Chapter 282
Yelena lowered her gaze to the champagne glass in her hand.
Since entering the ballroom, her throat had felt parched, so she had grabbed whatever she could and drank it like water.
The one in her hand wasn’t her first glass.
But still…
Yelena let out a soft laugh at her husband’s worried words.
“It’s okay. It might look like alcohol, but it’s just a beverage, you know?”
The champagne barely tasted of alcohol.
Even if it did contain some, it must have been a minuscule amount.
“If you’re worried, would you like a sip?”
With a somewhat playful demeanor, Yelena extended her half-drunk champagne glass towards Kaywhin.
He paused for a moment, looking at the glass she offered, then truly took it from her.
Then, he put his lips precisely where Yelena had sipped from.
His lips touched perfectly over the red lipstick mark on the glass.
Someone let out a faint scream.
Shortly after tasting, Kaywhin returned the champagne glass to Yelena.
“…Indeed, the alcohol taste is weak.”
Yelena squinted her eyes slightly.
What was that just now?
A tease?
It was a tease, right?
“You…”
“Captain.”
A voice full of delight called out to Kaywhin.
At first, Yelena didn’t know to whom the voice referred.
However, when Kaywhin turned his head towards the voice with a familiar expression, she realized it was addressing her husband.
Yelena naturally followed Kaywhin’s gaze.
“Oh, Your Grace. I heard rumors, but I’m truly glad you’re safe. And…”
In surprise, or perhaps admiration,
The young man seemed to be at a loss for words while looking at Kaywhin. He was young, perhaps in his early twenties.
With a neat appearance that probably hadn’t faced much adversity, his long black hair was neatly tied back.
Yelena inadvertently met the young man’s gaze.
Silvery-gray.
It was a unique color.
It seemed as if someone had extracted the color from Yelena’s hair and mixed it with metal.
‘But who is he?’
Yelena looked at the man with a hint of curiosity.
Given his joyous expression, it seemed he was close to her husband.
Did her husband have close friends besides Cidrion?
Yelena’s gaze became more intense.
Curiosity and caution were equally mixed in her eyes.
While tilting the champagne glass to her lips, Yelena sized up the man.
From head to toe, her eyes scanned him meticulously. As she did, Kaywhin spoke.
“Dennan.”
‘Dennan?’
Yelena fluttered her long eyelashes, lost in thought.
Dennan, Dennan… It seemed familiar.
Then, a name popped into Yelena’s mind.
‘Dennan Milisto.’
“cough”
“Yelena?”
Kaywhin looked at her with a surprised face.
The champagne overflowed from the glass, wetting Yelena’s lips, hand, and the hem of her dress. Dennan, eyes wide in surprise, quickly exclaimed, “Someone get a towel!”
“Are you okay?” Kaywhin asked, taking the champagne glass from Yelena’s hand. She nodded in response.
“I’m fine,” she reassured.
Yelena looked at Dennan, her eyes filled with shock. ‘My God. Dennan Milisto… Had destiny taken a different course, he would’ve been my husband. Meeting him like this, here, was unexpected and the shock made her heart race.
“Here’s the towel,” said a servant approaching them. Yelena gratefully accepted the dry towel and wiped her mouth and hands. Yet, the damp spot on her dress couldn’t be dried by the towel alone.
“I think I need to change,” Yelena mused. “Do we have a spare dress available?”
“Yes,” the servant replied. “I’ll fetch a maid to assist you.”
“Thank you,” she responded.
After her brief exchange with the servant, Yelena turned to Kaywhin. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time,” Kaywhin replied, nodding with a look of concern. Yelena felt a bit of relief in the moment. Although she felt sorry for making a mess in front of Merie, the spilled champagne provided an unexpected escape from an awkward situation. Dennan’s sudden presence was quite unsettling. In moments of uncertainty, making a swift exit often seemed like the best choice. With that thought, Yelena swiftly followed the maid, with Dennan’s gaze fixed on her as she left.
After changing into a fresh dress, Yelena regained her composure. Gazing at her reflection in a full-length mirror, she pondered why Dennan was at the event. Upon reflection, it made sense: he had been part of the reinforcements led by her husband. His attendance at the victory celebration and his happiness upon seeing her husband were expected, given their shared experiences in battle. Yet, Dennan’s joyous reaction upon seeing Kaywhin was reminiscent of the loyalty shown by the knights of the dukedom who had served under him for years.
Studying her reflection, Yelena thought, ‘Dennan indeed has good taste.’ After all, had she not met Kaywhin, Dennan would have been her chosen partner. It made sense that he had an eye for quality.
With a deep sigh, Yelena continued to reflect on the evening’s events. Her face showed a return to calmness as she recalled her interaction with Dennan. She felt indifferent, and if she had to describe her impression of him, he seemed like ‘a friend of a childhood friend’ or ‘someone loyal and sound in judgment, much like those who closely followed her husband.’
She felt nothing else. To her, he was just another stranger, like anyone else. Naturally, this was the truth, and Yelena found some relief in this realization. She had been somewhat apprehensive. What if curiosity had arisen? Why had she chosen him in an unaltered future? What did she see in him that they ended up having two children together? What if she had developed the urge to know more? Deep down, she had been wary of such feelings emerging, but fortunately, her fears didn’t come to fruition. She felt neither interest nor curiosity. Meeting Dennan face-to-face, he was emotionally just another man to Yelena. Her heart felt lighter.
Exiting the lounge, Yelena soon recognized a familiar face near the entrance. “Count Pernel,” she greeted.
“Ah, Duchess,” he responded. But his reaction was oddly tense. Upon seeing Yelena, he momentarily tensed up and then forced an awkward smile.
“Why such an expression?” she wondered internally, approaching the count.
As the distance between them closed, Yelena noticed his evasive behavior. He avoided eye contact, letting his gaze dart around.
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‘What’s his deal?’ she pondered. His demeanor was undeniably suspicious. Anyone would find his behavior unsettling in this context.
Looking directly at him, Yelena broached the topic. “Count, speaking of which, what about the Demon King’s corpse?”
“Ah, yes! The corpse!” he hastily responded.
“How was it dealt with? You promised to notify me once a decision was reached, but I’ve heard nothing.”
“Ah, about that…”
“If it’s still stored in the castle, may I visit to see it?”
“We cremated it!”
“…Really?”
“Yes, indeed. We turned it entirely into ashes. Turns out, the Demon King is nothing before fire. I intended to send a letter but got sidetracked with other matters. Anyway, I should be going…”
Count Fernel refrained from making eye contact with Yelena throughout the conversation. As he turned and began to distance himself, Yelena called out, “Count.”
Upon hearing her clear voice, he tensed noticeably. “Stay right there.”
The ballroom buzzed with activity. Chatter permeated the air, drowning out the music from the orchestra. The commotion wasn’t merely due to the sheer number of attendees but was also amplified by the presence of a particular individual. Lady Roda, the Countess, sneaked a glance at Kaywhin, who was in conversation with Dennan, as she lifted a wine glass to her lips. Instead of sipping the wine, she swallowed hard. ‘How can he look so handsome?’
Hair is blacker and glossier than ebony.
Deep blue eyes that seemed to draw one in.
Merely looking was intoxicating.
And his facial features? How were they?
From his forehead to his jawline, every detail was flawless, making it impossible to snap out of my trance while stealing glances.
‘To describe that face as having gloomy eyes and dark, somber hair?’