IDTRAFTML 59

~Chapter 59~

‘Just until today…’

I carefully placed my hand on top.
Richard lightly held it, helping me step safely down from the carriage.

“Oh my. I’m one step late.”

As Lyssa also descended with Richard’s escort, a smooth voice came from behind the lined-up knights.
The knights stepped aside, and Bastian appeared.

“Lady Amelie, long time no see.”

He greeted me politely, wearing a black mask similar in design to Richard’s.
Up close, his sly eyes and smiling lips were the same as before, though he looked thinner.

Perhaps things hadn’t gone well with the person he had once confided about.
It wasn’t hard to guess the reason for his worn-out look.

“Good evening, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Well… I’m in a bit of trouble, so it’s hard to return that greeting.”

“Huh?”

Trouble? Was there an assassin hiding somewhere?
Looking at his troubled expression, I thought of those ball episodes where unexpected events always happened.

“Did something bad happen?”

“Something very bad. My partner rejected me.”

“…Rejected you? Who would refuse the Crown Prince…?”

It was a silly reason, but still, the Crown Prince being turned down wasn’t a small matter.
From the way he spoke, it didn’t seem like it was someone he loved.
I became curious about the bold young lady who had refused him.

“Rejected? Don’t make someone bedridden with fever sound rude.”

Ah, I see.
Thanks to Richard’s scolding from the side, I realized Bastian had exaggerated.
Satisfied at tricking me, his smile deepened.

“Anyway, I really am in a difficult spot. So, Lady Amelie, how about becoming my partner for tonight?”

Despite his light tone, he reached out to me politely and properly.

“Me?”

“Richard looks fine alone, since he’s handsome. But me, without a partner—I’ll look pitiful, won’t I?”

…You’re very handsome too, though.

Even compared to Richard, his looks were not lacking, and yet he put on an act of misery.
Still, I couldn’t deny he was in a difficult situation.
As the host of the ball, he had to dance the first song with a partner.

But my answer stuck in my throat.
The thought of dancing the very first dance of the very first ball with someone I had no feelings for bothered me.

Then a low voice came from beside me.

“Please don’t make unreasonable requests of Amelie. She already suffered enough from rumors about me. If she now appears as Your Highness’s partner, do you think people will stay quiet?”

Richard scolded Bastian in a very polite but firm tone.
Judging by how everyone took it casually, it seemed this wasn’t the first time Richard scolded his older brother.

“Well. Then it would look like a messy love triangle—between half-brothers and a baron’s daughter. That could be entertaining in its own way.”

Bastian gave a light laugh, joking mischievously.
After a pause, his gaze shifted toward Lyssa.

“Then, Lady Lyssa.”

His voice carried unusual weight this time.
I turned to her instinctively.

Since Bastian appeared, Lyssa had been quiet, and now she looked at him with slightly widened eyes.

“Would you be my partner tonight?”

What?!

“Absolutely not!”

Before Lyssa could even answer, the words burst out of me—louder than I intended.
All three pairs of eyes turned toward me.

I quickly caught my breath and tried to continue naturally.

“Lyssa… she really hates dancing, so it’s not possible. She even said she can’t dance at all…”

It was a flimsy excuse, but I had to stand firm.
Even if it was her first ball, even if she had never danced before—my mission was too important.

“So I’ll do it. I’ll be Your Highness’s partner. I can do it.”

As I spoke firmly, music drifted from afar—
the court orchestra’s prelude announcing the start of the masquerade ball.

In the center of the hall, under the shining chandelier, a beautiful man and woman danced a waltz.

Lyssa’s blue skirt spread smoothly with every soft turn, like the tail of a mermaid, and Bastian supported her waist in perfect rhythm.

“She said she couldn’t dance… but that was a lie.”

Like partners who had practiced for years, Lyssa and Bastian moved together without a single mistake.

Why wasn’t I dancing with Bastian? Because two people had strongly objected.

• “You as my brother’s partner? Never. Do you think I’d let those loudmouthed fools gossip freely?”

• “That’s right, Amelie. I’m against it too. If people start whispering about you, I might just smash the ballroom myself.”

Richard and Lyssa had stopped me with those terrifying words, so in the end, Bastian stood by Lyssa’s side instead.

‘Richard should have been the one in that spot…!’

Standing next to Richard, I watched them dance and couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

The most frustrating thing was—they looked good together.
Even though I was a strong supporter of the “blonde × black hair” pairing, even I had to admit Lyssa’s black hair matched well with Bastian’s red hair.

No! Stop it, Amelie. Blonde × black hair is the ultimate truth!

I quickly pulled myself together and glanced at Richard.
His expression was hidden under the mask, but his eyes were fixed on them—just as mine had been.

‘That’s right. Richard, it must be harder for you to watch than for me.’

For some reason, seeing him unable to look away made my chest ache even more.

After hesitating, I finally spoke.

“Why didn’t you ask Lyssa to be your partner first?”

Richard turned his head to look at me.

“I don’t like dancing, and Lyssa doesn’t either. There was no need.”

“But Lyssa must’ve been shocked to suddenly dance with the Crown Prince.”

“They’ve known each other for a long time. It won’t be that uncomfortable. And it was an unavoidable situation.”

Richard shook his head slightly, his face unreadable.
Then his lips fell silent again.
The song ended, and applause broke out all around us.

At that moment, the prelude of the next song began softly.

“Let’s go.”

As if it were nothing, Richard reached out his hand to me.

“Go where?”

“You said it’s your first masquerade. You should at least try dancing.”

My heart thumped loudly, like a little drum.
This wasn’t right. I should push him away.
But… as if under a spell, I placed my hand in his.

We walked to the center of the hall and faced each other.
Since I had to dance anyway, it would be nice if I could at least do well.

“You really can’t dance, can you?”

From the very first step, everything tangled, and I was being dragged along by Richard’s lead.
He kept laughing softly, even as he guided me.

It was annoying, so my racing heartbeat slowed a little—but my body still didn’t move as smoothly as I wanted.

“It’s my first time! How can I dance well? Stop teasing me and focus. Or else I’ll step on your feet!”

“You already stepped on me several times. What’s the point of warning me now?”

Still, little by little, I started to adjust.
My stiff wrists relaxed, then the tension in my toes eased.

By now, Richard had completely figured out my movements and was leading me perfectly in sync.

Just as the dance began to feel fun, I met his eyes beneath the mask—curved like a crescent moon.

And my breath caught.