HDFL 09

Chapter : 09

When Isabella let out a quiet sigh, Lucrezia lowered her head in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry. I never imagined I’d be this hopeless at dancing.”

“You don’t need to apologize. It’s only natural for a young lady who’s never had any exposure to high society.”

Encouraging the dejected Lucrezia, Isabella continued the dance lesson.

After an intensive three-hour training session, Lucrezia finally managed to master the basic steps. By the end, she was completely exhausted.

“Still, it’s fortunate that you’re naturally athletic. If you keep practicing like this, you should at least be able to dance one song at the party.”

“…Don’t tell me I have to do this every single day?”

“Of course. I think it would be even better to split the lessons into morning and afternoon sessions. Repetition is the key to mastering anything.”

Isabella’s teaching methods were remarkably strict. She truly seemed determined to transform Lucrezia into someone who looked like a noble lady within a single week.

As a result, from the moment she woke up until she went to bed, Lucrezia lived under Isabella’s constant supervision and instruction.

Dining etiquette, noble manners, the latest trends in the Empire’s social circles, conversation techniques—the lessons were both broad and surprisingly in-depth. Listening to them all left Lucrezia overwhelmed with self-doubt.

Just what is Calian planning to do with me? Even if I learn all of this, it’s not like I’ll ever have a chance to use it.

Every morning she had to put on an elaborate dress the moment she woke up and spend the entire day acting like an elegant noble lady. It was torture.

The food was excellent, and the accommodations were luxurious, but the real problem was the servants.

The sudden appearance of two women in the townhouse had sparked a popular betting pool among them over which one was actually the Duke’s real mistress. Some of the servants even openly cheered for Lucrezia whenever she walked by.

The reason was simple.

More money had been wagered on Lucrezia than on Isabella, who seemed like the far more likely candidate.

“They’ve turned me into entertainment… Where on earth did he disappear to?”

From the very day Lucrezia’s lessons had begun, Calian had left the townhouse.

Derek stopped by the estate every now and then, but Calian himself hadn’t shown so much as a strand of hair. Even now, with only two days remaining before the party, he was nowhere to be seen.

“You’re doing well in every other lesson, but dancing is still your weakest area. Starting today, I think it’s time you practiced with an actual partner.”

“A… real partner?”

“Yes. I went through quite a bit of trouble to find someone with a build similar to His Grace’s.”

As Isabella clapped her hands lightly, a tall man entered the lesson room.

Although he was much slimmer than Calian, his body was lean and well-trained without an ounce of unnecessary weight.

Introducing himself as a professional dancer, the man immediately took Lucrezia’s hand and began practicing the steps with her.

It was her first time dancing with anyone other than Isabella, and just as she was beginning to feel slightly awkward…

Someone appeared at the entrance.

“It seems that while I was away for a few days, we’ve gained a new guest.”

The speaker was none other than Calian.

His usual smile rested on his face, but beneath it lurked unmistakable displeasure.

“So you’ve invited someone into my home without its owner’s permission. I’m beginning to question your qualifications as an etiquette instructor.”

“Y-Your Grace! It’s a misunderstanding! I only invited him temporarily to help the young lady with her dance lessons.”

Calian narrowed his eyes at the visibly nervous Isabella.

“Why do you think I brought you here in the first place, teacher?”

She swallowed hard.

“For security. And my plans never included outsiders like him. Am I wrong?”

The icy edge in Calian’s voice made Isabella’s face visibly stiffen.

She hurriedly sent the dancer away before bowing deeply, as though she had committed treason.

“I deeply apologize for upsetting you, Your Grace. I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”

“That’s enough. You may leave too.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said leave.”

Looking bewildered, Isabella glanced back and forth between Calian and Lucrezia before quietly leaving the room.

The pianist, now suddenly left alone with the two of them, awkwardly rose from his seat, but Calian raised a hand to stop him.

“You stay. You’ll be playing for us.”

“For… us?”

“You and I, obviously. The person who’s actually going to be her partner is here now. Isn’t that much better?”

With little choice, the pianist sat back down and began playing the same piece Lucrezia had been practicing.

As the elegant classical melody slowly filled the room, Calian approached and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“That’s quite the dissatisfied expression. Did your teacher tell you to wear that face while dancing with a man?”

“…No.”

“Then imitate what you’ve been taught properly, Lucrezia. I’d like to feel that the money I’ve spent on you wasn’t wasted.”

Looking at the mocking smile on Calian’s face, anger surged inside her.

But she quickly steadied herself.

This is nothing more than part of the job.

No matter what this man says, he can’t hurt me.

Strengthening her resolve, Lucrezia placed one hand on his shoulder.

Calian spoke quietly.

“Lift your head. Don’t look anywhere else.”

Her face remained expressionless.

Isabella had repeatedly emphasized that a lady must always smile at a party, but Lucrezia saw no reason to smile when she wasn’t happy.

Not even because the man before her happened to be her employer.

“You’re a stubborn woman. Are you planning to wear that same blank expression at the party?”

“I’m not particularly talented at smiling. Will that count against me too?”

“Who knows? It might actually be preferable to those people who grin constantly for no reason and make nuisances of themselves.”

Lucrezia deliberately forced the corners of her mouth upward.

She was determined to annoy him somehow.

Unfortunately, her attempt failed spectacularly.

Instead, Calian burst into amused laughter.

“So my partner has absolutely no talent for controlling her facial expressions. Then let’s see if you’re any better at dancing.”

“You shouldn’t expect much. Today’s the first time I’ve ever danced with my actual partner.”

“I’m sure it is.”

With a quiet scoff, Calian began to move.

Contrary to her expectations, dancing with him was surprisingly comfortable.

He led her with effortless confidence, and whenever she missed a step, he would move ahead just enough to guide the dance smoothly, seamlessly covering for her mistakes.

Amazing… It looks like I’m actually good at dancing.

Did he cast some kind of spell?

Calian guided every movement in a way that concealed her small mistakes while emphasizing her strengths.

He was so much better than the professional dancer that Lucrezia could only marvel inwardly.

“For a fake lady… you’re serviceable.”

Leaving behind that brief evaluation, Calian turned and walked out of the lesson room.

Just one dance with him had completely drained her.

Leaning against the wall, Lucrezia let out a long, exhausted sigh.

Later That Night

That night, Isabella secretly sneaked into Lucrezia’s room carrying a bottle of wine.

The moment they were alone, she unleashed an endless stream of complaints about Calian.

“Since it’s just the two of us… isn’t His Grace absolutely unbearable? So what if he’s rich and handsome? His personality is awful.”

As it turned out, Isabella wasn’t Calian’s mistress or even an acquaintance.

Like Lucrezia, she was simply someone who had accepted the job because of the generous pay.

“I’ll only have to put up with him for a few more days, but what about you, Lucrezia? I don’t think it’ll be easy staying by someone like that’s side.”

“…I’ll just have to manage somehow.”

“Oh, honestly… I have no idea what he intends to use such an innocent young lady like you for. It worries me just watching.”

Completely drunk, Isabella began pouring out the story of her life without anyone even asking.

She had been born as the eldest daughter of a once-noble family that had fallen into ruin.

Her first job had been working as a tutor for wealthy bourgeois households.

Later, in order to support her parents, she changed her clientele, teaching noblemen’s mistresses and high-class courtesans living in Benin how to conduct themselves in society.

Though the paths they had taken were different, Isabella’s life bore a strange resemblance to Lucrezia’s own.