How shameless could he be? They’d been together for nearly a decade!
She wouldn’t have found his behavior such a problem if he’d only approached her at night, but now that he’d started to bed her at all times of the day, it had started to become a hassle.
“At least control yourself until the victory celebration starts,” she warned.
“So I can begin after that?”
Just where was he planning to make mischief once the victory celebration began? Most parties were held in locations where multiple rooms had been prepared for guests to rest in, but a victory celebration probably wouldn’t have anything of the sort.
Byletta had absolutely no intention of doing something vulgar in public.
She’d begun to glare at Arnald, though she didn’t notice it herself. Even beasts are less lustful than this man. Has my cold-blooded, ruthless husband, who showed no interest in anyone but himself, perished and gone away? Does even a fragment of him still exist anywhere?
She could curse herself for signing that contract without being more thorough.
As they continued toward their destination, Byletta turned her mind to thinking up any possible way she could keep her husband in check.
She found herself exhausted even before the victory celebration began.
Once they’d gone inside the venue at the glittering imperial palace, Byletta let out a heavy sigh.
The people in attendance looked absolutely resplendent. The celebratory mood was helping, of course, but everyone looked happy, like they were enjoying themselves. Byletta, on the other hand, had a dark expression on her face. She probably stuck out like a sore thumb. Her husband, whose fault it was, stood silently beside her.
Yet now wasn’t the time for Byletta to look so down. The dress she wore was one of the latest from her boutique, and she was excited to be able to reveal it at such an ideal occasion.
The men’s ceremonial military uniforms were a dark-green color embroidered with gold and silver thread. The insignia of their rank, whether medals, badges, or both, only made them look all the more striking. Byletta puffed out her chest in pride—her husband was so handsome, even his resplendent uniform could not begin to compare.
Her dress had been made to match the ceremonial uniforms, though it was more intricate. The elaborate, detailed design her designers and seamstresses had come up with was destined to be that season’s must-have garment. If possible, Byletta wanted it to become the topic of the night and to leave other attendees with the knowledge that she stocked designs for any occasion.
But standing as she was next to her husband, she was beginning to worry that her dress would be eclipsed. He was a lieutenant colonel, after all. His stately presence and calm demeanor overwhelmed everyone around him. It was detestable, but his good looks outclassed those of everyone else in the room. No matter how he was dressed, no one could compare to him.
As a woman, the feeling of defeat was hard to swallow, but to be honest, he looked so good that Byletta acknowledged the loss. She’d never thought the ceremonial uniform would suit him so well. Military uniforms were always made to look good, but the beauty of this one was transcendent.
Byletta sighed, resigning herself to the fact that it was unlikely she would get to talk much business that night.
Even so, the number of looks that Arnald drew was incredible. Whether from a man or woman, the brief glances he received were dripping with heat, yet he seemed entirely unperturbed. It was almost like it was a regular occurrence for him to be so distinguished from the crowd—and his outfit only made him stand out further.
As a subject of ill-intentioned rumors ever since she’d first entered high society, Byletta still found herself the target of malicious looks. Nevertheless, her husband received far more stares than she. Granted, the intent behind them was quite different.
Byletta turned to look at a group in friendly conversation who were surrounding a well-decorated middle-aged man. He was encircled by men who appeared to be of high rank and were all talking animatedly. Guessing from the look on Byletta’s face that she didn’t know who he was, Arnald told her.
“That’s General Vasia Grusbel. I heard he has retired.”
“That’s him?”
Byletta had heard the name before from her father. People called the man a war hero.
But from the way he was talking in the center of his group, Byletta couldn’t imagine him barking out a fierce strategy, nor burning lands and leaving nothing in his wake but blood and destruction, as he was said to have done.
“He’s…shorter than I expected.”
“He’s also just as mild-mannered and charming as he looks. Everyone’s always surprised by that. He also had the unenviable task of being General Dreslan’s superior.”
“That…poor man…”
If he was able to keep that devil Movris in check, then he was either as charming as everyone said or an irredeemable degenerate. Byletta watched Vasia stroke his snow-white beard and sympathized with his probable anguish.
“General Dreslan saved me once, some time ago. I owe him a great debt,” said Arnald.
“You do?”
Arnald was Movris’s subordinate. Vasia had probably saved him from a good deal of pain from that fiend. The thought of it made Byletta shudder. The fact that her husband was so admiring and grateful toward Movris, instead of sneering over the torture he must have endured, showed how shockingly dutiful he truly was.
“What kinds of insulting thoughts are running through that head of yours right now?”
“I’m not sure what you mean, husband. I was just impressed by what a wonderful gentleman General Vasia seems.”
Arnald was nothing if not perceptive. Just like his father, Byletta lamented.
“Why don’t we get some drinks? Do you like alcohol?”
“Yes, but I prefer something light.”
“Coming up.”
Taking two glasses from the nearest waiter, Arnald passed one to Byletta. It was filled with a clear, fruity wine. The bubbly drink perfectly straddled the line between sweet and dry. To think that Arnald grabbed the perfect drink on his first try… Byletta was impressed with his instincts when it came to entertaining a lady.