# 13 -
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“It is an honor to share the first dance with Miss Enohater.”
Yuan straightened up after kissing the back of her hand. From his lopsided smile, it was clear that his words were laced with biting sarcasm.
“The honor is mine, Duke Frecktwister.” Seret replied, gritting her teeth in exasperation at his mockery.
Yuan smiled contentedly, as if he was pleased with her facial expressions.
Anger flared up in Seret's chest at the sight of his smile, until she thought that scratching that arrogant face once more would relieve her distress.
But she held on. She cannot smash a vase on her fiancé's head in the middle of the imperial party.
I am here representing the Ennwahtar family.
She took a deep breath to calm her anger.
She was not allowed to be emotional and bring disrepute to her family.
While she was trying to compose herself, Lydia appeared with Regan on the dance floor.
Lydia, in her green dress, seemed to radiate and sparkle, perhaps because of the lighting.
Seret was afraid that she would feel terrified as she had in her previous life in front of Lydia's radiance, but this time she straightened her back, standing majestically.
Seret watched Lydia and Regan dance together.
Although Lydia claimed that her feet hurt, she danced with real grace. For a moment, Seret was captivated by her graceful, butterfly-like movements.
Then she was suddenly overcome with curiosity about Yuan's facial expression. What do his features look like when he looks at the beautiful Lydia?
She couldn't resist her curiosity, so she raised her eyes to look at Yuan's face next to her.
He looked at Lydia and Regan dancing with an expressionless face.
What feelings does he hide behind that dead face? Seret wanted to know what was in his heart.
He said suddenly, without looking away from the dance floor;
“Am I so handsome? That you can't take your eyes off me?”
Confused by his words, Seret quickly turned her gaze away from him. She must have been staring at him very clearly.
She just wanted to know how he felt looking at Lydia. But the situation became ripe for a misunderstanding, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“I hope you don't misunderstand.” Seret said, raising her chin with a condescending expression.
“I won't. No misunderstanding.” Yuan replied, but his words did not match his facial expression.
The corner of his mouth was raised in a clearly satisfied smile, the look a man gives a woman he thinks is thirsty for him.
He's already doing it... Seret's brow furrows. This is not the case.
It bothered her that Yuan interpreted her words and actions as merely coddling him.
My feelings are much deeper than that.
She turned her gaze to Lydia, who danced like a butterfly, but Seret's face was stiff.
Maybe I should have let myself fall into the trap Lydia had set... let him dance with her and bear the Crown Prince's wrath. Anyway, I won't see him again after I break off my engagement to Yuan.
As she boiled, her ears picked up voices behind her;
“Miss Elliot is really special.”
“Since she danced the first dance, it is like being recognized as a member of the imperial family.”
"I don't think so. To say she opened the party is an exaggeration. Her partner was His Highness Grand Duke Poplaruel."
“True, Grand Duke Poplaruel also opened the previous ceremony with the first dance.”
“However, we cannot ignore that Miss Elliot is dancing now.”
Siret regained her calm when she heard the whispers of the noble ladies behind her.
Opinions were mixed, but it was clear that Lydia caught the attention again at this concert.
How long will they continue to praise her? It seems that the rose of aristocratic society will not wither this year either.
Soon, Lydia and Reagan's dance ended. With a solemn face, Lydia left the dance floor with him.
Since a member of the imperial family had announced the beginning of the ceremony with the first dance, everyone could now dance freely.
People started heading towards the dance floor.
Yuan extended his hand towards her; “Miss Enohater?”
Seret stared in amazement at his outstretched hand as if it were a no-brainer for her to take it. A hand she didn't want to hold at all.
“What if I refuse?” I asked.
He answered her with a steady, calm face; “Rumors will spread.”
“What kind of rumour?”
“There is a dispute between Duke Frecktwister and his fiancée.”
“And that's exactly what I want.” Seret answered as she placed her hand in his lightly.
A smile appeared on Yuan's lips, then he tightened his grip on her hand and said; “It looks like you won't get your wish, Miss Einwhatter.”
“This is unfortunate, but I am helpless. I will dance one dance for Duke Freaktwister’s reputation.” Seret said with a frozen face.
Even if she broke up with him, she didn't want to be criticized by the nobles. Therefore, against her will, she must dance at least one dance with him.
Yuan giggled; “What an honor.”
Seret felt her dignity was wounded by his reaction. She was forced to do this for the sake of her family's reputation, but he misinterpreted the situation again.
It would be a problem if you took this as mere pampering, Duke Yuan Freaktwister.
She said firmly as she walked, holding his hand, towards the dance floor; “If you think I'm being stubborn to get the Duke's attention, you're wrong.”
He responded with a mysterious smile; "What do you want me to think, then? I'll think what you want, Miss Enohater."
He put his hand on her waist and pulled her closer to him. Seret shuddered for a moment, but pretended to remain still and looked up at him.
She said quietly; “It is true that I was invited here as Duke Frecktwister’s fiancée, but I am participating as a representative of the Einwhatter family.”
He replied: “I understand. I respect Miss Innwheater’s intentions.”
She raised her eyes at him and said sharply: “But your face doesn't look respectable at all.”
Yuan's smiling face seemed to say: 'A little puppy barking.'
“You distort my words, and now you interpret my features as you wish? This does not seem like a good habit.”
The moment Yuan finished speaking, the sound of music rang out.
Yuan led Seret lightly, and she responded to him in dancing smoothly.
She said sarcastically; “I wish I had brought a small mirror, so I could show you your facial features yourself, then I would not have said that.”
Speak softly; “Seret Enwhater.”
She looked at him pointedly, wondering if he was giving her a warning. Does he mean that I shouldn't cross the line?
He smiled a sarcastic smile as he said, “…Is that what you think?”
With a sly face, she realized that he was joking with her. Her face tightened and she said, “What do you mean?”
His deep voice came close to her ear; “You're not the person I knew.”
naturally. That innocent girl died. You killed her yourself.
She looked at him coldly and said: “And you're not the man I knew either, Duke.”
Until I drank the poisoned tea, I thought you were just a cold husband who had never forgotten his first love.
But after the poison, I saw you as the worst husband. Since I discovered your plan, I have seen you as nothing but a scoundrel.
he asked her, spinning her around in the dance; “I'm curious...what do you think of me?”
After turning her around completely, Seret looked into his gray eyes and said clearly
“The most hateful being in this world. Someone I don’t want to get close to even for a moment.”
Yuan's smile completely disappeared, and he stared at her intensely for a long time.
She added firmly, without lowering her gaze; “I hate you so much, Duke.”
She had to make him clearly understand how much she hated him.
He stared at her with his sharp eyes, but she didn't back down.
In her previous life, she was running after his love, but now, just touching his hand and dancing with him makes her nauseated.
The man who treated me like livestock. The man who killed me immediately after taking advantage of me. Yuan Freaktwister is the most hateful creature in this world.
He replied in a cold voice, sharp as a sword; “It is unfortunate... that a woman hates her future husband to this extent.”
No one had ever encountered Yuan Freaktwister like this. Who would dare say to his face: “I hate you”?
She said with a bitter smile; "maybe."
Why did I, of all people, have to fall under his gaze? If he had not paid attention to me, I would not have suffered all this torment.
The music ended and their movements stopped.
Seret looked at him for a moment, and their eyes met.
Yuan's face was stiff, while her face looked sad.
But, overwhelmed with emotion, she quickly withdrew her hand from his and fled towards the second floor balcony.
The balcony overlooking the rose garden was quiet, perhaps because it was still early.
In a few hours it would become a meeting place for lovers, but now it was quiet... perfect for being alone.
Seret stood at the fence, looking at the garden and breathing deeply.
The night air was mixed with the fragrance of flowers, spreading a strong sense of spring.
But she was so psychologically exhausted that she couldn't enjoy it.
At that moment, a gentle voice was heard;
“Isn't this a place for you to be alone?”
It was the voice of Grand Duke Reagan Poplaruel.
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