Ch.119119. The Ball

“Have you been waiting long?”

The tightly closed door opened, and Chloe’s face peeked out. Her bright red hair was still slightly damp, swaying gently. Rex, who had been leaning against the wall, turned around as Chloe smiled wryly and said.

“It took a bit longer than I expected. The shower was quick, but it was hard to put on the dress by myself. Sorry.”

“Shall we go downstairs now?”

“Hmm, no.”

Chloe shook her head as she took Rex’s hand.

“I’ve seen enough of the ball, and we might get entangled with other people. I’m not particularly hungry either. Let’s go outside.”

The first floor was still noisy. On one side, various people mingled and chatted, while in the corner, a band played music. Rex and Chloe passed by them and stepped outside the ballroom’s main entrance.

“It would be a shame to go back already. Let’s take a short walk.”

While dozens of soldiers stood guard at the main gate and in front of the building, there were relatively few patrolling the surrounding gardens. The ballroom grounds were perfect for a stroll, surrounded by trees of various sizes. Several couples could be seen sharing intimate moments in the secluded bushes.

“This spot seems suitable.”

Chloe murmured with satisfaction as she looked around. A secluded garden. The night air was pleasantly cool, and there was no worry of unexpected strangers approaching. Right now, only Rex and herself were here. Remembering this fact, Chloe gently released his hand and turned her back.

“You know.”

She started boldly but didn’t continue beyond that. Rex looked at her with a curious expression. She seemed to be contemplating something, carefully choosing her words. Her eyes trembled roughly despite her feigned composure.

‘Could it be.’

Rex swallowed dryly and opened his mouth.

“Chloe.”

“Is this romantic enough now?”

Chloe lowered her head.

“The breeze is pleasantly cool, the moon is white, and there’s no one around. Not even Lady Elin.”

“…”

“I’m wearing a pretty dress. My makeup… washed off when I showered, but anyway, today is the best opportunity in the past three years. If I let today go to waste, when will I ever get to be alone with you again?”

“Chloe, I—”

“I want to claim you. Remember what I said earlier? That today, no one else can touch you. That you’re mine.”

Rex couldn’t answer. He wanted to say something, but strangely, his mouth wouldn’t open. Chloe, who had been looking down at the ground, let out a bitter laugh and sighed.

“It’s ugly, isn’t it? Possessiveness isn’t an emotion one should have toward a person. Rex isn’t an object. Even though I know it’s wrong, I keep wanting to make you mine. I don’t want to share you with anyone else. I keep wishing you would look only at me.”

“Chloe. I also—”

“It’s okay.”

Chloe interrupted Rex’s words. She raised her head and smiled brightly. When their eyes met, Rex bit his lip tightly. She was clearly smiling, but somehow it didn’t look like she was smiling at all.

‘Why.’

Why are you forcing yourself to smile with a face that looks like it might cry at any moment? I’m not a fool. I know what feelings you’re harboring right now.

You’re sad.

Thoughts that couldn’t become words swirled in his head. Before he could blurt out the words that had suddenly risen, Chloe spoke first, lifting the corners of her mouth.

“Rex is always working so hard.”

“…What?”

“You’ve always been a worrier. Always suffering in your room, not telling others what’s bothering you. You try to shoulder everything alone. Even after coming to Elysium, you’ve always seemed somewhat detached. Even when we go out together, when Lady Elin or I speak to you, you can’t focus. Suddenly wearing a serious expression all by yourself. When asked what’s wrong, you just brush it off saying it’s nothing.”

“That’s a misunder—”

“Stop. You were about to lie again. It can’t be a misunderstanding. I’ve been watching you for so long. I know you better than you think.”

Chloe retorted with a stern voice, placing both hands on her hips.

“I sometimes wondered what if my strength had been enough for Rex to rely on. If I could have shared your burden and moved forward together. But that’s not what I was trying to say…”

Chloe smiled gently and lightly tapped Rex’s chest with her fist.

“I’m too sorry to be selfish. Because I like you, the more I like you, the more I want to be there for you. I don’t want to be a shackle of a lover holding your ankle. So I’ll postpone my confession for now. Until you’ve resolved all your problems and become free.”

“…Isn’t that basically a confession anyway?”

Rex asked with a wry face. I like you, I want to be your lover, I’ll postpone my confession. Despite the roundabout way, wasn’t the conclusion essentially the same as making a confession? As he stared blankly at the fist touching his chest, Chloe blushed and glared at him with narrowed eyes.

“Here I am being serious! You, you’re good in every way, but you’re so tactless, aren’t you? Hmm? You could just let it slide nicely. Did you have to point that out specifically? Really, why did I have to fall for someone like you and embarrass myself by saying all this!”

“…Sorry. Do you dislike me now?”

“No.”

Chloe’s forehead tilted down to touch Rex’s chest.

“You’re annoying, but… I still like you.”

A hushed whisper followed. Rex stroked Chloe’s hair with a faint smile.

“Thank you.”

“For what.”

“Everything.”

“…That’s enough. Idiot.”

Chloe grumbled with a sullen face. Pulling away from Rex’s chest and returning to her usual self, she spoke in a deliberately cheerful tone.

“Shall we head back? It’s getting late, and there’s nothing more to do. Come to think of it, we came to a ball but didn’t get to dance. That’s a bit disappointing.”

“Dance?”

“Yes. I only learned for half a day, but I practiced hard. This was actually my first aristocratic party, so I had some expectations. But reality is different from imagination. Nobles aren’t that different from commoners. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed.”

Rex shrugged, looking in the direction of the ballroom.

“We could go back to the ballroom.”

“I don’t want to. Everyone recognizes me because of the commotion earlier. Even on our way here, people were staring at you and me like they were observing strange animals.”

“…Were they?”

“Rex, you need to be more sensitive to others’ gazes.”

Though he was certain his senses were far superior to Chloe’s, he didn’t bother to voice that thought. Chloe was glaring at him sharply, and he understood that wasn’t what she meant.

“Dance, huh.”

Clearly, Chloe had considerable lingering attachment to the ball. She had worked diligently to learn dancing in a short time at the Edenhart mansion. Plus, she hadn’t experienced any real joy at the ball and instead had received a lot of unpleasant feelings. It was understandable that she felt regretful.

“We can dance here too, can’t we?”

Rex smiled and knelt on one knee. Chloe tilted her head with wide eyes.

“…What are you doing?”

“As you said, there’s no one here, and the breeze is pleasantly cool. The moon is white. It’s quite a romantic atmosphere, isn’t it? It’s a bit quiet, but we can still hear the music from the ballroom. That’s enough for background music.”

“But… this is in the forest.”

“What does that matter when it’s just you and me?”

Rex extended his hand toward Chloe with an elegant gesture.

“My lady, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

It was clearly an affected tone, but Chloe didn’t point that out. She just blinked, staring blankly at Rex.

“Please grant me this opportunity. If I am rejected by the lady, I shall die of shame.”

“We can’t have that.”

Chloe chuckled and took his hand.

“You absolutely cannot die on your own terms. If you were to die, well, it would be because you were caught looking at another woman and I killed you.”

“For someone with such a beautiful appearance, you have quite fiery words.”

“Idiot. I’m embarrassed, so just act normal.”

“Alright. So, your answer?”

Rex rose to his feet. Chloe lifted the hem of her dress with one hand and curtsied.

“I’m in your care, Sir Knight.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

The moon is bright tonight.

Under the pure white moonlight, they both smiled.

***

“Did you enjoy the ball? No. That was a needless question. Judging by your expressions, you had quite a good time.”

Charlotte sneered with a disinterested face.

“Have you been awake all this time?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t waiting for you. I’m awake because of these damned papers.”

Rex let out an awkward laugh. Charlotte pushed aside the stack of documents on her desk and stretched.

“Whether at home or at the marquis’s estate, I never get to rest. I thought I’d finally dump some work on Allen and take a break. This defeats the purpose of a vacation.”

“…May I ask why you summoned us?”

After returning to the mansion by carriage, they were immediately guided by a servant to Charlotte’s office. Not just Rex, but Chloe was also ordered to come along. He thought there might be some urgent matter, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“It’s nothing special.”

Charlotte answered nonchalantly.

“I was just curious if you returned without any issues. I also wanted you to see firsthand how much I’m suffering from overwork.”

So, in other words, she called them because she was bored. As Rex wore an incredulous expression, Charlotte narrowed her eyes and stood up.

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“No. As someone indebted to the Edenhart marquis family, I should naturally pay my respects to you. I was planning to see you even without being summoned.”

“As if.”

Charlotte twisted her lips and approached a closet placed in the corner. As Chloe and Rex looked at each other with puzzled eyes, the closet door flung open and someone jumped out.

“Ta-da.”

“…”

“Aren’t you surprised?”

Elin blinked and asked. Charlotte clicked her tongue and waved her hand.

“She insisted on waiting until you returned. I told her to wait in her room, but she didn’t want to.”

“We might miss each other on the way.”

“She kept making rustling noises while I was working, wandering around the office, and sticking to the window to look outside. It was quite a scene. Because she was so annoying, I told her if she absolutely had to be here, she should stay quietly in the closet.”

“The closet was spacious and comfortable.”

Elin replied indifferently and shifted her gaze.

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“…I was surprised.”

Though confusion was the stronger reaction. Rex scratched his cheek awkwardly. Elin then approached him briskly, closed her eyes, and sniffed.

“…What are you doing?”

This wasn’t the first time Elin had acted strangely, but this was a first. He didn’t know how to react. As Rex stiffened, Elin twitched her nose and murmured.

“Dogs have a good sense of smell.”

“Pardon?”

“A dog’s sense of smell can tell many things.”

Had she become so attached to the dogs at the Edenhart mansion that she was now imitating them? Despite being a mage with vast knowledge, Elin had childlike aspects that didn’t match her age.

“Fortunately, I don’t smell what I was concerned about.”

“What do you—”

“Women. I smell a bit of alcohol, but no women’s scent.”

“Of course not! I was with him the whole time, protecting him.”

Chloe hurriedly blocked the space between Elin and Rex, shouting. Elin looked at Chloe as if she had heard something absurd and bluntly said.

“That’s what I was worried about.”

“What?”

“If you want to have a lovers’ quarrel, take it out to the hallway.”

Charlotte struck the table with a rolled-up document.

“I still have mountains of work to process. Don’t disturb me and get out. Now!”

The group was pushed out of the office by Charlotte’s hand. Just as the door was about to close, Charlotte called Rex back.

“I almost forgot. The princess’s coming-of-age ceremony is in a week. Do you remember?”

“Yes.”

“The day before the ceremony, don’t go anywhere and stay quietly at the mansion. You’ve probably already learned the etiquette, but there are separate rules to follow at the imperial palace.”

“…Will I be going too?”

Charlotte frowned and waved her hand.

“Why are you asking the obvious? If I wasn’t going to have you participate in the coming-of-age ceremony, why would I have bothered bringing you all the way to Elysium? Not just you, but the other two will also come along. I’ve told you now, so keep that in mind.”

Bang.

The door closed.

Rex looked at Chloe and Elin alternately with an awkward face, then scratched the back of his head.

“Let’s go back.”

And a week passed.