In the Doghouse - Chapter 107
“Ah, yes.”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Courtney quickly emptied her glass. Still, her mind remained cluttered. The recent incident involving Richard’s lie, and the Emperor’s obvious eagerness for an heir, all weighed on her.
Come to think of it, it was about time for one, wasn’t it? They were certainly making enough effort.
There wasn’t time to dwell on it, though, as the orchestra soon resumed playing. Richard smoothly guided her to the center of the hall. While Courtney wanted to check if everything was going well in the banquet hall, given her position, she had to dance at least one song.
The two of them faced each other. Now that she thought about it, this was the first time they were dancing together. At the wedding reception, the bride and groom didn’t dance, so they had only watched from the sidelines. Besides, her wedding dress had been far too heavy to dance in anyway.
Moreover, she had never danced at the banquets she had previously attended out of obligation. She had erased from memory the disastrous dance she’d had to endure with Frederick when she’d just come of age, having had no other suitable partner.
Courtney realized that she should have practiced dancing with him beforehand. Instead of going out to enjoy the festival, she should have been rehearsing. What if she embarrassed herself?
She whispered softly to Richard, so only he could hear.
“Richard, I’m not confident about dancing.”
“It’s fine. You’ll be better than me.”
“I appreciate the thought, but such lies are hardly comforting.”
Courtney pouted at his obvious lie. She had never seen him dance, but she was certain of one thing—there was no way he could be worse than her.
As always, Richard looked the part of a perfectly refined gentleman in his immaculately put-together appearance. At least, on the surface.
Contrary to his flawless exterior, Richard wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered in a low voice.
“It’s not a lie. Honestly, it’s hard for me to even stand right now. As you know, in my… current condition.”
He pressed his lower body firmly against hers. To anyone else, it would just seem like they were getting into position for the dance, but it was also an effective way to let her know about his state.
Sure enough, Courtney’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at him. The vivid heat radiating from him, even through the multiple layers of fabric, reached her completely.
Although she had suggested it, he had eagerly agreed to it.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, Courtney protested in a small voice.
“You said it wouldn’t be noticeable…”
“Is it noticeable?”
He replied with a perfectly composed face. If you looked closely, you might see a slight flush on his cheeks, but for most people, their imagination would have its limits. Giving up on arguing, Courtney placed her hands on his shoulders.
“Honestly… no.”
He chuckled softly and stretched out his arm to signal to the orchestra. The musicians, catching the Crown Prince’s cue, smoothly changed the melody. A simple dance tune, easy enough for even a six-year-old, began to play throughout the grand hall.
He began to move slowly. As Courtney had suspected, Richard’s dancing was impeccable. His natural lead, combined with the simple song, made it easy for her to follow the music without much difficulty.
The only problem was the whispered remarks he kept making each time their bodies drew closer.
“Master, this is incredibly exciting. The tighter it gets with every move, I…”
“Are you crazy?”
Courtney shot him a sharp look. Before she could say more, they gracefully parted again. All she could do was glare at him as she spun elegantly on her own.
When they drew close once more, Courtney quickly spoke up.
“Richard, please, don’t talk nonsense here.”
“But it’s really thrilling, being in front of everyone. It feels like my cxck is about to burst—”
“Shut up, will you?”
Courtney’s voice grew louder in surprise, causing her to quickly glance around nervously. Richard’s voice had been quiet enough that only she could hear him. Despite his words, his expression and actions remained perfectly composed. To anyone watching, they appeared to be a harmonious, affectionate couple having a light conversation.
Frustrated by his teasing, Courtney shot back with a pout.
“Stop acting like a whimpering dog.”
Richard chuckled quietly but seemed to take the hint, closing his mouth obediently.
With her nerves now eased, Courtney was finally able to take in her surroundings more calmly.
She noticed that the other people dancing in the center of the hall and those sipping drinks at the tables along the edges were all glancing at them. The curious looks were obvious, but the tone in their gazes had changed from before.
The Crown Prince, a man who possessed both unrivaled beauty and immense power, and the ordinary woman who had caught his eye and became the Crown Princess overnight.
The looks of envy mixed with admiration were a new experience for Courtney. She didn’t want to flaunt like some nouveau riche, but she couldn’t entirely suppress the small sense of pride that welled up inside her.
Even as Courtney became aware of others’ gazes, Richard’s eyes remained fixed on her. His gaze was intense and passionate.
Feeling suddenly self-conscious, Courtney leaned her head against his chest. Without hesitation, Richard wrapped his arm around her waist and planted a brief kiss on her forehead.
The romantic sight was like something out of a painting, and soft murmurs of admiration spread throughout the hall.
