Chapter 12
#12
“Bianca.”
Just as I was about to enter alone, a familiar voice called me from behind.
The moment I heard that voice, I stopped dead in my tracks. For a moment, I considered pretending I didn't hear it.
If I just walked in quickly and blended into the crowd…
“Don’t ignore me. I’ll be hurt.”
…This guy is like a ghost.
“Bianca Crofort greets His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Aselblunt Cardigento.”
Turning around, I smiled brightly and curtsied to Asel.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I looked up and saw Asel.
As befitting the Splendor Empire’s legitimate Crown Prince, he had pink hair and periwinkle eyes, said to only appear in the noble imperial bloodline.
“Why are you being so formal with me? Just call me Asel.”
“I couldn’t possibly do that, Your Highness.”
“You used to call me that before.”
“That was a very, very, very long time ago, Your Highness.”
“Right. Since we’ve known each other for a very, very, very long time, call me what you used to call me a very, very, very long time ago. Asel.”
Asel said that with a grin.
“Your Highness, what brings you to call me?”
I smiled slightly and said to him.
“No, I mean, don’t call me Your Highness, call me Asel.”
Asel said, smiling even more brightly than before.
I maintained the same smiling expression as before and simply looked at him.
For a moment, we exchanged smiles without a word. No, we were just unilaterally showering each other with smiles.
Without accepting the other’s smile. At least, that was the case for me.
“If you have no business with me, I shall take my leave.”
“How cold. Can’t I just make up a reason?”
Noticing that I was about to leave if he didn't give me a reason, Asel hurriedly ran to block my path.
“Want to dance?”
And he smiled and extended his hand.
Indeed, it was a simple yet perfect reason for the current situation. A dance request at a ball was very appropriate.
Moreover, unless there was a special reason, no woman would refuse a dance with the Crown Prince.
I couldn't refuse either, just because I didn't particularly like the Crown Prince.
I had no choice.
“I will……”
“Bianca.”
It was the moment I was about to take Asel's hand, saying, "I will."
A thick, low voice called my name from the other side. That voice was also familiar.
“Ricardo?”
Turning my head slightly, I saw Ricardo's face at the entrance to the hallway leading to the hall.
“Oh!”
Asel also seemed to have noticed Ricardo, as he turned his head to look at him.
“Ricardo of the Wincaiser Family greets His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Aselblunt Cardigento.”
“Ah, you don’t have to kneel.”
Asel smiled as he stopped Ricardo, who was about to pay his respects.
“It’s been a while, Ricardo.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…Is that all?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Okay. Well, if that’s all.”
Asel shrugged once, then turned back to look at me.
“So, Bianca?”
He extended his hand towards me again.
As he said a moment ago, it meant he wanted to go dance.
“Yes, Your High…….”
“Your Highness.”
It was the moment I was about to place my hand on Asel's hand again and answer. Once again, Ricardo's voice cut in between us.
“Bianca is my partner tonight.”
It was a very obvious fact.
Since our engagement 10 years ago, my partner at every social gathering had always been Ricardo, and Ricardo had always been the same.
In Splendor’s social circles, that was a well-known fact, and Asel would naturally know it as well.
“I know.”
Asel also widened his eyes as if to say, why are you stating the obvious?
“So?”
“I plan to dance with her.”
“Didn’t you dance earlier?”
“We did.”
“According to Splendor’s etiquette, the first dance of the day is to be with one’s partner, but isn’t everything after that free? Did Splendor’s etiquette change without my knowledge?”
“Since she is my partner, shouldn’t I have priority?”
“Why are you talking about priority between us?”
Asel laughed as if it was nothing and patted Ricardo on the shoulder.
“I don’t get to come out often except for the imperial balls, and I’m here for the first time in a while because I had time. So, put aside the priority and understand.”
“That’s difficult.”
“What’s difficult again?”
“Bianca will be dancing with me.”
“No, you agreed to dance with me before you came. Right, Bianca?”
“It didn’t seem like she had fully agreed yet.”
“She almost agreed. You just didn’t see it, but our fingers slightly touched. Right, Bianca? Didn’t your middle finger touch my palm like this just now?”
“……”
Asel looked at me, tapping his palm, and Ricardo was silently staring at me.
And I was embarrassed.
I couldn't understand why these two men were so obsessed with dancing with me.
“I……”
As soon as I started to speak, the gazes of the two men became even more intense. That made me even more burdened.
Oh, what should I do?
“Crown Prince Aselblunt.”
“Ah… damn it.”
While I couldn't readily take either side, a weighty voice called Asel. At the same time, Asel closed his eyes and muttered a small curse.
“It’s time for you to leave, Your Highness.”
“What do you mean it’s already time to leave? How long has it been since I got here?”
“It has been one hour and 53 minutes since you arrived. You are already 18 minutes past the time you were originally scheduled to leave. You must return to the imperial palace now to complete your scheduled activities.”
“Haa…”
Asel sighed as if he couldn't help it when the middle-aged man with the white beard, probably his aide, spoke.
“…Please take care, Your Highness.”
Sensing the atmosphere, I slightly bent my knees and bid farewell to Asel. Ricardo also nodded slightly and paid his respects to Asel.
Asel didn't seem to like that.
He probably thought that the two of us wanted to get rid of him quickly. And that was the truth.
I was just grateful to the aide who saved me from having to choose between my fiancé and the Crown Prince.
“Okay. I guess I have to go now to dedicate this frail body to the safety of the empire.”
Asel shook his head as if he was bored and left the scene.
I felt sorry for him, but I was really relieved.
“Well, then.”
Ricardo spoke to me as I was looking at Asel's back.
“My fiancée.”
As I watched Ricardo reach out his hand towards me, I froze.
What did Ricardo just say? Fiancée? Did he say fiancée?
He had never called me that before. To him, I was just Bianca. Bianca Crofort.
After calling me by a name that was no different from anyone else, where did that sweet word 'fiancée' suddenly come from?
“Bianca?”
When I remained frozen, Ricardo called my name again.
Yes. This was better.
Only then did I come to my senses and lightly placed my hand on Ricardo's hand.
“What was that just now?”
I whispered to Ricardo.
“What?”
“Fiancée.”
“It’s the truth.”
“It is the truth, but you’ve never called me that before.”
“Then I’ll just have to call you that from now on.”
“……”
Did Ricardo eat something wrong?
There was no way that the prestigious Wincaiser Family would have fed him something strange, so he must have eaten something strange outside.
Goodness, that tea from the orphanage! It tasted ridiculous!
Was it not just cheap, but a tea that drove people crazy?
“Shall we dance, Bianca?”
As soon as we came out into the hall, Ricardo asked me.
He must have really gone crazy. Ricardo asking for a third dance at one ball.
“Are you okay?”
“What?”
“You asked to dance.”
“Isn’t dancing what you’re supposed to do at a ball?”
The words, 'You weren't usually like this,' rose to my throat, but I barely held them back.
Damn orphanage director! What did you put in the tea?
“I thought you didn’t really… enjoy dancing?”
“I don’t particularly like it.”
“Then why do you keep asking me to dance?”
“Because I thought you might dance with other guys if I didn’t.”
“Other… guys?”
“Over there, over there, over there. They were staring as soon as you came out alone.”
Ricardo pointed here and there in the hall with a light chin gesture.
The people he was arrogantly pointing at were Reintar, the eldest son of Lord Wendsbury, the host of the ball, who was checking to see if the people in the hall were comfortable, a rookie knight, and… goodness, an elderly Count who was well over 60 years old.
“Bianca, you’re quite popular.”
“That’s a very belated statement.”
“…Have you always been popular?”
“That’s also very belated.”
“Why?”
Ricardo seemed to be genuinely clueless, frowning slightly and thinking.
And seeing him like that, I was once again at a loss for words.
“Because I’m a very perfect woman.”
He really hadn't been interested in me at all until now.
“I’m the young lady of the prestigious and long-standing Croford Family, I have a beautiful appearance praised in the empire, and I have everything, including knowledge, refinement, and connections.”
“Do people usually say things like that themselves?”
“Why can’t I? It’s all true.”
I glared at Ricardo's face and snapped at him.
“You’re the only one who has ever treated Bianca Crofort like a pebble rolling on the street.”
“Did I treat you like that?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I’ll correct myself. Not a pebble rolling on the street, but a pebble in your pocket.”
“……”
“……”
“Are you angry?”
“Me? How could I, a mere pebble, dare to be angry at the owner who is kind enough to carry me around in their pocket?”
“…You’re angry.”
Of course, I didn't look like I was smiling brightly right now. I was angry at Ricardo, who had never been interested in me, and I was angry at myself for not knowing that.
Why do I have to be treated like this?
Why did I think I should marry a man who has no interest in me?
Why should I be hung up on a man who doesn’t love me?
For the first time, I was grateful for that damn book.
If I hadn't read that book, I would have lived without thinking, believing that my duty and right was to become the Duchess.
I was Bianca Crofort.
There was no reason for me to be treated like this.
