When Ian kissed her neck, Lyra visibly became stiff in his arms. However, she didn't say anything and continued to dance with him in the same position.
[Ding!]
[Lyra's favorability increased by 5.]
[Current favorability: 85 (Lover)]
With the sound from the system, Ian quickly came out of his reverie. He heaved a sigh of relief when Lyra didn't seem to accuse him.
'That was a risky move.'
Just as he was continuing his dance with Lyra, he felt a strong gaze in his direction, full of hostility. Ever since his body synchronization reached 100% and his mental power increased, he had become more sensitive to his environment.
Ian looked in the direction where he felt the gaze imperceptibly and was bewildered to see Sylvia gnashing her teeth in hatred while Aunt Margaret was looking down, drinking her wine.
'It seems they saw me kissing her neck.'
"Let's return!"
"Hm?"
"I'm not feeling well."
Lyra said softly, placing her head on his shoulder. It seemed his earlier action had flustered her, as she refused to look at him.
Ian also silently agreed and drifted towards their earlier location. Just as they returned, Lyra left his arm and quickly walked away, almost as if running away without even saying goodbye.
Ian looked at her speechlessly.
'How thin-skinned is this girl?'
"You scoundrel."
Just as Ian was looking at Lyra's disappearing figure, he heard someone scolding him from the side.
Sylvia couldn't stand his behavior.
"What were you doing earlier to my sister?"
If this wasn't a noble party, she would have kicked him already.
Ian looked at her fuming face, her chest rising and falling in rhythm with her anger, and couldn't help but tease her,
"I kissed her neck. What? Jealous?"
"You..." Sylvia was really speechless. When had this guy become so shameless? He was completely out of control.
Ian saw that she seemed really angry, so he bowed gracefully again and asked,
"Do you want to dance?"
The court dance was still ongoing, so he tried asking her to dance. If he could gain her favorability, maybe he would get another reward today.
"Hmph, who wants to dance with you?"
Sylvia's tsundere attribute was now on full display. Ian was speechless; she was clearly jealous of her sister, yet she didn't want to dance.
Ian also didn't try to persuade her. Instead, he turned his attention to his Aunt Margaret, who was alone at the side lost in her thoughts and bowed to her slightly.
"Shall we?"
Margaret, who had been observing their interaction from the periphery of her eyes was stunned by this sudden reversal. She was caught off guard and didn't know what to think.
Maybe she was too lonely, or maybe she longed for attention; she almost unconsciously placed her hand in Ian's. By the time she realized it, it was already too late.
Ian gracefully placed his arm around his aunt's waist and began to dance with her towards the stage. Sylvia, on the other hand, was bewildered and stood rooted in her position, feeling aggrieved. Her sadness was palpable.
Ian, noticing her reaction, didn't let it slide. Just as they were walking past her, he lightly slapped her butt and winked at her imperceptibly, leaving her completely stunned.
'Damn! I am a real scumbag.'
He couldn't help but think. He was dancing with his aunt in his arms while flirting with his sister-in-law. If Duke Alex found out, he would burn him alive.
Fortunately, the light in the entire venue was dim, and nobody was paying attention to their corner.
Just as he was dancing in rhythm with the mature lady in his arms, his aunt Margaret finally came to her senses. She suddenly tried to push him away and said,
"Ian, you shouldn't do this."
Ian understood her meaning but replied as if he didn't understand.
"Aunt, what's the problem? Don't worry, we're only dancing. I don't know where my uncle went, leaving behind our beautiful aunt. How can I leave her alone by herself?"
"Ian, I'm not talking about that. You… You…"
Margaret tried to talk to him but couldn't form the words properly; she was confused.
"Aunt, did Uncle Thomas ask you to do something?"
Ian didn't want to delve into that topic yet, so he tried to confirm something from her.
Hearing his sudden question, Margaret was stunned and then avoided his gaze with a guilty conscience.
Ian wasn't a fool. He knew his aunt was often left alone, as Uncle Thomas barely paid her any attention. However, that dynamic changed entirely in front of outsiders, where they maintained the appearance of a perfect couple.
Today, though, she had clearly followed him everywhere, especially when he was with Lyra. It was hard for Ian to believe there wasn't some kind of conspiracy at play.
Maybe if he hadn't confused her with those words earlier, she would have started to entice him with her own about the quota or about Lyra. Or maybe she wouldn't.
Ian didn't know. Of course, he didn't believe his aunt would hurt him or his family. She was simply being used as a pawn this time.
In fact, in the novel, when Thomas left her alone and ran away, she committed suicide shortly after; it was only mentioned briefly, as he was a passerby villain.
"Aunt, you don't have to feel guilty. I know that your relationship with Uncle Thomas is not good. However, it isn't good to deceive your family, right?"
He whispered softly and hugged her tightly to his body when he saw that the light had become much darker in his corner.
"Aunt, did he tell you to persuade me to give the pioneering quota to him?"
Margaret was visibly stunned by his words. Seeing her reaction and panicked look, Ian was sure that was the case.
Seeing that Ian had uncovered her motive, Margaret was heartbroken. She didn't even have time to do anything before she was completely exposed.
The feeling of deceiving your family for personal gain wasn't something she wanted, but she couldn't deny her husband.
Ian looked at his aunt's face, filled with sadness and melancholy, as if everything was leaving her. She was so beautiful yet so poor.
He didn't know why, but he didn't want her to be stuck in this quagmire and disappear in obscurity. Seeing the mature woman in front of him crumbling, he knew he had to divert her attention.
So, he first ensured nobody was paying attention in this corner. Then, he placed his finger under her chin, tilted her face upward, and kissed her stunned expression without giving her any chance to react.