episode_0194

After Hermel left, the emotions that had been disturbed quickly fell into place.

The emotions that cleared up in an instant, as if I had been waiting for her to leave, subsided to a degree that surprised even me.

Yes, that’s right. It was always Hermel who swayed me.

“… … .”

I slowly blinked and looked at the door where Hermel had left for a moment, then returned to the banquet hall with a smile on my face.

After that, all I did was talk to the guests who came to the banquet, smile and send away the fools who invited me to dance, watch other people dance, and think over the dance I danced with Hermel in my head.

One thing that was surprising was that, rather than being talked about, the dance between Hermel and I drew quite a positive response.

-I never thought the princess could dance so well.

―I heard that you changed a lot after entering the academy, but I had no idea that was true.

-Well, the Duke caught my eye even more. The two of them were dancing, and the atmosphere was so good that for a moment, it seemed like they were a man and woman who got along well.

-Hahaha, the atmosphere between the two was definitely good.

They said that and gradually changed the bad image of Hermel. As I listened to the story, I slowly blinked and sighed inwardly.

There is also a way to change perception in this way. I had the illusion that Hermel was saying that. It seemed like he was telling me that there was a way other than the path I was going to take.

It’s always like this. Only after passing each time does it show you a different path, and only after sending each time does it show you different people. It’s as if they’re telling you to regret seeing this.

It’s as if they’re telling you to despair, become discouraged, and break down.

‘That can’t be said.’

I have already made my choice. I accepted it and decided to walk this path. I chose this path because I didn’t want to regret it. There’s no way it can just stop like this.

Well, I didn’t feel bad because my image of Hermel seemed to have improved a little.

“Hello, Your Excellency the Duke. It is truly an honor to meet you again.”

Of course, I don’t know what it would be like for everyone else except me.

I looked at Lemina Jane Carmel de Rachel, the daughter of Count Carmel, who greeted me.

I think about it every time I think of the name, but it seems like a needlessly grandiose name for a count.

“Yes, Lady Carmel. It’s been a while.”

I smiled slightly as I saw the Lady of Carmel gently greeting me. What is the reason why he suddenly comes up to me and says hello?

It’s obvious even if you don’t look at it, isn’t it because he thought that Hermel and I were getting all the attention and attention he should have received during the ballroom dance just now?

When I smiled and accepted the greeting, Lady Carmel, who was facing my palm, smiled brightly and said,

“I saw the princess dancing with the princess. It was so beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off it even for a moment. Hehehe, it would be great if I could dance like that too.”

“Hehe, is that so? In the eyes of the Lady of Carmel, my skills must have been lacking a lot, but hearing her say that makes me feel hot.”

While Hermel and I were dancing, on the other side, another Baron’s son was dancing, so what did he see?

Did he say it because he thought I would be fooled if he said that, or did he say it without thinking because he was blinded by jealousy?

Maybe both apply.

“Skills aren’t enough! Everyone who gathered here commented favorably on the dance between the Duke and the Princess!”

The Lady of Carmel waved her hand and said no, but there was a look in her eyes that seemed to disdain me.

And above all, everyone here said yes. He never said that he was included in all of them.

Hahaha, you really think I won’t notice such low level puns? sincerely?

“I’m just grateful that everyone is so kind to me.”

“So… … . If it’s okay, could you dance a song with me?”

The moment I heard those words, I felt the warm feelings that Hermel had soothed me quickly cool down.

There must be something to do with Hermel. There are a lot of things to worry about in the future and things that need to be prepared quickly, so I thought I’d just handle it and get it out of the way… … . I keep crossing the line.

I feel bad.

“Yes, I like it.”

“Wow! Getting to dance with the duke really feels like a dream!”

I smiled faintly, held the hand of the Lady of Carmel, who was showing a truly typical reaction, and headed to the center of the banquet hall.

“Then I will take the lead――”

Before the young lady took the lead, I first led her and moved her body lightly. I moved a couple of times to regain my balance and placed my hands on her waist.

The Lady of Carmel looked at me with a surprised face, as if she hadn’t expected me to make a sudden move, and then smiled awkwardly and said,

“Ah, ahaha… … . Lee, are you the one taking the lead?”

With those words, I wiped the smile off my face and started leading her. No, the horse was the lead, in fact it was more like dragging her around.

No matter how much of a genius he is, no matter how much he learned under a great teacher, he is still a child who has not even lived 20 years.

Would 100 years of experience and the dancing talent of tens of thousands of souls be surpassed by just one person?

“Be careful not to fall.”

I said that and took a step forward.

* * *

After the first waltz, the two nobles who had been appreciating the dance between Princess Hermel and Duke Charlotte that had just taken place, saw the Duke come out holding the hand of another lady, and their eyes sparkled with a different meaning than before.

The person I was dancing with this time was the Lady of Carmel, who had been taught by the best dance teacher in the kingdom at a young age.

“Oh, the Duke is dancing with the Lady of Carmel this time.”

“The atmosphere is completely different from when you danced with Princess Hermel.”

“Isn’t the opponent the greatest genius in the kingdom? You must be serious about it.”

The two had a light conversation as they watched the two people come out to the center of the banquet hall.

“So, who do you think will lead this time? After all, she must be the Lady of Carmel, right?”

“Hmm. Probably not. When His Excellency the Duke 2 danced with the princess, it felt like he was following her lead.”

“You never know. Wouldn’t it be a little different to see something being done so seriously?”

“Hahaha, no way. Isn’t the Lady of Carmel a genius recognized by the best dance teacher in the capital? No matter how serious you are, it will be difficult.”

Everyone gathered in the banquet hall looked at Charlotte and Lady Carmel with similar thoughts, and Lady Carmel, feeling their gaze, felt her heart tingle.

‘Okay, this is it. This is what I should get.’

The corners of Lady Carmel’s mouth twitched in satisfaction, but she knew that showing emotions in front of others would not lead to good results, so she held back her laughter and slightly raised her head.

Striking bright red hair, beautiful ruby eyes, and even a fancy suit. It was as if anyone could tell that she was the star of the banquet, but the Lady of Carmel did not like it.

‘How dare you try to stand out by putting me aside… … . No matter how much of a duke it is, that cannot be tolerated.’

The Lady of Carmel, who felt the jealousy she had barely managed to calm down, seething, took a breath and calmed down her emotions.

‘Let’s calm down. The opponent is a duke. If I show jealousy openly, my position will be in trouble. And, anyway, once the dancing starts, everyone will focus on me, so there’s no need to be jealous.’

The young lady smiled as she remembered Charlotte dancing to Hermel’s lead earlier.

‘Yes, dancing is my domain anyway. When it comes to dancing, no one is better than me. Even that proud teacher of the royal capital broke his nose in front of me.’

Her jealousy quickly turned to pity, and from pity to contempt, and then contempt turned to contempt.

‘It’s enough for a peacock to be led by that crazy dog, even if he closes his eyes and dances.’

Lady Carmel, who arrived at the center of the banquet hall, looked at Charlotte looking down at her and opened her mouth.

‘Well, okay. In particular, I need to tell you what dance really is. I’ll show you a dance of a completely different level than the low-level lead from before.’

“Then I will take the lead――”

Before the young lady could finish speaking, she felt her body moving completely against her will and her eyes widened.

The Lady of Carmel felt that her mind was filled with question marks.

‘Did you just get led? You were led? I? ‘Are you saying you were led by a beginner who could only take basic steps?’

The Lady of Carmel’s eyes were trembling with anger and shame, but she couldn’t show it in front of the duke, so she tried to smile.

“Ah, ahaha… … . Lee, are you the one taking the lead?”

In response to the Lady Carmel’s words, Charlotte simply uttered one word.

“Be careful not to fall.”

Before she could feel intense anger at the words that touched her pride, her body began to be guided by Charlotte’s lead.

He looked like he had become a completely different person from when he danced with Hermel just moments ago, and he had a huge presence that went far beyond himself, and… … .

‘what is this… … . What is this? … !!’

The Lady of Carmel was astonished by the dancing skills that overwhelmed her.

Just following along is difficult. Difference in stride length due to difference in height? No, it wasn’t like that. This was even clearer because the Lady of Carmel was second to none when it came to dancing.

This does not come from a simple physical difference, but rather from an overwhelming difference in skill.

‘Nonsense! I, I, am being led, but I’m being pushed out due to my dancing skills? Do not be ridiculous… … . ‘Don’t make me laugh!!’

The Lady of Carmel gritted her teeth and tried to follow Charlotte and lead her, but no matter how hard she tried, she could only keep up with Charlotte’s movements.

Charlotte’s voice was heard above her head as she danced violently.

“Jealousy is so ugly. Because it exposes the bottom of a person.”

Her voice was drowsy and calm, as if she had just woken up from sleep.

It was as if he was saying that dancing with himself was not only not fun at all, but also drowsy and boring.

In the end, the Lady Carmel, unable to hide her emotions, gritted her teeth and lowered her head.

“Qu… … !”

At that moment, Charlotte’s dancing became more intense. When the Lady Carmel could no longer keep up with the movements that became more intense than before, the Lady Carmel noticed something strange.

‘What is it, my body does what it wants…’ … ?’

Opening her eyes wide, she felt Charlotte’s arms firmly supporting her waist and her body floating slightly off the floor, and she trembled.

It could no longer be called a dance. Dancing is about coordination, not about one side taking the lead like this. Yes, this was just a well-made puppet show.

‘I, the person who should shine the most, am being treated like this… … !!’

The Lady of Carmel frowned as soon as she realized that she was being used as an object to make Charlotte shine.

For a moment, I tried to control my expression as if it was a mistake, but it was already too late.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know just because you hid it like that?”

The moment Lady Carmel heard those words, she thought that Charlotte might have known about her jealousy from the beginning.

‘Surely, you knew?’

Lady Carmel, who was startled by Charlotte’s words, swallowed dry saliva and raised her head.

He sucked in a breath as he saw Charlotte looking down at him with cold eyes.

There was nothing in those eyes.

“You need to know the topic.”

At the same time, Charlotte’s arms around her waist loosened, and Lady Carmel, who had been hanging on like a doll, lost all strength in her legs and fell to the floor.

As soon as she collapsed, sighs erupted from those around her.

The young lady who had fallen on the floor raised her head blankly and looked at Charlotte, and Charlotte looked down at her and smiled as if she were sorry.

The Lady of Carmel knew. That was the kind of mocking smile he often used when deceiving others.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t very considerate to you even though you were the greatest genius in the kingdom.”

From dancing to the methods I used, everything was taken away. Even if we went head to head, I didn’t feel like I would win.

The Lady of Carmel felt as if her eyes were turning white as she was struck by a torrent of emotions that she had never felt before, emotions that went far beyond jealousy.

“Would you like to dance one more song?”

I’ll take it a little slower this time.

Seeing Charlotte speaking with a grin on her face, the young lady’s emotions could no longer be endured.

He just turned his back and ran away from the banquet hall.