Chapter 67
“Ah, no.”
“Then why do you keep trying to hide?”
“I’m sorry.”
Sharie hesitantly uncurled the toes she had been curling inward.
It wasn’t even something to be nervous about, yet sweat was forming at her temples.
Every time his hand brushed against her, the fine hairs all over her body seemed to stand on end.
“Now, next.”
At some point, Kaissa had already slipped one of her feet neatly into a shoe and was holding out his hand again.
“Your left foot, please.”
As she extended the other foot, he caught it as though he had been waiting for it.
“It tickles.”
The light brush of his well-groomed fingernails against her sole made her foot reflexively curl up.
“Where exactly? Here? Or here?”
His playful fingers tickled her again, half teasing, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
Looking down at the neatly parted crown of his head felt strangely fascinating.
He looks like he’s enjoying himself.
A man born into privilege, who had probably always had servants at his side and never needed to tend to small, trivial tasks himself—
Why was such a person doing this now, personally, and even smiling as though it delighted him?
“They suit you perfectly.”
Kaissa looked satisfied as his gaze fell on her feet now fitted with shoes.
She was just about to thank him when—
Smack. A soft touch brushed against the top of her foot.
“Don’t!”
Before she could even push him away, his next action made her flinch.
“What are you doing? That’s such a dirty place!”
But Kaissa didn’t seem the least bit hesitant.
“I’ve told you over and over—it’s not dirty.”
His lips, unlike the rest of his firm body, were the only soft part of him.
“But that’s… mm.”
Smack. Moist, supple lips grazed over the top of her foot.
Maybe it was because she was being touched in such an unexpected place, but a chill ran down her spine sharper than usual.
Except for the guards posted outside, the dressing room held only the two of them.
This could get dangerous.
“Hnn…”
Her eyes squeezed shut involuntarily.
Was she imagining it?
It felt like his lips and tongue were slowly moving higher along her foot.
A draft slipped beneath her dress, brushing lightly against her thigh.
No—this isn’t my imagination!
She opened her eyes in alarm.
As she feared, Kaissa was lightly biting her calf.
“What are you doing?”
His calm expression was so unaffected that for a moment she wondered if she was dreaming.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“Should we leave a little later?”
It sounded sweet at first, but it was the smile of a predator toying with its prey.
Had he been as pent up as she was during their unintended abstinence?
His temptation was utterly unrestrained.
“Ah… I mean…”
His dangerously suggestive question almost made her surrender entirely.
But Sharie barely managed to hold on to her flickering reason.
If she gave in now, they might never make it to tonight’s banquet.
—Influence within society is extremely important. Even if it feels unfamiliar, you must learn to adapt.
She remembered how Anette had stressed the importance of tonight’s event, again and again.
For Anette’s sake—who had even been injured because of her—Sharie couldn’t just give in because Kaissa tempted her.
“No. We can’t delay any longer. Shall we go?”
She forced a trembling smile to her lips.
She must have looked like a frightened little rabbit that had stumbled into a den of beasts.
After a moment of tense silence, the air between them softened a little.
“You’re right,” Kaissa said.
He took a deep breath, perhaps to calm himself.
Even in a perfectly tailored shirt, the fabric strained slightly over his broad chest.
She caught herself staring, then hurriedly snapped out of it.
Get it together.
As she took a steadying breath, he reached out his hand toward her.
“Let’s go.”
Sharie looked up blankly at his smiling face.
Hand in hand, they walked toward the grand ballroom.
The corridor leading there was lined with wall lamps.
The orderly decorations reminded her of their wedding day.
“This way to the grand hall.”
The corridor that had always seemed so long suddenly felt much shorter.
As a rabbitkin, Sharie’s hearing was far keener than most.
Even before entering, she could already hear the sounds within: elegant music, laughter.
Most of them were surely people of high birth, far nobler than she.
Will I be okay?
Her mouth went dry from nervousness.
I…
Even if she had changed a little since coming to Barhard, a person’s nature did not change.
Born without a tail, always treated as inadequate wherever she went—
Neither particularly beautiful nor strong—could someone like Sharie really fit in among the refined and aristocratic?
It wasn’t their ridicule that worried her.
The one she was anxious about was Kaissa.
What if they insult him because of me?
If her presence ever tarnished his dignity…
The mere thought made her stomach twist with dread.
“Sharie?”
Startled, she stopped walking.
I must not make a mistake.
Thump, thump! Her heart pounded wildly.
Her mind went blank.
She tried to recall everything Anette had taught her, the countless etiquette books she’d read.
But her composure was gone—her thoughts wouldn’t align.
Don’t make a mistake…!
Thump, thump, thump!
Her heartbeat was deafening, like it would burst her eardrums.
Just then, Kaissa pulled gently on her hand.
She found herself naturally falling into his embrace.
“Do you know why this banquet was held?” he asked.
Come to think of it, she’d never asked.
To celebrate the winner of the hunting competition?
Because the nobles had clamored for a court ball?
Either way, it had seemed ambiguous.
“I wanted to introduce you—to everyone. To declare that you and I are husband and wife.”
Pressed against his chest, she could hear his steady heartbeat—calm, rhythmic.
The tension that had seized her body slowly melted away.
Her frantic heart began to match his pace, calming in time with his.
“I’m glad I can attend this banquet with you,” he said softly as he let her go.
“So I hope you feel the same.”
The fear and anxiety melted from her like snow in sunlight. She was no longer afraid or restless.
Before she realized it, she was smiling as she walked with him into the ballroom.
“The Lord and Lady have arrived! Everyone, show your respects!”
The attendant managing the hall’s order called out loudly.
The evening’s central figures walked down the carpet and up to the dais.
All eyes in the ballroom turned toward them at once.
For a moment, the weight of all those gazes nearly crushed her, but Sharie forced herself to stand tall.
As soon as they stood before the crowd, people began to approach.
“To behold the radiant sun of Barhard—it is an honor.”
Men and women alike, lavishly adorned from head to toe, came forward.
Their gestures were all nearly identical:
First, a slight bend of the knee in greeting, followed by the courteous words right out of the etiquette books.
“It is an honor to meet you, my lady.”
Most eyes were kind, though some were filled with undisguised curiosity.
“I’m pleased to meet you as well,” Sharie said, straightening her shoulders to keep from shrinking back.
Every gaze in the hall was filled with reverence or admiration for Kaissa.
He had told her not to worry, but she still wanted to show a little dignity herself.
Her efforts not to cower paid off; gradually, Sharie began to relax and adapt to the atmosphere of the ball.
“What a lovely lady. May I have the first dance?”
As the orchestra’s music grew familiar, Kaissa extended his hand politely.
It was the first time they would dance since that night before the campfire.
—Dancing is meant to be enjoyed. That’s all that matters.
Remembering his bright, boyish smile from that day, her tension slipped away.
“Yes, of course.”
With a shy smile, Sharie placed her hand in his.
As they stepped together into the center of the hall, the crowd made room for them.
The orchestra restarted the melody, this time just for them.
Watching her graceful steps, Kaissa whispered near her ear:
“You’ve gotten quite good.”
All those practice sessions with Anette had paid off.
At his praise, Sharie’s face lit up with joy.
