Blue velvet and white linen curtains hung on each window, ending in beautiful curves. Bright sunlight poured in between them.

And there was nothing on the empty marble floor. Only a grand piano was left open in the corner.

It was not clear from here whether a pianist was sitting. The corners where the sunlight did not enter were shadowed as much as the sunlight was strong.

“You might want to take off your coat.”

Standing in the empty hall, Emperor Perseus reached out to her.

“Your Majesty, I really can’t dance.”

“I’ve told you many times, so I understand enough. The coat.”

Reluctantly, she took off her heavy coat and avoided the emperor’s hand to put it away, but he did not let her escape.

Finally, he took the coat himself and silently handed it to the approaching servant.

“Don’t you feel stuffy wearing something so heavy? Is it your taste to wear clothes that feel heavy?”

“Yes, well…….”

That wasn’t it, but Lu mumbled vaguely. She couldn’t say that all the clothes prepared by Kaleta were in that shape.

The ambassador’s attire symbolizes the dignity of the Kaleta Empire. The fact that the actual Kaleta Emperor came and went like a thief was all caught, so what dignity.

Thinking about it, anger and irritation towards Carlos surged again. Bastard. If you mess up, you should clean it up yourself, why should I clean it up!

“Miss. You have never learned to dance.”

Miss, she had only heard the title when she lived on the far west side of Momentum. It was simply a word to call an unmarried young woman.

But the title called by Emperor Perseus sounded more like calling a lady born of noble blood. It had nothing to do with Lu.

“I will never be a good partner.”

Let’s stick to the end for now.

“I chose you, so it won’t be.”

It would be a word to say about Emperor Perseus, filled with confidence from head to toe. He reached out again.

Unlike wearing gloves, it was bare hands today. Looking at the big, solid, long and cool hand, Lu cocked her head with a serious face.

“Hand.”

You have to know something to act.

“Grab it.”

This man, he was younger than her, right? But speaking quietly, rather than annoying, it was extremely natural.

That incongruity was strange. That tone filled with experience, age, and gravity could not be imitated.
루 stared blankly at him, then only hurriedly placed her hand on his when he waved. She felt like a dog that had just put its paw on top. It was really awkward.

“Don’t be nervous.”

“I must be nervous in the presence of His Majesty, the Emperor who rules Persesta.”

In an instant, the Emperor’s firm chest was right in front of her. A light smile settled above her brown hair.

“I guess I don’t need to worry seeing how confidently you speak.”

It was fortunate enough for Hayden. Naturally, Riga, who still didn’t know about the incident between Persesta and Kaletta, would be wary of him. Even if he explained it carefully, she would probably call it a lie.

Usually, those from Kaletta went through such a process. So, all he had to do was leisurely continue to lead Riga to the safe palace, show her much, and let her rest deeply.

It wasn’t bad to dance and chat all day long. Since she would have to dance more in the future, it was important to prepare in advance.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist. As the distance closed, the scent came closer.

A faint smell of wood and a fresh, crisp grass scent? Where had she smelled it before? Riga, whose hand did not grasp properly in midair, tilted her head. She still had no idea what Hayden was thinking.

“Put that hand on my shoulder.”

The moment the soft whisper in her ear stimulated her nerves, Riga remembered where she had smelled this scent.

Above Uncle Ben’s, who sold terrible alcohol, the bed in the shabby inn was terrible, but this scent alone had been enough.

“Don’t use force.”

Riga, loosen up.

Half pushed by alcohol, and half buried in that dark place, the memory she thought would never resurface again had been arrogant.

The Emperor easily revived Riga’s memory. Revived the night when she became not a rational being but a beast pursuing only pleasure in that frantic, hot, and tingling pleasure.

“Slowly.”

His breath touched her forehead. Riga unconsciously looked down at her feet as they began to move.

“No, don’t look down; look at me.”

The moment she realized how much strength was contained in the arm that embraced her waist, she lost her confidence.

“I might make a mistake…….”

The words didn’t come out properly. Even her voice sounded strange.

“You can step on me, Genus Duchess.”

Riga, look at me.

She remembered the hand that had desperately urged her to look, to look directly, as she moaned and nagged.

“You can’t step on me, Your Majesty!”

“If the Duchess steps on me, it won’t hurt at all. Even if you step on me a hundred times, it’s fine; just raise your head.”

When she finally raised her head, the grey eyes looking straight into hers were already fixed on her, ready to devour her.

When their eyes met, that same smile from that hot night made her cheeks flush.