A Way to Confirm Your Husband’s True Feelings - Chapter 26
The main hall of the imperial palace’s annex, where today’s event was being held, was packed with crowds of people.
Dazzling chandeliers, thousands of candles lighting the room as brightly as daylight, the strong scent of mingled perfume and alcohol, and the nobles’ extravagant attire all came together to create a scene that was dizzying to behold.
After the formal greetings were offered in turn to the Emperor and the imperial family, the official ball began.
Though things were still awkward between them, Beatrice was nonetheless pleased that Caesar was her husband. Of course, even if she hadn’t been pleased, she would have still needed to present a good image at their first event as a married couple.
As the first dance began, she reached out her hand to him. Since being rejected by him before their marriage, she hadn’t had another chance—this was their first time dancing together at an official event.
‘I thought it would be a bit more romantic than this.’
Given the situation, her heart was still in turmoil. But her body moved on its own, responding naturally to the familiar steps. For someone who was said to have a natural talent for physical activity, Caesar danced surprisingly well for someone who had learned late.
Still, perhaps it was something he couldn’t help—the way he stepped was rigid and precise, like a soldier marching. Even that was so very like Caesar that Beatrice couldn’t hold back a small laugh.
He looked at her face for a long time, without averting his gaze.
‘Was it weird to suddenly smile after looking so gloomy?’
Composing her expression, Beatrice refocused on the dance. The first dance with her husband, which had meant so much to her, ended more quickly—and more anticlimactically—than she’d expected.
“Um, Margravine. If you wouldn’t mind, may I have the third dance…?”
As the second piece was being played, Caesar and Beatrice took a brief break to exchange greetings with the nobles around them.
A few gentlemen approached Beatrice during that time, clearly aiming for her dance card, but for some reason, none of them wrote down their names and eventually withdrew.
The man now standing before her was the same. Was he the second son of some count’s family? Just as he was in the middle of requesting the third dance, he stopped speaking.
“Ah, well, that is… no, never mind. I hope you enjoy the New Year’s banquet.”
Feeling that his gaze had wandered somewhere above her head, Beatrice casually turned to the side. Caesar was facing straight ahead with his usual expression. But she noticed his arms, still crossed, twitch slightly and tense up, which made her curious.
Could Caesar have sent a warning glance? She entertained the pleasant thought, but it soon fell apart.
‘This is the man who wouldn’t care if I danced with another or even fought a duel.’
That thought made her burn with frustration again, but she couldn’t show it.
For whatever reason, the fact that no man was requesting a dance from her was actually a relief. She wasn’t an unmarried noblewoman looking for a husband, nor was she in the mood to change partners and dance all night.
So, still clinging to her husband’s arm, Beatrice was startled when she suddenly spotted Regina in the distance gesturing wildly at her.
‘Let go of that arm!’
Barely deciphering her sister’s exaggerated hand signals while holding a wine glass in one hand, Beatrice quietly let go of Caesar’s forearm.
Just as Caesar was about to open his mouth, seemingly to ask what was going on, Edgar appeared—along with an unexpected guest.
“Your Highness. And… Sister Amelia?”
“Beatrice, how long has it been! And it’s my first time seeing you since the wedding in the borderlands.”
Amelia, her third older sister who had been away when Beatrice visited the Duke’s estate last time, was now linking arms with Edgar.
“She’s not someone you get to see easily once today is over, so I made sure to hold on to her myself. Besides, Freya isn’t here today either. I feel more at ease with at least one Estern daughter by my side.”
Joking as always, Edgar was just as cheerful and spirited as he’d been the previous year.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
“Have you been well? I heard the good news all the way in the borderlands. No wonder you look so pleased today, Your Highness.”
Caesar and Beatrice offered their greetings as well. While staying in the borderlands, they had heard that the wedding date between the Crown Prince and Ducal Lady Greta had finally been set. When that was mentioned, Edgar gave a sheepish, hearty laugh.
“You’re one to talk. Seems like you’ve become the star of quite the rumor mill yourself. I heard that starting this year, the Valentin estate’s most prized product won’t be silver, but honey. What’s going on there?”
At the Crown Prince’s jest, Caesar gave no response, and Beatrice hesitated to reply as well. Under different circumstances, it would have been easy to laugh it off, but now, she had no idea how to react.
