Leopold’s cold gaze, as if it could freeze everything, appeared for just a fleeting moment and disappeared, but Valier noticed it keenly.

So, hesitantly and unintentionally, Valier took a step back and greeted him.

“May I have the honor of one dance with you?”

When Valier felt an instinctive fear and was about to escape, Leopold extended an invitation to dance with a refined gesture.

‘Maybe I misjudged. What could be entangling him and me?’

Valier wasn’t aiming to win Leopold’s favor anyway. He just wanted to share the attention focused on Henri.

Trying to push aside the instinctive fear triggered by Leopold’s gaze moments ago, Valier held Leopold’s hand without realizing it.

‘Yes, feel what it’s like for once.’

As the gazes of the people became apparent, Valier deliberately avoided looking at Henri and focused solely on Leopold.

Indeed, Leopold’s extraordinary beauty became more vivid when seen up close.

‘Well, the portrait of Emperor Leopold hanging in the corridor was quite impressive.’

Valier felt once again the envious glances of young admirers that he used to receive.

‘Is this it? No matter how you show off, can you match up with me?’

His lovely appearance, which undeniably induced warm feelings, made Valier quite confident about his newly acquired body.

‘Gifted a lavish box earlier, asked for a dance today. Could it be that this man is interested in me?’

Valier gathered the courage to express gratitude to Leopold.

Leopold just smiled with his eyes and nodded slightly in response.

‘Hmm? No reaction at all? Well, he is adorned with luxury from head to toe; he probably doesn’t regret that money.’

A handsome, noble, and generous man, stimulating curiosity more as one looked at him.

‘With this excessive gift box and today’s dance request, does this man have an interest in me?’

As the misconception started, Valier’s mind began to whirl.

‘For now, I need to act reasonably friendly.’

When Leopold and Valier began to dance, Henri only glanced briefly in their direction at the stirring response.

In the past, even a passing gaze from another man would have bothered Valier, but at that moment, there was an unusual lack of any emotion.

It was slightly annoying that the person he was dancing with happened to be Leopold, but that was it. Valier had no trace of the jealousy he desired from Henri.

For a moment, Valier was curious about Leopold, but in reality, most of the time, all his attention was focused on Henri.

‘Hmm, this age is appropriate, and the appearance is not bad. It would be a good catch to captivate the noble faction.’

‘His status is a bit lower, but his family is engaged in international finance. They might be able to manage money with low interest until the finances are filled.’

Of course, even if it was called concentration, it was more about assessing the conditions rather than the person himself.

Leopold, who was generally kind to women, couldn’t endure the sight of only one woman in front of him.

He had invited her to dance because he noticed that Valier had figured out his intentions.

He also wanted to make Henri feel a burning jealousy.
However, judging by the reactions, Henri seemed to have no interest in whoever Valier danced with.

In reality, Leopold wished to whisper to Ermedlin’s ear that he did not want to get involved with a dishonest woman, as long as Henri had not fully secured her.

But, he had to endure, even if uncomfortable, since if Henri’s true identity as Ermedlin’s husband got revealed, the fate of that child would be sealed.

Yet, dancing with a woman who carried Ermedlin’s husband’s child was unthinkable.

Daring to dance with a woman who was supposed to be the Empress Ermedlin and, moreover, initiating conversation before the rightful government had arrived.

A feeling like insects crawling all over his body.

Certainly, Leopold was relieved that Henri had no interest in Ermedlin herself. He had heard rumors that her hands, tainted with the blood of the brothers, had not touched Ermedlin.

But, apart from that, Leopold was concerned about the wounds Ermedlin might have received.

Knowing Ermedlin, or rather, the her before becoming a tool of malice, he knew she was a soul full of sad scars.

‘Already a woman with many wounds… treating Ermedlin, the real owner of the palace, as if she were a witch, are you all happy? Killing Ermedlin and living happily with the thought of raising the child together? I will keep my son hostage!’

Contrary to the putrid and filthy interior, Leopold maintained a smile on his face, even though his facial muscles were on the verge of aching.

How many times he wanted to push away the disgusting Valier.

‘You dared to involve that delicate person in such a terrible matter, and now you want to withdraw alone? Should I let Ermedlin be burned at the stake and live happily raising the child together? I will keep my son hostage!’

When the anger rose continuously, reaching the point where he could no longer endure, the music miraculously stopped.