Chapter 74

The imperial ball wasn’t as unpleasant as I had worried. No, to be precise, I didn’t have a chance to feel uncomfortable because I was with those two.

The nobles would startle and run away just from making eye contact with us.

That’s because Tristan, bristling like a hedgehog, picked fights with everyone he saw.

‘What should I do with this kid?’

Lucas, who should have been stopping Tristan, just stood by with his arms crossed. Though he didn’t say it outright, he seemed to be subtly encouraging him.

Thanks to that, no one approached where we were.

“How is it, little one? Isn’t it comfortable and nice with me here?”

“If by comfortable you mean there’s no one around, then maybe.”

“You’re doing well, Tristan.”

Lucas, who never praised Tristan, looked satisfied. These boys would have to blend into noble society in the future, but was this really okay?

I knew they wouldn’t listen even if I tried to stop them, so I had no choice but to give up.

“Don’t Lucas and Tristan want to make friends with others?”

The two remained immovable when they should have been building relationships with nobles their age after coming to the capital. It really seemed like protecting me was their only goal.

Tristan chuckled and placed his hand on the top of my head.

“Hmm? Are you worried about your big brothers’ social relationships? How adorable.”

“Stop ruining Liat’s hair and put your hand down.”

“You’re touching it too.”

“I’m much more careful than you, so it’s fine.”

Did these two know how much attention their behavior was drawing?

The Grand Duke’s noise marketing strategy was successful. I looked around the ballroom with half resignation.

Decorated nobles were gathered in groups, chatting. Tristan, who had chased everyone away and was standing with a bored expression, said.

“Little one. Want something to eat? Brother, go get us something to drink.”

“Alright. I’ll be right back.”

Thinking Tristan was better at protecting me, Lucas quietly followed Tristan’s instructions.

As soon as Lucas left, Tristan’s expression became even more menacing. It was a truly vicious look, as if he would send someone to their grave.

Tristan must be the only one who misused such a handsome face like that. I just watched the Grand Duke conversing with high-ranking nobles from a distance.

Even without hearing the conversation, I could roughly understand the situation.

‘Ah. He’s angry.’

I just needed to observe how the Grand Duke’s expressionless face gradually changed.

‘This is actually quite fun.’

Time passed without incident.

Just when I was getting used to the nobles’ persistent stares, Tristan suddenly grabbed my sleeve.

“Little one. Let’s move.”

Move when Lucas hadn’t returned with drinks? His voice conveyed urgency that seemed beyond mere stubbornness.

Considering the debutante dance, we shouldn’t separate from Lucas. Puzzled, I tried to stop Tristan.

“We agreed to dance as three, so we can’t lose Lucas.”

“I know. I know, but we need to move.”

“But why?”

“Why? Because…!”

After quickly scanning the surroundings, he closed his mouth with a “hup.” I was bewildered by Tristan’s excessive reaction, as he was someone who never cared about others’ opinions.

Brushing back the hair on one side, he whispered.

“Because that Crown Prince guy seems to be coming toward you.”

“Why would the Crown Prince come here?”

The ballroom was full of nobles eager to speak with Prince Michael. There was no reason for him to come to us, leaving them behind.

‘And he promised.’

In exchange for going to the festival with him, we agreed to avoid acknowledging each other at the ball as much as possible. Michael wouldn’t put me in a difficult position.

As I was trying to reassure Tristan, I turned around due to an ominous feeling creeping up my spine.

Michael, dressed splendidly, was walking toward us.

“No way…”

Tristan was right about needing to move. But it was already too late to avoid him.

I stared at Michael’s shining face with mixed feelings. He formally requested a dance from me, merely a noble lady.

“I am Michael Kroats. If it’s alright with you, would you honor me with the first dance?”

His bow was flawlessly perfect, without any unnecessary movement.

The cloak around his back and the blue formal attire embroidered with patterns. Michael, dressed up to the nines, looked like a prince from a fairy tale.

“Gladly.”

I answered according to etiquette and curtsied. Contrary to Michael’s brightened expression, I felt an intense heat from behind me.

‘Oh my goodness, Tristan.’

It was taboo for a person of lower status to refuse a dance proposal from someone of higher status. Tristan should understand that there was no choice…

“No. My sister is busy.”

Tristan embraced me from behind and growled. It was definitely not an atmosphere of generous understanding.

As Tristan held me and began drawing up magical power, his red hair fluttered in the air. Startled, I firmly tapped Tristan’s arm that was holding me.

***

“Tristan, calm down and let go of me. It’s just a dance.”

“It’s your first dance.”

“I already danced first with you and Lucas. You know that.”

“I know. But still, no.”

Being stubborn was one thing, but he needed to be aware of his surroundings. With no other choice, I grabbed Tristan’s arm and performed a self-defense move.

In an instant, his arm was twisted behind him, and he fell face-down on the floor. Subdued without a chance to dodge, Tristan groaned in pain.

“Sorry, Tristan.”

If nothing else, I had to prevent him from using magic against the Crown Prince in the ballroom at all costs. After dusting off my hands, I crouched beside Tristan and whispered softly.

Now that I had used the whip, it was time for the carrot.

“Let’s play together later, just the two of us without Lucas. Like a trip to town.”

Tristan, who had furrowed his brow intensely, asked quietly.

“Bread?”

“I’ll bring muffins.”

“Okay.”

Perhaps because the bread he ate while imprisoned in the dungeon had left an impression, Tristan was crazy about muffins. I stood up and took Michael’s hand.

Despite confidently asking for a dance, Michael’s complexion was dark.

‘Seems like he feels sorry.’

I walked with Michael to the center of the hall to dance. While walking to the hall, my eyes met with Heishar, who was leaning against a pillar.

Seeing me, he pushed himself away from the pillar and waved.

His lips, visible beneath his mask, moved silently.

‘Do as you practiced.’

Receiving encouragement from my teacher boosted my confidence that I could do well. Michael lifted the back of my hand with a tense expression.

“I’ll be in your care, Michael.”

“Likewise. Once we start dancing, others will follow.”

Traditionally, when one debutante begins to dance, everyone follows suit.

As familiar music echoed through the hall, my feet moved naturally. Michael skillfully led me, moving his feet in time with the music.

While concentrating on not making mistakes, I heard a dejected voice.

“…I’m sorry.”

“You did do wrong, Michael. Breaking your promise, drawing attention.”

“….”

“When I told you not to speak to me, it was partly for your sake too.”

Every move at the ball was intertwined with political interests. The fact that Michael had asked me for the first dance would certainly cause a commotion.

‘The Empress will react too.’

A Crown Prince requesting a debutante dance from a Grand Princess of commoner origin. The status-conscious Empress would not welcome this fact.

In the original story, she was portrayed as someone far from affectionate.

[The Crown Prince’s mother was from the venerable Lamiette Marquis family. She was skilled at manipulating the game using the cards she held. To her, the most important things were innate bloodline and power.]

The eyes and ears of major nobles were gathered here. Even the Empress would find it impossible to cover up what happened today.

Michael’s gloomy face suddenly brightened.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Well, yes.”

“I’m concerned about my mother’s reaction, but I don’t regret it.”

“Why?”

“Because I got to experience this moment.”

Michael was smiling with relief as he said this.

With his eyes slightly lowered, he enveloped my body in time with the beat. His dance, both respectful and gentle, was infused with consideration for his partner.

His voice revealed a somewhat excited feeling.

“I’ve thought about it since I saw you dancing before.”

“About what?”

“That it would be nice if I could dance with you.”

The light pouring from the ceiling shone over his hair.

Despite his uninhibited movements, his nape was slightly reddened. When he was so happy, it was hard to stay angry about his dance request.

Was he so lonely that he clung to someone like me whom he’d barely met? The imperial palace could hardly be considered a good environment for a child to grow up in, even in jest.

I smiled faintly along with him and asked what I wanted to know.

“Are you enjoying yourself now?”

“Very… much. To the point where I don’t understand myself.”

Of all his expressions I’d seen so far, today’s was the most natural.

Michael always had the face of someone being chased. Yes, if the original protagonist was happy, it wasn’t difficult to sacrifice myself.

“Meet me at the promised place after the ball ends.”

“You, are you really?”

“Let’s go to the festival together, Michael.”

I could already see Tristan and Lucas throwing a fit. Still, this would probably be my last meeting with him, so I wanted to keep my promise this time.

“I’ll wait in the room.”

Imperial balls typically continued until dawn.

It was customary for children or those with weak constitutions to rest in rooms prepared near the ballroom. If all went well, I might be able to go without being discovered.

“But you know you really have to shake off everyone to come, right?”

“I’ve even prepared a stand-in.”

“You’re really something.”

He must be really looking forward to it.

The Grand Duke would be tied up in meetings at dawn, so I only needed to deceive Lucas and Tristan. I could just pretend to be sleeping.

I raised my head as I felt Michael’s gaze fixed on my cheek.

“What is it?”

“I’m happy.”

In the original story, Michael was portrayed as someone with faint emotions.

‘Not even knowing his own desires.’

Even when he lost his mother and father and fled alone, he didn’t know what he wanted. Hela said that such a Michael was like an intricately made doll.

There is no human without will.

Seeing Michael enjoying dancing with me, I became certain of this.