Chapter 113…………….
Come to think of it, I had never once danced with Dmitri.
The only time he’d been my partner was during the Orichalcum incident, and even then, he judged that he had no intention of dancing with me and returned to the palace.
‘And afterward, with Dmitri going off to war, such a thing became even more impossible.’
Maybe that’s why I couldn’t focus on the beautiful melody at all.
Surely this was a vast ballroom, yet Dmitri’s face seemed far too large in my vision.
The round dance ended.
‘Fortunately, I didn’t make any mistakes.’
Relieved, I bowed deeply.
“Please enjoy the rest of the evening, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Then I hurriedly ran to where my mother was. She welcomed me warmly and handed me the champagne glass she was holding.
Smiling gently, she asked,
“When did you become so close with the Crown Prince?”
“…We’re not close.”
“Yet he asked you to dance first?”
“….”
With nothing proper to say, I just sipped my champagne. My mother gave me a faint, ambiguous smile at my reaction.
“If you weren’t close, he wouldn’t treat you so kindly, would he?”
“….”
“Did you know the Crown Prince came to see me?”
“…He did?”
I looked at her, slightly startled. She gave the faintest of nods.
“To be exact, we exchanged letters once—about the Orichalcum incident.”
“Ah.”
“He wrote to ask me to persuade you, to reclaim the authority you had given up. He was very courteous. Even from his handwriting, I could feel how much he worried about you.”
She gently stroked my head.
“It moved me, you know.”
“….”
I silently shifted my gaze away from my mother and toward the center of the ballroom.
Dmitri was dancing with Yevgeni.
From Yevgeni’s sulky expression as she spoke to him, it seemed she was protesting about him having danced with me.
A bitter aftertaste lingered.
Just as I was about to set my champagne glass down—
“First Empress Consort.”
Someone called my mother. Only one person in the empire would address a member of the imperial family that way.
“Your Majesty the Emperor.”
My mother curtsied lightly in greeting.
The Emperor approached, gazed at her for a moment, then subtly extended his hand.
Surprised, my mother glanced back and forth between him and his hand.
“Hmm…?”
“Come to think of it, it has been far too long since I last danced with you.”
“Ah, yes, indeed….”
She hesitated and glanced at me. Since the day I collapsed, she had been avoiding contact with the Emperor as much as possible.
‘Because of her guilt toward me, no doubt.’
My mother was kind like that.
‘But I’m fine now.’
Rather, I hoped she would establish more connections with the Emperor, so that she could gain the strength to oppose the Empress.
I secretly nudged her arm.
Startled, she stumbled slightly, and the Emperor caught her.
“Ri—”
“Have a good time, the two of you.”
Just as she began to call my name, I cut her off with a bright smile.
“Go on.”
“Ah… yes, yes. Then, I’ll be back, Lili.”
“Yes.”
Though she kept glancing anxiously at me, my mother let herself be led by the Emperor toward the center hall. The waltz had ended, and a gentle minuet now flowed through the air.
They bowed lightly to each other in respect before beginning the dance.
‘Never thought I’d see Mother dance with His Majesty the Emperor.’
Even as her daughter, I had to admit they were a stunningly well-matched pair—enough to stir jealousy.
Even the passing maids blushed as they saw the two.
“My goodness, Their Majesties are dancing.”
“They look wonderful together. They are both so beautiful.”
“His Majesty seems to be paying more attention to the Empress Consort lately.”
Hearing those soft but clear voices, I smiled faintly.
‘The result of hard work.’
If not for effort, the future would never have changed. This was the fruit of not succumbing to despair and pushing forward.
Watching my mother and the Emperor dance, my gaze slid to the figure beyond them.
The Empress.
As I saw the shadow cast across Empress Dolores’ face, I narrowed my eyes.
And so, this party of the imperial family—trivial to some, dazzling to others—drew to a close.
