The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

24 – The Street Where Dahong Lingers

The time spent at the Duke’s residence passed swiftly.

While Elpisia could resolve everything possible with money, the unavoidable factor of human effort was a complex issue.

Among them, the most burdensome for me was, without a doubt, dancing. As the events I attended were primarily balls, I had to handle various dance pieces. The problem was that I was terribly clumsy.

Handling a sword and dancing were entirely different realms.

‘Did I become disillusioned?’

I stared through Elpisia’s expressionless face. Her face, without disappointment or anticipation, reminded me of solid marble.

As I was lost, Elpisia took my hand and calmly spoke while stepping in a dance.

“Focus, Harte.”

“Ugh, fine.”

Still, I maintained an awkward posture. In this state, Elpisia added her advice.

“Dance skills are important, but more crucial are expressions and atmosphere.”

“Why?”

“People surprisingly have vulnerable spots for persuasion. If your confidence is lacking, smile boldly. And once you gain confidence, act as if it’s eternal.”

“Are you telling me to show off?”

“A bit different, but for you right now, it seems more necessary than anything. It was good sense.”

For the first time, I received a compliment. It felt good, and my facial muscles relaxed involuntarily. Strangely, my movements became smoother, and Elphesia’s surprised eyes came into view.

“Now let’s move on a bit.”

“Wait and see. I’ll master everything with my attributes and words.”

“Are you being conceited? It seems impossible.”

“In this atmosphere…?”

I asked in bewilderment, but Elphesia was earnest, like a true noble lady.

“Even those self-proclaimed nobles grow up with thorough lessons from a young age. Yet, they still hear criticisms occasionally. Of course, I was always perfect.”

“You’re amazing, truly.”

“Yes, I am. Thanks to that excellent teacher, you gained such confidence.”

“Really, thank you, great teacher.”

“Sure.”

As I muttered, Elphesia’s facial muscles relaxed slightly this time.

“Now, it should be simple. What did I say to do once you gain confidence?”

“Act as if it’s eternal.”

“This time, it’s a perfect score.”

Each person let out a faint sigh.

The sun, leaning faintly, marked the dusky early evening.

A time of mutual recognition as our faces became familiar through deceptive glances.

A room where an elegant piano and soft carpet harmonized.

A space where the efforts of the past Elysia were evident.

In such a confluence of time, we laughed heartily and danced.

◇

Right after the lesson, she said,

“If you feel it’s not working out, just dance the first dance and stop. The first dance is fixed as a waltz. You’re good at it now, aren’t you?”

“Well… does that mean I can just dance with Elysia once and then sit around?”

“Nothing’s impossible.”

In the face of Elysia’s confessed hidden truth, everything felt empty to me. I had put effort into not making Elysia embarrassed in any way…

And yet, such an empty response was right in front of me.

It somehow feels like my strength is draining away.

“If it’s going to be like this, why did you hold on so tightly…? I wasn’t even interested in the ball.”

“Because it’s enjoyable.”

From Noble mtl dot com

“What?”

“Isn’t dancing enjoyable for you?”

Elysia promptly adds,

“Of course… not that it’s me saying that, it’s what you said.”

“Sigh…”

I’m honestly frustrated.

I couldn’t directly refute Elphesia’s claim, so it feels like she won.

I’ve heard all sorts of nagging, but dancing with Elphesia was definitely enjoyable.

It was nice to have a sense of unity, matching each other’s steps, and it felt closer than usual. And it was also nice to have the opportunity to observe her face, which is usually hard to catch anyone’s attention.

“The ball is already tomorrow.”

“Nothing special, right?”

“Well, that depends on your situation, doesn’t it?”

“Maybe.”

From the moment I boarded the train to the capital and received the invitation, it was the starting point. If I do well and come back, it’ll be as if nothing happened.

“I wonder where the kids are.”

“I heard they’re gathering and doing something.”

“It’s good that they’re having fun. Seeing this, I think it’s fortunate that I came to the Duke’s estate.”

“Is it because of the kids again?”

“Well, yeah.”

For Yurian, it’s his ancestral palace, so it’s understandable, but for Tina and Glen, it’ll be an extraordinary experience.

I was really worried when I heard that the kids were getting close to the Duke, but as Elphesia assured, he didn’t seem to be planning anything special.

If things continue like this, there won’t be anything bad…

At that moment, I felt my sleeve being pulled.

“Hey, Harte.”

“Elysia? What’s wrong?”

“Do you know that on the eve of National Foundation Day, there is a night festival?”

“I know. I can see the festival lights even from the temple.”

“That’s great.”

Elysia hesitantly reached out her hand.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“I’m fine with you going, but can you wait for a moment? I’ll bring the kids with me.”

“… Harte, you really have no sense.”

Elysia criticized me out of the blue.

I raised a question mark above my head. Surely she didn’t mean that she wanted to go on a date with me…

But soon she revealed her true intentions.

“Don’t you want to give me a surprise gift on a day like this? Not because of the kids’ demands, but because it’s something you want to give.”

“That… is actually a really good idea?”

Anyway, it’s not a date.

Elysia truly cares for the kids as well. We were truly an ideal couple.

“Shall we go out together then?”

“Let’s go. We need to come back not too late.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Elysia leaned her weight on me and rested her shoulder. It was like a scene from a moment when she was practicing a dance.

The Duke’s residence was close to the downtown area to the point where we didn’t need a carriage. So, while we were having a conversation, we suddenly arrived at a lively street filled with the festival.

‘The carriage wouldn’t have moved even if it had been pulled anyway.’

The crowd that gathered was considerable. Stalls that were usually invisible were densely packed, and the smell that stimulated the salivary glands wafted through the air along the street.

Meanwhile, when I looked up, triangular decorations hanging between buildings trembled with uniqueness. As my gaze shifted slightly further, the imperial flag fluttered with majesty.

The name of the eve celebration for the National Foundation Day was prominent.

“The stars are shining.”

Elysia commented, looking at the dark night sky. I, too, shared the scenery Elysia was observing on my watch and let out a subtle sigh.

“Yeah, in the temple, it was much clearer than now, but somehow it feels like the stars are twinkling more.”

“Seems like you have a lot of lingering feelings in the temple.”

“Lingering feelings.”

After a brief contemplation, I came to a conclusion.

“I grew up there a long time ago, believed I would stay there for a lifetime. So, no matter what you compare it to, I can only recall it. Lingering feelings… might be an exaggerated expression.”

“I understand. You have a baptismal name.”

“Really, even Elysia wouldn’t understand? No, any normal person would find it incomprehensible.”

I walked in step with Elysia, contemplating the night where the stars were shining.

“Those with a baptismal name are not supposed to interfere with the outside world… that’s the rule, but in reality, it’s not like that. If it were an ordinary person, they would go crazy. Like livestock confined to a narrow space.”

“It must be the circumstances of an ordinary person.”

“That’s right. We’re different. We just accept that narrow world as if we were born with such a mission from the beginning.”

“Also, we understand and empathize with the gaze of others, but still, we don’t sympathize with our own situation. As if it’s engraved by instinct.”

“… It is the correct answer, but how do you know it so well?”

“Did you think someone who is going to be your husband wouldn’t have investigated such a person even once?”

“Thorough… As expected, Elphesia.”

If the Luminal family is as prestigious as they say, they might have gathered information about the baptismal name. If that’s the case, it’s unusual that she studied for me just to make me happy.

Perhaps it was her determination to get along without any friction.

At least, that’s what I decided to believe.

“If my past self didn’t exist at all, even if I knew my fate was to die, wouldn’t I have stayed in the temple?”

If that were the case, surely many destinies would have changed.

Starting from the children who became family one by one, to Elphesia walking in step beside me, everything.

Realizing this anew, priorities came to mind. So, I called out her name and stopped in my tracks.

“Elphesia.”

“Yes.”

“Can you wait for a moment?”

“Suddenly? Please tell me the reason.”

Of course, Elphesia questioned the reason. But I was ready to sneak away, taking backward steps.

“Sometimes, I also want to keep a secret… I’ll decline!”

“Stop, Harte!”

Thud!

I ran away from Elphesia, who was reaching out her hand. I hoped she would still be there… But if she got upset and hid somewhere, there was nothing I could do. I would have to find her and apologize until the soles of my shoes wore out.

The place I fled to, avoiding Elphesia’s gaze, was the peddler’s stall that I had glanced at while walking. Various handmade decorations were displayed on the stall, and one hairpin caught my eye.

A small ornament on one part of the hairpin reflected a beautiful light. The glass-cut red butterfly shape reminded me of someone delicate. So, unintentionally, this hairpin kept flickering in my mind.

“… It’s cheap.”

I traded goods with merchants, wearing a wry smile. It wasn’t adorned with jewels or crafted from precious materials, so it was inevitably cheap.

Imagining Elpisia adorned with rubies and garnets made my heart flutter.

For her, even a dress adorned with jewels wasn’t extravagant, but my circumstances were different.

I indulged in luxury. Today, for the first time.

I pleaded for the indulgence of writing seven fairy tales when I had only ten.

I committed a sin because I wanted to give it to the woman who suited only the most dazzling things in the world.

But I decided it was okay.

I also firmly believed so.

“Elpisia!”

She still stood silently where I left her, amidst the bustling crowd. Many passersby pushed past her or avoided her. In the midst of a festival where everyone laughed brightly, Elpisia concealed her empty gaze behind her eyelids.

I unintentionally hesitated at her unfamiliar figure, but soon quickened my pace.

I called her name again.

“Elpisia!”

“Harte.”

This time, our eyes met as she heard it correctly.

As soon as I joined her, I tried to offer a red butterfly-shaped hairpin as a gift.

But before I could present the gift, Elpisia bluntly asked,

“Why did you abandon your companion and rush over in such a hurry?”

“Sorry, I was wrong.”

“… If you apologize without a moment’s hesitation, I have nothing to say.”

“If you just set the line, I’ll rebel occasionally.”

“Sigh…”

Elysia exhaled as if she had lost her mind. Then, she shot out a word.

“You really lack sense.”

A criticism that was understandable. How great could the sense be for someone who only stayed in the temple? So, in the moment when confidence was about to wither away, Elysia remembered the advice she had given.

“The less confidence you have, the more confidently you should laugh. And when you gain confidence… as if it will last forever!”

Therefore, I smiled confidently. After that, I shrugged my shoulders, shaking off any lingering tension.

“I’m genuinely worried after hearing that.”

“You must be kidding.”

“No, really.”

I took out a small box from my pocket. Then, with a click, revealing a hairpin, I handed it to Elysia.

“I went to the trouble of preparing a gift, but it’s a problem if you lack the sense, right?”

“…”

“Elysia?”

Elysia stared at the hairpin without any movement for a while. Even if I tried to read her expression, the anxiety kept piling up because of the marble-like smooth and firm surface.

As I hesitated whether to call her name again, Elysia frowned and met my gaze.

With a sigh, she blurted out.

“You really have no sense at all. Just as expected.”

“… Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Elphicia accepted it coldly.

Then she took a step closer and narrowed the distance between us.

If we just lowered our heads, we would be close enough to touch.

My wife left a sharp remark.

“…This is something that you have to do yourself. It’s not about someone giving it to you.”

Elphicia handed me the hairpin again.

As if saying to seize the opportunity that had come back.

I grabbed that opportunity and ran my hand through Elphicia’s soft hair.

Her hair flowed down like a stream, as if strands of fine silk from the world were gathered together. And I added the fluttering of a red butterfly that danced on the flowing stream. Right at that moment, fireworks exploded, and a display of colorful sparks soared into the air.

Bang! Boom!

I saw all of that from three reds.

A red butterfly landing on the stream, and two crimson hues directed towards me.

Those crimson hues were not entirely sincere, but they honestly reflected the world unfolding behind me.

They were her eyes.