Chapter 46

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In the end, Francesca was not punished. Emma, who had been planning to enjoy the party together, tried to hold her back, but Francesca left the venue as if she were fleeing.

The second prince temporarily left the hall and reappeared with the royal family when the guests had gathered and the party was about to begin. When the prince moved to the VIP seat prepared for him, he felt anew how distant the people who had been right in front of him just a moment ago had become. William shifted his gaze to Emma next to him.

"Emma, you're... eating a bit too much."

Emma, without leaving the table where the sweets were lined up, was looking at all the varieties with sparkling eyes, planning to try them all.

"But William, they're delicious. Everything is so delicious! Look!"

Saying this, she scooped up the cake she was about to eat with a spoon and put it in William's mouth. As expected, the sweets served in the royal palace were of high quality in both taste and appearance.

"Indeed... they are delicious, but... there are people watching! Please make this your last plate!"

Due to the commotion before the party started, Emma was drawing attention. I really don't know how she managed to boost her popularity so much; my sister is truly terrifying. Or rather, aren't the boys in this world too easy to please?

The king's greeting and the introduction of the new noble students who would be entering the academy went smoothly, and music began to play in the hall. Students who naturally had partners gathered in the center and began to dance one after another.

Unusually, Emma listened to William's advice and gently placed the plate on the table. Gradually, noble young men began to approach her.

"Emma, would you like to go out to the balcony for a break and talk?"

Joshua ignored the silent warnings from the other young men and invited Emma. Despite saying it was for a break, he escorted her to the deserted balcony with a plate full of sweets in his hand.

"I'll come too!"

"I'll come too!"

William, who had been listening, and Georg, who had been eating light snacks at a nearby table, hurriedly followed.

Unlike the palace, the capital was still chilly. Joshua handed the sweets to Emma and gently draped his jacket over her shoulders.

"Joshua, thank you."

Emma looked at the plate of her favorite sweets and smiled gratefully at Joshua. For a moment, Joshua savored his happiness, but he was a bit discontent that they weren't alone, and he glared at Georg and William.

"Thank you for coming at the right time, Joshua!"

"No, I only invited you, Emma."

"Father said that at a student-centered social party, it's not necessary to dance..."

Georg, who had been listening, was indignant. He recalled the atmosphere in the hall where those with partners immediately started dancing, and those without were actively looking for partners. Since Emma had already drawn attention, many young men were waiting for the opportunity to ask her to dance, and the young ladies were sending hot gazes at Georg and William.

"Both the first and second princes are excellent dancers, so the young ladies practice diligently to dance with the princes. When the young ladies are enthusiastic about dancing, the boys also put more effort into their practice."

The capital was experiencing an unprecedented dance craze.

"...Your Highness, that gap between your cold appearance and your excellent dancing skills is just too much!"

William was also indignant. He recalled the prince's long, wavy, lustrous black hair and his cold, well-composed appearance. A seemingly tough guy who could lead a dance with such grace would undoubtedly be very popular.

In contrast, the Stewart brothers... no, the entire Stewart family, including their relatives, were not good at dancing. In the border region around the palace, balls were rare, and it wasn't a significant problem. Even if they were held, they would find excuses to avoid attending, so it hadn't been discovered.

Everyone in the family had received adequate education. They knew the types of dances and the steps. However, not a single member of the Stewart family could dance well enough to be considered normal.

Unfortunately, they lacked a sense of rhythm. They couldn't even clap in time to the music. Although there were dance classes at the academy, the practical test included in the exams was a problem. The dance teacher from the Stewart family had given them a stamp of approval, saying that while they were free to choose, they would never pass.

Coincidentally, the Tanaka family also lacked a sense of rhythm. Harbor had jokingly said that he had left his sense of rhythm in his mother's womb, but when he heard this, Riko placed her hand on Harbor's shoulder and shook her head repeatedly, saying:

"Such a thing... you never had it to begin with..."

It didn't cause problems in daily life, but in the previous life, karaoke, and now dancing, were their Achilles' heels. It seemed that not only their DNA but also their souls lacked a sense of rhythm.

Emma took a small bite of the brownie and her eyes sparkled.

"This!! It's the best!"

While admiring the bouncing Emma, Joshua looked at the plate.

"Which one?"

Just as she had fed William a cake earlier, Emma put the brownie in Joshua's mouth.

"This!! Isn't it delicious?"

Smiling proudly, she looked ahead, but Joshua was not there. Looking down, she saw him kneeling on the floor, trembling.

"...? Joshua...? Are you cold?... Was the brownie not good?"

Emma squatted down and peered at Joshua, worried if he was cold and if she should return the jacket.

"...No... it's... incredibly... delicious... Emma. The jacket is fine too."

After a deep breath, Joshua responded.

"Huh? Which one is delicious?"

Georg peered at the plate and let his brother eat the last brownie. Even Georg, who usually didn't eat that much sweet, opened his eyes wide.

"Ah... it really is delicious."

In the end, the four of them happily finished the mountain of sweets on the plate. As they were considering whether to get more, the door facing the hall opened.

"Are the Stewart family members here?"

Turning to the source of the voice, they saw a man in a different uniform from the servers, dressed in the royal palace's uniform.

"His Majesty has summoned you. A room has been prepared, and I will guide you."

The four of them tilted their heads in unison. His Majesty... not His Highness?

While it would make sense if it were Lady Rose, the second prince, or Princess Jadwiga, they had no idea why they would be summoned by the king.

"...Sister... what did you do this time?"

William couldn't help but look at Emma and mutter.

Next time, the king will appear.