I Snatched The Duke

Chapter 8. It Was The First Time

A week later.

The secret base of the Southern Navy. 

It was a huge underground space the size of the outer castle, with its entrance skillfully hidden between natural cliffs.

Splash. Splash.

The huge warships that were arriving, silently lined up and anchored one after another.

“Disembark.”

Following Mihalis’ command—who was standing tall at the bow of the Captain’s ship—the hands of the flag bearer moved busily.

“Gentlemen, you’ve all worked hard.”

Standing on a podium, Mihalis spoke once all of the troops were standing in line one after the other.

“I am ordering a special two-day vacation for the soldiers who participated in this training.”

Using the magic tool in his hand, Mihalis’ voice rang loud and clear, as if he were on loudspeaker.

“With this, the impromptu naval exercises have concluded.”

“Yes. Your Excellency!”

The knights and soldiers that were lined up in a row under the huge warships answered as one.

“All troops disperse.”

“Waaa~!”

Mihalis immediately left, leaving behind the shouting soldiers. A week had already gone by in the blink of an eye.

Due to indiscriminate shelling under the guise of precision shooting training, a large reef had disappeared without a trace. The ear-shattering noise of artillery fire was enough to blow away his useless thoughts.

“You’re here. Your Excellency.”

Hearing news of his return in advance, Iadis, who had come out to meet him, greeted Mihalis.

“How’s everything?”

“Yes, I will report.”

Holding various documents in his arms, Iadis started to report the military’s situation and walked alongside Mihalis.

“First, the repair of the western wall. 80% of the work is completed and 95% of the budget has been spent. The cost of the materials and labor are paid. There are no plans of supplementing the budget.”

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They quickly traversed the underground secret base and reached the inner castle soon after.

“Next, the maintenance of the lifeboats. As per analysis, there are 8 lifeboats requiring repair due to deterioration. We have moved them to the shipyard.”

“What’s going on?”

Due to his week-long absence, Mihalis, who was busy listening to the overdue report, stopped.

“Pardon?”

Iadis who had hurriedly followed him also stopped and lifted his head that had been fixed on the document.

“That.”

Mihalis recalled his questioning expression and pointed to an unexpected scene with his finger.

“Heuk.”

Iadis swallowed air as his gaze followed Mihalis’ finger.

It was the rarely used second banquet hall. The reception party that would be held on his wedding day was at the first banquet hall, so this place should’ve been quieter. But there was something he hadn’t seen before.

“Oh… right.”

Iadis had arranged for the location himself but did not expect that this would happen. He could not immediately give a response.

“What is it?”

Mihalis asked again, narrowing his eyes.

The second banquet hall building.

Dozens of boys in apprentice knights uniforms huddled close to the window—like cicadas clinging to trees. It was as if they were peeking at something inside the building.

“Lady Aclera must be practicing how to dance.”

Iadis answered after tightly closing his eyes.

“Dance practice?”

“The dance that marks the beginning of the reception.”

At Iadis’ words, Mihalis remembered the wedding ceremony that he had already been briefed on.

‘I forgot.’

Come to think of it, it was customary for the bride and groom to dance for the first time at the reception party after the ceremony. It was something that he had completely forgotten, since he had closed off all his interest in the wedding events this whole time.

“Lady Aclera was worried, so I helped her practice.”

“Clean those up.”

Listening to Iadis’ explanation, Mihalis said with deeply furrowed brows.

“Yes, I understand!”

He expected the order. After his short reply, Iadis rushed towards the window.

“…..”

Mihalis watched the apprentice knights scattering in all directions like cockroaches suddenly illuminated by light, then headed for the second banquet hall as if he was attracted by something.

Tuk.

Mihalis stopped at the entrance of the banquet hall where waltz music was playing.

As he looked at the scene inside the banquet hall, he seemed to somehow understand the apprentice knights that gathered like cockroaches a little bit.

It was like a scene straight out of a fairy tale. Whenever the couple turned in a graceful curve, the lady’s light blue dress fluttered like a flirtatious butterfly.

“As expected, she’s practicing dancing.”

After chasing away the apprentice knights, Iadis stood behind Mihalis and said quietly.

“It seems so.”

Mihalis caught sight of Eliana, whose long silver had been tied up for convenience.

Her shy knees were slightly revealed through the white lace at the hem of her skirt then disappeared. A few strands of her hair, which flowed down her exposed nape, captured his gaze.

It was the first time. He thought this was what a “pretty” person was.

“Were you the one who introduced her to her practice partner?”

After silently watching the couple passionately dancing for several seconds, Mihalis asked.

“Yes, Your Excellency, when it comes to dancing, there’s no one better than Sir Terius.”

“Is he the second son of Count Terius?”

Mihalis felt increasingly dejected seeing the two of them engrossed in practice, unaware of the presence of visitors.

“That’s right. From his family, to dancing. Add his handsome face to that, he’s at the peak of social popularity! That’s why among the knights, Sir Terius is the most knowledgeable about high society.”

Iadis continued his explanation without even knowing that Mihalis’ fist was getting tighter.

“No wonder his nickname is ‘Star of the South’. Hahaha.”

Iadis was truly proud. He was the best choice since his boss was a workaholic who lived away from society.

“Good work…”

He didn’t feel very good. Mihalis couldn’t explain exactly why, but for some reason, he wanted to punch this obnoxious, competent deputy.

‘Is that really how it’s supposed to be danced?’

Watching the ensuing practice scene, Mihalis now saw the dance called waltz differently.

Their navels were almost touching each other. Their eyes were fixed on each other as if there were only the two of them in the world, like an embrace between lovers. Their hands lightly touched each other, and a large hand supported her slender back.

It was just a dance. Yet strangely, he felt awful.

“I’m going.”

He had no intention of seeing her again before their wedding in the first place. After dazedly watching the couple for a few seconds, Mihalis turned his back without hesitation.

“Your Excellency, are you leaving without greeting the young lady?”

Surprised by his sudden turn, Iadis quickly followed him.

“Continue the report.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Mihalis’ voice, which somehow became cold, sent chills down Iadis’ spine. For some reason, he felt like he had made a big mistake.

***

“Thanks for your help, Sir Terius.”

Eliana thanked the knight who was her partner for an hour. It was a different experience for her because the northern society, who wore heavy clothes and accessories, preferred the relatively gentle ‘minuet’ rather than the ‘waltz’ with large movements.

“It was an honor for me.”

Eliana’s greeting was answered by a handsome man dressed in a knight’s uniform, bowing his waist sophisticatedly.

“Please take good care of me tomorrow as well.”

“I’ll escort you to the main building.”

Even until the final escort, he was the perfect partner.

‘I should also convey my gratitude to Sir Iadis.’

Eliana was sincerely grateful to Iadis.

Although she knew the theory thanks to the memory embedded in her body, she was worried because she had no practical experience. In response to her request, which she asked just in case, Iadis happily searched for a place to practice and a great partner.

In addition, he sent an unexpected band (it was a naval band though), whose skills were highly praised.

“Sir Iadis.”

As soon as Eliana entered the main building, she immediately headed towards the deputy’s office.

The door was wide open today, so the view inside the deputy official’s office was visible. Like always, Iadis was buried in papers today.

“Lady Aclera.”

Upon Eliana’s appearance, Iadis, who had been writing something at high speed, lifted his head. Thanks to the explosion of work that had been added, he was quite distracted.

“Thank you for sending me such a good partner and band.”

“Haha, it’s nothing. My lady, more than that, His Excellency has returned.”

Iadis, who had set his pen down, said after smiling awkwardly.

“Yes?”

Surprised by the unexpected news, Eliana asked back.

“He came back a little while ago from naval training.”

At Eliana’s light question, Iadis spoke again.

“Since you’ve come all the way here, would you like to greet him?”

“Yes.”

It’s been a week since the clothes incident.

“I will greet him.”

Eliana responded a beat late. She needed to greet him, but she was nervous about what to do.

“He’s in his office right now. Please wait a moment. I’ll guide you.”

Iadis pointed to the door inside the deputy’s office with his eyes and stood up.

“No, please sit down.”

It was an office within the deputy’s office.

She just had to take a few steps. She couldn’t possibly ask someone who already looked too busy to do the chore of opening a door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Quickly stopping Iadis from standing up, Eliana knocked directly on the door of the superior’s office.

“Come in.”

As soon as she finished knocking, she heard Mihalis’ voice.

Click.

The heavy door engraved with antique patterns opened smoothly.

“Oh.”

She went ahead and opened the door because he said to come in. But Eliana froze right then.

“Young lady?”

Of course, he answered like that because he thought she was his deputy, Iadis. Mihalis, who looked toward the door at the unexpectedly clear voice, also froze.

“Oh… I…”

There were tremors in her eyes.

Perhaps because her tongue had hardened, Eliana couldn’t speak words.

Because Mihalis was naked.