When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 118



Only Krnovel

#118. For a Better Future
2024.04.27.

When Sylvia pointed to the side, everyone’s gaze immediately followed.

“I would like to introduce you to Viscount Este, the president of the Treano Valle Association.”

Some people who had been clapping along with the clapping of their hands one by one mumbled.

“Viscount Este?”

“Doesn’t it sound familiar?”

“Hey, it’s not an unusual surname. But if they were able to establish an association all at once, it must be a family with incredible wealth… … .”

The rapid conversation suddenly stopped. When the president of the association appeared in the hidden space, everyone’s faces turned pale as if they had seen a ghost.

The eyes of the people who looked at each other as if they were wondering if what they were seeing was real were wide open.

“… … Isn’t that Emilia?”

When no one opened their mouths and just dropped their jaws, someone muttered in a dazed voice. And with that as a signal, people’s voices burst out here and there. It was a scene of utter chaos.

Amidst the various suspicions such as whether their eyes were wrong or whether they looked alike, Emilia, who was introduced as Viscount Este, stood in front with a calm expression.

“You must have been very surprised by the unfamiliar news, but thank you for coming. I am Emilia Este, the president of the Treano Ballet Association.”

“It’s really Emilia. Your voice is exactly the same.”

“What kind of voice is that? Is that beauty common? I can tell just by looking at your face.”

“No, I’m not saying that because I don’t know. It’s because I don’t believe it.”

As soon as Este opened her mouth, people started talking. Without even thinking about lowering their voices, the people were busy staring at Emilia in excitement.

“But you’re a Viscount? Emilia was a noble?”

“Did you buy the title?”

“She was originally a noble. I just didn’t say it because it wasn’t necessary.”

Juliana cut in as if cutting off the words of the people who were puzzled. The people who had been blinking their eyes at her stiff voice reacted a beat or two late, as if they were broken.

“What? You were originally a noble?”

“Yeah. But let’s be quiet now. The president of the association said it.” When

Juliana gritted her teeth and sharply looked around, the people finally looked at Emilia again with a look of surprise. Emilia slightly raised the corners of her lips and greeted Juliana with her eyes.

“Thank you. I understand your confusion. However, I think my personal life is not that important at this time, so I will stop talking and tell you about the future direction.”

The sharp gazes with unfavorable eyes made her skin prickle. However, those gazes soon began to sparkle with interest.

As an active dancer, Emilia knew the current environment of the ballet world well, so she was also aware of the old bad habits.

That is why she said that she would improve the reality of not being treated as an artist due to the bad image of the ballet world and create an environment where people can focus solely on ballet.

Her confidently explaining that she would give him full support was an issue that as a ballet dancer, I couldn’t help but be interested in.

Emilia spoke clearly about the path ahead, such as the unreasonable salary system and the selection of excellent scholarship students regardless of age.

And people gave her generous praise when she concluded by saying that details about the background of the association’s founding could be found in the newspaper.

Even though it was still just words, it was a situation that I was simply grateful for, as no one had ever thought of this before and no one had come forward.

It was something that even those who had once been jealous of Emilia and tried to find fault with her for nonsense were left speechless. It was

to the point where she felt so pathetic that she looked around and eventually lowered her head.

“Thank you. I founded the association with the sincere hope that Treano’s ballet world would develop. I ask for your interest and help.”

The applause showed no sign of stopping. Her jade-colored eyes slowly scanned the people without wavering. As if she was trying to capture this moment, she moved her eyes until a familiar silhouette caught her gaze.

She was standing in a dark corner with a shadow so her face couldn’t be seen.

Even with the hat on, she could guess that he was a tall man, but just from that alone, Emilia knew who he was right away.

‘Duke?’

Enrico wanted to follow him too, but he had asked her to wait because he was worried that the attention would be diverted if he came.

However, when he saw the silhouette, he thought that he could hide and watch him now.

As if to break Emilia’s expectations that he would only be like that for the time being, Enrico was still extremely anxious about her being separated from him and wanted to do everything together.

Emilia sighed softly inwardly and turned to where she had come from.

There were many things she was curious about, but there was no need to worry about being caught thanks to the people who were hesitating from afar, as if they were having a hard time approaching Emilia, who now seemed so far away.

She quickly got out of people’s sight and walked in the direction where Enrico had disappeared.

“Huh-!”

She felt a hand grab her arm as she crossed the hallway. She gasped in surprise and looked at the person who was pulling her.

“Shh.”

Enrico put his index finger in front of her lips and carefully pulled Emilia toward him.

She knew that since she was at the corner of the hallway, people wouldn’t be able to see her unless they were right in front of her, but Emilia still felt anxious and looked around for no reason, sticking close to Enrico.

“When did you get here?”

Enrico naturally hugged Emilia in his arms and bowed his head slightly. Her two eyes blinked rapidly as she looked up at him.

“Just before.”

“Didn’t you?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t have not seen such an important thing. I watched it from the beginning.”

“From the beginning… .”

She really managed to hide well. He was a man who caught people’s attention with his physique alone, but it was amazing how he could stay quiet without people noticing.

“I wanted to help you, but you did it alone until the end. It’s a shame.”

“What are you talking about? If the Duke hadn’t been here, we wouldn’t have gotten approval for the association so quickly.”

He knew that Enrico had mentioned the association to the second prince, Riccardo.

With the crown prince’s coronation ceremony approaching, Riccardo would have wanted Enrico’s support to continue to be important, so he would have tried to give him what he wanted.

The association that was quickly approved must have been part of that.

“Really? How much help did you give me?”

“Hmm- a lot.”

“Then I hope you show me that much sincerity.”

“… … A show of sincerity?”

Enrico’s face was getting closer and closer to her jade-colored eyes filled with doubt.

“Yes.”

He answered briefly, and instead of explaining with words, he responded with actions. Their noses touched each other’s and they leaned slightly to the side.

Then he stopped at a precarious distance.

‘Oh, this is what they call a sign of affection?’

Emilia’s lips fell apart. Enrico was always the one who kissed her first, so his waiting reaction was very awkward.

Her eyes, which were looking up at him as if she didn’t hate this behavior at all, sparkled.

Emilia quickly glanced around. Then she pressed her lips firmly against his lips that could touch with just a little movement and then released them. He followed her with his lips slightly parted as she pulled her head back.

“Is it okay?”

His eyebrows slightly gathered. A smile appeared on her face as she answered shamelessly. He looked down at her for a moment, then chuckled and gave her a quick kiss before pulling his head back.

“It’s more than enough. But I can’t help but feel regretful.”

Enrico slowly stroked Emilia’s forehead and hair and muttered softly. Her eyes, like the emerald sea of ​​midday, captivated him as usual.

Emilia smiled brightly. As usual, his heart pounded and his mind felt blocked. In the past, it was just an unpleasant and uncomfortable feeling, but now he just felt this reaction as if he was happy.

“When are you going back?”

At his tone that seemed to suggest that they go back together right away, she slightly lowered the arm that was wrapped around her neck. A small hand that slid down her chest pushed him away with a weak force.

His body didn’t move at all, but Enrico raised one eyebrow as if he had read her refusal well.

“I can’t go now. I have to go back to the association office and finish preparing for the founding.”

“I’m done.”

“But I have to continue reviewing until the end.”

Emilia had shown signs of this even when she was doing ballet, but she was secretly a perfectionist. Enrico had an ominous feeling that this situation would continue to repeat itself even after the founding was safely completed.

‘I won’t even have time to think about marriage.’

It’s already been two months since Emilia returned to the duke’s residence.