Chapter 8. The White Lady

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After washing her sweat-drenched body in warm water, Bell and two maids quickly helped her dress up.

She wore a dress with a round neckline and tied a ribbon below her chest. Without the constricting corset, she felt much more comfortable.

Marienne gazed at her reflection in the mirror. The puffy sleeves looked feminine, and she especially loved her hair that Bell had carefully braided and pinned up in a round style.

Despite Marienne’s protests, the maids lightly applied powder and dabbed rose-colored rouge on her lips.

“You look like a freshly bloomed flower, Miss.”

“You’re too kind.”

Bell returned her smile and stepped back.

“We’ll head downstairs now. Have a wonderful time.”

“Thank you.”

After the maids left, Marienne stared intently into the mirror.

“Yaaawn, where are you going all dressed up like that?”

Rahta scampered onto the dressing table with a wide-mouthed yawn.

“Rahta, have you been sleeping all this time? You mainly sleep during the day and are active at night, aren’t you?”

“Something like that. But where are you going?”

When Marienne pointed to the adjacent room with her finger, Rahta nodded in understanding.

“I need to sleep more. Have fun, and don’t spend the night panting and crying like last time.”

“Rahta!”

The creature quickly darted into its basket, dodging the cushion Marienne threw.

After a final check of her appearance, Marienne cheered on the lady in the mirror.

It’s okay. Nothing will happen. I think I’ve had my share of hurt for the day. Stay strong!

As she crossed the hallway with determination, the butler was waiting to greet her.

“I was just about to fetch you. This way, please.”

The butler guided Marienne to the balcony.

The vast garden and the Bernac forest beyond were bathed in the sunset.

The Duke’s silhouette against the forest appeared like a dark cutout against the reddish light.

“My lord, I’ve brought her.”

Nigel responded to the butler’s bow and guided Marienne to a chair.

The table, decorated with fresh flowers, was laden with appetizing dishes.

The two began their meal after taking their seats.

The evening sky, which had been blazing toward its peak, gradually turned blue as it mixed with thin darkness.

Marienne quietly savored her food while admiring the magnificent variations of light.

Few words were exchanged. Yet it wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable.

Even in their occasionally misaligned gazes, she felt consideration rather than dismissal.

Though it might be an illusion, she didn’t want to act petty like a sharp-edged victim.

Come to think of it, isn’t he a consistent person? He had never really hidden his true nature.

If anything, it was more her problem for not accepting that she was disliked.

“What dances are you learning?”

At Nigel’s question, Marienne set down her wine glass.

“Galliard and Volta.”

“So that’s why your feet ended up like that.”

“Well, the Galliard requires constant jumping. Like a deranged goat.”

Nigel’s eyebrows twitched as he tried to suppress his laughter while swallowing his wine.

“And the Volta?”

“Ah…… Duke. I’ve never experienced such a romantic dance before.”

“In what way?”

“The part where the man lifts his partner high. It seemed like a dance perfectly suited for lovers. Hehe.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because my partner would grunt every time he had to lift me. As practice went on, he eventually ran away, unable to even straighten his back. I feel sorry for him, but the Baroness and I had quite a laugh about it. Though I did feel embarrassed too, wondering if I was really that heavy.”

“And yet you felt romance dancing with them?”

“Of course not. That was just a feeling I imagined in my mind.”

Nigel caressed his wine glass with a faint smile.

The complete darkness erased the cumbersome surroundings, leaving only the two of them illuminated by candlelight.

Marienne rose from her seat and approached Nigel. Then she extended her hand.

“Would you dance with me?”

“Is it proper for a lady to ask for a dance first?”

“Do you hate it?”

Nigel looked up at her intently as he took Marienne’s hand and stood up.

“Not bad.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

Nigel followed her lead to the center of the balcony. Their roles were completely reversed.

“Are your feet alright? They must be sore.”

Marienne lifted her skirt slightly to show her bare feet, without shoes or stockings. Then she smiled mischievously.

Nigel smiled back as if she was incorrigible and stood beside her.

They held hands and jumped while facing each other.

Her skirt swirled as she lifted her knees high like a man. At first, they were out of sync and fell into different rhythms.

“Duke, you’re too fast. Jump on three, not two!”

“Will this only end when my heels are raw?”

Laughing out loud, Marienne took his hand and returned to the starting position. Then she gave him a signal with a nod of her head.

“Now!”

They jumped in perfect synchronization, matching their gazes and breaths. Then Nigel grabbed her waist and lifted her into the air.

As she rose effortlessly, an exclamation burst from Marienne’s lips.

It was distinctly different from the servant who had lifted her with strained grunts.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Marienne placed her hands on Nigel’s shoulders and jumped.

Like two beings moving as one, they continued to leap, creating fresh currents of air.

Laughter erupted. It felt as if the knots of pain rolling around in her heart were bouncing away with the sound of laughter.

Their leaps grew higher and higher.

Finally, Marienne placed both hands on Nigel’s shoulders and soared into the night sky.

His upturned eyes were like silver moons. In them, she saw a happy lady reflected.

Nigel lowered Marienne slowly. Their lips almost brushed but moved apart without touching.

She was back on the cold floor.

“Thank you, Duke. It was a wonderful time.”

Nigel, who had been gazing down at her quietly, raised his lips mischievously.

“Call my name. Pretend we’re lovers.”

“……”

“Is it difficult?”

Marienne lowered her eyes and shook her head.

“No. It’s just practice after all.”

Taking a heavy breath, Marienne called out to him as if in a dream.

“Nigel.”

His smile gradually faded at the ripples her voice created.

“Have a peaceful night.”

“You too, Duke.”

After exchanging gentle greetings, Marienne turned and walked toward the corridor. She tried to maintain a lady-like posture with her back straight.

Is he watching?

She was curious but didn’t dare to look back.

As soon as she left the corridor, Marienne collapsed dramatically onto her bed. She buried her face in the sheets and mumbled like a mantra.

“Practice, it’s just practice. Just practice.”

Marienne stared at his dim bedroom across the corridor.

She must have dropped her heart somewhere along that path. Just looking at it made her heart pound.

To be so anxious about a man who had pointed a sword at her, shot arrows at her, and even strangled her.

She really wasn’t in her right mind.

Letting out a heavy sigh, as if she were about to fade away, Marienne got up, changed her clothes, and quickly washed up.

Tonight was no different from any other night.

She danced with feet that wanted to peek into the corridor, read history books aloud with lips that wanted to confess right away, and embroidered carelessly with hands that desperately wanted to touch him.

Though she lay in bed as the night deepened, sleep seemed far away.

Should she count the silver coins she saved? Would that cool this heat?

As Marienne tossed and turned, she saw Rahta rushing urgently — toward the Duke’s bedroom.

What could be happening at this hour?

The Duke isn’t one to show mercy to monsters. If caught, it would mean death.

Marienne jumped up and paced anxiously in front of the corridor in her bare feet.

Should she go check? Should she wait?

Even though the Duke was sleeping, he had severe insomnia — what if he woke up at the slightest sound!

The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Rahta should know better than this……

Was there a reason important enough to risk its life?

Unable to overcome her worry and curiosity, Marienne quietly moved to the next room. She carefully peeked her head out at the end of the corridor. The Duke’s room was quiet, shrouded in darkness, perhaps indicating he was asleep.

As she debated whether to proceed or turn back, Marienne witnessed a suspicious light near the Duke’s bed.

What’s that?

Startled, Marienne flattened herself against the floor.

After a moment, she carefully raised her head, but the dim room showed no changes.

Did she see wrong?

As she furrowed her brow in confusion, another blue light suddenly burst in the air.

Marienne quickly stood up and opened her eyes wide. And she saw it clearly.

Smoke swirling up from the floor, condensing into monstrous forms.