Chapter – 76
For a moment forgetting about the cake, Dii muttered to herself without realizing it. Stephanie must have heard, because she handed Dii a plate of chocolate cake, picked up her own, and said,
“Right? Honestly, if a ball were held in Feton, he’d meet a lady and get married right away. But he refuses to hold one because he says it’s a waste of money. Good thing the Tolte family is hosting such a big one.”
“Ah.”
“Ah… Do you think maybe there’s someone he already has in mind? That’s why he isn’t in a hurry.”
“Th-that so? Is this the moment I should use my foresight?”
“Yes. Right now. Hurry and find out who Prince Kyle has his heart set on.”
Stephanie urged her on, smiling warmly at Dii nodding enthusiastically.
With the Saintess’s divine power, she would surely learn quickly whom Prince Kyle liked. Stephanie didn’t possess the absolute faith Rita did, but she also trusted Saintess Diana’s foresight strongly.
Kyle was bothered.
If Sian was really pretending to be Jason, he didn’t think the man would give his belongings to someone else. But thinking about it, he had already done far too many things Sian normally wouldn’t do.
He had never once imagined Sian liking anyone.
Of course, others probably thought the same about himself.
If, as Dii said, all of them had returned to the past…
Then Sian likely vaguely knew Dii too.
If that were the case, what feelings had the Sian Clayes of the future-that-was-the-past held toward Saintess Diana?
Running his hands through his hair, Kyle headed toward Dii. After all, what he truly needed to know wasn’t Sian’s feelings — but his own.
Dii stood with her back to him, while Stephanie was facing his direction.
Quick-witted, Stephanie moved away with Ellie and Amila to another table. Then Kyle called her.
“Dia… Dii.”
Dii stuffed the remaining cake into her mouth and turned. Realizing it was Kyle, she looked puzzled.
“What’s this? You called me properly?”
Kyle usually called her “Diana.” Occasionally, unconsciously, he used her nickname, but he never noticed it himself and Dii didn’t point it out.
But this time, he had clearly been about to say “Diana” and consciously corrected it.
Seeing her tilt her head, Kyle frowned slightly and muttered,
“…Strangely, it doesn’t feel very good.”
“What, brat. I thought we got closer?”
“No. Not because of you.”
Kyle thought for a moment, then, properly seeing Dii’s face as she stepped closer, unconsciously took a step back.
Dii, now genuinely irritated, stepped forward.
“Why are you avoiding me? Too pretty to approach?”
“…That’s not it.”
It actually was.
Not just the dress — her hair was neatly pinned up and decorated with jewels that suited her perfectly. Just like she said… she was too pretty to approach.
Though their physiques suggested the opposite, Kyle kept retreating while Dii advanced. When a pillar touched his back, both stopped. Dii spoke as if the timing was perfect.
“I was actually looking for you too. People keep asking where you are. They want to dance with you.”
“I see.”
“You weren’t popular in Feton, but you’re popular here. I guess people here really like men like you.”
“Hmm.”
“Anyway this isn’t the time. Go ask someone to dance.”
She waved him away.
Kyle wasn’t very perceptive, so he couldn’t tell whether she truly wanted him to go.
But leaving her to dance with another woman didn’t feel like a good idea — nor did he want to.
So he made an excuse.
“I’m shy. I can’t dance with others. I want to dance with you.”
“Hah, you don’t look shy at all.”
She clicked her tongue but nodded.
“Hold out your hand as permission. Back of the hand up.”
Dii absent-mindedly held out her left hand.
“Right hand.”
She quickly switched.
“Let small mistakes slide.”
“Royals don’t call that small.”
“I know etiquette too. I was testing you.”
Calmly covering it up, she froze when Kyle took her right hand and kissed the back of it. Leaning near her ear, he whispered,
“This is etiquette too. You know that, right?”
“Ah. I’ve been had.”
Trying to hide embarrassment with a joke, she smiled. Kyle laughed and wrapped an arm around her waist.
She startled briefly, but his skillful lead into the dance floor soon brightened her expression.
Relaxed, he asked,
“Having fun dancing?”
“Yeah. Very fun. Especially because I’m talented.”
“I’m the one good at it.”
“Don’t nitpick. If we both dance well, we’re both good.”
Raised with strict etiquette training, Kyle had excellent dance skills. He laughed at her insistence and leaned slightly toward her shoulder. When another man nearly collided with her, he frowned and pulled her tightly closer.
As they danced, the music changed and partners began switching. Dii tried to let go.
“Okay. I’ll dance with someone else now.”
“Why?”
He unconsciously grabbed her hand.
“People are waiting to dance with you.”
“They’re not waiting to dance. They’re waiting for me to invite them.”
Logically annoying.
“Go invite someone.”
“I said I want to dance with you.”
“People staring makes me uncomfortable.”
“So what? Or do you dislike being with me?”
“When did I say that, you dense idiot?!”
Suddenly Kyle pulled her into a tight embrace.
A loud crash sounded behind them.
He covered her head protectively.
Her heart pounded. Turning, she saw shattered glass on the floor. The man who knocked the glass over hadn’t noticed and kept looking around.
Realizing late, he crouched to pick it up.
Dii hurried over and grabbed his arm.
“Use a broom — not your hands.”
He stared at her lips.
She exaggerated her mouth movements.
“You’ll get hurt.”
He nodded.
He searched his clothes desperately. Each movement made louder noise than normal.
Seeing he hadn’t heard the glass, she realized he couldn’t hear — and likely couldn’t speak either.
She asked Kyle,
“Do you have a pen?”
“A pen? Probably.”
He handed one to her.
“Notebook?”
“No.”
“Why carry a pen without paper?”
“For autographs— I mean, is that my fault?”
Ignoring him, she gestured secretly and hid behind a pillar, tapping it.
“Write here. If you get caught, Kyle will compensate.”
“…Hey.”
The man wrote:
‘My name is Bran.’
Then continued.
Kyle grabbed the pen and wrote:
‘The point.’
Bran hurried:
‘Have you seen the mural of Saintess Diana? It’s in a northeastern coastal cave in Feton.’
Both Dii and Kyle froze.
Kyle erased it and gestured to follow.
They moved to the second floor.
Inside a luxurious room, white silk walls and gold-embroidered apple trees decorated the space.
A servant brought paper and pen. Bran bowed and wrote again — but Kyle tapped the table impatiently.
“Why scare him?”
“He’s wasting time.”
“You’re scary by existing. Be twice as gentle.”
“I am with you.”
“…Then do that with others too.”
“Why should I?”
She awkwardly changed topic.
“My hair looks nice today, right?”
“Pretty.”
She froze.
Why was he giving unexpected answers today…?
Bran finally held up the paper.
