Chapter 21 – Debutante Ball (5)

Kairan and Duke Spiegel were conversing in a private room. Although this place was different from where Marquis Leon had been met, the interior was not much different.

“Your Grace, Grand Duke Kairan, though you were unable to become the King, my resolution to support you remains unchanged.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Grace, Duke Spiegel.”

The two men respectfully bowed their heads to each other. Unlike their usual demeanor, they were being extremely formal.

While speaking with Duke Spiegel, Kairan recalled the Duke’s son. The young Spiegel heir, who had already debuted two years ago, was absent from this year’s debutante event, unlike his father.

Earlier, the intention of Marquis Leon, who had introduced his daughter under the pretense of stepping aside, was obvious—it was an attempt to tie his daughter to Kairan. 

Come to think of it, during the succession dispute, such talk had circulated among the supporters:

‘Why not marry Her Highness, Princess Lenoa, to His Grace, Grand Duke Kairan?’

Many nobles who supported Kairan found the proposal reasonable. However, the idea was soon buried. After all, the succession dispute was not about the two becoming spouses but about ‘which of the two would become the King.’

Moreover, the powerful opposition from Lenoa’s faction and the fact that the late King and Queen had never intended to bring Kairan into the royal family as a royal consort played a significant role.

Ironically, it was memorable that Marquis Leon had vehemently opposed the idea. 

Ah, no wonder. 

Kairan finally resolved his doubts.

He had already decided to cut ties with Marquis Leon for the time being. If the Marquis continued to push for his daughter’s marriage, Kairan was even determined to use his power as royalty and secretary to strip him of his position, regardless of his support.

Duke Spiegel, like Marquis Leon, was someone who casually addressed Kairan by name in private settings. Along with the titles, he treated Kairan like a son. Due to the incident with Marquis Leon and his daughter, Kairan naturally grew fond of Duke Spiegel.

‘I hope this man does not betray me too.’

Duke Spiegel stroked his beard and spoke.

“How is your relationship with Her Majesty, Queen Lenoa?”

“She used to avoid me whenever she saw me, but recently, there has been some progress.”

The fact that the relationship between Kairan and Lenoa was as cold as ice was well known among their supporters. This was the primary reason why the marriage proposal had failed.

Unlike Marquis Leon, Duke Spiegel had actively supported the marriage proposal. Every time he communicated with Kairan, he would inquire about his relationship with Lenoa.

At the time, Kairan secretly hoped the marriage proposal would proceed. His heart raced whenever the topic of marriage with her came up. Moreover, Duke Spiegel, who was currently in front of him, still wished for their union. Compared to the overly attached Marquis Leon, the Duke was much more appealing.

Duke Spiegel smiled and placed a hand on Kairan’s shoulder. Kairan willingly accepted the touch, which felt like that of a father to his son.

It was only for a moment that he felt warmth he had never received from his biological father.

“Your Grace, do you know what you and I have in common?”

“…Pardon?”

Duke Spiegel grinned broadly and shifted the topic. Kairan flinched, startled.

As if he had never expected an answer, the Duke immediately provided one.

“We are both men.”

“….”

“I, too, am a man. Born as the legitimate heir, I inherited the dukedom, married a beautiful wife, and had a son. Though it’s a bit embarrassing to say, back when I was a young Duke, I was so handsome that countless young ladies pursued me.”

Kairan’s expression hardened fiercely, feeling the same irritation as when Marquis Leon introduced his daughter.

Duke Spiegel, however, continued speaking, as if reminiscing, even closing his eyes.

“I was fortunate enough to marry a young lady from a ducal family who caught my eye. Do you know why? That young lady—now my wife—quickly fell for me when I approached her, even though we barely interacted before. In fact, she was already carrying our first child before the wedding.”

“….”

“To win over a woman, you don’t need to consider relationships or anything else. Just directly seduce her, and she will fall for you.”

Kairan barely suppressed his rising anger with all his might. His clenched fists trembled. He wanted nothing more than to punch the face of the man laughing boisterously in front of him. This was even worse than Marquis Leon.

“How about you create an opportunity to spend time alone with Her Majesty, Queen Lenoa, and show her the vigor of a man, just as I did,Your Grace?”

He endured it. Just as he was about to explode, the Duke delivered the final blow.

“By the way, if you wish, I can also provide you with some excellent aphrodisiacs…”

“…Duke Spiegel.”

Kairan’s violet eyes, more intense than Lenoa’s, glinted sharply. The startled Duke Spiegel’s face reflected in those murderous eyes. At this moment, Kairan cared nothing for the support of his faction or anything else.

Did he seriously suggest that I force himself on Lenoa for power? And what? Aphrodisiacs?

This man, who had treated him like his own son and knew his true feelings for Lenoa, was no different from his biological father now. 

Why had I ever considered this person a father figure? 

Kairan felt a whirlwind of regret and fury.

Bang.

Kairan shoved Duke Spiegel against the wall. The Duke, now like a mouse caught by a cat, looked up at the taller, younger man with terrified eyes.

“I am not some lecher. I will consider your absurd remarks unheard. Now leave.”

Kairan glared fiercely at Duke Spiegel, his voice filled with force. The trembling figure of the Duke reflected in Kairan’s deepened violet eyes.

Moments later, Kairan released him and left the private room.

The suggestion to seduce Lenoa with his body felt like telling her to become a mistress no different from a courtesan. No matter how supportive someone was, if they uttered such nonsense, he had no intention of keeping them close.

He was deeply unsettled. If he had known this would happen, he would never have left her side in the first place.

Their inseparable bond seemed like a divine decree, as if they were not meant to be apart even for a moment.

Kairan quickly scanned the area near the throne in the grand banquet hall, but Lenoa was nowhere to be seen. Her absence, where she should have been, made him restless. Unlike when meeting with dukes or marquises, an uneasy feeling swept over him.

After searching several times, he finally spotted her. The woman with ash-colored hair glared with violet eyes.

‘Those people…?’

Marquis Leon and his daughter were facing Lenoa.

Were they trying to take out their frustrations on her after their obvious schemes had been exposed? 

Kairan hurriedly ran toward her.

At that moment, Lenoa’s clear and dignified voice rang out.

“Marquis Leon, did Lady Ariana approach a man the way I did? If she did, was she accepted?”

“…Pardon?”

Marquis Leon and Ariana’s faces simultaneously turned pale. Watching from a distance, Kairan smirked.

The Lenoa he knew was wise. Even if she hadn’t seen or heard something directly, she could deduce their intentions and respond accordingly.

What delighted him most was that the man she mentioned was none other than himself.

Marquis Leon stood dumbfounded at Lenoa’s sharp retort, while Ariana trembled, clutching her fan. It was like a scene from a comedy, and Kairan chuckled.

After waiting for Lenoa to make her move, he had received a direct invitation to dance with her. Despite the twists and turns, the situation had turned in his favor.

Lenoa, staring directly at the now-silent pair, continued her words. By now, most of the gazes in the hall were focused on them.

“Were you rejected, perhaps? Or did you not even have the courage to try in the first place?”

“Pfft…”

“Hahaha!”

Kairan’s mocking laugh triggered bursts of laughter from the other nobles. In an instant, the grand banquet hall was filled with laughter.

Marquis Leon and Ariana, who had become the center of attention, eventually lowered their gazes.

“Whatever the case may be, one thing is certain: Lady Ariana and Marquis Leon, you will find it difficult to secure a good match at this ball.”

Lenoa’s final remark, disguised as concern, once again drew waves of laughter from the crowd.

Ariana was on the verge of tears, and the Marquis appeared utterly lost. The middle-aged man, now as distraught as his daughter, stood there, helpless.

‘Pfft.’

Lenoa, like the others, was struggling to suppress her laughter. She had spoken without much hesitation, and the unexpected impact of her words was fortunate. This incident would surely become a delightful topic of conversation after the debutante.

However, she didn’t intend to keep them as the hall’s laughingstock for too long. Just as she was about to dismiss them, a familiar touch rested on her shoulder.

Turning around, she found Kairan, with his red hair, smiling at her. As soon as their eyes met, Kairan knelt on one knee before Lenoa and extended his hand. The hall fell into a sudden hush, and the sound of people holding their breath filled the air.

“Your Majesty, Queen Lenoa, may I have the honor of dancing with you once again at this ball?”

Lenoa smiled warmly and placed her hand in his. Kairan kissed the back of her hand gently before leading her to the ballroom.

There were about thirty minutes left until the second part of the ball was scheduled to resume. However, the musicians and the herald, who had been watching the pair with interest, tactfully announced the early start of the ball. As the herald’s voice rang out, the harmonious sounds of string instruments filled the air, signaling the start of an unplanned dance.

The two, now the first dance partners of the ball, held hands and began to waltz while whispering to each other. Their faces radiated happiness, as if they had the world in their hands.

“Perfect timing. You were amazing, oppa.”

“You were even more so, my beautiful Queen.”

Despite the ball’s resumption, no one in the hall dared to take the floor with their partners. They simply stood in awe, watching the dancing pair.

Having addressed their feelings sincerely, both felt a sense of relief. Their bodies moved gracefully, and before they knew it, they were thoroughly enjoying the dance.

The only couple on the dance floor performed the waltz flawlessly, making history as the first pair at Celesta’s ball to complete a dance without a single mistake.

As the waltz concluded, thunderous applause erupted, filling the hall.