Replace The Villain's Wife

24 : A Dance with Karl

"Now I look much more shorter without my heels."

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My stomach pain is getting better. I don't feel anything now . I've never felt this during my first day of period. But then, a person crosses my mind.

"Merlin, is this your doing?" As soon I say that to Merlin, I can hear him chuckling somewhere I don't know.

"It's fine to enjoy this day, right?" He simply says.

I sigh. Well, I guess that's fine. This is the first time I finally agreed to Merlin's doing. I turn my head to look for Alberth. He looks completely alright with Lydia beside him.

"Alright! Let's enjoy the party!" I say to myself as I stand up and walk to the food counter. I can't keep my mouth shut as I see all those delicious foods in front of me.

"You look fine now." Karl suddenly shows up from behind, holding the same cake I'm going to slice.

"I want to take that cake too." I smile.

"Take this." He suddenly gives me his plate with the cake.

"I'm going to take it myself though." 

"I'm full." he glares at me. I roll my eyes, and accept the plate.

"Thank you." My face quickly change. It's only a cake, yet I feel so happy eating it.

"Since you're fine now, quickly finish that and dance with me." Karl's words make me cough.

"What?" I look at him.

"I'm not repeating my words."

I sigh. "Alright."

Karl then walks away, saying nothing. I look at him confused. He left me and yet, he wants me to dance with him? When will the dance start? Should I go to him or should he go to me? This man is so unbelievable.

"Godd evening, princess." I turn around to see who called me.

"Oh, good evening, Mr Barb." I reply. Mr. Barb looks so masculine in those suit he wears. 

"You came alone?" In my assumption, at his age, which is the same age as the empress, he should have been married and has kids. Or maybe, he's still single? It's not like I'm aiming for him.

"No, I actually came with my son but he prefers to go to a quieter place." 

Oh, so he has son. 

"How old is he?" I ask.

"The same age as you, Your Highness." 

I open my eyes in shock. "Well, we can be friends."

I laugh as I eat my last bite of cake until Karl suddenly shows up. He stares at me and takes a glance at Mr. Barb.

"I'll take my leave, first." Mr.Barb chuckles as he walks away.

I look up to Karl and he is still staring at me. I furrow my eyebrows, Karl seems to not going to stop anytime soon.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" I finally spit it out.

He suddenly smirks and point at the edge of my lips. 

"Chocolate." he whispers. I widen my eyes and quickly wipe the chocolate. I feel embarrassed now that I see him chuckles after he's done teasing me.

"May I have this dance?" He open his hand and reach to me.

"Yeah, I can't say no anyway." I accepts his hand and we both walks to the center.

I put one hand on his shoulder and the other one with on his hand. 

"I haven't stepped on your feet, right?" I smile proudly. Karl only looks at me without saying a word. 

I look at the people around us. Everyone's happily dancing with their partner. I suddenly flinch. My feet hurts. I forgot that I hurt my leg today.

"Take your heels off."

"Hmm?" I look at him. Karl makes our dance move slower.

"You did that with Eden before."

"Ah, but I didn't step on your feet."

Karl gives me his flaring gaze. "Just do as I say."

His glare just won't work at me, okay. I'm bulletproof already. But still, I don't refuse and take off my heels. Did he do this because he knows I'm injured?

"The heels."

"Philip will take them." After Karl said that, Philip suddenly comes to us and quickly takes them away before anyone steps on them.

"Your foot."

"Huh?"

"Put them on mine."

I sigh, I slowly lift my foot and step on Karl's shoes.

"Hehe, it feels like I'm flying." I giggle. My foot happily follow Karl's steps.

I pout as I realized I look shorter now without my heels.

"What's with that face?" Karl straightly look at me.

"Now I look much more shorter without my heels."

"No one's going to see you anyway." he says without looking at me.

"Then what's the point of getting dressed up then?" I mutter as I look down to my feet. They look so small compared to Karl's. 

"Wife, the maids dressed you up so well so your husband will be satisfied and happy." Karl's words make my mood lighten up.

"Are you happy?" I brightly smile at him.

"No." 

My face changes quickly. Yeah, don't get you hopes to high, Antania. He's teasing you again. I hit his feet to release my anger.

"It won't work. You weight like an ant." Karl smirks. I know, you don't have to tell me that! I just want to release this inner-devil of me.

"Someone's coming. Looks like the door is opened wide for him."

Merlin says put of nowhere. I immediately turn to see the door. My eyes are wide-opened as I see Eliot enters the ballroom. I stop, forgetting the pain in my foot. Karl looks at me, asking.

"I think I need to go to bed." I say as I squeeze my dress, ready to walk as fast as I can before Eliot come this way.

"Is it getting worst?" Karl asks. He holds my hand so that my foot won't step on the floor.

"No! I just, need to go." I say as I try to release myself.

"Calm down." Karl with his cold voice, trying to make me calm. How can I keep calm when I need to hide from someone as soon as possible?!

Philip walks to us, bringing the heels and I quickly wear them.

"I'll leave first. Let's have a full dance int he future." I smile at Karl and quickly leaves before Eliot comes here.

Right on time!

As I walk out to the door, Eliot with some of his guys greet Karl. I sigh in relief. That was so close. I should have prepared more when I already knew Eliot would come here. I don't think this is the right time to introduce myself as Karl's wife.

I walk up to the stair. The stomach starts to hurt. I think Merlin's running out of his magic.

"Princess." Lydia's voice suddenly calls me.

I turn myself to see Lydia.

"Where are you going?" Lydia looks at me worried when she sees me holding my stomach.

"I just have a stomach pain, it's my first period day." I can tell almost everything to Lydia. She is just like a best friend and a sister to me.

I hear her chuckles.

"Well well, I guess we should hurry to bed, right?"

I smile as I nod, and we walk together to my bedroom.