Finally, the long-awaited day arrived—the victory banquet at the grand palace. There would be plenty of delicious food to try, and of course, the highlight: dancing with your partner. I was truly looking forward to what would happen next.
Holding Cedric's hand, I felt nervous since attending such a grand event was my first time. Moreover, the star of this banquet was bundoubtedly Cedric, who had brought victory from the war. As his wife, I too would undoubtedly be in the spotlight.
We slowly stepped into the banquet hall, and all eyes turned to us. I could see women gazing at Cedric with admiration. Well, I couldn't blame them. This protagonist of mine truly dazzled when seen up close. Thankfully, I was used to it.
We immediately greeted King Albert, who seemed pleased with our arrival. Beside him was Queen Josefina, who looked beautiful despite her graying hair. After a bit of small talk initiated by Cedric, we finished greeting the country's leaders.
I scanned the room, looking for someone. "What are you looking for?" Cedric asked curiously, handing me a glass of drink.
"Nothing, just looking around."
To be honest, I was worried the events in the novel would start happening now. There might have been an assassin already lurking, targeting me. That's why I needed to stay alert for any suspicious movements.
"Can you wait here for a moment? I need to speak with Count Rex," Cedric said, gently stroking my head and looking at me softly.
"Go ahead. You don't need my permission to talk to others."
Without replying, he smiled once more before walking away. I waved him off. He really was adorable when he acted like this.
While Cedric chatted with his friend, I continued observing my surroundings—now with a plate of chocolate-flavored sweets that were absolutely delicious. I might need to ask the palace chef for the recipe. These treats were so good they completely distracted me.
"Good evening, Duchess Cathleen." A woman in a bright purple gown approached me.
"Good evening, Miss…?" I replied, slightly confused since I didn't know who she was.
"Cheryl. Cheryl Bellanca. I'm the daughter of Marquess Bellanca," she said, half-covering her face with a fan. "How could a duchess not recognize the Bellanca family, which has always supported the Orion family?"
Wow. What a unique name, though it sounded amusing to me. But that arrogant attitude? I didn't like it one bit.
"It's not that, but your makeup is so heavy I couldn't recognize you."
Cheryl seemed shocked by my words, her face turning red. "D-does my makeup look bad?" she asked, her eyes welling with tears.
Huh? I thought she was the type to get angry immediately without regard for the situation. That kind of character was such a cliché in novels. But instead, the person before me was just a weepy teenage girl. Cheryl, where did your arrogance go?
This could be a problem if Cheryl started crying. I might get accused of bullying a noble's daughter. "I didn't say it was bad. It's just that it makes you look older," I said, guiding her to a corner of the banquet hall. "How old are you?"
Wiping away a stray tear, Cheryl replied, "Seventeen."
Ah, the age when girls want to look prettier than anyone else. I could understand that. "Hey, don't cry. Go ask your maid to fix your makeup." I glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to us.
"This is my first party since my debut, so I don't know what kind of makeup noblewomen usually wear," she said in a gloomy voice. "Could you fix my makeup, Duchess?"
I stared at her, bewildered. "No, I can't," I replied firmly, rejecting her request. The problem was, I wasn't skilled at things like this either. "You're better off asking your maid to fix it for you."
"But my maid said this makeup was already beautiful."
I tried to keep my emotions in check. "Then find a maid who doesn't just flatter you and ask them to redo your makeup."
Reluctantly, she responded, "Alright."
Her disheartened expression made me feel sorry for her. With a heavy sigh, I called over a server carrying a tray of drinks.
"Is there something I can help you with, Duchess?"
"Can you find Miss Cheryl a maid who can quickly redo someone's makeup?"
"Of course, leave it to me."
Without hesitation, Cheryl followed the server. But after only a few steps, she turned back to me.
"What now, Miss Cheryl?"
"May I visit your estate, Duchess?"
"Do as you like, Miss Cheryl."
"Thank you for helping me, Duchess Cathleen. You're the best."
It seems today I've gained a little friend who desperately needs to learn proper manners.
***
After finishing my business with Cheryl, I still didn't see Cedric wrapping up his conversation with Count Rex. I was curious about what they were discussing with such serious expressions. It was amusing to watch several women approach them, only to be met with sharp gazes from Count Rex and Cedric, who didn't even acknowledge their presence.
Suddenly, the music in the room changed. This marked the start of the first dance. I was eager to dance, but it seemed Cedric was still preoccupied. That was fine; there would be more dances later.
"Duchess Cathleen, may I have the honor of being your partner for the first dance?" a voice called out, and a man with silver hair suddenly appeared before me.
I looked him up and down. His luxurious attire resembled something worn by a king or queen. Wait a minute—could this be Prince Regis?
"Prince Regis?" I murmured, still in disbelief at the figure standing before me.
"Yes? Is there something wrong?" he asked, his charming smile capable of melting any woman's heart, including mine.
"No, nothing at all. I'm just surprised that you're asking me to dance," I replied, trying to stay composed.
"So, Duchess Cathleen, shall we dance now?"
"I—" Before I could finish, someone gently pulled me backward. I found myself in someone's embrace—it was undoubtedly Cedric.
"Apologies, Prince, but my wife doesn't dance with anyone other than her husband," Cedric declared. His tone was calm, but his words carried a sharp finality. Startled, I looked up at him, only to see his expression clouded with restrained emotion. Cedric's gaze was as sharp as a knife, making me hesitant to speak.
Without waiting for Prince Regis to respond, Cedric took me away from the crowd. Wow, this man truly dared to be impolite to a member of the royal family. He led me out of the bustling hall.
"Cedric?" I stopped walking beside him. "Are you angry?"
He stopped too, though he didn't turn to face me. "Cathleen."
"Yes?"
"If I hadn't been there just now, would you have accepted Regis' offer?"
"Prince Regis. You can't refer to him without his title. What if someone overheard you? Even walls have ears," I replied, stepping in front of him to meet his gaze with determination. "Besides, from the beginning, I only wanted to dance with you. Even if you weren't there, I would've declined Prince Regis' request."
Suddenly, Cedric pulled me into a tight embrace. Honestly, it felt heavy, as though he was pouring all his emotions into this hug. I returned the embrace.
"Forgive me for pulling you away like that," he murmured.
"It's okay."
"Do you still want to dance?"
"Of course, but it seems the first song is nearly over. We should hurry back to the banquet hall if we want to dance to the second one."
"As you wish, my wife," he replied before casually lifting me into his arms.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Your steps are too small, so I'm helping you get there faster."
"But I'll be embarrassed if someone sees us!"
"Don't worry. I'll set you down before we enter," he reassured me. Resigned, I clung to him as he carried me.
This was truly a surprising experience. For the first time, I felt something new—being cared for and deeply loved by a man. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Cedric knew I wasn't the Cathleen he knew. Would his attitude change, or would he stay the same?
For some reason, I felt myself beginning to fall for this man. The thought of the real Cathleen returning and taking me out of this body made me uneasy.
I hoped that wouldn't happen. I truly hoped.