142. under the chandelier (3)

When a cliché is used to describe someone’s physical appearance, it can also be interpreted as saying that the person has an objective, universal beauty. For example, ‘hair as beautiful as ebony’ or ‘eyes that sparkle like freshly cut jewels’. However, who would have known that such an absolute beauty would exist that we couldn’t even think of such an expression?

“Oh my gosh… .”

Marion, who appeared in a pure white dress, was beautiful. It was so beautiful that I couldn’t bear to capture it even if I poured out all the clichés that exist in this world. It was as if the world had frozen and lost all its light. In the dull scene of the ballroom, which seemed to have lost its color and was drawn with charcoal, only Marion was shining brilliantly with light and color. The lights at the ball were colorless. The sweet string serenade loses its meaning beneath the sound of her footsteps as she stretches out.

“Are you okay now?”

Marion said that and closed her eyes and smiled. That voice comes with a sweeter resonance than nectar. Black hair tied up in a ponytail. The small hair that flowed little by little added to her human loveliness. When I lowered my gaze along the graceful curved forehead, I could see the straight nose. There was a face that couldn’t even draw him as a center line.

White cheeks with a little bit of blood, and lips that draw an arc. And above all, there were blue eyes that seemed to contain all the seas and lakes in the world. How to look at it is deep, and how to look at it reminds me of the sky-blue waves of the coast.

Marion lightly let go of the gaze focused on her and continued walking in the direction of Maxim. The young ladies surrounding Maxim could not take their eyes off Marion, who unknowingly opened her mouth and approached. They, who had been cowed by Maxim’s hostility, now revealed their faces as they were fascinated by Marion’s absolute beauty.

“… Yes. It’s fine.”

“What were we talking about? I’m sorry, now… .”

The young ladies belatedly answered Marion’s question. Marion didn’t laugh at their stupid attitude.

“I’m sorry, but let me ask you one favor.”

With a neat smile on his face, he simply pushed the young girls aside and put his hand on Maxim’s arm. The young ladies stepped aside like puppets being manipulated by Marion’s gestures.

“Could you please stay away from my fiancé?”

A blue ring was shining on Marion’s hand. Even the jewels didn’t reveal their presence, as if they had actually lost their luster, but when Marion allowed it, it finally seemed to shine.

“As for the idea of taking on a partner today, I think you’d better quit.”

Marion said that to the young ladies again with a smile that seemed to enchant the world. Completely overwhelmed by the sight, the ladies scattered without even having time to hesitate. They probably won’t come to their senses properly until they leave the banquet hall.

“Now I’ll be a little more comfortable around you.”

Marion said that innocently and raised her head to Maxim. Maxim met eyes with Marion, who was looking up at him, and involuntarily swallowed his breath. Marion’s smile changed from cold to bright and lovely, as if it was worth seeing Maxim’s surprised face. At the sight of that figure, an inconceivable sigh was heard from the surroundings.

“Are you very surprised, Maxim?”

Maxim came to his senses only then when Marion called out to him and nodded.

“… I’m not too surprised. I don’t know what to say first.”

Confused by Maxim’s voice, Marion gave a small laugh.

“A lot of things happened. Looking at it now, it looks like Christine kept her promise to me.”

Maxim let out a small breath when he learned of Christine’s sudden disappearance in the middle. Marion examined Maxim’s expression and asked again cautiously.

“From now on, can I walk around as your partner and talk slowly?”

Yes, the Marion who smiled and spoke lovingly to herself was still Marion. Maxim smiled at his fiancé, who was now embarrassed to smile. Maxim sighed in relief and took Marion’s hand. Marion shyly raised her hand on top of Maxim’s hand.

“Are you completely better?”

To Maxim’s question, Marion nodded. As if he still couldn’t adapt, Maxim kept looking at Marion. Whether it was because she was blinded by her beauty, or if the fact that her scars had disappeared was not used to it, even Maxim himself would not know.

“It was completely fine. Thanks to Christine… I owe him a huge debt, really.”

Marion said in a hoarse voice, and Maxim raised his eyebrows at the mention of Christine’s name.

“Christine?”

“Yeah. Christine developed a potion… .”

Marion explained what happened at the time. According to the king’s order, he brought a medicine that could cure Marion’s scars by modifying the transformation potion. Maxim frowned, wondering if there was any reason for the King to care so much, but Christine also said that she did not know the details.

“Still, it is true that I owe Christine so much. How do I pay this off… .”

Marion let out a sigh, but then straightened her expression.

“Right now, helping Her Highness well is the first thing I can do.”

Maxim looked at Marion’s hand as he clasped his hand tightly. And I saw the black mask held preciously in my other hand.

“I will never have to wear a mask again.”

“… I think I will use this occasionally. Did you keep it at all?”

It’s a gift from Maxim. Looking at Marion muttering, Maxim laughed again.

“Come to think of it, why were you wearing a mask when you came in? Did Her Highness, the First Princess, really order that?”

“It is true that His Highness ordered us to wear the mask until we met Maxim. They said that if you enter the ballroom without a mask on, there will be trouble.”

“I think something big is still happening.”

Maxim smiled bitterly and looked around. It was a strange sight. Regardless of gender or age, almost all eyes in the banquet hall were focused on Maxim himself and Marion. There was also a nobleman who stared blankly at Marion passing by and was treated badly by his partner, and one couple looked blankly at Maxim and Marion together.

“A sight like this might be a little embarrassing.”

When Maxim laughed, Marion pressed her face to Maxim with her blue eyes sparkling. A bright smile hung on his lips, unable to hide his joy. Every time Marion’s expression changed, sighs of admiration were heard from here and there.

“Are you jealous, Maxim?”

“If you’re asking me to pinpoint it like that, I’m a little embarrassed to answer directly.”

Maxim smiled and replied. Marion seemed to be playful, and she grabbed Maxim’s hand and stood in front of Maxim. Maxim’s field of vision was filled with Marion. Maxim inhaled again, turned his head, and cleared his throat. Marion smiled again in a small and cute way, as if Maxim’s reaction was amusing.

“Because I want to hear it, tell me just once.”

Is there anyone who can refuse this request? Maxim looked at Marion, who held both of his hands tightly. Blue eyes sparkling with anticipation. And the corner of the mouth that went up in a desired curve. Maxim gave a straight answer with a wry smile.

“yes. jealous The fact that people like that see you. The fact that I’m not looking at it alone.”

Marion’s expression went blank as she listened to Maxim’s words, but soon turned red to the extent that a certain onomatopoeia would suit her. But Marion did not turn her head away from Maxim. The expression on his face, burning with joy, was, yes, literally dazzling. Marion showed an even brighter smile.

“Happy.”

Marion laughed, saying that she couldn’t put it into words, even though she showed that emotion on her face.

“To look at me, only Maxim’s eyes are needed. I don’t care at all about those messy eyes. Because all I am looking at is Maxim.”

After hesitating, he soon rammed his forehead into Maxim’s chest. Maxim could sense the will to fight in the gaze directed at him. Of course, to Maxim, the nobles’ modest affairs were just like a breeze.

“Thank you, Marion.”

When Maxim answered softly, Marion moved a little closer to Maxim.

“Me too, thank you.”

With her head buried, Marion spoke in a muffled voice. The string music, which flowed softly for the atmosphere, changed its note to a dance song before I knew it. Aristocrats who couldn’t use their legs when it came to dancing all clasped their partners’ hands and stepped onto the floor. The sight of all of them stepping out onto the floor was something worth seeing.

Marion slightly turned her head and watched the nobles dancing on the floor. Not just on the floor, but everywhere in the banquet hall, nobles held their partners’ hands and stepped slowly to the waltz.

The dresses of the young ladies unfolded like butterflies flapping their wings. Marion burst into small admiration at the sight of colorful fabrics fluttering. Marion was still resting her head on Maxim’s body. Like a cat rubbing its cheek against something it likes, Marion clung to Maxime.

“Nice, such a sight.”

Maxim gently lifted both hands of Marion, who had caught him. Marion entrusted her arm to Maxim’s lead. Naturally, without anyone asking anyone, they started moving their bodies to the tune. Her feet were at the level of reaching out and coming back, but even that simple movement had a restrained beauty that caught the attention of the nobles around her.

“This is my first time dancing.”

Marion raised her head and said that. I was following Maxim as he slowly moved his feet, but it was an awkward step. Every time his feet got twisted in a wrong beat, Maxim slowed down his steps, giving Marion time to find some time to spare.

“Maxim, you are very good at dancing.”

Marion looked up at Maxim with half admiration and half jealous eyes. Maxim answered in a troubled voice.

“I have only ever danced once. It’s a bit old, though.”

Marion was asking with her eyes who the target was. However, as if there was some guess, he decided not to ask any more and sighed.

“Well, it’s okay since you’re dancing with me now.”

“There will be many more days to dance like this in the future.”

“It’s shameful.”

Marion’s smile soon returned to normal. The feeling of holding Maxim’s hand became stronger, and I almost hugged him and stuck close to him. For a while, the two did not speak. I just closed my eyes and listened to the soft melodious music, holding my hand and moving little by little.

“Sometimes.”

Marion’s voice was somehow muffled. Are you a little tired? Maxim almost stopped his otherwise slow steps. Maxim grabbed Marion, stopped, and looked down for a moment. A bitter smile lingered on Marion’s lips.

“What if this is all a dream?”

Maxim could not give any answer. Marion muttered like a lamenter, if not like someone who was drunk somewhere.

“Even if I know it’s not, I wonder if being happy was such an insecurity.”

Maxim looked down at Marion. It will take a little more time for the shadow remaining on Marion to disappear completely. The only way Maxim can help her is to wait by her side until she drives away the shadow and constantly remind her that this moment is not a dream. Like fog, reassurance that it won’t disappear.

Maxim let go of Marion’s hand and cupped her cheek. Marion’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden warmth. Maxim’s golden eyes were there. Warmth wasn’t far off. Warmly, it just touched his cheek and stayed there. Marion raised her hand and placed her hand on top of Maxim’s. It was here. That’s what his hand said. The eyes looking at Maxim, the warmth felt on both cheeks were telling.

“I am here.”

Maxim said that in a voice full of conviction. Marion nodded her head slightly, her eyes twinkling and glinting.

“Yes, Maxim.”

“Because I’m not going anywhere. Don’t make that face.”

Marion then buried her face in Maxim’s arms again. Maxim slowly brushed her hair, imprinting his presence. Marion was accepting Maxim like that. While confirming that the now that he exists is a reality, not an illusion.

The music played by the orchestra was gradually speeding up. The footwork of the aristocrats also moves busily to match. An attendant holding a tray to Maxim and Marion was approaching. The attendant spoke carefully, trying not to pay attention to Marion.

“Marion-nim, Her Highness the Princess… .”

The time given to Marion, who attended as an attendant, was coming to an end. Marion held onto the hem of Maxim’s clothes as if he couldn’t help but regret it. Then, as if to call Maxim, he gestured and made Maxim bow his head.

“what’s the matter… ?”

Maxim thought he was trying to whisper, so he lowered his head, and Marion stretched out on tiptoe and kissed Maxim’s cheek. A soft touch on the cheek. Maxim opened his eyes wide, and then he had a surprised look on his face. Marion dyed it redder than ever before and smiled brightly.

“I’m done here for today, but I’ll ask for more later.”

Marion smiled like that, then put the mask she was holding onto her face again. Maxim smiled bitterly and escorted Marion off to visit her master again.