One-Shot Transmigration: Sorry I'm Here To Ruin Your Happy Ever After Chapter 61 The ball(5)

Min-jae sighed, the gender-bender trope in this book was annoying but he had sohow co to terms with being a male-wife.

"...thank you.." he sighed stiffly as Odysseus led them to the carriage.

"We’ll be back before midnight.." ical paused, as he helped Min-jae into the carriage. Helping him arrange the flows of his gown before closing the door.

"Eyes on the road, Vanadis." turning to Odysseus, ical nodded "Watch the estate. I don’t want anything thing of mine or Kaizar’s missing and I don’t want any outsider stepping inside.."

Odysseus nodded "Okay, Master. You can rest assured, everything will be fine in your absence.."

The carriage rolled forward, wheels cracking softly over cobblestone. Min-jae sat very still, his hands on his lap, the mask resting loosely between his fingers. He didn’t look out the window, the closer they drew to the castle, the more uneasy he felt.

A ball. A masquerade. A bride-choosing ceremony.

None of this had existed in the original story.

And when the story deviated, things tended to go wrong.

ical noticed his silence. "I can practically hear your thoughts.." he murmured.

Min-jae blinked. "...."

ical shifted his posture, slightly leaning closer. "Listen to . I won’t leave your side. You won’t be alone at any point tonight. Understand? So you don’t have to worry.."

Min-jae nodded, but his shoulders didn’t relax.

ical’s voice softened. "If you get overwheld, touch my hand. Even if we’re surrounded. Even if I’m speaking with soone. I’ll know what to do."

"...Okay. You said this, so I should be your first priority.."

The palace ca into full view, tall, white stone walls illuminated with lantern light, the banners of Aldoria swaying, and strings of crystal decorations glittering like fallen stars.

Music floated through the air, blending into the darkening sky.

The carriage stopped.

Vanadis jumped down, opened the door, and offered a stable arm for Min-jae to use as support. "Steps are steep.." he muttered.

"I’m wearing a suffocating gown and heels. Everything is steep.." Min-jae replied.

Vanadis snorted, but helped him down carefully all the sa.

The entrance to the ballroom was flanked by palace guards. Since guests wore masks, nas had to be announced.

One guard stepped forward. "Your nas, please."

ical spoke calmly. "Governor ical Vukasin. And my spouse, Kaizar."

The guard began to check the list, then froze.

His gaze dropped. Then rose. Then dropped again.

"...Spouse Kaizar is—"

He hesitated.

"...a man?"

Min-jae just stared at him.

-_-

"here we go.."

The guard’s eyes widened even more when he realized the delicate, stunning figure in red was not a noblewoman but a male spouse. His shock was loud. Obvious and borderline insulting.

ical’s expression did not change but the air did.

Cold. Sharp. And unmistakably dangerous.

"Is that a problem?" ical’s voice held no inflection. Which was sohow worse than anger.

"N-no, my lord, of course not..."

"Then stop staring.." ical said quietly. "Before I remove your eyes."

The guard nearly tripped over his own feet as he stumbled back and signaled them through.

Vanadis held his laughter in. Barely.

Min-jae sighed. "You didn’t have to threaten him."

"Yes, I did..." ical replied, offering his arm again. "If soone looks at you like that again, I’ll do worse."

Min-jae had no idea whether to be annoyed... or flustered.

He settled on quietly flustered. As they stepped inside the palace.

The crystal chandeliers bathed the ballroom in warm gold. Velvet drapes cascaded down the walls. The nobles, dressed in every shade from midnight blue to rose gold, clustered in patterns of elegance and gossip.

As the pair entered, the musicians did not stop but the room shifted.

People didn’t gasp or whisper loudly.

They simply turned, one by one as if their attention had been pulled by a single invisible cord.

The Lord in white. And the spouse in red.

ical led him smoothly, hand steady and sure.

Min-jae lifted his chin, held his mask lightly to his face, and followed.

Mask after mask turned toward them, first in curiosity, then in surprise, and finally, in hushes whispered behind gloved hands.

Everyone knew the rumors.

Everyone knew the story.

The Governor had married a man.

But rumors were one thing, and reality was another. Watching Min-jae descend the steps beside ical was like watching a painted icon co to life. The gown was as red as ripened wine, sculpted to his fra in a way that neither hid nor exaggerated.

The pearls threaded through his hair glimred like frost under warm light. His mask, pristine white, frad his eyes in soft curves.

He did not look like a man trying to imitate beauty.

He simply looked beautiful.

And ical, in his white attire with red detailing to match him, walked with the quiet certainty of ownership not possession. His presence was a warning and a promise: This is mine. And I choose him.

They did not hurry. Their descent was steady, unbroken, synchronized, as though they had practiced it a hundred tis.

Vanadis followed behind at a respectful distance, expression blank, posture perfect, each step precise and controlled.

His role was not to be seen, but to be present, and he fulfilled it flawlessly.

The nobles pretended to continue their conversations, but every eye remained fixed.

"Who is that?" a lady whispered behind her fan.

"That is Governor of the South. ical Vukasin and the man next to him is partner..." her companion began.

"Wife, the man has a male wife.." another corrected quietly. "They say he is addressed as ’Mada’ now."

A brief silence followed, heavy with intrigue.

"He’s quite... breathtaking."

"Terrifyingly so. To think two handso fellows got hitched.."

Min-jae felt the weight of all the stares. But he kept his chin lifted, posture straight, steps even.

He had worn this confidence before as an armor, not as a expression. His heart was beating too fast, and he knew ical could see it. The man’s hand at his back tightened slightly, grounding him.

"You’re doing fine." ical murmured, low enough that only Min-jae could hear.

Min-jae didn’t reply, but his shoulders eased by a fraction.

At the foot of the staircase, servants stepped aside and bowed. ical led him through the crowd, every motion calm and unhurried.

Even if Min-jae had shown the slightest tremor, ical’s presence beside him made it inconsequential.

It was strange, Min-jae thought, how soone could feel like a storm and a shelter at the sa ti.

The hall parted gently around them not by command, but by acknowledgnt. Even masked, ical Vukasin was unmistakable.

The nobles moved aside, careful not to block their path. So bowed. So attempted shy greetings. Others simply stared.

Min-jae kept his eyes forward, refusing to falter.

And then ca the familiar, unwelco voice.