I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 13.1

“Those crazy fools keep looking at you.”

“Anyone who can take their eyes off me is truly crazy. The next person is coming, so look ahead.”

Cassion turned his gaze forward without dimming his fiery eyes. As a result, the nobles who were entering with smiles in response to mine hesitated in their steps when they saw him.

“Baron Mayer, Baroness. Thank you for coming to our invitation meeting.”

“…Oh my…! The pleasure is ours.”

As the Baron couple, who had just entered the mansion, looked like they might turn and run due to Cassion’s intensity, I quickly signaled the butler with my eyes and smiled. The Baroness, seemingly impressed that I knew who they were without them introducing themselves, stepped forward again. Taking advantage of this moment, the butler received the Baron’s outer coat and led them to the cloakroom.

“You must be hot. Please go to the tea room first and have some champagne or ice cream.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Grace. We’re deeply grateful.”

I stepped out slightly from the stairs, as if shielding Cassion, and added another word. The Baroness was completely won over. I was confident that her whispered assessment of me to her husband would be positive as I wiped the smile off my face and turned to Cassion.

“Those eyes! Your eyes! Relax a bit. You’re scaring everyone!”

“…Why did you wear such a form-fitting dress… exposing your neckline and all.”

“Do you think they wouldn’t have looked if I wore a baggy dress? My beauty isn’t something that can be hidden by mere clothing, you know? Stop trying to control things and smile a bit.”

“Control?! I… I…”

“What! …Oh my, welcome~”

I’m not particularly fond of being stared at, but I’m well aware of how I look. That’s why I wasn’t bothered by guests turning to look back at me as they entered the cloakroom.

Of course, it felt a bit uncomfortable when it seemed like they were scanning my backside, but I couldn’t say anything since Cassion was showing his teeth even more than I was.

I had thought he was uncharacteristically awkward, but it seems he’s beyond that – he might be someone with quite moral standards when it comes to the opposite s*x.

“…Looking at it this way, he’s truly a noble among nobles.”

“That guy again… Hm? What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

In appearance, he’s polished enough to pass for royalty without question.

Seeing him dressed up like this and protecting a woman from shame, he seems like a noble among nobles. As I was wondering how such a person became a bloodthirsty playboy, I turned away upon seeing his expression contort like an evil spirit.

That raw expression is the problem.

“If you can’t smile, at least kill that fierce look in your eyes. The purpose is friendliness, you know. And can’t you stand a bit closer?”

I grabbed his face, which kept glaring behind instead of looking ahead, and turned it forward. Standing close to him, I took his tightly clenched fist.

“Put your hand on my waist! Affectionately!”

“?!”

As I pried open his fingers one by one, which were clenched almost to the point of trembling, and placed his hand firmly on my waist, his expression turned to bewilderment.

Thanks to this, he ended up showing a dazed expression to the next group of nobles entering, making me think I should have done this from the start.

“Ah, come on. Stop fumbling and just keep it there.”

“When did I fumble…! It’s, it’s because the dress is slippery. I think it’s better if I just keep my hand off.”

“Just leave it. Or you could put your arm around my shoulders.”

“Shoulders? The shoulders…”

Looking at my exposed shoulders, his expression became one of anguish. Because of this, he seemed unaware that his hand, which was twitching as if there was an earthquake, had slid down to my hip and was fumbling again.

If I didn’t know that Cassion was actually innocent, it would have been appropriate to slap him for such calculated harassment. But our appearance must have looked affectionate, even overly intimate.

“My, showing us such an enviable sight as soon as we arrive.”

“Ah.”

Just as I was wondering what to do with this naive man who was biting his lip, I heard a somewhat familiar voice. Surely the servant at the door must have announced the arrival of the Second Prince, but both Cassion and I had rudely failed to hear it, so we hurriedly came down the stairs.

The Prince laughed at Cassion, who was moving sluggishly, his hand twitching in the air.

“I apologize for the late greeting, Your Highness. Thank you for coming to our invitation meeting.”

“It’s nothing. I never expected to receive such an invitation. Even less did I expect to see such a sight.”

The Second Prince, who clicked his tongue while watching Cassion slowly descend the stairs to stand beside me, gave me a friendly smile. As I felt during the wedding, he’s truly a prince without pretense.

“I never knew my friend had this side to him. Everyone in the hall must have been as surprised as I was. It’s all thanks to finding a good wife.”

“Thank you for your kind words, which are more than I deserve.”

“Well, I wonder who’s really beyond their station here.”

The Prince, turning his gaze from me, patted Cassion’s shoulder, who had instantly changed from a flustered look to a sullen expression.

Now that the guest of honor has arrived, we should be able to enter the hall as well. I nudged Cassion’s side to force him to escort me, then followed behind the Prince.

As this wasn’t a grand banquet, there was no announcement like “His Highness the Prince enters,” but I could feel all eyes instantly turning towards us.

The real socializing of this invitation meeting would start now. I smiled confidently while holding onto Cassion’s arm.