Chapter 128: It’s a fraudulent marriage (9)

Editor: bodyinthefreezer

Diana seemed like a natural as she led me. Of course, she was no match for Tenstheon or Blake.

But her dancing skills were still remarkable.

“Since when have you been practicing?”

Diana had dance classes when she was young, but that was for the women's position. She had never learned how to dance in the men's position.

“I practiced really hard yesterday.”

“Yesterday?”

“Yes, I wanted to dance with my sister.”

I couldn't believe that she was this good after practicing just one day. I couldn't even do the basic steps even after working hard for a long time.

Was this the difference between a talented person and a normal person?

This was my third dance, but maybe because I was dancing with my younger sister, I felt relaxed. I looked at Diana.

“Diana, you're so tall now.”

I noticed it when we met, but standing so close like this I couldn’t help but realize that she really had grown much taller. She could easily be over 170cm.

“I'm the tallest girl in my class.”

There was no particular description of her height in the original story. Unlike the original story, however, she seemed to have grown way taller while training and attending the Academy of Knights.

When we were young, I was the tallest among the three, but now I was the shortest.

“I envy you.”

“You’re cute because you’re small.”

“……”

It didn't comfort me at all to hear my younger sister say that.

“Oh, sorry!”

As I was sulking, I lost focus and accidentally stepped on Diana's foot.

“It’s okay.”

Diana smiled and pulled my waist.

“But please focus a little more. It's my first dance.”

“Okay.”

I couldn't ruin Diana's first dance.

After finishing the dance, Diana bowed gracefully.

“It was an honor. Your Highness.”

“It was an honor for me too, Countess Bellacian.”

After Diana left, other men approached me. I didn’t know much about them except for their names and family.

Which of them should I choose?

I was worried about whom I should dance with, and whether or not I would be able to dance well, when Blake took my hand.

“Ancia, will you dance with me?”

“Dancing with the same person is against etiquette.”

“Just the last time.”

Blake grumbled cutely.

To be honest, the moment he held my hand, my nervousness disappeared and I felt at ease. But etiquette was etiquette.

I was still wondering what to do, but then Blake turned his head and looked at the men that asked for a dance.

At that moment, the men's faces turned pale and they hurriedly left with their tails tucked between their legs.

What kind of facial expression did he make?

“Blake, what have you done?”

“I didn't do anything.”

He said gently. Just looking at his expression, he looked really harmless. However, the expressions of the men that just left showed that it was not true.

Well, it didn't matter.

I wouldn’t have to deal with the hassle of having to refuse other people's requests for a dance everytime anymore. Besides, I wanted to dance with Blake again.

It was the first beautiful moment I experienced in seven years so it was okay to forget the rules for a while.

In the end, the two of us danced together for a long time.

Even after the song ended, we didn't change partners and looked at each other only.

***

When I came back to my seat to take a rest after dancing, people rushed over to me as if they had been waiting.

“Your Highness, I'm glad you're back.”

“Congratulations.”

“It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

Some people were glad to see me after a long time, while others were new faces.

I was grateful to them for welcoming me after 7 years and glad to meet them again. But I was a little tired from talking to so many people.

So I headed to the terrace to relax, but Blake approached me and whispered in my ear.

“Ancia, let's go.”

“What? Where?”

Where were we going when the ball hadn't even finished?

“You promised.”

“Promise?”

“Let's watch the fireworks.”

Fireworks…

“Melissa and Hans will be in the square, right?”

“Yeah. They’re probably watching fireworks in the square by now.”

“We can do that too, right?”

“Of course. Let's take a look at the square.”

When we were young, we promised each other to go to the festival together and I asked him to watch the fireworks with me in the square.

He didn’t forget our promise.

“But if we leave…”

We were at the ball now. Even if the other nobles didn’t notice, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess could not go out until the ball was over.

“It will be the biggest firework festival in the history of the Empire. I prepared it specially for you. Won't you watch it with me?”

Blake looked at me with a pitiful expression.

Seeing his pitiful eyes, I couldn't find any words to refuse him. Besides, I also wanted to see the fireworks.

Of course, there were fireworks in the palace, but watching them in the square was different.

I looked at Tenstheon. Tenstheon was talking to Collin. He turned his head and stared at me.

He gestured briefly, the corners of his mouth gently rising.

Father knows…

“Okay, let's go.”

I smiled broadly and took hold of Blake's hand.

***

We sneaked out of the ballroom. Then, I took off my fancy dress and shoes, changed into casual clothes, and headed to the square.

The square was already crowded with thousands of people.

Blake held my hand firmly. He grinned and said, “I need to make sure I don't lose my wife.”

“Am I a child?”

“Well, you’re still a baby in my eyes.”

He tapped my cheek.

“……”

“Cute.”

I couldn't believe he said that.

Come to think of it, Diana did the same thing a little while ago. They were the cute ones back then…how did I end up being told that I was cute by the little ones?

I was definitely a reliable and cool wife…

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“We're supposed to see it from the front.”

The square was crowded with people, but if we identified ourselves, we would get a view in the front. But I shook my head.

“We can see it from here.”

Those who were at the front had waited since morning to see the fireworks from a good position. I didn't want to take their place.

“There's a VIP seat in front of us.”

Blake pointed to the seats.

Like he said, there was a luxurious space prepared for the nobles.

Since the Asteric Empire valued people of status, there would be special seats provided for the nobles at any event.

But I shook my head again this time.

“It's better here.”

If we sit, we will feel comfortable, but we’ll attract attention. So it’s no different from seeing it at the Palace.

I wanted to enjoy the festive mood.

The square was crowded with family, lovers, and friends.

Even now, I could hear people talking all over the place, but they were engrossed in the camaraderie and didn't care about us.

Seven years ago, and even a while ago, I couldn't even dream about this.

Blake had the curse of the goddess, and I had my burn scars.

Back then, if we didn't cover ourselves with masks, we would be anxious to stand in front of people and have to deal with many contemptuous gazes.

Today, I wanted to enjoy the festival without any attention.

It was much better to see Blake standing proudly next to me.

“Okay, we’ll do what you want.”

We held hands tightly and looked up at the sky.

After a while, the fireworks went off. Beautiful fireworks covered the black sky.

“Wow!”

“Wow, that's amazing.”

“Mom, look at that!”

The sound of fireworks and people's admiration filled the spacious square.

I saw fireworks in the palace before, but It felt different when I saw them in the square.

The sound of fireworks and the stars looked very clear.

In addition, it was several times more grand and splendid than usual as the national founding day was a celebration of a millennium.

“Wow…It's pretty, isn't it?”

When I turned my head, I saw Blake staring at me.

“Yes, pretty.”

“What are you doing? You should look at the fireworks.”

“My wife is prettier.”

He held my shoulders.

“Look at the fireworks. We can see it anytime, but we can't see such big fireworks unless it is at this moment.”

There were fireworks at every festival, but fireworks of this scale were rare.

“…Blake, I'm not leaving anymore.”

“I know. Even if you try to leave, I'll never let you.”

Blake took my hand in his. I smiled slightly and leaned my head on his shoulder.

“I don't even want to leave.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Make a promise.”

“I promise.”

I hooked my pinky finger around his.

It was not a white lie this time.

We would continue to be next to each other from now on.