Chapter 9
What overwhelmed Rosalyn first was his height. The Duke was tall enough to be easily distinguished even among the crowds filling the hall. His broad shoulders and upright posture made him stand out even more.
Seen indoors, he was pale to the point of being wan. However, his dark eyebrows and strong jawline ensured he didn’t look frail. In fact, had it not been for that fair, clear skin, he might have appeared somewhat feral. Depending on who was looking, he could even seem a little intimidating.
The Duke of Windberg exuded a strangely detached aura. Though he wore a faint, gentlemanly smile, there was a sense of cold cynicism beneath it. Despite possessing light green eyes as beautiful as spring, his gaze remained indifferent. There was a hint of arrogance in his eyes—a look that suggested he would entertain his company out of politeness, but found it far from pleasant.
It was a side of someone Rosalyn had never encountered before, and as a result, she couldn’t fathom what he was thinking. Was this how all high-ranking nobles were? For the first time in her life, Rosalyn felt the shrinking sensation of being afraid she might offend someone.
With those pale, cold eyes, the Duke looked at her.
“It is a pleasure.”
Then, he spoke for the first time.
“I am Gerard Glenn.”
The scent of his cologne drifted toward her. Inhaling that unfamiliar fragrance, Rosalyn tried to breathe steadily. Gas lamps, candles, and the light from the chandeliers illuminated the ballroom. If she could distinguish between the Duke’s smile and his cynicism, then surely the Duke could sense her tension and intimidation.
She couldn’t allow that. She had to maintain her dignity as a lady.
“I am Rosaline Eleanor Fairfield. It is an honor to be invited to such a magnificent banquet, Your Grace.”
Rosalyn offered the most elegant smile and calm demeanor she could muster. It was a social grace she had honed while attending to guests as the mistress of Fairfield House. A flicker of interest seemed to pass through the Duke’s eyes.
“Miss Fairfield, you have a very elegant name.”
“Thank you for the compliment. Though having more than one name has long been an old-fashioned trend.”
“Your father must be a man of refined taste.”
“My father is certainly a wonderful man, but I must tell you it would be a misunderstanding to think he gave me two names out of a desire to follow tradition. It was merely the result of a failure to compromise.”
“A failure to compromise? Exactly what do you mean by that?”
When the Duke asked, Rosalyn smiled. Anecdotes about names were always a good topic to leave a deep impression on someone.
“I am the eldest daughter, and the firstborn child is bound to receive special treatment. When I was born, I’m told my father insisted on Rosaline, while my mother insisted on Eleanor. Since the two of them could never reach a compromise, they decided to use both.”
“I see.”
“But in the end, I am called Rosaline, so I suppose my father was the final victor.”
“Is that so?”
The Duke nodded. However, his expression did not seem genuinely interested.
“How interesting.”
Rosalyn had no doubt that his words were merely a polite formality. The moment she realized this, her face flushed, and she quickly lowered her gaze. Simultaneously, she belatedly realized how pathetic she was being.
I talked too much. I held him for too long. There are so many women here he needs to be introduced to today.
“Then I hope you have a pleasant time. Miss Rosaline Eleanor.”
The Duke did not hesitate to signal his departure. As Rosalyn struggled not to look flustered, she suddenly looked up at him again.
Miss Rosaline Eleanor.
One did not call an acquaintance by their first name unless there was intimacy. Certainly, one did not call them by two names in succession.
“Out of respect for both your parents,” he added with a smile so faint it was barely there.
Meeting that face, Rosalyn caught her breath for a moment. The Duke did not hold her gaze for long; he gave a slight nod in a gesture of farewell and moved on. Rosalyn continued to watch him as he walked away with the Dowager Duchess.
A gentleman who had been waiting for an opportunity approached the Duke with a young woman in tow. Men exchanged greetings, a woman was introduced, and the Duke spoke to her in turn. He would repeat that process countless times tonight.
Will he smile for her like he did for me?
Standing still, Rosalyn let out a laugh that was more like a sigh. She felt as though all the strength had drained from her body; she was already exhausted. The words her aunt whispered beside her—a mix of excitement and praise—didn’t register at all.
‘Miss Rosaline Eleanor.’
She remained rooted to the spot, watching the Duke as he moved further away. Hair as black as ink. A pale nape and broad shoulders. A man who stood out at a glance because of his height and upright posture.
Rosalyn watched his retreating figure for a long while. Her heart was still pounding violently against her corset.
The more she dwelled on it, the more pathetic it felt. Not only had she been unnecessarily tense and intimidated, but she had even been quick to feel disappointed.
It wasn’t as if she had committed a great rudeness, but Rosalyn had definitely been shaken. She had lost her composure, if only for a moment. It was perhaps the greatest humiliation in the twenty-four years of Rosaline Fairfield’s life.
Why did I act so foolishly? Was I overwhelmed by his status as a Duke? Did I think he was going to eat me? I’d probably faint if I ever had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.
How pathetic.
Rosalyn tried to shake off her self-loathing and continued socializing. She greeted the people her aunt introduced and accepted invitations to dance. There were as many men here looking for brides as there were candidates for the position of Duchess, and they were all scouting one another while waiting for the first music to begin.
It was around then that the crowd began to stir. Realizing the situation quickly, Baroness Elwood gasped and whispered into her ear.
“It’s Princess Mendel.”
Josephine Hayes.
Rosalyn had seen articles about her in the society columns of the newspaper. She was the youngest daughter of Duke Mendel, a young lady who had made her debut this year. The Princess, having just reached adulthood, possessed a youthful beauty and intelligent eyes. Her face, glowing with confidence, was striking.
“To think even the Princess came,” her aunt muttered dejectedly, as if caught off guard.
While her aunt spoke, Rosalyn watched the Duke approach Josephine. Not only her, but everyone in the hall was watching the scene. Everyone was surprised and disappointed, but those emotions were elegantly hidden.
The Duke spoke to Josephine first and kissed the back of her hand. She was the only lady he had shown such deference to today. She was also his first dance partner—and his only one.
The Duke did not dance with anyone except Josephine. It was a rude gesture for a host, but no one dared to blame him. There were so many women at this ball that there wouldn’t even be enough time to finish introductions with everyone. If he had to stop and dance with each one, the Duke would have to extend this ball for at least three days.
“Princess Mendel is quite beautiful.”
“The next Duchess will be coming from the Central Region, it seems.”
“Looking at them like that, they suit each other quite well.”
With Josephine’s appearance, people seemed to lose their fighting spirit. The Hayes family, the house of Duke Mendel, was a prestigious political family that had produced two prime ministers and three chairmen, and they had intermarried with the Glenn family several times in previous generations.
Thus, the conclusion of the day seemed already decided. Rosalyn agreed with that silent consensus. If she were the Duke of Windberg, she would likely choose that Princess as her wife as well.
“If they were going to do this, why bother making such an occasion? They could have just had a private meeting and gotten engaged,” Baroness Elwood grumbled into her niece’s ear.
“Now, let’s not worry about that side anymore. There are plenty of other suitor candidates here, so it’s fine. It seems every fine gentleman in the North is gathered here, doesn’t it? If a match is made, I’ll have to send a thank-you letter to the Duke.”
The Baroness scanned the young men in the hall with a satisfied look. Rosalyn offered a small smile in agreement. Then, she consciously straightened her back and squared her shoulders.
Her aunt was absolutely right. It would be hard to find a better place than this to scout for a husband, so today might be the opportunity of a lifetime. Her future husband might be somewhere in this room. Therefore, Rosalyn had to keep wishing for luck. She couldn’t afford to be disappointed or lose her smile already.
Steeling herself, she took a slow breath and tilted her chin up slightly.
