“There you are, Philia.”
"...Dad?"
Philia reflexively tried to twist the opponent's hand, but her eyes widened when she realized that the opponent was the Marquis of Seicrine. She tilted her head, noticing that the Marquis's eyes seemed strangely out of focus.
'Did you drink a lot?'
Marquis Seicrine spoke in a voice so kind that it sent goosebumps down the back of Philia's neck.
“Why are you doing this here?”
“Oh, no, that’s it.”
“Instead of this, why don’t you dance with the Duke before the ball is over?”
“Huh? Why would I... !”
“Why are you standing so quietly? Let’s go!”
"Dad?"
The Marquis of Seicrine didn't care about Philia's disgust and dragged her past the crowd. Philia twisted her face in confusion as she watched Randall move forward without hesitation.
‘Why on earth are you acting like that? No matter how much you drink, this has never happened before...’
The Marquis of Seicrine knew very well that Randall and Philia were childhood friends who were completely selfless and irritated with each other. But now he was acting as if his head was full of thoughts of somehow getting her to dance with the Duke, whether her wrists were red or not. Philia was dragged away by the Marquis in confusion. The Marquis approached the Duke and Duchess standing on the platform and greeted them warmly.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you, Duke and Duchess. Did my daughter Philia say hello?”
At those words, Randall and Sylvia turned their heads. Randall greeted him with a cheerful expression.
“Ah, Marquis Seicrine. Philia is here too.”
“It seems my daughter is incompetent and has not even come to greet you. I apologize on her behalf.”
“No, what else...”
Randall trailed off and frowned slightly.
'Are you still angry at Philia?'
Philia and Randall had been childhood friends since they were young, so they didn't really greet each other at these banquets. Randall didn't want to be greeted by prostrating himself, and Philia didn't want to bow to him because he was a Duke. The Marquis of Seicrine knew this well, so he would always click his tongue as if he was displeased, but he never directly rebuked her like this.
Philia reflexively tried to twist the opponent's hand, but her eyes widened when she realized that the opponent was the Marquis of Seicrine. She tilted her head, noticing that the Marquis's eyes seemed strangely out of focus.
'Did you drink a lot?'
Marquis Seicrine spoke in a voice so kind that it sent goosebumps down the back of Philia's neck.
“Why are you doing this here?”
“Oh, no, that’s it.”
“Instead of this, why don’t you dance with the Duke before the ball is over?”
“Huh? Why would I... !”
“Why are you standing so quietly? Let’s go!”
"Dad?"
The Marquis of Seicrine didn't care about Philia's disgust and dragged her past the crowd. Philia twisted her face in confusion as she watched Randall move forward without hesitation.
‘Why on earth are you acting like that? No matter how much you drink, this has never happened before...’
The Marquis of Seicrine knew very well that Randall and Philia were childhood friends who were completely selfless and irritated with each other. But now he was acting as if his head was full of thoughts of somehow getting her to dance with the Duke, whether her wrists were red or not. Philia was dragged away by the Marquis in confusion. The Marquis approached the Duke and Duchess standing on the platform and greeted them warmly.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you, Duke and Duchess. Did my daughter Philia say hello?”
At those words, Randall and Sylvia turned their heads. Randall greeted him with a cheerful expression.
“Ah, Marquis Seicrine. Philia is here too.”
“It seems my daughter is incompetent and has not even come to greet you. I apologize on her behalf.”
“No, what else...”
Randall trailed off and frowned slightly.
'Are you still angry at Philia?'
Philia and Randall had been childhood friends since they were young, so they didn't really greet each other at these banquets. Randall didn't want to be greeted by prostrating himself, and Philia didn't want to bow to him because he was a Duke. The Marquis of Seicrine knew this well, so he would always click his tongue as if he was displeased, but he never directly rebuked her like this.
While Randall was doubting the Marquis's attitude, the Marquis of Seicrine smiled brightly and pushed Philia's back.
“More than that, my daughter hasn’t danced a single song yet. I would be very grateful if the Duke could join us.”
“Dad, I really don’t need...”
“Be quiet. This is in front of the Duke.”
When the Marquis spoke sternly, Philia pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. The Marquis wanted Randall to dance with Philia, as it was rare for the Marquis to ask him to do so. Randall e hesitated because he didn't want to hang out with someone of the opposite sex, at least in Sylvia's presence.
“More than that, my daughter hasn’t danced a single song yet. I would be very grateful if the Duke could join us.”
“Dad, I really don’t need...”
“Be quiet. This is in front of the Duke.”
When the Marquis spoke sternly, Philia pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. The Marquis wanted Randall to dance with Philia, as it was rare for the Marquis to ask him to do so. Randall e hesitated because he didn't want to hang out with someone of the opposite sex, at least in Sylvia's presence.
At that time, Sylvia, who was watching him with her eyes narrowed, smiled brightly.
"Bye. I don’t think it would be polite to refuse any further.”
There was something eerie about that smile. Randall looked awkwardly back and forth between the Marquis and Sylvia before finally letting out a deep sigh.
“...I’ll be back really soon.”
“Have a good time. You too, Marquis Seicrine.”
“...Yes, Duchess.”
In response to Sylvia's gentle greeting, Philia tried not to wrinkle her face and held Randall's hand. Randall was also trying to avoid touching Philia with his hands as much as possible.
“Ah! I just touched your palm. It feels bad.”
"So do I."
The two of them went out onto the floor, whispering to each other with their faces slightly hardened.
“...”
Sylvia turned her head, looking at the backs of the two people with her eyes slightly furrowed so that she wouldn’t show them. Then, she saw the face of the Marquis of Seicrine, who was smiling brightly next to her. Sylvia bit her tongue with a smile on her face.
“Are you feeling that good, Marquis? I’m worried that you might end up tearing your mouth.”
“Haha, isn’t it every parent’s wish for their child to always have the best? Looking at it like this, it really suits them.”
But Marquis Seicrine only smiled brightly enough to make him look somewhat innocent.
'Are you provoking me?'
Sylvia thought seriously. The Marquis Seicrine, who was with Randall at the banquet the other day, seemed to be a bit more serious. When she saw Randall and Philia happily looking at her, it seemed like it wasn't right. Sylvia decided to first get away from the ballroom and take control of her mind.
“I’m going to go get some fresh air. Excuse me.”
“Yes, take a look.”
The Marquis of Seicrine was half-heartedly polite, with his eyes still fixed on Randall and Philia. Sylvia stared at the Marquis for a moment as if she felt something strange, then turned around and disappeared toward the terrace. Sometime after that.
“...Ugh!”
Marquis Seicrine suddenly frowned and placed one hand on his forehead. For a moment, his eyes were dizzy from the pain that felt as if his entire brain was being reassembled. But he was thankful that his pain went away as quickly as it came. He looked around him in confusion.
“What was I just... doing?”
His head felt completely hazy as if someone had rubbed away a part of his memory. The Marquis continued to wander around like a lost child for a while after that, but no one around him could explain the situation to him.
“Am I mistaken? More importantly, why is that Philia dancing with the Duke?... I wish she would bring a son-in-law.”
So he had no choice but to try to erase the unpleasant feeling and leave.
"Bye. I don’t think it would be polite to refuse any further.”
There was something eerie about that smile. Randall looked awkwardly back and forth between the Marquis and Sylvia before finally letting out a deep sigh.
“...I’ll be back really soon.”
“Have a good time. You too, Marquis Seicrine.”
“...Yes, Duchess.”
In response to Sylvia's gentle greeting, Philia tried not to wrinkle her face and held Randall's hand. Randall was also trying to avoid touching Philia with his hands as much as possible.
“Ah! I just touched your palm. It feels bad.”
"So do I."
The two of them went out onto the floor, whispering to each other with their faces slightly hardened.
“...”
Sylvia turned her head, looking at the backs of the two people with her eyes slightly furrowed so that she wouldn’t show them. Then, she saw the face of the Marquis of Seicrine, who was smiling brightly next to her. Sylvia bit her tongue with a smile on her face.
“Are you feeling that good, Marquis? I’m worried that you might end up tearing your mouth.”
“Haha, isn’t it every parent’s wish for their child to always have the best? Looking at it like this, it really suits them.”
But Marquis Seicrine only smiled brightly enough to make him look somewhat innocent.
'Are you provoking me?'
Sylvia thought seriously. The Marquis Seicrine, who was with Randall at the banquet the other day, seemed to be a bit more serious. When she saw Randall and Philia happily looking at her, it seemed like it wasn't right. Sylvia decided to first get away from the ballroom and take control of her mind.
“I’m going to go get some fresh air. Excuse me.”
“Yes, take a look.”
The Marquis of Seicrine was half-heartedly polite, with his eyes still fixed on Randall and Philia. Sylvia stared at the Marquis for a moment as if she felt something strange, then turned around and disappeared toward the terrace. Sometime after that.
“...Ugh!”
Marquis Seicrine suddenly frowned and placed one hand on his forehead. For a moment, his eyes were dizzy from the pain that felt as if his entire brain was being reassembled. But he was thankful that his pain went away as quickly as it came. He looked around him in confusion.
“What was I just... doing?”
His head felt completely hazy as if someone had rubbed away a part of his memory. The Marquis continued to wander around like a lost child for a while after that, but no one around him could explain the situation to him.
“Am I mistaken? More importantly, why is that Philia dancing with the Duke?... I wish she would bring a son-in-law.”
So he had no choice but to try to erase the unpleasant feeling and leave.
***
As soon as the music ended, Randall and Philia became disgusted and distanced themselves.
“I felt it once again, but you and I really don’t get along.”
“I agree.”
Philia grumbled, shaking off the spot where Randall’s hand had briefly touched. Randall secretly wiped his palm on his jacket. The two danced together far from harmoniously. It wasn’t that Randall or Philia lacked dancing skills. It was just that their personalities were terribly incompatible. Dancing has always been about getting along with each other. However, Randall and Philia had completely different personalities and ways of dancing. They had never tried to overcome such differences through practice like other people. So it was inevitable that they would creak like an unmaintained door.
“I felt it once again, but you and I really don’t get along.”
“I agree.”
Philia grumbled, shaking off the spot where Randall’s hand had briefly touched. Randall secretly wiped his palm on his jacket. The two danced together far from harmoniously. It wasn’t that Randall or Philia lacked dancing skills. It was just that their personalities were terribly incompatible. Dancing has always been about getting along with each other. However, Randall and Philia had completely different personalities and ways of dancing. They had never tried to overcome such differences through practice like other people. So it was inevitable that they would creak like an unmaintained door.
Randall recalled the dance with Sylvia that had continued smoothly even though they had not tried to get along with each other. Then, the dance from earlier felt even more horrible.
'If I had been stepped on, my bones would have come out.'
As Randall shook his shoulders and shook off the memory of almost getting his foot stamped on by Philia's shoe, Philia muttered with a weary face.
“By the way, why is my dad acting like that today? Is he crazy?”
“Philia, no matter what, you shouldn’t say such things to your father.”
“You think so too. Don’t even think about turning away.”
“...”
Philia let out a groan. Randall chose to keep his mouth shut as her words pointed straight to his true feelings. Philia, who was looking for the Marquis to protest this, flared up again.
“By the way, they’re still stuck there.”
"What are you talking about?"
Randall turned to where Philia's gaze was directed and made a curious voice. Philia did not respond, but opened her eyes in a triangle shape and glared at Jeffrey, then suddenly opened her mouth.
"Hey."
"Why?"
“Can you dance with those girls too? I think I need to shake them off.”
Philia pointed with her finger at the ladies surrounding Jeffrey. Randall spotted Jeffrey and tilted his head.
“Are you talking about the ladies around Jeffrey?”
"Yes."
"Why?"
“Because I like him.”
“Okay, I don’t like it anyway... No, wait.”
Randall, who had firmly rejected the offer, hesitated. He opened his eyes wide belatedly.
“Philia, you like those ladies?”
“Are you crazy? I mean, Jeffrey!”
“Oh, you meant Jeffrey. What?"
Randall was embarrassed once more. Philia looked at him with her pitiful eyes, thinking that he seemed to be lacking something. Only then did Randall truly understand what Philia meant and looked at her bewildered face.
“Wh, what. What the hell is going on...”
“I don’t know that much. Anyway, just help me out a little. Okay? It’s not a big deal.”
Although Philia earnestly pleaded, Randall quickly got over his shock and put on a cold expression.
"No."
"Why!"
'If I had been stepped on, my bones would have come out.'
As Randall shook his shoulders and shook off the memory of almost getting his foot stamped on by Philia's shoe, Philia muttered with a weary face.
“By the way, why is my dad acting like that today? Is he crazy?”
“Philia, no matter what, you shouldn’t say such things to your father.”
“You think so too. Don’t even think about turning away.”
“...”
Philia let out a groan. Randall chose to keep his mouth shut as her words pointed straight to his true feelings. Philia, who was looking for the Marquis to protest this, flared up again.
“By the way, they’re still stuck there.”
"What are you talking about?"
Randall turned to where Philia's gaze was directed and made a curious voice. Philia did not respond, but opened her eyes in a triangle shape and glared at Jeffrey, then suddenly opened her mouth.
"Hey."
"Why?"
“Can you dance with those girls too? I think I need to shake them off.”
Philia pointed with her finger at the ladies surrounding Jeffrey. Randall spotted Jeffrey and tilted his head.
“Are you talking about the ladies around Jeffrey?”
"Yes."
"Why?"
“Because I like him.”
“Okay, I don’t like it anyway... No, wait.”
Randall, who had firmly rejected the offer, hesitated. He opened his eyes wide belatedly.
“Philia, you like those ladies?”
“Are you crazy? I mean, Jeffrey!”
“Oh, you meant Jeffrey. What?"
Randall was embarrassed once more. Philia looked at him with her pitiful eyes, thinking that he seemed to be lacking something. Only then did Randall truly understand what Philia meant and looked at her bewildered face.
“Wh, what. What the hell is going on...”
“I don’t know that much. Anyway, just help me out a little. Okay? It’s not a big deal.”
Although Philia earnestly pleaded, Randall quickly got over his shock and put on a cold expression.
"No."
"Why!"
“Because the body is already owned.”
At those words, Philia openly snorted.
“It’s an arranged marriage, and it’s a marriage that the King has forced upon, but who owns it?”
“Watch your words, Philia Seicrine. Whatever the circumstances, Sylvia is already my wife and the Duchess of Belfort. That means she is not someone you can treat lightly.”
Randall scolded coldly, even showing signs of survival for a moment. Philia unconsciously stopped breathing. She usually thought of Randall as a stray puppy, but at times like this, she realized that he was a Lord. Philia had noticed that she had touched Randall's 'good' a little while ago and she shut her mouth. Randall read that expression and sighed. Because he knew full well that Philia had no ill will. He added, covering his mouth with one hand and tilting his head.
“...And now I’m serious.”
"...Huh."
Philia opened her mouth in absurdity. Of course, she had already noticed that Randall had feelings for Sylvia. But she had no idea that he had continued to act like that even after realizing it. She said in a tone of disbelief.
“You, putting aside your duty as a lord to be wary of the King’s people. That woman... You like the Duchess ?”
Randall hesitated in response to Philia's question and then gave a small answer.
“...It got dumped.”
"What? Have you already confessed? Isn’t this guy crazy about pure love?”
“That sounds a bit harsh.”
"Oh sorry. I was so surprised. By the way, if it were to get dumped, you should give up. Why are you still doing this?”
“And you. I don't know the details, but isn't it the same as being dumped by Jeffrey? That’s why you can’t approach him directly and ask me to clean up the ladies.”
“...”
“...”
Philia, who had been hit hard, shut her mouth. Randall also remained silent, so the two shared a moment of sympathetic silence.
Philia, who had been dealing with the pain of heartbreak for a while, blinked as a thought suddenly crossed her mind.
“You get dumped anyway, so you have nothing more to lose. Why don’t we work together and try to make people jealous?”
“Are you crazy?”
“To win love, there must be this much hardship, adversity, difficulty, and shame. I hope the Duchess likes you too.”
Randall looked worried. However, he soon showed a hollow smile and spoke firmly.
“...No matter what, I don’t want to force the other person’s feelings of liking me while hurting their feelings.”
“...”
“It seems like the only thing I can and should do now is to consistently express my sincerity.”
"Sincerity...”
"Go."
Randall tapped Philia's shoulder once and walked off to find Sylvia. Philia, who was standing there as if she had realized something from his words, soon raised her head proudly.
“Yes, it’s not a bad thing to court someone without giving up while maintaining the moral line. There’s no reason to act all alone when you’re not even properly in love yet.”
Philia muttered and took a long stride. Jeffrey was smiling awkwardly, surrounded by the ladies, and then he turned his head to see her approaching. And immediately after that he froze as if he had been struck by lightning.
“You look a bit troubled, Sir.”
Philia cast a meaningful glance at the ladies who recognized her and hesitated, then stared at Jeffrey.
'Ah, it's nice to see your face after a long time.'
Her heart melted as if it had been a long time since she had been angry with jealousy. Philia smiled pleasantly and she held out her hand to him.
“If it’s okay, would you like to dance a song with me?”
At those words, Jeffrey stared at her blankly for a moment, as if looking at something dazzling.
"Hey, you guys! What are these big guys doing around a small child? Don't you have any shame?"
His childhood has now become a memory, and now. Even though it is clearly a different time zone, Philia always appears like a hero in difficult times. Jeffrey couldn't resist the hand that was extended to him and took it.
At those words, Philia openly snorted.
“It’s an arranged marriage, and it’s a marriage that the King has forced upon, but who owns it?”
“Watch your words, Philia Seicrine. Whatever the circumstances, Sylvia is already my wife and the Duchess of Belfort. That means she is not someone you can treat lightly.”
Randall scolded coldly, even showing signs of survival for a moment. Philia unconsciously stopped breathing. She usually thought of Randall as a stray puppy, but at times like this, she realized that he was a Lord. Philia had noticed that she had touched Randall's 'good' a little while ago and she shut her mouth. Randall read that expression and sighed. Because he knew full well that Philia had no ill will. He added, covering his mouth with one hand and tilting his head.
“...And now I’m serious.”
"...Huh."
Philia opened her mouth in absurdity. Of course, she had already noticed that Randall had feelings for Sylvia. But she had no idea that he had continued to act like that even after realizing it. She said in a tone of disbelief.
“You, putting aside your duty as a lord to be wary of the King’s people. That woman... You like the Duchess ?”
Randall hesitated in response to Philia's question and then gave a small answer.
“...It got dumped.”
"What? Have you already confessed? Isn’t this guy crazy about pure love?”
“That sounds a bit harsh.”
"Oh sorry. I was so surprised. By the way, if it were to get dumped, you should give up. Why are you still doing this?”
“And you. I don't know the details, but isn't it the same as being dumped by Jeffrey? That’s why you can’t approach him directly and ask me to clean up the ladies.”
“...”
“...”
Philia, who had been hit hard, shut her mouth. Randall also remained silent, so the two shared a moment of sympathetic silence.
Philia, who had been dealing with the pain of heartbreak for a while, blinked as a thought suddenly crossed her mind.
“You get dumped anyway, so you have nothing more to lose. Why don’t we work together and try to make people jealous?”
“Are you crazy?”
“To win love, there must be this much hardship, adversity, difficulty, and shame. I hope the Duchess likes you too.”
Randall looked worried. However, he soon showed a hollow smile and spoke firmly.
“...No matter what, I don’t want to force the other person’s feelings of liking me while hurting their feelings.”
“...”
“It seems like the only thing I can and should do now is to consistently express my sincerity.”
"Sincerity...”
"Go."
Randall tapped Philia's shoulder once and walked off to find Sylvia. Philia, who was standing there as if she had realized something from his words, soon raised her head proudly.
“Yes, it’s not a bad thing to court someone without giving up while maintaining the moral line. There’s no reason to act all alone when you’re not even properly in love yet.”
Philia muttered and took a long stride. Jeffrey was smiling awkwardly, surrounded by the ladies, and then he turned his head to see her approaching. And immediately after that he froze as if he had been struck by lightning.
“You look a bit troubled, Sir.”
Philia cast a meaningful glance at the ladies who recognized her and hesitated, then stared at Jeffrey.
'Ah, it's nice to see your face after a long time.'
Her heart melted as if it had been a long time since she had been angry with jealousy. Philia smiled pleasantly and she held out her hand to him.
“If it’s okay, would you like to dance a song with me?”
At those words, Jeffrey stared at her blankly for a moment, as if looking at something dazzling.
"Hey, you guys! What are these big guys doing around a small child? Don't you have any shame?"
His childhood has now become a memory, and now. Even though it is clearly a different time zone, Philia always appears like a hero in difficult times. Jeffrey couldn't resist the hand that was extended to him and took it.
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