Chapter 55

Rozeline, dressed in a gown, glanced at us and was then led into the castle by a group that seemed to be nobles of the Castel Kingdom. It appears we will be acting separately from here on.

I’m in a bind. The only one with me is Veevul, a dragon who is unfamiliar with human life.

Actually, Lady Alexia and Havoc are also here in Mauct, but Lady Alexia and Irene are participating as representatives of the Vaisel Empire by the order of the Emperor of the Vaisel Empire, so they have joined the Vaisel Empire’s delegation. Havoc and the others are hired as guards, but they are not by my side. I thought they would act with Rozeline, but it seems they won’t. I wonder if we’ll be okay on our own.

“Lord Chaos”

A young knight who looked serious approached me. A middle-aged man in a robe was with him.

“Sir Raphael, and Mr. Oliver, too.”

“No, it’s been a while, Lord Chaos. It’s good to see you looking well.”

Sir Raphael, whose full name is Raphael Lilburn, is the captain of the Castel Kingdom’s knights who led the soldiers fighting against the Eldartrent. Mr. Oliver is a spellcaster belonging to the church in the Castel Kingdom. I worked with Mr. Oliver on reconstruction support and fought against the Mountain Golem. It’s a relief to meet someone I know.

“Haha, you seem uncomfortable. I prefer physical activity, and coming to the palace always feels cramped and unfamiliar to me. I know you’re an adventurer, so you don’t have to put on a front with me. You are a guest of our country. It’s our duty to treat you with the utmost respect. Come, this way.”

Raphael smiled warmly, and the atmosphere became relaxed. It would have been more cramped if I had been surrounded by that group of nobles. He might have made arrangements in advance to make things easier for us.

“Lord Chaos, may I introduce the lady with you?”

Raphael glanced at Veevul.

“Well, she’s a beastkin named Maeris.”

“A beastkin, huh. Is she the one you mentioned?”

It seems Raphael knows the situation, while Oliver does not. Oliver looks puzzled as he watches our exchange.

I nod silently.

“I see. I understand. This is the first time I’ve met a beastkin woman, so I may have stared rudely. I apologize.”

“No problem. I don’t mind.”

“Bringing such a beautiful woman, Lord Chaos, you’re not to be underestimated. Perhaps she’s your dance partner?”

Oliver’s words made me freeze.

A dance partner? What is he talking about?

As I was confused, it seems Raphael and Oliver noticed my bewilderment.

“Do you not know?”

“I’ve heard that banquets are held daily, but I didn’t know it was a dinner party.”

I had heard that banquets were being held to gather important figures from various countries.

Raphael explained.

“The leaders of the three countries meeting together to form an alliance is unprecedented. This will be a historic day. Among the plans is a ball to invite nobles from each country...”

A ball? Dancing? Me? I felt my blood run cold.

“Do you have any experience with dancing?”

“No.”

Raphael looked up to the sky.

“I had informed you in advance, but perhaps there was a mix-up.”

“Is it impossible not to participate in the ball?”

“I’m sorry, but you are a guest of honor, second only to Queen Rozeline and Emperor Victor. If you don’t attend, it will cause inconvenience. It will be perceived that our country cannot properly entertain its guests, and you will be seen as an impolite guest who shows no goodwill. The banquets will be held daily until the signing of the treaty and are also a venue for interaction among representatives from various countries. It would not be appropriate to skip them entirely.”

Showing up only in person might be interpreted as a lack of willingness to interact, and in the worst case, it could be seen as dissatisfaction with the alliance, even if you have no such intention.

Wow, high society is so complicated.

“...What should I do? I’ve never danced before.”

I cast a pleading glance at Veevul, but she shook her head. It seems impossible.

“I’m not an expert either, but I can arrange a tutor. Don’t worry, you just need to grasp the basics. The ball is more about social interaction and showing your willingness to interact with the nobles.”

It sounds easy, but that’s probably the hardest part.

“Human society is complicated. By the way, will there be food at the ball?”

This unexpected question to break the awkward silence made Raphael pause, but he eventually burst out laughing.

“Yes, there will be! Some of the best chefs in the country will be preparing the food. It won’t be any less than what you’d find in a commune. Enjoy the cuisine of our country!”

“Great!”

Veevul’s eyes lit up. She’s more interested in the food than the ball. I feel a bit resentful that she can be so carefree.

“However, if you’re going to participate in the ball, it’s not just your concern, Maeris. She is beautiful and will likely receive many dance invitations. How about it, why don’t you practice dancing with Lord Chaos?”

Veevul’s face, which had been lit up, suddenly clouded over. Seeing her reaction, I felt a bit relieved.

The conference held during the day involves only the representatives of the three countries, so I don’t need to attend. During this time, I will be practicing dancing. Since my login time is limited, it’s a good excuse. Besides, no one came to invite me anyway.

The problem is the dance instructor. Initially, Raphael was going to arrange an instructor for us, but when he learned we were looking for a dance instructor, a certain person recommended someone to us.

“1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. Hey, Chaos! Your feet are the wrong way! Do you intend to step on your partner’s feet?”

“Sorry. I just can’t get used to this movement.”

I apologized sincerely. Irene, our instructor, was giving me a passionate lesson.

“Still, I didn’t expect Irene to be so good at dancing, let alone teaching it, considering how skilled she is with a sword.”

“That’s a bit hurtful. I’ve even given dance lessons to Lady Alexia.”

I see. I had a feeling she was experienced, but now I understand why Lady Alexia recommended Irene as our instructor. She has the experience and credentials.

However, being a maid is quite a demanding job. Besides taking care of Lady Alexia’s daily needs and serving as her guard, she also teaches dance. I thought there would be dedicated dance instructors for the nobles, but perhaps Irene is an exception.

“But is it really okay? I appreciate you taking on the role of dance instructor, but both you and Lady Alexia must be busy.”

“No problem. I wasn’t planning to attend the conference anyway. If anything, I’ve received invitations from other nobles who aren’t attending the conference, but I’ve used this as a reason to politely decline. I’m actually quite relieved.”

Nobles in the Castel Kingdom are busy with various social interactions. I felt a bit guilty asking Irene to be our instructor, but it seems her words are genuine. My concerns were unfounded.

She is a strict but excellent instructor who teaches us thoroughly. The results of her teaching are evident in the other student.

Veevul, who was unfamiliar with human body movements, fell many times and was worse than me. However, her natural curiosity, the novelty of dancing, and her determination to improve have led to significant progress. With each practice, she has visibly improved and is now learning new steps. Irene is very pleased and moved by her progress.

To be honest, Veevul’s dancing is passionate and intense, as if she’s trying to express herself.

However, even a genius needs proper guidance to achieve such progress, which is a testament to Irene’s teaching skills.

As for me, I was a poor student compared to Veevul. Thanks to my avatar’s excellent physical abilities, I can move decently, but I still struggle with the unfamiliar movements and often stumble.

“Chaos, it’s not that you’re particularly bad. From what I know, this is normal. Rather, she’s exceptionally good.”

Irene encouraged me, as I felt left behind.

“I fell many times when I was younger, and Irene scolded me each time. It’s been a long time since I’ve danced, so I’m also a bit unsteady and nervous.”

Lady Alexia, the other instructor, alternates with Irene as my practice partner.

She is busy with social interactions, so she practices with me when she has time.

Incidentally, it seems Lady Alexia is not exaggerating when she says it’s been a long time since she danced. She has also made a few mistakes with her steps.

Dancing is not a daily practice for nobles, and it’s not a mandatory skill. For her, teaching me is also a way to refresh her rusty skills. I don’t want to just receive lessons, so I try to help her as well.

I was losing confidence due to Veevul’s excellent performance, but thanks to Irene and Lady Alexia, I’ve managed to maintain my motivation.

“Still, it’s a strange feeling.”

Lady Alexia chuckled softly.

“I never thought I’d be in the position of teaching. I’m usually the one being taught.”

“Yeah, well, you’re stuck with a slow learner, but I appreciate your help.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

Lady Alexia puffed out her chest with a shy smile. Yeah, it’s kind of soothing. I was brought back to reality by Irene’s cough and started over from the beginning.

As I gradually improved and gained confidence, I found myself staring directly at my partner’s face. Lady Alexia, flushed and sweating from the exercise, stared back at me. We both smiled naturally.

We paid attention to each other to ensure we didn’t strain our partners. Especially since I’m an avatar and don’t feel physical fatigue, I focused on not putting a strain on her delicate frame. This created a sense of unity, making the experience enjoyable and fun.

Dancing is more fun than I thought.