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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: A Dance with the Devil
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The Duke smiled gently. He crossed his long legs in front of her with a brazen air, as if to say, *What can you do?*
Now that she had approved Eric’s marriage, it seemed he felt there was no longer a need to even pretend to feign loyalty.
“They say the prince has dealt with the tribal villages in the North that have always been a nuisance. All the people of the North are grateful to Prince Robert.”
Dealt with.
At that word, Kai, who was standing in the corner, turned noticeably pale.
Ella’s expression soured as well. ‘Dealt with’ was a nice way of putting it; it meant they had invaded the land their ancestors had settled and massacred them.
*‘All just to carve out an achievement for himself.’*
The northerners of the continent likely had no intention of living or farming on such barren land.
But hearing that the prince had driven out the tribes and increased the farmland of the domain, they must have cheered, thinking that life would get better, without knowing the full story.
*‘…How tiresome.’*
Ella ran a hand through her hair, her expression weary.
But could her father have been unaware of the full context? He must have known. And yet…
Wanting the prince to become king, wanting to uphold those tiresome traditions, he must have just closed his eyes, pretended not to know, and applauded.
The desire to live as one has always lived—that lethargy can sometimes become a form of evil.
“Fine, fine. Tonight, I’ll propose a toast to my great younger brother in the North before I go to sleep. Will that suffice? You may go now.”
Ella waved a dismissive hand and rose from her seat.
“The prince may return sooner than you think. In time for the council meeting in two months.”
Ella stopped in her tracks. She looked into the Duke’s red eyes, then picked up a glass from the tray of water and ice Kai was holding as she asked.
“What are you trying to say?”
“If the prince returns with more achievements, won’t that affect your new venture with Lady Margaret? Like the matter of securing a source of high-purity mana stones.”
The corners of the Duke’s eyes curved into thin crescents. Ella found his smile grating. The damn Duke knew she hadn’t yet secured a contract for a source.
“The House of Orleans can supply you with a source of mana stones. A place called Blueoak.”
Blueoak.
Of course, she knew of it. She herself had mentioned it in her conversation with Eric.
Ella wiped the condensation from the surface of the glass. Her hand grew damp.
“You’d give it to me? Why?”
Ella set the glass down. A light clink sounded from the tray. The Duke ignored her question and changed the subject.
“Even if you solidify your position in the line of succession, it will all be for naught when the king passes. The nobles will not want a princess to be king. If you fail to win their hearts, you will spend your reign warring with rebels and drive the continent to ruin.”
“I suppose so. That’s what nobles do, isn’t it? They’ll want to put the prince on the throne, waving around things like tradition and custom.”
Though their wishes will remain just that—wishes.
“Tradition and custom deserve respect, Princess. Which is why you should not have approved a son’s marriage that would interfere with his father’s.”
The Duke’s red eyes gleamed.
Ella stared intently at the Duke. Then, a sudden laugh escaped her lips, like air hissing from a deflating balloon.
“…?”
A crack appeared in the Duke’s composure.
“Ah, my apologies. It’s just… your words are a little too polished.”
“Princess…”
“‘Tradition’ and ‘custom’ are just pretty words for ‘we want to keep doing whatever the hell we want,’ aren’t they? Why should I respect that? I want to do whatever the hell I want, too.”
“…Your words are vulgar.”
The Duke’s face crumpled. Ella stared right back at him.
Slowly, bit by bit, the Duke repaired the crack in his expression. Then, in an instant, he was looking at Ella once more with his usual gentle, dignified face.
*‘Cunning man.’*
Ella locked her animosity deep in her heart, hidden from the Duke’s view.
“I was under the impression that you were fond of my son, Princess.”
“I am fond of him. He may be your son, but he’s my man. Unlike someone else, he’s a man of principle, but not tiresome.”
Ella recalled Eric’s red eyes, so like the Duke’s. They were also alike in how they held both a chilling coldness and a fiery heat.
*‘But he’s different.’*
In the most crucial way.
“Then you must have him. You must make him truly yours. If you intend to break tradition and custom, shouldn’t you have a house like Orleans at your back?”
“…?”
Ella couldn’t manage to school her expression.
*What is this psycho talking about?* That was the exact look on Ella’s face as she stared at the Duke.
*‘Just moments ago, he was spouting nonsense about tradition and custom…’*
The Duke said.
“Will you cast Imeline aside and take my son? If you do, not only Blueoak, but my entire house will stand with you. If you and I join hands, the cunning Grand Duke of the North will be nothing. Those savages in the cold lands… we can simply sweep them away.”
Kai, who was holding the tray, staggered.
Ella quietly grabbed his forearm to steady him. Then she looked at the Duke and let out a hollow laugh.
*‘…That madman…’*
As if he isn’t cunning himself.
The Duke’s words meant this:
If Ella betrays his son, the Duke will betray Robert. An alliance proven by betrayal.
That was the meaning.
✵ ✵ ✵
“In a few days, you must dance as a representative at the Princess’s Palace party! What are we to do if your dancing is in this state!”
The butler shouted, looking at me, who had stepped on Eric’s feet dozens of times.
He looked genuinely distressed.
*‘But I’m distressed too! This is torture!’*
Our practice space was the Duke’s grand ballroom, one wall of which was entirely mirrored. Watching my dance—or rather, my flailing—in that enormous mirror, even I felt my confidence plummeting into the abyss.
I gave Eric a glum look. He saw my expression and let out a soft laugh.
“Don’t laugh…”
“How can I not? It’s not often I get to see you look so glum.”
“…You…”
“It seems you’re about to curse, too.”
Eric turned his head, as if trying to suppress his laughter.
“You must like being cursed at, huh…?”
I’m quite good at cursing, you know.
“Stop dawdling! We’re starting!”
the butler barked.
I pouted.
Of course, after that dreadful experience at the salon, I had promised to take the butler’s lessons seriously, but…!
There are just some things you can’t do, no matter how hard you try!
The butler, paying no mind to my sorrow, began to count the beat.
“Three, two, one! Three, two, one!”
The sound of his clapping was like gunfire.
Cold sweat trickled down my temples. I focused with all my might, but my body still wouldn’t listen. My brain knew I had to move my right foot, but my left one went instead.
*‘Ugh…!’*
Just as I stepped on Eric’s foot again, he whispered in my ear.
“Don’t make it obvious you stepped on me.”
“…?”
Eric subtly lifted his stepped-on foot, then grabbed my waist and lifted me. He spun me in the air and set me down in a completely different spot.
“…!”
The butler stared at me, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Did you just successfully execute a jump?”
Huh?
I, I don’t think so…?
I glanced back at Eric. He avoided my gaze.
I quickly said to the butler.
“Th-that’s right! I, the jump! I-I did it!”
I raised both arms, as if to say, *Ta-da!*
At that, Nina and the butler applauded. This time, it wasn’t gunfire-like clapping, but applause of admiration.
“Wow, that was amazing! You were like a bird!”
“If you can keep this up, you won’t be embarrassed at the ball! Young Madam! See, a person can learn with the proper education!”
*‘I, I don’t think that’s it…’*
I gave an awkward laugh and met Eric’s eyes.
His expression seemed to say, *Just go with it.*
*‘Oh, whatever!’*
“S-see, what did I tell you! I told you I have a knack for dancing! W-worship me!”
I spread my arms wide. Nina scurried over and hugged me. I was so endeared by Nina, who was cooing about how cute I was, that I felt like I could die happy hugging her. But the butler’s next words made my face stiffen.
“At this rate, the Duke will be pleased!”
…Baldeck Orleans.
Come to think of it, the man who was itching to tear me to shreds was now living in the same house as me.
The butler, oblivious to my thoughts, muttered while looking toward the main entrance like a puppy waiting for its master.
“I wonder when the Duke will return from the Princess’s Palace…”
I watched the butler, shaking my head, and whispered to Eric.
“Does my mother have the ledger?”
Eric shook his head.
“No word, apparently. Philip and Helena seem to be staying put at the mansion… and the witch hasn’t made a move.”
I recalled the witch’s terrifying face and muttered.
“…Don’t tell me she lost the ledger she stole.”
It was a possibility that sent a chill down my spine just thinking about it.
