It wasn’t until a little while later that the Emperor slowly lowered his gaze.
“I’m afraid Leon can be pretty useful sometimes.”
She had heard the name before. She still remembered all the names she had to memorize for the last banquet, but the context of this conversation seemed to be referring to Leon, the Duke of Thiaheb and the Emperor’s close friend.
‘What did Sir Leon do?’
The Emperor was usually generous with compliments, but she felt good whenever she heard them from him. When she smiled and hurriedly copied another lady standing beside her, grabbing the hem of her skirt and slightly bending her knees, he gave a sly smirk, swiftly turning around on his heel.
Meanwhile, the envoys representing each country and the Empress arrived. She didn’t see him anywhere, but she knew Serek was there. The magic officers chosen by the Empress were coming tonight.
But, she tried not to pay too much attention to them.
In the middle of the event, the Duke of Thiaheb brought Vincenzo, Cian, Nero, and her up on the podium. She was so nervous that she couldn’t even walk properly. Introduced under the grand name of the Academy’s promising talents, they were able to come down from the podium only after receiving a great round of applause.
If she hadn’t been with Vincenzo and the other two from the Academy, she wouldn’t have been able to stand properly because her legs were shaking.
She descended down from the platform and only came to her senses after gulping down a whole glass of water that Vincenzo handed her. Vincenzo looked at her with a gentle smile.
“I almost didn’t recognize you. You look really, really pretty.”
“Thank you. You look fabulous, too.”
She wasn’t joking. Vincenzo, in a light blue suit, looked quite plausible. While they talked, the other two students – Cian and Nero – were taken away by another group trying to greet them, and that’s how they could sit on a chair and rest for a little, using them as scapegoats.
“It’s your first time attending a banquet, right?”
‘Not the first time, but it is my first time attending like this.’ When she nodded vaguely, Vincenzo stood up, extending his arm towards her.
“Do you hear the music? Let’s go there and dance.”
“Dance?”
“Yeah, unless you want to waste the enjoyment of coming all the way here.”
‘Waste, he says.’ But, she did not know how the aristocrats danced at all, and she didn’t want to attract more attention. Even now, when she was just sitting down, a lot of eyes shifted to stare at her after she was introduced as a talent.
“Come on, I’ll teach you.”
“Well, I…..”
As she was pondering on what to answer, a man dressed in a white suit suddenly stepped in the conversation. It was Leon, the Duke of Thiaheb.
“It’s not polite to force someone, Vincenzo.”
“Don’t get in here. I was asking her out.”
“The girl doesn’t like you.”
“She didn’t say no, right?”
The two were talking like they knew each other. Celestia was looking at the two alternatively before Leon’s gaze landed on her.
“Forgive me, but as the Emperor’s ancillary reward, the Academy’s honored talent has to share her first dance with the Emperor. What can we do? There’s only one girl, so I think Celestia should take care of it.”
Vincenzo sighed, while Leon winked at her.
“It must be burdensome, but give your best.”
‘All of a sudden…..?’
After placing his arm before her, Leon pointed his finger at the direction where the Emperor, who was talking with the envoys from other countries, was standing.
No, it wasn’t that burdensome.
She wanted to find a way to deny, but she knew this had to be done as long as it was what the Emperor said.
‘As a reward for an honored student to share their first dance with the Emperor……..wasn’t it decided suddenly? You should’ve given me a word in advance at least! How could you decide on something like that all of a sudden? You didn’t suggest it because you wanted to see me suffer, did you?’
She didn’t even know how to dance. As expected, she was embarrassed.
The music grew louder with the second and it was the dance song that began to play with earnest. However, the tune was soft.
‘Is this the type of songs played in balls?’
His ‘tough’ expression became clearer as he walked closer. She was glad to see him, but not now.
‘Wait, don’t come now……!’
Whether he knew her face was turning pale, the Emperor approached her with a face that said ‘he was going to do something bothersome’ and extended an arm to her. She jumped off her seat in an instant, but was completely clueless on what to do next, so she just looked up at him. She could hear the women around them sighing as if they were envious.
“What are you waiting for? Hold my arm.”
“I cannot dance.”
“What?”
“Dance! I don’t know how to do it.”
“…..Never thought it’d be possible. Hmm, it’ll be more fun than I thought.”
‘Then it will be you who’s going to have fun, not me.’
The first thing that came to her mind was that she’d be seen by Serek, but there was nothing she could do even though her voice was one that wouldn’t stand out today. If he was here, he would definitely see her.
However, for her, such a problem now was trivial or wouldn’t even be considered as one. More than anything else, Victoria and some of her aristocratic goons were watching, and Celestia hated making mistakes.
“What kind of reward is this?! It’s more like a punishment. Please stop if you’re not trying to embarrass me.”
“But it’s my time to stop the Duke from taking away the first dance every time, and besides, a long time has passed since I had a chance. I have no intention of making concessions if you hate dancing.”
“…….So you just want to set an example for tonight?”
“Hurry up and let’s get it done with.”
‘But I can’t!’
She realized that he, who was staring firmly at her, had no intention of giving up. Defeated, she sighed and clasped his palm.
“Is this how you hold it?”
“You’re good.”
The man in front of her noticed that she had no intention of going on the stage, the stage that was decorated for royalty. Seeing none other than the two of them standing on it, her heart seemed to fall to the bottom. She got so nervous that she felt her hands getting cold.
“Calm down and look at me.”
“Can I? I’ve…. never been here before, and—”
“Calm-down.”
‘Ordering someone to calm down doesn’t work.’
She placed her palm over his as he directed, but her fingers trembled.
She could hear him sighing briefly above her head.
“Celestia.”
That was the first time he called her by her name. She looked up in surprise. His ruby red eyes had been fixed on her as always.
“So, you’re only afraid of the stage. I sent you to the Academy because I wanted you to stand beside me, but it’s much smaller than it looks. What’s wrong with people staring at you?”
“I just don’t want to be humiliated.”
“Step on my foot. I’ll dance for you.”
“How can I do that?”
“The hem of your skirt is long, so what are you worried about?”
“But Your Highness…..”
‘You want me to step on the Emperor’s foot? It’s a big hell of a thing as it is.’
“You’re half as heavy as I am, so there’s nothing to worry about the weight.”
“……It’s not about the weight.”
“Didn’t you throw a pillow at me before?”
‘Well, that’s true.’
She recalled the time when she threw a pillow at him out of frustration. She chuckled without realizing it.
‘But what’s with it?’
All of a sudden, her tension disappeared.
So, he was trying to lighten her mood. In addition, when the melody of the music began resonating, she had no more options to choose from.
“Please take good care of me, then. Tell me if your feet hurt.”
She slipped the front of her right shoe over his foot, and her really long skirt helped in hiding it. Nobody could tell she was stepping on him.
“It’s been annoying every time I danced, but this is pretty enjoyable.”
“It’d be more fun to tease me.”
“And anyway, touching you contents me.”
‘You’re talking about the effects of my treatment, right?’ If it worked a little better, the Emperor would have slept with her every single day.
She thought she’d have to treat his wounds the next day because the temperature of his hands felt a little warm.
As she stayed still, her feet, which were over his, moved like water, and thanks to his firm arm, her body followed the music slowly and smoothly. She stole a glimpse around to spot Victoria shooting a glare at her.
Now, this dance started getting interesting for her.
They danced on one song and she thought he was done with her, but even after all the other nobles stepped on the stage, he kept holding her for two more songs. She was just silently swayed by him, but by the end of the third song, when she’d memorized the repetitive steps that were not so difficult, she found the courage to move her feet with him.
Van looked up at her in surprise.
“As expected, you’re really very talented.”
She felt good when he found fault with Victoria and her father. She enjoyed the dance more than she expected, and most of all, Victoria’s annoying glare on her was consistent through the three songs. So, she replied with a big grin.
“I’m just glad to hear compliments from my future employer.”
He chuckled again.
She didn’t know if she ever saw him laughing before.
‘Does he like it when people talk like this?’
His smile, which disappeared, got tethered to her mind, and she unknowingly kept piercing his face with her eyes until the dance was over. However, the Emperor did not avoid her stare, so it was Celestia who averted her gaze first when she felt something pricking her heart.
After the dance, she was able to safely bow down to him and get off the stage as she observed the others dancing around her.
As she relaxed, she felt like she really needed to sit down somewhere. The Emperor had to go elsewhere, so she went to a drink cart to grab a drink before sitting down for a while.
Her feet were hurting and she felt mentally tired.
She was watching people walking past her while inhaling the aroma of a non-alcoholic cocktail when someone took a seat next to hers.
“I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
As soon as she turned her head and noticed who it was, she threw the remaining drink in the glass over at the person. She didn’t even have time to think if the act would be necessary.
Serek calmly took out his handkerchief and wiped the liquid dripping from his hair, as if he was not angry at all.
“You still have a temper, Celestia.”
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She finally faced him.
“Now you can say my name correctly, you piece of sh*t.”
“Is it necessary to curse like that? We haven’t seen each other for ages.”
She gritted at him.
She didn’t earn a penny. The boy, whose face was half drenched, was not even that handsome now that she saw him clearly. Compared to His Majesty, he looked shorter and hideous.