How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 163

Although reluctant, I had no choice but to take the man’s hand and return to the hall.

Contrary to my expectation that he would be unpleasantly forward, he focused solely on dancing. Just as I was finding this quite unexpected.

“Has your decision remained unchanged?”

Looking at him questioningly at his sudden words, he added an explanation.

“About your guardian. I heard you decided on Duke Yelpen.”

Of course. As expected, he wouldn’t just let it go.

My tone naturally became sharp, as I already didn’t have particularly good feelings toward him, and now he was bringing up a topic I didn’t want to discuss.

“I don’t believe that’s any of your concern.”

“Of course not, but I mention it out of regret. It doesn’t necessarily have to be as a guardian, you know?”

“……!”

As we completed one turn, at the moment we were supposed to separate, he pushed me away forcefully only to pull me back.

Due to the strong momentum, my body fell right into his arms. While I remained stiff, caught in his embrace without a chance to resist, he whispered.

“We might be surprisingly compatible.”

His words were as embarrassing as his breath that invaded my ear. Though it could have been dismissed if I wanted to, the intention behind it was impure.

He corrected his posture as if he had never pulled me close.

Unlike him, I was continuously led around, unable to properly maintain my balance after that initial push due to my high heels. As a result, I could only bite my lips, unable to respond skillfully.

‘Was this planned?’

Though I thought ‘surely not.’ I couldn’t shake my suspicion as I recalled how he had deliberately approached me during Reno’s turn to request a dance.

If he had really calculated everything down to the dance moves to initiate this conversation, it showed a truly meticulous nature.

“Please call for me anytime if you develop feelings. I will always rush to Your Highness’s call with joy.”

“That won’t…….”

“Is there any need to declare that in advance? No one knows how fate will unfold.”

It was fortunately the final movement. The man stepped back lightly after finishing the dance beautifully.

“It was a pleasure, Your Highness. May the light of Lublin be with you.”

“……It was pleasant.”

Though he must have known it was just a pleasantry, the man curved his eyes seductively. As if even that alone made him happy.

I’ll admit the man had quite a handsome face. But that impression didn’t last long. I was more concerned about Reno, who had left alone earlier.

However, as soon as the dance ended, a trumpet sounded at length. Then Evgenia reappeared. The band stopped playing at her reappearance. The voices that had been chattering energetically all fell silent at once, as if they had never been lively.

“While enjoying ourselves is good, we mustn’t forget the true purpose of today’s banquet. First Princess, come up here.”

Evgenia said, looking at me. To find me so quickly among so many people – she must have been watching me from the start.

People’s gazes clung heavily to me from the moment I moved until I climbed the stairs to stand beside Evgenia.

“To celebrate the First Princess’s birthday, we will now proceed with the guardian selection and appointment ceremony.”

At her words, the nobles below the platform all bowed their heads. It was a solemn sight.

“First Princess.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Choose. Who will you take as your guardian?”

“I…….”

I began searching for Killis among the people. Soon I spotted him. While he was familiar to me, he was also the only one whose hair appeared as dark silver among the crowd of heads.

I could suddenly understand why others said that in this kingdom, I was the only one with pure silver hair like mine.

“I wish to choose Killis Yelpen as my guardian.”

Having practiced these words several times before the banquet, speaking them wasn’t difficult. Hearing my words, Evgenia opened her mouth with a solemn expression.

“You must know that Duke Yelpen is a mage. Yet you still say you will take him as your guardian?”

“Yes, Your Highness. According to the kingdom’s origins, the first Evgenia also took a mage as her guardian. I wish to follow that path as well.”

Not just Evgenia and I, but everyone gathered here must have realized it. That this was all a prepared script, a formal procedure.

But because it was an official ceremony, even these procedures were necessary. Evgenia pretended to contemplate seriously before nodding.