~Chapter 45~
“Ahahaha, did I really look like that?”
“Yes! You always seem so calm and sharp, like a blade… but somehow… I just saw you smile for the first time earlier.”
Smile? Ah… are they talking about when I laughed at them for telling me not to drink wine and dance?
I didn’t want to shatter the young lady’s illusion, so I simply smiled.
Perhaps taking it as a sign of agreement, they began asking me all sorts of questions. Apparently, they were more curious about the love story between Étienne and me than about the dress itself.
Such chatter was completely useless in this setting. A wave of fatigue suddenly hit me.
“There are many interesting stories… but I’m too tired today. When I come to buy a dress next time, I’ll tell you the rest then.”
“Oh my, we took up too much of your time. Then we’ll definitely come next time.”
Each lady clutched a small business-card-sized paper as if it were an invitation to a tea party. I forced a pleasant smile with the last ounce of my social energy.
Yes, do come. Don’t come empty-handed—make sure to bring plenty of money.
Once they all left, I felt completely drained. The heavy, flowing dress pulled painfully on my shoulders, my straight posture made my back scream, and most of all, my feet hurt terribly!
I shouldn’t have worn high heels…
As always, human greed has no end. Now even my height seemed tempting! Stamping my aching feet, I vowed never to be greedy again.
The banquet hadn’t even properly started yet… Could I make it through?
At that moment, a loud announcement rang out.
“His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Vessus Demerov Redona, is entering!”
The doors swung wide open.
Vessus walked in with the presence of a true prince, dressed in a tailcoat adorned with gold trim. He looked exactly like a prince from a fairy tale.
As he smiled brightly and greeted people with his eyes, his gaze briefly passed over me.
It was just a short moment, but a subtle expression flickered across his face.
“I greet Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Since the Emperor disappeared after leaving with Étienne, he had not appeared. So Vessus only greeted the Empress. She returned a gentle smile and received a gift package from him. The Empress praised his taste with refined words.
What a wholesome pair.
Earlier, the young ladies had looked at Étienne with adoration, and now they were watching Vessus with the same eyes.
Tch, just a moment ago they said Étienne was amazing. From what I can see, Étienne is far more impressive. The only thing Vessus has over him is being the Crown Prince… hmm, well, that is significant.
I picked up a coconut cookie beside me and ate it, giving them a disinterested glance.
Of course, Étienne isn’t here right now.
With Vessus here, the absence of Étienne felt even greater. Soon, Sophienne would appear.
Today marked the official debut of Sophienne in the social scene, since she was receiving the Crown Prince’s first dance request.
Meanwhile, the cookie was delicious.
I grabbed another handful and started chewing. As I did, I suddenly felt heat at the crown of my head. I lifted my bowed head.
Huh?
Why was Vessus, who had just been in front of the Empress, now standing in front of me?
He smiled broadly and brushed my mouth lightly, causing cookie crumbs to fall.
“Cute.”
Along with the compliment, Vessus extended his right hand.
“Would you dance the first song with me, Dalia?”
The room fell silent.
The Crown Prince asked Lady Dalia to dance! What is happening?!
I could hear their inner thoughts… or maybe it was my own heart.
Snap out of it, Vessus! You should ask Sophienne, not me!
But Vessus just smiled serenely.
“Étienne has such a beautiful wife and yet, where has he gone? Honestly, sometimes he’s so careless. We need to dance the first song quickly so others can join later. I may not be Étienne, but I’m family too, so it should be fine, right?”
He particularly emphasized the word “family,” as if to make sure everyone heard it.
Sure enough, the nobles who had been staring at us strangely nodded in agreement with his words.
“Oh my, His Imperial Highness is so noble. You were just helping because Lady Dalia was alone, weren’t you? Truly, the Crown Prince!”
No! These simple-minded nobles!
They may have been impressed, but I wasn’t.
To Vessus, I was just a former ally who betrayed him. Perhaps even a disloyal subordinate… I could be retaliated against. Étienne had surely warned me about this.
I scanned the spaces between his hands and clothes.
Was he hiding a dagger? What if the fate of a betrayer was death? Pretending to dance… phew? No! Not my precious organs!
I instinctively covered my stomach and took a step back.
He didn’t seem to have a dagger.
But even if Vessus danced without touching me, there was still a problem.
Étienne had said never to make eye contact with other men. But what if he saw me embracing and dancing with another man… and that man was Vessus! Ugh!
At that moment, Étienne could very well have been ready to kill me.
Ah, my fragile life force. If only I had three lives…
I looked at Vessus again. His face was perfectly harmless, hand extended.
How could I refuse this?
The young ladies who had previously swarmed like chicks now gazed at me with sparkling eyes. They weren’t the only ones—some even had their mouths open, watching me and Vessus.
Should I get them some popcorn?
I broke out in a cold sweat. No matter how I thought about it, I had no excuse to refuse.
After all, this was a dance request from the Crown Prince. A member of my family, with higher status than Étienne.
I tried stalling, offering a polite response.
Where was Étienne! This is like a naïve groom who left his bride behind at his in-laws’ house!
But all I could see was Vessus with his silver hair standing in front of me.
“Thank you for your kind consideration, Your Imperial Highness.”
I made a reluctant courtesy, stalling. If Étienne didn’t appear, I had only one option left.
She must be somewhere here… the very beautiful one…
“There she is!”
“…What?”
Following my gaze, Vessus turned his head. She was at a corner of the ballroom.
As expected. In the original story, Vessus approached Sophienne and extended his hand. So there was no way she wasn’t here.
Wow, the heroine really knows how to choose her spot. She stood in the spotlight—only she was visible.
It wasn’t the blue dress dotted with gems like a spring field in full bloom as described in the novel. But in front of her beauty, that hardly mattered.
Even if Sophienne picked up rags off the street, she would look like a princess.
Her golden eyes blazed as she looked at us. Burning…
Oh no… I’m about to get hit again.
Vessus looked at her too. I whispered softly into his ear.
“Look, Lady Belman seems quite upset. If you dance the first dance with me, she’ll be disappointed. It’s not too late—go quickly.”
Right. Even if he’s a bad person to me, he’s the male lead of a romance novel. All his obsession and malice will crumble before love.
Right? So hurry over there. Shoo, shoo.
Vessus’s gaze wavered slightly. He seemed to be considering.
How honorable—to have him weigh between the heroine and me.
“It’s fine, you don’t have to worry about me. Go ahead.”
My words brought his eyes back to me. His eyebrows twitched.
“No. I won’t go. My heart wants you right now.”
Excuse me?
My mind was filled with question marks.
Why? Sophienne is the heroine and you’re the male lead. Today is her grand debut. Why? For what reason?
Vessus grabbed the hand I hadn’t offered. As he pulled me, my dazed legs moved to follow him on their own.
“Wait, actually, I can’t dance. I’m terrible at it.”
“It’s fine.”
“And my feet hurt too. I don’t think I can today. Next time?”
Even with my hastily concocted excuse, Vessus just smiled knowingly.
After silently cursing “damn” about five times, we were already in the center of the ballroom. Thanks to people stepping aside, it was just him and me in the wide-open space.
Vessus stopped naturally while holding my hand and turned to face me.
He took a small step back, bowing slightly. The start of the dance. It was my turn to lift my skirt slightly and bow.
Then he would wrap his hands around my waist and lead the dance.
After the bow, Vessus lifted his head. Without a word, his grayish-blue eyes seemed to urge me: “Accept the bow, and dance.”
I didn’t want that.
I bit my lip tightly.
Why should I dance, leaving my husband behind! Where is Étienne?!
No matter how I looked, that handsome face was nowhere in sight. Where could he have gone with His Majesty the Emperor? Hiking with father?
“Dalia?”
“Just a moment. I think my shoelace came undone. Oh, right, heels… haha…”
Vessus waited, smiling leisurely as if asking, “Anything more?”
I reluctantly lifted my skirt carelessly. As soon as I finished the bow, Vessus pulled me close. His hands were firm.
I turned my gaze away at the close proximity. Vessus gently guided my face back toward him with his finger.
“When you dance with me, you should only look at me.”
