Chapter 211: v2- - 30: the second test II

Chapter 211: v2-Chapter 30: the second test II

Adrian tried to return his attention to the conversation.

He managed it for perhaps a minute.

Then his gaze drifted across the ballroom again.

Marian was still with Clara.

She hadn’t looked toward him.

Perhaps she was deliberately avoiding him.

The thought irritated him.

He knew it was unreasonable.

He had been the one occupied with ministers when she arrived. He had been the one who had chosen not to approach her.

If she had decided to wait, he could hardly fault her for it.

And yet the longer he watched her remain where she was, the more dissatisfied he became.

Perhaps she was waiting for him to come to her.

Perhaps she was simply enjoying herself.

Perhaps she had forgotten about him entirely.

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

He disliked all three possibilities.

His gaze moved across the ballroom.

Then it stopped on Lady Ophelia Rosemont.

He remembered the opening ball.

He had danced with her that night.

And afterward, Marian had danced with Julian.

He remembered that too.

His eyes remained on Ophelia.

A thought occurred to him.

It was not particularly fair.

He knew that.

But he had already spent the better part of the evening wondering what Marian would do if he did not make the first move.

Perhaps he would find out.

Adrian turned to his aide.

"Lady Rosemont."

The aide followed his gaze.

"Your Majesty?"

"I want to speak with her."

The aide bowed.

"Of course."

Adrian rose.

--

Marian noticed him moving.

Her attention shifted almost instinctively toward him.

For a moment, she wondered if he was finally coming to her.

Then she saw where he was going.

Lady Ophelia Rosemont.

Marian’s fingers tightened around her fan.

Adrian approached Ophelia and spoke with her.

Marian looked away.

It was only a conversation.

There was nothing unusual about it.

Adrian was the Emperor.

Lady Ophelia was a member of one of the capital’s most prominent families.

There were countless reasons for him to speak with her.

Marian tried to return her attention to Clara.

She listened for a few moments.

Then her eyes wandered back.

Adrian was still speaking with Ophelia.

A faint ache settled beneath her ribs.

She told herself it meant nothing.

It was only a conversation.

Perhaps they were discussing her family.

Perhaps Adrian was simply being courteous.

There was no reason for her to feel anything.

Then Ophelia smiled.

Adrian said something in response.

Marian looked away again.

The ache remained.

She pressed her lips together.

She didn’t understand why it bothered her so much.

She knew Adrian spoke to women.

She knew he was accustomed to doing so.

She had no right to object.

And yet, tonight was different.

He knew.

He knew exactly what the court had been saying since the opening ball.

He knew that people had watched him leave with Marian.

He knew that they were now watching to see what would happen between them.

He knew the rumors.

And still, he had chosen to approach Ophelia.

Marian’s fingers tightened around her fan.

Then Ophelia looked toward the musicians.

Adrian followed her gaze.

A moment later, he extended his hand.

Marian went still.

Lady Ophelia placed her hand in his.

The musicians began another dance.

For a few seconds, Marian simply stared.

Adrian was dancing with her again.

The realization hurt more than the conversation had.

Not because Adrian had done anything improper.

He hadn’t.

Not because she had any claim over him.

She didn’t.

But because he knew exactly how this would look.

And he had done it anyway.

The whispers began almost immediately.

"Lady Rosemont again."

"Perhaps there was nothing more to it after all."

"I suppose it was only for old time’s sake."

A quiet laugh followed.

Another voice said,

"She certainly seemed to believe otherwise."

Marian felt the heat rise into her face.

She lowered her eyes.

The words struck somewhere painfully tender.

For old time’s sake.

Perhaps that was all it had been.

Perhaps she had been foolish to think otherwise.

She had spent the morning convincing herself that Adrian’s caution meant something.

That the medicine had been practical.

That his distance did not mean rejection.

That she should simply try again.

And now she was standing in the same ballroom, watching him dance with another woman while the entire court whispered about what had happened between them.

Her chest tightened.

Clara touched her arm.

"Marian."

"I’m fine."

"You don’t have to pretend with me."

Marian tried to smile.

It didn’t quite work.

"I know."

Clara looked toward the dance floor.

Then back at Marian.

"Do you want to leave?"

Marian hesitated.

For a moment, she thought about staying.

This was only the second test.

She had told herself she could do this. She had gone home after the first one, thought everything through, and decided she would try again.

She had even come here tonight intending to prove that she meant what she had said.

But standing there and watching Adrian dance with another woman, knowing that he was aware of everything the court was saying, something inside her simply gave way.

It hurt.

That was all.

It hurt more than she had expected it to.

And she didn’t know what to do with that hurt.

Perhaps she was supposed to endure it.

Perhaps this was what Adrian needed from her.

But she couldn’t stand there any longer and pretend that it didn’t affect her.

"I think I should leave."

Clara immediately nodded.

"I’ll come with you."

"No."

Marian shook her head.

"You should stay."

"Marian—"

"I only need some air."

She managed a small smile.

"I’ll be all right."

Clara studied her face.

She knew Marian well enough to understand that she wasn’t.

But she also knew when Marian needed to leave before she lost control of herself.

"Then send me a message when you get home."

"I will."

Marian gathered her skirts.

She didn’t look toward the dance floor again.

She simply walked away.

For the first time since she had decided to try again, Marian understood something she hadn’t expected.

Knowing that Adrian was testing her was one thing.

Actually being tested was another.

She had thought she could bear it.

She had thought that if proving herself was the price of having him choose her again, she would simply pay it.

But this was only the second test.

And already, she had needed to leave because it hurt too much.

Marian lowered her eyes as she walked toward the doors.

She wasn’t giving up.

She wasn’t changing her mind.

Not yet.

She simply couldn’t remain in that ballroom long enough for anyone to see how deeply it had affected her.

--

Tbc