Chapter 23

The carriage of Marquis Weiand came from a distance. Roman watched the carriage arrive at the Tonz residence and stayed at the same spot until Prillance got off.

“You look the same as usual.”

Roman muttered under his breath as he saw Prillance coming down from the carriage. He didn’t know why, but he was strangely relieved at the sight.

For today’s visit to the Tonz residence, Prillance was escorted to the reception room. Roman sat across from her

“What’s the matter?”

It was the same question he asked the first time they met, but today his eyes held a different glint.

“I wanted to return this.”

Prillance handed Roman the handkerchief. However, Roman did not immediately take it.

“I thoroughly washed it.”

Prillance commented as Roman only kept staring at the handkerchief. She meant to say it as a jest, but she wasn’t sure if Roman would take it that way. After all, Roman would not be happy to receive anything from Prillance.

When Roman saw the handkerchief, he remembered her expression that day. Finally, Roman smiled and took the handkerchief. She looked better than she did last time – even able to make a jest. Though he wasn’t sure if it was just a front.

Roman’s gaze shifted toward Prillance.

He had thought it was always interesting to observe her diverse expressions. He found it particularly amusing whenever her mask came off as soon as she became embarrassed or frightened. However, he found no pleasure in looking at the expression she wore last time.

“There is no way you came here just to return this.”

“Of course not.”

After all, she was the same Prillance who very clearly knew what she wanted. Roman waited for her to speak.

“Please be my partner for the upcoming imperial ball.”

Prillance straightforwardly asked. Roman thought it was somewhat similar to a request he had heard from her before.

Usually, men were the ones who asked women to be their partners. How many women would confidently ask the men to be their partner? Perhaps it was like finding a needle in a haystack. That thought made him smile.

Was it because he was partners with Cecia during the garden party? What was she up to this time?

When that thought came to pass, the desire to acquiesce to her request disappeared.

“It is the first time a woman has asked me to be her partner.”

“Ah, if you know this, then you can just accept it with honor.”

As Prillance retorted unabashedly, Roman stared at her.

“Then, it would be my first time rejecting it.”

When he saw Prillance frowning at his words, a smile formed on his face. Though he didn’t like seeing her tearful visage, it was still amusing to tease her.

“Why?”

Prillance asked. Roman, the same as ever, still had the habit of answering without hesitation.

Not unlike her thoughts, Roman was also thinking that it would not be bad to be her partner for the imperial ball this time around

He couldn’t point out exactly what caused his mind to change, but for now, he wanted to try to do things a little differently.

And at its center was Prillance.

‘You could say it’s some kind of conscience.’

Perhaps as he was the one who had helped cause her face to look forlorn, he thought it would be alright to listen to her request this time. Roman rationalized to himself on why he had changed his mind about her. However, when he saw her boldly replying to his words, he couldn’t help but answer the way he usually does.

“Because you can’t dance?”

Roman smirked at Prillance, who held an embarrassed look.

He had spouted those words randomly but when he recalled the scene at the garden party, it was a reasonable excuse.

“Then I will practice dancing until then.”

Prillance, who was being made fun of, took it without backing down. She knew he was just giving a ridiculous excuse.

“I will practice with my father or one of our family’s knights who is able to dance.”

At that moment, Ver’s face fleeted through her mind. If it had been like before, perhaps she would have asked Ver. Then Ver would have kindly taught her. But right now, that was impossible. She shook her head gently.

“I’m the one you’ll be dancing with, but you won’t even consider practicing with me?”

Prillance blinked and looked at Roman. It was a very odd remark for someone who had just refused her earlier.

“Just a moment ago, it was the Duke who refused my request saying I couldn’t dance.”

Prillance exasperatedly pointed out.

“Then you should ask for my compliance.”

At that moment, she really wanted to hit Roman. However, Prillance, unable to do so, set her cup down and grabbed the hem of her dress. Roman chortled as he watched Prillance take a long sigh. It was funny and ridiculous even to himself, what more to the person involved?

Roman looked at Prillance with an amused look, not wanting to miss any of her reactions.

“Then, are you saying you will practice with me as well as go as my partner?”

“We’ll see.”

“Please give a definite answer.”

This time she spoke firmly. If he didn’t like the way she danced, she’ll practice, and if he didn’t like her outfit, she would change it. She was willing to compromise in order to go to the ball as Roman’s partner. She couldn’t let him be Cecia’s partner.

At some point, Prillance looked at him with a determined face. Roman regarded her for a long moment, and during that time, she did not avoid his gaze.

Almost like someone who had a mission to accomplish.