"Your Majesty, did you enjoy it?"
The words—so heavy I didn't even know I'd been thinking them—disappeared into thin air.
A small crack seemed to appear on Leopold's calm expression.
For the first time, I felt like I could see unfamiliar emotions in the eyes that always looked at me so leisurely.
"No."
I closed my mouth at the quiet reply.
Today's Leopold is really different from usual.
He directly referred to me as his fiancée. Called me by my nickname. Asked me for his first dance.
Was Leopold's sincerity contained in those things I thought came so easily to him?
At first, he'd had no choice but to accept the engagement—but perhaps Leopold had deep down acknowledged me as his fiancée all along.
Maybe Leopold opened his heart to me subconsciously.
Small hopes gathered together one by one. With anticipation building on top of disappointment, I slowly looked at Leopold.
He gently rolled his eyes toward me. The bright blue gaze looked at me accusingly.
I had a feeling Leopold would say something different from what I expected.
"How dare you treat me like that in the presence of all the nobles? It would be a lie if I said it was fun."
A playful coldness pressed down on me.
I smiled bitterly without realizing it.
It feels like if I don't bite my lip, at least a sigh will escape.
"Thanks to Maria."
Leopold calmly mentioned Maria Ethel's name and affectionately tucked my hair behind my ear.
As he leaned closer, I smelled a faint scent—wet, burning wood.
Leopold whispered before I could process it:
"I would have been really upset if Maria hadn't tried to make me feel better."
Of course. Leopold can't be different.
Forgetting about his casual cruelty, I gathered my wits as I stepped back.
My illusion was ridiculous.
Leopold was still the same.
When will my expectation—that people will look back at me if I just do my best—finally come true?
The realization of reality hit me cruelly.
I barely raised the corners of my mouth.
When new music started playing, Leopold's hand rose to my waist. The feeling of his touch was awkward.
As I trembled slightly, Leopold—my fiancé, whom I loved—whispered:
"If you're clumsy, you should at least pretend to be skilled, Princess."
Those words pierced my heart like an awl.
I began the dance.
For countless days, I'd imagined a moment like this. Dancing and stepping together with Leopold while wearing matching colors.
I was certain I'd meet Leopold's eyes in the middle of a fancy banquet hall, with everyone watching us.
I thought that when he held my hand and danced with me, Leopold's eyes would be as kind as a spring breeze.
Reality was not as sweet or warm as I'd imagined.
Even though it was clearly the same dance, Leopold's lead pushed me mercilessly.
I struggled to keep up with his pace with all my concentration. I moved my feet quickly, fearing Leopold would step on them.
I spun around, floated, then landed.
This dance is not fun.
At one point, I felt my ankles growing cold.
The waltz song ended.
Clap, clap, clap.
Thunderous applause erupted.
Leopold—who had been looking at me as if it were obvious—gave a small bow.
My breath, which I couldn't release because I'd been concentrating on my feet, rose to the tip of my throat.
I belatedly took a deep breath and lowered my head toward Leopold.
When I raised my head immediately after, Leopold had already turned around.
I realized where Leopold had gone: next to Lady Maria Ethel, who wore her pink dress.
I suddenly had this thought: Maria Ethel must be more familiar with Leopold's front view. Since he's a man who always shows me his back.
The pain in my throbbing foot became more and more intense.
I calmed my expression as if nothing had happened.
It's okay. Nothing's wrong. It's really okay.
I thought it like casting a spell on myself.
I rolled up the hem of my dress and gripped the heels of my dizzyingly high shoes.
I have to remain in the ballroom until the next five songs have played.
I focused on the music as I sat down at a table on the edge.
I don't want the nobles to talk to me—but I feel strangely popular.
"Congratulations on your first dance, Princess."
It was Maria Ethel.
This was my first time speaking with Maria at a banquet. The nobles' attention focused on our area.
"...Thank you, Lady."
Congratulations on my first dance.
I smiled brightly.
This is why Maria Ethel came to visit me.
I quietly looked at her.
Though she was new to conversations with me, Maria was very pretty. Gorgeous blonde hair. A lovely white face. The confident way she looked straight ahead. Sparkling blue eyes.
Maria always felt as if she'd grown up receiving nothing but love.
Is that why Leopold can't let her go?
"Princess?"
As if to break the silence, Maria called me in a friendly manner.
I swallowed words I couldn't voice. My unspoken thoughts broke sharply inside and pierced my heart painfully.
Looking into her mocking eyes, I smiled deliberately and answered:
"Yes. Usually, His Royal Highness does not smoke cigars in front of me. I hope you enjoy it, Lady. Your bronchial tubes seem quite strong."
For a moment, Maria Ethel's face distorted.
While Maria closed her mouth, as if searching for what to say next, I spoke calmly:
"Do you want to become a mistress?"
Maria Ethel froze.
In this crowded place, I spoke in a voice neither soft nor loud:
"In our Franz Empire, polygamy is not recognized. So in the end, the only position you can ascend to is Countess Lowaltz."
There were two ways for a young lady to become a mistress: either remain unmarried forever, or find a suitable husband, marry him, then act as an unofficial mistress under tacit agreement.
"It's already been thirty years since Countess Lowaltz passed away. Isn't that a convenient opening?"
Of course, both paths were dishonorable.
Maria Ethel jumped up from her seat as if belatedly enraged. She seemed to have forgotten about the nobles listening to overhear our conversation.
"How dare you say that to me!!"
"Otherwise, why does the Lady keep showing off your closeness to His Highness the Crown Prince to me?"
Maria Ethel's lips trembled at my quiet words. Tears seemed to well up in her delicate blue eyes—then she ran off somewhere.
I also stood, watching Maria Ethel's retreating back.
Before I could take a single step, throbbing pain spread through my feet.
I walked with an expressionless face as the ladies gathered around me.
"Princess, I think you were telling an interesting story! Please join us."
"The first and second dances were amazing!"
"So where did Lady Maria Ethel go?"
Subtle malice disguised as friendly voices filled my surroundings.
Amid that obvious provocation, I responded simply:
"Yes."
The ladies seemed even more anxious because of my ambiguous answer. They attached more words to me:
How do you know the Grand Duke? Why is Lady Maria Ethel so angry? Why isn't His Royal Highness appearing?
Words poured out that were only aristocratic in tone, with no hint of courtesy toward me.
I smiled and lowered my head slightly.
"As you can see, there are too many things happening tonight. Please excuse me first."
Sharp gossip poured out behind my back, but it didn't matter.
Pain spread through my feet as if they were on fire.
I walked upright and looked around.
The Grand Duke is nowhere to be seen in the banquet hall.
Ironically, it was disappointing.
Come to think of it, I couldn't even tell him about the jewelry pin Ethella gave me.
The victory banquet lasts for several days—I'll likely meet the Grand Duke at another banquet. I can get my jewelry pin back if I ask him then.
Strangely, I was confident that would happen.
A faint smile appeared on my lips.
---
---
The sky sank into darkness. The walls of the mansion were already visible through the carriage window.
My feet—which had walked upright until I left the banquet hall—collapsed as soon as I got into the carriage.
But I endured it well.
Suddenly, I remembered Ethella's request to tell her stories about the banquet.
That the Grand Duke swore an oath to me. That we had our first dance. That I warned Lady Maria Ethel.
Those are secrets that can never be told—except for the first one.
I sighed quietly to myself.
I wish I could say I saw Jade.
Even though it was a victory banquet, Jade had been nowhere in the banquet hall.
Where on earth is he?
The carriage stopped, and I entered the mansion.
Just as I got to my feet, accumulated pain came flooding back.
"You."
I suddenly raised my head at a familiar voice coming from the front of the stairs.
The voice was clear.
It was Jade.
"Jade!"
I ran toward the stairs, filled with joy.
The pain in my feet and the disappointment that had been building up throughout the evening came to mind when I saw Jade return healthy.
"You're really back!"