Chapter 97

"Married, huh..."

The tanned man sighed as he said this, looking at Tiara Roses.

However, the eyes under the mask did not show any sign of giving up, and Aquasteed, while keeping a wary eye on the tanned man, pulled Tiara Roses closer.

"These days, divorce isn't that rare, right? Hey, why don't you come to me?"

"Huh...?"

The tanned man's casual words made Tiara Roses' cheeks twitch. She thought he would give up if he knew she was married, but she never expected him to suggest that she leave her husband and come to him.

Still, Tiara Roses had no intention of going to the tanned man, and it was absolutely out of the question to leave Aquasteed.

Tiara Roses immediately shook her head, showing her refusal, and quickly hid behind Aquasteed.

"Could you not scare my wife?"

"I wasn't trying to scare her... I just want to get closer, that's all."

The tanned man smiled.

Faced with an opponent who showed no sign of backing down, Tiara Roses wondered what to do. She didn't want to get closer, and she already had Aquasteed, so she wished he would stop being ridiculous.

Aquasteed, perhaps deciding that engaging with him was a waste of time, put his hand around Tiara Roses' waist and quietly said, "Let's go."

Indeed, a fight here with someone who had come to the masquerade ball would not be good. Seeing Tiara Roses nod, the tanned man called out to stop them.

"Wait a minute. Isn't that a bit cold?"

"..."

The tanned man tilted his head, and the decorations he wore jingled.

Aquasteed, standing next to Tiara Roses, sighed and warned him again, "I said she's my wife."

But whether he heard it or not, the response was a certain proposal.

"Why don't we have a contest? That way, this masquerade ball will be even more exciting, don't you think?"

"A contest?"

Aquasteed looked at the tanned man with a puzzled expression.

"If I win, give me some time to flirt with the kitten."

"…There's no way I'd accept such a contest."

Aquasteed thought he should stop joking around. Before the contest, he didn't like the idea of Tiara Roses being treated like a prize.

There was nothing more to talk about. Just as he was about to leave, a clapping sound echoed.

"Contest! That's great!!"

"...Levi?!"

Everyone present widened their eyes at the sudden appearance of the butler.

Behind him were Olivia and Akari, their eyes sparkling. It was as if they were saying, "Rivalry event with two handsome men over the villainous lady! Can't miss it!!"

"Is Lady Tiara alright?"

"We were worried because you weren't in the hall."

"Thank you, both of you. I'm fine... but..."

What was concerning was that Akari, Olivia, and Levi had agreed to the contest.

Aquasteed, standing next to her, showed a tired expression, wondering what to do.

"Well... those three seem to want the contest. Or are you going to run away because you think you can't beat me?"

"Hey, don't joke around! I don't know who you are, but Lord Aquasteed won't lose! Of course, I'll accept the contest!!"

"Wha...?!"

Akari, who was not a party to the matter, was the one who countered the tanned man's provocative words. Tiara Roses couldn't help but smile wryly at her typical response.

Glancing at Aquasteed, she saw him take a deep breath. Then, muttering that there was no choice, he said, "Alright."

"Good for you!"

"Then, what will the contest be?"

"...How about dancing?"

"Dancing...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.

◆ ◆ ◆

"—Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a special event for you."

Levi's voice echoed through the ballroom.

Aquasteed and the tanned man were preparing, so Tiara Roses, Akari, Olivia, Philine, and Elliot were together in the hall.

Philine came to Tiara Roses' side, looking worried.

"Are you alright, Lady Tiara?"

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm worried about Lord Aquasteed."

"That's true..."

Who would have thought they would have a dance contest?

Akari and Olivia seemed very excited, discussing what kind of dance they would see.

"It'll be fine, Lord Aquasteed will do well."

"Elliot!"

Elliot smiled reassuringly.

If his aide said so, Tiara Roses felt a bit relieved, thinking that Aquasteed could probably dance.

—But that man is also good at it...

Thinking this, she couldn't feel completely at ease.

"Alright, what will the contest be?"

"...How about a dance?"

"Dance...?"

Everyone was surprised by the tanned man's unexpected suggestion. At the same time, the desire to see Aquasteed dance arose.

While he sometimes danced at balls, no one had ever seen him perform a dance.

—But can Lord Aquasteed dance?

This natural question crossed Tiara Roses' mind.

However, as if to dispel her concerns, Aquasteed replied.

"Alright, that's fine."

Hearing Aquasteed's agreement, everyone returned to the ballroom.