My Lifeline - Jaywon Shortstories

Bal Masqué Pt3

"Because I wanted to dance with you"

"My lord?" asked Yeosang.

The carriage had arrived in front of the Duke's mansion and Yeosang was holding the door open for Duke Yang to leave.

"Oh, right" mumbled the latter.

He awkwardly stepped outside of the carriage and walked towards his home, Yeosang by his side.

"Sir, may I ask if everything is okay? You seem rather... distracted" he said.

The Duke shook his head. If he didn't want to raise any suspicions then he needed to act as casually as he would normally have.

"Everything is fine, I'm just tired" he said, gently smiling to Yeosang as the latter opened the front door for him.

They entered the hallway and instantly headed for the dressing room. Yeosang helped the Duke shed the several layers of his outfit and get ready to go to bed.

"Did you get to meet with Wooyoung?" asked the Duke.

Instantly, the servant's cheeks turned red again.

"I did" he whispered, smiling bright. "Master Choi was busy dancing for the most of the night, which allowed Wooyoung and I to speak."
"Oh! Sounds good" said the Duke, smiling back.

Yeosang nodded and the Duke felt genuinely happy for him. He knew that their talk had been extremely polite and not personal at all, as they were present at the Bal as personal servants, however they had been able to be next to each other!

"Dare I ask..." started Yeosang, before realizing he was about to go too far. "Please excuse my recklessness, my Lord."

Jungwon side smiled at him.

"Please finish your sentence!" said Duke Yang. "And also, call me Jungwon."

Yeosang's face was entirely red now.

"Come on, you used to call me by my name when we were kids" said Duke Yang.
"Yes, but you are an adult now. A Duke" explained Yeosang. "I could never."
"You will make me ask you until we die huh?" replied the Duke with a chuckle.

"Perhaps" chuckled the servant as well. "However, regarding your other request, dare I ask if you managed to find your dance partner again?"

That question had brought the Duke back to that very instant.

"Because I wanted to dance with you"
"What do you mean, dance with me?" asked the Duke.
"Sir, I think I shouldn't answer that" replied Jay. "And I must hurry to the castle, Prince Kim might need me any instant."
"Fine, I won't hold you back" said the Duke. "However, if dancing with me was so important to you, I'd advise that you take this opportunity and tell me the rest. After all, when will we be alone like this again?"

Jay, who had started running away, stopped to think.

After a short instant that seemed to last an eternity for the Duke, Jay turned back to face him.

"Sir" he said, bowing at ninety degrees. "Please excuse the humble servant that I am. I.. I do highly respect you, my Lord."

The Duke frowned out of curiosity.

"Whenever you come to visit Prince Kim, I am the one making sure everything is ready for the encounter, from tea to outfits" he continued. "Prince Kim is very fond of you, dare I say he considers you his friend."

The Duke smiled. He also wanted to think of Prince Kim as his friend, however as the latter was the Prince, it was sometimes difficult to know where one stood or until where one could go.