any woman other than Catherine.

Moreover, according to Hugo’s investigation, Madame Smith had been bothering Catherine for quite some time.

The best Hugo could do was to not get angry at such an obvious trick.

“Should I have caught her?”

Unable to find the answer Catherine wanted, Hugo chose to ask.

“Depending on the situation.”

“What should I have done this time?”

They stood facing each other. A new dance tune was just about to start.

Catherine extended her hand to Hugo. Hugo, wondering if Catherine had ever extended her hand first, quickly grabbed it before she could change her mind.

“This time, it was very appropriate. If you couldn’t see through such a clumsy trick, the title of Duke would be wasted.”

Catherine’s hand moved up Hugo’s arm. The hand that moved up rhythmically settled on Hugo’s shoulder.

It was a simple gesture, but Hugo’s heart pounded.

He was glad Catherine disliked Madame Smith.

He was glad Madame Smith tried to trick him.

Hugo praised himself for dodging the falling woman without hesitation.

“Come closer.”

Catherine said.

“As much as you want.”

Hugo moved very close to Catherine.

They danced, maintaining a distance so close that their lips could touch if a breeze blew.

***

While Hugo and Catherine were dancing for a long time, Riena was waiting anxiously for Baron Dictron.

Riena had fallen in love with Baron Dictron at first sight.

How many women wouldn’t fall in love with a prince who came out of the forest at a critical moment?

Moreover, Riena believed in fateful love!

Brooke was taken aback by Riena’s confession, but Lillie fully understood and supported her love.

And yesterday, it seemed that Catherine and Hugo were also supporting her.

So Riena planned to dance with Baron Dictron today.

‘But he has to show up first!’

“What are you thinking so seriously about?”

Brooke, who had been flaunting her dance card filled with names of strangers and roaming the ballroom, found Riena.

“Why isn’t Baron Dictron coming? Could it be that he dislikes me?”

“How could he dislike you, Riena? You’ve only met once.”

“Fate can be recognized at first sight. Could it be that I’m not Baron Dictron’s fate?”

Brooke frowned. She felt the same as yesterday; Riena spoke of love too easily.

“I don’t know if it’s fate or not, but I do know that Baron Dictron, whom you’ve been waiting for so eagerly, has arrived at the ballroom.”

“What? How do you know?”

“How do I know? I saw him.”

“When? Where is he?”

“When doesn’t matter, where does.”

“Of course, where?!”

“He was at the entrance.”

“Thank you, Brooke!”

Riena headed to the ballroom entrance with a bright face, as if she had never been upset.

Brooke laughed as she watched Riena’s attitude change like flipping a hand.

Riena was a very lovable woman.

Whether it was love at first sight or if that was even possible was none of Brooke’s business, but she was confident that Baron Dictron would recognize Riena’s charm.

“Otherwise, he has the eyes of a dead fish.”

Such a man doesn’t deserve to get married. She was thinking that when—

“Brooke, it’s time to dance together! Let’s show the prestige of Catherine House!”

Catherine, who appeared out of nowhere, grabbed Brooke’s hand and pulled her along.

***

The culture of gentlemen and ladies standing in line and changing partners while dancing originated from the host’s consideration for unpopular ladies and shy gentlemen.

It had nothing to do with the women of Catherine House, but Catherine enjoyed the time when everyone danced together happily.

It was a culture that saved her when she almost left without dancing once after her divorce and first appearance in society.

However, where there are those who enjoy, there are also those who don’t.

The representative of those who didn’t enjoy it was Hugo.

He had filled Catherine’s dance card with his name to prevent her from dancing with others, but his effort was in vain.

Hugo wanted to leave with Catherine. He felt he had enjoyed the party enough.

But how could he refuse when Catherine, smiling like the sunshine, had said to him:

• Let’s dance together, Hugo!

How could he refuse hearing that? Hugo stood among the men, feeling like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

And to his left stood Dictron, wearing the same expression as him.

“I feel like scolding myself for asking you to meet at the ball yesterday, Lord Dictron.”

“Duke, you’re here.”

Dictron, lost in thought, recognized Hugo only when he spoke to him.

Dictron’s face was very dark. Hugo wanted to ask if something was wrong but missed the timing as the music started.

Once the music started, they couldn’t stop moving. Conversation was impossible. He understood what it meant to have no time to catch his breath.

The music flowed endlessly.

While dancing with people he didn’t know, Hugo had to keep an eye on Catherine.

Hugo remembered those who smiled particularly brightly while dancing with Catherine.

‘I’ll make sure those guys can’t even look at Catherine.’

While Hugo was making a list of people to guard against in his mind, the distance between him and Catherine gradually decreased.

As she got closer, Hugo’s mood improved.

Just two more dances, and it would be Catherine!

The stiff muscles on Hugo’s face gradually relaxed.

But unfortunately, just before he could dance with Catherine, the music abruptly stopped.

“Already, is it already over?”

Hugo murmured in disbelief. Baron Dictron looked at Hugo.

“Do you want to dance more, Duke?”

Baron Dictron showed a look of complete incomprehension.

“No, I don’t.”

Seeing Hugo’s gaze fixed on Catherine, Baron Dictron finally understood and smiled slightly.

“Lord Dictron, would you like to smoke a cigar with me? It seems my fiancée is busy with something else.”

Seeing Catherine approaching Brian, Hugo signaled Baron Dictron to go upstairs.

Baron Dictron hesitated for a moment but followed Hugo.

He noticed a gaze following him as he moved away, but Baron Dictron didn’t look back.

When Hugo opened the door to the lounge and entered, the occupants stood up.

The younger gentlemen, curious about the Duke of rumors, kept glancing at Hugo, and Baron Dictron helped them greet Hugo.

“We’ll be leaving now.”

Thinking they had made enough acquaintance, the young gentlemen left in droves, leaving only Baron Dictron and Hugo in the lounge.

Hugo opened the window for ventilation, took out a thick cigar, and offered it to Baron Dictron.

“Thank you.”

Baron Dictron accepted the cigar Hugo offered but didn’t put it in his mouth.

When Hugo lit his cigar and puffed out thick smoke, the cigar remained in Baron Dictron’s hand.

“Was it too much for me to make an appointment?”

Hugo asked, leaning comfortably on the sofa. Baron Dictron, lost in thought, shrugged his shoulders.

“Pardon? What did you say?”

“You looked uninterested in the party. I felt sorry if you came out because of me even though you don’t like it.”

“No, Duke. I like parties.”

“Your expression says otherwise. Do you have any worries? If I can help, I will.”

Baron Dictron’s eyes narrowed.

From the first meeting, Hugo’s kindness was excessive. Though Baron Dictron was also kind to others, he wasn’t as much as Hugo.

“We’re friends, aren’t we? We smoke cigars together. You’re the first friend I’ve made in the capital.”

Hugo explained the reason for his kindness. Though it wasn’t a completely understandable reason, Baron Dictron couldn’t argue with the Duke.

Perhaps because Hugo treated him comfortably, by the time the cigar smoke thickened in the lounge, Baron Dictron’s walls gradually crumbled.

Baron Dictron finally put the cigar in his mouth. When Hugo lit it for him, Baron Dictron’s eyes widened.

He hadn’t expected the Duke to light the cigar for a Baron.

“I wasn’t a Duke from the beginning.”

Hugo laughed, extinguishing the lighter. He remembered that Hugo was a Viscount until recently.

It was easy to forget because Hugo naturally commanded people and had an imposing presence.

“So don’t be too formal with me.”

Baron Dictron nodded, exhaling cigar smoke.

“I’ll try from the third meeting, Duke.”

“Let’s arrange the next meeting somewhere other than a party. By the way, have you found a lady you like?”

Baron Dictron’s face, which had briefly brightened, darkened rapidly.