Ch.96Waltz

Her gaze was sticky with seduction, her voice laced with coquetry.

Add to that her slightly flushed cheeks and the hand wrapped around her opposite shoulder as if to emphasize her chest.

I was beginning to wonder if she had somehow mistaken my gender.

Why is she acting like this? Did someone order her to seduce me?

…If that was Isabella’s intention, wouldn’t sending a handsome nobleman be the more conventional approach?

Of course, if she had actually done that, I would have fled rather than endure the sight.

“Perhaps it’s fate that two people without partners have met like this. What do you say? Would you care to dance with me?”

A truly bold statement.

For a lady to initiate a dance invitation was behavior that could easily draw disapproving glances for being improper.

The peach scent intensified.

Her eyes shone with a strange longing, and her outstretched palm was slightly curved as if to pull me in.

“I’m afraid that would be difficult. As I mentioned, it wouldn’t be advisable for me to enter the main hall.”

“Oh my, if you’re concerned about others, we needn’t dance there. Look. Isn’t the balcony spacious enough?”

Claire, refusing my refusal, glanced toward the balcony behind us.

Beyond the curtained windows, a series of spacious balconies jutted out for those seeking fresh air.

True, out there we wouldn’t need to worry about others’ gazes…

But I still can’t dance, that’s the issue.

“That may be so. But, well, truthfully. I’m embarrassed to admit I know nothing of imperial ballroom dancing. I would only end up being discourteous to you, Miss Claire.”

“There’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s rather something to be proud of. It means you’ve devoted yourself to martial arts, doesn’t it? Don’t worry. I’ll teach you well.”

Claire flashed a smiling glance and extended her hand a bit further.

As if urging me to take it quickly.

“If I make a mistake, I might crush your feet.”

It will be quite painful.

The screams will be so agonizing they’ll echo throughout the imperial palace.

“Despite appearances, I’m a rather skilled mage. I can simply cast a barrier spell on my feet, and it should be fine.”

What a persistent woman.

What meaning could dancing with me possibly hold to go this far?

My thoughts grew complicated.

What should I do with this woman?

She doesn’t seem willing to accept indirect refusals, so should I reject her outright?

Or would it be better to go along with her and figure out what she’s plotting?

Yes. That would be better. Let’s do that.

“Since you insist so strongly, I suppose I have no choice. I humbly request your guidance, Miss Claire.”

“The honor is mine. I look forward to it, Princess Haschal.”

I finally took her hand.

Claire flashed a smiling glance. Bewitchingly so.

—-

Unlike the heated atmosphere inside the banquet hall, the air on the balcony carried a coolness.

The orchestra’s music, blocked by thick curtains and glass windows, had transformed into something muffled like a song heard underwater… but perhaps because of that, other sounds came to my ears with even greater clarity.

The soft landing of footsteps on marble floors. The friction of dress hems brushing against each other with every turn.

Claire’s voice whispering softly.

The sound of her racing heart. Even her delicate breath dispersing against my chest.

The full moon had risen, pouring down blue light upon Claire and me as we twirled on our private stage.

Her figure, drenched in moonlight, had something dreamlike about it.

The deepening peach scent had now transcended smell, staining the tip of my tongue with sweetness.

“That’s right. Like that, place your hand on my waist… pull me close as if embracing me and turn your body.”

Claire gently leaned against me.

Perhaps due to our height difference, her face occasionally pressed against my chest.

…Her breathing seems to have grown rougher. She’s even subtly rubbing her cheek against me.

Did this woman always have such tendencies?

“Miss Claire, aren’t you… getting a bit too close?”

“Hehe, this is how the waltz is supposed to be. There’s nothing strange about it.”

Claire, half-nestled against me, lifted only her head to look up at me.

Her eyes were hazy with desire, and sweet breath escaped through her slightly parted lips.

A bead of sweat falling from her chin onto the front of her dress spread her thick scent intensely.

She smiled as our eyes met.

It was a seductive appearance that would make any man unable to resist his impulses, wanting to embrace her tightly and kiss her.

“Come now, the music hasn’t ended yet.”

Claire lightly pulled away and turned her body. Her dress hem spread out as she spun.

And then she approached again.

When she seemed close, she’d move away, and when she seemed distant, she’d nestle close, endlessly continuing the dance.

I simply moved my body following Claire’s lead.

Blankly staring at her white neck where sweat trickled down, and her chest that swayed with each turn.

…

…

……

…If I were to snap her neck right now. I could kill her easily.

If I pierced and crushed her heart, she wouldn’t be able to counterattack with magic either.

Claire’s seduction could be considered successful.

After all, I was barely resisting the temptation to break her neck.

The scent of perfume mixed with aphrodisiacs awakened not lust but vigilance and irritation, and the feeling of her face against my chest was disgusting.

Who does she think she’s trying to seduce?

If I were to fall for it, would she send me straight to Isabella?

I wondered what her purpose was, but it seems she was merely trying to entice me with such trivial methods.

I felt like immediately crushing her windpipe and throwing her lifeless body over the balcony.

And then go to Ophelia and…

Boast that I got tired of waiting for her plan that might never be completed, so I finished the job in advance.

I was only holding back because if two people went out and only one returned, with the other found as a corpse or going missing, the aftermath would be impossible to clean up.

Suppressing my killing intent was arduous.

Fortunately, thanks to wearing a veil, my expression wasn’t visible at all.

After a while, the music coming from inside the palace came to an end.

With brief applause, I sensed many people dispersing in various directions.

Finally over?

I inwardly sighed with relief, released her hand, and gave a slight bow.

“That’s it then. It was enjoyable, Miss Claire.”

“I enjoyed it too, Your Highness. For someone who claimed to be a beginner, you waltzed quite well. Shall we go back inside now?”

Claire curtsied, lifting the hem of her dress, and extended her hand.

Fortunately, it seemed she wouldn’t be any more clingy.

I had been wondering what to do if she tried to physically cling to me.

—-

The banquet hall we returned to was quite bustling.

Nobles and ladies, tired from dancing, were cooling off with drinks at one side of the hall, while some men had gone upstairs to enjoy card games.

“I’m feeling a bit thirsty. Would you care to join me for one last drink?”

Claire subtly gestured toward the tables.

Alcohol? That’s too much.

“I’m afraid that would be difficult. I’m rather weak with alcohol, and I might end up being discourteous here.”

How could I trust any drink you offer?

Who knows what you might slip into it.

“Surely one drink wouldn’t hurt? There are many mild options.”

“I apologize. I have matters to discuss with Prince Leopold, and it would be inappropriate to face him after drinking.”

I drew a firm line.

Dancing might be one thing, but consuming anything could be genuinely dangerous.

Having mentioned Leopold’s name, Claire, being from Ernst’s faction, would find it difficult to press further.

I had explicitly revealed the message that she and I were political adversaries.

“Is that so…? It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. Then, I’ll take my leave. I would be delighted if we could meet again.”

“Gladly.”

Next time, you’ll be meeting with Ophelia.

How nice. Didn’t you say you missed your sister?

I kissed the back of her extended hand once more as I saw her off.

—-

“Looks like you had a good time?”

“What?”

Frider, walking toward me, grinned and suddenly said something incomprehensible.

“I saw you earlier, heading to the balcony with a red-haired woman. You’ve got skills, seducing a woman even with your face covered.”

So he saw me briefly going out with Claire.

Though it doesn’t seem like he saw everything.

“I wasn’t seducing her; she was trying to seduce me. She was the eldest daughter of Count Sigmillus.”

“Ah, that female mage from the Third Prince’s faction? Hmm…”

Frider’s eyebrows twitched upon hearing my explanation that wasn’t really an explanation.

With an ambiguous expression that could either be doubtful or displeased.

“Why, is there a problem?”

“That woman, she’s strangely cold to men but always kind to women, so there are some peculiar rumors about her.”

“I can see what you mean; she does seem to have that preference. She was pressing her face against me too.”

In reality, she probably has to seduce women to offer them to Isabella, so she has no choice but to go around seducing women.

…Or not?

To be honest, she did seem to be genuinely enjoying herself earlier.

“Ah, so that’s why your clothes look like that? I was wondering.”

Clothes?

Frider’s gaze was directed toward my chest.

I lowered my gaze and slightly lifted the fabric around my chest to see.

Oh.

White powder was smeared all over my chest area, creating a pale smudge.

Really, that damned woman.

I held the fabric and brushed off the powder with my other hand.

Though it didn’t completely disappear.

“Seems like she was the one who had a good time.”

Frider snickered.