Chapter 05
The first dance at the ball hosted in Zendal’s imperial palace was always reserved for the Emperor.
It was a tradition in Zendal: the Emperor would choose his partner and dance to signal the start of the ball.
However, His Majesty, the distinguished Alend Khan Leodius, had apparently danced the first dance only once since his ascension—until I became His Majesty’s genie.
During the tenth wish, which was clearly left empty just to see me awkwardly in a dress, it seemed that His Majesty had quite enjoyed my unintended, clumsy dancing.
Since that day, every time a ball was held, His Majesty would coax me with his expressions to dance the first dance, and I… consistently found myself in that position.
“Word’s probably spreading that I’m the sacrificial lamb of the ball. Sob sob.”
Last time, I had begged His Majesty to let me dance with a lady who was good at dancing.
“Even though the ball is already tedious, wouldn’t it be better to relieve the boredom by watching the Saintess’s outstanding dancing?”
He whispered this into my ear.
Outstanding? I know my dancing isn’t outstanding!
Anyway… I thought I finally had a chance to avoid dancing.
“No,” His Majesty said, unexpectedly firm.
Wasn’t he being sweet just now?
Ebbon, the Chancellor, is here. I thought he would at least pretend to consider my opinion.
“Wh-Why, Your Majesty?”
“Because I want to dance with the Saintess.”
His Majesty, with a radiant smile, shone brilliantly. My eyes were blinded.
No! I’m falling for it again!
“O-Other ladies would want to dance with Your Majesty too.”
“My partner is the Saintess. Does it matter what others think?”
“B-But it’s just for show…! I’ll sit quietly and behave…!”
“It seems the Saintess doesn’t wish to dance the first dance with me.”
“Ugh…”
Disappointment filled His Majesty’s eyes.
With his invisible tail and large ears seemingly drooping in sorrow, the dog-like His Majesty was more formidable than ever.
Chancellor Ebbon, completely won over by His Majesty’s act, stared at me as if asking, Why won’t you dance with His Majesty?
I, I…!
I want to see His Majesty dance, not because I want to dance!
But it was a futile resistance.
Despite my head screaming “No way,” my lips, enchanted by his beauty, spoke on their own.
“Saintess, do you really dislike dancing with me?”
“Dislike? Nonsense. I’ll give it my all and dance properly.”
And thus, I was utterly defeated.
“…I burned out completely.”
The welcoming banquet for the Bonia Kingdom’s delegation.
The first dance, the final order of the ball, had ended.
I returned to my chair beside the throne, sitting dazed.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes…”
Captain Henkel, standing guard beside me, spoke.
Did he feel a bit sorry for me a moment ago? Normally, he doesn’t speak first in situations like this…
I looked up at Captain Henkel, still in a daze, and he silently nodded.
Ahem. Thank you for the comfort.
This banquet had been extravagant.
The highlight of this lavish event was, without a doubt, the stage performance by the Bonia Kingdom delegation.
As expected from a performance intended to showcase their country’s culture, it was truly magnificent.
The masked dancers, in particular, were extraordinary.
When I first heard it would last half a day, I thought, Really? Half a day?
But the moment I watched, I was completely absorbed, losing track of time.
At the end, a princess with beauty straight out of my imagination as an elf came up to me and placed a floral crown on my head.
Wow. My heart nearly exploded.
Then, sitting beside me, His Majesty’s words made my heart stop.
“After this performance, we shall watch the Saintess’s dance with utmost effort.”
I had completely forgotten. I was supposed to dance after such an incredible performance?
From that moment, my mind went blank.
“Presenting the Saintess and His Majesty, Alend Khan Leodius, Emperor!”
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.
To the grand orchestra, I stepped into the center of the hall with His Majesty.
I think I held hands, touched waists, but I remember nothing.
It was like my memory had been cut into fragments.
Every single fragment:
“Ah!”
“Ah! I stepped on your foot, I’m sorry…!”
Nearly hitting my head on the floor, stepping on His Majesty’s foot, tripping over my dress and heels…
I truly despised my memory.
Instead of these shameful moments, I should have imprinted His Majesty in my mind, dancing in his uniform.
Or at least remembered the feel of holding his hand! Or his scent!
I destroyed the only joy of dancing by burdening it with stress…!
Now I realized.
Embarrassment lasts a moment; memories with my favorite person are forever.
Next time, I’ll do better.
I looked at the center of the hall with eyes full of determination.
I had been watching for a while, and it truly was a beautiful sight.
Beautiful dancers. I’m swooning.
His Majesty and the Bonia Kingdom princess were dancing gracefully in the hall.
His Majesty’s beauty is well-known, so I need not elaborate.
As for the princess…
Oh… sister.
Her soft, short ash-blonde hair swayed with her movements.
Hazel eyes, accented with distinct double eyelids, radiated both charm and elegance. Her symmetrical features stood out even next to His Majesty’s beauty.
I had seen her dancing before, but that was a more vigorous dance; now she moved like a butterfly.
Not human. A fairy. A fairy.
I didn’t know her age, but beautiful women are sisters in my eyes.
There was a reason His Majesty requested the dance first.
After the first dance ended, His Majesty, who I expected to cling to his chair like I did, surprisingly went to ask the princess to dance.
I didn’t know what had possessed him.
My eyes are happy…
He always teased me about my bright expressions, but I understood. His Majesty, too, likes beautiful people.
Anyway, the combined beauty of the two was heavenly, capturing everyone’s attention in the hall.
Huh?
There was an exception.
Outside the crowd surrounding His Majesty and the princess, a group was practicing their own dance.
Seven people wearing wooden half-masks were from the Bonia Kingdom, the same ones who performed on stage earlier.
But why are they doing that?
Unlike their earlier elegant performance, their current dance was rather bizarre.
Bending at the waist sideways, flailing arms at 90 degrees…
Almost zombie-like.
Is this the traditional ball dance of the Bonia Kingdom?
“What are those masked people doing?” I asked Captain Henkel, hoping he knew.
He observed the Bonia people and called over a subordinate to whisper a report.
Then, in his usual calm tone, he explained to me:
“They said they find the Saintess’s dance very interesting and are practicing it. They wanted to master such a rare dance style.”
“….”
“You don’t seem to be enjoying yourself.”
The voice was gentle, not unpleasant.
Alend smiled faintly at Charles’s question.
“Enjoying a dance with the princess, how could I not be?”
A lie.
The Emperor’s dance was flawless, but Charles could tell: he was not focused on his partner.
Even with his hands on her waist and theirs intertwined, his attention was entirely on the Saintess on her podium.
“I have been the representative of the delegation for three years now.”
“So much time has passed already.”
For cultural exchange, the Bonia Kingdom sent a delegation to Zendal once a year.
Princess Charles, as the eldest princess, had come as the delegation’s representative three times.
During the previous two balls she attended, the Zendal Emperor had danced with no one.
He would sit on the throne, leave with formal words like “Please enjoy yourselves,” and vanish.
Yet, the year the Saintess was summoned, he danced the first dance and even requested one with her.
Hazel eyes twinkled with curiosity.
He’s dancing with me because of the Saintess, right?
Six years ago, she had been astonished that a man her age had ascended to the throne.
She once looked forward to meeting him.
Skills, appearance, personality… the Emperor she met was flawless.
Yet she had been disappointed.
Nothing is more boring than perfection.
Now, the seemingly flawless Emperor was wary of her.
He was preventing the Bonia princess from approaching the Saintess.
Rumors said during the banquet, the Emperor and his loyal dog Henkel Levarthen would guard the Saintess, allowing no one near her.
But she didn’t expect the Emperor to act personally.
Even while avoiding physical contact with me by wearing gloves.
Gloves on his hands.
Not unusual, but when dancing with the Saintess, he wore none.
Was he avoiding contact with others, or specifically with her?
He treats the Saintess differently. Does the Emperor have other feelings for her?
The Emperor, 24, and the Saintess, 20.
According to information, the Saintess stayed in the palace, not the temple.
The palace—a vast place, yet capable of feeling cramped.
Even more so for a young man and woman together.
Of course, this was mere speculation passing through Charles’s mind.
Interesting.
Charles spun, glancing at the Saintess on the podium.
Alend turned his eyes toward Charles at that moment.
Noticing, Charles returned his gaze.
The two exchanged eye-smiles, appearing as a charming pair, yet a subtle tension lingered between them.
