Side Story PART 1

The Duchess of Hilbert, Celia von Hilbert, was the flower of high society.

Despite not appearing frequently at social events, every time she attended, all the men were desperate to dance with her, to speak even a single word to her.

The fact that she already had a husband, or that she had a son with that husband, had no effect on them whatsoever.

Men, regardless of whether they were married or not, waited only to dance with the Duchess of Hilbert.

On days when she appeared at balls, the Duchess of Hilbert enjoyed considerable popularity, to the extent that men engaged in subtle psychological warfare.

A noble, beautiful, and lovely duchess.

Today too, Celia couldn’t bring herself to refuse the dance requests from the men surrounding her.

“The Duchess of Hilbert’s beauty ripens more with each passing day.”

“It’s hard to believe she’s a woman who has given birth.”

“Like a single edelweiss flower……”

The noblewomen who had gathered closely were each chattering toward the Duchess of Hilbert.

Their mouths, hidden behind fans, never rested. They had as much intense interest in the duchess, who occasionally appeared at balls and was still shrouded in mystery, as the men did.

This was partly because little was known about her except for her age and name.

This was understandable since the duchess was someone the Duke of Hilbert had met while studying abroad.

The fact that the head of the House of Hilbert, a prestigious family among prestigious families boasting deep tradition and history, had taken her as his wife—neither a noblewoman from a famous family nor the daughter of an immense fortune—was still the subject of gossip among society people.

“Even I must admit she shines brighter each time I see her. Of course, all the jewels she wears are more expensive than those of the royal family.”

“What could be her secret?”

At someone’s question, everyone turned their gaze in that direction.

“Well, it’s because she receives her husband’s utmost love.”

At that moment, another noblewoman sighed deeply and pointed toward the wall.

“How can a flower on the wall be so beautiful?”

The place where the noblewomen’s gazes collectively turned was none other than one side of the ballroom wall.

There, the Duke of Hilbert stood alone.

According to the rules of society balls, a man who refused a woman’s dance was expected, as etiquette, not to dance during that turn.

Using this convenient penalty, the Duke of Hilbert hadn’t danced at all since his first dance with his wife.

All he did was occasionally drink wine and smile while making eye contact with his wife as she danced with other men.

The duchess felt sorry about this and tried to return to her husband after each dance ended, but with dance requests immediately following, she ended up repeatedly dancing with other men.

“My, how broad-minded he is.”

“Look at that gaze. It’s too sweet and warm to be looking at a wife who has even given birth to a child.”

“He really must love his wife, my goodness.”

The noblewomen each let out short sighs filled with envy and jealousy, as if moved.

“Perhaps he simply doesn’t want to dance? Or maybe he’s tired of dancing with his wife.”

“Oh my, like your husband? I saw him earlier fleeing with a glass of champagne.”

At those words, the other noblewomen burst into laughter all at once.

“Well, speaking of husbands, yours went into the balcony with some woman earlier and hasn’t come out. Perhaps……”

“What did you say?”

While the two noblewomen faced each other with hostile expressions, Celia finished her dance and hurriedly approached her husband’s side.

“Eugen.”

“Why, aren’t you going to dance more?”

Despite his words, Eugen opened his arms and embraced his approaching wife.

Skin slightly moistened with sweat, quickened breathing, and flushed cheeks.

His wife was so lovely he wanted to devour her right then.

“I’ve danced enough. I felt sorry for making you wait any longer. You’re not even dancing……”

Every time they came to a ball, Eugen let his wife Celia dance freely with others, while he leaned against the wall and refused all dances from other noblewomen with a smiling face.

Celia was secretly pleased with his behavior because she would involuntarily become jealous if he danced with other women.

But she felt guilty about dancing all evening while he just stood there. Above all, the time she spent with her husband was what she enjoyed most.

“Watching you is a hundred times more enjoyable than dancing myself.”

“Still, since we came all this way, it feels like I’m the only one enjoying myself……”

“Your joy is my joy.”

“……”

At Eugen’s words, Celia’s cheeks reddened a bit more. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked.

“Does it hurt when you dance?”

Celia looked at her husband with worried eyes and gently placed her hand on his chest area.

Thump thump.

His heart beat at a steady pace, but the moment she touched him, it quickened slightly.

“Oh……”

Celia looked at him with surprised eyes.

“No. This is just because I like you.”

Eugen laughed, reassuring his wife.

“Still…… I’m worried. I wonder if we shouldn’t come to places like this.”

“I know my body best. I don’t dance simply because I don’t feel like it, it has nothing to do with my health.”

“Still, you need to be careful.”

Celia murmured in a small voice.

Her husband, Duke Eugen von Hilbert, suffered from a hereditary heart disease that had been passed down through generations in his family.

Thanks to the appropriate treatment and medication from a personal physician with exceptional medical skills, as well as Eugen’s own determination, there had been no dangerous incidents, but Celia often trembled with fear that he might leave her behind.

“I’ve taken my medicine and had my examination. They said there’s nothing wrong, so you don’t need to worry.”

Eugen said as he took the hand placed on his chest and kissed it.

“You should be enjoying yourself more.”

“I’ve enjoyed myself plenty.”

Eugen brushed aside his wife’s sweat-dampened hair. It was the result of her faithfully following her husband’s wish to see her dance.

“You must have been bored at the mansion, meeting only me and Ralph all this time.”

“Me? Not at all.”

Celia said, startled by Eugen’s words.

“Not at all. The idea that I would find you and Ralph boring……”

Hearing her dejected murmuring, Eugen pulled her closer into his embrace.

“I’m glad to hear that. I was wondering what I would do if you grew tired of me.”

“That would never happen.”

Celia quickly shook her head.

There would absolutely never be a time in her life when she would grow tired of her husband.

To grow tired of such a beautiful and kind husband.

“I understand.”

Eugen kissed her heated cheek and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Then, shall we go home now?”

“Yes.”

Celia nodded with a happy face.

Eugen immediately signaled a servant to bring Celia’s cape and hat, then personally helped her put them on.

“People are watching, Eugen.”

“So?”

He replied nonchalantly, focusing on helping his wife with her clothes.

“Dressing my wife is my pleasure.”

“……”

“And undressing her is also my role.”

“Eugen.”

Celia, her face burning hot, whispered to Eugen.

“Since I’ll be the one undressing you anyway, I’m just going through the trouble of dressing you again. There’s nothing more enjoyable than thinking about the process of undressing you again.”

Celia didn’t know what to do as she watched her husband making such lewd remarks with a gentlemanly face.

Most of the ball attendees were watching the scene of him putting on her outer garment and meticulously fastening the buttons.

Among them were many husbands who didn’t know where to look under their wives’ reproachful gazes.

Only after the Duke and Duchess of Hilbert left the ballroom could the husbands breathe sighs of relief.

* * *

“Mmph.”

As soon as the carriage door closed, Celia helplessly surrendered herself to the lips that crashed roughly against hers.

The beaded purse she was holding fell to the floor, followed by her hat.

As his hands quickly undid the buttons and ribbons he had so meticulously fastened earlier, her cape flowed down to the floor.

“Eu…… gen, ah!”

He instantly pulled Celia’s dress down. The design of the dress, with its low-cut front and back, made it easy to remove.

He greedily grabbed her full br*asts that bounced as he pulled them out over the corset.

“Eugen!”

Celia, calling his name as if about to lose her breath, looked toward the window facing the coachman’s seat.

It was already firmly closed.

“Focus.”

Eugen growled, turning Celia’s attention back to him.

In his appearance, there was no trace of the exceptionally kind and gentle husband from the ballroom earlier.

Before his fiercely gleaming blue eyes, Celia was nothing more than a fragile hunted animal.

“Ahh……”