Chapter 45

When Catherine appeared in the ballroom without Hugo’s escort, the inside of the ballroom buzzed for a moment.

“Have they already broken up?”

“No way. How many days has it been since they got engaged?”

“What’s stopping them from breaking off the engagement just a few days after getting engaged? They were people who divorced just a few days after getting married.”

The engagement of Hugo and Catherine attracted public attention.

One big reason was that Hugo was a Duke, but an even bigger reason was their past history.

They got married just a few days after meeting, divorced in three days, and got engaged a month after reuniting.

Isn’t it a more intriguing story than the plays of Shakespeare, which are currently gaining a lot of popularity for their dramatic stories?

Catherine, knowing full well what people were whispering about her, entered the ballroom with her shoulders confidently squared.

The days of being hurt by what strangers said were over.

The problem was that people she knew added to it.

“Catherine, where is the Duke? Did you come alone?”

It was Countess Bedwig. Catherine couldn’t hide her annoyance and sighed.

“He’s busy these days. He’s a Duke, after all, Mother.”

Hugo had asked Catherine not to let anyone know he was injured.

Catherine said it would be better to let the rumor spread that he was injured. If people knew he was hurt, at least half of the mountain of invitations would decrease.

• It might become more bothersome with people visiting out of concern.

Since becoming a Duke, people were trying to find any excuse to visit, Hugo said, clicking his tongue.

Listening to Hugo, she realized he was right.

So Catherine and Hugo agreed to say that he was secluded due to a heavy workload.

“He must be very busy. You must have realized that being the Duke’s woman is a lonely position. Catherine, come here. Leaving loneliness unattended will cause it to fester. I have a companion to introduce to you.”

Countess Bedwig linked her arm with Catherine’s. Catherine was startled and tried to pull her arm away, but it was no use.

Whatever she had eaten, Countess Bedwig had the strength of an ox.

“Let go of me. I’ll handle my issues myself, so please mind your own business.”

Catherine whispered closely to Countess Bedwig.

Countess Bedwig skillfully covered her face with a fan and spoke.

“This is what happens when you handle things yourself. Reuniting with your ex-husband? Don’t do anything embarrassing. Do you know what people are whispering about you two?”

“I don’t care what others say.”

“Tsk, the days of acting recklessly are over, Catherine. Get a grip. End things with Hugo.”

“You’re telling me to break off the engagement after the divorce? Isn’t that even more embarrassing?”

“It’s better than divorcing twice.”

“Mother!”

“Do you think I can’t make you divorce once?”

Countess Bedwig left Catherine speechless.

In the meantime, she steadily moved her steps, bringing Catherine to a man standing awkwardly.

“Ca-Catherine!”

Countess Bedwig suddenly removed the fan that was half-covering her face with Catherine.

Catherine’s view cleared, and she could see who Countess Bedwig had brought her to.

Rael Tigris!

“Catherine! Catherine!”

Rael was beaming as if something good had happened. Catherine couldn’t frown in front of Rael, who was greeting her warmly.

Catherine glared fiercely at Countess Bedwig and forced a smile.

“Rael, it’s been a while.”

“H-how, how have you been?”

Rael and Catherine knew each other.

The estate of Earl Bedwig and the Tigris estate were adjacent. In their childhood, Catherine and Rael often played together.

There were many fond memories between them. Even if they met in an uncomfortable setting, they weren’t the type to be hostile.

Moreover, it was difficult to openly ignore him in a place with many watching eyes.

‘He’s a friend. Just treat him like a friend I haven’t seen in a while.’

Catherine smiled, holding back her anger at Countess Bedwig.

“I’ve been well. Rael, when did you come to the capital?”

“Ye-ye-yesterday. Da-da-dad said I could come.”

“You don’t like crowds. Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

Countess Bedwig watched Catherine and Rael with satisfaction.

Countess Bedwig considered Catherine and Rael a match made in heaven.

A flawed divorcee and a simpleton with a large inheritance.

Although Catherine knew that the longer her conversation with Rael went on, the happier Countess Bedwig would be, she couldn’t leave Rael alone.

If it weren’t for Catherine, if it weren’t for Countess Bedwig, Rael would probably be lounging in his treehouse, eating almond chocolates, instead of being in the bustling capital ballroom.

“I-I’m fine. I wanted to see you, Catherine. Dance with me.”

Rael suddenly grabbed Catherine’s hand. Catherine was so surprised she didn’t have time to shake it off.

If it were another man, she would have pushed him away, even slapped him, but Rael wasn’t a pervert.

Rael simply didn’t know. He didn’t understand that his actions might be unwelcome to others.

Rael had some mental challenges and grew up slowly.

Because of this, he was a Young Master who received immense love from those around him.

That love made Rael’s actions uninhibited, increased his desire to have good things, and made it difficult for him to accept rejection.

Catherine felt very uncomfortable being the object of Rael’s affection, but if she pushed him away here, it could escalate into a bigger issue.

She recalled Rael lying on the floor, demanding she make him a pinwheel.

‘Rael wouldn’t care about the place.’

Catherine moved toward the floor.

The only place to escape Countess Bedwig was the floor.

No matter how shameless and devoid of manners Countess Bedwig was, she wouldn’t follow them onto the dance floor.

“Have you learned to dance, Rael?”

Catherine asked to calm Rael down.

“Catherine, I’m not a child. I learned to dance.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Had Rael grown up?

Unlike in his childhood, he took Catherine’s considerate question sensitively.

“It’s okay, Catherine.”

Rael suddenly hugged Catherine’s waist.

“…! Rael, this isn’t dancing!”

Catherine was taken aback.

She didn’t expect Rael to dance properly. Still, she thought he could at least get into position!

Catherine, who intended to dance moderately with Rael, tried to distance herself by pushing him away.

But it was impossible to push away a grown man, especially one like Rael, who was determined to dance with her.

“Catherine, let’s d-dance!”

Rael hugged Catherine and started jumping.

His claim of having learned to dance was belied by the meaningless jumps. Even the rhythm was all wrong.

People started glancing and laughing at them. It was laughter mocking Rael.

That laughter eventually reached Catherine’s ears. Catherine was coldly furious.

Rael’s actions were wrong, but he wasn’t someone to be mocked.

She was disgusted by those who laughed at him, knowing nothing about him and judging him based on a single aspect.

The most annoying thing was, of course, Countess Bedwig, who had brought her to Rael knowing this situation would unfold.

She had turned Catherine and Rael into clowns.

If they continued jumping around the floor like this and went down, tomorrow’s gossip magazines would feature articles mocking Rael on the front page.

There would be plenty of bad words about her, too, but she was more worried about Rael.

Rael was in this tremendous predicament purely because of her.

Catherine wanted to prevent Rael from becoming the laughingstock of the Dalton Kingdom.

“Rael, look at my eyes, Rael!”

Catherine tapped Rael’s back.

“Wow, exciting! Fun! Exciting! Catherine!”

Rael, happy to see Catherine after a long time, was so excited about dancing with her that he couldn’t hear Catherine’s words.

Catherine raised her hands and grabbed Rael’s cheeks firmly.

Suddenly restricted, Rael stopped jumping. However, he still couldn’t make eye contact with Catherine.

His eyes darted around, following the people dancing, avoiding her gaze.

Catherine pressed his cheeks tightly. Rael’s lips protruded like a duck’s beak.

Finally, Rael made eye contact with Catherine.

“Rael, I’ll lead, so follow me well. Like when we used to play snowball fights.”

“The past? Snowball fight?”

“Who was the leader, Rael?”

“Catherine.”

“Right. Whose words should the member listen to?”

“The leader. Catherine.”

“Good, Rael. Let’s dance properly. Loosen your arms a bit.”

Whenever they played games as children, Catherine and Rael were always on the same team.

Other children hesitated to be on the same team as Rael.

Catherine extended her hand to the lone Rael, and Rael followed her, calling her the leader.

Even a young Rael understood the loneliness of being left alone and the gratitude for the hand extended to him.

So Rael listened very carefully to Leader Catherine’s words while playing.

Even if Catherine had told him to eat cucumber sandwiches during the game, he would have.

Cucumber was the vegetable Rael hated most in the world.

Rael blinked rapidly. His mind was working hard to understand the situation.

“Rael, lower your hands.”

Catherine made eye contact with him and spoke firmly.

Finally, Rael’s arms, which had been tightly wrapped around Catherine’s waist, relaxed.

“Who’s leading?”

“Catherine.”

Rael answered diligently.

“Follow me. Understand?”

Rael nodded vigorously.

Catherine prepared for the adventure.