Coincidentally, a soft violin melody began to play. It was a prelude to a waltz. Christoph took a step towards her. Marianne’s back stiffened.

“…”

She didn’t want to dance with him. Dancing with him now would feel like baring her soul through their clasped hands, through their colliding gazes. It would be her ugliest, most glaring self.

But in front of all these people, she couldn’t refuse his dance request. It would belittle Christoph.
So, there was only one remaining option. To hurriedly leave this place before he could ask her to dance. The moment Marianne turned to leave in haste.

“Marianne.”

Duke Schneider called her. Startled, she stopped in her tracks. Marianne forced a smile and turned to face him.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Would you dance with me? Just as we’ve done every year. If you agree, it will be the happiest birthday gift.”

The Duke extended his hand towards her. His hand was old and wrinkled, but large and strong.

“…”

Nadia watched Duke Schneider intently. The Duke looked at Marianne with a kindly face, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

Marianne’s eyes trembled slightly. She wanted to leave this place right away. She wanted to hide where no one’s gaze could reach her.

But the Duke extended his hand towards her. With a generous and kind expression.

How could she resist those words? The Duke’s request in front of everyone.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Marianne slowly reached out her hand and took the Duke’s hand. She had no way out. She had to step into the trap.

The only fortunate thing was that she didn’t have to dance with Christoph. She didn’t have to reveal her innermost thoughts to him. Just that made Marianne breathe a sigh of relief.

The Duke placed his other hand on her back. The two of them danced together like a loving grandfather and granddaughter. The eyes of the people were fixed on them.
“Thank you, Marianne. I’m glad I can dance with you again this year.”

“Me too, Your Grace. I’m… glad too. Please stay healthy for a long time.”

“Yes. To dance with you every year, Marianne, I guess I’ll need to stay healthy.”

Christoph tightened his lips, forming deep creases on his forehead. At the moment when his lips twitched, his eyes met with Duke Schneider.

The Duke narrowed his eyes. Christoph, who had been staring at his experienced gray eyes, quietly stepped back.

Nadia felt the gaze that flitted over her, but she followed Christoph as he moved away. She alternated her gaze between Nadia and Christoph, as if considering whether gentlemen could request her to dance.

Knowing the fact that there would be no opportunity for them if Christoph asked her to dance, it was quite satisfying to see the faces of those with pitiful self-esteem and those who weighed the princess like a dish on a scale.

Nadia, who concealed her icy sarcasm with elegance, moved slowly. When she stood next to Christoph, the gazes of the gentlemen immediately turned away without hesitation.

She spoke to Christoph half-jokingly.

“You lost a player.”

“I’m regretting it painfully now, even though I wasn’t in a hurry.”

His voice was calm, considering he was regretting it painfully. But his gaze was fixed on Marianne. Her short hair swayed as she moved.

Through the gaps, the white nape of her neck was hard to ignore.
“Then grant me the honor of dancing with me, Christoph.”

Only then did his gaze leave Marianne. Christoph narrowed his eyes and stared at her. His turquoise eyes, tinged with a faint smile, sparkled with an orphaned glint.

“Well, I believe my turn will come soon.”

Christoph replied with a somewhat hesitant tone and turned his head.

“What do you mean…”

Nadia closed her mouth before she could ask the question. It was because Christoph’s lips had suddenly loosened. She turned her head slowly.

“Like this.”

Duke Schneider stopped with a troubled expression. The music still circled above their heads. The Duke looked at Marianne while clutching his heart with one hand. His breath was heavy.

Marianne looked at him with a worried expression.

“Are you okay, Your Grace?”

“As I grow older, it’s not easy to dance anymore. Last year and this year are different. I need to take a break.”

“I see. I’ll escort you then.”

Just as Marianne was about to support him, the Duke raised his hand with a bright smile on his face. His kind expression contained an irresistible force.

“I’m fine. You continue dancing. There’s still a lot of music left, isn’t there?”

“Yes?”

“I’ll ask Marianne, Christoph.”

“Gladly.”

Marianne turned around with a surprised expression. Christoph had suddenly approached her from behind.

“Ah…”
Marianne’s face quickly showed the bewildered expression of a rabbit caught in a trap. Duke Schneider, who met her gaze, stepped back a few steps, saying, “Dancing at this age must have been an ambitious thought.”

Marianne let out a resentful voice suddenly.

“It seems like you favor Christoph too much, Your Grace.”

“It’s a matter of mood, Marianne. If you knew how much I cherish you, you’d probably be surprised. I want to dance with you again next year.”

With those words, the Duke turned willingly and faced away. He walked towards the wall with measured steps, as if asking when his breath would catch.

Sigh.

Marianne sighed. Christoph extended his hand towards her. Marianne bit her lip. She could feel the gaze piercing her cheek even without looking. It was already too late to escape.

Even if her innermost thoughts were exposed, even if there was a chance of disappointing Christoph, she couldn’t make him look down on her. In the end, Marianne reached out and took his hand.