Chapter 12
“May I have the first dance with you?”
At Lydia’s request, Serret’s face tightened slightly.
It was a terribly rude thing to ask of a man attending a ball with his fiancée.
Not the second dance, but the first? Asking for that was outright dismissing the man’s betrothed.
Was she simply trying to sulk to Yuan?
Annoyed as she was, Serret couldn’t help but wonder about Lydia’s intentions.
Was she like this in the previous life too? What happened then?
Serret tried to recall her past life.
Now that she thought about it, Yuan had danced his first dance with her then. And Lydia had never made such an unreasonable request.
Strange.
Why would she sabotage herself like this?
Anyone could see that asking a man with a fiancée to share the first dance was rude.
Lydia Elliot, the darling of high society, would never make such a blunder.
If this spread, she’d be criticized more than anyone.
So this couldn’t just be something blurted out of jealous anger.
Serret watched Lydia’s face, curious what her true aim was.
“In truth, I’m wearing shoes that don’t quite fit, and my feet are a little uncomfortable. If I were to dance in this state, I’d surely make a mistake. Since Yuan and I have often danced together, I thought he could lead me well.”
“I shall join you for the second dance.”
At Lydia’s explanation, Yuan politely refused.
As if expecting it, Lydia showed no surprise and immediately spoke again.
“In fact, His Majesty ordered that I open tonight’s ball.”
The Imperial Ball always began with a dance led by a member of the royal family.
So Lydia’s words sent quiet ripples through the hall.
Crown Prince Henderson and Crown Princess Christine’s faces instantly hardened. Both glared at Lydia with obvious displeasure.
To have Lydia begin the ball was the same as declaring her a royal.
For the Crown Prince couple, who despised her, this was nothing short of a calamity.
Now Serret remembered—in her previous life Lydia had indeed opened the ball.
At that time, she had danced with the Marquis of Golding, grandson of the war hero Alexander Golding, and one of Lydia’s many admirers.
Serret hadn’t understood the significance then, as it had been her very first Imperial Ball. She had only thought Lydia looked beautiful dancing with the Marquis.
It was only after marriage that she realized the true meaning of that dance. No wonder the memory hadn’t stuck with her.
Did the Emperor already know his health was failing?
It seemed he wished for Lydia to be treated as a royal even after his death.
Such pitiful fatherly love.
“My feet hurt, so I thought I’d dance once with Yuan and then rest… but if Lady Innoheter doesn’t permit it, I suppose there’s nothing I can do.”
Lydia trailed off with a pout, sneaking a glance at Serret. As though Serret were the real obstacle.
The refusal came from Yuan, yet she’s picking a fight with me?
At last, Serret understood Lydia’s intent.
She had deliberately made such an improper request in order to put Serret in a bind.
Having dealt with Lydia enough in her past life, Serret saw through her immediately.
But what to do? I won’t fall into it so easily.
Serret smirked at Lydia’s shallow ploy.
By framing it as if Yuan needed his fiancée’s permission, Lydia had shifted the choice onto Serret.
She probably assumed the country-bred girl knew nothing of Imperial politics. But Serret, reborn with her past life’s knowledge, was well aware.
Crown Prince Henderson opposed Lydia’s recognition as a royal, while the Emperor supported it.
Thus, whichever choice Serret made, she would offend one of them.
Yield Yuan to Lydia, and she would win the Emperor’s favor but earn the Crown Prince’s ire.
Refuse Lydia, and it would be the opposite.
Either way, Serret had nothing to gain. Lydia, on the other hand, would enjoy it regardless.
Serret glanced at Lydia. She was barely suppressing a smile.
It won’t go your way, Lydia. I’ll make no choice at all.
“This does not seem to be my decision, Lady Elliot. Matters such as these should be decided by the Duke of Frektuster.”
Serret smiled serenely and looked to Yuan.
Catching her gaze, Yuan’s lips curved wryly.
Whatever he was thinking, he too must have seen through Lydia.
Well then, what decision will the great Duke make?
Serret smiled faintly at him.
Yuan composed his face and let his eyes wander across the royals seated nearby.
Finally, his gaze fixed on Grand Duke Regan Popwell.
Following his line of sight, Serret looked to Regan as well.
The Grand Duke was a gentle-featured, handsome man, with fine chestnut-brown hair and eyes to match.
His smile gave the refreshing feeling of early summer, and his personality was much the same.
As the Emperor’s nephew, orphaned young and raised in the palace, Regan was treated almost as the Emperor’s own son. The Emperor was a man of deep affection.
Though his surname was different, Regan Popwell always appeared at Imperial events as part of the royal family.
With a crooked smile, Yuan turned to Lydia.
“How about the Grand Duke as your partner, Lady Elliot?”
“…What?”
“…What?”
Lydia and Regan spoke at once, both startled.
Lydia couldn’t hide her dismay, while Regan looked at Yuan in disbelief.
“Doesn’t it bring back memories? As children, the Grand Duke taught you to dance. He was even your first dance partner, was he not, Your Highness?”
Yuan asked with impeccable courtesy.
“…Indeed, Duke Frektuster.”
Regan replied with a forced grin, though his displeasure was clear.
The look in his eyes practically said, Selling out your friend, are you?
Serret barely kept from laughing.
“That being the case, I believe no one would pair better with Lady Elliot in her current discomfort.”
At Yuan’s words, a tense silence fell among the royals.
By pulling Regan into it, Yuan had made his stance clear: This is your family’s problem—deal with it yourselves.
No one with wit could miss the implication. Hence the heavy air.
“…Very well, then.”
It was Regan who broke it. He could never endure such strained atmospheres.
He turned to Lydia.
“Lydia, the first dance shall be with me.”
“Yes, Brother Regan.”
Lydia answered reluctantly.
With the matter neatly settled, Yuan offered his arm to Serret.
Taking it, Serret turned her back on Lydia’s twisted face.
So, whose victory is this?
She glanced up at Yuan. For a man who had just refused the woman he loved, he looked awfully calm.
Well, he was never one to wear his feelings openly.
Still, how cold. For his beloved Lydia’s sake, one might expect him to oblige… yet he slipped away so neatly.
Perhaps he thought—love is love, but nothing must harm the family.
Cold indeed, before the Frektuster name.
Or perhaps inwardly, he was pained. Perhaps he longed to dance with Lydia a hundred times, but could not before these watching eyes.
…Who cares.
Serret muttered inwardly.
Who could truly know? He wasn’t the sort whose heart was easily read.
Sighing softly, she broke the silence.
“You have a fine friend in the Grand Duke Popwell.”
Her tone carried a hint of mockery.
“He’s always been a good friend.”
Yuan replied flatly.
They had been close since childhood, and Regan was perhaps the only one who treated Yuan comfortably, unlike the Crown Prince.
Unlike Henderson, Regan also got along fairly well with Lydia. In their youth, the three of them had spent much time together.
In her past life, Lydia had often bragged of those childhood memories with Yuan—how kind he had been.
Whenever Lydia cried, he hadn’t known what to do, and always gave her whatever she asked.
Listening back then, Serret had always felt a bitter pang of envy. She doubted she’d ever see that tender side of him.
“Lady Elliot must be disappointed. That Your Grace refused her request. Couldn’t you have spared her a dance?”
“…Would you truly have wanted that?”
Yuan frowned down at her, his gaze disapproving.
“I wouldn’t have minded.”
Serret shrugged.
Others might gossip that the Duke’s fiancée had been cast aside, but both Yuan and Lydia would draw whispers too, so Serret had no reason to care.
Soon enough, she would be forgotten after their engagement was broken.
“Generous… or is there something else you’re plotting?”
Yuan muttered with a sigh.
At that, Serret’s lips curved faintly.
She stopped walking and withdrew her hand from his arm.
“It’s not too late. Please, grant Lady Elliot’s request.”
She smiled up at him sweetly.
“…Generous, you are not.”
After staring expressionlessly at her, Yuan finally spoke.
Then he caught her fingertips and lifted them to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of her gloved hand. His gaze rose to meet hers.
Feeling the brush of his lips through the glove, Serret grimaced.
“It is my honor to share the first dance with Lady Innoheter.”
Yuan said in a tone dripping with mockery.
