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~Chapter 23~
‘You’ve really got to be kidding me…’
That’s what Aisha was thinking, but with Killian glaring at her so sharply, she had no choice but to stand up.
Yes—Aisha was the type who never started a fight she knew she’d lose.
“……”
Killian still looked displeased as he stared at her, then silently held out his hand. Aisha cautiously took it, recalling Madam Brien’s lessons as she began to move slowly.
One, two, three.
One, two, three.
She kept counting the beat in her head.
‘Not bad… for now, this is…’
Just as Killian was thinking that—
Aisha’s shoe narrowly brushed across the top of his foot.
“……”
“……”
As if planned, both of them froze at the same time.
“…That wasn’t on purpose.”
Aisha was the first to speak, mumbling in a tiny voice while glancing nervously at him.
No response.
Was he angry?
Come on, no one could expect her to master everything in just a few days.
“You might not believe it, but I really did my best. I worked so hard.”
Aisha grumbled, feeling wronged.
“I never said you didn’t try.”
“…Huh?”
“I was just thinking if there might be a better way.”
“A better way? Like what, not having me dance at all?”
Was he planning not to attend the party?
That couldn’t be it. He’d said they couldn’t possibly refuse the invitation since it came directly from the Empress Dowager.
“Are you, by chance… thinking about injuring your leg?”
“What?!”
“I promise it won’t hurt too much. I won’t break it completely—just enough for a minor fracture, like Madam Brien…”
“I—I’ll practice all night!”
Aisha quickly cut him off and shouted in panic.
“There’s no way I can embarrass myself in front of the Empress Dowager! I’m going there as your fiancée!”
“Even if I die, I won’t make a fool of myself. I swear on everything I’ve got. Seriously.”
Killian looked at her awkward smile and thought,
‘Has there ever been a promise in this world that feels less trustworthy?’
Probably not.
Still, there was no better option for now. As much as he wanted to… deal with Aisha’s foot, that would obviously cause a huge uproar.
“…Take my hand again.”
Killian let out a heavy sigh and spoke, and Aisha carefully reached for his hand.
“Madam Brien probably said it too—dance begins with the steps.”
“Just following the steps correctly can make you look decent. And judging by what I’ve seen, you seem to be… pretty tone-deaf.”
“No one’s ever said that to me before.”
“Of course not. No man’s ever asked you to dance, have they?”
Was that… sarcasm?
“Don’t bother counting numbers in your head. Like I said, you’re tone-deaf. It’s only going to confuse you.”
No matter what Aisha was thinking, Killian kept talking.
“Everything else is fine, so just leave it to me.”
“Leave… what?”
“…I think I know what weird thought is going through your head, but I meant it literally. Relax, and just follow my lead.”
Killian answered seriously.
“Alright. Let’s try again.”
Geez, could he have said that less awkwardly?
Still, Aisha took his hand.
This time, Killian guided her very naturally. Honestly, Aisha had practically given up and just let him lead, but strangely, her movements felt much smoother than before.
And this time—she didn’t even step on his foot.
“Now, turn.”
“W-Wah…!”
She stumbled a little, but thanks to Killian’s firm hand supporting her back, no accidents happened. Realizing they’d finished the dance without any issues, Aisha looked up at him with a glowing face.
“Did you see that? I did it!”
“This is the first time I’ve finished a dance without messing up! Madam Brien would’ve been so proud if she saw me! Oh my god!”
“Maybe I am naturally talented at dancing! I used to be so stiff like a plank!”
Killian couldn’t help but laugh.
It was ridiculous how she was taking all the credit, when it was clearly thanks to her partner… but still, kind of cute—
‘Cute?’
Killian snapped back to reality and abruptly let go of her hand.
‘What the hell was that?!’
Was he losing his mind?
Aisha looked at him with a puzzled and slightly annoyed face.
“Well… looks like we’re ready for the dance.”
“Tomorrow we’ll need to start preparing early, so go to bed soon. It’ll take time to get you all dressed up. And…”
“And?”
“Your handwriting.”
“Sorry?”
“Can you change your handwriting?”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
“Just… something’s bothering me.”
“Better to be safe than sorry. So—can you?”
“You’re asking because I’m the writer and publisher of Sunday Exposé, right?”
“Exactly.”
A flood of images rushed through her head. Being exposed as the publisher of Sunday Exposé in front of the Empress Dowager. Getting hated by everyone.
And now she was Killian’s fiancée, meaning any wrong move could literally get her killed. If Sunday Exposé got linked to her…
That would be the end.
“I get what you’re saying. It’s not like I wasn’t prepared for the worst-case scenario.”
“So?”
“I can write differently. You don’t have to worry about that. But… how likely is this ‘worst-case scenario’ you’re talking about?”
“I don’t know.”
What the—?!
Crack. A vein popped on Aisha’s forehead.
“Still, it’s good to know you can change it. You’re not as dumb as I thought, Aisha Ashton.”
“……”
“Now go to bed. It’ll do you good.”
Instead of answering, Aisha just glared at him.
Did he have to phrase things like that?
…She had already completely forgotten that Killian was Sunday Exposé’s biggest victim.
Meanwhile.
Outside the window, high in the trees—
“Unbelievable.”
Someone sitting on a thick branch muttered as they watched the pair dance, talk, and make a whole commotion.
“Noble life must be a blast. Ugh.”
It was Til.
He had come to meet Aisha as planned—but he had no idea he’d end up witnessing that scene at the mansion.
He saw it all.
Killian holding Aisha’s hand, resting his big hand on her waist, and Aisha smiling so brightly…
“…Why does this feel so disgusting?”
“Hmm.”
Weird.
Til frowned, deep in thought.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t figure out why he felt that way.
Very unfortunate indeed.
