Chapter 96

“Kyle, is it really okay to go in like this…?”

Somehow, the day of the ball had already arrived.

I was standing next to Kyle wearing the dress I had previously fitted, but I couldn’t help feeling worried.

This was my first time attending a ball!

“Is it really okay to go in wearing just this one dress? What if there’s some problem…”

“It’s fine.”

“Really…?”

I’m not doubting Kyle.

I was just very worried about whether it was really okay to go in like this.

My hands are probably trembling a lot.

“What if we go in and someone says, ‘Oh my, look at that woman, doesn’t her style fucking suck?’ or ‘How could you come to a ball without bringing that?'”

I’m really worried.

It’s not like I haven’t met female nobles before, but such things could happen.

I had nothing else but this dress and the silver ring Kyle gave me before.

“I told you, it’s fine.”

“K-Kyle!?”

Suddenly Kyle pulled my hand and started going inside!

While it might have been fine normally, in this already nervous situation, being pulled like this didn’t cause any excitement, only more worry!

“Duke Kyle of the Eristirol family is entering!!”

And so we forcibly arrived right in front of the ballroom.

There was no time to do anything…

“…”

“Don’t glare at me like that.”

“Fine.”

Yes, it’s already an unavoidable situation.

We had already arrived right in front of the ballroom, and Kyle and I were slowly entering the ballroom.

I fixed my expression for now.

If Kyle’s partner entered with an extremely strange expression… it would be a burden on Kyle.

“Kyl… cn we tlk ltr…?”

I spoke to Kyle with my mouth almost closed.

Very quietly, just loud enough for Kyle to hear.

To others, it probably looked and sounded like I wasn’t speaking at all.

“…”

Kyle looked at me as if nothing was wrong and answered with a slight smile.

Perhaps because he’s handsome, it’s difficult to say anything bad.

Damn it.

“Ha…”

Maybe because we entered so suddenly, my heart was beating rapidly.

It would have been better if he had given me more time to calm down.

I was trying my best to act fine, but it would definitely show.

Even I thought so.

“Oh my, Young Master Kyle… no, it’s Duke now, isn’t it?”

“Though I’m still lacking, yes.”

And as we were about to go to a table, a woman stood in front of Kyle.

From her expensive-looking dress to her red eyes, there was something I didn’t like.

And the way she looked at Kyle was different from how the Imperial Princess or Louise looked at him, clearly with that kind of intent.

But I kept my mouth shut.

I couldn’t risk making a mistake by opening my mouth unnecessarily.

It seemed better to just be quiet for now.

At least… Kyle was smiling.

“?”

Smiling?

Now?

“Excuse me, but who are you?”

“Ah, I was just sitting at the coming-of-age ceremony, so I couldn’t introduce myself. I’m sorry.”

If you’re sorry, you shouldn’t have done something to be sorry about.

Why are you wasting Kyle’s time?

“I’m Trisha of the Chillisang family.”

“Ah, pleased to meet you. As you’ve already heard, I’m Kyle of the Eristirol family. And this is my lover, Sofia.”

“K-Kyle?!”

Kyle suddenly introducing me as his lover.

Well, I am his lover, but isn’t it too fast and strange to reveal such things to nobles?!

For a moment, I almost squeezed Kyle’s hand painfully hard.

I was that surprised.

“Oh my… I had never heard that the Duke had a lover.”

“That’s natural. I haven’t announced it publicly yet, and we’ve only recently entered into this relationship.”

“…!”

I slightly poked Kyle’s hand with my fingernails as a warning to be moderate.

But… Kyle didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so.

As if he was going to publicly announce that I was his lover…?

“Probably within a few years, we’ll be more than lovers and become husband and wife.”

“Kyle…!”

I called Kyle somewhat quietly yet loudly.

Although there were voices of people and music in the ballroom, the overall atmosphere was quiet, so I had to speak quietly.

But still loud enough for Kyle to hear clearly.

“Alright.”

Only then did Kyle look at me and smile slightly.

Yes, whether it’s the Chillisang family or Chilsung family, isn’t it better to look at me than someone from such a family?

And not say such strange things.

“Anyway, that’s our relationship.”

“Hmm… I see.”

The woman from the Chillisang or Chilsung family began to look at my body as if scanning it.

Despite not having any exposure, I made a gesture as if covering my chest with my hands.

Honestly, it was an extremely embarrassing situation, which probably contributed to that.

“…Then have a good time.”

“The same to you from Chillisang.”

And so the woman moved away from us.

When she was far enough away that she couldn’t hear our conversation, I opened my mouth again.

“Kyle… why are you suddenly saying strange things!?”

“Well, they’re not strange things, are they?”

“What do you…”

“They’re not strange. It’s true that we’re lovers, and it’s also true that I want to become husband and wife with Sofia someday.”

“Ugh…”

That expression again.

Eyes slightly smiling while the mouth remains normal.

That somewhat strange expression.

As if enjoying my reaction.

“Since there’s still a long time until we dance, shall we spend some time comfortably together?”

“Okay…”

I had already entered without calming down, and now I was even less calm.

How do I endure this…?

My heart is beating even more rapidly than before because I can’t calm down.

If this continues, won’t my heart burst?

Yes, it might.

“Kyle, can you bring me some wine?”

“Hmm… just a moment.”

Kyle suddenly stood up.

Yes, I needed wine.

Even though I can’t handle alcohol well, and I’ve experienced getting drunk to the point of blacking out before…

Right now, I felt like I needed at least a sip to calm down a little.

“Here, two glasses of wine.”

“?”

I thought he was going to go get it, but suddenly I heard Kyle’s voice.

And Kyle sitting down with the wine.

“What?”

“What do you mean what? There are so many waiters walking around the ballroom.”

“Uh… woman?”

“Both women and men, there are many.”

I see…

No, I wasn’t having strange thoughts, I was just momentarily confused.

It’s not like I’ve been to restaurants with waiters.

I thought he was going to bring wine that was prepared along with food somewhere…

But that wasn’t the case.

Gulp…

“Whew… now I’m starting to calm down…”

Was it because the wine was cool?

Or was it because I got slightly tipsy from that one sip?

I definitely felt better than before.

My frantically beating heart had calmed down, and I was somewhat getting used to this situation.

“Haah… Kyle, how long do we have to stay here?”

But I was still uncomfortable.

I know I’m being too much.

I was asking about leaving when we hadn’t even been here for 20 minutes.

It’s not like I’m a son who went grocery shopping outside and is asking when we can go home…

“Sorry…”

Thinking about it, it was really too much, so I canceled my question.

Yes, Kyle must have brought me here because he wanted to come together so badly.

Otherwise, there would have been no need to buy me a dress, right?

“No, it’s fine. I brought you here, after all.”

“R-really?”

“Yes, I think we can go back after dancing a few songs together. Don’t worry too much. It’s just a place for dancing and nobles to exchange a few words anyway.”

“I… see. Alright.”

Yes, since Kyle wanted to come so badly…

I should understand.

I’m older, so if I can’t understand even this much, that would be too much, right?

“Ka.”

“Duke, hello?”

“Ah, hello.”

“…”

Just as we were about to start another conversation, another woman approached.

A woman whose appearance screamed ‘I’m a noble!’

She had large earrings on her ears and was wearing a lewd red dress that revealed her lower breasts and abdomen.

Of course, since her breasts weren’t as large as mine, the exposure didn’t look that extreme, but it was still lewd.

If I were still my past self, I would surely remember such an appearance.

Of course, now that I’m a woman, it wouldn’t remain in my memory at all.

“I’m Peneloti of the Quark Count family. You’re Duke Kyle of Eristirol… correct?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Count…”

I muttered to myself, quiet enough that neither of them could hear.

I whispered it so quietly that they probably didn’t hear it.

Yes, I expected this.

I naturally expected that female nobles would flock around Kyle.

But I didn’t expect that two would already come within 20 minutes of entering.

No, coming over when his partner is clearly sitting right next to him.

Nobles really have no manners.

Except for Kyle, of course.

“Though we’re meeting for the first time, you really have a handsome appearance. Is it because you take after the previous Duke?”

“Haha, that might be part of it, but I think my appearance is more influenced by my mother.”

“Huhu… I think there might be such aspects too. The Duke’s appearance certainly has beautiful elements.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Kyle…

Seemed to be enjoying the conversation with the woman.

Yes, when dealing with nobles, he can’t be casual or indifferent… that’s understandable.

But even so, I’m sitting right next to him…

“…”

No.

It’s okay.

Kyle hasn’t fully matured as a noble yet.

He needs to expand his connections in such settings.

This much was clear.

“If it’s alright with you, how about one dance later?”

“Hmm… I really appreciate the request, but I have a partner.”

Kyle said that while holding my hand.

I was a bit happy about that response, but…

“Oh, is that so?”

“…”

Somehow… I felt extremely angry.

Even though I’m wearing such a pretty dress, do I not look like Kyle’s partner?

Or is it because I obviously look like a commoner?

Only the nobles who are seeing me for the first time at this party would know, not me or Kyle.