LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 44
44 Chapter
Two men reached out to me. The crowd was buzzing. Despite being the focal point, I felt like a sack of barley propped up in the middle of it all.
‘…Why? Why are they asking me to dance?’
I froze in place, still holding my cup. This was an unimaginable situation.
I blinked slowly, mouth agape in confusion, then lowered my gaze to the two hands extended toward me.
Diego’s hands, clean and beautiful as if he had never experienced hardship, and Reiner’s hands, rough but earnest, showing the signs of a knight’s life.
‘This is insane.’
My head throbbed from the sudden shock. I looked up at the two, bewildered.
“Baron Einhart. Nice to meet you. Is everything alright in the Second Knights Order?”
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Thanks to your concern, everything is running smoothly.”
At the same time, the two checked each other and exchanged formal greetings. Diego wore a subtle smile, while Reiner’s expression was indifferent yet calm, but the atmosphere between them felt tense, like walking on thin ice.
“Greetings, Your Highness. Hello, Baron Einhart.”
I blankly watched the two face off. I thought I had to greet them in some way, so I hurriedly bowed. As their eyes turned to me, an unfamiliar emotion spread within them.
‘Could it be that they’ve figured out I’m Mir? Or is it just for political reasons?’
I quickly began to think.
The name of Crisis is noble. If someone else asked me to dance instead of them, I would have easily predicted they were interested not in me, but rather in the name of Crisis itself.
‘But the Diego and Reiner I know wouldn’t do that…
They weren’t the type to approach someone for power. Even if they held great power themselves, they were just those kinds of individuals.
‘But to claim they know I’m Mir…
It seemed too ambiguous.
I narrowed my eyes and carefully scrutinized them. Yet their faces revealed only unfathomable kindness and subtle excitement.
Confusion filled my expression as I fumbled for words. Diego and Reiner looked at me kindly, but I still couldn’t figure out how I should respond.
“To be asked for a dance by both the Crown Prince and Baron Einhart—it must be Crisis for sure.”
“I wonder whom the Young Lady would choose! After all, the most perfect shape in the world is a triangle! How exciting!”
The nobles buzzed with excitement over the scandal. I felt like a monkey in a cage.
‘In any case, I have to dance, and whoever I choose will definitely lead to a scandal.’
I had heard that the first dance with a debutante often ended in scandal no one could avoid. I was just flustered because my partners were the main characters, Diego and Reiner, but I had to dance.
‘The problem is… which one to choose.’
I broke out in a cold sweat from the intense gazes of both men. I couldn’t easily decide which hand to take. Just then, someone pushed through the crowd.
“If it’s not too late, I would like to join as well.”
A figure appeared between Diego and Reiner, extending a hand.
“Would you dance with me, if you’d be so kind?”
A man dressed in pure white priest robes, his face masked, bore an angelic smile beneath his mask.
It was High Priest El.
‘This is madness.’
I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again. At this point, I wondered if the three were in on some joke at my expense. However, seeing the bewildered expressions of Diego and Reiner at El’s appearance felt too genuine.
“What… is this, a church…”
“Shh.”
With a gentle smile, El placed a finger over his lips, silencing the flabbergasted Reiner. Reiner immediately closed his mouth. Seeing Diego and Reiner’s shocked expressions, it seemed they recognized who El was.
‘Isn’t it surprising for a high priest to come to a ball?’
Feeling like I was the only one out of the loop, I tilted my head in confusion.
“Who is he?”
“Well… they’re wearing a mask…”
It seemed I wasn’t the only one oblivious; whispers around me speculated about El’s identity.
‘In any case, I have to make a choice.’
If I turn them all away here, I would be considered rude. It’s a tradition for a debutante’s first dance to be offered to whoever asks.
I looked down at El’s pale hand. Unlike a high priest, his large hand bore rugged traces. It was a hand I was incredibly familiar with.
Once I took it, I knew what it would feel like. El’s hands were always warm, fitting of a sun’s glow.
‘So… my choice is made.’
I sighed slowly.
They say a person’s hand resembles their life. Among the three hands, representing different lives, I chose one.
“Thank you, Young Lady of Crisis.”
It was El.
‘Honestly, how could I choose the Crown Prince or the Baron among this crowd!
That would mean rejecting one of them!’
Diego and Reiner were mentioned as the best candidates for marriage in the Empire, followed by throngs of admirers. Choosing one meant I would inevitably reject the other, surely making an enemy out of them.
‘Then I have no choice but to turn them both down.’
El was still masked. That meant his identity was hidden. Instead of choosing one of the two whose identities were clear, it would be better to choose El, who remained ambiguous, even if it meant getting embroiled in a strange scandal.
“Oh my. I see I’ve been rejected. I’ve been curious about who the Young Lady of Crisis would be for so long.” Diego smirked playfully. The situation, which could have easily spread into a scandalous love triangle, was settled as merely a social matter, thanks to the Crown Prince’s adept handling.
“I was worried my amateur dancing would bother you, Your Highness. If you permit me, next time, I will ask you to dance first.”
“I look forward to that day.”
Diego smiled sweetly, as if he were melting. His every action radiated a consideration for me, leaving me with an odd sensation.
“Next… I’d like to be granted the honor of dancing with you too.”
Reiner nodded seriously with his unchanged expression. While his face didn’t show it, the strong waves of emotion swirling in his golden eyes were palpable. His slightly drooping eyes reminded me of a forlorn puppy.
‘Now I feel like I’ve done something wrong…
“Erm… next time, I’ll request the dance first.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I broke out in a cold sweat as his drooping ears seemed to surface above his head, but I forced a light smile. Seeing the calm way they took my rejection, the whispers from the crowd began to quiet.
“Well then, will the Young Lady of Crisis dance with me?”
El tightened his grip on my hand as he continued to watch my conversation with Diego and Reiner. His hold felt like a playful tug, and despite being unsure, I nodded nonetheless.
“Of course, it would be an honor.”
At my formal reply, El beamed brightly. Following his lead, we stepped toward the center of the hall.
The palace orchestra began to play a waltz. After a brief bow to one another, El’s arm wrapped around my waist.
We interlinked our fingers and began to slowly step into the dance. El danced flawlessly, like a well-trained noble.
“I honestly didn’t expect Mir to take my hand.”
El spoke softly.
His silver eyes sparkled under the chandelier, reminiscent of moonlit waves. The closeness made it a bit awkward, but I answered without hesitation.
“I thought dancing with you would be the least controversial choice.”
“That’s true.”
A hint of bitterness tinged the corners of El’s upturned lips. I twirled lightly, still holding his hand.
Dressed in his uniform, El’s attire lacked the flare of a skirt as it flowed, yet it was pristine and tidy. The simplicity of the accessory he chose, a harness intertwining simple strands, maintained this neatness.
El blinked at me for a moment.
“What’s that… accessory you’re wearing?”
“I designed this accessory myself. I call it a harness.”
“I see.”
While I felt a bit guilty claiming I designed it, I decided to feign confidence. El, who was staring at my tightly fitting black harness, slowly averted his gaze.
“…Isn’t it a tad lewd?”
“••••••What?”
‘This?’
It was just some tangled strings. Wondering if El found it inappropriate, I felt a bit disheartened.
“…Is it not suitable?”
“No, it’s not that…”
El turned his gaze away as if he was feeling awkward. The tips of his ears had slightly reddened.
“…It looks good on you.”
Perhaps it was too close that I distinctly heard his mumbling. Yet, it seemed he found it not too strange, and I couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“Why are you here, El?”
Though high priests could enter any ball freely, it was rare to see one participate in social gatherings. El, with slow blinks, smiled brightly.
“Well, I came to see you.”
I faltered.
For a moment, my steps stumbled. I raised my head to glare at El with sinking eyes.
“…When did you know I was the Princess of Crisis?”
“Probably before you realized it yourself.”
El’s answer left me unsure how to respond. While my body followed the dance steps memorized, my mind was racing. Sensing my confusion, El added an explanation.
“You needn’t be surprised. I only made a guess based on the circumstances. I wasn’t sure, so I refrained from asking Mir directly.”
“What…?”
“The Duke of Caesar was looking for a woman and a little girl eighteen years ago. Rumor has it they were born from his mistress and consort.”
“There were many searches, but in the end, he couldn’t find them.”
“That…”
“Although many are unaware, those with red eyes in the Empire can only be from the House of Crisis.”
This was something not mentioned even in the original story. Stunned, I looked at El as he gently smiled.
“Additionally, Mir exhibited exceptional swordsmanship, like those of the House of Crisis, known for their prowess with the sword… so it seemed quite plausible. But of course, it was just a guess.”
His nonchalant voice carried a sharpness. I was momentarily filled with confusion.
‘Why was Caesar searching for a woman and little girl eighteen years ago? Was he really… looking for me? He did mention he was searching for me himself, but… how did I come to be?’