Chapter 12
#012 The First Dance
"How is it, Olivia? How does it feel to receive the first oath?"
Even as he called her name affectionately, the corners of Leopold's lips twisted. It was the sign Leopold showed whenever something displeased him.
Every time that happened, Olivia would always try her best to soothe Leopold, watching his mood as if she had done something wrong.
Olivia paused, who was about to go to Leopold's side as a habit. As she lightly shook the Grand Duke's hand that she was holding and tightened her grip, the Grand Duke's stiff expression relaxed.
Leopold's eyebrow cocked up as he watched the scene.
Olivia had been displeasing him since earlier. When she slipped out of his grasp, and now, when she avoided his gaze.
This was unacceptable.
Olivia should have naturally come to his side. They were in the middle of nobles. As if daring to reject him in the midst of all this, Olivia took no action.
His stomach churned as if it were about to turn inside out. Leopold's eyes grew sharper as a burning feeling surged within him.
"Your Highness."
The Grand Duke, who hid Olivia behind him as if protecting her, spoke gently, belying his nickname of the Slaughter Demon. He was the complete opposite of Leopold, who stood menacingly with a sharp aura.
"If you have no business, please step aside. I was just about to have my first dance with the lady to whom I pledged my oath."
"Since my fiancée received the first oath, I'd like to take the first dance. Grand Duke."
Unlike his stiff voice, Leopold's eyes curved softly as he looked at her.
"Come on, Liv."
His affectionate voice called her nickname. At that moment, Olivia's heart fluttered. It was the first time her nickname had been called since her mother.
Her heart beat fiercely. Leopold smiled brightly, just like he did when he was eleven, her brilliant savior from long ago.
So Olivia almost moved without realizing it.
"You always wanted to have the first dance with me."
If it weren't for those words that sounded like charity, she really would have.
The words 'first dance' reminded her of her Debutante. Her standing next to Leopold as a matter of course, and Leopold leaving her to take the hand of Lady Nordian.
Nevertheless.
Leopold was confident now.
Leopold's gesture of reaching out his hand without even asking once, Leopold's calling her nickname without asking for permission, made Olivia bite the inside of her lip silently.
...Is she that easy to Leopold?
Even though he came with Maria Etel, he called her his fiancée, and he must have heard about the cards and flowers he never sent from the Chamberlain, yet he pretended not to know.
Making her feel like she was nothing in this way.
Her mood sank endlessly. Olivia tried hard to keep her wits about her.
Without room to think about the consequences, Olivia slowly parted her lips.
"...This is a victory banquet to celebrate the war heroes, Your Highness."
"...Liv?"
Leopold called Olivia again, as if in disbelief.
Olivia held her head higher than ever before. She didn't want to care whether the emotions swirling in Leopold's bright blue eyes were anger at the situation or anger towards her.
She was too tired today.
"I will go and have the first dance with Grand Duke Bikander first."
As if timing it perfectly, the Grand Duke gently escorted Olivia. One step, two steps.
Ah, as if she had belatedly remembered, Olivia turned briefly towards Leopold.
She spoke politely to Leopold, who was looking at her arrogantly with an 'I knew it' expression.
"Your Highness, please have a pleasant first dance with Lady Etel over there."
Leopold's face contorted. Olivia, still holding the Grand Duke's hand, headed towards the center of the banquet hall.
Her heart was pounding as if it would burst.
She had pushed Leopold away for the first time.
An unknown emotion filled Olivia's heart.
.
.
.
"Isn't it heavy?"
"Pardon?"
"That sword."
The Grand Duke gestured with a face full of laughter. Only then did Olivia realize that she was holding the sword in one hand.
She was sure it would be heavy with all the jewels embedded in it, but it was lighter than she thought. Olivia shrugged.
"You're right. I thought it would be heavy."
"If it's not heavy, then we've discovered an amazing talent? How about joining our royal guard?"
When Olivia glared at him prettily, the Grand Duke pretended not to notice and looked away.
"Shall I hold it for you while we dance?"
When Olivia nodded, the Grand Duke took the sword. The Grand Duke's Knight came and took the sword. Ugh, it sounded like a low groan could be heard. In the meantime, the Grand Duke bowed to the Emperor.
"Thank you for His Majesty's grace. May I begin the first dance, having pledged my oath to the Lady?"
"...Of course. For this celebratory occasion. Let the banquet continue."
The Emperor barely nodded with a stiff expression.
The orchestra began to play again. Elegant melodies were played in a variety of ways, filling the banquet hall once more.
In the midst of it, the Emperor forced a smile. Clutching his throbbing head was something for later.
The nobles were already buzzing. This commotion would probably spread quickly among the nobles. To the nobles who were not invited to the banquet, and gradually even to the commoners.
The Grand Duke pledged a Knight's oath to the Crown Prince's fiancée instead of the prepared Princess.
The Princess, as well as the Empress, had already left their seats. The Emperor, recalling the Princess's face, which had been stained white with shame, suppressed his murderous intent and looked at the Grand Duke.
His dog, who always looked up at him with an expressionless face, was smiling next to the Crown Prince's fiancée.
The one who acted like a tongue in his mouth.
Daring to.
Daring to not know his place.
The Emperor barely raised his stiff lips.
Even if he provoked the Imperial Family like this, the White Crystal Mine that he wanted most was still in his hands.
He was the one who turned the whole war around for the sake of that mine, claiming it was a relic of the late Grand Duchess.
The Emperor thought about how to ensnare him. He couldn't let him go yet.
"...It's time to think about the Princess's marriage."
At the Emperor's words, spoken quietly as if grinding his teeth, the experienced Chamberlain bowed his head.
* * *
In the center of the banquet hall, Olivia exhaled lightly. Tension flashed across her expressionless face.
"Why are you so nervous? You're more nervous than when you received my oath earlier?"
"Is there anything more nerve-wracking than a first dance Debut?"
"First dance?"
The Grand Duke repeated Olivia's words, looking a little surprised. Olivia smiled slyly. She was a little embarrassed because she was the second person after Esella to not know this fact.
The Grand Duke, who was looking elsewhere for no reason, said as if blurting it out.
"...Today is my first dance too."
"That's a big problem."
Olivia added seriously, not noticing the tips of his ears covered by his black hair turning red.
"But don't worry too much. I've practiced a lot, so I won't step on Your Highness's feet."
"Well, I think it would be okay to get stepped on by those heels."
"…Pardon?"
Olivia, who was counting the beats, raised her head and looked at the Grand Duke.
"If my feet are ruined, you'll take responsibility then, won't you, Lady?"
The Grand Duke's smile deepened. While Olivia was trying to figure out if he was joking, the music started.
The Grand Duke nonchalantly took Olivia's hand and led her. With his natural movements, Olivia forgot about counting the beats and began to dance.
It was hard to believe that it was his first time, as the Grand Duke's lead was excellent. He even had the composure to make eye contact as if checking Olivia's tempo from time to time.
"...You said it was your first time."
Olivia blurted out and then realized her mistake. It was funny that she was complaining about the Grand Duke being good at dancing.
Who was she to say that?
Olivia hurriedly looked for other words. The Grand Duke narrowed his eyes and replied as if he was enjoying it.
"I must have told you. I'm good at everything that involves the body."
Well, that was true.
Olivia easily agreed, but on the other hand, she felt a little sulky. Even so, unlike her, who was flustered by her first dance, she didn't expect him to be able to lead his partner so skillfully.
"...I didn't know you could dance this well."
"Well, I'm a little disappointed too."
"Pardon?"
"I was hoping to get stepped on by your heels a little. I'm leading too well, aren't I?"
Olivia was speechless for a moment.
The Grand Duke, who said it without changing his expression, even sighed softly as if he was really disappointed.
He was so brazen. Olivia unknowingly relaxed her face and smiled faintly.
Was this man really Grand Duke Bikander, who was rumored to be a Slaughter Demon?
He was so cheeky, and also.
"Ah."
Olivia, who was suddenly floating in the air, was startled and cried out softly. The Grand Duke lifted Olivia up and spun her around. Olivia, who landed lightly, opened her eyes wide again like a rabbit.
Just as she was thinking that the Grand Duke's red eyes seemed to be getting darker as he looked at her,
The Grand Duke, who had suddenly moved his body close, whispered in Olivia's ear.
"What are you thinking about so much?"
The Grand Duke, who had come close and then moved away again, smiled nonchalantly. Olivia forced herself to erase the feeling of her ears burning and smiled leisurely.
"I was thinking that I received too precious a gift."
"To think you recognize my worth. As the one who gave the gift, I feel rewarded."
The Grand Duke raised his chin. His smug feelings were openly displayed on his face. Because it was a face she wanted to tease, Olivia pretended not to notice and changed the subject.
"I was talking about the treasured sword. 'Airaluten'."
"Wow. You're playing with my emotions?"
"I'm the one being lifted up, though?"
With good timing, the Grand Duke grabbed Olivia's waist and lifted her up.
She didn't know that the feeling of floating was so good. She also didn't know that the feeling of waltzing breathlessly was so refreshing.
Olivia slowly fluttered her hair and gently folded her eyes.
The Grand Duke, who was capturing all of Olivia's expressions in his eyes, smiled along.
"...You're good at making jokes too."
"Me?"
Olivia, who was holding his hand, opened her eyes wide.
"That's the first time I've heard that."
Among the many words that described Olivia, there was no mention of her being good at making jokes. Maybe she was stiff and boring.
“Then what about being witty?”
“Not even once.”
“Oh, dear. The people around you must all be blind.”
Olivia couldn't help but laugh at the Grand Duke's serious face.
It was strange. Was it because it was the first time she had laughed at a banquet? Or was it because of this man who made her laugh no matter what he said?
Behind the Grand Duke, who was smiling back at her, she could see the faces of nobles spying on them. A chill ran down Olivia's spine.
Only then did Olivia realize how great the vow she had received was.
Now, her honor would be directly linked to the Grand Duke's honor. The Grand Duke would always be mentioned at the end of her name, which was already being ridiculed everywhere.
She had kept her distance from Esella to avoid that. She was suddenly afraid that her kindness would harm those who were kind to her.
The Grand Duke noticed Olivia's smile fading. As he did, Olivia murmured.
“…You can take it back.”
“What?”
“That, Your Highness. About that vow… take it…”
Olivia hesitated for a moment. The best way was to reconsider her attire so that the Grand Duke could retract his vow.
But strangely, she hesitated.
If she took it back again like that.
In the end, this kind coincidence would no longer exist. It was clear that this short relationship would end there.
It was when Olivia's lips wouldn't part easily.
“To tell you a secret, I didn't plan to offer you a vow from the beginning. I came with my own plan.”
Olivia gasped at the Grand Duke's words. She had to keep a face that was okay no matter what he said. A playful look spread across the Grand Duke's face.
“But I remembered it just as I was about to give you the sword as a gift. Ah, I decided to give you the most precious thing as a gift. This sword is just a precious sword, not the most precious thing. So what do I do?”
After the Grand Duke's words, the waltz melody quickened as if heading towards the end.
What does he mean, what do I do?
Olivia didn't even have time to wonder at the unfinished words. The music reached its climax.
Holding hands, Olivia spun around and around.
The red dress repeatedly bloomed and folded like a flower. Her loose silver hair sparkled in the chandelier light, captivating people's attention.
Finally, the waltz ended. Olivia caught her breath and, holding one side of her dress, put her hand near her chest and bowed to the Grand Duke.
Standing in front of her, the Grand Duke bowed his head to Olivia and gently took her hand.
And he lightly brought his lips to her glove. He didn't touch it, but taking advantage of the silence that fell over everyone, including Olivia, at the unconventional greeting, the Grand Duke whispered to Olivia and left his seat.
Left alone in the middle of it all, Olivia blankly stared at the Grand Duke's back. Then, with wide eyes, she looked at the Grand Duke again.
The words left by the departing Grand Duke lingered in Olivia's ears.
“So what do I do? The most precious me has to be your gift.”
.
.
.
The smile faded from the Grand Duke's face, which had been smiling brightly like a rose blooming in spring. When the Grand Duke, who had been thought to have a glamorous face, became expressionless, it felt like the surrounding temperature was dropping.
Knight Howard Interfield, who had followed the Grand Duke, handed the treasured sword to the Grand Duke. The sword exuded a cold energy that seemed to freeze everything.
“Your Highness. Here.”
But the Grand Duke, one of the only, or rather, now two, people who could calm this sword, didn't even pay attention to the sword and muttered while looking at the middle of the banquet hall.
“Why is the waltz time limited?”
Winster Calter, with brown hair, who ran up with a hurried face, spoke quietly enough for only the Grand Duke to hear.
“Because you have to change partners. By the way, why did you do that? You said you would bow down one more time for the sake of the White Crystal Mine.”
“Why do I have to change partners?”
“Yes? What about the White Crystal Mine? Your Highness!”
The Grand Duke didn't seem to hear Winster's flustered words, and instead of answering, he looked at the center of the banquet hall.
The Crown Prince headed towards Olivia with a confident stride. The uniform, the same color as Olivia's, caught his eye. The Grand Duke's eyes darkened at the sight of him showing off that he was her partner.
Murderous intent flickered in the sword.
Winster, startled, took a few steps back, but the Grand Duke's gaze was fixed on one person.
“Don't tell me…”
As Winster muttered, Howard nodded slightly. The easiest plan to target the Princess who owned the White Crystal Mine had fallen through.
But His Highness must have made another plan. To snatch victory in any situation. That's what the Grand Duke had always done.
* * *
The music changed again. Olivia, who was in the middle of the banquet hall, straightened her back. She had always been near the wall at banquets, but not tonight.
“You seem to have had fun.”
Leopold reached out to Olivia as if it were natural.
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Olivia placed her hand on his. And she looked at Leopold and asked.
“Did you have fun too, Your Highness?”
