RAMHM Chapter 35

The Tension That Grips Every Inch

To do such a thing in the middle of this brightly lit party hall...! I'd braced myself to some degree, but I hadn't expected we'd be pressed this close together.

"For now..."

"For now, stay like this."

The tingling sensation along my spine wouldn't fade. I twisted, trying to shift away. But the more I tried to escape him, the tighter his arms became around me.

It wasn't as though he'd pulled me close enough to suffocate—yet I could barely breathe, like someone wedged between massive boulders. My cheeks—undoubtedly flushed—rested lightly against his chest. My hands, flung out in shock, had landed somewhere near his solar plexus, solid as stone beneath my palms.

The pounding heartbeat—was it his, or mine? I could have bet everything I owned that it was my heart thundering like that.

Everything surrounding me felt like stimulation incarnate. Not just because of our bodies pressed together. His breath pouring over the crown of my head, that low voice following each exhale as though stroking past my ear. The distinctive lavender scent rising from his shirt, pulled taut beneath his jacket. It felt as though a terrible drought had descended on the spot where I stood alone.

"The Grand Duke's dog keeps watching us."

My mouth gone dry, I squeezed my eyes shut where I stood half-embraced. I only prayed for time to pass quickly.

"What, what should I do...?"

I barely managed to gather my wits and glanced up at him. Rhodness's smile had vanished—his red eyes filled entirely with my reflection. Whether from the color of his gaze or because my face had truly flushed that deeply, the image of myself captured there looked utterly disgraceful.

"Should I... do this...?"

I swallowed hard and pressed my cheek a bit more firmly against his chest, rubbing my head slightly as though acting coquettish. His thick chest—noticeable even through the jacket—gave a pronounced flinch, and then he pulled me away immediately.

Before I could look up at him again, he turned my body lightly toward where Baroness Giusetta stood.

"...Baroness Giusetta watched our entire ridiculous display."

"Ri-ridiculous?"

"...Damn it."

Rhodness, muttering lowly, gripped both my shoulders tightly from behind. It seemed to mean: don't turn around.

"Neither 'ridiculous' nor 'damn it' are words for addressing a lady, so pay them no mind."

"Yes, I know. Could you remove your hands from my shoulders...?"

When I slowly turned back around, Rhodness had already grabbed a passing servant by the scruff of the neck. The servant, dragged forward by his collar, had all the champagne from his tray confiscated. Rhodness downed the glasses in rapid succession, his face slightly flushed as he spoke.

"If you just do what you did with Novian Trovika, there shouldn't be any problems going forward."

"What I did with the Grand Duke?"

"That thing you just did. He's not even a dog..."

Muttering ominously, Rhodness glared somewhere, then caught another passing servant by the scruff—nearly lifting him as he positioned the man before himself and emptied another champagne glass. The motion was light and crisp, like an eagle seizing a mouse, but sufficiently terrifying for the servant on the receiving end—the man was trembling.

"Bring more."

"Pardon?"

"Alcohol. Bring more. Are you deaf?"

"Yes, yes! Your Highness!"

As the poor servant fled with the empty glasses, I stepped closer to Rhodness. I'd meant to whisper quietly, but he stepped back, maintaining distance.

"...Your Highness?"

"You smell like alcohol, so speak from there."

"I've never, ever done that with the Grand Duke."

"...What are you suddenly talking about?"

"You just said if I do what I did with the Grand Duke, there'd be no problem. Wasn't it because I moved my head a little while in your embrace?"

"Moving your head 'a little' implies far too much intimacy for what actually happened."

It seemed rich coming from the person who'd been holding me, but I tilted my head, then nodded. Perhaps he'd found it unpleasant.

"Yes, I've never done anything like that with the Grand Duke. And..."

I took a decisive step toward Rhodness where he'd maintained his distance. Fortunately, he didn't retreat this time—he simply stared at my face.

"Please allow at least this much distance. If we keep talking while separated like before, it'll interfere with the plan."

In truth, if he hadn't created that distance just now, I would have suffocated from the ticklish sensation I'd been feeling ever since boarding the carriage with Rhodness today. Because I'd never acted this intimately with any man besides Novian—the tension was real.

Different from the sense of security I'd felt with Novian, this utterly unfamiliar tension had clearly flustered me. A strange feeling, as though I stood on a cliff's edge, or had stepped naked into a wardrobe crackling with static electricity.

Everywhere Rhodness's gaze touched felt like someone had slathered on that stinging ointment for insect bites. My heartbeat still drummed in my ears—but I couldn't let myself get drunk on this sensation and forget my purpose.

"Sir Jimskehr is the Grand Duke's loyal aide, so he'll definitely report our 'ridiculous display.' So..."

I forced my fluttering heart to calm as I slowly reached toward his arm. The tension grew under his following gaze, but I had another reason for attending tonight's party—I couldn't delay.

"I need to use Your Highness a bit for my plan. You'll cooperate, won't you?"

Since it's a lover's small request. As I added in a whisper, his solid arm flinched again. The impulse rose to see his expression, but I held back and moved forward. Swish, swish—my dress rustled, and within a few steps I'd arrived at my destination.

"Good evening, Baroness Giusetta."

I stood before Nora Giusetta, who'd been watching us all this time.

The murmuring mouths among the gathered noblewomen fell silent all at once when Lady Acacia appeared, bringing an imperial prince to their circle. Nora stiffened briefly upon seeing the noblewoman approach her so familiarly, then forced a smile.

"Good evening, Countess Acacia."

"I wanted to introduce His Imperial Highness, Second Prince Rhodness, to you, Baroness. Would that be acceptable?"

Bringing him here first and asking permission afterward! Nora's group kept stealing glances at the newly-minted lovers but kept their mouths firmly shut, pretending ignorance. Nora forced a smile while looking at Rhodness, who stood behind the countess gazing down at her. Even if she wanted to ignore Bliea Acacia, the Second Prince's presence made that impossible.

"I'm well aware of your exceptional business acumen, Baroness."

After being introduced to Rhodness somewhat bewilderedly and exchanging brief conversation as though entranced, Nora glanced at Countess Acacia—smiling serenely—and snapped back to her senses. She absolutely could not forget the fact that this interloper might become an attendant to the Crown Princess.

The mere thought made her blood boil backward, but she couldn't humiliate the woman in front of the Second Prince—it was maddening. But then...

"My chaperone continues to be nowhere in sight."

"Pardon?"

"I believe everyone knows Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess agreed to serve as my chaperone."

Among the noblewomen gathering to be introduced to Rhodness, Adrienne smiled leisurely. Eyes that had followed her lips—glistening beneath the brilliant chandeliers—as though entranced grew wider and wider.

"Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess agreed to serve as your chaperone?"

"Last time, the Grand Duke appeared as chaperone..."

"His Grace is in mourning, and the difference in gender created some difficulties. I assumed Baroness Giusetta here had already informed you ladies of my predicament—apparently not."

Adrienne surveyed the gazes beginning to focus on her, then linked arms with Rhodness conspicuously and stepped closer to Nora.

"May I request guidance from my new chaperone, Baroness?"

Thanks to Rhodness escorting me to the Crown Princess's palace entrance, I was able to safely enter following Baroness Giusetta. The moment I saw Doris sitting properly on the drawing room sofa, I stood there, momentarily forgetting even to observe proper courtesy.

That dress...

Doris wore a dress remarkably similar in feeling to the one I'd worn yesterday. Since Madame Leblais had come personally to the estate to help select my outfit, I remembered every detail. Not only that, but the accessories she wore were naturally of higher quality than mine, yet looked strikingly similar. I quickly gathered my wits and paid Doris proper respect.

"I greet the Empire's Star. I am Bliea Acacia, wife of Count Acacia."

"Didn't we exchange names yesterday?"

Doris wore a benevolent smile across her gleaming face as she invited both Baroness Giusetta—who paid her respects next—and me to be seated.

"What brings you here without requesting an audience beforehand, Countess? His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince has also left the palace, so I was feeling rather bored—this works out well."

"I beg forgiveness for my rudeness, Your Highness. My eagerness to confirm yesterday's proposal overwhelmed me..."

"Ah, that... But what shall we do? Grand Duke Trovika seems reluctant, so I've been wondering what to do about it."

"!"

"I sent you a letter last evening as soon as I returned."

"Last evening, you say?"

"You didn't receive it?"

I ignored Nora's wavering gaze and focused on Doris's words. Had Novian intercepted the Crown Princess's letter?

"If Your Highness is agreeable, I would accept and fulfill Your Highness's proposal this very moment."

My heart was urgent. Doris's eyes narrowed as she looked me up and down. Then she smiled gently and spoke.

"Nora."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Have you finished the task I requested?"

Doris asked Nora without taking her eyes off me.

"Pardon? Ah, that matter..."

Nora, who'd been scanning me with a gaze slightly different from Doris's, started violently.

"Countess. I want to keep you by my side as well. But I must consider the Grand Duke's feelings at least a little."

Doris made her excuses to me quite affectionately.

"If you can prove your abilities to me—even in some small way—I could keep you by my side despite his opposition. Do you understand what I mean?"

"...Yes. I'll do my utmost."

I decided to face Doris's test head-on.

"The palace servants are rather old-fashioned in some respects. Just because one is to become the next Empress doesn't mean one must already adhere to styles like Her Majesty the Empress. Don't you agree?"

I struggled to understand why Doris brought this up. I didn't know what kind of person Doris was. Judging purely by appearances, Doris had—for some reason—copied my style. I, the original, couldn't fail to notice. How much of this was a test? Should I mention that she'd imitated me? Or should I ask what task she'd given Baroness Giusetta? I studied Doris's expression intently.

Like Crown Prince Bardenaldo, Doris had slightly downturned eyes that gave her a gentle impression. But in her intermittently visible green eyes shone an unmistakable pride as Crown Princess.

"Of course, I don't think Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess needs to imitate Her Majesty the Empress. The world is vast and creative designers are plentiful. However..."

"However...?"

I spoke lightly and leisurely, trying not to appear too serious.

"Wouldn't you need someone talented enough to create a style that's both befitting Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess's status and creative?"

"It seems the first test of becoming my attendant has been decided, Countess."

Doris replied in an equally light tone. But we were the only two people in this drawing room wearing light expressions and speaking casually. Nora's face had gone pitifully pale.

"If you do this well... I promise I'll grant you one thing you desire. I've grown quite tired of my current style lately."

Doris then sent Nora—who was staring wide-eyed, alternating between herself and me—outside. The gesture was polite but quite firm. Firm enough that Nora, after hesitating, bit her lip hard and left without protest.

In the drawing room suddenly occupied by just the two of us, Doris lifted a teacup I hadn't even noticed and sipped her tea, then her eyes suddenly gleamed. And—

"What you desire is probably... the vacant Grand Duchess position?"

The words leaving her mouth struck my head like a blow.