Elena stared at Benedict with a dazed expression. He had to know that, according to today’s arrangement, Aiden was supposed to be her partner. Yet the voice telling her to choose him was low but unwavering.
“Um… but I have a contract with the Young Marquess…”
Elena’s eyes dropped with distress as she stammered. Benedict’s brow furrowed.
“Forget it.”
“What?”
“Pretend it never happened.”
Elena blinked. What was he even talking about? His tone, his face—there wasn’t a trace of humor. Not that Benedict was someone who joked to begin with.
Still unable to make sense of it, Elena’s blue eyes flicked toward where Aiden Spencer stood. When their gazes met, he gave her a faint smile. Then he shrugged, as if saying she should do as she pleased.
Frozen in the awkwardness of the moment, Elena’s expression finally gave way to a bright smile.
“Looks like the Young Marquess changed his mind.”
So that solves everything, doesn’t it? The strange weight pressing down on her chest lifted, and Elena spoke quickly, almost giddy with relief.
“I thought people would find it strange if I wasn’t Your Grace’s partner, so I asked if we could delay the contract. At first, he seemed like he was going to refuse, but maybe he thought it over and realized it’d be a bit improper.”
“……”
At her words, Benedict’s gaze followed the direction of Aiden leaving the ballroom. Just as he turned, his fist was clenched tight. Benedict slowly withdrew his eyes and recalled the conversation he’d had with him just moments ago, outside the ballroom.
“What’s this?”
On the secluded terrace, Aiden frowned at the check Benedict handed him. It was a considerable sum. Benedict had originally intended to give it to him in person the day before.
“It’s the investment you made in House Richard.”
“Did I… ask for the investment to be repaid?”
Aiden tilted his head slowly, as if he didn’t understand. But Benedict caught the wariness laced in Aiden’s voice. His replied stiffly.
“Let’s just pretend you never invested in House Richard.”
“You’re not trying to deny the Spencer Trading Company exclusive distribution rights for the clocks are you? If so, that’ll be a problem.”
Aiden’s voice sharpened in an instant. If his wariness had only been regarding the business venture, this conversation would have been much simpler. Benedict slowly shook his head.
“I have no intention of changing that condition. You’re entitled to interest on the money you lent.”
“Then…?”
One corner of Aiden’s mouth lifted crookedly. Something about his expression unsettled Benedict.
“You want to nullify the other condition, don’t you?”
Aiden finally broached the true reason for this conversation. He had feigned ignorance initially, talking around the issue, but it was clear he had understood from the moment he saw the check.
‘Why keep up the act, then?’
Benedict furrowed his brow. Aiden Spencer was a businessman who valued time like gold. Benedict couldn’t fathom why he would waste time pretending to not know something he obviously already knew.
‘Elena’s probably standing all alone.’
Even among nobles, a first ball was no easy feat. Anxiously, he glanced toward the ballroom. Fortunately, Elena, left without him, was speaking with other noblewomen. She seemed to be doing better than his first time, where he had stood alone, shunned due to his illegitimate status.
‘She’s always so quick to adapt.’
The corner of Benedict’s lips curved slightly. Somewhat reassured, he turned back to Aiden, giving a brief reply.
“Yes. Let’s pretend that absurd condition never existed.”
“Well, saying it like that makes me feel like I’m losing out. I don’t like it.”
His words were light, but Aiden’s gaze was sharp, almost like a glare. Something twisted in Benedict’s gut. That absurd condition, imposed just because Elena received investment money—he’d been bitter from the moment he heard it.
Benedict took a step towards Aiden.
“I didn’t realize that being my wife’s dance partner was so important to you.”
Aiden flinched. Benedict, startled by the sight, instinctively took a step back. He hadn’t meant to threaten Aiden. As if he were a rival.
Various emotions flickered across Aiden’s face. Finally, after calculating everything, he let out a short sigh and snatched the check from Benedict’s hand.
“Fine. On second thought, I stand to gain more by accepting your offer.”
Aiden smiled with his eyes curved gently, as if none of the previous tension existed. But the green eyes behind the smile swirled with bitter defeat—as if something crucial had been taken from him.
‘Why does this feel so unsavory?’
Benedict clenched his molars. Everything had gone his way, but his heart thudded in unpleasant waves. The look Aiden had given Elena grated at him.
As Aiden slowly tucked the check into his jacket pocket, he suddenly asked, as if genuinely curious,
“You couldn’t have had an easy time gathering that much money. How’d you do it?”
“I didn’t realize knowing the source of funds was necessary to settle a contract.”
“I wasn’t really expecting an answer anyways.”
“In any case, now that you’ve accepted the money, don’t bring up that condition again.”
Instead of responding, he acknowledged the agreement and turned away. As Benedict walked with steady steps back to the ballroom, events from the past few days flickered through his mind.
“Good heavens! There are things called hunters, you know, why would Your Highness personally go bear hunting?”
While Elena had been away from the Grand Ducal Residence for Duchess Bovary’s divorce proceedings, Benedict had abruptly set off alone on a bear hunt. Madam Verona had been aghast. But Benedict said nothing—just silently packed and left the Grand Ducal Residence.
‘If I had to name a reason…’
It was for the money.
Summer in the Aria Empire was black bear hunting season. With their population increasing, bears often wandered down to villages and attacked people. Hunting bears out of control during that time came with rewards. Selling the hides also brought in good money.
He had never once wielded a sword to make money. But ever since meeting Elena, this was already the second time. All because of Elena’s ridiculous contract.
‘That quick-talking bastard must’ve conned her.’
Nothing else made sense. Anyone raised in the Aria Empire would know what a first dance partner at a ball meant. Elena, who clearly had feelings for him, wouldn’t have chosen Aiden as her partner unless she’d been tricked.
‘Well, it did help the Grand Ducal Territory…’
Come to think of it, he hadn’t properly thanked her. So this time, he decided to be generous. Elena had naively signed a flawed contract—he would clean up the mess himself. Not that his eyes hadn’t trembled when he saw the amount owed to Aiden.
So he hunted like a man possessed, without eating or sleeping. Arrows fired, sword swung—the skills forged on the battlefield left ordinary hunters in the dust.
Once he’d earned enough to repay the investment, he returned to the Grand Ducal Residence, covered in bear blood. It hadn’t been part of the plan for Elena to see him like that.
Back in the ballroom. What pulled him from his thoughts was Elena’s nonstop chatter.
“Someone who invests that much so readily—of course he’s generous! The Young Marquess really is a good person!”
Unaware of the circumstances, Elena was cheerfully praising the Young Marquess.
‘Hah. Generous and good person, my ass.’
Recalling the hellish ordeal of the past few weeks just to break that ridiculous contract, Benedict rubbed at the faint scar on his jaw. A wound earned during a brutal fight with a bear. With a bitter expression, Benedict replied sourly.
“Stop chattering and focus on your partner.”
“Hehe, I’ll be in your care, Your Grace.”
And of course, that damned wink of hers looked cute. Benedict cleared his throat. His arm slipped gently around Elena’s waist. Before they knew it, the two of them were moving in step to the upbeat waltz.
Every time Elena moved, a sweet scent wafted past his nose. Her slim waist under his hand was soft and warm. He adjusted his posture, struggling to steady his breath.
‘This can’t be happening.’
As the waltz reached its climax, Benedict’s heart pounded in perfect three-quarter time.
Even in battle, his breathing never broke. This waltz was nothing compared to combat, yet his heart was pounding and he felt short of breathe. Oblivious, Elena murmured,
“You’re pretty good at dancing. Have you danced a lot?”
“No.”
“Wow. So you really are good at anything involving your body.”
Elena laughed with genuine admiration.
‘She doesn’t even hide that she’s after my body anymore.’
Benedict’s ears flushed red. ‘Anything involving his body,’ she said. He’d never done those things—but honestly, he didn’t think he’d be bad at them either. Elena continued to chatter.
“Who was your first partner, Your Grace?”
“Elena Christie.”
“What?”
Benedict looked down at Elena, who was gazing at him with an innocent expression, his breath hitched. Then he quietly spoke the truth.
“…You are my first.”
“……!”
At his words, Elena’s eyes widened—and she missed a step. Their bodies collided in an instant.
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