Chapter 65

The etiquette lessons resumed.

Thanks to the priest’s treatment, the swelling in my bone quickly subsided. On the day my foot completely healed, the etiquette lessons moved on to the debutante dance.

In the Empire, there was a culture of performing a debutante dance when young noble ladies were first taken to a ball.

‘I’ve never danced it before.’

Which meant, in other words, that I couldn’t perform it skillfully. Heishar calmly pointed out what needed correction.

“Grand Princess. There, your left foot should come out, not your right.”

“I know. I’ll try.”

“The foot is correct, but the hand position is wrong. A bit lower.”

“I’m not sure which hand you’re talking about.”

I wondered if making a child dance like this wasn’t child abuse. I couldn’t believe that noble ladies even younger than me danced this dance.

Heishar expressed doubt as he watched me move stiffly like a wooden puppet.

“I don’t understand why you find this dance so difficult when you perform other etiquette perfectly.”

It’s because I’ve never danced it before.

I tried my best to follow Heishar’s instructions.

‘Was I supposed to turn here?’

To think I would feel the same despair I felt when first learning noble etiquette as Kashian. This body in this life had a terrible rhythm.

As I forced my body to move, I accidentally misstepped.

“Oh dear, you must be careful.”

Heishar supported my back with one arm. Leaning against his arm, I opened my eyes wide.

I caught a fresh scent like being in a forest in midwinter.

‘Hmm? This energy?’

I sensed a very faint energy from him, different from magic. Wanting to feel the energy more, I moved closer to Heishar.

Just when I thought I might detect the energy, someone pulled me by the nape.

“Little one! You’re too close!”

“Tristan, no matter what, pulling like that could hurt her.”

“Lucas. Tristan.”

When I called their names one by one, they both avoided my gaze.

‘It’s not even surprising anymore.’

After Heishar tried to save me, I decided to stop trying to drive him away. This was something Lucas and Tristan had agreed to as well.

After all, that day he had risked death to save me.

Of course, Tristan seemed to have some lingering dissatisfaction.

“Strictly speaking, it was my magic that saved you.”

“If Heishar hadn’t embraced me and jumped out, it would have been dangerous. You know that.”

“I don’t like it.”

Not long after Heishar and I had come out, the warehouse collapsed.

Heishar’s quick judgment had essentially saved my life. So now that my suspicions were gone, I wanted to focus on lessons with peace of mind.

Therefore, the two who kept following and monitoring the lessons were obstacles.

“Why do you keep secretly watching!”

“We haven’t been watching.”

“Right. We were just passing by and happened to see you.”

The two casually offered their excuses. As if I wouldn’t know they had been hiding behind the sofa since before the lesson started!

It was also exhausting to deliberately ignore them when I could sense their presence.

“Are you going to keep interrupting?”

“It’s not that, my brother and I…”

Tristan, who seemed at a loss for words, elbowed Lucas in the side. Lucas’s face contorted from the sudden attack.

Lucas ruffled his hair before finally saying.

“We’re just here because we’re worried about you.”

“Yes. We don’t intend to disturb you. Feel free to continue your lesson.”

“How is that possible?”

Did they both underestimate their presence?

I was frustrated with the two brothers who wouldn’t listen. Even if I chased them out now, they would surely find a way to sneak back in.

They were truly geniuses when it came to utilizing their talents.

“How do I get rid of them?”

“Liat, your inner thoughts are leaking out right now.”

Lucas, with a pitiful expression like a puppy, clung to me. With Tristan on one arm and Lucas on the other, I must have looked uncomfortable, as Heishar stepped in.

He clapped his hands to draw attention, clearly aiming to change the atmosphere.

“If that’s the case, why don’t the two of you help with the lesson?”

At those words, Lucas and Tristan’s expressions brightened.

“Great! How can we help?”

“Tristan and I have completed dance lessons, so we can be of assistance.”

“Please demonstrate for the Grand Princess so she can get a feel for it.”

Heishar tore a curtain and tied it around Tristan’s waist. Then he guided Tristan and Lucas to hold hands with each other.

Confusion clouded the faces of the two who had been excited at the thought of helping me.

“You can take turns playing the roles of lady and gentleman.”

“Dance with my brother?”

“…?”

“Yes. The Grand Princess isn’t ready to dance with a partner yet.”

Heishar activated a magical device that played ballroom music before the two could react.

Only then, understanding the situation, the expressions of the two darkened. Amused, I smiled brightly and urged them on.

“Aren’t you two going to dance?”

At those words, Tristan moved his feet first. Lucas, with a face like he had eaten something foul, grabbed Tristan’s waist.

Their movements were natural, probably because they had learned from a young age.

“Turn to the right there!”

“……”

Despite the extremely cold expressions of the two, the dance was beautiful. They moved mechanically, but their timing was perfect, as expected of noble children.

Tristan pretended to make mistakes and kept stepping on Lucas’s feet.

‘This seems a bit dangerous.’

I could see Lucas’s patience growing shorter by the second.

Sure enough, Lucas lifted Tristan’s waist up and kicked his abdomen with his leg.

“Ugh!”

Before long, the debutante dance turned into a fierce fight. The commotion continued until the Grand Duke personally grabbed the two and dragged them out of the room.

***

Should I have learned to dance earlier?

After the two were dragged out, I practiced for a long time, but my dancing didn’t improve. I thought I would learn quickly since I had danced before, but this was unexpected.

Instead, the freestyle dancing I often did in my previous life seemed to mix in, making the movements strange.

It was bedtime, but thinking about the approaching ball, I couldn’t rest.

“Sen, I’ll practice a bit more on the terrace before going to bed.”

“It’s cold, so please be sure to wrap a shawl around yourself and only practice for a little while.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

As I stepped out onto the terrace, the chilly air greeted me. The moon grew brighter as autumn approached.

For now, mastering the dance steps perfectly would be the quickest way.

I carefully moved my feet, imagining there was music. Practicing just the footwork was somewhat manageable.

The movements that had been flowing smoothly became tangled the moment I added my hands.

“There, you should move your right foot, not your left.”

Turning around at the appropriately given advice, I saw the Grand Duke standing there.

‘At least make some noise.’

When a skilled person like him deliberately concealed his presence, it was impossible to notice. He walked steadily toward me from where he had been leaning against the terrace door.

His wide cape fluttered like wings in rhythm with his steps.

“Have you grown to dislike me?”

I tilted my head at the Grand Duke’s abrupt question. As he moved my arm to correct my posture, he added quietly.

“If I hadn’t asked you to go to the ball, you wouldn’t have to miss sleep practicing dance.”

“I heard that every noble child has to do the debutante, though.”

There was a difference in whether the venue was the Imperial Ball or not.

If it had been held at a smaller party, my mind would have been lighter.

‘It is an honor, though.’

Come to think of it, I had been born quite a few times, but I had never been a noble. In this life, I was already a slave when I regained my memories, so I didn’t know my birth.

No doubt I was born a commoner, like in my previous lives. I had experienced it so often that I wasn’t even curious anymore.

“Grand Duke, I’ll practice hard.”

“Why?”

“Because this is the first time you’ve asked something of me.”

“…Would you like some help?”

I looked the much taller Grand Duke up and down.

If our heights were somewhat similar, I could have asked him to be my partner, but this was, well, hopeless. As if understanding my thoughts, he undid the complex decorations of the cape he was wearing.

The Grand Duke took off the jacket of his uniform and draped it over one arm.

“Come a little closer.”

He beckoned me over and knelt on both knees on the floor. Our eyes met after he had been so much taller.

“Take my hand, that’s right.”

“This must be uncomfortable for you.”

“If it looks uncomfortable, you should hurry and grow to catch up with me.”

“Are you serious?”

I wondered how many bottles of milk I would have to drink to grow as tall as the Grand Duke. As I imagined this specifically, I smiled slightly.

It was somewhat funny to be practicing dance with the Grand Duke under the moonlight. Feeling cheerful, I moved actively.

“I’m going to turn around now, so hold on to me well.”

“Understood.”

Very occasionally, there were times when the problems surrounding me felt vague.

‘Like now.’

The anxiety about the future and the undiscovered truths remained the same. Still, tonight it seemed fine to forget for a while and focus on dancing.

After the Imperial Ball ended, I would have to face them.

“Grand Duke, what exactly should I do at the ball?”

“Dance, like you’re doing today.”

Since I hadn’t decided on a partner in advance, he said that Lucas or Tristan would be my partner.

‘I don’t want either of them.’

I could clearly imagine them fighting over who would be my partner.

“Could I choose someone else as my partner?”

“Who?”

Suddenly, the Grand Duke’s voice dropped an octave. For some reason, he gave me a resentful look.

“Have you become close with some young nobleman without my knowledge? Who is it?”

“No, it’s not like that. Those two are just a bit troublesome.”

“Those two are at least safe.”

The Grand Duke was surprisingly firm on the partner issue. For showing off to other nobles, those two would indeed have the best promotional effect.

I wondered if there wasn’t some quiet, well-behaved ball partner somewhere.

“Thank you for helping with the dance.”

The Grand Duke’s slightly raised eyebrows softened. He helped me practice until quite late.

Even in his kneeling position, he was skilled at assisting me. Thanks to him, I was able to dance much better in the next day’s etiquette lesson.

Heishar encouraged me with a relieved expression.

“With just a few more days of practice, there will be no problem at the ball.”

As my skills improved, Lucas and Tristan were also able to help with dance practice as partners. After several days of intense practice, I finally danced perfectly.

The departure date for the capital, which had seemed like it would never come, was now just around the corner.