Chapter 3

It went well to catch his interest as planned, but for some reason, Iris found herself dancing with her sworn enemy, Prince Alvin, and was perplexed as to how it had come to this.

While she was perplexed, she was escorted and brought to the dance hall.

The magical lights illuminated the music-filled, dazzling dance hall, and one of them shone down on Iris and Alvin, highlighting their presence.

A golden prince and a platinum noblewoman.

The appearance of these two, representing the beauty of both countries, drew the attention of those around them.

"Please, Miss."

Prince Alvin took the posture for a hold.

Seeing this, Iris struggled with why she had to dance with the person who had destroyed her. However, it was also true that by getting close to him, a path to Lemuria would open up.

With a firm resolve, she threw herself into Prince Alvin's embrace.

The heat transmitted through the points of contact stimulated Iris's heartstrings. It was nostalgic and resentful. While harboring such a strange feeling, she glared up at Prince Alvin.

Prince Alvin first demonstrated a basic lead. Starting with a closed change, followed by a natural turn and a reverse turn, he performed a classic figure.

Just as she thought, he then connected it with a figure that ignored the theory.

Dancing is basically about the woman following the man's lead and stepping. Depending on the man's lead, any steps can be combined in any way.

However, only a select few can do this.

There are steps that move the feet in a fixed order, figures that combine various steps, and routines that combine those figures.

In other words, if you start with a closed change, the next step would be a natural turn or a natural spin turn, and there is a certain theory.

However, Prince Alvin was forming a routine that ignored this theory.

(This is a question from my brother, asking who I am.)

He was probing what kind of personality Iris had and what kind of dance she preferred. Therefore, Iris responded to all his leads with perfect steps.

She had no weak points.

It was a declaration of intent to dance perfectly no matter how the steps were combined.

If she were to say it in words, it might be considered presumptuous. However, Iris stepped without hesitation and followed Prince Alvin's lead gracefully.

Prince Alvin's lips curled up into a smirk.

Iris sensed a tense atmosphere. In an instant, the difficulty of the lead shown by Prince Alvin increased. Advanced variations were just the beginning, and the routine that ignored the theory continued.

Most importantly, the stride was large.

Prince Alvin was twenty, and Iris was eighteen. Although their heights had already grown, there was a limit to how far they could move in one beat while dancing to the music.

However, Prince Alvin took large steps as if he didn't know the limits.

(I can keep up... with the current me.)

An ordinary lady—no, even Iris in the past would have stumbled. The steps were so intense that one would need experience in martial arts to keep up.

However, the current Iris not only possessed the wisdom of a wise princess but also the memory of a sword princess. Although her physical abilities were far inferior to her previous life due to lack of training, her footwork was that of a master.

She even showed a playful smile in response to Prince Alvin's unreasonable demands.

Then, Prince Alvin began to show a malicious lead. He deliberately created a pause in the initial movement to make the lead difficult to understand, challenging her to keep up.

It was as if they were engaging in a mock battle with swords.

(In my previous life, I couldn't match my brother. But—)

In fact, even the sword princess Fiona couldn't match Prince Alvin. The main reason was that she was six years younger, and her reaction speed couldn't keep up with his movements.

However, the current Iris could react to his movements. Although her training was far inferior, her potential seemed to be higher than her previous body.

Iris used her reaction speed to follow Prince Alvin's lead.

Iris's platinum blonde hair swirled as she executed a turn, sparkling in the chandelier's light.

The men who were captivated by the scene let out sighs, but Prince Alvin was not to be outdone.

He stepped to make Iris shine while also drawing attention to himself. The women let out cheers at the smile on his handsome face.

The two, who were performing the ultimate dance, continued to draw the attention of those around them.

They were more passionate and elegant than any other pair. As the main characters of the dance hall, they ascended to an even higher stage.

Prince Alvin led a step from Lemuria, a country that did not exist in this land.

A step that Iris should not have known. However, she stepped without hesitation. The exotic step drew gasps of admiration from those around them.

"Why do you know the steps of our country?"

"No, I don't know them. It's just that Prince Alvin's lead is excellent."

"Cut the crap."

Prince Alvin also dismissed Iris's provocative smile with a smile.

A beautiful lead conveys one's intentions through slight shifts in center of gravity. Therefore, if a woman can follow well, she can step even if she doesn't know the steps.

—Theoretically.

If it's an unknown routine or an unknown figure, a skilled dancer can read the lead and follow it, even if they don't know the steps.

However, stepping an unknown step is a different level. One must read from the lead where and how to move each step.

Such a thing is not impossible—though it is not said.

In fact, Iris, who had recovered her previous life's memories, had reached that level. Even if it were a truly unknown step, she would have been able to step it.

—However, Iris stepped once, just once, before the lead. As if to say, "I know this step."

And yet, when Prince Alvin asked her why she knew the step, she replied that she had just followed the lead, which was quite cheeky.

"Iris, what is your purpose?"

"Oh, why are you so wary?"

Iris, who asked this, was the one who was most wary of the prince.

While showing a unity that drew the attention of the entire hall, they began to probe each other's intentions. Without lowering the level of their dance, Iris smiled provocatively.

"If you don't want to be involved with me, you should have avoided catching my interest from the beginning. You can do that, can't you? But you didn't, because you want to catch my interest... right?"

"Indeed, you are Prince Alvin."

She smiled softly.

The innocent smile of the usually unsmiling wise princess caused a murmur of "Who is she?" among the crowd, but Iris pretended not to notice.

"Then, what is your purpose? I'll listen to you, at least, in return for your dancing skills."

(Not the scenario I expected, but he's taking the bait.)

He said he would listen, but he didn't say he would meet her demands.

However, for Iris, this was a minor issue. Now that he had taken the bait, all she had to do was reel him in.

"Please hire me."

There was no response, and a slight disturbance appeared in the lead shown by Prince Alvin. Iris smiled a little, realizing that even he could be flustered.

"You are the wise princess, aren't you?"

"Didn't you overhear? Now that my engagement has been broken, I am free."

No, that's not true—someone who didn't know the wise princess well but knew the nobility well might have thought. However, what had bound Iris was her engagement to the crown prince. Now that the chain had been broken, there was nothing to stop her.

"Are you saying that the wise princess will become a maid?"

A teasing question.

Iris thought it might be possible. If she served the prince who had betrayed her, she might be able to prevent that betrayal.

However, that wasn't her main goal.

"I heard that Princess Fiona is looking for an instructor."

"Why do you know that... asking would be pointless, wouldn't it?"

Prince Alvin's resigned attitude was amusing, and Iris chuckled.

However, she also felt considerable pressure. If he was trying to pull Princess Fiona from the throne, an excellent instructor would be an obstacle.

Iris's offer might have stepped on a dragon's tail.

However, Iris knew Prince Alvin well. He would keep uncertain elements under surveillance. She expected him to do at least that much.

"…What do you think?"

"An instructor, huh. I thought you would say you wanted to be my fiancée, given your passionate gaze. I'm a little disappointed."

Iris's steps faltered for the first time.

"Haha, so you can be flustered too."

"…Pardon me. I said I wanted to be hired first, didn't I? Besides, I am a wounded maiden who has just had her engagement broken."

"…Can you be wounded?"

"I'll knock you down."

Her true emotions leaked out.

Her angry face, due to her naturally beautiful features, had a certain intensity. However, Prince Alvin laughed out loud without hiding it.

"Even the unsmiling wise princess can be quite expressive. I like it. If you can cut ties with your country, I'll recommend you as Fiona's instructor."

"Of course, I won't trouble you, Your Highness."

She finished the dance and bowed deeply to Prince Alvin. Thus, Iris successfully obtained permission to enter Lemuria.

And—

"…Iris. Is it true that you rejected Crown Prince Zachary?"

When Iris returned to the mansion, she was questioned by her father, the Duke of Icefield.