**Episode 8**
Leopold picked up the gloves that Charlotte had thrown on the floor. Then, taking one of her hands, he slowly began to put the glove on for her.
“First, at a ball, a lady must never take off her gloves in front of a gentleman.”
Leopold spoke as he carefully touched her hand as if she were a fragile porcelain doll. Charlotte’s face turned completely red from the sudden contact. His touch was so warm and soft, it was hard to believe it belonged to a soul.
That princely face of his, which often looked arrogant, softened with a faint smile. Once both gloves were on her hands, he murmured quietly,
“Showing bare hands without gloves is like showing bare skin. It’s a very intimate and tempting gesture.”
This time, Leopold lightly held the edge of her glove between his fingers. Charlotte gasped at the strange sensation.
“So, if you hold the edge of the glove like you’re about to take it off, it’s considered a sign of attraction toward the other person.”
“Ah! So that’s why….”
Charlotte let out the breath she had been holding and whispered softly. She remembered reading in the etiquette book that fidgeting with gloves in front of a gentleman was a way to show you wanted to dance or talk with him.
After helping her with the gloves, Leopold straightened his back and stepped about a pace away. His broad shoulders were softly touched by the moonlight shining through the window.
“And when a gentleman asks for a dance….”
Leopold tilted his head slightly, imitating a man inviting her to dance.
“You said his name was Philip Oslo, right? Now, imagine I’m him and hold out your hand.”
Charlotte awkwardly stood up as instructed. But imagining Leopold as another gentleman was nearly impossible. His clear green-gray eyes right in front of her made her head spin.
She hesitantly extended her arm, trying to act like a lady accepting a dance, and asked,
“L-like this? Is it right?”
“You did well. Not bad at all.”
Leopold’s lips curved gently as he spoke. Charlotte’s brown eyes trembled nervously. It was the first time she had ever learned something without being scolded.
Leopold softly stroked down the hand she had offered and whispered,
“You look as graceful as a swan.”
The unfamiliar compliment made Charlotte feel as if her whole body was trembling. Her heart also began to beat faster.
“Your Highness… you really are so patient. Teaching a clumsy tomboy like me must be very difficult.”
Charlotte muttered, blushing from her cheeks to her neck at his praise.
“That’s why my parents and even my tutor Miss Maria gave up on me. Not that it’s their fault… I just make too many mistakes.”
At her words, Leopold’s straight brows furrowed slightly. For some reason, Charlotte seemed to firmly believe she was stupid.
‘Tomboy, sure… but stupid?’
He recalled the time at the Count’s residence when she had acted like she was about to faint while pushing over the statue. Her round face flushing red when she fell on her bottom, and later, after solving the problem with Count Oslo, rolling on the bed like a little kitten in front of him. The word “tomboy” suited her well.
‘But calling yourself stupid… that I cannot agree with.’
Leopold wanted to remind her how she had cleverly guessed his true intentions in sending her to Count Oslo and performed flawlessly using the information he gave her. But instead, he simply looked into her sparkling brown eyes.
Not noticing his short silence, Charlotte kept talking.
“…So unlike my sisters, I’ve gone through three social seasons without receiving even one proposal. I’ve never even properly danced with a gentleman. Meanwhile, my sister Helena has already received two proposals… sigh.”
She shook her head slightly as if trying to chase away her gloomy thoughts. The movement made her softly curled side hair bounce.
“So, um….”
After some hesitation, Charlotte spoke again, nervously twisting the ribbon at her waist with both hands.
“You asked me to meet your ‘old friend’ and find out what they know about you. In return, I was able to cover up the incident with Count Oslo’s statue, thanks to Your Highness’s help.”
She paused and glanced at Leopold’s expression. She looked like a cat sitting too close to a fish. Watching her restless movements, Leopold calmly asked,
“What are you trying to say with all this hesitation?”
He raised his eyebrows. Only then did Charlotte clear her throat and, from the far corner of the room, whisper softly,
“Perhaps… besides meeting your friend, is there any other way I can help you? Thanks to Your Highness, I went from being the troublemaker of House Augusta to someone holding an invitation to the Prince’s welcome banquet….”
Her voice grew small and shy, not like her usual self. Leopold frowned deeply while listening, then suddenly let out a short laugh as if realizing something.
“So, the Lady enjoyed my help, and now you want to make more deals with me?”
At his words, Charlotte waved both hands quickly.
“N-no! Don’t call it a deal, that sounds too cold. It’s not like that. I just want to do something for the prince who has helped me so much. That’s all…!”
Her face grew hotter. It was the first time she had been praised by her family, the first time she had cleaned up her own mess so spectacularly. Of course she wanted more of his help.
She fumbled, unaware of how red her face and neck had become, and stammered,
“It’s kind of amazing how I’m the only one who can see you, and maybe… it could be fate, like we’re meant to help each other?”
Leopold raised one corner of his lips. No matter how much a rabbit pretended to be a fox, to a lion it was obvious. He asked lazily, like a well-fed lion,
“Didn’t you recite prayers before, thinking I might be an evil spirit? I suppose those doubts are gone now?”
Charlotte snapped her head up, still red, and protested,
“At the time, of course, someone like you suddenly appearing in the middle of the night would…!”
She trailed off, unable to finish.
Leopold smirked. “Someone like me, appearing at night, would do what?”
Charlotte shut her mouth. She couldn’t say out loud that he was so handsome and his gaze so mesmerizing that she thought he might be some spirit sent to tempt her.
Leopold left her in her frustration and sat down on the wooden chair by the window, tilting his head slightly as he asked,
“…So, if we were to make a deal, what exactly do you think you and I could trade?”
Hearing this, Charlotte’s eyes lit up with excitement. Forgetting the modest walk she had learned from the etiquette book, she strode forward and declared,
“If Your Highness helps me get engaged this social season, then I will make sure to solve the mystery surrounding you so that everyone can see you again! How about that?”
She held out her hand with determination. She had seen gentlemen shake hands to seal deals or promises.
Leopold’s gaze moved slowly to her outstretched hand. Charlotte thought for a moment and quickly added,
“Wait… this isn’t just a promise. It’s a vow made on the name and honor of my future husband!”
Leopold almost laughed. A vow on the honor of a husband she didn’t even have yet? What a hollow promise.
‘A hollow vow… ah, but I’ve made such things too.’
He thought briefly, then took her small hand with a smile and replied,
“Fine, my Lady. In exchange for your help, I…”
With a charming smile, his low voice brushed against her ear.
“…I vow on my life that I’ll help you find a husband.”
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