Chapter 34

Ethelred lifted his hand in response to the change in the violin’s performance, and Maribelle, who was holding it, turned around with him. Pepper’s carefully placed pleats allowed her skirt to spread with a light twinkling sound as pieces of jewelry stuck in the dress glittered like sunlight playing on water.

Maribelle and Ethelred were dancing the party’s opening dance.

In other words, it meant that everyone at the party was also paying attention to their dance.

According to the original tradition, the Emperor had to dance with a female adult of the Imperial family for the sake of fairness at the presentation of the candidate for the Empress, but because the current emperor strongly rejected the traditions, he danced with Maribelle instead of his aunt — Innis —.

Maribelle, who was facing Ethelred again, spoke gently after moving around the outline of the circular marble motif on the floor.

“It’s really burdensome to be the first to dance.”

“I agree.”

He said so, but Ethelred’s hand moved to guide her elegantly into the next move. All of those who were experienced with dancing twisted their feet in the same way, and Ethelred was as natural as flowing water, so Maribelle was even cheekier.

Maribelle’s voice came out somewhat sharply because she felt it was too unfair.

“How are you so good, Your Majesty?”

“It’s better not to come to a party than to turn the Emperor of a country into a joke.”

So, it means that he worked hard not to ever make a mistake. Well, there’s no other answer than that. Maribelle sighed and moved her feet as Ethelred guided her.

One, two, half a turn here, turn round, back to place.

“Did you just see it? The Countess Halo was obsessed with my skirt.”

“Of course I saw it. It said she has a daughter who is about to debut, so it seems like she is trying hard to find a dress.”

“It would be great if I could introduce a designer to her.”

Maribelle, who finished speaking one tempo faster, leaned back against Ethelred’s arm and came back up flexibly.

Like the dance between the two people, a never-ending conversation was quietly had.

She didn’t know her past life experience would be so useful to be comfortable here. Rather than being conscious of her feet and the steps, Maribelle turned her head and leaned on Ethelred’s shoulder, letting her body move as she remembered.

“As far as I know, a total of 250 invitations have been issued, but at a glance, it seems that there are more than 300 people, right?”

“Because there are so few parties to attend, one or two local aristocrats must try to get a place by relying on all of their blood ties. Many people will wish to make friends with the aristocrats of the capital at this point.”

Maribelle asked with a tone of surprise, but Ethelred had an attitude of saying something obvious.

It can’t be.

“Did you expect that?”

“I’m surprised you didn’t expect it, but yes, I did.”

Uhm. Maribelle let out her saliva a little. To be honest, she didn’t notice this. She invited 250 people, so she thought it would be 250 people, but 300 people came.

“I’ll try harder.”

“It’s okay. I won’t bother you with such a crude calculation.”

Ethelred, who whispered softly, grabbed Maribelle’s waist and turned around. It was their secret that at that moment, a smile as friendly as a soft voice came and went.

“If you’re uncomfortable, you can just dance and then leave after.”

“If that’s the case, there would be rumors that I’ll be gone soon.”

Rumors have already spread in social circles. Even if the Emperor had a special love for Maribelle Edenbert, there must be a reason why he did not appoint a woman as the Empress.

In other words, Maribelle would be abandoned in the near future.

Even if she didn’t want to hear the rumors of the socialites, there was Pepper who was quick to ask even if there were rumors about Maribelle, so Maribelle unintentionally became aware of the rumors.

There were times when she felt bitter about this rumor, but in the end, it was the path she chose. It would be much more productive to reflect on the lost memories in time to write emotions, she had made up her mind like that.

However, at Ethelred’s return, Maribelle smiled.

“Since when did Maribelle become obsessed with gossip?”

“I’m a human being, so I can’t help it.”

“You should have been prepared for this since the moment you kissed me.”

At the soft scolding, Maribelle only smiled.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t prepared then. She was prepared for even her neck being cut off but why just stir the rumors for no reason?

It was only that Ethelred’s kindness was not in Maribelle’s expectations.

But now it’s okay.

“I did it because I didn’t know if you would give me Your Majesty.”

Maribelle smiled softly, cast a sidelong glance at him, and turned around like a falling petal. Maribelle had to turn around with a huge line to the left at first, but she ended a bit early and leaned back to Ethelred.

It was a signal to end the private conversation. Because they have other goals for today’s party.

“Today, the Duke of Edenbert did not properly attend, and only showed his face for a while.”

“I found that interesting, too.”

“Instead, the Rhodein family, who rarely come to partieds, attended. It’s probably not unrelated.”

Aha. Maribelle’s feet paused for half a beat, then she startled as the nose of Ethelred’s shoe touched her, forcing her to catch the beat again.

“Are they here to see me?”

“Well.”

Ethelred’s lips curled up, and he lowered his head to deliver a soft whisper in Maribelle’s ear.

“You should know that.”

******

“Kir!”

“Oh, Jay.”

Kir, who was looking at the two spinning around the hall, turned his head looking tired. Jaylin was approaching with a pleasant smile from the side he heard someone call out.

Obviously, Jaylin was with Azil a while ago, but where did she throw him away to? Kir opened his mouth only after his violet eyes took in Jaylin’s surroundings and the lack of Azil.

“What about Azil?”

“I threw him away because of the Ladies following us. Did I do well?”

Seeing that Jaylin’s mouth has risen a little more than usual, she must have been drinking.

“His Majesty would be amazed if he knew that you were drinking.”

“His Majesty is busy right now. This is fine.”

Jaylin pointed to the dance floor with her chin. There were Maribelle and Ethelred, who were dancing long enough that others had filled the hall of the party.

It was also a target that Kir had been looking at with a complicated look until a while ago.

“—And if you put me in a party, you should watch me drink.”

After speaking bitterly, Jaylin turned her head.

“Well, anyway. I don’t know why the person who normally said not to come to parties pushed us all in today.”

“Huh? Jay, don’t you know?”

“Huh? Do you know?”

As if both were ridiculous to each other, two awkward gazes collided in the air. It was Kir’s side that put out of the puzzled silence first.

“I’m not a muscle brain like you, so—”

“Is that the end of your will?” With a quick motion she dragged him forward.

Krrk. It wasn’t until Kir made a sound that Jaylin let go of Kir’s collar.

Definitely, there’s no way to save face. Kir grabbed his throat and took a short breath, not minding too much whether his colorful robes were disturbed or not.

“Ugh, only strength, crazy, dirty— It’s a barbarian” He began insulting her.

“A gentleman sure talks a lot. But why never say anything useful?”

“Oh, damn it! Today is the day to announce the candidates for Empress!”

Kir was furious at Jaylin’s scolding. Unfortunately, though, Jaylin, who had driven all her physical abilities to her muscles, has no way of knowing what to say.

Jaylin scratched the back of her head and opened her mouth in frustration.

“Do you see the Emperor’s attitude in this party hall?”

“I did. There is only one person who will survive next to our Majesty.”

Pfft! Jaylin burst into laughter at Kir’s sarcastic remarks.

“You and I think alike. If the Young Ladies who wanted to enter this palace were lined up, they would have wrapped two rounds of the imperial palace. But where are the people who will last here.”

“—And it is questionable whether they will stand by His Majesty’s side in any case.”

Jaylin stopped laughing. Kir’s “situation” meant when Ethelred was trapped in an outer cage.

When the facts of Baldwin’s survival are known, there are many nobles hoping for this chance, so Ethelred may potentially fall from the throne.

Nevertheless, the nobles don’t want Ethelred who killed his brothers and ascended to the throne. But there is no way to conclude whether the Empress will stick to Ethelred’s side or seek her own way to live by joining the new Emperor.

“If someone has to ascend to the Empress, the Lady is the best choice.”

“From what I heard from Azil, you were the most opposed to the Lady becoming the Empress.”

“Because I have to be neutral.”

Kir said with a sigh. The playful side he had always shown was gone, and only the cool-headed prime minister remained.

“You can narrow the gaps in logic or knowledge only when one person opposes. The result without discussion is sure to be flawed.”

“—Well, even if you say that, I don’t know.”

Jaylin, who scratched her head a couple of times, grinned. Let’s get rid of this headache inducing conversation.

“So why did he tell us to attend? Is he going to choose a Scarecrow Empress well?”

“When does His Majesty pay attention to things like that?”

Kir grinned along and laughed. He’s having a lot of trouble taking care of his lacking superiors, Jay. He also added jokingly.

Kir, who responded playfully again, sneered over the people’s shoulders to see that the dance on the floor was over, grabbed Jaylin’s sleeve and dragged her into the corner.

Only after arriving in a sparsely populated place did he open his mouth as if whispering a secret.

“Listen, Jay. His Majesty has no intention of bringing any other Empress than the Lady.”

“Huh? Then what is all this about?”

“It’s wasting time and stalling because the Lady doesn’t want it.”

“Huh?”

Even after saying this, Jaylin showed no sign of understanding Kir’s words. This brat really makes him frustrated. Kir, who frowned as he thought of how to simplify this, hung his arm on Jaylin’s shoulder and lowered his head.

“You’re so frustrating. This party is where all the best men in the capital are gathered! It’s a collection of handsome, high-ranking, and popular young noblemen! So that the ladies won’t be swept away by His Majesty!”

Aha. The blank answer came back again. With Kir, who was frustrated, Jaylin blinked a couple of times and opened her mouth.

“—Hey.”

“—What again?”

“I’m a girl?”

After quietly staring at Jaylin’s sharply angled face and thick body line, Kir opened his mouth.

“—If I were a woman, I would have proposed to you first, so don’t worry.”