“Are you serious?”

Ginevra smirked. Siod’s perfectly green face looked slightly distorted, as if a screw had come loose.

“Is this a date? Really?”

Siod felt wronged. Clenching his teeth, he whispered into Ginevra’s ear.

“I infiltrated the palace, worked as a servant, dug through hotel records, and even investigated the Evelleay family just to get this as a reward?”

“Is it not up to your expectations? Stop if you don’t like it.”

“No!”

Siod, grabbing Ginevra’s turned-back wrist, took a deep breath and said,

“…It’s too good.”

He sighed. He had expectations since Ginevra had planned out the date and made it an event, but the location turned out to be the Academy Festival’s final night ball. Moreover…

“Can’t you at least return to your original face? I don’t want to date with a stranger. I want to date with Ginevra Laudante.”

“I am Ginevra Laudante.”

“But that face…”

“What does the face matter? My name, my soul, they’re all Ginevra Laudante.”

“But still!”

Currently, Ginevra was at the Academy Festival’s night ball, having used a transformation spell to change her face. The latest crinoline dress, heavier than the usual dresses she wore, had an off-shoulder design that made her shoulders feel exposed. Moreover, despite changing her face, people’s gazes continued to be drawn to her. Even though her face was an ordinary one seen somewhere before, the white and smooth shoulders, along with the beautiful silhouette, kept attracting attention.
Is that all? Ginevra had no idea how impressive her attitude was to people as she confidently accompanied her partner, Siod, who was a remarkable handsome man, without any signs of being intimidated or shy.

Ignoring Siod’s grumbling, she stood still until a familiar dance tune played, then grabbed him by the collar and dragged him along.

“Wanna dance?”

“I only know this song.”

“What?”

“Lead.”

Ginevra had no knowledge of dancing. If she wanted to mingle with the social club presidents in the future, she had to master etiquette and dance, but she had no suitable practice partner.

‘It’s amusing to think of hiring a dance teacher now, considering my dignity.’

So, she came up with this idea: transform and practice in the midst of students who were still clumsy at dancing. Even if the dance was a bit awkward, wouldn’t everyone be the same?

She thought it would be nice to see William’s face, but he still hadn’t shown up.

The problem was Ginevra’s dancing skills.

“One, two, three… Ugh.”

Siod, whose foot was stepped on, made a painful sound.

“Don’t pretend to be in pain when you’re not.”

“No, I’m really in pain. When I was in human form…”

“Just cast a protection spell on the instep.”

“If I don’t pretend to be in pain, won’t I keep making the same mistake?”

The two practiced dancing while bantering. When the song ended and they stepped back from the floor, a group of girls approached. Among them, a blushing girl in the center said.

“Um… Professor, can you dance with me too?”
“Ah, Miss Lily.”

Siod greeted the student with a business-like smile. At that moment, a fierce gaze was felt from the side. Siod pleaded with his eyes.

‘What should I do…’

‘Reject her.’

‘No, how can you say that…’

Since it was extremely rare for a gentleman to reject a lady’s dance request, refusing here would be a tremendous insult. However, if he didn’t reject, Ginevra would…

‘Reject her!’

He was pressuring him with his eyes. Siod sighed.

“I’m sorry, Miss Lily. I’m not feeling well…”

“What?”

“That’s…”

“Ugh, you’re overdoing it!”

Rejected Lily sadly disappeared like a pitiful little flower. Seeing the girls rushing to comfort her, it was clear that Siod’s reputation was about to plummet.

“Now my image of being a kind and gentle professor is ruined.”

“I don’t give a damn.”

“Why did you make me reject her? Are you jealous?”

Ginevra, chuckling, grabbed Siod’s collar and returned to the dance floor.

“I need to practice my dance.”

“Just in case, let me tell you, it’s not proper for a gentleman to reject a lady’s dance.”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t even look like a woman, so it’s on par with telling her to buzz off, you know?”

“Is that so? Tell me more. Things I should know for the ball.”

Siod laughed lightly. The fact that Ginevra didn’t seem hateful even when she acted selfishly made him feel a bit sad. Especially when she clearly considered herself merely as a tool.
“The first dance is led by the host in the center. And the first dance is a courtesy between partners.”

“And then?”

“The most important thing is that you shouldn’t dance more than three times with the same partner. If you dance four times or more, it spreads a rumor.”

“There are some strange rules.”

“It’s an old tradition.”

“Anything else?”

“As I mentioned earlier, when a lady suggests dancing first, it’s considered a significant expression of interest. So, it’s generally polite not to refuse at least once. Also, ladies usually don’t suggest dancing more than twice unless they are engaged.”

“Is that so?”

Siod smirked subtly and whispered in Ginevra’s ear.