I Didn’t Know I Had Two Husbands - Chapter 56

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As she stepped down the temporary stairs, her dress swayed beautifully like flowing waves.

It was enough to capture the attention of the noble ladies nearby in an instant.

After she stepped down onto the ground, Amanda hurried over from the servants’ carriage and quickly adjusted the dress behind her. Lucian stood beside her and gave her time to straighten it.

At his attentive manner, the surrounding nobles were already whispering among themselves.

“Let’s go this way, Ria.”

He led her toward the area where the carpet had been laid out. The corridor leading to the banquet hall was crowded with nobles and palace attendants who had arrived earlier, but the moment Lucian appeared, they quickly parted to both sides.

Walking at his side, Elaria felt the authority of the ducal house for the first time, and the feeling was very strange. Before their marriage, those who had subtly belittled her now did not even dare meet her eyes.

As the two reached the banquet hall, the doorkeeper announced them in a loud voice.

“The Duke and Duchess of Asiel are entering! All, present your respects!”

Since the imperial family had not yet appeared, there were no nobles of higher rank than a duke present. They all bowed their heads toward Lucian and Elaria.

Lucian adjusted his pace and entered slowly to match hers. As if in thanks, she gave him a small smile and then looked around the hall.

At that moment, a group who had been watching from afar fidgeted, clearly wanting to approach. They were the members who had once attended tea parties with her. As she hesitated over what to do, Lucian whispered near her ear.

“Is there someone you want to greet?”

Since there was no one of higher rank than them, no one could speak first. Knowing this, Lucian had asked her calmly.

After a brief moment of thought, Elaria nodded.

“They’re people I used to have tea with. I was thinking of greeting them briefly. That wouldn’t cause any problems, right?”

“Of course not. Unless it’s His or Her Majesty, there’s no one here who could raise an issue with you, Ria.”

There was pride in the way he spoke so casually. Though he had gone through hardships because of the unusual heir training, he seemed to hold great pride in his family.

“…Still, shouldn’t we be careful around His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess as well?”

“That’s true, but…”

With a faint smile, he took her hand and led her forward. The group that had been watching them eagerly lit up the moment Lucian and Elaria approached.

“It’s been a long time, everyone.”

As soon as Elaria greeted them first, they responded as if they had been waiting.

“Good evening, Your Graces.”

“It’s been so long since we’ve seen you, Duchess!”

“You never came to any of the tea parties, so we were worried. You weren’t ill, were you?”

“That’s right, we were so concerned.”

Their attitude was completely different from before the marriage, and Elaria felt a complicated emotion. The feelings she had experienced on her way here surged again like a wave.

“I’ve been busy getting used to my duties. As you all know, it’s harvest season now.”

“Oh my, that’s true.”

“Our family is also overwhelmed with the harvest and preparations for winter.”

While speaking to Elaria, they could not take their eyes off Lucian, who stood beside her as an escort knight. He had always drawn attention wherever he went, but suddenly an unfamiliar feeling rose within her, and she was startled.

Feeling a faint sting deep in her chest, she slightly furrowed her brows. Lucian immediately spoke.

“Ria, are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

“…Mm, I think I need to fix my dress.”

“There’s still time, we can go.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The expressions of those who overheard their affectionate exchange were tinged with envy. Recently, each of them had been going through minor misfortunes.

Some had been rejected by a famous dressmaker they had tried to reserve long in advance for today and had no choice but to wear last year’s dress. Others were facing financial trouble after their husband’s business had collapsed.

Because of that, Elaria had become the object of envy. She, once nothing more than the dull daughter of a poor baron, was now wearing the most splendid dress at this event.

Standing beside the duke, who quietly escorted her, the two matched so perfectly that it stirred jealousy deep enough to make their insides twist. And so, their old habits surfaced again.

They all joined together, intending to subtly trouble Elaria.

“Well then, we hope you enjoy the banquet.”

“You’re leaving already? We’ll accompany you to the powder room.”

“We’ve only just met after so long. Stay with us a little longer, Duchess.”

“That’s right, you never even contacted us. Do you know how hurt we were?”

“When will you invite us to the ducal residence? We’ve been waiting all this time.”

As they gauged Elaria’s reactions, they began to act in ways that slightly crossed the bounds of etiquette. It was a deliberate move, made because they knew that if she had not changed from before, she would not be able to refuse.