116 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 116
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In any case, I couldn't ignore him, so I braved my fear and took the Crown Prince's hand. He led me to the center of the hall with a very courteous attitude. A gentle melody was playing softly.
At the Masquerade, he had danced a dance that tormented women. He tried to draw out the intimate senses and excitement hidden deep within his partner through sexually suggestive contact.
His wolfish gestures, full of fiery passion for conquest, were filled with a strange and ecstatic, yet very deep desire. So I expected the same this time.
But now, his movements are full of the dignity and restraint befitting a Crown Prince of a nation. He couldn't be more proper.
"Still, you're looking at me a little today."
Crown Prince Iovalde opened his mouth when the dance was halfway through. The heavy attitude from before had disappeared, and he began his opening remarks on a lighter note. He acted as if he was sure I was the woman he had met at the Masquerade.
"If you don't think it's presumptuous."
I said in a whisper. Fortunately, there was no tremor in the voice flowing from my lips. I seemed quite calm, no different from usual.
"So, what was the name again?"
"Your Highness, that is..."
"Well, I understand."
At that moment, his hand, which had been holding my waist, slipped down and approached my buttocks. I tried to twist my body to avoid him, but I couldn't even resist because his grip was so strong.
The other hand, held by the Crown Prince, was pulled as if drawn into his arms, bringing me almost close to him. It was around that time that the man's lips came down to my ear.
"I said I wouldn't back down if we met again, so how scared were you? So you committed the cute act of uttering someone else's name. But to think you'd say your stepsister's name, aren't you being too naive?"
"So, will you forgive my rudeness? Please have mercy."
But he didn't answer my question. Instead, he changed the subject, uttering something else.
"...You're still trembling. Why? Because of your fear of men? Where did that wit you showed me when you were wearing a mask go?"
The Crown Prince seemed very interested in the fact that I was trembling when he saw him. So he intentionally moved his body closer and then further away, checking my reaction. There was a mischievous smile on his lips.
"That's because I didn't know it was Your Highness."
"You're afraid because I'm the Crown Prince?"
"There are so many rumors I've heard."
"You're trembling this much just because of that?"
"You have my shoe. Isn't that enough?"
We crossed each other's bodies, then held hands again, took two steps to the right, and leaned back.
At that moment, the Crown Prince and I met eye to eye in a straight line. What was in his eyes was only Cis de Bishbalz. His eyes, which were not inorganic as before, but sparkling with interest as if he were dealing with a person, were directed at me.
Ah, that's it!
At that moment, the previous Sis, who had been dragged away by the knights, began to shatter in my mind.
It was only a fleeting moment, but I felt like I was finally being recognized as a person by him. At the same time, something that might be joy or awe enveloped me.
Was this what Roena saw in the Crown Prince? Is that why she wasn't afraid of him?
Instantly, my breathing calmed down and the fear that had dominated my body began to subside. The trembling disappeared, and a relaxed eloquence containing sharp senses and intelligence took its place.
"I'm not trembling now, am I?"
"I'm getting used to it. Above all, unlike then, you're treating me very politely now."
"Aren't you interested in why I asked you to dance?"
"Will you answer if I ask?"
"To make a suggestion. Actually, I like things that are dangerous and thrilling. I welcome situations that are broken, shattered, and chaotic even more. I hate things that are boring and tedious. Especially at a Masquerade like this, I'm dying to get out of here. I like things that are messed up."
I was speechless, unable to imagine what kind of suggestion he would make. What does something not being boring have to do with asking me to dance?
"You have a look on your face that says you don't understand. Look around. Everyone is buzzing just because I asked you to dance. So how fun is that?"
"If you treat me a little more politely, you can continue to enjoy this fun."
"Oh, come on. Are you asking me to treat you like a lady?"
The Crown Prince scoffed as if it were an absurd sound. A faint contempt was seeping into his face, saying, 'This is just a momentary amusement.'
It was a completely different look from the past, when he was so eager to take off my skirt. As if he could completely abandon his previous desires for a moment's impulse and pleasure, the Crown Prince was perfectly controlling his emotions.
"Then what do you want?"
"A guide. I'm thinking of going out on the streets tomorrow. I need a guide for that."
I've heard that some nobles sometimes go out on the streets in plain clothes on Founding Day, and it seems that the Crown Prince is planning to do the same.
It's not surprising anymore, as I've seen high-ranking people become curious about other class cultures and try to explore them more than once or twice.
Well, if you don't get caught, there's nothing more amazing and fun than this, so it was a situation where you might want to try it once. The problem was that he chose me as his companion for this.
"Because my perspective is different, I haven't been able to enjoy it like other people until now."
"In other words, you want to have a real experience."
"That's right. You're finally making sense."
"But is this something you have to say even when asking for a dance?"
"It's also out of respect for Mel. That's why I'm treating you with respect. Ah, 'Mel' is a nickname for Sir Ayres. He doesn't seem to like it very much, though. Anyway, I'll come find you after lunch."
The Crown Prince was acting as if I wouldn't refuse his words. So he even went so far as to tell me in a very kind and gentle voice to quickly jump out when he gave the signal. But I couldn't be dragged along like this.
"If I'm awake then. My Afternoon nap is very long."
The Crown Prince stopped talking for a moment, as if he couldn't believe that I had rejected his offer. His slightly frowned brow clearly showed his displeasure with my answer.
"No, you'll have to be. You did something wrong to me, didn't you?"
"Wouldn't it be better to show a broad generosity and forgive my mistake?"
He retorted in an arrogant voice as if it were absurd.
"Why should I?"
I quickly followed the Crown Prince's words.
"Then why should I?"
"Huh?"
Then the Crown Prince laughed absurdly and raised his eyebrows. He was acting as if he didn't expect to be countered like this.
So, even though the dance was coming to an end, he didn't even think about continuing the next move and just stopped and looked at me.
"What mistake did I make? And who else besides Your Highness can prove it?"
In fact, if he decided to reveal it, he could prove it as much as he wanted. No, there was no need for proof. He just had to give an order. Because he is the Crown Prince. That's what power is all about.
The problem was that unless a plausible stage was set, it would only look like he was oppressing a poor noble lady. It could even spread to the issue of respect for Michael Ayres.
He had been dancing well until now, but suddenly he was going to punish her for saying the wrong name, so who would accept it as a matter of course, saying, 'Ah, yes, is that so?'
Who is such a moron who says their name wrong?
They would just laugh it off, saying that he had caught a good excuse.
If he didn't like this, he would have to come down step by step from what happened at the Masquerade, and the question was whether the Crown Prince could carry this out. Because it's not an easy task. It even looks childish to explain in detail.
Unless there was a return benefit, there was no reason to make things bigger while taking losses. Therefore, it might be better to go out alone than to create an unnecessary commotion and get a headache. I would probably do that if I were the Crown Prince.
"You..."
He calls me in a low voice. Perhaps he thought the same way I did, he was holding back his anger with a very cold expression. The sound flowing from his teeth feels like the growl of a beast.
A chilling sense of fear was rushing in, making my back tingle. It's amazing that I didn't collapse. Nevertheless, the reason I can endure it is because I am still reflected in the Crown Prince's eyes. I can endure it because the previous him was not intersecting.
So I soothed him in a low voice and watched his expression. I quietly led the conversation as if that wasn't the important thing.
"Are you going to get angry here? Please don't. You said the reason you're dancing with me is because of Sir Aires. So please keep holding my hand and dance to the end. If you think about him. Everyone is looking at you and me."
The Crown Prince reluctantly clicked his tongue and began to move his body again. I continued to open my mouth as I danced to his lead.
"Forgive my rudeness. But I really don't want to go outside. I don't even know why I should. So please make me an offer that will change my mind."
"Not an order?"
"Yes. Like a gentleman. So that I can be impressed by Your Highness's generosity. If you're thinking of suggesting such a deviation, you should give me a price worthy of it. I'm going out on the line with my honor."
"Honor? What honor are you talking about? Did you have the dignity to protect with your life, like other nobles do?"
He was making fun of me by bringing up my birth problem. It was a petty revenge for not listening to him.
I retorted in a calm voice. As if I didn't care about such insults.
"Yes. So isn't that why I'm out at this Masquerade and dancing with Your Highness?"
"Well, there are many people who will go with me even if it's not you."
"But it's not fun. If you hire a commoner, you can't move as much as you want. Everyone will dissuade you, saying there might be danger. So didn't you come to me, who is the most suitable? You said you hate boring things."
Meanwhile, the music was gradually coming to an end. Now, all that was left was to turn the body around once and stand facing each other, almost close to each other.
The Crown Prince was leading me very businesslike, deep in thought. Soon the music ended, and everyone who was dancing paid their respects to each other and applauded each other's dance.
It was around this time that the Crown Prince opened his mouth.
"What do you want?"
I smiled and answered.
"The same respect as just now. Not because of Michael Ayres, but respect solely for me. That's what I want."
