Chapter 71

Guided by the woman, the three of us passed through the wide corridor and arrived at the ballroom.

"It seems to have already started."

There, sunlight streamed in, and a splendid feast spread out with people dressed in various attire standing in rows. In the middle of the venue, several pairs were dancing.

As we stepped into the large room, I could feel the gazes of the surrounding people turn towards us all at once.

Those gazes were not directed at Leen or Ines, but at me.

...From a distance, whispers could be heard.

"Is what His Holiness said true? I didn't think he would really bring something like that."

"Is that... a demon?"

"I've never seen a real one before."

"...Is he not bringing any monsters? Is there no danger...?"

"He looks more neatly groomed than I imagined... but those eyes, they're terrifying. They look like the color of a monster's blood."

"...Don't look, you'll be killed."

"To bring such a thing as a guest... The Kingdom of Creuse has a bad taste, doesn't it?"

Along with the gazes, there was fear, hatred, disgust, and contempt.

Various emotions surged and flooded into me.

The people who directed these emotions at me all knew that I was a 'demon.'

They might have been informed in advance.

...That 'demons' would come here.

Among the emotions directed at me, there was a lot of 'malice.'

"..."

"Are you okay, Roro?"

I have never been targeted by so much malice from so many people at once.

But I am used to being faced with such piercing emotions.

I should be used to it.

"......Yes, I'm fine."

I knew this would happen before coming here.

Ignoring it, we proceeded to the back of the venue.

I could see the prince sitting on a golden chair.

"...I don't really feel like it, but let's finish the greeting to him first."

The three of us approached the prince, and he seemed to notice us.

He was being congratulated by girls of about the same age.

As we got closer, they first looked at Leen, then at me, and their guard was clearly up.

Leen calmly accepted their gazes and bowed to the prince.

"......I am honored to be invited, Your Highness."

"Hehe, you finally made it.

...You're late, you know.

Was there a problem?"

"No, nothing.

Just, the person who accompanied me as a guard left to receive a direct welcome from His Holiness."

"That's a shame.

Hey, Leen. This is a rare opportunity.

Why don't we talk closer, not so far away?

We are close, aren't we?

...Why don't you come sit on my lap?"

The prince laughed and beckoned, and the surrounding girls' emotions of strong irritation overflowed.

"......Flirting.

Why don't you say the same thing to everyone around you?

I think they would be happy."

"Hehe, I'll consider that.

...If you become mine, though."

"......I believe I declined that offer before."

"You're cold... even though I'm being so enthusiastic."

The prince's words made the surrounding girls' emotions intensify.

It was clear, explicit hostility towards Leen.

On the other hand... the prince's heart, as before, was impossible to see.

Sometimes... there are people like this.

People with a strong 'wall' in their hearts.

"Well, how about it, Leen? Would you like to go over there with me?"

"......Go over there?"

"Don't you understand? I'm asking if you want to dance with me.

It's a ball today, and I'm the main guest, so I think I have the right to choose my partner. What do you say?"

"Yes... if that is what Your Highness wishes, I have no reason to refuse."

"That's good. Let's go, then."

The prince stood from his elaborately decorated golden chair and took Leen's hand.

While receiving envious and jealous gazes from the surroundings, Leen was led by Prince Tyreance to the center of the ballroom.

As they moved forward, people naturally made way, creating a wide space around them.

"Then... let's dance. It's a rare occasion, celebrating my coming of age."

The prince signaled, and gentle music began.

The two of them started dancing slowly to the music.

In response, others resumed their dancing as well.

Listening closely, I could hear Leen and the prince having a calm conversation while gracefully stepping.

"Those people... I recognize them as the 'Twelve Holy Knights.'"

"Yes... you know them, right? I believe you went to meet your servant?"

"Where are they now?"

"Are you worried about your servant?"

"......No, not at all."

"Hmm, you're cold?"

"Showing concern for Mr. Noll would be extremely disrespectful.

Rather, I am more worried about them."

"Hmm... you know about the 'Twelve Holy Knights,' right?

They are said to be as powerful as your [Six Holy Knights]."

"Yes, I am aware of that. That's what they say."

"...You trust that man a lot, don't you?"

"Yes, enough to entrust my life to him."

"...I really envy that.

How about it, can I join your group?"

"Again, your usual joke. I've had enough of that."

"Do you think so? Then, to confirm the truth, why don't you come to my room tonight...

No, right after this... oh!"

Leen's foot moved quickly for a moment, kicking the prince's foot.

The prince easily dodged it, and the dance continued as if nothing had happened.

Only a few people in the venue seemed to notice the exchange.

"......I'm sorry, I made a mistake in my step."

"Hehe, I thought you were going to break my foot."

"It's fine. I know how to control it."

"...You really are scary."

"That's not true. If you're careful not to say anything silly, I won't accidentally step on your foot."

"Hehe, you really are... strong-willed."

The two of them continued their impressive dance while conversing.

Before long, the people dancing around them stopped, forming a circle to watch them, and even the women serving the food paused to watch, entranced.

After a while, they bowed and parted ways, with the prince returning to his original chair and Leen coming back to us.

The feast continued.

The emotions directed at me were still negative.

Thanks to Leen and Ines being by my side, the gazes were somewhat softened, but... the feeling was still bad.

...Hatred, disgust, contempt, and disdain.

Just standing there, endless negative emotions assaulted me.

"Roro, don't mind what they think."

"......Yes, I understand."

Thinking I shouldn't worry her any more, I decided to change the topic.

"...Your dance was amazing."

"You were watching. I'm not very good at that... but I remember you were taught, right?"

"Yes, just the basics."

"Did you understand how it works by watching?"

"......Yes, mostly."

"Hehe, you're impressive, Roro. Then, let's go and try it."

She suddenly took my hand and started walking.

"Where are we going?"

"Of course, to dance, us two."

"......What?"

She led me to almost the center of the ballroom.

When people saw us, they made way, creating an empty space around us.

"......Are we really going to dance?"

"Yes, since we're going to stand out anyway.

...Let's stand out in a good way.

Follow my lead, please."

Leen took my arm and pulled me closer.

Then she started stepping to the music.

It was the same as when Leen and the prince danced earlier.

Indeed, this seemed doable.

I followed her steps, trying to mimic her.

"Like this?"

"......Yes, that's good.

...You seem to be getting used to it.

How about speeding up a bit?"

"I think I can manage."

Leen's movements became faster and larger, and I followed suit.

She used the entire empty space around us, taking large steps, and her white, glowing dress swayed like a living thing, covering the air and drawing the attention of the crowd in the center of the ballroom.

She danced more boldly and sharply without hesitation, and I followed her movements, improvising and adapting.

...As I did, I noticed something strange.

The hatred and contempt directed at me... gradually turned into curious gazes.

And as it faded, it turned into gazes of curiosity.

...Not everyone, but some people were enjoying watching us dance.

I could feel the negative emotions directed at me lessen a little.

"How about it? I'm starting to enjoy it, so I want to continue a bit more."

"......Yes, I understand."

We increased our pace and danced.

Cheers rose from various places.

It was more like a flashy sword dance than a dance.

Imitating her movements, which were free and unrestrained, was not particularly difficult.

Since she had opened her heart to me, I could easily predict what she would do next.

We occasionally let go of each other's hands and danced like mirrors, then quickly came together and took large steps.

We gradually got used to such improvisation.

Applause could be heard from the surroundings.

The prince was also watching us intently.

His expression was unexpectedly very joyful...

...I realized that his heart's 'wall' had slightly crumbled.

Thanks to the dense malice in the venue fading, his heart became easier to read, and I could feel his emotions flowing into me.

I felt a bit confused as I sensed his inner feelings.

The emotion he was currently harboring in his heart...

It was 'trust' in Leen.

The same unwavering trust that Noll once had for me.

It occupied about half of his heart.

It was very surprising, but... what caught my attention more was the other half.

He was watching our dance calmly and joyfully.

But his heart... the part other than the 'trust' and 'expectation' he had for Leen... was filled with 'fear' and 'despair' towards something unknown.

While dancing, I spoke to Leen.

"Leen."

"What is it, Roro?"

Timing my words to coincide with my face getting close to her ear, I said:

"He... the prince might not be our enemy."

"......What did you say?"

We continued dancing for a while and finally bowed to the surrounding people.

The prince stood up and clapped, and the venue erupted in loud applause.

...I felt much lighter.

The malice directed at me had not completely disappeared.

Contempt, anger, and disgust... these emotions were still present.

But most of them had changed to jealousy or other emotions.

At least, the fear and malice had significantly eased.

"Thank you, Leen."

"Hehe, I enjoyed it too, Roro. Again...?"

Leen was about to say something when the applause and cheers suddenly stopped.

The venue, which had been lively a moment ago, was now enveloped in silence.

The heated atmosphere instantly turned cold.

"......Strange.

Why is a demon dancing at my son's coming-of-age ceremony?

I did invite them, but... it's a bit perplexing to see them acting so freely.

What do the people who were applauding just now think of this?

...Do they think the demon is human?"

...The music, which had been playing quietly, stopped.

"His Holiness, the Pope."

In an instant, the venue was dominated by a sense of fear.

The 'fear' and 'terror' emanating from all around were stronger than anything I had ever felt.

"......Ugh...!?"

"Roro, what's wrong?"

Trying to peek into her heart, I couldn't suppress my nausea.

That was... the Pope.

The existence that ruled many countries on the continent with fear.

And our demons'... greatest enemy.

"Please don't misunderstand. I am not unwelcoming. I have been looking forward to your arrival more than anyone else... Rynneburg, Roro. I have been waiting for the day you would become mine. Come, let's talk."

Her heart was filled with a much denser and deeper malice and darkness than the entire venue combined.