[ 'John's' disgust level: 50 ]
As expected... I knew this would happen. This is the only emotion that makes John say this.
Jealousy towards other men.
When she was playing the <Reverse Harem Route>, she only chose the choices that John would hate. She raised John's disgust level up to 50 with those choices.
A voice that comes out when you can't completely trust the other person because you've been disappointed many times, but you still feel good about them.
The disgust at that time, the expression and tone of voice at that time. Everything was the same. So she was sure.
'The favorability rating has to be at least 10. It might even be 20.'
Odette never expected that John, who hated her so much in her past life, would develop feelings for her...
'I don't know how it came to be, but since it's here, I should use it.'
I decided to leave John.
***
“My taste in men is not that bad, Your Highness. It’s just that no man has ever asked me to dance.”
Odette smiled bitterly as she said this, her voice sounding ashamed of the fact.
Because of that, her voice sounded more sorrowful and empty. John stared at Odette like that.
'Unlike the last time I showed you my leg scar, you don't avoid my eyes.'
Odette also did not avoid John's eyes. Soon, the waltz prelude began to play. John tugged at the dance card hanging from her wrist.
"John Muller Litjens von Barzeha"
Then he unfolded the dance card and scribbled his name in elegant cursive. His handwriting was tenacious.
“...Phew.”
Then he took a deep breath and held out his hand to her.
“Lady Odette. Would you like to dance a song with me?”
“Lady Odette. Would you like to dance a song with me?”
Just like what John said three years ago, Odette had answered like this.
“I hate it so much. Why should I dance with Your Highness?!”
“Horribly-”
Odette, with a playful smile, opened her mouth to speak the same words as before. John also seemed to remember the old answer, and for a moment he froze.
“-Very well, Sir. I will be happy to do so.”
But Odette's answer was different then. She took his hand.
John's arm flinched and then gained strength as her long lace-gloved hand touched it.
He looked at Odette with a somewhat complicated expression, but it was clear that he didn't hate her.
[ 'John's' disgust level is reduced by 5. ]
Because the status window appeared like that.
There were gasps and cheers from all around as Odette, holding his hand, walked out from the terrace and towards the dance floor.
Sion, who was leaning against the wall, also turned his gaze to Odette.
John and Odette. They are both known to not dance in places like this, and they are known to be enemies. He would never have imagined that they would be dancing together while holding hands.
Even Odette, the person dancing, couldn't have imagined it.
'It's a good thing we sent Paula away early.'
If the Count or Ferdinand had been informed of this, they would not have left Odette alone.
'Don't worry about rumors. As long as there are no pictures, you can make up any number of excuses.'
Besides, the Count will not have time to worry about the ball for a while. As soon as he returns to the Count's residence, he will find Mrs. Becker locked up.
But if the Count's eyes and ears were here, it would be a completely different story.
“I know it’s childish and stupid to ask something like this, but...”
John's voice broke Odette's reverie. It was a voice mixed with self-mockery.
“Isn’t my dancing much better than that sergeant’s?”
“It’s a cruel comparison. The corporal only learned dancing at a military academy. Your Highness, you received private lessons from the best dancer in the empire.”
Odette, who thought it was a light conversation, answered in a refreshing tone, but unexpectedly, John protested seriously.
“I haven’t danced in three years either. I’ve never learned it either.”
'You're a transcendent being, aren't you? Physical tasks are thousands of times easier for you than for ordinary people.'
Besides, it doesn't make sense that the male lead is worse than someone who isn't even an extra...
Odette thought so, but she didn't want to break this good atmosphere. So she just nodded.
“Your Highness, your skills are overwhelmingly superior. I can tell just by looking at the people who are paying attention to you.”
When did he come back? Odette checked Marco, who was standing behind John among the guests and glaring at her as if he was going to burn her.
'Marco, we have to get rid of that guy too. He must be Father's most loyal eye.'
As expected, I'll have to meet Corporal Marco on the terrace as soon as I finish this dance. I'll go and meet that damn potato guy right away-
“Thank goodness. I hope no one remembers dancing with Marco. I hope they can just remember the dance with me.”
Odette, who was so absorbed in dealing with Marco, didn't hear John's low muttering.
How much time has passed?
John, who was continuing his flawless waltz, suddenly stopped.
When Odette and John, who were already the center of attention in the banquet hall, stopped, all the guests' attention was focused on them.
"Your Highness?"
When Odette raised her head, John's face was red.
“...You, the scent of flowers...Suddenly...”
The scent of flowers?
Odette, who realized that John's story was related to purification, was startled and reflexively pulled away from John.
'Why the scent of flowers? There must be something wrong with the scent.'
Just in case, she had already met the real Mengele this morning.
'Is it because the roses smell too bad?'
It was the moment when Odette was about to take a couple of steps back.
Whoosh. The view around her suddenly changed.
The place where Odette was standing was the space where the heart she had only seen in her dreams was located.
'... What? Why am I here all of a sudden...? I was definitely in the palace?'
Odette looked around with a confused expression.
'... What the heck? Why on earth... Did I fall asleep?'
The heart-winged wasps were almost gone, except for a few fluttered on the dry, cracked ground.
Odette looked at the huge, stake-like tree in front of her. She thought it was dead, but it was sprouting new, light green leaves.
It was as if she was watching the actual sprouting of a seed in fast-forward. She stared at the pale green sprout as if she was entranced.
The moment when a single flower bud in the middle of it all bursts open.
'Huh!'
Her vision returned to the ballroom again. She was in her original state, with John holding her by the waist while she danced.
[ 'John's' disgust level is reduced by 3. ]
Odette looked around with a confused expression.
'What the hell was that just now? Am I hallucinating because I'm tired?'
“Are you okay? I suddenly feel like you have lost all your strength.”
Odette answered John's question calmly.
“Ah... It’s nothing. I just felt dizzy for a moment.”
When she listened to the flow of the waltz, it seemed like at most 2-3 seconds had passed. She couldn't believe it.
Odette had been looking at the flower buds for at least a few minutes.
“What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong?”
Sion, who had been leaning against the wall, came next to her. At that moment, the orchestra's waltz performance ended.
“I’m going to get some fresh air for a bit. I’m going to the terrace, so please don’t follow me.”
Odette spoke with unusual coldness and sternness.
For over a month, Odette had been trying to please the male protagonist, but she was acting very firm, unlike other women.
Perhaps because of that, both John and Sion stopped in their tracks. Thanks to that, she was able to head to the terrace alone.
The reason she was so determined was because of the status window that appeared before her eyes.
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