Contrary to his expectation that she might burst into tears, not knowing what to do, Reina quickly analyzed the situation and handled it cleanly.
It was not the thought of a child.
No, not just the thought.
Calmness, judgment of the situation, composure, and even the magnanimity to reach out to the one who had pushed her away.
It was like looking at a seasoned lady who had experienced everything in the social world.
As Reina returned, Marquis Majine greeted her with a bright smile.
“You seem like a truly good child, I hope you become friends with our Esmeralda.”
“Yes.”
Reina smiled slightly.
But the Marquis was not fooled.
This girl, while smiling with her mouth, was scrutinizing him with her eyes.
And suddenly, he had a bad feeling.
This girl, she might become a problem later on.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]When Marquis Majine left, the music stopped, and a clear bell rang out.
The children who were playing in the playroom started to leave one by one.
“Let’s go now!”
Esmeralda stood up and led me back to the main hall.
In the center of the main hall, the dancing couples were making way one by one.
In their place, children were coming to the center with excited faces everywhere.
“Could it be…”
Esmeralda clapped her hands and laughed.
“It’s finally time for us to dance.”
“Dance?”
With a bad feeling, I looked around again. There were young gentlemen everywhere, asking the young ladies for a dance.
“Yes, it’s dance time for the children.”
In the end, what was meant to happen, happened.
As we moved to the center, several people quickly surrounded Esmeralda.
“Lady Esmeralda, may I request a dance?”
“I will lead you safely.”
Even a line was forming around Esmeralda.
But there was no young gentleman approaching me. The young gentlemen who made eye contact with me quickly avoided my gaze or feigned ignorance.
No matter how potatolike I looked, it was bitter. I’m a cute potato in my own right.
Just as I was about to give up and search for chocolate pudding, I heard the rushing sound of footsteps.
“Nuna! Dance with me!”
Kirian, who appeared out of nowhere, grabbed my hand.
“Shall we?”
Seeing Kirian, who seemed about to jump with joy, I also started to smile.
He had said he didn’t want to come to the founding festival, but now he looked the happiest in this ballroom.
“Oong!”
Kirian pulled my hand and moved towards the center of the ballroom.
“But Kirian, I don’t know how to dance.”
“It’s okay, Nuna! I know!”
I was worried whether Kirian, who came up to my shoulder, could lead me, but,
This worry soon flew away like the wind.
It was a miracle I didn’t fly away too.
Kirian spun around, laughing gaily.
“It’s so fun, Nuna!”
I couldn’t refute it, my mouth was open as if I would vomit.
The entire banquet hall was spinning around like a disco.
Indeed, Kirian knew how to dance. Even now, he was perfectly executing all the moves, and that at three times the speed.
Fortunately, the music ended just before my soul flew away.
Kirian finally stopped his hellish disco.
“Huff.”
He breathed a huge sigh, as if finally able to breathe.
“Too short…”
A look of regret was evident on Kirian’s face.
“Ugh…”
I couldn’t even manage a proper reply.
In my spinning view, I saw others asking for new dance partners.
And soon, the prelude of a new song began to flow.
Kirian clapped his hands with a halfsmile.
“We can dance again!”
Do we have to? I wanted to ask, but still, opening my mouth seemed like it would lead to a dreadful disaster.
Staggering away from Kirian’s side, I tried to break free, but his sturdy hand grabbed mine again.
“Let’s dance again, Nuna!”
Then someone blocked Kirian’s way.
“Wait.”
It was the Duchess.
Quickwitted Kirian tried to dodge the Duchess’s hand, but she was faster.
Skilfully catching Kirian, the Duchess chided him in a sweet voice.
“Let Nuna mingle with her other friends today, Kirian.”
“Ah, no!”
Like a child, Kirian clung to the Duchess’s side, struggling with all his might, but he was helpless against the Duchess’s strong biceps.
“We mustn’t ruin Reina’s love affair from the beginning.”
The Duchess’s murmur reached my ears momentarily.
The joy of Kirian’s disappearance was brief as dizziness subsided, and the surroundings became clear again.
The dance requests that were coming and going had all ended, leaving me standing alone.
The other young ladies were all dancing gracefully with their partners.
I stood out amongst them.
“Oh my, who is that young lady standing all alone?”
“Why, don’t you know? It’s her…”
I could see the people whispering around me.
It was a picture perfect for gossip.
A commonborn princess, despised by all, despite being backed by a Ducal house. A wretch who could not find a dance partner other than her younger brother.
Normally, I wouldn’t have cared.
These were faces I wouldn’t see again once I became independent.
But strangely, I was bothered by the Duchess, who was wrestling with Kirian at a distance.
I didn’t want her, of all people, to see me like this.
Wearing the dress she had ordered with passion, standing alone like a wallflower instead of dancing with a perfect gentleman from a good family, I felt uncomfortable.
She would surely be disappointed, wouldn’t she?
I can’t do this. Just as I resolved to hide somewhere inconspicuous until the music ended,
A straight hand appeared in front of me.
“May I ask for this dance?”
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
