* * *

Though phrased casually, it was clearly an order.

And no man present had the audacity to step forward and ask the princess to dance under the Emperor’s watchful eye.

“Fa-father, h-here?” the princess stammered, her face reddening further.

“Of course,” the Emperor replied with a hearty laugh.

“This space was prepared for dancing. Where else would you go?”

The princess’s eyes darted nervously, her panic visible even from a distance.

Despite her upbringing as a cherished royal, she seemed utterly unprepared for this situation, teetering on the brink of collapse.

As she hesitated, the Empress approached and firmly placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Evelyn. His Majesty is waiting.”

The pressure in her grip was evident.

The Empress wasn’t merely offering comfort; she was ensuring the princess upheld her dignity as royalty.

With countless eyes on her—many belonging to her half-siblings and their allies—it was clear some hoped Evelyn would falter.

“Royal life isn’t all comfort and privilege, after all.”

Just as I clicked my tongue, the princess made her move.

She plucked the flower pinned to her chest, clutching it tightly.

The gathered crowd watched with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

“…?”

For some reason, it felt like she was heading toward us.

And sure enough, Evelyn, her face red as a tomato, stopped right in front of us.

“C-could I ask you for a dance?”

“……?”

The hall fell silent.

The target of her request was clear—and it wasn’t me.

I glanced between the princess and Hernan, caught off guard.

Hernan met my gaze, silently asking what he should do.

There wasn’t much to say.

Accepting the flower would be more than a simple gesture; it would have far-reaching implications. Refusing wasn’t an option either, given the setting.

Hernan, seeming to grasp the weight of the situation, broke the silence.

“I would be honored, though my skills may be lacking.”

He extended his gloved hand toward the princess, who hesitated for a moment before placing her trembling hand in his.

Together, they made their way to the center of the dance floor, where the music shifted into a lively melody.

“They do make quite the pair, don’t they?” someone murmured nearby.

“Yes, indeed. The Grand Duke is only twenty-four, isn’t he? Not too far in age from the princess.”

---

“No, it’s pretty noticeable. Of course, that’s by modern standards. Here, a ten-year gap is nothing—twenty or thirty years? That’s barely a difference by their measure. Even so, the princess had what you’d call a ‘mature’ face, giving her a refined look. Their dance seemed more like one between peers, only a few years apart.

When Hernan moved with measured steps, the princess struggled to keep up with his wide strides, her flustered motions chasing after him.

Yet, they appeared to be a perfectly matched pair—at least outwardly.

“……”

I felt strange. It wasn’t like the sight of Hernan dancing with the princess was anything unexpected.

I’d imagined it in my head countless times before.

This shouldn’t have bothered me.

It was just a dance; it wasn’t as if holding hands would somehow bind Hernan and the princess in a scandalous relationship.

Still, it was irritating.

What gnawed at me more than the fact Hernan was holding someone else’s hand was that I would never be in her place.

Why didn’t he trip over a single step?

He’d been so awkward in front of me—why was he suddenly perfect now?

Sure, I’d coached him to move that way, but… this feeling, it was definitely…

‘Why am I so annoyed?’

I knew we were nothing to each other, but I still wanted to demand answers and explanations, to throw accusations his way.

‘But on what grounds?’

I’d rejected Hernan’s proposal.

I’d shut down the idea of us being lovers, shutting him up so thoroughly he’d never dare bring it up again.

That made us… a would-be brother-in-law and business partner.

Nothing more, nothing less. I had no right to feel this resentment.

‘But still…’

There was no ‘but still’.

To be angry at Hernan, I’d have to admit we were… well, involved, at least to some extent.

That thought alone made my ears burn.

Taking advantage of the fact that everyone’s attention was fixed on the most dazzling pair in the hall, I slipped backward.

Normally, as one of the main attendees of the party, no one would’ve allowed me to fade into the background unnoticed.

But tonight, everyone was so absorbed in Hernan and Evelyn that no one paid me any mind.

I needed to leave before I lost my mind and stormed in to grab Hernan by the collar.

I hastily retreated to a balcony overlooking the garden.

Few people knew this part of the estate even existed, let alone came here.

‘Not that I didn’t know, thanks to all the children who used to hide out here.’

I recalled how many mischievous little ones I’d dragged back to the children’s hall from this spot.

But tonight’s gathering was strictly for adults, so there were no sounds of childish laughter.

“……”

The dark garden offered an excellent hiding place.

As I took shelter there, the cool night air made me shiver.

“It’s cold.”

No wonder.

The wind cut right through the open front of my jacket.

I clicked my tongue in regret—I should’ve brought a heavier coat. Just as I lamented my oversight, I sensed someone behind me.

“Here you are.”

“…!”

Startled, I turned to find a familiar voice.

“What are you doing out here?”

I’d been outside for quite some time—perhaps fifteen minutes?

Just as I was considering heading back inside, Hernan caught me like a child sulking in a corner.

My face grew hot.

“Just needed some fresh air,” I mumbled.

Hernan didn’t buy it.

“Liar.”

His blunt retort made me turn sharply.

“I’m not lying.”

“Why are you upset? I only did what you told me to do.”

He wasn’t wrong.

There hadn’t been another option but to dance with Evelyn in that situation. It was the most appropriate action.

I had told him to respond just like that. Logically, it made perfect sense.

Emotionally, however, my chest throbbed as if to prove otherwise.

“I’m not upset.”

“You seem upset.”

I gritted my teeth at the absurd back-and-forth.

“Did you come out here just to pick a fight?”

I crossed my arms and turned back to him.

That’s when something was suddenly shoved into my mouth.

“…!? Mmph…?”

A sweet taste filled my mouth.

It was a small pastry, slightly bigger than a coin.

“You haven’t eaten anything since arriving. Have something,” Hernan said casually.

I chewed the almond and coconut-flavored cookie in bewilderment.

It wasn’t bad—just overly sweet, sweet enough to diffuse my irritation somewhat.

“Do you think I’m a child?”

I wasn’t seven, easily placated by sugary snacks.

Narrowing my eyes at Hernan, I shot him a look. He smiled faintly.

“Did it bother you that much? Seeing me dance with someone else?”

Hernan stepped closer.

My back pressed against the low railing, the cool reflection of a shimmering pond beneath me.

I shook my head firmly.

“Of course not.”

Hernan’s smile widened. “Liar.”

With no room left to retreat, my heart pounded furiously.

His familiar scent washed over me as his hair brushed my forehead, tickling lightly in the wind.

His translucent blue eyes seemed to draw me in.

‘Why should I care? It changes nothing.’

I steeled myself, masking my vulnerability with boldness.

“Even if it bothered me, what difference does it make?”

* * *