Chapter 24
The one who had asked Lobelin to dance was none other than Cedric.
“M-me?”
Of all people, Cedric, the star of today’s banquet?
In disbelief, Lobelin instinctively looked around.
She thought she might have mistaken his request, and that he was actually asking someone else.
“Yes, Lady Dines.”
Watching her, Cedric let out a small, amused chuckle.
His hand remained extended toward her.
“Oh… well, that is…”
“Is it perhaps difficult for you?”
Cedric tilted his head with a radiant smile.
With that angelic look, Lobelin felt as though she could see a halo glowing behind him.
“N-no. If you’re truly alright with me.”
In the end, Lobelin took Cedric’s hand.
She owed him for his help earlier, and she couldn’t bring herself to humiliate him by rejecting his dance in public.
At least, that was how she tried to justify it to herself.
“…”
Watching Lobelin and Cedric head toward the center of the ballroom from afar, Ian clenched his fists.
He felt utterly incompetent for doing nothing while Lobelin was in danger.
And now, Cedric had swooped in and taken her away.
While Ian was lost in thought, the Emperor’s voice sounded from behind him.
“Crown Prince, what are you doing standing there in a daze?”
Ian had been so focused on Lobelin and Cedric that he hadn’t even noticed the Emperor approaching.
“…Ah, Your Majesty.”
Quickly fixing his posture, Ian gave a slight bow.
The Emperor clicked his tongue at the sight.
“Tsk, tsk. Look at the other men. They’ve all taken a lady’s hand and stepped forward.”
“But I—”
“Ah, are you worried because Lady Bennett isn’t here? Then how about Lady Spencer over there? The Spencer family is a prestigious house that doesn’t fall behind the Bennetts.”
The Emperor laughed heartily and patted Ian on the shoulder.
His tone was suggestive, but it was effectively a command.
‘What a sly old fox.’
Ian was well aware of the Emperor’s intentions.
‘He plans to pit the two families against each other to sell his son off at the highest possible price.’
The House of Count Spencer was also a wealthy and ancient family of Heriot.
Furthermore, Amelie Spencer, whom the Emperor mentioned, was the niece of the current Chancellor, Duke Lionel.
“No, thank you. I’ll just—”
“Your Highness, it has been a long time.”
Ian tried to withdraw quietly, but Count Spencer and his daughter, Amelie—who had already received a signal from the Emperor—approached and greeted him.
“Now then, Ian. Hasn’t this lady set aside her shyness to come find you herself?”
“…”
The Emperor placed a hand on Ian’s shoulder, urging him to ask Amelie to dance.
However, Ian didn’t budge.
The woman he truly wanted to dance with was elsewhere.
“…”
It was while Ian was hesitating.
“Y-Your Highness! Please d-dance with me!”
“Child, really!”
Suddenly, Amelie grabbed Ian’s hand.
Count Spencer was flustered by her sudden outburst, but the Emperor let out a boisterous laugh.
“My, my. The Count has raised a very proactive daughter.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. Amelie, apologize for your rudeness this instant—”
“Nonsense. I should be the one thanking her for being so fond of my son.”
The Emperor looked satisfied as he watched Amelie, who was clearly desperate to win Ian’s favor.
Since Amelie was so smitten with the Crown Prince, it was certain that Count Spencer—who was rumored to be devoted to his daughter—would spend a fortune to support her.
“Ian, the lady has summoned such courage; are you just going to stand there?”
“…No. Lady Spencer, this way.”
Ultimately, Ian took the hand of a heavily blushing Amelie and stepped into the center of the ballroom.
Regret washed over Ian the moment he took her hand, but the nobles, unaware of his feelings, began to fuss as soon as they saw the pair.
“Oh my, His Imperial Highness is actually dancing. That’s a sight I’ve never seen before.”
“Who is his partner? Oh, Lady Spencer? How enviable.”
It took only a moment for the nobles’ attention to shift toward the rare spectacle.
Lobelin also sensed the change in the atmosphere.
And it wasn’t hard for her to spot Ian dancing.
‘It’s Lady Spencer?’
Then again, it wasn’t surprising.
In the original novel, Ian was a man who couldn’t resist a woman.
He must have set his sights on Amelie for tonight.
‘…Well, as long as he’s not getting involved with Connie, it’s a relief for me.’
Lobelin decided to think of it positively.
However, her eyes kept drifting toward Ian despite herself.
Seeing Ian looking at Amelie with such a calm expression somehow made her feel unsettled.
“Lady Dines? Is something the matter?”
“What? Oh!”
Startled, Lobelin quickly turned her head back. She had been chasing Ian’s movements with her eyes.
Cedric was looking down at her with a questioning gaze.
Realizing she had committed a discourtesy toward her partner, Lobelin’s face flushed.
“I-it’s nothing. More importantly, thank you again for earlier.”
“Not at all. If not for you, Lady Dines, I wouldn’t have been able to corner Duke Bolton.”
“But you already had clear evidence, Marquis.”
“Still, a bit of staging is necessary sometimes. People’s perceptions change depending on whether or not a pitiable lady is present before their eyes.”
‘Hmm…’
Lobelin marveled inwardly at Cedric’s meticulous planning.
How could he have thought of all that in such a short moment?
‘He looks like he wouldn’t even hurt a fly.’
There was clearly a formidable set of skills hidden beneath that face.
As Lobelin thought about the man before her, the music came to an end.
“It was a lovely dance. Thank you.”
Lobelin quickly offered her farewells and left.
Now, her only desire was to find a quiet place to rest.
‘Phew.’
Perhaps it was because she had unintentionally become the center of such a huge commotion.
As soon as she was alone, exhaustion washed over her.
‘I just want to go home.’
But if she did, Cornelia would surely complain about being left behind.
And she couldn’t exactly leave Cornelia alone in the Imperial Palace of all places.
‘I’ll just sit here.’
Lobelin decided to wait quietly for her friend.
As she settled into a corner, Ian and Amelie caught her eye again.
‘What, they’re still dancing?’
Was it because of the Crown Prince’s innate dignity and grace?
Ian’s fluid, smooth movements made it feel as though the very air around them had come to a standstill.
His gloved hands were leading Amelie with such courtesy, as if he were handling a fragile object.
Every now and then, Ian would lower his head to listen to Amelie and nod.
In every small gesture, a sense of respect for his partner was felt.
‘…Well, Lady Spencer is from a prestigious family. I suppose he wouldn’t just go grabbing her ankles.’
Lobelin found herself unconsciously comparing Ian’s current behavior to how he had treated her in the past.
The stark difference in his attitude made her fidget, twisting the fabric of her skirt.
‘Lobelin, what’s wrong with you?’
As a gloomy mood settled over her, Lobelin scolded herself.
‘Think about it. All my problems are solved if Ian just gets engaged to Lady Spencer.’
That way, she wouldn’t have to become Cornelia’s rival over Ian, and she could escape the fate of the original novel.
Wasn’t this exactly what she had wanted since regaining her memories of her past life?
Yet, the feeling of a thorn prickling somewhere in her heart wouldn’t go away.
‘Whatever. I only feel weird because I’m looking at it.’
Lobelin chose to leave the area instead.
The music ended, and people began to gather in small groups.
Just as Lobelin was passing them and opening the door to a suitable balcony—
“Lobelin! Get inside!”
“Eh?”
Suddenly, someone pushed Lobelin from behind with great force and shut the door.
Flustered, Lobelin turned around to see Ian’s back as he peered through the window.
“…Y-Your Highness?”
“I hope no one saw.”
“What are you doing?”
While a stunned Lobelin watched blankly, Ian even carefully drew the curtains before turning back.
Then, he immediately grabbed Lobelin’s wrist.
“Lobelin, let me see your arm.”
“Pardon? My arm? Why?”
“You said it hurt. Earlier.”
Before she knew it, Ian was rolling up Lobelin’s sleeve and meticulously examining the arm beneath.
He gently stroked her white skin, revealed under the moonlight.
‘Ah, he’s not wearing… gloves.’
The gloves Ian had been wearing while dancing with Amelie just moments ago were nowhere to be seen.
Seeing his long fingers brush against her skin, Lobelin felt her ears heat up instinctively.
In the cool night air of spring, Ian’s fingers felt even hotter against her bare arm.
‘W-what? I must be going crazy…!’
