Chapter : 68
Sirinyu pulled me close by the waist, trapping me in his arms, and spoke.
Beneath his sharp eyes, his irises held a playful glint.
“Did you practice dancing this time?”
“No?”
I had just been lying around.
I averted my gaze, feigning innocence. My mind replayed the events of the past few days.
Until Sirinyu asked me to dance, I hadn’t even thought I would have to dance at all.
Since my partner was decided suddenly, it felt like a fire had been lit under me with the party approaching fast.
I tried pestering Arcas for a crash course in dancing, but he was busy with something and I couldn’t meet him.
In the end, I confessed my worries to Yurie and Luri, and under their relentless questioning, I had to spill even the minutest details from the day I was chosen as a partner.
Telling my maids embarrassing “favorite things” stories vs. being embarrassed for being a bad dancer—there was no way I could win.
The maids even brought chairs next to my bed, determined to hear everything in detail.
Hiding under the blanket was useless; Luri kept repeating the same questions until I answered.
“Why didn’t you scream?”
“…I wanted to scream. But how could I at that moment?”
“So as rumored, you’re utterly ruthless. Targeting someone when they’re alone.”
“Exactly.”
Even his face looked ruthless.
“So, where exactly did you kiss on the back of the hand?”
Luri grabbed my hand, turning it this way and that.
I sighed in frustration.
“I don’t remember. But why are you asking the same thing multiple times?”
“How can anyone believe it otherwise?”
Luri’s persistence didn’t waver, and Yurie, calmly embroidering beside us, spoke.
“Take your time to recall. It’s important for future plans.”
“Future plans?”
“Wedding size and children, of course.”
“Are you serious?”
I shouted, but Yurie calmly organized her thread.
“This was unexpected for us too. I should have gone along….”
I rolled over, showing my back to them, and sighed heavily as the bed sank beneath me.
“What if I step on his feet while dancing….”
The room fell silent instantly.
When I turned to look, they were both staring at me with serious expressions.
Pouting, Luri said,
“I’ll try to find a dance instructor who can come right away.”
I nodded toward Luri.
“As long as it doesn’t look obvious that I can’t dance, it’s fine.”
“No? Then I’ll play your partner to make sure there’s nothing to criticize.”
Yurie’s eyes flashed sharply.
And from that night, the harsh dance lessons began.
Having been lying around all the time, I had no muscles for dancing, so there was no way I could improve quickly.
Luri and Yurie took turns being my partners, and Arcas, returning to the mansion late, unwittingly helped.
After hurried lessons, I finally heard, “At this level, you might not step on anyone’s feet…”
I wasn’t confident, but…
‘With so many people around, I should blend in.’
I held Sirinyu’s hand and headed to the hall.
Through my gloves, I felt his strong hand. My heartbeat quickened.
As people took their places, the orchestra began to play.
‘Wow, he’s so close.’
I had danced with him before, but it felt different now.
I couldn’t even raise my head, like I was a guilty criminal.
I peeked at Sirinyu’s chest as I started moving my feet.
I felt his gaze on me above my head, almost burning.
The grip on my waist loosened.
As I leaned back and let out a small breath, Sirinyu said,
“How do you expect to dance without looking at your partner?”
I lowered my eyes silently, and he pulled me closer again.
“Huff.”
I quickly raised my head, almost touching his chest with my face.
Where my gaze landed, his purple eyes were captivating, drawing me in.
I hastily averted my eyes.
Sirinyu’s lips caught my view. He smiled, lifting one corner slightly, and spoke.
‘Wow, his lips are so pretty.’
The thought flashed instinctively, and I shook my head violently, tearing my eyes away.
Focusing on dancing and avoiding close contact, I realized my shoulders had tensed.
Sirinyu widened his steps and said,
“You said you didn’t like it earlier, so why do you like it when the Crown Prince says it?”
I instinctively looked at him, confused.
Even with the music loud around us, his voice came through clearly, as if I were wearing earphones, due to our closeness.
“What do you mean?”
Sirinyu furrowed his brows.
“Finally, you notice. The words ‘you’re pretty.’ You said you didn’t like it when I said it.”
I couldn’t help a small laugh.
Comparisons matter.
Is the “pretty” from a kind male lead, spoken as easily as breathing, the same as what you said?
Sirinyu frowned further at my laughter.
“You only said it out of courtesy.”
“Courtesy words are better?”
“I didn’t say they’re better. And if you do it like someone forced you, like the Grand Duke, of course it feels off.”
“I wasn’t forced.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
It was obvious to anyone that it was forced.
Sirinyu shrugged as if exasperated.
“It’s because you’re genuinely pretty.”
I rolled my eyes at him through my narrowed gaze.
Sirinyu spun my body and said,
“If you don’t like being called pretty, what exactly do you want me to say?”
Huh?
I blinked rapidly, trying to steady the slightly dizzy view.
Does he… want to have a conversation?
‘So that’s why.’
Sirinyu’s strange behavior today suddenly made sense.
He came to celebrate the defeat of the Demon Lord, and only now is he recalling it.
Catching the Demon Lord had been the goal of his life.
Now that the Demon Lord was gone, his life’s purpose had vanished.
It was natural for him to start interacting with others and prepare for a happy future.
If I played my cards right, I might even help connect Sirinyu with Eloi, or at least give some advice.
I recalled everything I had learned about romance from dramas and books.
‘How do you start a conversation?’
I wasn’t exactly qualified to lecture Sirinyu on romance from a book.
I flung a thought into the air, rolling my eyes to gather courage.
“I should ask about hobbies, right?”
“My hobby? My hobby is hunting monsters.”
Oh dear, he’s a man without hobbies now.
“And you? What’s your hobby?”
“Me? Just lying around.”
I answered without thinking, but wondered if it was too thoughtless.
I should have given an exemplary answer…
I carefully watched Sirinyu’s expression.
There was no change. Feeling the weight of his gaze, I hurried to add,
“Isn’t that strange?”
“Strange how?”
Sirinyu looked genuinely puzzled.
“Well, if your hobby is like that, everyone would think it’s weird.”
I spoke cautiously, and he looked like he had heard something truly strange.
“Why worry about what others think if you do what you like?”
“…I guess that’s true.”
His purple eyes met mine directly.
“By the way, there’s a nice place in the Imperial Garden to lie down. Want me to take you there?”
“Huff, really?”
I widened my eyes and stared at him, intrigued.
I wondered how he knew the Imperial Garden so well, but more than that…
‘Aren’t we talking quite naturally now?’
Sirinyu, usually quiet, had changed, and I was a bit surprised.
I had always been tense in front of him, so it was even more noticeable.
Even in the most nerve-wracking situation, conversation flowed more smoothly.
Sirinyu, unaware of my thoughts, continued,
“You like small, sweet foods, don’t you?”
“…You mean desserts? I don’t only like sweets…”
“They’re bringing someone to the mansion to make them.”
“Really?”
I thought Sirinyu didn’t like desserts that much. Lucky.
When I stared at him, he tilted his head and frowned.
“Why do you keep asking ‘really’? Do I look like I’m lying?”
“Huh?”
I realized it was just a Korean-like filler word. I gave up explaining and shook my head weakly.
Seeing my feeble gesture, Sirinyu leaned closer.
Like on the terrace, his face came dangerously close.
His lips brushed past mine, near my ear.
A ticklish sensation accompanied a sweet, low voice.
“Could it be…?”
