How to Divorce the Male Lead - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

“Oh, my God, that duchess here?”

“The Countess Elkelli must have been offended, too.”

“There’s no way she’s coming to such a decent ball.”

“What a surprise.”

“I’ve heard that she’s been visiting the temple a lot lately.”

“Has she ever taken her lovers with her?”

Someone giggled, hiding her face behind a fan. The Duchess didn’t realize yet that she was walking into a nest of vipers.

“I’ve heard that she doesn’t even remember them all because she had so many lovers. There were so many connections that the baron I had recently met pretended to know the Duchess, but he actually didn’t know her.”

“That’s the shame of the Empire.”

“I know. I’m afraid she’ll tarnish the Duke’s honor.”

“Does the Duke still notice her? I’m telling you, he was so brave on the battlefield, why would he put up with his wife’s infidelity?”

“Maybe it’s Marquis’s fault.”

“It wasn’t just one or two nobles who ruined their children’s education, but who doesn’t know that the Marquis of Auburn is a man who only knows how to run mines. I think the way he cares about his daughter is wrong. If it were me-.”

Rumors circulated among the old ladies, among the young ladies who had just made their social debut in beautiful dresses with proudly displayed bosoms, and among the young aristocrats who assisted the noble ladies.

And, of course, Juliana was accepting all the criticisms towards her, the envy of the few, and curiosity of many. However, it’s been a long time since she had attended such a decent ball, so she was very unfamiliar with the standards of the party.

Juliana spread out her fan and hid her face.

‘You guys, I can hear you!’

At the side of the Duke who accompanied her, people gathered and formed a group to admire the hero of the Empire.

Not knowing how to show affection among them, she left Evan’s side first.

It will certainly take some time for the Duke to leave the crowd that surrounded him. Juliana preferred to cool her head a little while being alone.

“Oh, my. My head….”

“Juliana.”

Then, a stranger bowed before her.

He was a young man who turned his head to look at her. His soft brown hair and eyes looked like fallen leaves.

She frowned.

Who is this guy?

“Ah.”

She unfolded the fan that she had briefly folded.

He was the second child of the Countess Elkelli, whom she had met the last time she went boating.

Juliana, unlike those who approached her, avoided devotion in her affairs because she assumed that she would get annoyed later on, but did he really think they were in a relationship on a first name basis?

‘Now I see this guy getting twisted.’

With a deep sigh, Juliana said coldly.

“Young-sik and I don’t know each other. Please refrain from calling my name so casually. And besides, my husband is near.”

“Doesn’t your husband make you unhappy, Juliana?”

Young-sik came closer first and his eyes sparkled.

‘Oh, you cursed at your husband by the river……’

Juliana endured the urge to crush her head, thinking of herself in the past. And she said awkwardly.

“Well, forget about the silly things I said in the past. Young-sik, if you want to ask me to dance, please bear with me. The person I dance with will be my husband.”

“But why? Don’t you know I’m on the Duchess’s side?”

The sadness that passed by the young Young-sik’s face was shallow and did not suit her taste, so Juliana stepped back.

“No, would you mind staying away?”

“Why do you stay away from people who are trying to reach you, Duchess? You certainly haven’t done this before.”

In a conservative aristocratic society, there were some people who admired and loved Juliana, a free-spirited girl who enjoyed love affairs that were well known to the public.

They were a kind of fan club, and Young-sik was probably one of them. Of course, it didn’t help in the current situation.

‘You, man?’

Juliana eagerly clenched her fan because she wanted to hit a young man who was approaching her passionately.

‘One more step and you’re in a mess. You son of a bitch. Do you want to do this at your mother’s ballroom?!’

“Juliana.”

It was then.

Juliana looked back.

Apparently, they were only now surrounded by a crowd of people. Evan, who had cocktail glasses in both of his hands and didn’t know how to get rid of them, was looking coldly at Juliana and the young boy.

To be precise, it was a child’s side.

The young Young-sik, who caught his attention, faltered for a moment.

Then, he thrust out his chest as if he didn’t want to be seen breaking down in front of Juliana.

Juliana bit her tongue as she saw that the young nobleman was not going to back down at all.

No matter how much she used to swear at her husband, her parents, and her house, her “fan club” was full of impure knights obsessed with Juliana.

Her relationship with them won’t disappear overnight just because Juliana, who is now aware of her future, throws away some gifts and goes in and out of the temple.

Therefore, she needed a public declaration. Juliana glanced at Evan, who was looking at her rather than at the little boy who was near her.

As usual, he was examining Juliana’s mood. Or, was he asking for permission? She wondered if it would be okay to tease the kid in front of her husband a little.

“Haha.”

Juliana smiled awkwardly.

It naturally occurred to her that her husband might throw down the gauntlet and challenged him to a duel, making a little boy snap like a twig.

‘You don’t have to play so big.’

She walked away from faltering Young-sik and approached her husband. Then she snatched up the cocktail that he must have brought for Juliana. Then she said, sipping it flauntingly.

“Why don’t you ask other beautiful ladies to dance a song, too?” It seems there are a lot of girls who are in trouble without a dance partner. I have to dance with my husband. Before I booze up, right? Honey.”

Did you just say “honey”?

The first word she spoke was as sweet as it was embarrassing.

However, Juliana’s expression wasn’t disturbed, perhaps because she was practicing it during the day. Evan looked softly at the seductive smile on Juliana’s face.

And sneaked a smile.

No matter what he thought, he seemed to enjoy the situation.

Though it was Juliana who suggested it first, he seemed very eager to dance with her. Juliana gulped down her saliva.

His relaxed gaze, staring deeply into Juliana’s brown eyes, turned to the cocktail. And, as she did, he moistened his throat with the cocktail, too.

Drops of liquor formed on his lips and shone. After he licked them off with his red tongue, he grinned and said.

“I want to dance with you, of course. Always have, always will.”

At the end of the talk, he loosened his strong arm, which he had wrapped around Juliana’s waist.

Juliana blushed as he held her waist.

He took the cocktail glass out of her hand. Then he drank all the half-empty cocktails she had left and all the cocktails he had in his left hand.

Then with a sharp face, he grabbed her waist more tightly. His hot hand felt through the dress, slowly wrapped around Juliana’s waist.

Juliana couldn’t take her face off his chest and gasped. Evan said casually as if he knew she was trembling.

“I never thought you’d ask for a dance before me. I don’t know what you’re thinking……”

He whispered in Juliana’s ear.

“I feel good. I really do.”

Then he glanced at the little man, who was watching the affectionate Ducal couple.

As soon as his sharp gaze touched the second son of the Countess Elkelli, the boy was frozen on the spot. The guests at the ball had already referred to him as a little boy, not by his name.

His eyes were glaring at them with cruelty. If this was the battlefield, Young-sik was ready to slit her husband’s throat right away.

Evan looked away from him when he saw Countess Elkelli’s second son bowing his head down.

Then he smiled as he looked at Juliana.

He had to go now.

His wife asked for a dance.

* * *

Translator – DrMementoTiramisu