“Your Majesty, did you enjoy yourself?”

A heavy word that had been pondering for who knows how long vanished into thin air.

A small crack seemed to form over Leopold’s impassive expression. For the first time, a strange emotion appeared in his eyes, which always looked at me leisurely.

“……No.”

Olivia closed her mouth at the faint reply. Today’s Leopold was truly different from usual.

He referred to me as his fiancée directly and called me by my pet name, then asked for the first dance.

Had Leopold’s sincerity been hidden in those things, where he thought he had easily seen through me?

At first, it was an engagement reluctantly accepted, but perhaps Leopold inwardly recognized me as his fiancée too.

Perhaps Leopold also unconsciously opened his heart to me.

Small hopes gathered one by one. Atop the expectations built over disappointment, Olivia slowly looked at Leopold.

Leopold’s eyes softly flickered. The deep blue pupils seemed to blame me. Olivia had a feeling that Leopold would say something different from what she expected.

“You dared to confront me in front of all the nobles. If it was only enjoyable, it would be a lie.”

A playful chilliness pressed down on Olivia. Unknowingly, Olivia grimaced with a smile. If she didn’t bite her lip, it felt like a forlorn sigh might escape.

“Thank Maria.”

Indifferently mentioning Maria’s name, Leopold tenderly tucked Olivia’s hair behind her ear. The faint scent of damp, burning wood reached her as he came closer. Before she could cough, Leopold whispered.

“If Maria hadn’t tried to soothe my mood, I would have been really angry.”

That’s how it was. Leopold couldn’t be like that.

Olivia came to her senses as her mind drifted far away. Her illusion had been foolish. Leopold was still the same.

When would her expectation that he would look back if she tried her best come true?

Awareness of reality cruelly overwhelmed Olivia. Barely, Olivia raised the corners of her mouth.

When new music flowed, Leopold’s hand rose to Olivia’s waist. The touch on her waist felt strange.

Olivia trembled slightly, and Leopold whispered as if he was speaking to his beloved fiancée.

“If you’re clumsy, you must at least pretend to be skilled. Princess.”

Those words tore through Olivia’s heart like a sharp awl.

Olivia danced.

For countless days, she had imagined this day.

Dancing together, stepping in the same colored dress as Leopold.

She had thought that they would surely meet eyes in the middle of a dazzling ballroom, holding hands and dancing together, with Leopold’s eyes as gentle as a spring breeze.

Reality was neither as sweet nor as warm as she thought.

Certainly, it was the same dance, but Leopold’s lead relentlessly pushed Olivia.

Olivia, fully focused, struggled to keep up with Leopold’s pace. She quickly moved her feet, fearing stepping on Leopold’s foot.

Twirling and twirling, soaring and then thudding down. This dance was not enjoyable.

At some point, when her ankle felt sore, the waltz ended.

Clap clap clap. Thunderous applause erupted. As if it was natural, Leopold, who had been looking at me, gave a slight bow.

The breath she hadn’t exhaled while minding her feet filled up to her chin. Olivia belatedly gasped for breath, bowing her head to Leopold.

When she raised her head immediately, Leopold had already turned away.

Olivia realized that Leopold had gone to the side of the young lady Etel in a pink dress.

Suddenly, Olivia had such a thought.

Maria Etel might be more familiar with Leopold’s front appearance.

Even though he’s a man who only ever shows me his back.

The pain in her throbbing feet grew more pronounced. Olivia composed her expression, pretending nothing was wrong. She thought to herself, as if casting a spell.

It’s okay, nothing’s wrong. It’s really okay.

Atop the dizzying height of her shoe heels, Olivia tightly grasped the hem of her dress. She had to remain at the ballroom until five more songs had passed.

Seated at a table on the edge, Olivia focused on the music. She hoped that no one among the nobility would approach her, but she felt a presence.

“Congratulations on your first dance, my lady.”

It was Maria Etel. It was her first time conversing with Maria at the ball. The nobles’ eyes were fixed on them.

“…Thank you, Your Grace. To congratulate me on my first dance, you are very thoughtful.”

“Of course. You are the prince’s fiancée. I must pay close attention to you.”

Maria sat casually beside Olivia. Between the scent of Maria’s perfume, a faint smell of burning wood emerged. It was the same cigar smell she had sensed from Leopold.

Olivia coughed softly. Maria’s eyes widened as she pulled back, looking surprised.

“Oh, my apologies, my lady. I must have picked up a bit of a smell after stepping out onto the terrace.”

Everyone knew that the thickly draped terrace was a place for lovers’ secret meetings. Maria smiled slyly.

“You know, His Highness always insists on this particular cigar. Oh dear, but judging by your cough, it seems your bronchi might be weak. Or perhaps…”

Maria trailed off.