My heart stopped pounding for a moment.
A multitude of emotions flashed through my amber eyes as I looked at him. Most of them were sparkling things like excitement and anticipation.
But the next moment, he extinguished the sparkles in my eyes.
“It's a masquerade, isn't it, where someone finds love.”
I was completely teased.
As expectations turned to disappointment, a sense of resentment welled up inside me. But I didn't show it on the outside.
“So did you find it?”
“You caught my eye.”
I smiled as I watched him trying to seduce me without knowing the speed. Now it was my turn.
“I already have someone I’ve given my heart to.”
"..."
Even though it's hidden behind a white mask, I could clearly see his expression hardening. He was now completely relaxed.
“Who is that..."
“You have to ask who I am first?”
“I know you are of noble birth. So who is he?”
It seemed that he had forgotten that he had tried to appeal to the viewer with his languid charm first. He had already come close to me. He was so close that she could see his violet eyes glow with an insistent light.
“I won’t tell you.”
"..."
His beautifully curved lips were unable to utter a sound and were just budging. The pitiful impatience was palpable.
It seemed like enough revenge. I lightened the mood by bursting into laughter.
"Who would tease people like that?"
"Ha..."
A listless sigh came out as a sigh. He took off his mask. A fiercely attractive male face was revealed as if it had been created by gathering together all the temptations of this decadent banquet.
“I can’t stand the Princess.”
He cracks jokes with a face as beautiful as a King.
"By the way, I found you before the Princess."
“Michael hides and evades so well that Amber gets upset, and there are several places where he does so.
“There's not as much cover as I thought, and the nobles have been scouring the place.”
“What about the transparency magic?”
"I'm not as skilled in the subtle manipulation of magic as you are. I'm just letting those who wander around using detection magic know that I'm paying tribute."
"Yeah. That's right."
It was when I nodded my head.
“Still, I thought that if it was my Princess, you would appear as if by fate.”
"That..."
“You said you would protect me.”
“Ugh.”
Michael's pensive face, however playful, worked well for me.
I changed the subject to escape my guilty conscience. There was something I was really curious about.
"But Amber was with me. Ah. How did Michael find me?"
"How do you think I found it?"
"Hmm... imprint?"
Michael let out a small laugh because my dullness was so typical of me.
“You speak as if the imprint is all that exists between you and me.”
"That's right. I was sincere."
I hurriedly greeted Michael, fearing that he might show a sad face again. I played a long game.
“Yes. I really looked for it.”
“You have no intention of telling me.”
“It’s true.”
"..."
“Yes. It’s nothing special, but I feel a bit awkward saying it.”
Michael opened his mouth with a shy smile on his handsome face.
"I just kept searching until I found you. The Princess is my everything."
"..."
Even though it was a simple secret, at that moment I felt mt heart pounding and my face turning bright red.
'When the mind is challenged to think deeply about the meaning, the body reacts loudly first.'
What should I say about this feeling?
“Michael.”
I held out my left hand as if I was looking for an escort. Michael immediately supported my hand with his right hand. I smiled and gently squeezed Michael's fingertips.
“Gotcha.”
"..."
“Now Michael, you're my tribute, you have to go on a date with me tonight.”
I was the one who declared proudly, going through all the procedures. Michael also responded as if he had been waiting for it.
"What an honor. This will be an unforgettable night."
"Me too. Let's go and report to the host officials first. Michael has been captured by me."
The escort to the ballroom began. As we walked, we exchanged affectionate glances and smiles.
"This is a lewd and dangerous banquet, so you must stay close to me."
“Of course. Without the Princess by my side, a powerless homunculus like me might get eaten in one bite.”
"That's right, that's right. Only my side is safe."
“I’ll keep that in mind. So, the Princess shouldn’t let another nobleman be by your side and leave me alone.”
“Of course. Where would we have the space to allow that?”
We gave each other satisfactory answers. At this very moment when we were in a good mood, Michael took advantage of the gap and asked.
“By the way, Princess.”
"Yes."
“Do you really have someone in mind?”
Even though the topic was over a long time ago, he was persistent about this part.
“Well? Maybe it will happen by the time the ball is over?”
"..."
The answer, as cheerful as a song, shook Michael. A strange light flashed in his purple eyes as he interpreted the meaning and realized the possibility.
I smiled and urged him on.
“Let’s go.”
***
The lights that seemed to decorate the constellations poured down on the ballroom. The romantic melody created by string instruments and keyboard instruments resonated transparently through the night air.
The dance hall was like a garden in full bloom with summer flowers. I and Michael were like two flowers in the middle of it.
We stood face to face, bowed, and carefully placed our hands on the other's waist or shoulders.
We took our first step, feeling the pleasant and sweet tension coming from our fingertips.
"..."
"..."
Michael and I danced without taking our eyes off each other.
My lavender dress seemed to bloom like a flower bud every time I repeated my dizzying movement of moving closer and farther away like a prank. It fluttered like a hawk.
I suddenly thought.
Dancing was this much fun.
I realized for the first time that simple body movements that I had learned through experience, and banquets that I had thought were just an extension of politics, could be so enjoyable and exciting.
I laughed a little, finding it so new.
"What are you thinking that makes you laugh so much?"
“I think dancing is fun.”
"I also thought you were laughing because my dancing skills were so bad."
“That can’t be possible.”
He danced and wielded a sword. What more can I say, when every movement, soft yet restrained, was so tempting?
Then Michael confessed.
"Do you know that, Princess?"
"What?"
“This is my first dance.”
"..."
My eyes widened. It couldn't just be the first time of the day.
Perhaps because he thought I might not understand, Michael pulled me closer to him and nailed me.
"This is my first dance with a proper partner at a formal banquet. I'm glad you took my first dance."
"Ah..."
The first time is always meaningful. I blushed slightly.
"It would be too much to expect the same from the Princess, but I would be happy if I could receive the first dance of the day."
“That, that...”
Since I had already danced with Sylvestian, there was no first dance for Michael. Michael swallowed a laugh as he watched me bewildered.
Michael said he was making unreasonable demands. It was nice to see Eve trying to listen to him seriously, so he joked around a little more.
"It looks like a wonderful man has approached you."
“It just happened that way.”
"You said you wouldn't take your eyes off me."
"If I had known Michael was coming, I would have left it behind."
"Yes?"
I protested, but Michael pretended not to hear. So I looked a little resentful, and then my expression changed to a serious one.
I decided to go hard.
"But you took the first kiss."
There was going to be a counterattack here. Michael was speechless.
If I think about it, his pranks always ended like this.
"I thought that was left unaddressed."
“Michael pushed me too hard.”
“I was wrong. But that kind of...I guess it’s a bit strange to call that a kiss.”
“What? You’re trying to get away with it now?”
"...No."
It wasn't my intention to act shamelessly, but it wasn't a problem that needed to be explained in detail. Michael was also at a disadvantage.
I was a little cranky, and Michael needed to make me feel better.
After pondering what to do, Michael's line of poetry landed on their interlocking hands.
Michael gently moved his thumb and caressed my fingertips soothingly.
“Please, cheer up, Princess.”
"..."
I held my breath for a moment. The soothing movements had something similar to caressing.
"Where did you learn this type of problem-solving method?"
"..."
"There's something I decided after meeting Michael. Do you know what it is?"
"What?"
"I'm going to blow up the training center."
"..."
Michael opened his mouth after thinking for a long time.
"Princess, there is one thing you misunderstand."
“What is it?”
“What I say and do to you is not something I learned.”
"What? Then?"
"I..."
After some hesitation, Michael opened his mouth.
“Because I want to.”
Deep emotions collided with gazes.
The desire that filled the ballroom was also in his eyes.
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