Chapter 18: High Society, Cedric’s Mind.

Cedric continued conversing with the nobles.
Talk of estate management, academy updates, and the capital’s political shifts.

All superficial exchanges, met with smiles.

But something nagged at him.
Amelia hadn’t returned from touching up her makeup.

He glanced at the clock.
Twenty minutes had passed.

Too long.

Cedric decided to excuse himself.

“My apologies, I must step away.”

He bowed politely and left, heading toward the powder room.

His steps quickened in the corridor.
A flicker of unease stirred in his chest.

What if something happened?

Turning a corner, he froze.
Amelia was in the middle of the corridor, talking to an unfamiliar man.

Brown hair tied back, gaudy clothes.
They stood too close.

No—closer than that.
The man’s fingers gripped her wrist.
From a distance, it looked like they were holding hands.

A dark emotion surged in Cedric’s chest.
Jealousy. Anger. Hatred.

The urge to slice the man’s arm with magic gripped him.
An ice blade, severing his wrist.
Blood flowing, screams echoing.

The image flashed in his mind.

(No.)

He lowered his eyes briefly, steadying his breath. Reclaiming reason.
This was a social event.
He carried the ducal house’s name.

Reckless actions weren’t permitted.

Cedric approached quietly and called out.

“Amelia.”

She turned.
Her expression brought him slight relief.

A look of someone saved.
Relief in her eyes.

If she’d shown panic, as if caught in a tryst, Cedric might’ve broken then and there.
But she didn’t.

He stepped beside her, half a step forward.
His gaze shifted to the man.

Cold light glinted in his blue eyes.
A hint of killing intent slipped through.

He had to ensure she didn’t notice.

“Do you have business with my wife?”

Low, commanding.
Quiet but intimidating.

The man flinched.
He released her hand hastily.

“N-No, nothing at all.”
“I see.”

The man retreated quickly, almost fleeing.
Cedric watched until he vanished around the corner.

Then he turned to Amelia.

“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”

She nodded.
But Cedric was still concerned.

“What were you talking about with him?”

She averted her gaze slightly.

“Um, just an old acquaintance…”

It felt like evasion.
Likely someone from her past, when she partied recklessly.

He didn’t want to press further.
Asking might fuel his jealousy beyond control.

“He was holding your hand.”

He couldn’t help confirming.
She answered quickly.

“He grabbed me when I tried to leave.”

Relief washed over him.

“I see.”

Yet unease lingered.
Her past loomed like a shadow.

Then, with a serious look, she spoke.

“Cedric.”
“…Yes?”
“As long as I’m your wife, I belong to no one else.”

Her words made him blush slightly.
His face warmed.

“That’s right. You’re my wife.”

He took her hand.

“—Forever, from now on.”

But something felt off.
Her words—“as long as I’m your wife.”
They sounded like a deadline.

As if a day would come when she’d no longer be his wife.

(That future is unthinkable.)

In his heart, Cedric rejected it.
She would always be his wife.
He’d never let her go—never.

Holding her hand, they returned to the venue.

He resumed talking with nobles.
But the earlier incident gnawed at him.

The man’s face.
Amelia’s past.

The sense of being brushed off.

It swirled in his mind.
He struggled to focus on the conversations.

A small slip occurred.
When an earl asked about estate management, Cedric faltered briefly.

He hadn’t been listening.

Amelia stepped in smoothly.

“Is that regarding the recent royal decree’s policies?”

Her gentle voice bridged the gap.
The earl nodded, “Yes, exactly. Any changes in estate management—?” and the talk continued.

Cedric sighed inwardly with relief.

After the earl left, he thanked her.

“Thank you, Amelia. You saved me.”
“No problem.”

She smiled.

“Rare for you to slip up, Cedric.”

Her words stung.
Said with a smile, in a kind voice.

But they carried the gaze of someone watching a younger brother.

As expected.
To her, he was still like a little brother.

His chest ached.

Then, dance music began.
A gentle waltz filled the hall.

First, the ducal couple took the center.
Then Darius and his partner joined.

Both pairs danced elegantly, steps flawless, clothes swaying.

When they finished, other noble couples began dancing.
The hall came alive, dresses twirling, tailcoats fluttering.

Cedric offered his hand to Amelia.

“Shall we dance?”

She smiled, delighted.

“Gladly.”

She took his hand.
They moved to the dance floor.

Cedric placed a hand on her waist, the other holding hers.
They stepped to the music.

One, two, three.
A turn.

Her dress flared gracefully.

Cedric recalled two years ago.
Their first dance practice.

His clothes then were Darius’s hand-me-downs, baggy and awkward.
Shoulders slipping, sleeves too long, utterly uncool.

Amelia had danced beautifully.
Perfect steps, graceful movements.

Standing beside her, trying to dance, he’d felt his inadequacy keenly.
So he ate more, determined to grow stronger.

To stand by her side.

As he thought this, she spoke.

“Practicing dance with you back then feels nostalgic.”

She smiled, mid-dance.
Cedric nodded.

“Yes.”

He wondered if he’d truly grown.
Physically, yes.
He danced with her seamlessly now.

Taller than her, broader shoulders, stronger.
But he still felt she didn’t see him as a man.
More like a brother.

That frustrated him.

He’d learned magic to protect her, taken top rank at the academy, defeated monsters in practice.
Yet it wasn’t enough.

He wanted to stay her husband forever, loving her always.
He refused to let her go.
He needed to strive harder.

Watching her dance beautifully, smiling, he resolved anew.

The music neared its end.
A final turn.

The sound stopped.
Cedric pressed his lips to the back of her hand.
Soft, warm.

Her hand was warm.

She blushed, smiling shyly.

“T-Thank you…”

He loved that face.
Her occasional shy smile.

It felt like she saw him as a man in those moments.
Not a brother, but a husband.

Cedric vowed in his heart.

—I’ll become stronger.

So she’d see him as a man.
So they could stay together forever.

He’d never let her go.

That night, his resolve deepened.