‘Ugh. Whew…….’

What kind of situation is this?

Why am I spinning around and around, tightly embraced in the arms of that knave His Majesty Justin!

With a resentful heart, I glared fiercely at the head maid Rosalinne, the culprit behind this whole mess.

Feeling my gaze, Rosalinne raised her fists and cheered, ‘Young lady! Fighting!’ Then she glanced at the Grand Duke with bulging eyes.

The Grand Duke simply leaned leisurely against the window, watching me and the Emperor dancing with indifference. He didn’t seem to have any intention of saving me.

Tsk. I should have been wary of the head maid.

From the moment Rosalinne suggested dance practice with a suspicious expression while dressing me in a lacy, petal-like dress, something felt off.

She even placed a tiara studded with rubies like stars on my head, and put on a ruby necklace that matched the tiara, chuckling to herself like a witch hatching a sinister plot.

While teaching me the waltz steps, she kept craning her neck towards the wide open door, and an inexplicable tension gradually rose.

My long-honed swordsman’s instinct kept signaling to me.

That danger was approaching. That if I didn’t flee quickly, I would be in deep trouble.

I should have trusted my instincts then and hightailed it out of there……

Our head maid is indeed brave.

How dare she come up with the idea of bringing the Emperor in as my dance practice partner to provoke the Grand Duke’s jealousy.

Even the serious butler Alexis conspired with the head maid to participate in this preposterous scheme.

No matter how desperate they are to chase Shavell away, this is too much. They must have nerves of steel.

[Disloyally, Your Majesty’s room is not yet fully prepared. Please wait in the guest room for a moment.]

Alexis bowed deeply to the Emperor.

The Grand Duke, who knew all the preparations were already complete, raised his eyebrows quizzically, but he was not one to reprimand his own butler in front of the Emperor.

It was only natural that the Emperor’s steps toward the guest room with his guards turned towards the grand banquet hall with its wide open doors.

There was no way the Emperor could simply pass by after recognizing at a glance the strawberry blonde woman clumsily spinning around and around, hand in hand with the head maid.

Justin approached me with the Empire’s most brilliant smile.

[It seems you were practicing dancing, Young Lady Grande.] [……Greetings to the Empire’s sun.]

I thought I could face him calmly, but I overestimated myself.

Even after practicing bowing dozens of times, my legs trembled involuntarily as I bent them towards the Emperor.

[It’s a pleasure to meet you.]

I stared at the Emperor’s outstretched hand for a long time, and only after the head maid cleared her throat, giving me a look, did I quickly straighten my back and place my hand on his.

[……The pleasure and honor is all mine.]

My hand was trembling too. My fists are crying.

The Emperor looked intently at my trembling hand before shifting his gaze to my eyes.

Squeak. The Emperor’s hand painfully gripped mine.

Unknowingly, I jerked my hand away and stepped back, making the Emperor pause and apologize.

[Ah, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment……]

The Emperor’s sapphire-like eyes curved gently. Did he mistake my trembling for shyness?

[I’d like to be forgiven. Is it difficult?]

Justin persistently locked eyes with me, gauging my reaction.

The neck the Emperor’s sword had cut stung. Something hot welled up in my throat and my face flushed.

I should say it’s alright. I should smile and say it’s no big deal. At the very least, I should quickly escape this situation……

But it was not alright. He would never receive forgiveness from me, even in death. Not even a white lie.

[Let’s go now, Your Majesty.]

The Grand Duke intervened. But his eyes were fierce, both when looking at His Majesty and at me.

What’s this?

It makes sense for him to glare at His Majesty, that wicked man. But why are his eyes so sharp when looking at me?

The Grand Duke stared at me intently as if he had something to say, then frowned, abruptly turned around and asked Justin to go to the guest room.

I was just sighing in relief when the head maid stepped forward with a serene smile on her face.

[Your Majesty. May I humbly request that you teach my young lady a dance?]

My mouth fell open seeing the head maid make the request to Justin without batting an eye.

Rosalinne turned to me, blinking, and furtively pointed to the Grand Duke with her eyes.

‘Dance magnificently with the Emperor to make His Highness jealous, Young Lady.’

Is this the power of a woman who has raised the Empire’s greatest warrior?

Facing the majestic Emperor. No, not just any emperor, but a beast trying to tear out the throat of her master. Yet with an expression of utter innocence and benevolence, as if she knows nothing of it.

I fired a desperate look at the Grand Duke, pleading with my eyes to free me from this crisis.

But the Grand Duke pressed his lips tightly together and only deepened the wrinkles between his brows, giving no further reaction.

I turned to the head maid and blinked frantically, signaling her to retract the request she made to the Emperor.

‘Head Maid. The Grand Duke and I aren’t like that~! Why would he be jealous~!’

But my silent screams did not reach the head maid and dispersed into the air.

[Please bestow your imperial grace. If word spreads that Your Majesty personally served as a dance practice partner, it will make Lady Yuriella shine even brighter when she makes her debut in northern society.]

Justin smiled as if painted, his handsome face becoming even more handsome with the magic of his smile.

[What imperial grace. It is also the greatest honor for me to be the dance partner of such a beautiful young lady.]

Justin took off the cloak he wore over his splendid uniform and handed it to Aaron, then approached me without taking his eyes off me.

Aaron folded the Emperor’s cloak neatly and draped it over his arm, scanning me from head to toe.

Tsk. That traitor’s complexion has become haggard. Did my curse for him to fall backwards and break his nose, and get indigestion whenever he eats, work?

[It seems my brother has truly received the blessing of a goddess. To take such a beautiful young lady as his bride.]

Justin smiled at the Grand Duke, gently closing his blue eyes, then extended his hand to me.

The orchestra members, who had been prostrating and trembling at the Emperor’s sudden appearance, quickly rose at Rosalinne’s gesture and began playing.

Justin naturally led me to the center of the banquet hall.

And then. The world spun round and round.

In my spinning vision, that annoyingly handsome face smiled in full bloom like a flower.

The face I could never forget even in my dreams.

The guy who had haunted my weary sleep with nightmares every day since I possessed Yuriella’s body.

“Your eyes are truly beautiful, Young Lady.”

This jerk, he can’t take his eyes off mine since earlier.

Is it because the color of my eyes is the same as my hair color when I was Solas, and it weighs on his mind?

“I didn’t know such a beautiful person resided in the North. If I had known, would I have had a chance?”

The beautiful Emperor brings my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it, seductively curling the corners of his eyes.

Even though I knew well what lay beneath that pretty mask, nausea welled up at the dazzling blue eyes and the smile in them.

If I were Solas, not Yuriella.

If this place were the imperial palace, not the Grand Duke’s residence bustling with wedding preparations.

I would have unhesitatingly cut off Justin’s head and accompanied him on the path to the underworld.

The taste of blood rises in my chewed mouth.

No. Even in the Grand Duke’s residence, it’s not impossible.

If Aeri helps, I can sneak into the Emperor’s room on the wind and wait for an opportunity.

Hiding in the shadows, if I can just sever the necks of the four shadows guarding the Emperor, and that traitor Aaron. I can take the Emperor’s life.

‘Should I do it?’

What would the Grand Duke say?

Would he reprimand me, saying it would have been better to build justification first and wait for the right time?

What plan does the Grand Duke have for the Emperor who threatens the safety of the North and his own life? Would it be like pouring cold water on that plan?

Curious, I poked my head out from beyond Justin’s arm to look in the Grand Duke’s direction.

Justin spun his body, blocking my view.

“Oh dear. I’d like you to focus on me a bit. I’m not the kind of man who teaches dance to just anyone.”

Was this jerk always this greasy? The kid has gotten worse before I knew it.

“……It is far beyond my place. You must be tired from the long journey, so let’s stop the dance now−.”

I tried to escape from the imperial grace I never asked for by pulling my butt back, but.

“Haha. When I start something, I have to see it through to the end.”

Justin let out a hearty laugh, then pulled me to him with strong force on the arm wrapped around my waist, as if not allowing me to get away.

“I haven’t even asked any of the questions I wanted to hear yet.”

We’re not in a relationship to have a cozy Q&A session. We’re in a relationship to cut each other’s throats.

“Then I’ll have tea prepared so let’s move to another place−.”

I naturally tried to escape from the arm around my waist while turning with the steps, but my attempt only seemed to provoke the Emperor who could not tolerate those who defy him.

Justin pulled me to him with even greater force than before.

Although my feet were diligently following the steps, the Emperor’s body, pressed tightly against mine, emanated intense heat.

“Let’s go to the imperial palace together.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s go together.”

Thinking I misheard, I lifted my head with a start to look up at the Emperor.

What is he saying out of the blue? To a woman he just met for the first time. And to his second cousin’s bride-to-be?

“I heard it’s a political marriage without love anyway. If we do the math, aren’t I a better hand than the Grand Duke? I’ll help the Grande ducal family establish themselves in the imperial palace.”

I didn’t mishear. Crazy bastard! Lunatic!

Suddenly. Without rhyme or reason. He even speaks informally. I knew he wasn’t in his right mind, but I didn’t realize he was this far gone.

Molten lava-like curses welled up, and I was torn over which curse to hurl at him first as I glared.

The Emperor’s feet abruptly stopped.

“……I apologize, Lady Grande. I misspoke.”

It seems the crazy bastard realized he did something crazy. His pretty eyes quake. He looks startled by his own shit, as if seeing it for the first time.

“What did you say to me? I don’t believe I heard anything.”

I removed the Emperor’s arm from my waist with my thumb and index finger, not wanting to touch him, and shook off his hand holding mine, stepping back.

“Thank you for the imperial grace. You look very tired, so please rest now.”

I grabbed my dress, bent my waist, and bowed politely.

“Ah…… I see. I enjoyed it too, Lady Grande……”

Justin raised his golden hair that had fallen over his forehead, smiling at me palely with an embarrassed expression.

Enjoy, my foot. Wash your neck clean and wait. I’ll think about it a bit more, and if cutting off your head doesn’t go against the will of my new lord, I’ll visit you tonight.

‘But first, I need to discern what my Grand Duke’s intentions are.’

I whirled around towards the Grand Duke and the tip of my nose crashed into a solid wall.

‘Huh?’

The wall grabbed my wrist, blocking that knave Emperor Justin.

“Grand Duke……!”

“I was so bored waiting for you that I nearly lost my mind. If it had been anyone other than His Majesty, I would have cut them down with one stroke.”

The Grand Duke wrapped his arm around my shoulders as if pulling me into an embrace, not even sparing a glance at the Emperor.

His eyes are gently curved in an utterly captivating smile, but the azure eyes, darker than usual today, flash with murderous intent.

I unknowingly glanced at the Emperor. Even if few have the ears to hear it, the person he said he nearly cut down with one stroke is none other than the Emperor.

“Grand Duke. That, well−.”

I was worried the Grand Duke might be branded a traitor. The one at fault is that damn Justin.

But the Grand Duke turned his body as if my looking to the Emperor displeased him, blocking my view, and lifted me up in his arms with his hands under my waist and legs.

“Uh oh……!”

I think I briefly saw the Emperor’s expression darken?

The Grand Duke cleanly ignored the Emperor and carried me to the window with large strides, gently setting me down on the window frame.

“Grand Duke……?”

The Grand Duke’s hand slipped under my dress and removed my shoes, lifting my feet.

The Grand Duke moved my feet this way and that to check, then clicked his tongue and let out a soft sigh.

“To think it got to this point……”

The back of my heels were chafed and slightly bloody from the new shoes Rosalinne put on me.

Even as he coldly reprimanded with a gaze asking if he spun me around and around without noticing it had gotten this bad, glaring at Justin over my shoulder, the Grand Duke’s large hands firmly held my injured bare feet.

Astonished gazes flew our way. Small gasps of surprise could be heard, unable to be suppressed.

Why is he going this far even with the Emperor watching?

‘Ah!’

The realization came quickly.

‘He’s doing this because the Emperor is watching!’

For the Emperor, who is desperate to find even the smallest hint of treason, the union of the North’s master and the second most powerful family could be good prey.

So he’s pretending to be a lovestruck groom infatuated with his fiancée.

So much so that even I, who clearly know it’s not real, am momentarily fooled.

However.

‘Ugh…….’

I have to endure it. I have to hold back and match the Grand Duke’s act.

But as I unknowingly flinch and try to pull back my ticklish feet, the Grand Duke catches my escaping feet again and gently rubs the wounds with his fingertips.

He’s only touching my heels, so why does my whole body tingle?