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Perhaps there really was some etiquette I didn't know about.
But seeing how the other ladies were filling their dance cards, it seemed unlikely.
Eileen stared thoughtfully at her dance card, but then suddenly realized that now was not the time for this.
"..."
She looked around and, clutching the card in her hand, lowered her head.
The situation was a repeat of the victory parade earlier that day.
Every gaze in the hall was fixed on Eileen.
They stared at the girl surrounded by tall, strong men with expressions of shock on their faces, whispering and wondering who she could be.
The only difference from the parade was that the aristocrats here were quick to guess her identity.
Rumors had long circulated in high society about the Grand Duke's favor toward the daughter of his late wet nurse.
"Ah... isn't that... the very young lady His Grace favors..."
"So that's what she looks like...
Hmm, a bit unexpected."
"Is it even proper?
Appearing at a ball without a debut.
Don't you think?"
"They say she’s in a difficult situation."
"The soldiers must only be acting this way because of His Grace's orders."
The whispers, like sharp knives, pierced Eileen’s ears.
Listening to these unkind words, she felt guilty toward the soldiers who had invited her to dance.
If it weren't for her, they would be dancing with the ladies they truly wanted to.
They were forced to endure unnecessary mockery just because of her.
Her social dancing skills had long since rusted.
If she were to step onto the floor, she would surely make a multitude of mistakes.
It would be better to apologize to the soldiers, congratulate Cesare, and leave as planned.
Deciding this, Eileen turned to Diego, whose name stood first on her card.
"Sir Diego."
"Ah, Senon and Michele will be delayed.
They have business to attend to.
They might not come at all."
It wasn't the question she was going to ask, but the information was curious.
"I see.
It’s a pity I won’t get to see them."
Before Eileen could open her mouth again, Diego grinned and spoke to her like a street thug.
"How about a cup of tea sometime soon?
I’ve acquired a doll.
A spectacular one.
A huge rabbit."
What on earth was a "spectacular huge rabbit"?
Her imagination refused to draw anything coherent.
While Eileen tried to envision this marvel, Diego and Rotan exchanged glances.
"Lady Eileen."
Rotan smiled.
His usually grim, bear-like face softened in her presence.
"Was your journey here comfortable?
I should have personally escorted you; please forgive me."
"Oh no, not at all...
His Grace took care of everything..."
Eileen shifted, adjusting her glasses, and stammered out excuses.
"He even sent me a maid to help me dress, but I refused...
Now I regret it.
I should have dressed up more."
Involuntarily, she had become the center of attention.
If only there were somewhere to hide, she would have done so already.
Rotan laughed quietly at her embarrassment.
"If you had been dressed properly, you would have felt even more awkward."
Diego immediately joined in the conversation.
"Exactly.
Every man would have approached you."
Eileen only blinked, not understanding their hints.
Wondering if she had understood them correctly, she suddenly remembered something forgotten.
"Oh right, the dances..."
"Have you seen the garden yet?
It has changed significantly."
Just as Eileen was about to speak of the dances, Rotan forestalled her with a question.
He paused for a second, then continued.
"The greenhouse.
They say new plants from the East have been brought there."
"Fr-from the East?"
In her excitement, Eileen stumbled over her words.
"Yes.
I heard they are very rare."
When Cesare still lived in the Imperial Palace, Eileen could roam his gardens freely.
She remembered running among plants she had previously only seen in books.
But for the past three years, while Cesare was away, she hadn't been able to even approach the palace gardens.
"Would you like to see the garden before His Grace arrives?"
"Do you think I can?"
The desire to see the plants overwhelmed her desire to leave.
With eyes shining, Eileen asked if Rotan could show her the garden, and he, as if waiting for this, immediately offered to escort her.
Only after entering the garden with Rotan did Eileen remember the dances again.
"Ah..."
Hearing her sigh, Rotan turned around with a surprised expression.
Eileen pointed to the card on her wrist and pouted.
"I suppose because of me, all those gentlemen missed their chance to dance with other young ladies.
It would be better if I just congratulated His Grace and left without dancing."
"Don't do that, Lady Eileen."
Rotan asked her so seriously to stay that Eileen smiled.
"Then maybe I’ll dance only with you?
I’ll let the others go."
"That sounds quite good."
Rotan nodded quickly, and Eileen, shedding the burden of her worries, laughed.
While they chatted and laughed, they unnoticedly approached the greenhouse.
"Take your time looking around."
"And you, Sir Rotan?"
"I must return to the hall.
Don't worry, someone will escort you back."
It seemed he would send someone for her.
Thanking him, Eileen entered the greenhouse alone.
Inside the glass structure, it was somewhat stifling.
Moonlight illuminated the space, but it didn't make it truly bright.
Eileen walked slowly between the plants, searching for those new Eastern arrivals, when suddenly she heard the door open.
"Sir Rotan?"
Thinking it was him returning, she turned around—and froze.
Cesare was entering the greenhouse, walking with his measured stride.
He was wearing his full-dress uniform, slightly different from the one he had worn at the parade.
In the moonlight, he looked even more dangerous.
His lips curved into a seductive smile.
Eileen belatedly lowered her head.
Stepping back with one foot, she curtsied slightly, gathering the hem of her dress in a sign of respect to the Imperial family.
"Your Grace, Grand Duke Erzet."
Cesare responded to her according to etiquette.
"Lady Elodd."
"Congratulations... on your victory."
She stammered, not knowing if she was saying the right things.
In response, a chuckle was heard.
Eileen timidly raised her gaze.
Illuminated by the moonlight, he was laughing.
His red eyes narrowed like crescent moons.
His face, lit with joy, was so beautiful that Eileen couldn't take her eyes off it.
Absorbed in her contemplation, she finally asked timidly:
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No."
Cesare shook his head, still smiling.
"I just remembered the past."
He reached out toward Eileen.
With his gloved hand, he lightly tapped her dance card.
"You must leave one dance for me, Eileen."
In her haste, she removed the card and respectfully handed it to him.
Cesare glanced at the signatures and laughed shortly.
Then he wrote his name on the first line.
**[Cesare Traon Karl Erzet]**
Without a shadow of doubt, as if that place belonged to him already.
Finishing his signature in elegant script, Cesare hung the card back on her wrist himself.
Eileen looked at the dangling card.
From the outside, one might have thought it was a list of those arrested.
*‘I didn't think Your Grace would invite me for a dance as well.’*
Now she certainly wouldn't escape awkward steps at the ball.
She could already imagine what people would whisper seeing her dance with Cesare.
It was useless to make excuses about being afraid to make a mistake.
He would simply answer that he would lead, and there was nothing to worry about.
That was exactly what he would do.
After all, it was Cesare who had taught her social dancing.
He had personally been her partner when he taught the little girl.
But her movements always came out awkward because she hadn't finished her training.
Once, her mother had caught her during the lessons and caused a scene.
*"How dare you trouble His Highness the Prince?!
You dared to waste his time on your foolish dance lessons?!"*