Book 9: Chapter 16: I Belong to You (1/2)

Claudia Ashley was leaning back on the sofa and letting her gloomy air spread around her. The gloominess was so overwhelming that if she said that there had been misfortune in her family today, people might inadvertently believe her.

However, no matter how much gloom she spreads, her perfect beauty remained intact. Especially in the eyes of men who were blinded by love, her gloomy appearance seems to be languid and fleeting.

”Miss Claudia, would you please accept my rose?”

The man who knelt in front of Claudia and offered her a rose ornament was the ninth who tried his luck today.

Claudia let out a sigh behind her fan.

”…It's almost double digits.”

”Yes?”

It was the number of flowers she had thrown into the trash bin.

Claudia lifted herself up slowly from leaning on the armrest and stared at the red rose that was offered to her.

”……I do like flowers.”

”This rose is a new variant with a strong fragrance we've cultivated in our home. And I've chosen this flower just for you…”

”…It sure has a good fragrance.”

A thin smile plastered on her doll-like face. When the people of her surrounding saw it, they were mesmerized and exhaled in adoration, that's how beautiful she was.

And such a beautiful young lady with her smile still exposed on her face told the man who offered her the flower.

”…but, I have no desire to wear such strong fragrance flower…”

The man's face tensed up. The people who were listening to this exchange couldn't stand it any longer and started chuckling.

Such exchange normally would have broken most people's hearts, but the ninth challenger was quite persistent.

”Our family, Marquis Gringham, has a close relationship with Marquis Highon…”

”…That was three generations ago.”

”I've been hoping to have a long chat with Miss Claudia for some time now.”

”…If you want a connection to the Marquis of Highon, you should probably go talk to my brother.”

”No, what I'm interested in is you, Miss Claudia. I've never seen a woman as beautiful as you.”

When the man looked at Claudia with passionate eyes, Claudia narrowed her lapis lazuli eyes and covered her mouth with a fan.

”…well, it's amazing how a man with limited knowledge can say that every time he meets a new woman.”

In this lively venue, only the area around the sofa where Claudia was sitting was enveloped in a chilly atmosphere.

As the man fell silent, a modest voice called out from behind him, ”Um, excuse me…”

The man turned around to see a small boy in formal attire, Neil Clay Maywood, standing there looking rather awkward.

Claudia looked at Neil impassively.

”…did something, happen?”

”N-No, I just… well…”

Neil gave a lame cough and held out his right hand, which had been hidden behind his back, in front of Claudia.

In his hand was a flower ornament of orange roses with a brown ribbon.

Claudia widened her eyes and Neil scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

”Would you like to dance with me?”

It took Claudia a few seconds to swallow the meaning of Neil's words. It wasn't that she was trying to ridicule him. The words really got stuck in her throat and didn't come out right away.

”…that rose was supposed to be given ahead as a token of someone has been taken, not right before the dance.”

Instead of ‘I'm so happy, I'm so delighted,' the words that came out from her mouth were far from such cute words.

But Neil didn't seem bothered, in fact, he lowered his eyebrows apologetically.

”I-I'm sorry. I thought it would be rude to you when I was not sure if I'll have time to dance to  give you that kind of token…”

Neil said exactly what Cyril had expected him to say.

Claudia's widened eyes narrowed then put a soft smile on her face.

”…can you put that flower ornament on me?”

”Yes!”

Neil stood in front of the seated Claudia and bent down to fasten the flower ornament on the chest of her royal blue dress. He was very careful not to touch Claudia's body, which was typical of a sincere man.

When he finished fastening the roses, Neil lowered his eyebrows in a troubled manner.

”I should have used white roses to match today's blue dress. I'm sorry… for choosing my favorite color.”

”…but I like it.”

Even at a time like this, he was more concerned about what would look good on Claudia than dying it to his own colors…

I wish you could have dyed me in your colors more.

Claudia wants Neil to fixate on the fact that she belongs to him. She wants to show it to everyone around her. So Claudia would proudly show off the rose, the proof of reservation, to the people around her that—

—I belong to Neil.

Claudia held out her hand, and Neil took it in a very natural motion.

Standing side by side, Claudia was somewhat taller than him. Claudia has chosen to wear low-heeled shoes, but the height difference was still obvious to everyone.

”…I thought you didn't want to dance with a taller woman.”