When Larisa recovered, the princess invited Larisa and William to the palace. Larisa, escorted by William, entered the palace dressed according to the palace etiquette.
“I greet the princess.”
“Oh my, don’t be so formal. Miss Lara.”
“Thank you for the invitation.”
In response to William’s greeting, the princess replied with a shy face.
“I’m really grateful for Lord Marquis’s presence.”
“Not at all.”
Larisa looked at the two with a strange expression. A handsome man and a beautiful lady stood together, creating a picturesque scene.
“Wait, am I like an obstacle here?”
Larisa sat down in the seat recommended by the princess, feeling a bit strange.
“Lara, is your body okay now?”
“It’s fine, Your Highness.”
“Oh my, call me Lizzy.”
“That’s a bit…”
Larisa awkwardly laughed.
“I understand. Let’s take it slow, us.”
The princess whispered.
“I’ve missed seeing you often since the academy closed. I’ve been eagerly waiting for tea time with you, Lara.”
“It’s an honor, Your Highness. I’ve actually been bored staying at home.”
“Oh, really? I wanted to go visit, but after the accident, it was difficult to go out because Empress Mother was worried about me.”
“She’s your mother too. Still, I’m happy to meet you like this.”
The princess smiled gently without responding. Larisa, sensing the sudden silence, lifted the teacup. Siod, who had suggested pretending to enjoy the tea when conversations abruptly halted, had given her this advice.
After a short pause, the princess brought up the topic again.
“Oh, but they say the building restoration will be completed before the festival season.”
“Really?”
“Lara, were you looking forward to the festival too?”
Larisa grinned and replied.
“It’s your first festival?”
“Unfortunately, students didn’t have time to prepare for the festival season, so we’ll only have an evening ball this time.”
“Ah…”
Larisa looked disappointed. For her, memories of following a young William during his festivals remained a fond childhood memory.
“Who will be Lara’s first dance partner?”
The princess playfully asked. Larisa widened her eyes, alternating between looking at the princess and William.
“My first dance partner?”
“Normally, in social circles, the first dance is a rule with your partner. But the academy’s ball doesn’t have specific partners, right? So usually, the first dance partner is called the Cavalier of the day.”
Larisa glanced at William.
“Is there such a tradition?”
“Oh, well…”
William casually nodded. It seemed like there might have been such a tradition. The princess shared a secret with Larisa.
“Do you know? Lord Marquis is famous for never having danced even once.”
“Oh, really? Why?”
“He dislikes dancing.”
In response to William’s simple answer, Larisa spoke with a disappointed tone.
“Oh, then who should I dance with…”
William’s eyebrows twitched.
“Just dance with me…”
“What’s worrying you, Lara? Even the Knight Department students have plenty of partners. I’m more concerned, to be honest.”
William, who missed the timing to talk about the princess, closed his mouth again. Larisa looked surprised.
“You’re a princess, and you don’t have a dance partner?”
The princess let out a small sigh.
“I guess, due to my status as a princess, there aren’t many suitable dance partners. Moreover, I can’t dance multiple times with the same partner, or it might lead to misunderstandings.”
“Oh… I see.”
“So, every festival, I have to ponder. This time, I’m wondering who to ask for the first dance…”
“That’s understandable…”
“And if I reject someone, it could hurt their feelings.”
Larisa sympathetically expressed her regret for the princess’s dilemma. The princess sighed again, thinking to herself.
‘Usually, at this point, wouldn’t someone suggest dancing?’
Neither William nor Larisa was the one to bring up the topic first. The princess spoke again with a deeply contemplative expression.
“Especially with the dignity of the royal family, it’s challenging to casually invite someone to dance. Usually, from those who propose first, I need to choose a cavalier… However, this time, due to the school closure, no one has come to the palace to make such a request…”
“Oh, what should we do?”
Larisa looked at William as if expressing genuine sympathy. William sat quietly with an expressionless face.
‘It seems like Larisa wishes William could be the cavalier for the princess?’
Larisa wasn’t completely oblivious. She had noticed the princess’s feelings earlier, but since William didn’t want to dance, she couldn’t suggest it.
‘It feels awkward to be in the middle.’
Larisa hid her discomfort behind a tea cup, concealing her inner thoughts.
Unaware of the thoughts of the two women, William had only one idea.
‘I should leave here and ask Larisa to dance.’
As the modest teatime in the princess’s position came to an end, the two of them were walking out of the palace. While Larisa was admiring the palace garden, William suddenly asked.
“Do you want to dance with me?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, be my cavalier. If there’s none, I’ll do it.”
Larisa answered with a wry smile.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
