His eyes widened. "Oh my... My sincere apologies." Said the man, quickly parting away from Cordelia. But he seemed to have hesitated letting go of her hand, which she desperately wished for from the very start.
'Finally...' She thought in relief as she began rubbing her hand that the man had finally let go of. She stole an annoyed glance at the fine yet annoying man. Just as she felt Leon's presence behind her.
"May I ask what you were doing to my wife?" Leon bluntly asked, emphasizing the word wife while evidently irked. He could not help but feel irritated, his lips twitching in jealousy.
"Apologies, my lord." The actor bowed his head but soon raised his head up high, as though proud.
"The lady was alone. I thought she was with no one." The man smiled innocently at Leon.
"Just because a lady is alone, does not necessarily mean that she is not married or is with someone, sir." Leon's voice came out sharply. Clearly, he was pissed.
However, it seems that his loud voice have garnered many of the passerby's attention. Some came to slow down as they passed them, and some turned their head back to look.
"Oh my... Isn't that Marquis Elvoye?"
"Ah, is that so, Marquis?" The actor faintly rose his brows at Leon as he took a brief look around them, noticing the attention they are getting.
"But there is no helping that your wife is beautiful. All I did was merely ask her name and give a proper greeting. I apologize for my rudeness."
By then, the corner of Leon's lips twitched in annoyance. "Sir, you kiss the hand of my wife even without her permission? What a delightful greeting it must be for my wife. Did you not hear her refusal?" He spoke sarcastically as he pulled Cordelia to his side.
"Did we hear it right? The actor was—"
Her heart was beating fast. Her face burning, not used to the eyes that watched them.
Before Cordelia could realize what she was doing, her hand had already tugged gently on Leon's side as she slowly rose to her feet to reach his ears.
"Dear, I don't think it is good to get this much attention..." She quietly whispered into Leon's ears.
And seconds soon, Leon's attention turned to her completely. But his eyes were still blazing, holding a sharp glare toward the actor, who only kept his head up with an innocent smile on his face that only made Leon more irritated.
'This man... is he not afraid of offending a noble?' Cordelia thought in disbelief. She couldn't help but ponder where the actor had gotten such courage and confidence from.
"Should you so easily let such a thing pass, then I won't." Leon replied bluntly.
"Leon—?"
"Many eyes are watching us..." She quietly whispered to him.
He turned to her. "And?"
Pure disbelief washed all over Cordelia's face. 'Are my ears playing with me?' She thought.
From the very start, she knew Leon as someone who deeply valued his own title and reputation, especially his stand among the nobility. And yet somehow, what he was doing right now was certainly not of any benefit toward what he deeply valued.
"I've already properly asked for an apology, sire. What else do you want me to do?" Said the man.
"What else must I do?" The actor spoke so sincerely before those of innocent eyes. Yet most would have failed to notice his taunting expression.
"Ha." Leon heaved a frustrated sigh, looking at the man with a glare. "You—"
Before Leon could finish his sentence, the actor spoke again. "Ah... could it be that you're jealous because of a mere kiss on your wife's hand?"
He stiffened. His glare ceased in an instant. Certainly, what the actor had said quickly dawned upon him.
'Jealous?' He thought to himself bewilderingly. The gazes of the few passerby's that passed them was completely forgotten by Leon. Also by Cordelia, who stood stiffly beside Leon.
I'm that moment, in the midst of the hallway of the theatre, the two was like a pair that had a face of bewilderment.
'Me..?'
'Jealous?'
Came his thoughts. Followed by Cordelia's.
'Him?'
'Jealous..?'
"Oh? You're not?" The actor spoke yet again. "Then it seems to me that it is fine to kiss your wife's hand. After all, you seemed to not mind—"
"I'm her husband. Of course I'd be jealous."
Cordelia almost forgot how to breath in that very moment. She quickly turned to him, her enlarge eyes evident with shock. Never in her life did she think she'd hear something like that from him.
Ever.
"If that's the case..." The actor gently bowed. "Then I sincerely ask for your forgiveness my lord."
"....." Leon kept silent, not uttering a single word. It had dawned upon him what he had just said. He only looked at the man, staring at the actor without speaking any word. Soon after, Leon heaved a sigh.
"We shall take our leave." A large calloused hand took hold of Cordelia's hand, quickly dragging her with him as he walked away with Cordelia's hand in his.
Cordelia grew confused when his fingers slowly intertwined with hers. She looked up having many things to ask Leon, but he only kept his face forward as he continued walking fast.
Unbeknownst to her, she was already staring on his back, as though she couldn't get her eyes off him while deep in thought.
'His ears... are red.'
'Is he that angry because I ruined his face in front of many people...?' She thought, completely misunderstanding. In fact, Leon's ears reddened from the embarrassment.
He had spoken without reconsideration and had openly admitted that he was indeed jealous. Though he admits to himself that he only said that out of spite. But somehow, he really did hated that another man kissed her hand.
He wanted to tear the man into shreds back then, but he couldn't. At least not in front of so many people. And most importantly, not in front of her.
Leon let out a frustrated sigh yet again. 'What the hell has gotten into me?'
"Hold on, Leon... You're walking too fast."
He paused, halting abruptly as he waited for Cordelia to adjust before he began walking again. And this time, he kept up with her pace instead.
"Thank you, Leon." She spoke in relief, finally able to keep up with him.
But like earlier, Leon remained silent and didn't utter a word.
As they left, the hushed murmurs and whispers gathered around. It was clearly not of help with Leon being well known among the aristocrats.
"Hush."
"But the actor is..."
"He is his majesty's illegitimate relative isn't he?"
•
After a journey in the carriage, the two have finally arrived home. However, instead of falling down to her soft comfortable sheets, Cordelia was forced to reckon Leon's word as he urged her to follow him.
"Can I ask where are we heading..?"
Even now, he remained silent, still not uttering a word to her.
"....." Cordelia was left with an awkward silence that she couldn't bear.
"Earlier, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of date you would be taking me." She spoke as the corners of her lips turned up, smiling as she turned to him.
"It turns out that we were going to watch an opera."
He was still silent and wasn't responding.
"Leon..?"
"Is something the matter?" She asked. "If there is, please let me kno—"
Before Cordelia could say another word, they stopped in front of a room so abruptly.
"Take a bath."
"What..?" His words had taken her aback.
"Take a bath to refreshen yourself."
"Here? But this is your room though... My room is far ahea—"
"Need I say more?" He spoke, glaring at her as he entered his chambers with Cordelia following behind.
"A filthy thing touched you earlier, so take a bath to wash the filth off."
"Do I really have to bath here..?"
'He's been strange since earlier...'
His coat fell to the ground as he turned to face Cordelia.
"Which hand did he touch?" He asked, ignoring her question.
"Tell me."
Cordelia was very much unused to his behavior right now. 'He is behaving strangely right now...'
But despite her pondering thoughts, she carefully raised her hand that the actor had kissed earlier.
In an instant, Leon grabbed that hand and took her toward the corner of his chambers that placed a large beautiful porcelain tub filled with warm water.
"L-Leon..?" She called his name as her brows were growing into confusion. "Leon, what are you doing—?"
Leon walked over to the tub with Cordelia in hand. As soon as they stood over it, Leon submerged her hand in water, as though trying to wash something away from her skin.
"I told you didn't I? You need to wash the filth off." He said.
'I didn't think that he was serious....'
"Here..?" His intense stare and cold voice made her swallow the lump in her throat as though she was nervous.
"Yes. Here" Said Leon.
"Now turn around, I shall begin to undo your dress and corset."
"B-But... It is usually my handmaidens that assists me when bathing..."
Leon rose his brows. "And?"
"You're a man." She said, turning away as she covered her bosoms scrunched up by the corset, as though embarrassed. "Women usually only do this for—"
"What is there to be shy for? I've seen and tasted almost every single part of your body." He said, sighing.
"Now, undress, dear."