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Chapter 53
Edward spotted Genevieve after walking a little farther with Blanca.
The person sitting across from Genevieve, who had her back against the lobby sofa, was Theodor. Theodor noticed Edward first and waved. Only then did Genevieve see him.
Just as Edward was about to walk over to them, three or four female students blocked his path. Julieta stood at the center of the group. The atmosphere around her and her friends was far from ordinary.
One of Julieta’s friends, speaking Imperial with a noticeable Relta accent, politely asked Blanca if she could step aside for a moment. After hesitating, Blanca moved a few steps away.
“Congratulations on winning! I’ve been thinking about how to say this… Well, I have so many things to thank you for, especially from the first day…”
Julieta listed everything she was grateful to Edward for.
She told him how relieved she had been to hear someone speaking Relta when she struggled because of the language barrier at the first-day banquet, how thankful she was that he had escorted her to the polo stadium, and many other things.
“So… please be my partner for the ball!”
Julieta practically shouted the last sentence.
“……”
Edward had never expected something like this, leaving him in an awkward position.
He had no interest in the ball, and the only partner he had ever thought about…
…already had someone she was going with.
Edward looked toward Genevieve. It seemed Blanca had already explained the situation to her, because Genevieve was watching everything unfold with a satisfied smile.
“……”
If he refused this request, he felt like Genevieve might be disappointed.
Even so, she was the kind of person who would respect whatever decision he made.
As Edward remained silent, Julieta’s eyes wandered around nervously.
“…Would it really be alright for me to be your partner?”
Edward asked instead.
Julieta had expected either acceptance or rejection, so she looked a little surprised.
“Um… yes.”
But only for a moment. She answered neatly.
I should have learned how to refuse politely from James.
Remembering that even refusing someone required proper etiquette among nobles, Edward ultimately found himself unable to reject her and accepted instead.
Soon after, Julieta returned to her friends. Edward heard her happily say,
“It worked.”
Although Edward wanted to think positively, the moment Genevieve came walking toward him with her golden curls bouncing cheerfully, he immediately regretted the choice he had just made.
Watching himself become someone else’s dance partner right in front of Genevieve was not pleasant.
The only small advantage was that he no longer had to tell her the news himself.
“That’s great! So you’re partners with Miss Garcia?”
“Yes.”
Edward answered miserably.
“It’s a good experience to have. You’ll dance, meet people, and make connections.”
“Do I have to dance as well?”
Edward asked, pretending not to know.
Ever since Marchioness Darling had begun supporting him, Edward had been practicing dance steps with Nick every single day. It had been so exhausting that he often thought training with a sword would have been easier.
“Normally, you don’t have to if you don’t want to… but the winners of each event always have to dance.”
“……”
Completely unaware that Edward already knew this, Genevieve continued chatting.
“Are you feeling sick? Didn’t you push yourself too hard?”
The truth was, Edward already knew he would have to dance. He had simply been wondering whether he should finally tell her that, thanks to Marchioness Darling’s generosity, he had already learned several dance steps. His serious expression must have looked strange.
Genevieve stepped a little closer and looked up at him.
Startled by how close she suddenly was, Edward instinctively took a step back.
“Well… it’s just… I can’t dance.”
In the end, the words escaped him.
She was kind.
If he admitted that, maybe she would offer to teach him.
“I can teach you.”
Just as he expected, Genevieve kindly made an offer he could never refuse.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“Great! Once we decide on a time, I’ll gather everyone and teach you.”
Genevieve said brightly.
* * *
Why did I offer to teach him how to dance?
Genevieve wished she could sew shut the mouth that always spoke before she thought.
If she were teaching the woman’s part, she could do it better than anyone.
But the man’s role was a different story.
I’m still excited because of the victory. I got carried away…
Sometimes people become so emotionally invested in an athlete that they mistake the athlete’s victory for their own and end up doing things they normally never would.
Genevieve thought what she had done was much the same.
Since she had not been able to compete herself, she had become even more emotionally invested.
Once she blamed everything on the joy of winning, she felt much more at ease.
After the urgency she had felt while searching for Edward faded away…
After she replayed the excitement of the victory several times…
After she finally calmed down…
She began noticing the things she had overlooked before.
He looks rich just from looking at his face.
Watching Edward’s back as he walked out of the arena, Genevieve made an objective assessment.
Since he carried the Imperial bloodline, perhaps he had simply been born that way.
He lacked confidence, but Edward’s posture and manner of speaking were undeniably those of royalty.
Still, his messy hair, glasses, and clean but worn-out clothes had hidden much of that unique aura.
But today, Edward was different.
His bangs had become strangely shorter.
His fragile-looking glasses had been replaced with a sturdier pair.
Even the shirt, which seemed carefully chosen to be as plain as possible, was obviously expensive.
It couldn’t have been Milford.
Genevieve thought coldly.
If he had been the kind of person who truly cared about Edward, he would have supported him since his days at the college.
“Are you worried about something?”
Theodor asked.
“Well… Edward can’t dance, so I told him I’d teach him. But now that I think about it, I don’t know the man’s steps either…”
Unable to tell him the truth about Milford, Genevieve made up another excuse.
Well… it really is something I’m worried about.
Of course, everything would be solved if she simply brought James or Owen.
The problem was that James had finished three events and probably needed to rest, while Owen would likely be wandering around meeting friends.
James would gladly help if she asked, but that only made her feel even more guilty.
As for Owen, he always wanted too much in return.
“Then how about I help?”
“Huh? You’d really do that?”
Genevieve immediately accepted the tempting offer.
“Of course. I recommend renting the first-floor lounge room. The facilities there are much better than the convention room or the lounge.”
Theodor shared information that only a local student would know.
Genevieve had originally been thinking about using the lounge, but after hearing his advice, she decided to follow it.
The lounge room was just as Theodor had said.
Its facilities were much better than anywhere else.
The lounge was filled with single-person armchairs and decorations, making it impossible to practice dancing.
The convention room was usually occupied by long tables.
Looking around the lounge room, Genevieve couldn’t help admiring it.
The tall windows that stretched all the way to the ceiling displayed the beautiful scenery outside without obstruction.
The luxurious yet cozy room contained a black grand piano and sofas that looked wonderfully soft.
Even with all the furniture inside, there was still more than enough space to practice.
Beautiful White Symphony flowers decorated the walls.
Theodor had arrived before her.
Sitting on a cream-colored sofa, he looked toward the entrance as soon as he heard someone arrive.
“You got here first?”
“I just arrived too.”
Theodor replied.
It was the kind of place where a romantic atmosphere could naturally blossom.
So there’s a day when I’m alone with Theodor in a place like this.
Strangely… I’m not nervous.
The thought suddenly crossed her mind.
Looking at Theodor still reminded her of their engagement ceremony from years ago, making her feel embarrassed.
But the excitement she had always believed would accompany that embarrassment was nowhere to be found.
I thought I’d feel at least a little excited.
She had always believed that unless she completely let go of what had happened when they were young, her heart would continue racing.
But now that she examined her feelings, Genevieve realized she had simply assumed that the romantic affection she had once felt still remained, and that she would end up acting foolishly again.
That was why she had intentionally avoided Theodor.
Yet now that they were alone together, it felt less like meeting someone she still had feelings for…
…and more like reuniting with an old friend she had lost contact with.
Maybe I’ve been holding on to what happened back then for far too long.
Of course, remembering her confession still made her face burn with embarrassment.
Perhaps that incident had cost her a truly good friend.
Genevieve looked at Theodor.
“Come to think of it, we’ve never danced together.”
It was Genevieve who finally broke the silence.
“Shouldn’t we try dancing together once before teaching someone else?”
Even she thought it sounded like an excuse she had made up on the spot.
“I suppose so.”
But Theodor did not argue.
Instead, he held out his hand.
“Would you like to dance once?”
“Sure.”
Genevieve let out a small laugh and took his hand.
“It’s a shame.”
Theodor said as he lightly stepped into the dance.
“What is?”
“I wanted to be your partner at least once.”
A faint smile appeared on Theodor’s face.
“But I was too late.”
Genevieve replied jokingly.
“Yes… I was far too late.”
Theodor kept the same gentle smile on his face.
A few seconds later—
Edward stepped into the lounge room.
