18. Is Your Ego Hurt?

When Lucas and Ava left, Rosalind approached and whispered to Eleanor, "Did you push her? I won't blame you even if you did."

"Of course not, Rosie. She's not worth my attention." Then Ellie told Rosalind everything.

"Oh my! That woman is a snake! Two-faced bitch!" Rosalind exclaimed.

Ellie remained silent, listening to Rosalind's words. A few moments later, the party's atmosphere changed, not as lively as before Crown Prince Lucas and Ava left the hall.

As the dance session began, no one made their way to the dance floor because their mood for partying had vanished.

Then, Cassius stood in front of Eleanor and extended one hand.

"Would you like to dance with me, My Lady?"

Ellie smiled and took Cassius' hand. He led Ellie to the dance floor, and they began dancing a graceful minuet accompanied by classical music.

The nobles who saw them were amazed. The scene on the dance floor resembled a beautiful painting.

The man holding the woman's waist, and the woman resting her hand on the man's shoulder, moved elegantly around the dance floor. Long black hair and platinum hair swirled in the air, like yin and yang.

There was no jealousy or other negative emotions among the nobles at the moment. They were simply amazed.

Then, two, three, and more couples stepped forward onto the dance floor.

The atmosphere of the party, which had been disrupted, became lively again.

It was as if the incident when the Crown Prince left the party with a grim face had never happened.

Cassius looked intensely into Eleanor's eyes as they followed the rhythm of the music.

"I really want to see your face," Cassius whispered in Eleanor's ear.

"Are you a two-faced man? Which one is your true face?" Eleanor replied.

She still remembered how cold Cassius had been towards others.

He could be as cold as ice.

But when he was with her, Cassius was warm, as warm as the spring sunshine.

"You'll find out after you become my wife," he said with a smile.

"I don't want to risk my future."

"I guarantee, you won't be disappointed."

"Is your way of speaking always like this with every woman?" Eleanor asked, with an incredulous expression.

"No. You're the first."

"First, to tame you?"

"You could say that. Maybe... You've tamed me."

"Aren't you worried at all about my face?"

"I judge people by their eyes. And your eyes, they intrigue me."

Then, Ellie laughed.

She wasn't a naive girl who could easily be charmed by sweet words, which she knew were just flattery and not serious.

Nevertheless, she enjoyed being praised like this.

"I'm sure we'll make good colleagues, Your Grace."

"And I'm sure we'll make a compatible husband and wife."

"Well, whatever you want. As long as there's no love involved."

Accidentally, Cassius held Eleanor's waist tightly as she said that. And the veins in his jaw became visible, as if he were forcing himself to remain calm.

"Why?"

"Because love makes people weak and can even destroy them if they love the wrong person."

"Not everyone."

"Yes. But there is clear evidence in front of you right now."

"In my eyes, you are not destroyed."

"Because you haven't fully seen what lies ahead of you."

"So, you can give your love to Lucas but not to me? My heart hurts, you know."

Ellie couldn't tell whether he was joking or serious, given his smile that seemed to tease.

"Do you like me?"

"Of course, it would be foolish to marry someone I despise."

"I mean, do you romantically like me?"

"Do you want me to romantically like you?"

Extracting a straightforward answer from Cassius' mouth was not easy.

He always gave roundabout or ambiguous answers.

"Stop acting like this. I don't want to be a fool."

"You're foolish if you give your heart to the wrong person."

"And are you the right person, Your Grace?"

"I am the type of person who doesn't talk much. I prefer actions over words. So, you'll find out yourself later whether I've made you a fool or not."

It was the longest speech Eleanor had ever heard from Cassius, and at the same time, it felt like a vow.

"You are so confident as if I will give you my heart."

Ellie stared at Cassius with a piercing gaze, she didn't want to be swayed by his sweet words.

She needed to protect her heart.

Because right now, she still didn't know whether she would leave Cassius in the end or not.

Before the music ended, she pulled away from him.

"I want to talk to you. Meet me on the balcony."

His future wife had the ability to captivate him, it seemed.

None of her actions could be predicted.

He smiled casually and walked slowly toward the balcony.

The balconies of the nobles always had thick doors and curtains.

It was done to provide privacy for couples engaging in their romantic affairs.

So, no one could eavesdrop or see anyone when they were on the balcony.

Eleanor looked at the city lights that resembled stars in the sky from the high balcony.

From behind, a cloak suddenly covered her body.

"You'll catch a cold."

"I feel honored. Grand Duke Cassius is very attentive to me."

"Can you stop speaking in a sarcastic tone?"

"And can you stop teasing me?"

Cassius smiled. "I enjoy teasing people."

"Oh, how relieving to know that my future husband has a hobby of teasing every woman."

"I didn't say 'woman.' When I was a child, I enjoyed teasing Lucas. And now, I enjoy teasing the Emperor."

As he said that, there was a sharp and cold gaze in his eyes, even for a moment.

However, Ellie managed to catch it.

'I have to make sure of my future.'

"Your Grace, the reason I brought you here is that I want to ask you something. And I hope you will answer honestly."

"I will answer after you ask."

"Do you have dangerous ambitions, Your Higness?"

"Explain what danger means to you. Because what is dangerous for you may not be the same for me."

"You know what I mean."

Cassius looked seriously into Eleanor's eyes for a few seconds.

Then he looked down, toward the city that resembled fireflies.

"What do you think of the view from here?"

'Is he diverting the conversation?' Ellie furrowed her brow suspiciously.

"It's very beautiful."

"If seeing it from here alone is already so beautiful, don't you want to see it from the highest place?"

"You mean...?"

Then he turned with a gentle smile on his face.

But his gaze was dangerously intense. Like a predator observing its prey.

"You know what I mean."

With that answer, Ellie understood.

"I only want to live peacefully and stay away from any conflicts. If our visions are different, I don't think we can be a compatible husband and wife."

"In my eyes, you are smart, Eleanor. But apparently, you are very naive."

"....?"

Cassius closed the distance between them, his strong hands trapping Eleanor at the edge of the balcony.

"You will only be safe in your life if you have power. A power so great that no one dares to take it away from you," he whispered in a very low voice, tickling Ellie's ears.

Eleanor also whispered, their lips slightly touching, although obstructed by Eleanor's veil.

"And do you desire that power?"

"What do you think?"

She couldn't think straight in this cornered situation.

It was as if Cassius would kiss her at any moment.

She could feel Cassius' breath, scented with wine and mint.

It made her head spin.

'It's just the effect of alcohol. Yes, definitely.'

But her heart was beating so fast that she suspected it was trying to break free from her ribcage.

In tandem with her pounding heart, Eleanor gazed deep into Cassius's eyes, which were so enchanting.

His handsome face and the bulging muscles of his arms filled Ellie's field of vision.

Cassius's hand rested on Eleanor's chest, where her heart was.

"You're not at war, My Lady. But your heart is beating so fast."

"Can you step back?"

"Why? Are you afraid of being foolish?"

Eleanor shook her head.

Cassius stared deeply into Eleanor's eyes as if they were drawing him in.

Although he couldn't see her entire face, he had a strong desire to devour the woman in front of him alive.

Cassius swallowed hard and asked, "Can I kiss you?"

"You mustn't look at my face."

"I will close my eyes."

"You will open them later."

"I promise, on my honor."

When he didn't hear a response from Eleanor, he began to close his eyes.

Then he approached slowly, he removed Eleanor's face covering, and gently brushed his lips against hers, then withdrew for a moment.

When he felt no resistance or rejection, he started to part his lips and devour Eleanor's mouth.

Eleanor's legs felt weak and powerless as Cassius's tongue forced its way into her mouth.

She stumbled and faltered, but Cassius supported her body with both hands.

He kept kissing Eleanor hungrily, holding her tightly with both arms.

One arm around her waist, and the other hand at the back of Eleanor's head.

Eleanor, with gasping breaths, finally found her rhythm and stopped.

"Enough. I think I'm drunk."

"Because I am a gentleman, I will not touch a drunken woman." With a smile, Cassius stepped back.

"You can open your eyes now."

When he opened his eyes, Eleanor appeared as usual, nothing different about her except for a few strands of loose hair.

"I'm disappointed that I couldn't see your blushing face." But he could see Eleanor's blushing ears.

Cassius smiled satisfactorily, observing Eleanor's reaction to his actions.

"Don't talk nonsense, as if there shouldn't be any love in it anymore."

Upon hearing that, Eleanor immediately looked at him sharply, her voice rising one octave.

"So, all of that was just because of my words? You didn't really want to do it? You kissed me to prove that I could easily fall in love with you?"

Cassius, surprised and unaware of his mistake, said, "No, I-"

"What if I say that nonsense again? Would your ego be hurt if I could love Lucas but not you? Do you feel defeated? Does your pride crumble when your future bride once loved your rival?"

"Eleanor Ashford."

Cassius's tone became deep and heavy. As if he was warning Eleanor to mind her words.

"Your Grace, you are a despicable man. And there's no need to escort me home, I will hire a horse carriage!"

With those parting words, Eleanor walked quickly back into the party hall, leaving Cassius standing alone on the balcony.

'What did I do wrong?'

Just as he began to break down the barriers to Eleanor's heart, he messed it up.

He cursed loudly under his breath, "Damn it!"