“Don’t want to dance? Fine. I’ll dance with Alex or something.”

Considering that Alexander likely didn’t have a dance partner either, Larisa, known for mercilessly hitting even girls during sparring, was a feared lad.

‘I should dance with him for the sake of Alexander’s image recovery.’

Larisa, oblivious to the seriousness in William’s expression, thought calmly.

“Uh, Lara. But I’m better than that guy, right?”

“Huh?”

“Well, we’re like family. In situations like this, it’s usually someone close…”

“But we’re not really family.”
Larisa spoke while inhaling the fragrance of the blooming flowers in the garden. Perhaps because it was a palace, there were numerous precious flowers in full bloom.

“That’s true, but…”

“You don’t have to force yourself to dance for my sake if you don’t want to. There must be plenty of people willing to dance with me, right?”

“…Plenty?”

Larisa, too engrossed in admiring the flowers, couldn’t even see William’s expression.

“Yes, plenty. My classmates seem to request dances whenever they can.”

Larisa added nonchalantly.

“If you’re okay with dancing, how about asking the princess for a dance? She looked a bit uncomfortable.”

“…Alright.”

Larisa couldn’t see William’s strangely subdued expression until the end.

Larisa was a girl with initiative. She immediately wrote a letter saying she would visit the Belverore mansion.

Wearing a sky-blue outing dress and a parasol, Larisa twirled around in front of Daisy.

“How do I look?”

“Miss, you’ve grown up so much.”

Upon hearing the news that the young lady she had raised was already this big and going on a date, tears welled up in Daisy’s eyes.

“Do I look pretty?”

“Very beautiful. Anyway, don’t stay too long. And don’t take off your gloves.”

“Oh, come on. I know that too, you worry too much, sis.”

“Please, just call me Daisy.”

When visiting another noble house, it was customary to keep gloves and hats on as a sign of brief stay and departure.
As it was Larisa’s first visit to a noble house, she had memorized various etiquettes since she didn’t want to embarrass herself in the Belverore mansion.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Larisa confidently boarded the carriage with William’s escort. Although she initially insisted on going alone, William insisted on accompanying her.

Unlike the Rodante family, who had received a palace as their residence, the Belverore family’s townhouse was located in North Hill, where nobles gathered.

Although Larisa rarely visited such places, she enjoyed the scenery outside the carriage.

“So, this is where the nobles live.”

“Nothing special.”

“It’s incredibly beautiful, isn’t it?”

The townhouses, adorned with vibrant pastel tones, looked like dollhouses.

The Belverore townhouse was located quite high in North Hill.

“Welcome.”

Guided by the butler, the two could see Alexander waiting in the reception room.

“Count Rodante, Miss Larisa.”

Alexander greeted them with a stiff expression. Larisa responded with ladylike manners.

“William Belverore. Thank you for the invitation.”

“Not at all.”

As soon as the Belverore butler left, Larisa burst into laughter.

“Alex, you look quite noble when you’re at home too.”

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind, take this.”

“What is it?”

“A gift!”

Accepting the flowers handed by Larisa, Alexander looked puzzled.
“It’s a return gift for the flowers I gave you last time. Somehow, I thought it might be your first time receiving flowers.”

It was indeed the first time. Alexander thought it was strange for a guy to give flowers.

“Is it okay for you to be walking around like this already?”

“I’m completely healed now. Look, you can’t even see the scars anymore.”

Alexander looked relieved seeing no scars on Larisa’s forehead.

“Count Rodante…”

“I’ll come to pick you up in an hour.”

William, exchanging greetings and lingering briefly, exited the reception room.

“William is a bit busy. He said he was going alone today, but insisted on accompanying me.”

“It’s dangerous for a girl to go alone, you know.”

“Huh? Are you ignoring me now? Want to spar?”

Alexander sighed.

“Dressed like that? And I’m not ignoring you. It’s not about that. A young lady from a noble family going out alone. I don’t go out alone either.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, normally. Besides, typically, when an accident happens, young ladies have more to lose.”

Larisa understood the implications of his words. In the social circles, even just closing the door and being alone together was enough to cause rumors.

However, Larisa felt a bit out of place, thinking she wasn’t a noble herself.

“So, why did you come today? A return for the courtesy visit?”

“No. How about dancing with me?”

“….”

“On the day of the festival ball.”

For the first time in his life, Alexander received a dance request from a girl. His ears turned bright red.