Elena spotted Helen the moment she entered the party. Helen was wearing a more noticeable dress today, and so she stood out from the crowd.
According to the intelligence Elena received, Helen would attempt to give Carlisle an aphrodisiac. It was most certain that Helen would wait until the most opportune moment. She had the advantage of being the only daughter of Selby Marquis, as well as having the backing of Empress Ophelia, one of the two great pillars of the Ruford Empire. If Elena couldn’t avoid the situation, she would have to deal with it as calmly as possible. And so, she bid her time until she would spring her trap.
‘I gave you my last warning.’
Elena didn’t intend to hold back this time. She had already looked away once when Helen had spread rumors about her. Of course, she was more concerned about the damage to Carlisle’s chance in becoming emperor, but Helen was once again acting hostile towards Elena without a trace of repentance. It would be foolish to let this situation repeat. Elena was going to trample the other woman under her feet.
‘To do so…’
Elena would release the bait to trap her. For a moment, her red eyes darkened over. Carlisle noticed her strange expression and looked at her curiously.
“What are you thinking of, my wife?”
“N-nothing. I’m married and I’m at my first public event, so I’ll need to introduce myself to the other noblewomen.”
“Go ahead.”
Even with Carlisle’s permission, however, Elena was reluctant to part from him. She knew the moment she left him, Helen, but also countless women, would descend upon Carlisle. When she hesitated, Carlisle took a step forward, and she instinctively grabbed his arm.
“I…”
Elena turned speechless by her sudden action. She hadn’t intended it, and she pulled her hand away, but Carlisle turned around. He stared closely at Elena’s expression and soon gave a mischievous smile.
“Can I take this as a sign that you don’t want to leave my side?”
Elena blushed at his joke. Even Carlisle seemed a little surprised at her reaction. She replied with a casual look, ignoring the heat on her face.
“No, I was just…there was something on your clothes.”
Elena brushed Carlisle’s spotless sleeve, and then moved away. She could not bear to look behind her, even though she could feel Carlisle’s gaze fixed on her back.
‘…I can’t say it.’
She didn’t want to leave him alone with another woman for one moment…
*
*
*
Carlisle was beginning to get annoyed. Everywhere in the party, multiple women constantly dogged his footsteps. He was interrupted by an older woman stepping in his way and introducing her daughter. The nobles never approached him much before, but now they came upon him like hounds. He was feeling uncomfortable in this party, and yet …
When he sensed someone’s gaze on them and turned around, he found that Elena was looking at them. Her red eyes were sharply raised as if she were unhappy…
Or as if she were jealous.
‘No way.’
This was too much wishful thinking.
However, the scenario repeated itself several times, and Carlisle couldn’t ignore Elena’s unusual behavior.
‘Don’t tell me…’
He couldn’t help but feel hopeful. His thoughts were filled with Elena, when—
Dadadag, kuung!
A woman approached Carlisle and spilled the wine she was holding. The action was so obviously deliberate that his brow furrowed.
“Oh my goodness, how could this have happened?”
The woman looked up at him helplessly, and Carlisle could barely contain his already rising irritation. However, he stole a glance towards Elena. Again, she was staring in this direction. What’s more, her expression was far more serious than before.
‘…Why?’
Carlisle wondered why she would give such a look. He let the other woman approach, curious about her reaction.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Please let me make it up to you. How about I clean your jacket?”
Carlisle glanced at his wine-stained jacket and replied brusquely.
“Do it.”
The woman’s face flushed as permission was given.
“Would you please follow me for a while? There are so many people here. I’ll take you to the room upstairs while I have your jacket cleaned.”
It was not something done under normal circumstances, but Carlisle’s blue eyes once again looked in the direction of Elena, who nodded gently.
“…Very well.”
The woman’s smile deepened at the answer. Her identity was Helen.
