* * *
I clearly moved my foot to match his movements, but like a bee drawn to a flower, I flew over and stomped on his foot.
The shoulders that had been raised confidently quickly slumped down.
I suggested we slow down the speed again, but he firmly refused.
His reason was that since there was not much time left to practice, it was better to practice as if it were the real thing.
‘Does this mean my condition is worse than I thought?’
It would be better if it were a dance I didn’t know at all.
The movements of the opposing partner for a dance I was familiar with—so much so that my body moved naturally to it—made my mind complicated.
Moreover, was it moving exactly like a mirror image?
Dance was a much more delicate and complex endeavor than that.
It was possible when moving slowly, like a baby taking its first steps, but compared to that, this was a sprint.
Since I hadn’t perfectly mastered the movements, I needed instant judgment and quick reflexes.
Thud!
“Ugh.”
If I got lost in thought for a moment, I inevitably stepped on his foot.
It seemed to be the exact same spot as a moment ago.
“I was the one who was stepped on, so why are you groaning?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Well, because it looked painful, that’s why.
“Adrian. How many times have you danced?”
“Well, how many times…?”
“Is it too many to count, or too few to mention?”
“…”
Stopping his feet, his face, as he looked at me, seemed to already know the answer.
My eyes swam around, even to my own perception, suspiciously.
Since I learned to dance alongside learning the sword, the number of times I’ve danced is certainly countless.
But Klen’s question was clearly not about that.
Even without saying anything, my actions seemed to have already provided the answer.
A faint smile played on Klen’s lips.
“You seemed to enjoy the balls quite a bit.”
“Going to a ball doesn’t mean you only dance. You can also talk to people, eat desserts, or just enjoy the atmosphere, can’t you?”
“There seemed to be people like that.”
But he, who was bothered by the ball itself, didn’t seem to empathize.
As the conversation broke off, our feet started moving again.
To avoid stepping on his foot this time, I lowered my gaze.
Unlike me, who was wandering about where to go, Klen’s movements were smooth.
‘No, wait.’
If it were the opposite role, I would have danced well.
“Adrian, lift your head and meet my eyes.”
“Hmm. But…”
It was much better when I confirmed his movements with my eyes. I was even able to quickly change direction and fix my mistake before I stepped on him.
Once that worked, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
I felt like I would step on his foot again the moment I looked away.
“Will you dance while only looking at our feet, even in the hall? It’s better to stop before it becomes a habit.”
Indeed, that was not polite to a partner.
It would also look unsightly.
This ball was the second official event I was attending after the hunting competition.
I couldn’t afford to look disgraceful there.
I forcibly pushed up my stiff neck.
I immediately met the amber eyes that were intensely gazing at me from a close distance.
My heart, startled by that trivial closeness, momentarily screamed and sank.
Clack—
My foot, which was rushing in heavily as if my heart had fallen there, was dangerously diverted.
Thanks to that, I managed to plant it on the floor, avoiding the trajectory that would have stepped on him.
Even though it wouldn’t be a huge problem if I stepped on him, cold sweat trickled down my back.
“What if I step on your foot again?”
“I was prepared for my feet to be stepped on during practice.”
Being prepared doesn’t mean there’s no pain.
Moreover, I was really stepping on his foot hard, so even if it was protected by thick leather, the inside might be covered in bruises.
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“It’s fine. I’ve experienced much more painful situations during sparring anyway.”
“…”
Sparring.
That word flashed brightly before my eyes.
This was a dance.
But if I observe my partner’s movements and prepare for them, isn’t it similar to sparring?
Does he mean I should approach it as if I were sparring?
If so, I think I could move a little better.
Accepting his advice, I concentrated all my attention, keenly grasping every single one of Klen’s movements.
And I moved my feet as if I were penetrating an enemy’s weakness.
Thump—
‘Oh!’
My nerves reacted sensitively, and I was able to move without stepping on his foot in the section where I kept making mistakes.
“…Adrian. You should dance more softly. You’re not trying to fight, are you?”
I succeeded, but I also received a critique.
That was fair.
I, too, used to dance more smoothly and gracefully.
Compared to that, I couldn’t deny that there was a combat-like feel to my movements now.
“Isn’t it better for you to dance the woman’s part after all?”
“…”
Unlike the first time, Klen seemed to be genuinely contemplating it.
He looked confident in mastering the woman’s part.
If that were the case, I wouldn’t have to worry about constantly stepping on his foot or being embarrassed at the ball if the situation were reversed.
As if he had finally made up his mind, his eyes returned to me.
“If you can’t master it by the day before the ball… then I will try to do it.”
“…!”
Was this what it felt like to be so surprised that words failed you?
My startled body felt like it had stepped on his foot.
But since the sensation wasn’t clearly transmitted, I didn’t stop and kept moving.
Since he was moving without blinking an eye, it might have been my imagination.
Had Klen already mastered the woman’s part?
No, that couldn’t be.
There would be no reason for him to.
Does that mean he was confident enough to say that?
This was nothing short of provoking me.
‘Are you saying you can’t master in a week a movement I can do in a day, or half a day?’
“Ah, and.”
Despite that, he spoke to me, whose entire attention was focused on my feet.
“If you want to wear a dress, tell me now. We can still meet the deadline if you tell me now.”
“?!”
Thump—
Coincidentally with those words, my foot strongly pressed down on his foot again.
At this point, wouldn’t it be better to get some medicine from the Healer?
It seems right to treat a severe injury.
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
I hadn’t expected Klen to still have the dress on his mind.
Surely he didn’t expect me to wear a dress, despite what he said.
I looked straight into his eyes and spoke firmly.
“I have no intention of wearing a dress. I only asked about the Healer’s dress last time.”
“Is that so?”
But the unexpectedly bland response rather deflated my energy.
Using the excuse of having stepped on his foot, I stopped moving and rolled my eyes.
My gaze circled the room and returned to him, finding him unchanged.
Even though the dancing had stopped, his gentle, steady gaze remained fixed on me.
“Surely, you don’t want to see me in a dress?”
“Any attire will suit you well, so do as you wish.”
If anyone else had said that, it might have sounded like they didn’t care what I wore.
But he was different.
* * *
