Chapter Two Hundred and Seventeen: Anniversary Date 7
“I never thought I’d meet you in a place like this, Sir Julius!”
“I’m honored to see you, Master Julius.”
“By the way, who might the person beside you be? She stands rather close for a mere attendant—”
The man chuckled and attempted to mock Karen’s supposed mediocrity; Julius’s eyes became menacing.
Fortunately, the nobleman quickly noticed the shift in Julius’s demeanor and cut himself off mid-sentence, and Karen clung to Julius’s arm to restrain him as he was about to lean forward.
“She is Karen, my partner, an alchemist. Can’t you see that our attire has been prepared as a matching set?”
“M-My apologies, I was blind and said something rude.”
“He’s apologized, Mr. Julius! It can’t be helped that we don’t look well-matched to outsiders! It is only natural for people to make that mistake, right?”
It was clear the man had only intended to laugh at Karen as a light joke. And he was clearly surprised by the excessive reaction Julius showed to just that—one could even say he was taken aback. An ill-judged joke might sour the mood, but normally it would not provoke someone to lunge at the offender, let alone challenge him to a duel, as Julius nearly did.
At Karen’s words, Julius furrowed his brow tightly, stopped trying to grab the man, and turned back to Karen.
“There has never been a single moment when you weren’t suitable for me, Karen, not even when you were an F-rank alchemist.”
At Julius, who spoke loudly enough for others to hear, the nobleman who had tried to tease Karen widened his eyes.
“Th-Thank you, Mr. Julius.”
“Rather, I question daily whether I am suitable for you.”
“Yes, really, I’m honored that you say so.”
The people within range of hearing Karen and Julius’s words looked at them as if seeing something bizarre, but Karen focused on dealing with Julius.
She had been exposed to people’s criticism plenty of times before. Yet in those instances, Julius had never reacted so excessively. However, it seemed Julius deeply feared that Karen would be further belittled simply for standing at his side.
As he spoke unusually sweet words, his golden eyes wavered with anxiety. Without time to indulge in that sweetness, Karen smiled to reassure Julius and said:
“Let us continue like this and show everyone how much you cherish me, Mr. Julius. Our goal is for rumors to spread that you’re head over heels for a commoner alchemist!”
“Indeed. That’s one reason I chose Viscountess Capel’s party—so such rumors would spread.”
Viscountess Capel, who was said to have loose lips.
As Karen searched for this party’s host out of the corner of her eye, Julius lightly embraced Karen from behind. This was clearly not something one did at a party. The atmosphere in the venue immediately began to stir.
At that moment, Viscountess Capel was in the direction from which shrill screams were heard.
Even from afar, Karen could see her squealing with delight as she watched them, and Karen smiled wryly. It seemed rumors would spread without effort.
Before feeling embarrassed by this situation, Karen was concerned about Julius’s state and said:
“The plan is progressing steadily, Mr. Julius. It’s all right.”
“…But there are young ladies glaring at you.”
Julius brought his lips close to Karen’s ear and spoke.
While laughing softly at the ticklish sensation, Karen glanced at the young ladies Julius mentioned. Here and there were groups of young ladies hiding their mouths with fans while looking at Karen with cold eyes.
“Well, that can’t be helped.”
Julius was immensely popular. Just as Karen, a commoner, had admired him, so too had the noble young ladies longed for him.
If anything, the noble young ladies must have envisioned marriage to Julius far more realistically. And yet he had been snatched away by an upstart commoner out of nowhere; considering that, it would not have been strange for resentment to drip from them, but aside from their icy stares, they appeared more composed than expected.
“You are so popular, after all.”
And that popular man was utterly captivated by her. Karen didn’t dislike this kind of situation. It was a beloved development that often appeared in the romance novels she enjoyed reading. However, admitting that their jealousy felt pleasant would have been terribly ill-natured, so Karen cleared her throat and modestly voiced her request:
“Any girl would be happy to be asked to dance by such a popular Mr. Julius.”
Julius, receiving Karen’s request, separated from Karen, then stood in front of her, took her hand, and bowed gracefully.
“Karen, would you grant me this dance?”
“With pleasure. Though dancing before the nobility made me rather nervous…!”
At the school reunion, Karen had actually been among the better dancers amid everyone’s mediocre dancing skills. But this was an aristocratic dance floor.
“As long as I’m here, there’s not even the slightest possibility you’ll fall, but even if you were to fall, it wouldn’t change that you’re the one I love.”
“…Yes, that is true. We’re here to show that off, after all!”
Karen stepped onto the dance floor with Julius for the next piece of music.
Though somewhat nervous, Julius’s lead was skillful, so she finished the dance without particular danger while having enough composure to enjoy it.
However, as Karen let out a breath of relief, Julius was glaring toward the wall.
“Is something the matter, Mr. Julius?”
“Nothing at all, Karen.”
Julius answered Karen with a smile.
Looking in the direction he had been glaring at earlier, some young ladies had turned pale and were trembling. Most likely, they had spoken ill of Karen or something.
Even if it didn’t reach Karen’s ears, it most likely reached Julius’s sharp hearing, strengthened by ascending the steps and gaining physical enhancement.
If she alone had caught their spiteful whispers, even scathing remarks about her dancing would have simply stroked her pride as jealousy toward Julius’s beloved. Alas, luck was not on her side. Seeing that Julius was even more sensitive to malice than she was, Karen found herself with enough composure to almost enjoy it.
“Mr. Julius, I really don’t mind. So please go easy on them.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
Julius smiled sweetly.
Though Karen could not entirely view the romance-obsessed young ladies as strangers, she had no desire to press Julius when he feigned ignorance. Karen wouldn’t be able to show a pleasant face to people who spoke ill of Julius if the positions were reversed, either.
For now, to avoid stimulating him further, Karen decided to stick close to Julius. Karen not being hurt was the best defense against hurting Julius.
However, Viscountess Capel approached Karen and Julius, who had moved to the tea room, and said:
“Master Julius, might you dance with this young lady next?”
It was part of proper etiquette for invited gentlemen to ask women to dance, so none were left as wallflowers. Especially when introduced by the hostess, the Viscountess Capel, it was courteous to accept.
But Julius said decisively:
“I’m sorry, but I must decline.”
Karen wondered doubtfully whether that was acceptable manner-wise, and her perception seemed correct, as Viscountess Capel looked dumbfounded, and the young lady behind her looked on the verge of tears.
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