Ch#45
“It is truly moving to see my dear cousin finally attending an event as a couple.”
“I’m grateful you feel that way.”
“It’s only natural. You are the head of our family, after all.”
Alexander spoke cheerfully. Keeping a polite smile fixed on her face, Rosalyn turned her gaze toward Naomi. As if she had been waiting, Naomi met her eyes and beamed—looking for all the world like a pair of harmonious sisters-in-law.
Jered was much the same. He stood smiling at his cousin, a man in the pink of health who already had two sons and could very well become his successor.
“I think of you as well, brother. Should anything happen to me, you would be the one to shoulder the responsibility of the family.”
At that moment, Rosalyn almost let her discomfort show.
“I have always found it reassuring,” Jered added.
“I am happy if I can be of help to you. Truly happy.”
Their conversation was conducted in an utterly mundane tone. Rosalyn suppressed her confusion and studied the two cousins standing close together. Looking at them now, they possessed entirely different appearances. Not a single feature, not even the slightest detail, looked alike.
The four of them shared a brief chat. Jered exchanged news with Alexander and asked Naomi after the well-being of their two sons. Rosalyn remained on high alert throughout, but she sensed no strange undercurrents. Jered treated his cousin and his wife with impeccable courtesy from start to finish.
“Will you hand the Duchess over to me when the next song begins?”
The atmosphere remained warm even when Alexander made the request.
“I saw you dance the first set with the Mayor’s wife; surely you must give me a chance as well. I’ve been waiting since the wedding for the day I might hold the beautiful Duchess’s hand.”
Alexander gave a jaunty smile and cast a glance at Rosalyn.
She instinctively looked to Naomi, but the woman didn’t seem to mind at all. She merely smiled with an expression that suggested her husband was incorrigible. Am I being overly sensitive? Rosalyn forced a slight smile, trying her best not to appear awkward.
Jered, too, seemed to think nothing of the man’s bold sociability.
“Of course, brother. To think the day has come where we would exchange partners.”
“Indeed. This day should have come much sooner.”
“Better late than never.”
As the men’s conversation reached its conclusion, the orchestra began to play a new piece. Hearing the intro, Alexander arched an eyebrow.
“Moderato! Excellent.”
Smiling with satisfaction, he looked at the Duchess.
Rosalyn lifted her head to look up at her husband. Jered was also looking down at her. When he gave a light nod of approval, she released her hold on his arm. Alexander was already extending a hand toward her.
It was then. Jered leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
It happened without warning. She felt his hand wrap around her waist, and then something pressed firmly against her left cheek before pulling away. It took a moment for Rosalyn to realize those were his lips. Stunned by the turn of events, her vision went momentarily blank.
Displays of affection in public were extremely rare. Furthermore, nobles—no matter how close a couple might be—considered flaunting affection to be frivolous behavior. Thus, Rosalyn was at a complete loss regarding this sudden kiss. She felt her face flush hot, which only added to her embarrassment.
“I leave my wife in your care.”
Jered’s voice resonated above her head. Rosalyn saw a flash of something peculiar cross the faces of Alexander and his wife.
Did everyone else see it? Him kissing me.
“You needn’t worry, cousin,” Alexander said with a grin as he took the Duchess’s hand. His hand was large, much like Jered’s.
The Duke led the way onto the floor, escorting his cousin’s wife first. Rosalyn watched his back—the black tuxedo and those steady shoulders—as she followed behind with her new partner.
As the ducal couple reappeared, the guests’ attention shifted toward them. The two had not stepped onto the floor since their first dance with the Mayor and his wife.
The dance floor was relatively sparse compared to the scale of the banquet. This was likely because most of the guests were commoners unaccustomed to social dancing. Consequently, Rosalyn felt the weight of the gazes fixed on her even more clearly. It was a burden to have unexpectedly become the center of a spectacle.
“This is the charm of such banquets. It makes one feel like the protagonist,” Alexander remarked, placing a hand on her waist. Rosalyn straightened her back against the corset and placed her hand on his shoulder. The scent of her partner’s unfamiliar cologne was heavy.
“The Duchess might not be able to relate, though. You’ll be the protagonist wherever you go now.”
He looked down at her and gave a playful smile. Not knowing how to respond, Rosalyn offered a polite smile in return. He was a difficult person to be around, despite his friendly talk and easy smiles. He was someone she did not want to stand this close to, nor did she want to hold his hand. She was simply glad the dance had finally begun.
Alexander Glan was similar in stature to Jered, but his dancing skills seemed a notch higher. Perhaps it was the mark of a nobleman who had long belonged to high society; he possessed a certain dexterity befitting a man in his thirties.
“It seems your husband loves you very much.”
He showed no hesitation in taking advantage of the Moderato—a dance well-suited for conversation.
“Well, you are newlyweds. It would be strange if he didn’t love you.”
Alexander gave a short laugh, placing a strange emphasis on the word ‘love.’ Rosalyn suppressed her unpleasant feelings and replied with a smile.
“It is only natural for a husband and wife to love one another.”
“Is that so?”
“The two of you seem to get along well, too. How long have you been married?”
“About ten years. Or is it eleven? This is a difficult question. Once a marriage passes the three-year mark, counting the years becomes meaningless.”
Alexander put on a mock-regretful face. Confronted with his blatantly exaggerated expression, Rosalyn found herself at a loss for words again. He was indeed an overwhelming opponent, and when facing such a person, she found that the best defense was to say as little as possible.
“Enjoy it while you can, Duchess.”
Alexander Glan lightly pulled her waist as they performed a turn.
“The honeymoon phase doesn’t last long.”
After responding to his uninvited advice with a forced smile, she stole a glance toward her husband. Jered was dancing with Naomi, listening to whatever she was saying. Looking at his face as he looked down at his partner, she could find no trace of awkwardness or discomfort. And that composed expression, unexpectedly, filled Rosalyn with a sense of frustration.
What is he thinking?
‘I leave my wife in your care.’
Suddenly, the left cheek where his lips had touched felt a bit warm.
Jered seemed perfectly fine with this situation. However, Rosalyn could sense an uncomfortable ulterior motive and a strange undercurrent flowing between them. She felt anxious because she had no idea what he was aiming for or what he was calculating.
He was still in his kingdom, and she was still isolated.
“You’ve married a man who isn’t easy.”
At her partner’s words, Rosalyn turned her eyes back to him. Meeting his blue eyes, she almost asked what he meant. Even though she knew he wouldn’t reveal his true intentions anyway.
“I wish you luck.”
Alexander Glan gave a gentlemanly smile. Rosalyn smiled back like a noble lady. When one knew nothing, the best course of action was to act as if one knew everything. To be caught knowing nothing was the worst possible move.
Over the course of two Tuesdays, Jered had to accept the fact that he had overestimated his own humanity.
He had always believed that coupling with a woman he had no feelings for would be an utterly revolting act. In the end, the reason he had hesitated to marry was because of the bedroom. He believed that while he could live in the same house as a suitable woman, sharing a bed with one would be horrific.
That was why he felt he couldn’t possibly go through with the wedding night while sober, and after failing even with the help of alcohol, he had actually felt positive about his own character. Was it not proof that he was, at the very least, not a beast, but a man with a conscience?
However, over the past two weeks of Tuesdays—or more accurately, from that first morning he successfully ‘put in the effort’—Jered began to reflect on the line that separated man from beast.
He now had to acknowledge the irresistible force of the act of pouring seed into a womb. And that it was possible for the male of any species.
Well. If it were impossible, how could so many noble families have continued their long histories?
“You were wonderful today. Everyone was looking only at you.”
The reason he said such a thing to the woman as soon as they entered the bedroom was because he felt profoundly awkward.
The two had returned to the room together after a long day, and after passing through their respective dressing rooms and bathrooms, they were ready for bed. Jered opened the cabinet to pour some whiskey out of habit, and just as he closed the bottle, the woman entered.
Of all days, today was Tuesday.
“I hope I was of some help.”
“Of course you were.”
As he nodded, Rosalyn smiled. With her face washed clean and wearing a white chemise, she looked quite young. Jered’s gaze drifted toward her left cheek without him realizing it. A soft, supple texture. That was roughly how it had felt when his lips touched it.
‘I leave my wife in your care.’
Why had he done such a thing?
