A man at least a hand and a half taller than any other young nobleman.
With a face so beautiful it was impossible to look away, and a solid build just barely visible beneath his white shirt.
He was the kind of man whose good looks alone could make your face flush red.
As Meg stared blankly, lips slightly parted, the man strode forward on his long legs and approached Selenea.
“Looks like everyone’s getting ready to dance.”
At his words, Selenea waved her hand dismissively, clearly uninterested. But then, her eyes sparkled as she suddenly asked him,
“Hey, do you want to dance with Esteline?”
Meg stiffened, blinking nervously.
‘Who is that guy that she’s offering him to Esteline?’
If such a handsome man were to dance with Esteline, who was revered as a saint…
They would undoubtedly become the highlight of the opening ceremony.
Meg bit her lip.
‘…Last year, I was the star of the opening ball.’
Back then, the famously handsome Lord Lambert had been her partner, and all the other young men had vied to dance with her.
But today, the sudden appearance of the Tigress father and daughter had completely stolen the spotlight.
She couldn’t stand that the attention that had always been focused on her was now scattered elsewhere.
After a moment of hesitation, she deliberately walked toward the man.
‘Maybe he’ll ask me to dance instead of Esteline?’
After all, both Lambert and others had called her the prettiest girl in the capital.
She swished her skirt—an elegant gown gifted by the Empress—as she walked proudly.
But the man didn’t so much as glance her way. His gaze remained fixed solely on Selenea.
Meg scowled and let out a frustrated sigh.
‘Why won’t he even look at me…!’
Just then, the man finally moved. Meg looked at him with hopeful anticipation.
Only to have her face crumble moments later.
He hadn’t approached her. He simply leaned slightly forward toward Selenea.
“I want to dance with you.”
He said it while softly gazing at Selenea, the tips of his ears tinged red.
Meg’s face went cold.
“You want to dance with me?”
I blinked blankly, then snapped to my senses and waved my hands in refusal.
“No, absolutely not. I can’t dance.”
Rubel’s eyes widened slightly, then he chuckled and muttered,
“That’s a pretty harsh rejection.”
“I can’t help it. If you dance with me, you’re guaranteed to end up with at least one broken limb.”
I hadn’t lied when I told Father and Anna before we left that I couldn’t dance.
Back when I was Isebin, I’d had zero rhythm. I was such a bad dancer, it was almost tragic.
During freshman year, I boldly joined a dance club, only to fall and fracture my left wrist and right leg at the same time.
The hospital bills were so steep I’d seriously considered taking a semester off. So dance? No thanks.
Since then, my personal rule had been: Under no circumstances do I dance.
Besides…
“Don’t you feel something?”
I gestured with my eyes to a far corner.
There stood my father, leaning against a pillar and staring straight at us.
His red eyes boiled like molten lava.
Most likely, he thought Rubel and I were standing far too close together.
‘He’s especially wary of Rubel.’
When we first shared a meal, I’d never have imagined Father would be this protective.
Looking back, he must’ve really liked Selenea.
‘With a personality like his, it’s no wonder he never showed it.’
Besides, before I possessed her, Selenea probably made it obvious she hated him.
I shook my head and turned to Rubel.
“Do you really think you could move your feet under that kind of glare?”
“With enough effort, maybe.”
“No, let’s not…”
I brightened my eyes and shoved his back toward Esteline.
“Dance with Esteline instead. You two would look great together.”
No doubt, I had a hopeful expression on my face.
‘Who knows? Maybe they’ll realize they’re destined for each other.’
Rubel, and Oscar Tibbon—the one I was currently investigating—were all originally meant to be with Esteline.
Yet somehow, I was now caught between them. I often felt awkward about it.
‘I feel bad for Esteline, but…’
I couldn’t let the Tigress family be destroyed either.
So after much thought, I came to a conclusion.
‘I’ll support Rubel and Esteline with everything I’ve got.’
In the original story, it took them forever—through frustrating twists and turns—to finally understand each other’s feelings.
But if I started pushing them from now, maybe things would change.
‘If they get together quickly, maybe that crazy perverted supporting character who kidnapped Esteline won’t even appear.’
And the misunderstanding that the assassin who attacked Rubel was sent by Loranga wouldn’t happen either.
‘Esteline went through so much trauma after that kidnapping…’
There were so many frustrating events I could now avoid.
But there was one big problem.
‘What if neither of them is interested in the other…?’
I glanced at Rubel and Esteline, who had merely exchanged polite greetings and were now staring in opposite directions.
They really didn’t seem interested in each other at all.
‘Meanwhile, all the other noble ladies are going crazy.’
Unlike Esteline, countless girls blushed as they kept glancing this way.
‘Why is Esteline the only one not interested in Rubel? He’s so handsome.’
Just in case, I asked Rubel one last time.
“You really don’t want to dance?”
Rubel frowned and looked at me.
Then, with a frustrated breath, he spoke.
“Selenea. Why do you think I came here?”
His serious voice made my eyes widen.
“…Huh?”
“I didn’t come here to dance with someone else. I just thought maybe you…”
But Rubel stopped mid-sentence, clamping his mouth shut.
He stared at me for a moment, then abruptly picked up a wine glass from the table and downed it in one gulp.
‘…What’s with him all of a sudden?’
I tilted my head at his strange behavior.
“Ah, Lady Tigress!”
Someone suddenly approached from the crowd.
“I’m Tom, of the Count Fold family. May I have this dance?”
I blinked at the young nobleman in front of me.
His hair was a striking bright orange, neatly styled—except for a single unruly curl poking out.
“You’re looking for a dance partner, aren’t you?”
He grinned, revealing overly white front teeth between thin lips.
“I noticed you didn’t have a partner, so I thought I might offer.”
My expression slowly twisted. Offer?
He stepped closer.
“Oh, don’t worry. People might say you’re scary or harsh, but I’m into women like that.”
My eyes narrowed as I stared at him, stretching his neck and laughing.
Sure, Selenea had caused trouble at every social event she attended.
Always picking fights with Esteline, spoiling the mood with her sullen face…
If things didn’t go her way, she’d scream and threaten people.
So, of course, barely any men had ever asked her to dance.
‘He’s only coming to me now, after all that?’
Because I got along well with the Empress today and was mingling decently, now he wanted to attach himself?
He clearly thought Selenea was easy prey.
I frowned, about to say something, when someone approached with long, firm strides.
Father, his expression cold.
The orange-haired noble froze in place the moment he saw him.
“D-Duke Tigress!”
Father looked down at him, eyes glowing red.
“I’m not the least bit sorry to say—my daughter already has a partner.”
The young man looked to me in panic, stammering,
“Wh-what? I’ve never seen Lady Selenea dance before, so…”
Father’s brow furrowed ominously.
“And why would you need to see my daughter dance?”
“I-I just thought I could be her partner…”
“You’re not only arrogant and foolish, you must be deaf, too.”
His icy words made my eyes widen.
“I don’t like repeating myself. And I just told you she already has a partner.”
The man flinched and stepped back.
But Father continued in a warning tone, his displeasure plain.
“And yet, here you are—forcing me to say it a second time.”
As Father’s voice dropped further, the nobleman’s face turned pale.
He quickly bowed his head.
“S-sorry!”
Then disappeared at the speed of light, eyes teary.
I watched blankly, then slowly turned to my father.
Still scowling, I cautiously asked,
“I… already had a partner?”
Father cleared his throat awkwardly.
A long silence passed.
Then, glancing sideways at me, he muttered softly,
“…Esteline.”
“Sorry?”
“You have Esteline, don’t you?”
My eyes widened in disbelief.
“…Are you saying Esteline is my partner?”
Avoiding my gaze, Father gruffly replied,
“Yes. That’s better than dancing with those idiotic men.”
He was glaring daggers at Rubel as he said it.
While I stood stunned, my jaw dropping, a cheerful voice chimed in beside me.
“I’m happy with that!”
Esteline, cheeks flushed, smiled at me shyly.
“Selenea, I even took formal dance lessons! Don’t worry—come on!”
I groaned and rubbed my forehead.
Just after stepping out of the Great Hall, I glanced behind me. The corridor was empty.
“Ahh, finally—I can breathe.”
Rubel stood beside me, watching intently.
“Why does Esteline keep wanting to dance with me? She could get hurt for real. This is all Father’s fault.”
I sighed, and Rubel quietly replied,
“She probably just likes you.”
“Exactly. Why does she like me that much? You saw those guys glaring at me in the hall, right?”
I shook my head as if overwhelmed.
“They were totally jealous. Because Esteline kept asking me to dance. I mean, sure, but jealous of me? Another girl?”
Rubel chuckled.
“Maybe they were just looking at you.”
“Me? Why would they look at me? Oh, maybe wondering what awful thing I’d do this time?”
“Maybe they wanted to ask you to dance.”
I blinked in surprise, then laughed and shook my head.
“No way. People hate me. Even today, I caught some nobles talking behind my back. Didn’t you hear? They said I’m not even pretty, and my face looks nasty.”
At that, Rubel paused. Then he spoke, voice calm and casual.
“Whoever said that… they’re wrong. You’re beautiful.”
