Chapter 8

As we stepped into the ballroom, I expected a bustling, noisy scene, but to my surprise, it was eerily quiet. Like the sea calming down, the people around us fell silent one by one, their attention turning to us.

The area around the entrance became so quiet that I could hear conversations from people who were far enough away that they shouldn't have been audible. Even the voices of those who hadn't yet noticed us reached my ears.

The silence was so profound that it was hard to believe we were in the grand hall of the royal palace, filled with so many people.

The only sounds were the footsteps of our shoes and the rustling of our clothes. Occasionally, the sound of someone gasping could be heard.

Even the entrance of His Majesty wouldn't have made it this quiet. The situation was truly abnormal.

Escorting Rira to the ball had apparently given the gossipy nobles a shock far greater than mere excitement.

Some people stared with wide eyes, others with their mouths agape, all displaying rather ridiculous expressions. I almost laughed.

The ballroom, which had been stunned into silence by the shock to the nobles, regained its buzz when His Majesty and the princess made their entrance. However, this time, everyone was whispering about us.

It wasn't a pleasant feeling, but the best thing to do was to ignore it.

"Let's go greet His Majesty first."

"Okay. I'm nervous."

"Don't worry, I'm here with you, so there's nothing to be afraid of."

"Okay. I feel much better."

Rira's face, which had been slightly tense until I spoke, relaxed, and she looked up at me with a smile. She showed me her usual face.

Rira nodded with a smile. Just that simple gesture made people whisper, "She's smiling!?" "Is she being threatened!?" "Why!?" They were all so rude.

"Valerio! And Rira, right?"

"I am Rira, the eldest daughter of the Sarrance family."

"Oh, that's fine, that's fine. You're going to marry Valerio, right? No need for such formal greetings. Be friendly with me too!"

"Yes, sir."

"Your Majesty, Rira might be taken aback by such a sudden approach."

"Huh? Is that so? Isn't a friendly king better than a stiff one? Don't you think so, Rira?"

"Um, ah, yes. I think so."

"Your Majesty, I have repeatedly advised you to maintain your dignity as a king during the ball."

As Rira hesitated about how to approach His Majesty, Antonio, looking as if he had bitten into a sour bug, came over with a complaint.

"Miss Sarrance. I am Antonio Ducas, the Chancellor. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine. It's nice to meet you."

"Rira must have been surprised by His Majesty, right? We, including Marco, His Majesty's attendant, are childhood friends, and we are very close in private. However, we don't want His Majesty's personality to be widely known. So, please keep it confidential. And, Your Majesty, please behave properly."

His Majesty pouted in dissatisfaction but seemed to pull himself together and put on his king's mask.

"Understood. Valerio, Rira. Enjoy the evening."

"Yes, sir. We will take our leave."

We moved to the side of the room. The nobles nearby continued to whisper and cast impolite glances at us. However, a single glance from Valerio was enough to make them look away and fall silent.

"Ah, there you are."

A familiar voice called out, and we turned to see Rira's parents, the Sarrance couple, approaching with smiles.

"Lord Sarrance, Lady Sarrance."

"Wow, quite a crowd has parted around you. Ha ha ha."

"I'm used to it, but I feel bad for Rira."

Rira quickly hugged my arm and said, "It's not that bad!" But it must have been uncomfortable to be the center of so much whispered attention.

"Oh, Rira, it's better this way, isn't it? No strangers, especially the less-than-worthy young men, can approach you. You're a duchess now."

Lady Sarrance chuckled and said something sharp. Her smile reminded me of Rira's. The mother and daughter looked so much alike. The only resemblance to her father, the earl, was the color of her eyes.

◇

"Lord Sarrance."

As Rira and I were talking with the Sarrance couple, someone approached them. I had noticed people wanting to speak to the couple but had discouraged them by my presence. It was rare for someone to approach despite my presence.

When the couple turned, they saw Lord Mueller, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile. The Mueller and Sarrance territories were adjacent, so it made sense for them to be on good terms.

"Is it true that Rira is getting married?"

"Yes, to Duke Claude."

"To a ducal family! That's wonderful! Congratulations, Rira."

"Thank you."

The moment Lord Mueller looked at Rira to offer his congratulations, I felt a slight tension in the hand resting on my arm. When he leaned in to speak, Rira took a small step back.

(She's not just uncomfortable with social situations. Even with an old acquaintance, it's the same.)

I moved slightly in front of Rira to shield her. Her slender frame would fit perfectly behind me. I wanted her to feel a bit more at ease by hiding behind me.

When I moved forward, I felt Rira cling to me, pulling the fabric of my back slightly. This might be the first time my large frame was useful for something other than combat. It made me happy to have her rely on me.

Lord Mueller raised his hands dramatically.

"Oh, oh, young love! Ha ha ha. I'll leave you two alone."

He must have thought we were being affectionate. But when he left, I felt the tension in Rira's hand ease. It was for the best.

Rira's parents looked at us with warm, gentle expressions.

"From now on, Duke Claude will protect you, so you can be at ease."

"Yes...,"

The lady nodded with a relieved expression, but the earl looked more complex.

The music in the grand hall changed, signaling the start of the dance.

On the way to the palace, Rira had confessed that she wasn't very good at dancing, despite having practiced for about two weeks. She told me, "I'm not good at it either. I haven't done much socializing, so I'm not comfortable dancing in front of people, but I've been practicing."

But she said she wanted to dance one song with me, so I asked her.

"Rira, would you like to dance with me?"

"Hehe, of course, I'd be delighted!"

I had practiced with a small instructor, but even the instructor was male, and Rira was naturally smaller. The difference in height and build was noticeable when we held each other for the dance.

Dancing with the instructor was different, so I had to be extra careful not to step on Rira's feet. If I did, I would crush them for sure.

With each turn, a sweet fragrance wafted from Rira. The closeness of the dance made my mind wander.

(She's slender, but so soft... ——!)

I almost stepped on her foot in that moment of distraction and lifted her slightly. She was so light, I could lift her easily. She was so light that I worried she might fly away during a turn.

She looked at me with wide eyes for a moment, then laughed happily, which made her even cuter. I felt my heart being captured. Even though I lacked skill, it was better than crushing her bones. Seeing her enjoy herself made me feel at ease.

"Phew. We managed to finish the dance."

"I've never had so much fun dancing!"

After we finished the dance, His Majesty approached us with a smile.

"Rira, would you like to dance with me?"

Rira glanced at me, and I nodded. I trusted her with His Majesty.

"It would be an honor."

Rira, who had been smiling brightly, quickly put on a demure smile and took His Majesty's hand.

The two of them looked perfect together as they danced in the center of the floor. The handsome and regal His Majesty and the delicate and beautiful Rira.

(So this is what people mean when they say a beautiful couple... With me, we'd be seen as a beauty and the beast.)

—At that moment, people were actually calling us a beauty and the beast, snow and ink, and other such names. It would be some time before Valerio learned that he had been given the nickname 'Beast.'