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Chapter 115
Translator: Yonnee
t/n: I have two waltz pieces in mind that I think would suit RosĂ© and Ferre a lot <3 It’s either Waltz of Flowers by Tchaikovsky or On a clear day by Joe Hisaishi
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“Shall we practice it one last time? Starting with the way we bow.”
After glancing at the clock, Sera said this to Rosé and Ferre.
The kids nodded twice in response, then soon straightened their backs and posture. There was no need for them to look at a demonstration first. The twins had also become so good at the waltz that they could do it with their eyes closed.
Sera smiled with satisfaction when she saw RosĂ© and Ferre’s postures, perfectly textbook. Ta-dak, ta-dak. As the sound of their shoes resounded across the hall, Sera sat in front of the white grand piano. Then, she brought her hands over the keys and one foot over the pedals.
“Even if I step on you, you gotta smile, Ferre.”
Don’t get mad if I maybe step on you, RosĂ©.”
Sera then let out a small signal to start, hushing the whispering voices of the twins.
“One, two, three.”
Flowing out of the grand piano, the melody of the waltz had become so familiar to them that they’d already practically memorized it. RosĂ© and Ferre twirled round and round in a small circle to match the elegant rhythm of the musical piece.
Even if it wasn’t pointed out, anyone with eyes could see that the way they danced was perfect. While increasing the tempo as her hands glided across the black and white keys, Sera watched the children closely.
This was the most difficult part of the dance for both Rosé and Ferre. It was also the part that they never got right.
It was when the man would put his hands on the woman’s waist to spin her around in a  circle—this was, of course, difficult for children to do. They were twins and they were similar in size, so it was hard for Ferre to lift RosĂ© in a spin. After all, he couldn’t do it like an adult man would since his physique was a lot smaller.
Sera tried to tell them that they could try doing a different variation of the dance, but the twins were determined to dance just like their mother and father did.
Ferre placed his hands on Rosé’s waist, and with his eyes wide open, he lifted RosĂ©. In turn, RosĂ© firmly gripped Ferre’s shoulders and slightly jumped into the lift.
Fortunately, Sera didn’t have to stop playing on the piano. After safely pulling off the difficult part, RosĂ© and Ferre let out small sighs of relief, but continued dancing to the melody with their eyes sparkling the whole time.
Everything after that was easy. RosĂ© leaned into Ferre’s arms, made the final spin together, then took one graceful step away from each other.
“We
 We finished!”
Quite bewildered, the twins looked at Sera with wide eyes. As they had successfully finished the dance without a single mistake, their joy brightened up their gazes so much that it couldn’t be denied.
“We didn’t mess up!”
RosĂ© exclaimed as she hugged Ferre tightly in her arms. In turn, Ferre couldn’t breathe for a moment so he tried to pull away, but he didn’t make that much of an effort. Because they performed the perfect dance without any mistakes for the first time, they were both so happy that they were practically soaring through the sky.
As she had already hit the final note, Sera couldn’t even get her fingers off the keys first before the twins jumped to her side. As they snuggled her as though they were puppies, their soft hair tickled her arms.
Smiling proudly, Sera stood up from the piano bench so that the twins could take a seat.
As though they really were puppies waiting for treats, the twins looked up at her with wide, adorable eyes. She already knew what they were expecting, and at this, Sera chuckled.
“Yes, yes. Your Highnesses did a truly wonderful job. It’s like you’ve called down Adelio Empire’s great goddess of dancing, Tamara, herself.”
“Really? We’re really that good at dancing? So much that such an important goddess will come?”
“Yes, of course. But
”
RosĂ© and Ferre pouted cutely when they heard the word ‘but’. In an instant, the two children, who were smiling with the radiance of sunflowers, soon looked as though heavy rain clouds suddenly cast down on them, tears nearly brimming in their eyes.
“Your Highnesses forgot to bow.”
“Ah, right! We didn’t bow!”
Shocked that she forgot the most important finale to the dance, Rosé’s mouth gaped open.
“It’s alright. You made one small mistake now, but you won’t make the same mistake tonight, yes?”
Sera patted RosĂ© and Ferre’s heads with each of her hands. She turned to Ferre first to hug him first, spinning him in the air, and then RosĂ© next. After setting them back down on the ground, they were both giggling a lot. But the brother and sister soon tilted their heads to the side as one asked.
“Sera, you’re going to attend tonight, right?”
As Rosé excitedly asked the question, Sera smiled awkwardly.
It was three days ago that Prince Aushuvel had asked her to be his partner at the banquet. The request itself was like a heavy burden weighing her shoulders down.
Then, two days ago, she tried to turn down Aushuvel by telling him that she wasn’t fit to be his partner. However, he refused her refusal, continuing to be determined about this.
She had absolutely no idea why he was so adamant. Why was a man such as himself, who was popular enough that women often fought over him, so persistent about her?
“Sera, I’m already nervous. What if I make a mistake because Sera’s not there? That’s why you have to come.”
Ferre grabbed Sera’s pointer finger and begged her with puppy dog eyes.
“Seeeeeraaaaaaa. Please?”
“Seeeeeraaaaaaaaa. Even if you just go there to watch me and Ferre. Please? I’m scared that I’ll make a mistake, too.”
The twins knew very well that Sera was weak to their adorable charms. Not being able to resist, Sera let out a sigh and answered.
“Alright. I’m going. I’ll be right there with Your Highnesses, so just look at me whenever you feel nervous at all. Even if you forget the next steps in the dance, all you have to do is look at me. I’ll guide you. Really, all Your Highnesses have to do is dance just as we practiced, so there’s nothing for you to worry about. Even if you make a mistake, as long as you pretend you didn’t, then no one will know about it.”
“Pretend that we didn’t make a mistake? We should do that?”
“Yes. Everyone won’t notice as long as you gloss over it.”
Giving them her final hidden piece of advice, Rosé and Ferre nodded earnestly.
* * *
Sera finished their lesson a lot earlier than usual. Instead of riding a carriage back home, she headed towards the palace where Aushuvel was staying.
Located at the northernmost part of the imperial palace, the palace she was headed to was the one most used by VIPs whenever they came for official visits. It was located at the opposite of the Star Palace, so she walked until she felt her legs go sore.
Hiding her face with a white lace parasol from the direct sunlight, Sera agonized over her thoughts.
‘Can I really go
’
How did she end up being Aushuvel’s partner at the first banquet she’s ever going to attend? One part of her was still feeling uncomfortable about this.
As long as you’re an aristocrat, everyone was expected to make their debut at the age of seventeen. However, she was someone who couldn’t do this in the first place. She lost her parents early, and the only inheritance they had left for her was debt. A fancy dress and some accessories had been far from her mind at the time.
Since she never debuted into high society before, she was already expecting the words that would go one behind her back the moment she stepped into that banquet hall.