“I’m working out.”
As I answered, panting, the Emperor clicked his tongue. Then he began to slow down the tempo a little.
At first, it felt jarring and out of sync with the song, but soon the orchestral performance slowed down to a somewhat slower tempo to match the Emperor's dance.
The Emperor grabbed me by the waist, lifted me into the air, put me down, and fired.
“As soon as the ball is over, I’ll have to ask for an increase in the Princess’s palace budget. The Princess is running low on money, so she’s just wearing a nightgown like this.”
Nightgowns... Yes, they were similar to slips that you wear to sleep in, with a lot of compromise. Sleeveless, with a waistline just below the chest, and without a petticoat to puff out the skirt.
Nevertheless, this was the most expensive and luxurious dress I owned, and I felt a little wronged when people reacted to me as if I had come wearing something I couldn't wear.
I asked timidly.
“...Is it that weird? To the point where you can’t watch it at all?”
It seemed as if a pleased smile briefly crossed the wrinkled eyes of the old man who had been waltzing silently.
When I opened my eyes wide in surprise, he answered again with his eyebrows knitted together as if nothing had happened.
“You chose one gem well. It’s not your taste, it must be that guy.”
At the Emperor's words, I looked over to Laskan. It seemed as if he had been looking this way the whole time, and our eyes met straight away.
Laskan bowed his head gracefully towards me. The Emperor's lips twisted a little more at the politeness.
“When young men seduce women, they use all kinds of jewels and sweet talk. Who would have thought that the Duke would act in the same way as those rascals? I have to live long to see this.”
I moved my lips, not knowing what to say.
This was... nitpicking in the most literal sense. It was a long-standing imperial custom to give gifts of jewels, flowers, and love poems.
Before I could make any excuses on behalf of Laskan, the waltz was over. As I knelt down and bowed, the Emperor took my hand and led me to Laskan.
“Still, you’re following along quite well. I thought you couldn’t use it at all.”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s excellent guidance...”
The Emperor waved his hand as if he was tired.
“That’s enough empty talk. You’ve just kept talking nonsense.”
“...”
“I’m tired, so I’ll go now. After all, you’re the main character of the banquet.”
“You haven’t even seen the sunrise?”
“Once you’ve had your first dance, you’ve done your duty. At your mother’s first dance...”
As I momentarily became at a loss, the Emperor's expression hardened again. The harmonious atmosphere instantly froze like thin ice.
He gave a cold order to the attendant standing beside him.
“Let’s go now.”
As the Emperor turned around, the gathered nobles were seen bowing busily and stepping aside.
It was already the second time. The Emperor had mistaken me for the real Princess and called the dead Crown Princess my mother. It was bittersweet, even though none of it was my intention.
No one has the right to poke at someone else's old wounds, even if it's for survival.
I watched the Emperor's back as he walked away for a long time, until he was finally out of sight, buried in the crowd.
“A pommel from 769? I guess His Majesty has put a lot of thought into this entremete.”
Irina said, handing him another glass of champagne from the servant.
The liquor was weak enough not to spoil the mood of the first half of the banquet, but it was still quite expensive, as befitting an item offered by the imperial family.
They say that each glass is worth a sapphire the size of a thumbnail. If I hadn't known, I would have enjoyed it, but now that I know, I can't bring myself to swallow it.
I placed the glass Irina had handed me back on the table.
“Now that the drinks have been passed around twice, the real ball is about to begin.”
I glanced at Laskan, surrounded by nobles.
He looked literally crazy busy. The nobles were trying to get in line even now, trying to show off to him. The old-fashioned man, despite looking like he was dying of exhaustion, was politely and respectfully responding to him.
That was so cute, I smiled happily and looked at Laskan.
“You danced your first dance with His Majesty, so you plan to dance your next dance with His Excellency the Duke?”
“Yeah. Can I rest for a bit before that? My feet hurt a little...”
“Then I will go and ask His Excellency to join us for the next dance.”
"Good."
“If you’re hungry, eat something.”
Irina spoke as if she was leaving behind her little sisters and walked away.
She was the oldest of the three of us, and sometimes she would look at us like that like she was looking at her younger siblings.
I smiled brightly and waved. Irina looked back at us as she walked away as if she was anxious about leaving us alone.
I watched until Irina was out of sight, then turned away.
The schedule was busier than I thought. I thought I could just leisurely wave my fan around and eat something.
I have to dance, greet people here and there, and find big names who can support me.
And... I also have to take care of my newly adopted cat.
I glanced over the gathered nobles and finally found the cat, or rather the person, I was targeting.
“Thalia.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
I moved my chin ever so slightly and pointed at him.
“Do you see that person over there?”
“...Surely, Your Highness, oh, my goodness... You are not talking about Lord Batistan?”
“Right. How can I do it so that it looks natural?”
Thalia looked around Dmitry carefully and spoke. Contrary to her words, her attitude was very active.
“Please be introduced to the Countess Cordillard.”
“Countess Cordillard?”
“The person standing on the left, next to Baron Dexen. She is the cousin of Marquis Batistan... I can’t delay the introduction. She is a woman, so it is appropriate to greet her.”
Thalia whispered softly in my ear.
It was a good plan. I first reached out to a few nobles around the stage and greeted them. The greeting was followed by a series of high-minded, petty, and meaningless chatter and laughter.
Thanks to Thalia's ability to cut off the long-winded conversation, it didn't take long for us to circle halfway through the banquet hall and stand before Countess Cordillard.
“This is the Countess Cordillard, Your Highness.”
An elegant middle-aged woman took my outstretched hand and bent her knees.
They said she was his cousin, but at first glance, she seemed to resemble Dmitry. She had a very elegant and delicate appearance.
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am. Oh, and may you introduce me to the wonderful Young Master who is with you?”
A look of anxiety flashed across her stern eyes and then disappeared.
The countess covered her mouth with her fan and spoke in a whisper.
“...This is my cousin Dmitry.”
“My name is Dmitry Lionel Sol Batistan, Your Highness.”
He took my hand as if he were seeing me for the first time and kissed me over my glove for a long time.
Those with a keen eye noticed that Dmitry was holding my hand for too long and that his kisses were rudely long.
It was ambiguous to criticize him openly, but it did not fit the strict etiquette that should be shown to the royal family.
“...I have been rude. Please forgive me.”
Dmitry finally let go and said, looking so genuinely embarrassed that I couldn't believe he was making it up.
If there had been no conversation between us, I would have been fooled into thinking that he had fallen in love with me at first sight.
Curious gazes poured in secretly around us.
“I forgive you.”
I pretended to be shy and covered my face with my fan and whispered. This was the kind of affection that a Princess who was not good at socializing would show to the handsome, single Young Master.
I deliberately raised my voice a little and then recited the words I had prepared in advance.
“In return for forgiveness, I have a third dance partner available. I wonder if Lord Batistan would be willing to apply.”
He smiled gently.
“I decline that.”
The second one was pushed back to the third one, but up until this point we had been talking in agreement. So I was surprised because I never thought he would reject me.
While I was frozen with my eyes wide open, Dmitry elegantly extended his hand again and made a counteroffer.
“Your Highness has already chosen your first dance partner.”
“...”
“Can I dare wish for a second time?”
I laughed out loud in disbelief. It was obvious who I was holding by the hand as I entered the banquet hall... This was clearly an undiscussed act.
I took a step closer to him. Then I covered my mouth with my fan and asked doubtfully.
“Your Grace, are you of sound mind now?”
“Didn’t you make a promise?”
I was so shocked I almost laughed out loud.
I pretended to sneeze at the laughter that had spread to the tip of my nose and covered ny mouth a little more tightly with ny fan. Then I quickly replied in a whisper.
“What kind of nonsense is that? It’s still the case that you’re the second of the unmarried Young Masters.”
“But it is different from the promise Your Highness made to me.”
“Are you really going to come out like this?”
“Then how about this?”
Despite my half-threatening tone, Dmitry made his suggestion gently without batting an eyelash.
“The next dance song doesn’t have a change of partners in the middle. I think it would be appropriate if you split the song in half with the Duke.”
“...”
“Then I will be Your Highness’s second and third dance partner.”
I looked at Thalia, not knowing what to say. She came close to my ear and whispered.
“The next song is one where the dance partner changes in the middle. It’s Vaslitskaya’s dance song that we practiced together last time.”
I let out a gasp of relief.
They say that a truly handsome person is worth his price. It was clear that he was hiding a hundred secrets beneath that handsome face.
As I answered, panting, the Emperor clicked his tongue. Then he began to slow down the tempo a little.
At first, it felt jarring and out of sync with the song, but soon the orchestral performance slowed down to a somewhat slower tempo to match the Emperor's dance.
The Emperor grabbed me by the waist, lifted me into the air, put me down, and fired.
“As soon as the ball is over, I’ll have to ask for an increase in the Princess’s palace budget. The Princess is running low on money, so she’s just wearing a nightgown like this.”
Nightgowns... Yes, they were similar to slips that you wear to sleep in, with a lot of compromise. Sleeveless, with a waistline just below the chest, and without a petticoat to puff out the skirt.
Nevertheless, this was the most expensive and luxurious dress I owned, and I felt a little wronged when people reacted to me as if I had come wearing something I couldn't wear.
I asked timidly.
“...Is it that weird? To the point where you can’t watch it at all?”
It seemed as if a pleased smile briefly crossed the wrinkled eyes of the old man who had been waltzing silently.
When I opened my eyes wide in surprise, he answered again with his eyebrows knitted together as if nothing had happened.
“You chose one gem well. It’s not your taste, it must be that guy.”
At the Emperor's words, I looked over to Laskan. It seemed as if he had been looking this way the whole time, and our eyes met straight away.
Laskan bowed his head gracefully towards me. The Emperor's lips twisted a little more at the politeness.
“When young men seduce women, they use all kinds of jewels and sweet talk. Who would have thought that the Duke would act in the same way as those rascals? I have to live long to see this.”
I moved my lips, not knowing what to say.
This was... nitpicking in the most literal sense. It was a long-standing imperial custom to give gifts of jewels, flowers, and love poems.
Before I could make any excuses on behalf of Laskan, the waltz was over. As I knelt down and bowed, the Emperor took my hand and led me to Laskan.
“Still, you’re following along quite well. I thought you couldn’t use it at all.”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s excellent guidance...”
The Emperor waved his hand as if he was tired.
“That’s enough empty talk. You’ve just kept talking nonsense.”
“...”
“I’m tired, so I’ll go now. After all, you’re the main character of the banquet.”
“You haven’t even seen the sunrise?”
“Once you’ve had your first dance, you’ve done your duty. At your mother’s first dance...”
As I momentarily became at a loss, the Emperor's expression hardened again. The harmonious atmosphere instantly froze like thin ice.
He gave a cold order to the attendant standing beside him.
“Let’s go now.”
As the Emperor turned around, the gathered nobles were seen bowing busily and stepping aside.
It was already the second time. The Emperor had mistaken me for the real Princess and called the dead Crown Princess my mother. It was bittersweet, even though none of it was my intention.
No one has the right to poke at someone else's old wounds, even if it's for survival.
I watched the Emperor's back as he walked away for a long time, until he was finally out of sight, buried in the crowd.
***
“A pommel from 769? I guess His Majesty has put a lot of thought into this entremete.”
Irina said, handing him another glass of champagne from the servant.
The liquor was weak enough not to spoil the mood of the first half of the banquet, but it was still quite expensive, as befitting an item offered by the imperial family.
They say that each glass is worth a sapphire the size of a thumbnail. If I hadn't known, I would have enjoyed it, but now that I know, I can't bring myself to swallow it.
I placed the glass Irina had handed me back on the table.
“Now that the drinks have been passed around twice, the real ball is about to begin.”
I glanced at Laskan, surrounded by nobles.
He looked literally crazy busy. The nobles were trying to get in line even now, trying to show off to him. The old-fashioned man, despite looking like he was dying of exhaustion, was politely and respectfully responding to him.
That was so cute, I smiled happily and looked at Laskan.
“You danced your first dance with His Majesty, so you plan to dance your next dance with His Excellency the Duke?”
“Yeah. Can I rest for a bit before that? My feet hurt a little...”
“Then I will go and ask His Excellency to join us for the next dance.”
"Good."
“If you’re hungry, eat something.”
Irina spoke as if she was leaving behind her little sisters and walked away.
She was the oldest of the three of us, and sometimes she would look at us like that like she was looking at her younger siblings.
I smiled brightly and waved. Irina looked back at us as she walked away as if she was anxious about leaving us alone.
I watched until Irina was out of sight, then turned away.
The schedule was busier than I thought. I thought I could just leisurely wave my fan around and eat something.
I have to dance, greet people here and there, and find big names who can support me.
And... I also have to take care of my newly adopted cat.
I glanced over the gathered nobles and finally found the cat, or rather the person, I was targeting.
“Thalia.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
I moved my chin ever so slightly and pointed at him.
“Do you see that person over there?”
“...Surely, Your Highness, oh, my goodness... You are not talking about Lord Batistan?”
“Right. How can I do it so that it looks natural?”
Thalia looked around Dmitry carefully and spoke. Contrary to her words, her attitude was very active.
“Please be introduced to the Countess Cordillard.”
“Countess Cordillard?”
“The person standing on the left, next to Baron Dexen. She is the cousin of Marquis Batistan... I can’t delay the introduction. She is a woman, so it is appropriate to greet her.”
Thalia whispered softly in my ear.
It was a good plan. I first reached out to a few nobles around the stage and greeted them. The greeting was followed by a series of high-minded, petty, and meaningless chatter and laughter.
Thanks to Thalia's ability to cut off the long-winded conversation, it didn't take long for us to circle halfway through the banquet hall and stand before Countess Cordillard.
“This is the Countess Cordillard, Your Highness.”
An elegant middle-aged woman took my outstretched hand and bent her knees.
They said she was his cousin, but at first glance, she seemed to resemble Dmitry. She had a very elegant and delicate appearance.
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am. Oh, and may you introduce me to the wonderful Young Master who is with you?”
A look of anxiety flashed across her stern eyes and then disappeared.
The countess covered her mouth with her fan and spoke in a whisper.
“...This is my cousin Dmitry.”
“My name is Dmitry Lionel Sol Batistan, Your Highness.”
He took my hand as if he were seeing me for the first time and kissed me over my glove for a long time.
Those with a keen eye noticed that Dmitry was holding my hand for too long and that his kisses were rudely long.
It was ambiguous to criticize him openly, but it did not fit the strict etiquette that should be shown to the royal family.
“...I have been rude. Please forgive me.”
Dmitry finally let go and said, looking so genuinely embarrassed that I couldn't believe he was making it up.
If there had been no conversation between us, I would have been fooled into thinking that he had fallen in love with me at first sight.
Curious gazes poured in secretly around us.
“I forgive you.”
I pretended to be shy and covered my face with my fan and whispered. This was the kind of affection that a Princess who was not good at socializing would show to the handsome, single Young Master.
I deliberately raised my voice a little and then recited the words I had prepared in advance.
“In return for forgiveness, I have a third dance partner available. I wonder if Lord Batistan would be willing to apply.”
He smiled gently.
“I decline that.”
The second one was pushed back to the third one, but up until this point we had been talking in agreement. So I was surprised because I never thought he would reject me.
While I was frozen with my eyes wide open, Dmitry elegantly extended his hand again and made a counteroffer.
“Your Highness has already chosen your first dance partner.”
“...”
“Can I dare wish for a second time?”
I laughed out loud in disbelief. It was obvious who I was holding by the hand as I entered the banquet hall... This was clearly an undiscussed act.
I took a step closer to him. Then I covered my mouth with my fan and asked doubtfully.
“Your Grace, are you of sound mind now?”
“Didn’t you make a promise?”
I was so shocked I almost laughed out loud.
I pretended to sneeze at the laughter that had spread to the tip of my nose and covered ny mouth a little more tightly with ny fan. Then I quickly replied in a whisper.
“What kind of nonsense is that? It’s still the case that you’re the second of the unmarried Young Masters.”
“But it is different from the promise Your Highness made to me.”
“Are you really going to come out like this?”
“Then how about this?”
Despite my half-threatening tone, Dmitry made his suggestion gently without batting an eyelash.
“The next dance song doesn’t have a change of partners in the middle. I think it would be appropriate if you split the song in half with the Duke.”
“...”
“Then I will be Your Highness’s second and third dance partner.”
I looked at Thalia, not knowing what to say. She came close to my ear and whispered.
“The next song is one where the dance partner changes in the middle. It’s Vaslitskaya’s dance song that we practiced together last time.”
I let out a gasp of relief.
They say that a truly handsome person is worth his price. It was clear that he was hiding a hundred secrets beneath that handsome face.
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