Chapter 43

A pair of people, one of their hands together. The woman’s other hand was placed on his shoulder, while the man’s other hand was placed on her waist. When the tranquil melody streamed, like flowing water, the two moved naturally.

Prillance never usually liked dancing to waltz since it was the usual dance she practiced with her teacher.

And yet she was incredibly nervous at the moment. All her nerves from her fingertips to her knuckles were tense.

“The most important thing about dancing is to calm your nerves.”

Through the hand he was holding, as well as the hand placed on his shoulder, Ver noticed the tension in Prillance’s hands.

Although she gave a small nod, her body did not loosen. Instead, her steps quickly became jumbled.

When he saw that Prillance’s body was tilting to the side and was about to fall, he quickly caught her waist.

“Please watch your step.”

She nodded. And when she saw their bodies close to each other, she became nervous and promptly left his side.

As Prillance took a step back, he felt a sense of regret and emptiness. He clenched his fist.

“Shall we try something else first?”

The waltz, which brought their bodies too close together, was still burdensome for her. He knew that Prillance was overly conscious of this fact and needed something that would calm her a little bit more.

“Then, why don’t we try a livelier dance?”

The music changed into an upbeat tune.

Then Ver jumped in place and stomped his feet. A lively movement came from both his left and right foot.

She clasped his hand and followed his movement. When she had been in elementary school, she had a lot of fun learning how to dance to rhythmic music. Gradually, her tension grew lighter, perhaps because of the exciting beat.

At intervals, they would head to different directions and then face each other. In their own positions, they would dance with light footwork. She became exhilarated by the lively sound.

And with short, bouncy steps, they pass each other and switch positions, moving away, and then moving towards each other.

The dance ended with them facing each other, keeping a cheerful step till the end.

When the dance was over, the two looked at each other breathing hard and ended up breaking out into laughter.

“It is indeed a very exciting dance.”

Prillance admitted to Ver while wiping her tears after the long burst of laughter.

“Whenever hosts want to change the mood and make it more exciting, Rigaudon is a dance that is usually brought out.”

Only then did she realize the reason Ver proposed for a piece of more cheerful music.

“Because dancing is not just for show, it’s for enjoyment. I wanted the lady to let go of some of your tensions.”

“Ah.”

Perhaps, in order to show a fine appearance in front of him, she unknowingly put pressure on herself.

And perhaps, after a few lessons, he had noticed it.

“The Viscount is quite considerate, as always.”

As expected, he was this type of person. She looked at him and smiled. However, he could only look at her without returning that smile.

It wasn’t because he was considerate of her. If that were the case, then he wouldn’t have bothered teaching her how to dance in the first place. His actions were the result of his selfishness – his longing to be closer to her.

In the end, he avoided her gaze.

***

“Why is there no word yet?”

Ben, who was currently having his meal, spoke nervously. Ralph was with him.

“What else could we do when she hasn’t come out of their house since that day?”

Unlike Ben, who seemed angry, Ralph wore a placid face.

“Then find something! Whether it’s bribing a person or finding any weakness!”

Ralph, who had been cutting his meat, put down his fork and knife.

“Ever since that day, they have been tightly supervising the servants. The lady didn’t even leave her room for days. Do you know how heavily patrolled that room is?”

He wasn’t sitting still because he liked it. No matter how hard he looked, he presently couldn’t find any opportunities.

“Moreover, rumors have been circulating in the mansion that the Marquis, known for being level headed, lacerated the horse attendant. Who could be bribed in that situation?”

Those were the information that he barely found out. Such a big incident kept the servants reigned in, so no rumours could be heard outside.

“No matter how you look at it, the current situation is difficult.”

Shrugging, Ralph moved his hand again. For a tendon, the meat wasn’t slicing too well, but he sliced parts of it little by little with his knife. There was even a smile on his face.

“By the way, Ver Grant became a knight.”

“What of it?”

He was a person who they no longer had anything to do with. As if he had already known, Ben continued carried on with his meal with an indifferent face. In the same way, Ralph continued concentrating on cutting the tendon without looking up.

“He entered as a knight of the house of Marquis Weiand.”

Ben looked curiously. Then put his tableware down with a clang.

“Get me some good news soon.”

Speaking in a low voice, he quickly left the dining room.

Ralph, who focused on cutting the meat whether Ben went out or not, finally sliced the last piece of tendon.

“That knight for the house of Marquis Weiand, Ver Grant…”

Ralph, who further broke the severed tendon into several pieces before smiling strangely, seemed to have already fallen into his own world.

So he didn’t even realize that Cecia had entered the dining room.

“What…what did you just say?”

Cecia had come in soon after Ben had left.

She had wanted to come in a bit later and was waiting for the conversation between Ben and Ralph to end as it seemed they were discussing something important. When she suddenly heard Ralph muttering to himself.

“Oh my.”

Ralph exclaimed with a gleeful look.

As expected, witnessing this blind love was quite amusing.

With those thoughts in mind, he chewed on the stiff piece of tendon he had cut, even if he had to grind it with his teeth.