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Chapter 16
“Then, you should be considerate of your partner. It’s not something you do alone, after all.”
“Of course.”
“Still, I guess this isn’t your first time?”
Friedrich looked momentarily flustered. I shrugged and added,
“You said you were locked up for five years, so I naturally thought you wouldn’t have any experience.”
“I—I don’t…”
He stammered, then bit his lower lip and looked down.
“…Is that a problem?”
“Huh? No? Elsa said you did fine on your own, though.”
“…Lady Elsa?”
He looked utterly shocked.
What? Was it really that embarrassing? His tongue got all twisted as he asked,
“L–Lady Elsa saw me doing it alone…?”
“Uh-huh, I heard everything. She said she found you and even helped you.”
“…What?”
Suddenly Friedrich let out a strangled, horrified sound.
Good grief, he’s so shy. I cleared my throat and continued.
“Yeah, I heard it all. You don’t have to be that embarrassed. Elsa only told me, and… she said you watched once and picked it up really well.”
At that, Friedrich’s expression shifted strangely.
“…Are you talking about dancing right now?”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Then what did you think we were talking about?”
“…”
Friedrich fell silent. His face froze like someone who just had his soul leave his body.
What the—he was chatting fine a moment ago!
“Friedrich?”
I poked his arm. He jumped as if electrocuted and took a sharp breath.
He looked like a hedgehog with all its quills raised, and I muttered, dumbfounded,
“You really get embarrassed easily, huh? How’d you even go out in front of all those people earlier?”
“…”
Now he looked like he might cry. He was clearly remembering the event from earlier.
I patted him gently in reassurance.
“Alright, I get it now. You really care about me. I’m glad I came by, even if late.”
“…”
“Okay, we’ve got twenty minutes left. That’s enough time to at least do it once—”
“Wh–why are you here?” he interrupted, panicking.
I frowned.
“To dance, obviously. What did you think I came for? Didn’t you say you practiced in the garden under the moonlight so we could dance together?”
I extended my hand to him with an imperious smile.
“Go on then. I’ll sing the music myself.”
“…”
Friedrich sighed heavily, a mix of defeat and awkwardness. Sure, it’s nerve-wracking. There was no orchestra to set the mood either.
To ease him a bit, I started humming a waltz melody.
He looked at me with complicated eyes. I smiled brightly, trying to encourage him.
Then, carefully, he stepped closer, placed a hand on my back, and took my other hand in his.
It was my first time dancing a waltz without gloves. The warmth of his hand against mine felt oddly vivid.
I rested my right hand on his shoulder and kept humming as we moved. He began with a hesitant first step, then smoothly guided us through the rhythm.
“Not bad. Elsa wasn’t exaggerating.”
I chuckled as we matched steps. Hard to believe he’d only copied Elsa’s demonstration once—his form was elegant.
“You’re not teasing me, are you?”
“Teasing? I’m serious. You’re really good.”
Smiling, I twirled lightly. The room was small—nowhere near the size of a ballroom. Even using all the space, there were limits.
At one point, Friedrich’s leg hit the bed frame.
He lost balance and fell backward—still holding my hand.
Naturally, I toppled right on top of him.
“Ah!”
Come on, if you’re going to fall, fall alone!
I was about to glare at him, but when our eyes met, I burst out laughing.
“Th–the timing… the timing is just perfect.”
“…”
He pouted like a sulky child. Honestly, I’m the one who should be pouting, but fine, I’ll let it go. I’m the adult here.
“Alright, guess it’s really time to sleep now. Since I already sang, I’ll throw in a lullaby too.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Oh, please. You can lower your voice all you want, it still doesn’t sound dignified.”
I laughed, and Friedrich, clearly defeated, pulled the blanket up to his head.
Watching that, I laughed again and started to get up—
“Huh? What now?”
Friedrich grabbed my collar with a small, delicate hand.
He looked up at me again, face soft and innocent.
“If you go out now, won’t that look suspicious?”
“Why?”
“It’s night.”
“Exactly. That’s why I should go sleep—”
Then I realized what he meant.
“So?” I asked slowly.
“Please stay a bit longer.”
“A bit? What if someone sees?”
“…Then,” he murmured, “you could just sleep here.”
“Are you scared to sleep alone?”
Suddenly, I understood.
“That’s why you didn’t lock the door! You were planning to bolt if you saw a ghost, huh? Someone has seen one in this room—!”
“…”
“Alright, fine. I’m joking. Give me a second.”
No one would dare come in, but better safe than sorry.
I locked the door and returned to lie down beside him.
He still had the blanket pulled up to his nose, staring at me.
Yawning, I said,
“Go to sleep. You need your rest to grow taller.”
“I think I’ve grown enough already.”
True.
I remembered Friedrich being around 190 centimeters tall and changed the tune to a lullaby.
“Sleep well, my little one. In the front yard and behind the hill…”
But I was too tired to finish the song. Before I knew it, I drifted off after the first verse.
The next day
Elsa kept a suspicious eye on me all day, as if checking whether I was writing to Joachim. Of course, I hadn’t written him a single letter.
By evening, just when I thought she might finally trust me—
“Duke Rommel requests an audience.”
I froze for a moment and hurriedly said to Elsa,
“I didn’t send any apology letter. You know that, right?”
“…”
“Elsa.”
“Then why would the Duke come here?”
“No idea. Maybe to complain?”
“Does he have two lives to spare?”
“Good point.”
Even if he did want to argue, he wouldn’t dare do it face-to-face.
“Still… I suppose I should meet him?”
Elsa narrowed her eyes. I protested,
“Am I supposed to turn away someone who came all the way to see me? Especially after I slapped him yesterday?”
“Normally you would turn him away. You’re being unusually merciful.”
“I’ve decided to be more generous now that I’ve got such a handsome husband.”
I replied shamelessly and went to the reception room.
Was it my imagination, or did Joachim’s shoulders look even more drooped than before?
“Your Highness.”
Sensing me, he quickly stood and dropped to one knee.
“I greet Princess Renée, the shining star of Stade.”
“‘Shining star’ is a bit much for a greeting to royalty, don’t you think?”
“Forgive me. It’s the only way I can express my sincerity.”
He still hadn’t stood up. My knees hurt just watching him, so I told him to get up. He looked moved as he sat down across from me.
“I apologize for yesterday. I was rude and reckless. And…”
He hesitated, then forced himself to continue,
“Prince Friedrich was right to call me disgraceful.”
Well, that was unexpectedly polite. I nodded.
“Good that you realize it now.”
“I was arrogant and failed to understand Your Highness’s greater purpose.”
Ah, so now you understand—after seeing Friedrich’s face, huh?
I should’ve shown him sooner.
Then he said,
“Your purpose in marrying the prince… is to stabilize the conquered territories once you ascend the throne, isn’t it?”
Huh?
