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Chapter 75
Selena smiled broadly as Kalcion reached out before she took his hand.
“Finally, His Grace decides to dance with me. I’ve been waiting for this moment. Pardon me, I’ll have to be away for a moment,” she deliberately asked for the guests’ understanding who were laughing because she couldn’t dance.
“Ahem, ahem. Yes, have a great time.”
Leaving her opponents behind, who could not continue their mockery, Selena climbed to the floor with Kalcion.
Kalcion—who had never danced in his life, and Selena—a new hot topic who just happened to appear today, were successful in drawing people’s attention to them. Curious eyes followed them as they walked to the floor.
“You’re not nervous, are you?”
Selena smiled playfully as his large palm hugged her waist. Kalcion smiled as though he heard something very bland. The dance song immediately began.
Even during Mrs. Janet’s lesson, she was said to have the perfect knowledge of ball dancing. Her dance moves were smooth as nature. So she wasn’t really nervous even though it was her first time dancing in front of people.
Although the basic etiquette of a banquet is dance, there is a wide difference between the physical ability and sense of two given people. No matter how well you’ve learned, there is always a distinction between those who are good and those who are bad. Some draw a more beautiful style with the same gesture, while others do not.
Selena’s style was like swaying and fluttering in a soft wind.
She was a natural at drawing attention, she didn’t have to make a big gesture or bold move to stand out. Her movements were much more elegant than a single bold move could show off.
“This dance seems fun,” Selena smiled as she spun to match Kalcion’s lead.
Kalcion’s dance was very blunt, but was diverse and was capable of making full utilization of the space. She did hear that using your body was necessary for this, but he danced as though he was wielding his sword most efficiently.
Selena was able to feel his dance the best. It seemed bold, but it did not miss the delicacy. Although invisible to the spectators, it was delivered very well through the touch of their bodies.
“I’m glad you find it enjoyable.”
“Indeed, it’s going to be the only happy memory I have of this party.”
“It’ll be an honor,” a smile grazed his lips as well.
He did not care how surprised people were to see his smile from afar.
After the song was over, the two stopped and bowed to each other.
A few among the watchers started to clap inadvertently, but came to their senses and covered their awkwardness with a dry cough.
Selena was about to return to her original position, but she had to stop when a familiar voice spoke up.
“Great dance, I see. It was so because I couldn’t tear my eyes from you.”
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
The busy person—surrounded by women—deliberately walked all the way here. It was hard to believe that they caught his eye.
Selena and Kalcion politely bowed their heads to greet the Crown Prince.
“I’m Selena. Apologies for my insolence in the hallway….., because it was my first time in the palace, I couldn’t recognize Your Highness……”
The Prince’s gaze pierced across her face, “you are the mountain bird of Renbird.”
“I beg your pardon? Mountain bird…..?”
“That’s what rumors say. A mountain bird that flew in one day out of nowhere, it was so adorable and beautiful that the Duke couldn’t allow it to leave.”
Rumors were circulating about her. However, it was her first time to hear such rumors in person. She never expected to learn that from the mouth of the Crown Prince.
“I’ve never heard of it before, forgive me, I couldn’t tell Your Highness earlier.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. I was discourteous in the hallway because it was cute to see you wandering around. We both didn’t recognize each other, so be at ease.”
“Thank you.”
The Prince reacted with much more common sense than expected. According to Kalcion’s explanation, he would’ve threatened Selena—whether he ignored her identity earlier for a reason or not.
Instead of attacking Selena, the Prince flashed a—shining—smile before he turned to Kalcion.
“You’ve taken quite an important step, Duke. This time, it seems neither the crazy monsters attacked the castle of Renbird nor did the wall break down because of an avalanche.”
“……”
Selena solemnly bowed her head.
They were great excuses, but they were significantly less realistic. You could tell that they were insincere excuses without even trying.
Up until now, the Crown Prince did not have a chance to kill him even when he refused the invitations with such excuses.
“No. Even if the Castle of Renbird had collapsed, you would’ve come rushing to show off your beautiful partner.”
He joked lightly, but it was a trap.
If so, it meant he was readily admitting his disgrace, and if not, it meant he was denying the Crown Prince’s evaluation.
Nervous, Selena waited for Kalcion’s answer. Since it wasn’t a secret conversation, she had no time to intervene.
Kalcion just tilted his head, but he did not deny it.
“The Duke is still silent. I thought you’d enjoy sharing a few words since we met face to face a long time after.”
“I’m afraid I’m not good at speaking.”
Kalcion’s method was valid. Stupid silence can sometimes be placed closer to obedience than smooth excuses.
The heaviness in the air was released.
“Yeah, it’s not that I don’t know you. Will you give me the honor of dancing to a song with Lady Selena as a penance?”
“How dare I block the will of Your Highness?”
“Since I received permission from your partner, Lady Selena, will you allow it?”
“It’ll be my honor,” Selena was willing to hold the Prince’s hand.
His dance request was beneficial to her in many ways.
First, it would imprint an image of Selena as ‘a woman who danced with the Prince’ in the minds of people who did not know her properly. It must not be that the Crown Prince danced with anyone. Thus, it would be ‘a small number of chosen ones.’
When the Prince stepped up, others who were dancing quickly cleared the floor for him.
He effortlessly pulled Selena’s waist as if all of that were so natural.
“I hope the Duke doesn’t use a sword like this, does he?”
“Is His Highness aiming to do that for me?”
Her eyes widening, she asked as she pretended to know nothing.
“I can’t do that, of course. If I face the Duke with a sword, I won’t use you as an excuse.”
“Thank goodness. I wish to live a peaceful and enjoyable life.”
“Oh my, then you picked the wrong partner.”
“Renbird is quiet.”
“But not the Duke’s surroundings, no. Doesn’t the Lady already attract this much attention just because she’s a partner of Duke Renbird?”
The Prince smiled pleasantly as he spun her around and held her waist. Even while talking, he continued dancing without making any mistakes.
The Crown Prince was elegant. There was no blockage between his and her movements, and Selena’s body was never moved beyond her capability.
Objectively, he danced a hundred times better than Kalcion. She did enjoy dancing with Kalcion, but it was emotionless. For him, she was just a tool to be moved with the beat.
Whereas the Prince danced with the feel of the music. Not only did he look handsome, but his moves were also smooth.
“Rather than a prince charming, wouldn’t the Duke of the North be quieter?”
“Hahaha! Prince charming.”
Perhaps because it was sincerely funny, the Crown Prince laughed out loud. His eyes glowed as he looked down at Selena.
He looked like a child when he had found an interesting toy to play with.
‘I’m so unlucky.’
She had nothing to lose if she chatted more with the Crown Prince. But it wasn’t a good thing for him to be too interested.
“That’s what your eyes said in the hallway, but they changed after you came to know my identity. May I ask which one is real?”
“The Prince looks handsome as ever as my eyes convey.”
“That’s not bad to hear. The Duke’s mountain bird cries prettier than I could expect.”
“If it’s a compliment, thank you.”
“It’s a shame that it is in the hands of the Duke.”
Her smile, which she was holding on with all her might, was incontinence.
‘What is he doing right now?’
He just met her, and he was playing tricks in a place where Kalcion was definitely watching.
Although she did not collapse, the Crown Prince must have noticed the slight dip of her expression.
He squeezed her hand, “No, not yet? Since you two aren’t engaged, I might have a chance.”
Now, the dizziness in her head wasn’t because she was dancing round and round.
‘What is this crazy……?’
The words I couldn’t say out loud spun around my throat.
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“All you have to do is say that you like me.”
‘This is insane…….’
It was not difficult for her to deal with him with a smile.
“It’s not that easy to say……, Your Highness and I met for the first time today…..”
“Ah, that’s right. I was too hasty. However, if you take too much time, you might not be able to stick to the Duke at all, you’d fall apart. Kindly acknowledge your urgent feelings.”
‘Wow, this is really crazy…..’