Chapter 27
Ah, that ghost-like guy. How on earth did he know I was here?
Liette looked at Evan with a displeased expression.
“What’s it to you?!”
“In the last three minutes, you stepped on my foot fifteen times and dropped five objects. Three of them were broken or damaged.”
“…”
“You’re basically trying to destroy everything in my house. Of course, it’s my business.”
Only then did Liette look around.
It looked like a storm had swept through the room—objects scattered all over the floor.
Just like Evan said, the desk lamp had shattered on the floor, and the open book had torn pages, seemingly trampled under her foot.
More than that, she hadn’t even realized she stepped on his foot fifteen times.
Liette lowered her head.
“Mister… I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, Liette. I expected as much.”
…Expected?
Wait, don’t tell me I went beyond what you expected?
As Liette reeled from the shock, Evan stepped closer.
“Dance with me.”
“…”
“I won’t get stepped on.”
Liette gave a disbelieving laugh at his serious tone.
“And how exactly will you manage that?”
“Try me.”
“No thanks.”
“How about a bet then?”
The word “bet” caught Liette’s attention.
“…What kind of bet?”
A charming smile curled Evan’s lips.
“If you can get through one song without stepping on me even once, you’ll be my partner.”
“And if I do step on you?”
“Then I’ll grant you one wish—anything you want.”
Anything she wanted…?
Liette’s eyes lit up with interest. There was actually something of Evan’s she had her eyes on.
Recently, Evan had bought a sword. Slightly larger than a regular dagger, it looked sleek and cool—exactly her style.
She had asked her father for one just like it, but since the Samuel incident where she nearly got her waist slashed, all she got was a lecture to stay away from swords.
Liette nodded.
“Fine. I accept the bet.”
Now that it’s come to this, I’ll just “accidentally” step on his foot, one way or another.
Dance practice was now the least of Liette’s concerns.
“We need a bigger space,” she said, looking around the duke’s trashed study. It looked like a battle was about to ensue, so they needed a location where damage could be minimized.
“How about my room?” Evan offered.
“Sure.”
Evan’s room was slightly bigger than his study. Besides, if she didn’t want anyone seeing her terrible dancing, then the drawing room or ballroom was out—it needed to be a private place. Just like Evan said, his room was perfect.
Liette and Evan moved to the room alone.
She thought about asking the uncle to judge, but he said he needed to continue reading about spirit stones and stayed in the study.
Click—
They entered Evan’s room.
Now that she thought about it, it had been a while since she came into his room. Realizing that made her feel oddly awkward, but she quickly shook it off.
What’s the big deal?
Just as she brushed off the feeling, Evan held out his hand politely.
“Shall we begin?”
“Okay.”
Liette took Evan’s hand. It felt a little warm.
As music began to play, Evan smoothly escorted Liette into the dance. It definitely felt different from dancing with the uncle earlier. Where the uncle had been stiff and rigid, Evan was fluid and graceful.
“Now turn to the right.”
Evan whispered quietly.
Liette swallowed hard.
A perfect chance—to “accidentally” step on his foot.
Evan lifted Liette’s hand, guiding her into a turn. As she landed…
Squish—
…was what she tried to do, but Evan deftly dodged his foot.
Several more attempts followed.
By the end, it became a battle between the one trying to step and the one dodging. And he dodged with such annoying precision.
The music was nearing its end. Growing desperate, Liette overextended her step—but realized too late that she’d lost her balance.
“Ah—ahh!”
She tumbled forward, crashing toward Evan.
Fortunately, she didn’t end up kissing the floor. Evan had caught her just before she fell.
Looking at Evan beneath her, Liette urgently asked,
“Evan, are you okay?!”
Thump-thump—his heart was racing rapidly. Maybe he was really shocked.
“…Kind of…”
“What? Are you hurt?!”
“No…!”
“Then what?!”
Liette scanned his body, checking for injuries.
“My body…”
Evan covered his face with his arm as he barely managed to speak. Through the gap in his arms, his cheeks were visibly red.
“What?”
“…Our bodies are… way too close.”
Only then did Liette realize she was not only lying comfortably on top of Evan but was practically glued to him.
“Oh! I’m so sorry!”
Liette scrambled off him, and Evan slowly sat up too.
His face was still bright red, ears flushed all the way to the tips. He must be really mad.
“You should go.”
His tone was stiff, confirming her suspicion—he was mad. She had pushed it too far, all for the sake of winning that sword.
Evan didn’t even look at her, clearly avoiding eye contact. Liette couldn’t even say goodbye as she left the room.
The next day at school, the place was buzzing with dance party talk.
“Liette, have you chosen a partner yet?”
As soon as Lucas saw her, he asked. She was already stressed out about that.
Technically, she had lost the bet with Evan and should be his partner—but judging by his reaction yesterday, he clearly didn’t want to.
Which meant she needed to find a new partner. But the idea of showing her dancing skills to someone unfamiliar was terrifying.
“If you haven’t picked one yet, go with me.”
“I already told you, no.”
“Then who are you going with?”
Persistent little guy. Sometimes he reminded her of a blond Evan.
“I’m still looking.”
Liette casually scanned the room. Oddly enough, she kept locking eyes with other people today.
“…What’s going on?”
“What do you mean? Everyone wants to be your dance partner.”
As if reading her mind, Lucas explained.
“With me?”
She thought after that fight with Samuel and the rumor about tearing a bear apart, boys would be avoiding her.
“Just ask anyone. They’ll all say yes.”
Lucas tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Liette, you really don’t pay attention to others.”
Despite his gentle gesture, Liette squinted and glanced around. Just then, Samuel walked by. Their eyes met, and he froze.
Flick.
Liette curled her finger, and Samuel appeared in front of her instantly.
“You called, Liette?”
“Did you get a dance partner?”
“…No?”
He scratched his head as he answered.
“Wanna pair up?”
Samuel jumped in shock.
“What?!”
“I said, if you don’t have one, dance with me.”
She asked partly to test Lucas’s claim that anyone would agree. And honestly, Samuel wasn’t a bad candidate.
But unexpectedly, Samuel didn’t respond right away.
“You don’t want to?”
“No! It’s not that—it’s just, can I even…? It feels like I’m not worthy…”
His cheeks turned pink.
Just then, Lucas chimed in from the side.
“Samuel.”
Samuel flinched and looked at Lucas.
“You gonna accept?”
Lucas asked with a smile, but Samuel’s face hardened slightly.
Liette remembered what Samuel had said.
He had warned her about Lucas. Hammsworth had seen Lucas in the back alleys, looking like a completely different person.
She had asked Lucas about it before, but the topic got brushed aside.
Unlike when talking to her, Samuel now questioned Lucas sternly.
“You were in the back alleys, right? Like Hammsworth said?”
Lucas’s smile vanished as well.
“So you’re the one who told her that.”
“Yeah. I can’t let someone who sneaks around places like that stay near Liette!”
Liette, listening quietly, couldn’t help but feel the irony. Samuel went to such places all the time, yet Lucas was off-limits?
She thought about calling him out but stayed quiet, curious about Lucas’s answer.
Both Liette and Samuel stared at Lucas.
“Hm…”
Lucas ran a hand through his hair awkwardly.
“I did go… once.”
“See, Liette! I told you!”
Samuel looked at her, worked up. Liette’s eyes widened.
“Lucas, you told me you didn’t believe that!”
“Ah… I just didn’t know how to say it.”
Lucas looked down, avoiding her gaze.
Seeing that, Liette felt a pang of guilt, as though she’d forced him to confess a secret.
But Samuel didn’t feel the same.
“See? Two-faced, like I said!”
“Why’d you go there?” Liette asked, ignoring Samuel and giving Lucas a chance to explain.
“To get something…”
His usual bright face was gone; he rubbed his hands nervously, looking distressed.
“You can only get illegal stuff there!”
Samuel was relentless, ignoring Lucas’s obvious discomfort.
Liette jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
“Gah—!”
“Enough. Stop asking.”
“But Liette—”
Samuel gave Lucas a resentful glare, but Lucas raised his head.
“It wasn’t legal, but it wasn’t to hurt or threaten anyone either.”
“…”
“I swear.”
His golden eyes pleaded sincerely. That was enough.
“Alright. Then let’s drop it.”
Liette turned and looked at Samuel.
“Are you dancing with me or not?”
“Wait a sec.”
Samuel took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, and finally said,
“Of course—if Liette wishes it…”
“Who said she wished it?”
Just then, the back door of the classroom opened, and a familiar figure stepped in.
“What’s Evan doing here?”
“Wow, he’s even better-looking up close.”
“No wonder the girls are all over him.”
The students buzzed at the appearance of the school’s celebrity.
But Evan ignored them all, walking straight up to Liette.
When she looked up at him as if to ask what are you doing here, his black eyes burned with intensity.
“I believe I won the bet.”
