Dangerous Fiancee

Chapter 55

It got dark out of nowhere. The atmosphere of the ball also heated up.

Luckily, Marianne met Mrs. Charlotte before leaving the bathroom. Ms. Charlotte, who visited the annex in a hurry at the emperor's sudden call, was surprised to see her there.

But she quickly and surely gave her a pass without asking further. Indeed, that showed her exceptional skill in coping with the situation as the former chief maid of the empress.

Her crumpled dress gently fluttered like petals. Her swollen eyes were moderately covered by dark makeup and the shade of the night. It took less than 30 minutes for Mrs. Charlotte to apply ointment to her slightly bruised knees, put new shoes and socks on her, and call out the maids who helped her dress up to remind them of the need to shut up.

As a result, Marianne returned as she initially appeared at the banquet hall. Though she was beautiful, she looked pitiable when her dress was dragged to the floor.

"Well, how pitiable and beautiful she is! If an angel with broken wings comes down, she will look like that lady."

Someone in the crowd surrounding her excitedly screamed.

People tended to see what they wanted to see first and then selectively believed what they wanted to believe. Rumors were easily inflated and the truth was more easily hidden. Even though they observed Marianne who left in a hurry, they thought her sudden leave was related to her affair with a man.

"Lady Marianne," someone said.

Perhaps most people would believe so, except for him.

"Sir..."

Marianne looked aside with an awkward smile. Already, several pairs of couples were dancing around, and Marianne stood on the lower stage, enjoying watching the dance without excitement.

"I was worried if you had any discomfort."

"I'm fine. I suddenly didn't feel well a while ago. I think I showed you my terrible look as I was so absent-minded. I hope you forget it."

"Refusing a lady's request doesn't fit a gentleman's code of act. You don't have to worry about it."

Ober replied while smiling as gently as possible. At the same time, he scanned her from head to toe.

"But..."

He still checked out the emeralds wrapped around her whole body. He even looked closely at her makeup that was a little darker than before and her feelings reflected in her eyes.

"Rejecting a gentleman's request is not also a lady's virtue, isn't it?"

Ober reached out in an elegant manner.

If he learned anything from his mother Marquise Chester and his political foster father Duke Hubble, it was how to control his hot temper. He learned how to wait for the time to step back and catch a trap before throwing a knife at the game.

Although he didn't succeed every time after he tried, he learned how to decorate his trick in a more sophisticated and sociable way when he succeeded.

"Sir, thank you. But I am..."

"You're already late. Your Majesty will not come."

Marianne looked around at Ober's words. Mrs. Charlotte and Cordelli were watching her. Though they put on masks, they were very worried.

Her eyes glanced farther. Over there, noblewomen and the young ladies were dancing or talking with the gentleman and young people. Among them, there were many busybodies who came to the ball to inflate the rumors about Marianne and Ober every day.