"Does that mean you've just been saving money all this time?"
"You're right."
"You are really frugal."
Actually, it didn't seem like Eon had spent much money.
"Come to think of it, the interior of the Magic Tower is exactly the same as before, so I suppose you just bought some experimental materials."
I absolutely did not mean to be sarcastic. It was simply a genuine sentiment regarding the remark that I had merely saved money. However, what I received in return was a pair of purple eyes staring at me excessively intently.
'Is being frugal an insult?'
I had to seriously consider whether, in this affluent aristocratic society, it was understood differently than I knew. Eon let out a small sigh and spoke.
"You are really dense, too."
It was such a random remark that I could hardly believe my ears. As expected, the comment about being frugal must have sounded like sarcasm. Just as I was about to explain, Eon continued.
"How can you refuse to give me a chance even at a time like this? Why do you think I accumulated my wealth?"
I wasn't so dense as to fail to notice, even though Eon was saying all this.
“So... for me?”
I was always a brave tongue, but at times like this, I hesitated like a shy child. It was because this situation, where someone else had prepared something for me, felt so unfamiliar. I would have been happy even if it had been a small gift, but this was worth an immeasurable amount of time and money.
"That is correct. I have saved all of this while waiting for the day you return. So, why don't you allow me to use it to my heart's content for you?"
The moment he said that, Eon brought the ends of my hair to him and kissed me. In that instant, I recalled the soft sensation of our lips touching. Every single detail came back vividly to me: the way he craved me as if to swallow me whole, and the hot breath that clung to me.
My hair slid down from his hand. At the same time, he uttered completely unfamiliar words.
“My master.”
As I looked up, I saw purple eyes staring at me.
"M-Master? What do you mean?"
"That's not wrong, is it?"
He gestured toward the wrist bearing the mark of the subordination contract.
"Besides, since I am asking for your permission, it is also an appropriate title for the situation."
"Still, I think it's better not to use it."
It was a good thing that the two of us were there; if someone else had overheard, it could have caused a huge misunderstanding. I quickly changed the subject to erase the impure image that had popped into my head the moment I heard the word "Master."
"Anyway, thank you for thinking of me that way. Go ahead and do everything you want."
Thanks to that, I didn't realize how dangerous what I had said was.
"Thank you. As much as I want. That is wonderful. I will do everything for you."
Eon smiled as if satisfied.
"The next thing I would like to tell you is."
'Is there anything else you want to say?'
Eon spoke as if he had read my mind.
"I clearly said that there was something I wanted to tell you first. That was regarding the expenses for maintaining your dignity that I mentioned earlier."
The conversation, which had started with dresses, had suddenly shifted to the cost of maintaining dignity. Eon closed the wardrobe that had been open and brought up the next topic.
“It’s a dance.”
“Dancing?”
"Yes."
"So, you mean that dance done like this?"
Thinking there might have been an error in my word usage, I raised both arms and shook my body slightly. Eon's twitching lips were clearly trying to suppress a laugh. I stopped moving.
Even though the conversation was over with the party and the dress, is the word "dance" really that awkward?
There was a hint of laughter in Eon's voice.
"But it's a poetry reading, isn't it? There's no reason to dance..."
"There is."
"Poetry readings are just about listening to the presenters' recitations..."
"No."
This time, I couldn't scold Eon for laughing. Because I knew just how ridiculous my expression must have looked.
"It is simply a regular party with poetry readings added. With good music, food, and drinks, how could dancing be left out?"
I had no way of knowing what a gathering of the aristocracy was like. Far from being able to dance, I didn't even have basic knowledge of the dances of this era.
All I learned while at Count Hyrn's mansion was simple etiquette. Back when I was Archmage Sally, things like the Partina dance were completely unrelated to my interests.
I was momentarily flustered, but soon regained my composure. It was because I thought that I could simply choose not to dance. I nodded, pretending to be at ease.
"After all, there must be many people who enjoy dancing."
“What about you?”
I should have realized that the situation wasn't in my favor from the moment a mischievous smile seeped into Eon's eyes.
"Not really. I'm far from being good at dancing."
“That’s what you said.”
"To be more precise, I can't dance at all."
I assumed the same pose as before, as if that was all the dance I knew, and shrugged my shoulders. It meant that I wanted their cooperation, as I would not dance even if others did.
"Oh, dear. In that case, you will need a good teacher."
Eon spoke as if he hadn't grasped my intentions at all. He is usually such a perceptive person. I had no choice but to give him a heads-up.
"I don't need a teacher."
"I see."
It was a quick acceptance that put my mind at ease. But that wasn't the end of it.
"I have such a good partner."
Having said that, Eon placed one of my hands on his own and the other on his shoulder.
"I meant that I wouldn't dance."
I pulled my hand away, but Eon pulled me closer. This time, his hand touched my waist.
"Is this your first time in high society? If so, the eyes of the public will inevitably be on you. The social scene is always sensitive to new faces."
Before I knew it, I was moving my body to follow him.
"Rather than going on and on about why you can't dance, it would be much easier for you to just dance to one song. After all, you need some music, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a violin melody was heard from somewhere.
"The floor isn't suitable for dancing either."
This time, a smooth glow shone on the floor. I wondered when he had mastered such magic, and it seemed there was no need to even have a maid.
"It seems you have developed a lot of amazing magic. Then, isn't there a magic that makes you dance well on its own?'
The music had already started while I was still speaking. Eon stepped forward with one foot and pressed his body against me. His hand on my waist firmly supported me as I tried to step back. We were so close that the only gap left was enough to pull a single sheet of paper through, and his breath touched my ear.
"Why would I research such magic?"
After saying that, he leaped away like a winged animal. Then, as if it were my turn now, he gently pulled me forward. My body leaned forward. I had no choice but to take a step to avoid being embraced by him.
I avoided the situation I had feared, but I had to face him up close again.
"To think that such an enjoyable thing ends with just one spell. Wouldn't that be a shame?"
Just as I was about to retort, Eon raised his hand high, signaling for me to spin. A fast and cheerful melody playing at that moment pushed me forward. As I spun around in place, the arms that had gently wrapped around my waist continued the dance.
"This is the basic step. From now on, you just need to repeat this step. It's not difficult, right?"
"I didn't know 'It's so easy' would apply like this."
I muttered while staring at the floor. Looking back, it wasn't a complicated movement. However, moving in sync with my opponent's rhythm without our steps getting tangled was by no means easy. I realized that this was exactly what it meant for the body not to keep up with the mind.
It was when I was following his steps with my eyes.
“Sally.”
I looked up at his voice, which seemed to be asking me to look at him.
"It is okay to make mistakes. Relax and just follow my lead."
“But...”
While hesitating as I watched him, the worst feared happened. I felt the sensation of stepping on something other than the floor at my toes. I paused for a moment, but Eon continued his steps without changing his expression.
"Trust your partner."
I bounced around like a stone rolling on a gravel field, while Eon's movements were as fluid as flowing water. However, no matter how skilled your partner was, relying solely on one's partner to move was easier said than done.
'One, two, three.'
At first, I moved while counting the sequence in my head. As I became accustomed to the movements, I reached a point where I at least stopped counting the beat. Perhaps noticing my change, he led me a little more rhythmically.
There was a reason he showed such confidence, telling me to just follow him. He was a pretty decent instructor.
'He might not just be a decent instructor, but perhaps a decent person as well.'
Judging by Eon's behavior lately, it seemed there would be no problem even if the contract were broken immediately. Just as he had wanted.
'But.'
I always kept the thought that all of this might be an act standing guard in my mind. It was because of the remarks made by Researcher Sally and the little boy, and the image of Eon I saw in the boy's memory.
I stepped on his foot again while I let my guard down for a moment. This time, Eon spoke up.
"This is because you were distracted."
Eon pressed his palms together and stepped back as if pushing his opponent away, then stood close again, tracing a circle.
"Okay. Please keep focusing on me just like you are now."
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