As he chewed it without thinking, the fluffy and sweet taste spread in his mouth.
Perdes put cotton candy in his mouth.
When I looked at him, Perdes folded his eyes prettily and smiled.
“The lady seems to be in a bad mood, so I’m going to give you this.”
“I prepared cotton candy specially for Perdes to eat.”
"I know. But it’s better to share good things.”
So, telling me to eat more, Perdes took a small piece of cotton candy and put it in my mouth.
“Perdes, please eat it too.”
I thought I would eat it all, so I took the same piece of cotton candy and put it in his mouth.
As we fed each other cotton candy like that, the large piece of cotton candy quickly disappeared.
When only the bare stick remained, Perdes fiddled with the stick and said,
“When the Emperor told me my mother’s story.”
I was about to drink tea to neutralize the bittersweetness that remained in my mouth, but when the Emperor's story came up, I stopped everything and looked at him.
Perdes, who made eye contact, smiled bitterly and continued speaking.
“It was a story about my mother that I didn’t remember, so it was fascinating, curious, and suspicious. What kind of wind is blowing the Emperor to tell me my mother’s story? I wonder if his story is really true.”
It's worth it. Because I had that thought too.
“So I looked closely at the Emperor’s face while listening to the story, and he was the same. He was looking at my face just as closely as I was.”
The moment I heard those words, I was convinced that my guess was correct.
The reason I guess is...
“The Emperor heard a rumor that I was not actually an idiot, so he deliberately brought up my mother’s story to confirm the truth.”
Yes. That was it.
“If I were a true idiot, I wouldn’t be properly sad or angry even if I heard such a story... That’s why he said that.”
The fact that Perdes knew that fact made me feel relieved because at least he wouldn't have reacted foolishly.
No matter how much I wanted to check the facts, I was disgusted by the Emperor's cruelty in hurting others.
On the other hand, I felt like he was an Emperor.
At the same time, I felt very sorry for Perdes and held his hand tightly.
“...”
Then Perdes looked at the hand I was holding, hugged me, and continued speaking.
“I was angry.”
Golden eyes touched my face.
“I was really angry, but I wanted to scream like a crazy person... It felt like they were saying I was normal, so I got a little angry.”
“Good job.”
If Perdes had not been so angry, he would never have been able to take off his idiot mask.
If he had become so mad, the Emperor would have suspected everything he did and investigated him.
Moreover, anger is the hardest emotion to control, but when I told him that he had achieved it, I praised him several times for a job well done.
Then Perdes drew a faint smile on his saddened face.
“It feels good to be praised by the young lady.”
“I can give you more if you want.”
“Then the praise I received earlier becomes meaningless.”
He only wants to be praised when he does a really good job.
After saying that, Perdes let go of his hand and stood up.
And the bedroom seemed a bit stuffy so he opened the window wide.
A sigh filled his face as he looked down at the garden full of greenery and fresh flowers.
“If this was a duchy, we would have asked to go out and have fun, but it’s a shame we can’t.”
“Will that happen when we return to the duchy?”
Perdes turned to me.
“Is that okay?”
“There is nothing that cannot be done.”
“But the young lady is busy.”
“I can make that much time.”
It was a blatant lie. If I gave Perdes even half a day of my time, I would have to rearrange my entire schedule and stay up all night.
It was like that last time too.
Still, I thought it was the right thing to do if it could make him feel better, so when I said that, Perdes laughed.
“I didn’t know it before, but now I see that you are very bad at lying.”
"Is that so?"
"Yes. That means you've never lied that much. I’ve never lived a life like that.”
It was half right and half wrong.
Adele Leopold, who lived under her father's protection, certainly lived a life where there was no need to lie.
Adele Leopold, who lost her father's protection and lived several lives, lived a life filled with lies.
So I thought I was good at things like lying, but hearing him say things like that made me a little nervous.
I was also worried that other people would see through my lies as Perdes did.
“I always feel this, but the imperial palace is a really stuffy place.”
Perdes looked out the window again.
“I want to return to the Duchy of Leopold quickly.”
“We will only participate in the debutante of the Marquis de Lanchot tomorrow, and then return to the duchy immediately.”
“So, I guess we have to dance tomorrow.”
"Yes."
Unless there was a problem, it was polite to attend a party and dance with a partner at least once.
Perdes frowned and sat down on the window sill as if he didn't like it.
“I don’t know why I’m dancing. They just spin around in circles like crazy.”
“It’s kind of a social activity. People believe that dancing brings men and women closer together.”
“Do you think so too, young lady?”
"No."
When I answered clearly, Perdes laughed.
“Well, then it looks like you hate dancing just like me.”
"Yes."
Is it just dancing? I hated attending social parties.
This debutante would also have happened if the Marquis de Lanchot had not belonged to the aristocracy.
And I wouldn't have participated if it wasn't to show people that Perdes was not an idiot.
“I hope I don’t make any unnecessary mistakes tomorrow.”
“Perdes, you will be able to do well.”
“Thank you for saying that, but I’m still anxious. Especially dancing.”
Perdes frowned and continued speaking.
“I’ve only danced with men so far, but I’ve never danced with a real woman.”
I guess so. It was also danced by L dAldor in the role of a woman.
“What if I step on the lady’s toes while dancing tomorrow?”
"No problem."
“I care.”
Perdes' eyes fell on my feet.
“It would be a big problem if I stepped on it and got hurt.”
“Then shall we dance in advance?”
I had heard about Perdes' skills from Lord Aldor, but I had never seen it with my own eyes, so I was curious.
"Now?"
"Yes."
“There is no music. There is no music box.”
At parties, a musical troupe would come and play beautiful melodies, but since that wasn't usually possible, a music box was usually used.
“You can just ask me to bring it to you.”
Since the royal family also learns ballroom dancing, there will be a music box here as well.
I asked May to bring me a music box.
“Here I am, Lady.”
May immediately brought the music box. Perhaps because it was a music box used by the royal family, the exterior was extravagantly extravagant.
When I opened the lid, which was so studded with jewels that I felt embarrassed to touch it, a statue of a woman wearing a pretty dress appeared.
When I wound the golden spring next to it, a woman in a dress spun around and beautiful music played.
It was music often used during social dances.
May brought it to me with great care.
“Are you really going to dance?”
"Sure?"
I put down the wind-up music box on the table and stood up.
“I even brought a music box, so you don’t want to do it?”
“No, it’s not like that, but it seems a little strange...”
Perdes scratched his head shyly and then came towards me.
Then he placed his hand on his chest, bowed slightly, and extended his other hand to me.
The golden eyes staring at me were more serious than ever.
“Lady Adele Leopold. Will you give me the honor of dancing with you?”
He pretended he didn't like it, but did it right from the start. A smile came naturally.
“It is truly an honor for me, Your Highness.”
I also greeted him formally and gently placed my hand on his outstretched hand.
***
Was ballroom dancing this nerve-wracking?
Perdes swallowed dryly and looked down at Adele in his arms.
When she first saw him, Adele looked down at him, but now the situation has reversed.
He had grown up and was looking down at Adele.
Perdes gently pulled the joined hands, recalling Aldor's words in his head that ballroom dancing should be escorted by men.
Adele obediently followed Perdes' lead without much resistance.
Sabak, Sabak-
The sound of the collar rubbing against the skin mingled with the sound of the music box that filled the room.
“You dance better than I thought.”
“This is a good dance? Are you serious?”
"Sure. This is great.”
Still, Adele said he needed to correct the position of his hands and awkwardly lowered Perdes' hand that was draped on her back.
“...!”
When his hand touched her slim waist, Perdes blushed without realizing it. The gaze went down.
“When dancing, it is polite to look at the other person’s face.”
“...I’m worried I might step on your foot.”
“I know how you feel, but if you look down like that, they’ll think you’re a pervert stealing a glance at my breasts, right?”
When Perdes looked up in surprise at those words, Adele let out a small laugh.
Only then did Perdes realize that Adele was teasing him, and his lips twitched.
Still, the tension was greatly relieved, and Perdes escorted Adele more flexibly than before.
The music played and it was time for the woman to take her turn alone.
As Adele left Perdes' embrace and took a few steps back, a feeling of regret suddenly appeared.
Perdes unconsciously tried to grab her but then remembered that he shouldn't and clenched his fists.
And then he looked at Adele.
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