* * *
The reason it felt refreshing was definitely because he believed me.
While it was reassuring to have an ally, a wave of embarrassment washed over me.
I was envious of Klen’s composure, speaking such things so casually.
Unable to cool my flushed cheeks, I could only roll my eyes.
With my body held by him, there was no way to escape this atmosphere, which was so embarrassing that my skin was tingling.
The sound of my pounding heart would surely reach him.
The more I tried to calm it down, the more fiercely it beat in rebellion.
This time, I forced my gaze toward the hall.
Since the light was gone, it was not easy to find the three people who had already disappeared from view.
My gaze, scanning the surroundings, naturally drifted to the area where the desserts were arranged.
‘Oh!’
It seemed my message was successfully delivered, as the Healer was standing in front of the desserts, tasting them one by one.
Thanks to that, the tension and heat that had enveloped my body slowly drained away.
Her face, visible even from a distance, was rigid, not what you would expect when eating sweet desserts.
Moreover, she looked as cautious as if conducting an experiment.
That’s strange.
I thought all those desserts were delicious.
“Are you concerned about the Healer?”
“Yes. Fortunately, she’s eating the desserts well, but I was thinking it might have been better if she danced once.”
“…Even if her foot was stepped on?”
“Ugh.”
If it were the Healer, I felt she would rummage somewhere in that dress for medicine and drink it even if her foot was stepped on.
Nevertheless, stepping on her foot would still be rude and an embarrassing situation for her.
The calm music ended, signaling that it was time for another dance.
I could see several people cautiously approaching the Healer.
She put one last cookie in her mouth and faced them.
It seemed she was going to dance.
“Hmm…”
I watched the situation anxiously, like a parent watching their child make their social debut.
Among the several people standing in front of her, there were men who looked earnest, but I couldn’t tell where her hand would go.
Of course, she could dance with all of them once.
This was just a simple ball.
Even so, I hoped she would dance with the best person.
Just as the Healer’s hesitating hand went up, finally intending to grasp someone—
“Whoa?!”
My body spun around to face the opposite direction.
‘What are you doing at this crucial moment?’
A surge of anger rose instantly, and I lifted my head.
A brightly smiling face appeared right in front of me, and as our eyes met, the corners of his eyes curved, deepening his smile.
I couldn’t even frown.
This was an act.
That smile was fake.
The problem was that my anger melted away despite knowing that.
“How about we dance one more time?”
“Pardon? Here?”
“Here. It doesn’t matter how many times a couple dances together, does it?”
“That’s true.”
Klen took a step back, placed a hand on his chest, and bowed at the waist.
And he extended one hand forward, requesting a dance.
The smoothly flowing movement was like a painting, sparkling as if reflecting the surrounding light.
Surely, anyone would be forced to take his hand when asked to dance like this.
“Would you like to try the man’s part?”
“Yes!”
I, too, eagerly grabbed his hand.
He said I would stumble if I danced the man’s part in this state, yet he casually suggested it.
Soon, our dance began, following the music heard from the hall.
Even though we had never coordinated in this way, we moved more smoothly than before.
‘…Klen. You dance well, don’t you?’
Originally, his movements were so soft and elegant that it would have been better for him to dance the woman’s part.
Maintaining eye contact with me was basic, and there was no hesitation or fumbling in his steps.
The continuing dance eventually made me drop my guard.
I moved my foot without hesitation, and—
Thump—
“Ugh?!”
In the end, as Klen had predicted, my steps got tangled.
The habit I had injected into my body over the past few days suddenly reacted to the music, and I stepped the woman’s part.
It was fortunate that I didn’t step on his foot, but I was at a loss as to where to step next.
“It’s okay to relax. Just continue.”
“?!”
Eventually, by the time we completed one turn, our roles had completely swapped.
Yet, the dance continued without stopping, smoothly flowing on.
He had said it would be difficult to dance with others.
It was fortunate that I didn’t try it after all.
But how was he able to adjust to my movements?
‘Let’s see.’
This time, as we turned once, I deliberately tried to switch our roles.
Of course, I glanced at our feet and moved carefully to avoid stepping on him.
Klen naturally adjusted his steps to match mine.
“Hoo.”
A low laugh flowed from his throat, as if he had read my intention.
His face, touched by the moonlight, wore a serene yet bright smile.
Surely, a smile must have appeared on my face as I looked at him too.
Tap—
It was the same even after I attempted it several more times.
The dance I was doing now was so messy that it wasn’t like this even when I first learned.
The two sets of movements were mixing without warning.
But since my partner adjusted to them, it was incredibly smooth, as if a new dance had been born.
I entrusted my body to the music and moved as I pleased.
And Klen, adjusting to me, showed no signs of tension.
Darkness had fallen around us, but the moonlight streamed down, and the light from the magical orb illuminating the balcony was soft.
In the open space, unlike the enclosed hall, I could inhale the fresh air completely.
The fragrance of flowers and the freshness of the vegetation within it were fully transmitted.
Just as expected.
Dancing outside on a day like this wasn’t bad either.
In any case, there was nothing I could do right now.
We continued this messy dance several times throughout the ball.
The day after the ball, I sat on the sofa, drinking herbal tea to calm my mind.
The atmosphere that enveloped us last night was clearly refreshing and sweet, in a way that was difficult to express in words.
No one would fail to be intoxicated by such an atmosphere.
And as a result of indulging and being fully intoxicated by that atmosphere, the embarrassment was now mine to bear.
“Haa.”
I fanned my flushed cheeks with my hand and exhaled.
Even my breath felt hot, laden with warmth.
I took a sip of the tea, but the rising emotion was not easily suppressed.
Even now, thinking about it, there was no dance as messy as that one.
To keep dancing such a mess. It was truly enjoyable.
Laughter was incessant.
But even so, I greatly wished that no one had seen it.
* * *
