TGDWDS 15

Chapter 15

White wine went down more smoothly than red wine. Switching glasses had been the Grand Duke’s consideration for her.

Anais gave him the words she naturally ought to say.

“……Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The Grand Duke replied lightly.

The two of them treated each other naturally, as though they had planned it beforehand. They acted as if the kiss from earlier had never happened.

Even the glances they would have exchanged repeatedly before were now carefully avoided as they carried on their conversation.

Thanks to that, Anais was able to face the Grand Duke without feeling burdened during the reception that followed immediately after the ceremony.

As for her belated embarrassment, she could simply hide it.

Meanwhile, the reception began to grow livelier.

Watching the scene, Anais formed a faint, polite smile on her lips.

At that moment, the Grand Duke leaned toward her ear and whispered in a low voice.

“Imperial banquets aren’t places meant to be enjoyed. Our part ended earlier, so all we have to do is sit here and kill time.”

It was a rather scathing remark.

Anais instinctively looked at him.

As soon as their eyes met, however, he smiled like a perfectly courteous gentleman.

“Just endure it for a little while, even if you’re bored. It’ll be easier if you simply close your ears and ignore everything. Like this.”

The Grand Duke turned his gaze forward again.

His squared shoulders were held straight beneath his black formal uniform.

His red eyes were appropriately indifferent to everything, and his face was so cold that no one would dare casually approach him.

He stood there with an air more aristocratic than anyone else.

His crimson eyes, different from the way he looked at Anais, sharply surveyed the reception.

The words he had just uttered, coming from someone who looked like this, practically trampled on the dignity of the reception prepared by the Imperial Family.

And he had said them in such a casual tone.

For some reason, Anais thought that his arrogant attitude suited him perfectly.

The Grand Duke fit this lavish reception just as well as the other direct members of the imperial family standing here.

That he could look like this while thinking such things……

His words were rather blunt, but Anais could not help agreeing with him.

Besides, she found it strangely amusing, and before she knew it, the corners of her lips had lifted slightly.

The tension that had been tightly binding her seemed to melt away like snow.

Looking straight ahead just as the Grand Duke was, she answered.

“That’s actually wonderful to hear. I’m really good at that. You know, enduring parties while letting time pass.”

“Since this is my first banquet like this, I suppose I have much to learn from you.”

Still looking forward, he replied as though genuinely interested.

Anais spoke lightly.

“It’s not difficult. You just have to avoid making eye contact. If you do make eye contact, turn your head away. Or turn your body. People won’t approach you if you do that.”

The Grand Duke did not answer immediately.

Only after a brief silence did he speak.

“……I see. I’ll remember that.”

There seemed to be a trace of bitterness in his voice.

Anais tilted her head, unable to understand why.

Just then, a dance floor opened in the center of the hall.

One by one, nobles began dancing to the music flowing from the instruments.

Anais watched the scene indifferently.

Then the Grand Duke turned toward her and politely held out his hand.

“If you don’t mind, may I ask you for a dance?”

Anais blinked at the unexpected offer.

Her head first turned toward the Grand Duke, then tilted toward the hand he had extended.

“Is this also one of those official occasions where we have to fulfill our roles as husband and wife?”

She was simply curious.

She was unsure what significance a dance invitation carried.

Anais raised her gaze.

The Grand Duke’s red eyes shone vividly beneath the chandelier light.

Unlike when he had been surveying the banquet hall, the corners of his eyes were now curved softly.

Anais could not take her eyes off him.

The more she looked at him, the more she felt that he was a man who suited this magnificent hall far better than the Grand Duchy of the North.

The Grand Duke lightly raised an eyebrow.

As though telling her not to worry, he answered.

“No. So you may refuse comfortably.”

After finishing his words, he seemed to think for a moment, narrowing his eyes slightly before adding in a low voice,

“Of course…… I would be sad.”

It was a cleanly delivered remark accompanied by a shrug.

Yet his eyes were anything but composed.

An overwhelming emotion seemed to be rushing toward him.

A calmness deliberately fabricated so that he would not reveal it.

And the heaviness that inevitably showed through despite his efforts.

Anais could immediately recognize it.

For an instant, that same incredibly deep look she had seen when she first met him passed through his eyes.

The very gaze she had continued turning over in her mind for so long—perhaps even until now.

Anais was once again filled with deep curiosity.

Why does he keep looking at me with an expression like that……?

Pressing her lips together, she thought,

……And why is it that every time he does, something inside me aches?

She had no idea what she was missing that made it so impossible to stop thinking about.

There were too many things she did not understand.

Even her thoughts seemed to fade until her mind became completely white.

Lost and wandering, Anais managed to grasp onto one thought.

If I can figure all of this out clearly, perhaps I can distance myself from death a little more?

Yes.

All of this was connected to her death.

Anais tried not to forget that.

The sadness had already disappeared from the Grand Duke’s face.

When no answer came to his invitation, he simply gave an awkward smile.

His red eyes turned elsewhere, as though avoiding Anais’s gaze.

Wanting to catch that moment, Anais opened her mouth.

“What is it that would make you so sad?”

The crimson eyes that returned to her stared at her intently.

Holding her breath, Anais waited for his answer.

But after remaining silent for a moment, the Grand Duke smiled gently and changed his expression.

“I don’t know when I’ll have another chance to dance with Anais.”

“……”

“As you know, there are hardly any banquets I can attend as the Grand Duke. That’s all I meant when I said I’d be disappointed.”

The Grand Duke gave a light, self-deprecating laugh, as if telling her not to take it seriously.

The emotion that had seemed ready to burst out only moments before had disappeared in an instant.

Seeing this, Anais came to a conclusion.

There was something he was desperately hiding.

Whatever it was, she would have to find out more.

Once she had made up her mind, her hand moved before she could think twice.

She firmly caught the sleeve of the Grand Duke, who was about to withdraw.

“……!”

At that moment, the Grand Duke’s arm stopped as though it had been frozen in place.

Seeing that, Anais met his eyes and asked without hesitation.

“If you’re really that disappointed, shall we dance for one song?”

In the Grand Duke’s expression, attitude, and eyes—

Anais had been searching for something that might lead her to the cause of her death.

But she soon became dazed.

The Grand Duke’s eyes, which had been frozen in surprise, remained still for a moment before slowly—and brightly—curving into a smile.

“……It would be my honor.”

Watching him answer so happily, Anais slowly blinked.

……It’s just one dance. Why is he smiling that brightly?

He looked as though he was genuinely happy.

Anais unconsciously relaxed and let out a small, awkward laugh.

She did not know whether she should be happy for him or become even more serious because she had found nothing.

An ambiguous smile settled around Anais’s lips.

The Grand Duke, on the other hand, was smiling unmistakably brightly.

He held out his hand.

“Shall we?”

The two placed their hands together and naturally headed toward the dance floor.

Then the Grand Duke suddenly lowered his head toward Anais.

A moment later, his low whisper reached her ears.

“There is one thing I didn’t tell you.”

“What is it?”

Confused, Anais looked up at the Grand Duke.

He was now closer to her than the length of a handspan.

One by one, more eyes began turning toward the two of them.

Meanwhile, the two were completely absorbed in one another, devoting all their attention to each other.

Just then, a new piece of music rang out, and the dancing began.

After quickly scanning the surroundings, the Grand Duke quietly answered into Anais’s ear.

“To be honest, I’m not very good at dancing. I’ve never done it before, nor have I ever learned.”

“……!”

Apparently he was telling the truth.

He watched the people around them and tried to imitate their dance movements.

“I’ll do my best to dance, ugh. I’m sorry.”

As soon as they started, the Grand Duke nearly stepped on Anais’s foot.

His face was filled with unmistakable embarrassment.

He was tall, with jet-black hair.

His face was so cold that he seemed difficult to approach, and his blood-red eyes made him look dangerous.

He had appeared more dignified and formidable than anyone else.

And yet, now he was anxiously checking on Anais as though deeply embarrassed.

It was a mistake from the Grand Duke, who had seemed as though he could do everything perfectly.

Anais stared at him in fascination.

“I won’t make the same mistake again.”

Whispering that, he diligently watched the people around them and tried his best to follow along.

Then he turned his gaze toward Anais, as though seeking confirmation.

He kept watching her reaction.

It was completely different from what Anais had expected.

For some reason, the Grand Duke looked extremely anxious.

Watching him, Anais spoke calmly.

“Don’t worry. Leave it to me. I’m actually good at dancing.”