I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - Chapter 71

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 71
“I’m so sorry!”
Claire hastily withdrew her foot. Her tension had eased, and she’d lost control of her strength, stepping down hard. Meeting Aaron’s unfocused eyes, the realization that she’d caused real harm struck her.
‘What if I fractured something…?’
Dizzy with worry, she quickly scanned the room for Melissa. In the distance, she spotted Melissa sighing with one hand pressed to her face.
“It’s fine.”
Aaron spoke with effort as his senses returned. He appeared unharmed at first glance, but she noticed his steps had become more distant than before.
“Yes…”
Caught between apology and embarrassment, Claire avoided his gaze. The music was conveniently reaching its conclusion.
‘I need to escape.’
As the final note ended, she naturally increased the distance between them and executed a proper curtsy.
“That was a delightful time.”
With her hand placed over her heart, she bowed lightly while keeping her eyes fixed on Aaron’s feet. The high-quality leather shoes bore almost no trace of impact.
‘At least it doesn’t seem fractured.’
Relief washed over Claire, and her lips curved upward slightly.
‘She’s relieved.’
Aaron’s lips had nearly mirrored hers before he touched his mouth, concealing his expression.
Claire believed she’d managed her expression well enough, but to Aaron—trained in etiquette since early childhood—her reactions were transparent as glass.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. If the opportunity arises next time, let’s dance to another piece together.”
After seeing Claire off, Aaron immediately approached the young lady Bianca had designated and mechanically requested a dance.
‘How many are left?’
Raising his practiced smile, he moved in rhythm with the music, and the woman in his arms skillfully matched his pace.
‘Three? No, was it four?’
His dancing was flawless, yet an unbearable tedium crept over him.
Without realizing it, Aaron’s eyes drifted toward Claire. In the distance, he saw her looking dejected after receiving a scolding from Melissa.
‘Like a puppy caught in the rain.’
A stifled chuckle escaped him, and the young lady in his arms looked up at him with a flushed face.
“Is something amusing, my lord?”
Aaron didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled her hand closer.
“Oh my!”
The innocent young lady’s face reddened without understanding why.
* * *
“You must behave yourself from now on!”
Melissa led Claire onto the Terrace, issuing stern warnings. She’d only stepped away to use the restroom, and when she returned, she found Claire dancing with the Crown Prince in the center of the Hall. Her shock had been immense.
“I’ll just go greet a few people, so rest here.”
After confirming the Terrace was empty, Melissa left while carefully drawing the curtains closed—a sign that someone was using the space.
‘At least aside from that last incident, nothing went terribly wrong.’
Left alone on the Terrace, Claire leaned against the railing. The accumulated fatigue from the crowd had indeed been weighing on her, and she found the quiet of the Terrace not unwelcome.
‘The full moon must be approaching soon.’
She gazed upward without particular thought, and the moon hung clear in the sky. As she fixed her gaze on the moonlight, savoring the silence, a figure suddenly vaulted over the railing and landed on the Terrace.
“Claire.”
At the familiar presence, Claire’s eyes widened.
“Kenneth?”
Neatly swept black hair, gem-like violet eyes that gleamed with brilliance—Kenneth descended from the railing with feline-like features and a refreshing smile, dressed in an ornate black tailcoat.
“It’s been a while.”
Claire blinked slowly, as if assessing the situation, before meeting his gaze and speaking.
“Illegally infiltrating the Imperial Palace will—”
“No! I received an invitation and entered officially, I promise?”
At the unexpected response, Kenneth protested indignantly and pulled out an invitation from his pocket, waving it.
“My Master has a title. Well, technically I’m attending as his proxy.”
Sio, the Master of Arcadia, held another identity—Duke Defaine.
It was an honorary title bestowed by the Emperor from two generations prior. Though the Imperial contract prevented him from naming an heir, there was no issue with sending a proxy.
“But that dress suits you so perfectly. I would’ve regretted not seeing it today.”
Kenneth glossed over the details and smiled, his eyes narrowing playfully.
“So, will you give me a chance to dance with you?”
Claire gazed down at the large hand extended before her. She wondered if Aaron had somehow avoided having his foot stepped on.
“Isn’t it a bit much to ask someone who came out to rest?”
The Terrace door opened, and Theodore entered.
“It’s a shame not to dance on a night like this.”
Kenneth clicked his tongue briefly and shrugged to face him.
“Why the formal speech suddenly? Talk like you did last time.”
Theodore didn’t seem surprised to encounter Kenneth at the Imperial Palace, and he smiled quietly, but the gazes that clashed between them in the air crackled with lightning-sharp intensity.
From between them, Claire watched their reactions alternate before speaking.
“Oh, you two have become quite close.”
“No.”
“No.”
The two, whose answers were identical, regarded each other with exasperation. The sight seemed rather friendly, and Claire couldn’t help but laugh softly.
At the sound of her laughter, Theodore and Kenneth’s eyes widened, then their lips curved into loose smiles mirroring hers.
She seemed to be in good spirits.
Watching Claire dance with the Crown Prince, the worry that had been rising—wondering if she’d had an unpleasant experience—gradually subsided.
“Nothing happened?”
“No. Well, someone did step on my foot once.”
“…That should be fine.”
Kenneth, unaware of the circumstances, laughed and called it cute, while Theodore, bearing a dark bruise on his instep, averted his eyes.
“But what’s this about? There must be a reason you attended using Duke Defaine’s name.”
At the question, Kenneth nodded and wiped the smile from his face. Beyond simply wanting to see Claire, there was another reason he’d sought them out.
“I discovered something new while investigating them.”
Umbra.
Their gazes intersected.
“Is this something to discuss here?”
Even with only three people on the Terrace, the Imperial Palace was hardly an appropriate place to share secrets. Kenneth seemed to share this sentiment, lowering his voice as he spoke.
“I’ll explain the details later. I’ll visit your quarters. But there’s something you need to know first.”
He raised his left hand, extending his wrist bone toward me.
“If you spot anyone at tonight’s party with a wound on this part of their wrist, tell me.”
“A wound?”
“Yes, anyone with a wound like this, regardless of gender.”
Claire’s lips parted as she opened her mouth to ask why, her expression puzzled.
“Theodore, are you here?”
A knock sounded, followed by Hooper’s voice calling for Theodore. From what I could hear, it seemed several people in the Ballroom were searching for House Voltier’s heir.
Theodore exhaled a long sigh and spoke.
“I should go. I’ll look into that wrist wound.”
Even as he said this, Theodore couldn’t bring himself to leave Claire’s side.
‘Of all days, I have to leave Claire alone with Kenneth.’
Whether Claire noticed or not, the look in Kenneth’s eyes as he regarded her clearly transcended mere courtesy—Theodore could see it plainly.
‘At least he’s perceptive. That’s better than nothing.’
Kenneth, noticing Theodore’s internal conflict, smiled with satisfaction and waved his hand.
“Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ll escort Claire well.”
Theodore clenched his teeth, barely managing to compose his expression before leaving the Terrace. Kenneth’s eyes narrowed like a satisfied cat as he turned back to Claire and spoke.
“Shall we head out soon? If we monopolize the Terrace too long, we’ll draw unwanted attention.”
Claire hesitated briefly at his words.
‘She told me to stay put.’
Melissa’s face flashed through my mind, her earnest warnings still fresh.
‘But Melissa didn’t know Kenneth would come.’
If anyone had seen Kenneth on the Terrace, they might question why Theodore’s betrothed was alone with another man.
‘I’ll explain if it comes up.’
Reaching a quick decision, I left the Terrace before Kenneth. After a brief interval, he followed, searching the surroundings for me. Thanks to my distinctive pink hair, he found me without difficulty. But someone else caught Kenneth’s attention more than my retreating figure.
‘Is that Lloyd?’
Hector Lloyd—Ian’s older brother and my uncle—had already thrust his face toward me.
While my expression remained unreadable, Hector’s face was drawn with sorrow, his eyebrows drooping as though tears might spill at any moment.
Unlike Claire, whose expressionless face revealed no hidden meaning, Hector’s face had his eyebrows drooping as if tears could spill at any moment.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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