TOTNMLP 77

Chapter 77

“If this keeps up, it’s going to be a disaster.”

So, for the time being, I had her practice nothing but vicious expressions relentlessly before rushing her into the real situation.

I had specifically told Julietta to focus only on glaring properly. She had responded that she understood… but then, unlike in practice, she went one step further—no, ten steps further—and even recited the lines of a villainess!

And flawlessly, without a single mistake!

“If I had known she’d act like this, I wouldn’t have taught her villain lines!”

I never dreamed she would behave so perfectly like a true villainess.

“W-what do I do now to fix this?”

At that moment, our eyes met. Julietta’s eyes sparkled as if she wanted praise.

Julietta, you did well. You really did—but…

That… that was a bit… much, wasn’t it?

Still, I had to admit it was satisfying.

Tristan and Jeffrey were still staring at Julietta, completely dazed.

Seizing the opportunity, I quietly approached Julietta and whispered:

“Julietta, you did well.”

Her face instantly lit up. She whispered softly into my ear:

“Really? I tried hard, just like we practiced!”

“Yeah. Now go back to your room, lock the door, and stay quiet. Who knows when those crazy guys might come looking for you.”

“Okay! I will!”

Julietta left the ballroom with light, cheerful steps. She looked genuinely happy.

“Hmph, how dare…”

At that moment, Tristan abruptly stood up. It looked like he was about to chase after Julietta.

“That won’t do.”

I quickly blocked his way and, with a desperate expression, pleaded with him:

“Your Grace, Duke Callisto, please forgive Julietta’s rudeness. She’s still not accustomed to the ball.”

Tristan’s dark eyes fixed on me.

He muttered menacingly:

“Step aside.”

“But I still have something to say. Your Grace, would you do me the honor of dancing with me this time?”

I politely extended my hand toward Tristan.

“…What?”

Tristan stared at me in surprise. He surely hadn’t expected me to ask him first.

“If I can’t stop Tristan by force, then I’ll stop him this way!”

I smiled faintly, thinking that.

Tristan looked at my hand for a long moment before speaking in a cold voice:

“To think Lady Veloa would ask me to dance herself. Are you that desperate for a man?”

His lips twisted cruelly—a clear mockery.

We only saw each other once a year, and he said that? Rude and infuriating.

But I answered cheerfully, as if oblivious:

“Everyone here is curious about your dancing skills. You’ve never danced before, have you?”

“That’s because I’ve never found a partner worthy of my attention.”

“I know I might not be to your liking, but would you grant me this one favor?”

“To act so submissively… very well, for your sake, I’ll allow it once.”

With that, Tristan took my hand and led me onto the dance floor as if escorting me.

Phew. What a relief. I finally exhaled.

“I need to divert Tristan’s attention as much as possible, so he stops thinking about Julietta.”

For some reason, the male leads in the original story had suddenly started showing interest in Julietta.

And that interest always turned into obsession in an instant.

I looked up at Tristan resolutely.

“Hey, Ariadne, what are you doing?”

But at that moment, someone grabbed my shoulder.

Startled, I turned my head.

“D-Douglas?”

Jeffrey was inexplicably furious. He glared at me and ground his teeth.

“You… even with your fiancé right beside you… asking another man to dance…”

“…And what about you?”

Jeffrey wasn’t in a position to complain, having dashed to Julietta as soon as the first dance ended.

Still, he shamelessly grabbed my arm.

“Hey, come with me. If it’s dancing, I’ll dance with you.”

“W-what…”

“Do you want to create unnecessary rumors with someone else? Come on, follow me.”

“W-wait a minute…”

Jeffrey forcibly pulled me along. I tried my best to resist, but there was no way I could overcome his strength.

Just as I was being dragged helplessly, Tristan grabbed my other arm.

“That won’t do.”

Tristan pulled me with force.

“…Huh?”

Before I knew it, I was standing behind him.

What… is happening?

I blinked, flustered.

“Didn’t you hear? Lady Veloa asked me to be her dance partner herself.”

As soon as Tristan finished, Jeffrey growled fiercely:

“Ariadne is my fiancée. I can’t let her dance with someone else.”

“But didn’t you also try to ask another lady to dance? That’s not long ago, is it?”

“Ugh, that’s…”

Jeffrey was speechless. He had indeed been flirting with Julietta moments ago.

Tristan smirked and whispered lowly to Jeffrey:

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to take your fiancée.”

“…”

“I’m merely responding to Lady Veloa’s dance request.”

“…”

Jeffrey looked furious but didn’t grab me anymore. He only glared at me intently.

‘Whatever this situation is, it’s actually better this way.’

It was far preferable to him running off after Julietta than glaring at me like that.

‘By now, Julietta has probably left the main hall safely.’

Feeling somewhat relieved, I stood on the dance floor with Tristan.

“Oh my, isn’t that Duke Callisto? What’s he doing on the dance floor…”

“Good heavens! His partner is Lady Veloa! What’s their relationship?”

“Could it be that Duke Callisto asked her to dance?”

Whispers spread around us. It seemed that Tristan being on the dance floor for the first time drew extra attention.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

‘Ugh… I hate this…’

I hated dancing with Tristan, hated being the topic of gossip, and hated that these crazy male leads were showing interest in Julietta again.

‘And what about Gabriel?’

If both Jeffrey and Tristan were acting strangely, Gabriel couldn’t be entirely normal either.

I frantically scanned the room for him.

But no matter how much I looked, I couldn’t see his snow-white hair.

Then, the music started.

‘Ah, no…’

I bit my lip and faced Tristan.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Tristan came closer, supporting my back as if holding me.

I placed one hand on his shoulder and grasped his hand with the other. His hands were so large they completely covered mine.

‘Ugh, scary…’

And so, the waltz from hell began.

This was Tristan’s first time dancing with a woman in this arc, but he led surprisingly well.

‘If I make a mistake here, Tristan might try to kill me.’

I grew even more fearful. I felt like even stepping on his foot could spell disaster.

I carefully continued the steps and tried to talk to him.

“Your Grace, did you know? You’re admired by many young ladies here.”

‘I must divert Tristan’s attention elsewhere.’

I couldn’t let him become interested in Julietta again like before.

‘And nothing works better than love to divert attention.’

I planned to introduce him to other ladies instead of Julietta. Preferably, ladies who had a high chance of matching with Tristan, potentially leading to marriage.

But Tristan seemed completely uninterested.

He raised an eyebrow indifferently.

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yes. Do you know Lady Raines? She’s an ardent fan of yours! She even dreams of your heroic deeds against monsters!”

“Never heard of her…”

Tristan’s expression was not good.

I quickly thought of another lady.

“Then how about Lady Parker? She’s also admired you for a long time. She says Duke Callisto, who protects the empire, is the most amazing in the world!”

“I’m not interested.”

“I see…”

As expected, Tristan was stern and resolute, typical of a northern duke.

‘Ugh, scary…’

Moreover, his gaze was intense. Mentioning one more lady might anger him instantly.

I quietly closed my mouth.

‘Let’s try diverting his attention in another way.’

Yes, that’s better.

Not because I’m scared—well, maybe partly—but if Tristan got truly angry at me, even I wouldn’t survive gracefully.

I forced a small smile and quickly changed the topic.

“By the way, Your Grace, what’s your ideal type?”

“My ideal type?”