It Doesn’t Matter If You’re Broken - Chapter 25

Raymond urgently intervened between them.

“Your Excellency, I was the first to ask her for a dance.”

However, Cardale did not even look at Raymond. He continued to stare at Elise, making his announcement.

“Since I accepted it last time, so it’s her turn to accept it this time.”

It was a reasonable request. It was Elise who was caught on both sides and was disconcerted.

“Your Excellency! No matter how much you say, this behaviour is inappropriate. I am the lady’s escort at the ball today.”

Raymond blocked Cardale’s rude request, citing the custom of having the first dance with the escort.

“Above all, Your Excellency, the lady seems embarrassed…”

“The Little Marquis is misunderstanding something.”

Cardale cut him off.

“This woman owes me.”

“What the hell…!”

“And she has an obligation to pay me back for that.”

Cardale asked, meeting Elise’s eyes.

“Am I wrong, Lady Elise?”

The eyes that demanded an answer were quite ferocious. Elise couldn’t find any words to say.

“Then let’s consider it understood.”

The Duke, who had skillfully asserted his intent, clasped Elise’s hand with his large hand. But it wasn’t to the dance floor that he led her.

When Elise came to her senses, she was already out of the ballroom.

“Your Excellency, where are we…”

Elise couldn’t finish the sentence.

Suddenly, her vision turned white, and her body swayed. Cardale caught her falling body in his arms.

“Pardon me.”

Her blurry vision fluctuated greatly, and Elise felt her body floating. Cardale, holding her back and knees, began to take long strides.

Elise smelled the scent of a man digging the tip of her nose, even in her flickering consciousness.

The rich scent of leather, dry earth, and ashes mingled with the residual smell of burnt, fragrant wood.

The door somewhere opened roughly. Elise felt her body land on something soft. As she sank into it, her body slumped weakly.

‘This shouldn’t be happening.’

Despite her thoughts, she couldn’t find the strength to straighten her upper body, leaning into the man’s embrace. She had no strength left.

Suddenly, she felt the firmness of a chin and cheek against her. The man’s deep voice brushed against her ears.

“Don’t close your eyes.”

Elise tried to catch her mind, which kept sinking deeper and deeper.

She then trembled at the touch of his hand digging into the back of her neck.

“Stay still.”

Even if it wasn’t the man’s command, Elise was in no state to move. Right now, even breathing properly was a struggle.

The large hand slid down the tight corset and reached the bottom hem. She felt like he was grabbing the knot, and the feeling of squeezing her upper body disappeared instantly.

“Haah…”

Without realizing it, Elise let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. As she took a deep breath, the fog in her mind lifted slightly.

However, her body, which barely found a way to live, brought fatigue that had been forgotten for a while.

Strength was completely drained from the relaxed body. Elise’s eyes closed.

It was Cardale who caught the woman who was collapsing.

He laid her unconscious on the bed and looked down at her. Her pale face was devoid of any colour.

“Stupid and foolish.”

Contrary to his relentless tone, it wasn’t reproachful.

His gaze fell on the flimsy muslin dress. It was a style that had been trending in the Empire for the past few years.

It was spring, but considering the chilly mornings and evenings, it was inappropriate for the weather.

Of course, Cardale had seen young women wearing similar dresses even in the dead of winter. But back then, it hadn’t caught his attention at all.

Certainly, he hadn’t known about the pain of tightly laced corsets worn beneath the dresses meant to make their bodies look slimmer.

The sensation that used to be unimportant suddenly became unsettling, bringing a strange feeling to him.

Cardale briefly looked down at Elise’s face as she lay there as if dead, then brushed her pale, dry cheek with his fingertips.

It was soft and warm.

It wasn’t bad to feel the soft skin pressing down on his fingertips and clinging to it as if it were cold.

Cardale stood still, savouring the sensation. Then, as if nothing had happened, he withdrew his hand and turned away.

His demeanour was as composed as when he unfastened Elise’s corset.

As he exited the sitting room, a passing servant noticed him and hurried over, bowing respectfully.

“Do you need anything, Your Grace?”

“Get some maids to look after the lady. A physician, too.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Though suspicion could easily arise from such a sudden request, the servant responded without question.

And soon, the servant returned with skilled maids and a physician. Cardale was still standing by the closed door, his arms crossed.

“Your Grace, I brought them as you commanded.”

“Go in.”

“Yes.”

The servant who sent the maids and the doctor inside asked cautiously.

“Your Grace, may I ask who is inside…?”

Instead of answering the question, Cardale gave other instructions with a nonchalant look.

“Convey this to Count Schuvan. Let him know his daughter is here.”

“Yes? Ah… Yes!”

As soon as Cardale gave the order, he turned around and left the venue.

Staring blankly at the back of the Duke, the servant quickly snapped out of it and rushed in the opposite direction.

* * *

It was the morning after the first day of the ball when Elise, who had lost consciousness and fell asleep, opened her eyes.

‘How did this happen…?’

Someone spoke to Elise, who slowly blinked her eyes.

“Are you okay, lady?”

Elise turned her head in the direction she heard the voice, and her eyes widened.

“…Little Marquis Hartmann?”

“Yes. That’s me.”

Elise hesitated and tried to raise her body. Raymond tried to support her, but the maids at her side were quicker.

“We will take care of her, Little Marquis,” said Vanessa, restraining him.

“Ah, yes.”

Raymond sighed lightly at his rudeness and stepped back. It was unacceptable to touch the body of a lady who was neither his wife nor fiancée.

“Bring some food that the lady can easily eat.”

“Yes, Miss Vanessa.”

“Also, tell the Count that the young lady has awakened.”

“I will.”

The maids slipped out of the bedroom. Vanessa looked at Elise and Raymond in turn.

“Well then, I will step out for a while to give you some privacy.”

Vanessa went out of the bedroom. The hem of her navy blue skirt was visible through the half-open door for surveillance.

Elise looked at it from a distance, but Raymond, standing next to her, spoke up.

“I apologize, Lady.”

Elise suddenly came to her senses at the sound of the voice and turned her head. Then she saw Raymond with a grievous expression.

“I didn’t know you were in such poor health.”

Elise opened her mouth slightly.

“I had no idea you were unwell, and I still had the audacity to ask you to dance. I must have caused you great distress… I sincerely apologize.”

Raymond lowered his head to apologize. Feeling uncomfortable with the situation, Elise quickly raised her head.

“No. It’s alright.”

Then, Raymond’s expression grew even more apologetic. He placed a chair beside Elise’s bed, sat down, and spoke concernedly.

“The physician has examined you and said that your condition has weakened.”

In an instant, Elise swallowed hard.

She had heard that being in poor health was a significant drawback in the marriage market. She subtly observed Raymond’s reaction.

He still gave her warm eyes, but she couldn’t be relieved. Elise squeezed the hem of the blanket tightly and forced a smile.

“I was just a little tired from preparing for the ball… That’s all. I’m usually in good health.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but…”

Raymund’s voice trailed off, as if he was carefully choosing his words, before he spoke again.

“I may be rude to say this, but you look thinner than last time.”

“That…”

“Are you eating properly?”

It was a question that struck a chord. Elise glanced at the door. This time, she couldn’t see the hem of Vanessa’s skirt. However, it was certain that Vanessa was still listening to their conversation from outside.

‘Having too much food can make you seem vulgar and unrefined. On the other hand, appearing picky and hesitant gives the impression of being sensitive and difficult to please. Neither option is ideal.’

Elise recalled what Vanessa had said, and she answered thoughtfully.

“I haven’t had a bit of an appetite lately.”

Then she added, thinking the answer was not enough.

“I tend to eat well. Really.”

Elise bowed her head deeply. She felt like she could say more, but this was her limit. Just as Vanessa had evaluated, her ability to charm was not expanding easily.

“It seems you were quite nervous about this ball. If you’re not accustomed to social events, it’s understandable.”

Fortunately, Raymond kindly accepted the words.

“Nevertheless, please take care of your health. I can’t imagine how surprised I was when I heard that you had fainted yesterday, milady.”

Upon hearing his words, Elise suddenly remembered the events of the previous night.

‘The Duke…’

Even in her faint memories, she remembered the touch she felt through her corset. A sudden warmth had spread across her back, which had been chilly just moments before.

‘…Did the Duke help me on purpose?’

Elise hurriedly shook off the thoughts that came to her mind.

‘It won’t be. Why would someone like the Duke be bothered with someone like me…’