Episode 2. Their Own Ball
“Long time no see, Adele.”
“Long time no see, Adele.”
“...!”
When Adele looked up in surprise, he quietly smiled. Then, his eyes, which had been as cold as glaciers, seemed to melt and sparkle warmly. These were the eyes of the real Christine she knew. His lips came close enough to touch her earlobe.
“Yes, let’s start with the left foot.”
“Hot!”
Adele shrugged her shoulders as the hot breath tickled her. But soon she naturally moved her feet to where he was pulling her. The two of them sat lightly in the middle of the hall as if they were flying. Soon, others also gathered around them in pairs. The hall quickly became lively as the dance music flowed out briskly.
“Now I can dance without stepping on my toes. It’s all thanks to you, Adele.”
"Chris..."
“Count Christine Weiss.”
He spoke clearly, as if cutting her off.
“Of course, you can call me Chris like you used to. I’m giving you special permission because it’s you.”
Adele had so many things she wanted to ask him, but now she was so dumbfounded that she could only stare at him, unable to say anything.
“Yes, let’s go with the left foot, Chris. One, two, one, two...”
“Do you really have to do this? Only nobles and rascals do this.”
“So you don’t want to do it?”
“Who said I didn’t like it? I just said it was annoying.”
“Ouch! Did you step on my foot on purpose?”
“Sorry. It wasn’t intentional. It was a mistake.”
“One, two... Yah, again!”
“Haha, this time it wasn’t a mistake, it was intentional!”
“Hey! Chris!”
The old barn that used to be their own ballroom when the adults were away. The smell of old hay and the mischievous laughter of the boys were still vivid. And ten years. It seemed that Adele was not the only one who had been through a lot during that time. Christine, dancing to the ballet, was not the pretty boy he had been. He was a head taller than her, and his slender body was as solid as a rock. His low, deep voice and his attractively protruding throat reminded her of a completely different sex. And he danced amazingly perfectly.
“What are you thinking about?”
When he stared at her intently, Adele looked embarrassed and avoided his gaze.
“...It’s been so long since I’ve danced.”
Adele's earlobes turned red as she answered. Did he notice? Her face felt hot as she thought about it.
“Don’t worry. I’ll lead, so just follow me.”
“Yeah.”
Adele naturally surrendered her body. One, two, one, two... When he turned his body, she turned, and when he stretched out his arms and wrapped them around her waist, she gently embraced him. Every time, the hem of her dress, which looked like mourning clothes, would spread out under her narrow waist and wrap around the curves of her body. It was strange. Even though they had not seen each other for so long, Adele could already predict how he would move. One, two, one, two...
“It must be cold, so drink some tea first.”
Adele handed over the warm black tea that Tanya had prepared. Now, she and Christine were the only ones in the house. Mia had figured out the mood and had taken Tanya to her own house. But Christine didn’t even look at the black tea. He didn’t even sit down, as if he was going to leave at any moment. And then he asked, as if he was going to get involved.
“Why did that day just disappear?”
When Adele looked up in surprise, he quietly smiled. Then, his eyes, which had been as cold as glaciers, seemed to melt and sparkle warmly. These were the eyes of the real Christine she knew. His lips came close enough to touch her earlobe.
“Yes, let’s start with the left foot.”
“Hot!”
Adele shrugged her shoulders as the hot breath tickled her. But soon she naturally moved her feet to where he was pulling her. The two of them sat lightly in the middle of the hall as if they were flying. Soon, others also gathered around them in pairs. The hall quickly became lively as the dance music flowed out briskly.
“Now I can dance without stepping on my toes. It’s all thanks to you, Adele.”
"Chris..."
“Count Christine Weiss.”
He spoke clearly, as if cutting her off.
“Of course, you can call me Chris like you used to. I’m giving you special permission because it’s you.”
Adele had so many things she wanted to ask him, but now she was so dumbfounded that she could only stare at him, unable to say anything.
“Yes, let’s go with the left foot, Chris. One, two, one, two...”
“Do you really have to do this? Only nobles and rascals do this.”
“So you don’t want to do it?”
“Who said I didn’t like it? I just said it was annoying.”
“Ouch! Did you step on my foot on purpose?”
“Sorry. It wasn’t intentional. It was a mistake.”
“One, two... Yah, again!”
“Haha, this time it wasn’t a mistake, it was intentional!”
“Hey! Chris!”
The old barn that used to be their own ballroom when the adults were away. The smell of old hay and the mischievous laughter of the boys were still vivid. And ten years. It seemed that Adele was not the only one who had been through a lot during that time. Christine, dancing to the ballet, was not the pretty boy he had been. He was a head taller than her, and his slender body was as solid as a rock. His low, deep voice and his attractively protruding throat reminded her of a completely different sex. And he danced amazingly perfectly.
“What are you thinking about?”
When he stared at her intently, Adele looked embarrassed and avoided his gaze.
“...It’s been so long since I’ve danced.”
Adele's earlobes turned red as she answered. Did he notice? Her face felt hot as she thought about it.
“Don’t worry. I’ll lead, so just follow me.”
“Yeah.”
Adele naturally surrendered her body. One, two, one, two... When he turned his body, she turned, and when he stretched out his arms and wrapped them around her waist, she gently embraced him. Every time, the hem of her dress, which looked like mourning clothes, would spread out under her narrow waist and wrap around the curves of her body. It was strange. Even though they had not seen each other for so long, Adele could already predict how he would move. One, two, one, two...
Before she knew it, their breathing had become equally fast and rapid. The harsh glares from others had long since disappeared from Adele’s mind. They had already returned to the old barn, and in front of her was only Christine. Adele smiled brightly, revealing her white, neat teeth.
When had it been since she last smiled like this?
***
A few days later.
“Would the ground collapse if you sighed that much?”
Adele, who was standing in front of the fireplace, raised her head in surprise. Mia, who had come up next to her, clicked her tongue and looked down. It was snowing outside, as it had piled up quite a bit on top of Mia’s hat and coat.
“Mia! You surprised me. If you were here, make some noise.”
“I called you several times. What on earth were you thinking that you didn’t even notice someone coming?”
Mia shook off the snow that had accumulated on her coat and hung it casually on the wall. She then added more firewood to the crackling fireplace.
“I didn’t even realize that the stove was going out.”
Such actions were as natural as my own home. Mia was a Baroness who lived next door to Adele. She was from a family with no wealth or influence, but only a noble title, so she was no different from a commoner. However, she helped Adele settle down here after being kicked out of the Marquis's family. She also played a big role in completing the dress, which looked like a mourning dress this time.
“What are you thinking? Do you want some tea?”
As Adele got up from her chair, Mia grabbed the hem of her skirt.
“Yes, then sit down for now.”
Adele had no choice but to sit down again. Mia asked questions as if she had been waiting for her.
“Did you enjoy His Majesty the Emperor’s banquet?”
"Yes."
“What about the gift?”
“We all shared and enjoyed it.”
“What about that girl, Seira?”
Only then did Adele realize that Seira had been at the banquet that day. A woman who always had people around and couldn't get Adele. Her meeting with Christine was so intense that she had completely forgotten about Seira's existence.
“Ah, Seira...”
“It looks like Seira was bullied less this year.”
"I know."
Hmm... Mia nodded slightly and asked curiously.
“But what’s the problem?”
Adele shook her head.
“There’s no problem.”
Mia didn't believe it. She had just sighed and pretended not to notice when she came into the living room and spoke to her a little while ago.
“No, there is a problem.”
Every year after attending the Emperor's birthday banquet, Adele became more talkative than usual. She even made a mess of the kitchen, saying she was making cookies and bread. She pretended to be cheerful to hide her hurt feelings.
'But what is this reaction?'
Was there something big to worry about? She squinted her eyes and looked around carefully, and Adele grabbed Mia's hand.
“Really. Nothing happened, so don’t worry, Mia. His Majesty enjoyed the cookies I made, and Seira was quiet. I really enjoyed this banquet.”
“But why are you sighing so absentmindedly?”
"I?"
“It’s definitely one of two things. Either you have a big worry or you’re in love. But it’s unlikely that you’re in love...”
“Mia, let’s have some tea! I have some delicious black tea!”
Adele's cheeks quickly turned red as she got up from her seat. Mia's eyes widened.
“Adele! Are you really in love?”
“Are you crazy? What kind of love is this on my topic...”
As Adele shook her head as if it were nonsense, Mia asked cautiously.
“Surely not... that person?”
“That guy?”
“Count Christine Weiss.”
“...!”
Adele almost tripped over the hem of her skirt and fell over. Mia sighed as if she had expected that to happen.
“Oh my god, you too?”
“Me too?”
“I heard that Count Weiss showed up at this banquet. And there were rumors that he would burn down the banquet hall with his otherworldly beauty. But who would have thought that you would be attracted to him too...”
“No, not that!”
Adele's voice rose without her knowing it.
“If not, then that’s fortunate.”
"Of course!"
But Mia didn't believe it. Adele was unusually flustered. But she was really curious. The hero of the empire, Count Weiss, was an object of curiosity to many people. She thought that the rumors about him being crazy handsome were just made up by the rich. But if he could capture Adele's heart, which she dreaded if she were a man... Wasn't he a real fraud?
'Well, the Emperor couldn't help but be jealous of it.'
Mia gave her pitiful friend some sincere advice.
“Just in case, if you have any feelings for Count Weiss, then quickly stop. He will soon be His Majesty's son-in-law.”
“Son-in-law?”
Adele's expression hardened.
“Rumor has it that he will soon be made a Marquis and betrothed to the Princess. He will probably become a Duke by the time he gets married.”
Mia's husband was in charge of the royal documents. Although he was a low-ranking official, thanks to him, she was also well-informed about the royal family's affairs. Judging from Mia's words, it was almost certain.
“So you’re saying he's marrying Princess April?”
“Yes, the Crown Prince is still young, so His Majesty will need a strong son-in-law to deal with the Council of Elders.”
The Kalime Empire had a 'noble council' made up of five prestigious families. Most Empresses came from the council. However, the current Empress did not come from a good family, and the Emperor did not have a good relationship with the council. Furthermore, the Crown Prince, who was the successor, was still a child. The Emperor needed a strong son-in-law who would be his right-hand man. A young and capable noble who was not from the council, but had the power to stand up to the council!
'That's really great, Chris.'
Adele was proud of Christine. It was a great thing for a miner's son to become a Count, and now she was the Emperor's son-in-law. But why did her heart feel so empty?
“Adele, are you... Okay?”
Mia asked, studying Adele's expression. It was as if she had just heard news of the marriage of the man she liked.
“Of course. What could be wrong with me?”
Adele smiled and rolled up her arms.
“This won’t do. We’re hungry. Let’s make something to eat. How about bread? Pie? Let’s make a lot and share some with others!”
It was when she headed briskly towards the kitchen.
“You have a guest, you have a guest!”
Tanya, who was returning from shopping, came running in excitedly. Tanya was the maid who had followed Adele when she was kicked out of the Oswald household. She had been Adele's only maid, but now she was like family to her.
“A guest?”
Adele asked anxiously as she accepted Tanya's shopping cart. The only guests who would come to see her would be those sent by the Oswald family, or those who came to harm her, claiming to be the evil woman who poisoned her husband. There was no way she would welcome such guests.
“I don’t know who it is. I just ran here because I saw a huge carriage following me. What do I do now?”
“Don’t worry. If he's a weirdo, I’ll kick him out even if I have to beat him up.”
Mia bravely grabbed the poker in front of the fireplace.
“Then I’ll throw this and hit him in the head!”
Tanya also picked up a fist-sized potato from the basket. Adele, who saw her, laughed quietly and then said calmly.
“You don’t have to go that far. It’ll all be over if you just give them poisoned tea.”
Wow. Mia and Tanya were shocked. They wondered if she could even say something like that as a joke when she was already being accused of being a poison expert.
“Would the ground collapse if you sighed that much?”
Adele, who was standing in front of the fireplace, raised her head in surprise. Mia, who had come up next to her, clicked her tongue and looked down. It was snowing outside, as it had piled up quite a bit on top of Mia’s hat and coat.
“Mia! You surprised me. If you were here, make some noise.”
“I called you several times. What on earth were you thinking that you didn’t even notice someone coming?”
Mia shook off the snow that had accumulated on her coat and hung it casually on the wall. She then added more firewood to the crackling fireplace.
“I didn’t even realize that the stove was going out.”
Such actions were as natural as my own home. Mia was a Baroness who lived next door to Adele. She was from a family with no wealth or influence, but only a noble title, so she was no different from a commoner. However, she helped Adele settle down here after being kicked out of the Marquis's family. She also played a big role in completing the dress, which looked like a mourning dress this time.
“What are you thinking? Do you want some tea?”
As Adele got up from her chair, Mia grabbed the hem of her skirt.
“Yes, then sit down for now.”
Adele had no choice but to sit down again. Mia asked questions as if she had been waiting for her.
“Did you enjoy His Majesty the Emperor’s banquet?”
"Yes."
“What about the gift?”
“We all shared and enjoyed it.”
“What about that girl, Seira?”
Only then did Adele realize that Seira had been at the banquet that day. A woman who always had people around and couldn't get Adele. Her meeting with Christine was so intense that she had completely forgotten about Seira's existence.
“Ah, Seira...”
“It looks like Seira was bullied less this year.”
"I know."
Hmm... Mia nodded slightly and asked curiously.
“But what’s the problem?”
Adele shook her head.
“There’s no problem.”
Mia didn't believe it. She had just sighed and pretended not to notice when she came into the living room and spoke to her a little while ago.
“No, there is a problem.”
Every year after attending the Emperor's birthday banquet, Adele became more talkative than usual. She even made a mess of the kitchen, saying she was making cookies and bread. She pretended to be cheerful to hide her hurt feelings.
'But what is this reaction?'
Was there something big to worry about? She squinted her eyes and looked around carefully, and Adele grabbed Mia's hand.
“Really. Nothing happened, so don’t worry, Mia. His Majesty enjoyed the cookies I made, and Seira was quiet. I really enjoyed this banquet.”
“But why are you sighing so absentmindedly?”
"I?"
“It’s definitely one of two things. Either you have a big worry or you’re in love. But it’s unlikely that you’re in love...”
“Mia, let’s have some tea! I have some delicious black tea!”
Adele's cheeks quickly turned red as she got up from her seat. Mia's eyes widened.
“Adele! Are you really in love?”
“Are you crazy? What kind of love is this on my topic...”
As Adele shook her head as if it were nonsense, Mia asked cautiously.
“Surely not... that person?”
“That guy?”
“Count Christine Weiss.”
“...!”
Adele almost tripped over the hem of her skirt and fell over. Mia sighed as if she had expected that to happen.
“Oh my god, you too?”
“Me too?”
“I heard that Count Weiss showed up at this banquet. And there were rumors that he would burn down the banquet hall with his otherworldly beauty. But who would have thought that you would be attracted to him too...”
“No, not that!”
Adele's voice rose without her knowing it.
“If not, then that’s fortunate.”
"Of course!"
But Mia didn't believe it. Adele was unusually flustered. But she was really curious. The hero of the empire, Count Weiss, was an object of curiosity to many people. She thought that the rumors about him being crazy handsome were just made up by the rich. But if he could capture Adele's heart, which she dreaded if she were a man... Wasn't he a real fraud?
'Well, the Emperor couldn't help but be jealous of it.'
Mia gave her pitiful friend some sincere advice.
“Just in case, if you have any feelings for Count Weiss, then quickly stop. He will soon be His Majesty's son-in-law.”
“Son-in-law?”
Adele's expression hardened.
“Rumor has it that he will soon be made a Marquis and betrothed to the Princess. He will probably become a Duke by the time he gets married.”
Mia's husband was in charge of the royal documents. Although he was a low-ranking official, thanks to him, she was also well-informed about the royal family's affairs. Judging from Mia's words, it was almost certain.
“So you’re saying he's marrying Princess April?”
“Yes, the Crown Prince is still young, so His Majesty will need a strong son-in-law to deal with the Council of Elders.”
The Kalime Empire had a 'noble council' made up of five prestigious families. Most Empresses came from the council. However, the current Empress did not come from a good family, and the Emperor did not have a good relationship with the council. Furthermore, the Crown Prince, who was the successor, was still a child. The Emperor needed a strong son-in-law who would be his right-hand man. A young and capable noble who was not from the council, but had the power to stand up to the council!
'That's really great, Chris.'
Adele was proud of Christine. It was a great thing for a miner's son to become a Count, and now she was the Emperor's son-in-law. But why did her heart feel so empty?
“Adele, are you... Okay?”
Mia asked, studying Adele's expression. It was as if she had just heard news of the marriage of the man she liked.
“Of course. What could be wrong with me?”
Adele smiled and rolled up her arms.
“This won’t do. We’re hungry. Let’s make something to eat. How about bread? Pie? Let’s make a lot and share some with others!”
It was when she headed briskly towards the kitchen.
“You have a guest, you have a guest!”
Tanya, who was returning from shopping, came running in excitedly. Tanya was the maid who had followed Adele when she was kicked out of the Oswald household. She had been Adele's only maid, but now she was like family to her.
“A guest?”
Adele asked anxiously as she accepted Tanya's shopping cart. The only guests who would come to see her would be those sent by the Oswald family, or those who came to harm her, claiming to be the evil woman who poisoned her husband. There was no way she would welcome such guests.
“I don’t know who it is. I just ran here because I saw a huge carriage following me. What do I do now?”
“Don’t worry. If he's a weirdo, I’ll kick him out even if I have to beat him up.”
Mia bravely grabbed the poker in front of the fireplace.
“Then I’ll throw this and hit him in the head!”
Tanya also picked up a fist-sized potato from the basket. Adele, who saw her, laughed quietly and then said calmly.
“You don’t have to go that far. It’ll all be over if you just give them poisoned tea.”
Wow. Mia and Tanya were shocked. They wondered if she could even say something like that as a joke when she was already being accused of being a poison expert.
Hee-eeeeee!
At that moment, a horse's neighing could be heard from the small mansion garden. Mia ran to the window and quickly opened the curtains. A large, luxurious carriage was parked in front of the garden, covered with snow.
“Who is it? I’m seeing this family crest for the first time...”
Mia, who had been muttering, soon muttered with a blank expression.
“Adele, there must be someone here to harm you!”
“Who is it?”
Mia quickly added, looking at the pale Adele.
“If a man like that proposed to me with a bouquet of flowers, I would definitely die of a heart attack.”
"What?"
The carriage door opened, and people carrying huge bouquets of flowers came out one after another. But the reason Mia was so shocked was that the man standing in the bouquet was more beautiful than the flowers.
“Who is it? I’m seeing this family crest for the first time...”
Mia, who had been muttering, soon muttered with a blank expression.
“Adele, there must be someone here to harm you!”
“Who is it?”
Mia quickly added, looking at the pale Adele.
“If a man like that proposed to me with a bouquet of flowers, I would definitely die of a heart attack.”
"What?"
The carriage door opened, and people carrying huge bouquets of flowers came out one after another. But the reason Mia was so shocked was that the man standing in the bouquet was more beautiful than the flowers.
***
“It must be cold, so drink some tea first.”
Adele handed over the warm black tea that Tanya had prepared. Now, she and Christine were the only ones in the house. Mia had figured out the mood and had taken Tanya to her own house. But Christine didn’t even look at the black tea. He didn’t even sit down, as if he was going to leave at any moment. And then he asked, as if he was going to get involved.
“Why did that day just disappear?”
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