The Only Way to Break the Curse is Through Contact with You - Chapter 91

#91

As the attention directed towards us dissipated, the faces of Diart and Jarvis, who were engaged in a brief conversation, suddenly changed. The obligatory expression that Diart had been wearing disappeared as he tilted his head in annoyance.

It was an extremely impolite attitude for someone in front of the Crown Prince, but Jarvis didn’t seem to care. Instead, he became even more mischievous and extended his hand to me.

“Where’s my gift?”

“What?”

“You didn’t come to the birthday party without a gift, did you?”

I didn’t bring a gift. I hadn’t even thought about it, so I tightly sealed my lips. Jarvis’ expression became even more exaggeratedly disappointed. He put his hand on his forehead and let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Oh dear, oh dear. I was so excited to receive a gift from my friend, but I guess I’m disappointed…”

I could feel Diart’s discomfort at Jarvis’ exaggerated behavior. Not wanting to reignite the sparks of scandal that had just been extinguished, I linked arms with Diart. His gaze turned towards me.

It felt good to rely on him in front of Jarvis. My lips, which had been tightly sealed, curled upward into a smile at his easily readable mood. Just as I was about to burst out laughing at his adorable expression, Jarvis cut in.

With his boisterous laugh, the attention of the nobles in the hall that had just dispersed gathered once again. Diart furrowed his brow in displeasure. Why is this person like this? When I gave him a meaningful look, Jarvis turned his gaze towards me with a ‘what’ expression and raised his eyebrows. The look of condescension on his face made me uneasy, and then he spoke.

“I guess I have no choice. Being the magnanimous person that I am, I’ll let it slide. Alright, let’s do it this way.”

Jarvis had a face that said he couldn’t help it, but there was no doubt that the words he was about to say were his main point from the beginning. The upward curve of his lips contradicted him.

“Your gift will be a dance with me.”

The smirk on Jarvis’s face convinced me. This person is teasing him. Who? Diart.

Unaware of that fact, Diart’s expression crumpled. Diart stood between me and Jarvis. It was clear that he just wanted a reaction, but he couldn’t just listen and let it pass.

“That’s not possible.”

“I’m not talking to you, but to my friend.”

“I am his husband.”

“Just because you’re her husband doesn’t mean you can restrict your wife’s activities.”

“It’s not a restriction, it’s protection.”

“Protection, you say? From whom?”

It felt like déjà vu. In the midst of the escalating argument between the two heated men, Diart couldn’t hold back and intervened.

“From the bastard who dares to take over other people’s property.”

Even as Diart called the Crown Prince a bastard, his expression remained unchanged. His lips curled up as if he found it even more amusing. But I saw it. His hand twitched under Diart’s icy gaze. Why would he provoke someone who’s just minding their own business…

At that moment, a voice announcing the arrival of the Emperor, Empress, and Leticia echoed through the hall. And one more name was called, a name I had never heard before.

“The person entering now is Annabelle McGregor!”

The owner of that name, who appeared behind Leticia, was a girl of similar age to Adelia. Her shiny brown hair looked like it was twisted with golden curls, and her bright green eyes sparkled. Her delicate figure seemed like it could collapse with a tap, just like Adelia. The way she followed behind Leticia, wandering around the hall, was also just like Adelia.

As I stared at that lovely figure, I suddenly realized what had been niggling at the back of my mind for the past few days. It was anxiety.

Anxiety that something would happen at the ball.

I was afraid that Diart might fall for someone, just like in the original work. Although I knew he liked me, in the original story, he never gave his heart to any woman until he was captivated by Adelia. The unease of feeling like something similar might happen has weighed on me since I left the annex earlier.

As I crossed the hall, drawing the attention of the people, I couldn’t confirm if Diart’s gaze was fixed on the girl who was passing by, not far from me. But then, a soft voice reached my ears.

“Are you feeling unwell? You don’t look good.”

As if suddenly coming to my senses, I turned my head and saw Diart looking at me with a concerned expression. His gaze solely focused on me, as if there was nothing interesting. In that moment, my heart wavered.

“Should we go back?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, thinking as though he would scoop me up and leave the venue. Yes, the original story has changed completely. Now, I am the one who will live here with this dazzlingly handsome man. He is my husband.

As a sense of relief flooded over me, I suppressed the overwhelming desire to embrace Diart right here and simply smiled.

“It’s okay.”

“No need to push yourself. I’ll arrange for the carriage.”

“I’m really okay.”

“Is there something bothering you?”

Suddenly, Jarvis cut off Diart’s worried question with a firm “Don’t worry about it.” Jarvis shrugged and laughed.

“You can’t even let your close friend get worried. Think about this marriage again. Obsessive men who cling like that are exhausting. Let me advise you as a friend.”

When Jarvis spoke playfully, Diart’s expression stiffened. Then he said,

“She said it’s adorable.”

“Hmm?”

“That I’m obse－”

I quickly covered Diart’s mouth with my hand. No, what are you talking about now, it’s embarrassing! When I scolded him with my eyes, Diart raised his eyebrows as if to ask why. I wondered if this man had such audacity. But the quick-witted Jarvis seemed to have caught on to what Diart was going to say after I stopped him.

“So that’s your taste…that’s the point where I fall short compared to the Duke.”

Diart wrinkled his brow. I turned my gaze to Annabelle, who was still hiding behind Leticia, to change the subject.

“Who is she?”

“My cousin.”

“Did the Marquis bring in another young lady?”

“No, he found his real daughter. Unlike Adelia, she’s very quiet and kind.”

Even though Jarvis said that, I couldn’t feel reassured. It was because Adelia looked very lovely. Before I could prepare my mind, recalling our first thrilling encounter, Leticia came up to me with Annabelle hiding behind her.

“Roeni.”

At the familiar voice, I quickly removed my hand that was still covering Diart’s mouth.

“Let me introduce someone.”

As Leticia took my hand and led me, Annabelle, who had been glancing at me hesitantly, stepped forward. Her gaze, constantly aware of me, was suspicious. Could it be that she’s also the same as Adelia?

“This is my cousin, who was found just recently, but well, she knows you, Roeni.”

“Me? You’re referring to me?”

She’s a face I’ve never seen before. As I looked at her with a puzzled expression, Annabelle’s cheeks turned red. Her appearance, unable to decide whether to hide or not, was as adorable as a wet puppy in the rain… No, don’t let your guard down. People have a way of making you repeat the same mistakes!

“I… I’m your fan!”

As I tried to regain my wary stance that was slowly melting away due to her cuteness, Annabelle blurted out an unexpected statement, causing me to pause. Wait, is she talking about me? As I raised my head in surprise, Annabelle, who had been covering her face with her hands as if embarrassed by her own words, stuttered in a small voice.

“That cake the Duchess gave me that time… It was the first time I ever tasted something so sweet.”

Cake? I let out a small sigh of admiration as her words continued from that moment, when it seemed like she was speaking incoherently.

“Sister Remida is also doing well and safely gave birth, thanks to the Duchess.”

‘No way.’

Suddenly, my mind flashed back to the day I walked Remida home from a chance encounter on the street, and the people hiding behind the trees were watching me. Could it be that among those people at that time, this child was also there?

As Diart and Jarvis looked at Annabelle with a puzzled expression, she shyly but steadily explained what had happened that day.

“Thanks to the Duchess’ continued provision of groceries, the number of hungry people has decreased. Everyone is truly grateful and wants to repay the Duchess’ kindness in some way.”

Leticia was beaming the whole time Annabelle was speaking, and Jarvis had a surprised look on his face. I felt my face blush at her admiration and secretly felt pleased. This wasn’t something I had expected.

I smiled in satisfaction as I looked at Annabelle, who was hiding behind Leticia again and glancing at me, embarrassed, as if she had done everything she had to do.

‘She is such an adorable girl.’

I instantly took a liking to Annabelle.

While we were engaged in conversation for a while, Diart whispered in my ear.

“I will go meet the Emperor.”

After telling her to stay put so I didn’t have to bow, Diart walked over to the Emperor. The nobles stepped aside as Diart passed and watched him closely. As he stood in front of the Emperor, Diart attracted the attention of the nobles and showed a more polite attitude than usual. When he humbly apologized for his rudeness during that time at the hunting grounds, the Emperor smiled kindly and patted his shoulder.

Up to this point, the dispute between the Wheatons and the imperial palace had been a formal scene to put an end to the conflict. However, everyone in the banquet hall held their breath at Diart’s bold declaration that followed soon after.

“As compensation for my disloyalty to the crown, I will resign from my position as Duke.”