Chapter 2 – Something That Comes To Everyone (Part 7)

「Lorraine, you’re gripping the pen too tightly again.」

Blinking at Philip’s remark, Lorraine slowly looked down at her hand.

Then, she let go of the pen and smiled sheepishly.

「Ah… thank you.」

She clenched and unclenched her hand as if the numbness was catching up with her.

「I told you to use a pencil holder….」

「I don’t like holding things. I only wear gloves because my family nags me to.」

Once the numbness had subsided, she picked up the pen again.

He couldn’t remember exactly when, but ever since that day, he had been watching Lorraine closely without realizing it.

More precisely, her hands.

「Your Grace, these are the monthly financial statements.」

「…….」

「Your Grace…?」

Her hands were certainly rougher compared to those of other noble ladies.

Her nails were short, ink stained the skin beneath them, and the spaces between her fingers were red, as if calluses were forming.

「Your Grace.」

「Huh? Oh.」

Lorraine, who had been silently watching her distracted superior, slightly shook the documents she was holding.

It was a gesture urging him.

「These are the monthly financial statements.」

「Oh.」

An urging gesture.

“…Your Grace?”

Edwin suddenly questioned his own actions.

‘Wait. Why…?’

‘Isn’t it natural for humans to seek beauty?’

“…Your Grace?”

‘Then, could Lorraine’s hands be considered beautiful?’

‘Yes… and no.’

The answer came quickly. The problem was that his mind denied it while his heart affirmed it.

Just then, a sharp call snapped him out of his reverie.

“Duke!”

Finally, his vision cleared.

Unfortunately, he immediately met Kate’s fierce eyes.

“Oh.”

Realizing she had been ignored, Kate was dumbfounded.

As she let out a hollow laugh, Edwin mechanically apologized.

“My apologies. And….”

“…….”

“About your earlier proposal… I must decline.”

With that, Edwin nodded and walked away, leaving Kate staring at his back in disbelief.

Her face turned as red as the rose-colored dress she was wearing.

***

“Careful on the steps.”

Monica held Lorraine’s hand as they descended the stairs.

The cause of this situation was the high heels Lorraine was wearing.

As soon as it seemed the party had reached its peak, Monica had come to fetch her.

「Now, shall we go enjoy the party?」

Monica, a naturally striking beauty, looked even more stunning today.

Despite the high heels that seemed similar to Lorraine’s, Monica walked effortlessly.

‘If Madam can do it, so can I.’

With newfound confidence, Lorraine stood up, despite her apprehension about the high heels.

「Yes.」

「Oh, slowly…!」

The moment she took a step, as everyone had expected, she wobbled, unfamiliar with the height.

As she lost her balance, she tightly shut her eyes.

‘So this is how I cause trouble. As Lorraine Wiig.’

She was murmuring to herself when-.

「Oh dear.」

A strong hand supported her back.

When Lorraine cautiously opened her eyes, she saw golden eyes identical to Edwin’s looking at her.

It was Owen, Monica’s husband and Edwin’s father.

「…Stand up carefully.」

「Ah, thank you. Your Grace… I mean, Elder.」

Lorraine awkwardly smiled and accepted his help.

Monica approached them as if she had been waiting.

「You’re wearing a dress for almost the first time, so where did you get the confidence to stand up like that? Now, hold my hand.」

Unlike Lorraine’s awkward actions, Monica’s movements were light and effortless.

「Ah, I’m fine….」

When Lorraine tried to wave her off, Monica firmly shook her hand up and down.

「Hand.」

Feeling like a child, Lorraine’s ears turned red.

「…Okay. Yes.」

Just then, Monica’s concern brought her back to reality.

“Be careful on the stairs. The steps are quite high.”

“Yes.”

As they neared the hall, the sound of music and the smell of food grew stronger.

Her fingers turned cold with tension.

Holding Monica’s hand, she had no time to hesitate. Monica squeezed her hand and whispered softly.

“Shall I tell you a secret?”

She spoke in a confidential tone, as if sharing a big secret.

“I used to hate parties. Beating around the bush wasn’t my style.”

“Oh….”

“But everyone thinks it’s sophisticated.”

Monica shook her head as if she found it tiresome. She looked back at Lorraine and continued.

“You’re at the age to make friends, dance as you please… you’re more than capable.”

When Monica stopped walking, Lorraine looked around.

They were already at the entrance to the hall.

“Make freedom your motto tonight.”

“…….”

“You only live once, you know.”

With Monica’s words, Paul opened the door.

She felt the crowd’s gaze turn toward them.

***

“So? What happened next?”

Victoria couldn’t wait for Lorraine to catch her breath and urged her to continue the story.

“Why are you so excited?”

Lorraine tilted her head in confusion as she put down her water cup.

“Well, it’s intriguing! You went to a party!”

Victoria said, slapping an innocent cushion. Lorraine frowned and muttered.

“You make it sound like I’m some sort of priest.”

Olivia, setting down her sheet music, chimed in.

“You dressed up beautifully, the atmosphere was perfect. Surely, something happened.”

But Lorraine wasn’t one to get flustered easily.

“Well, you seem to know a lot, huh?”

“What?”

Lorraine leaned over and whispered in Olivia’s ear.

“Have you finished your graduation project, future composer?”

Olivia’s face twisted in frustration.

“…You’re annoying, sis.”

“Go study, you diploma-less teenager.”

Lorraine waved her hand dismissively, as if shooing away a bug, and Olivia slowly got up.

“Seriously… just wait.”

Olivia said in a resentful voice.

Victoria replied to her.

“People who say ‘just wait’ are never scary.”

“Sis!”

At Olivia’s shrill voice, Victoria stuck out her tongue and laughed.

At that moment.

“Well done. Teasing your little sister, you two.”

The three of them turned their heads toward the attic entrance.

Diana, in her loungewear, stood there with a crooked expression, arms crossed, looking at them.

“You’re back early. You said you’d be late today.”

“Case summaries finished earlier than expected.”

She stretched her stiff neck from side to side and sat down next to them.

“So, what were you talking about? About her staying out overnight?”

Lorraine immediately protested.

“It wasn’t an overnight stay…!”

“Sleeping outside the house is an overnight stay.”

Diana said firmly, leaving Lorraine speechless but unable to argue.

“So, what did you do?”

At Diana’s probing, Lorraine suddenly grew quiet.

“No… I just met some people at the party, danced a bit, and that’s it…. Isn’t that what everyone does at a party?”

She looked around, seeking agreement from her sisters.

But all of them avoided Lorraine’s gaze as if they had planned it.

Feeling even more wronged, Lorraine spoke again.

“Really. I ate some delicious food, talked with Madam, and that’s it.”

It didn’t take long for her to realize that no one believed her.

“…Really, nothing happened?”

“Oh, sis!”

Victoria shrugged her shoulders and spoke up when Lorraine shouted.

“Well, as long as nothing happened, it’s fine.”

‘No one believes me.’

Lorraine sighed inwardly. But she couldn’t possibly share that ‘story.’

***

The hall, where soft music had been playing, fell silent.

But only for a moment, as the ladies began whispering to each other about their thoughts.

“Who could it be? For the Duchess to act as a chaperone….”

“Could it be that Duke Duncan is finally getting engaged?”

“There must have been a reason for running out of the greenhouse then.”

At that moment, Monica gently pulled Lorraine’s hand.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Lorraine carefully took each step while holding Monica’s hand. The band began to play the music again, which had momentarily stopped.

With Monica’s help, Lorraine walked smoothly to the microphone stand, as if she had never stumbled.

Monica squeezed Lorraine’s hand once before letting go.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Monica left Lorraine’s side and approached the microphone. She tapped it lightly before speaking.

The lively music that had been playing in the hall had now turned into a gentle melody.

“Thank you all for attending, even though this party was organized on short notice.”

Monica smiled brightly as she looked around the room.

“It’s so hard to come up to the capital even once… but I hope you all enjoy yourselves.”

With a slight bow and a graceful lift and drop of her skirt, the music changed to a waltz.

Monica and Owen, the hosts of the party, were the first to step into the center of the hall. Soon, several other couples joined them on the dance floor.

It looks like a painting.

Lorraine stood there, staring blankly at the people dancing in the hall.

At that moment, someone extended a hand to her.

“Excuse me….”

When Lorraine turned her head, she saw a man with golden hair mixed with brown standing there.

“Are you calling me?”

“Yes, my lady, aren’t you going to dance?”

He smiled warmly.

Lorraine smiled back and glanced around. Several men were gradually approaching her.

“Oh….”

‘This is trouble.’

She began to worry about how to get out of this situation.