Sinclair froze in place, as if he had turned into a doll, when Elaina suddenly embraced him.

“……”

Sinclair was not the only one who was surprised. Despite being the one who had pulled him into an embrace first, Elaina also had an expression that was not much different from his.

Perhaps it was because she had belatedly realized what she had just done.

Soon, an awkward atmosphere that was almost embarrassing descended upon them. However, Elaina did not let go of Sinclair, and Sinclair also did not push her away.

And after a while that was not short.

It was Elaina who broke the silence that was as heavy as lead.

“This is too much, Sinclair.”

“…What?”

“I’m the one who received the verdict that my legs can never be fully healed, but if you sit like this, I have nothing to say.”

It was an excuse that could be used appropriately.

Not too forced.

…Also, it was an excuse that Elaina found so that Sinclair would not run away, and she whispered it into his ear as if she was speaking.

“In fact, you were the one who asked me to get an examination, right? Then who should be more upset in this situation?”

Her thoughts were short. Sinclair, who had belatedly realized his mistake, turned around urgently, and Elaina stumbled slightly at his sudden movement.

There was no time to think about anything else. Sinclair reflexively wrapped his arm around Elaina’s waist, and Elaina opened her eyes wide with a surprised expression at the situation that had suddenly reversed.

…Their eyes, filled with each other, danced wordlessly as if they were rippling.

Unconsciously, strength entered the back of his large hand that wrapped around her slender waist, and Elaina reflexively exhaled a short breath.

As if he had come to his senses for a moment, Sinclair very slowly and carefully removed his hand from Elaina’s waist. Then, after safely helping her up, he moved his lips with a small voice.

“…It wasn’t on purpose. Not then, and not now.”

“……”

“I was short-sighted. I apologize.”

Sinclair spoke as if he was spitting out the words without being able to look Elaina in the eye.

Seeing him like that, as if he had committed a great sin, made her feel like her heart was aching for no reason.

So why did her legs have to be ruined.

Why couldn’t they be healed.

Why did she have to hurt the heart of someone who was so worried about her.

But Elaina did not blame herself anymore. Instead, she continued speaking in the same voice as before, unchanged from earlier.

“Do you know how to dance, Sinclair?”

“…Dance?”

At the sudden mention of dancing, Sinclair narrowed his eyes and looked at Elaina as if asking what she meant.

“I mean the debutante ball. Everyone dances then, right? Actually, I wanted to go too. Even though it’s already over.”

“……”

“But I didn’t expect to be able to go. Then Leila said, how could a cripple like you dance.”

“That’s an incredibly stupid thing to say.”

As if he had been slightly depressed before, Sinclair replied in a very firm voice.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that everything depends on how skilled the partner is at dancing. Unfortunately, it seems that Leila Aswald has only had partners as pathetic as herself.”

Elaina laughed.

“Right?”

Then she asked.

“Even if my legs are not well, there are still plenty of things I can do, right?”

Now, Sinclair silently looked at Elaina, realizing what she was trying to say. Why she was saying such things. Understanding her heart.

“I can dance, and I can walk.”

Of course, I can’t run like before. I can’t run out of breath like I used to. Elaina knew that fact better than anyone else.

But……

“Before I injured my legs, being able to run fast was one of the few things I was good at.”

Yes. I know that too. Your small body that ran through the forest as fast as a young lion. No matter how hard I tried to catch up, when I raised my head, you were always several steps ahead. Sinclair made a bitter expression.

“But now I have a new forte.”

“…A new forte?”

“Yes. No matter how far the distance is. And even if it makes me incredibly tired, I have gained the tenacity to walk persistently without giving up.”

“……”

“I don’t think this is bad either. There are many people who can run fast, but I don’t think there are many people as tenacious as me.”

In the end, Elli, Elaina had not changed at all.

Even if her legs were ruined, her spirit was the same as back then. It was as clear as the constantly flowing valley water, and as unceasing as the cool wind that blew enough to dry all the sticky sweat.

Perhaps I was the only one trapped in that time.

You still swiftly pass me by and move forward, while I endlessly dwell on the irreversible past, watching your back.

“…I wish I could be like that too.”

Perhaps it was because of Elaina, who was shining like the sun and filling his eyes at this very moment. Sinclair muttered softly, unlike his usual self.

“Like you.”

“……”

“I wish I could move forward like that.”

Elaina could not fully understand what Sinclair was saying.

But there was one thing she felt she knew.

Perhaps she could help him.

“Did you go to the debutante ball, Sinclair?”

“No.”

Sinclair shook his head and answered.

“I was out on the battlefield at that time. I don’t know much about debutante balls, but I remember it was around then that I got stabbed in the stomach for the first time. It hurt a lot.”

“…That’s a really sad memory.”

“I didn’t really mind. Except for the pain.”

“That’s even sadder.”

“Well, not really.”

“Do you know how to dance?”

“I learned enough. Until I turned the imperial palace upside down, I was still the crown prince, after all.”

“Then that’s good.”

Elaina held out her hand to Sinclair, who was sitting. He looked puzzled, but carefully took Elaina’s hand and stood up from his seat.

“Shall we hold our own debutante ball?”

“…What?”

“You just said it yourself. It’s no exaggeration to say that everything depends on how skilled the partner is at dancing. With someone like you, couldn’t you dance with me even though my legs are not well?”

“……”

“But it’s a bit embarrassing to dance without any reason, so let’s just say we’re holding a debutante ball.”

“…Holding it twice is enough to establish a new empire.”

“I’m sorry, Sinclair Butler, but you have no right to refuse. Because I listened to your request earlier, right?”

Elaina said, shrugging her shoulders.

“So this time, you have to listen to my request.”

“……”

“Right?”

Instead of answering, Sinclair wrapped one arm around Elaina’s waist and held her hand with his other hand.

“I never said I didn’t want to.”

Then, with slightly furrowed brows, he smiled and answered.

“And it doesn’t really matter that your legs are not well. The problem is that you have no sense of dancing at all.”

“How do you know that? You’ve never even seen me dance.”

Elaina muttered slightly sulkily, but Sinclair just smiled.

“Now.”

And as he pulled her close to his body, he whispered softly.

“You just… leave everything to me.”

“……”

“I’ll take care of it all.”

I’ll have to see for myself how well you dance.

Elaina glared at Sinclair slightly, thinking that, but unfortunately, Sinclair’s words were not false. He led Elaina very skillfully. As if he was very used to this kind of thing.

So Elaina asked.

“…Have you danced with other women like this before?”

“No, you’re the first.”

“……”

“Why.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

She didn’t know why his answer made her feel good, but Elaina decided to put aside the vengeance she had harbored against Sinclair for a bit.

…It was a completely shoddy debutante ball.

Instead of the grand music played by the orchestra, the sound of Elaina’s bright laughter.

Instead of a dress that was unmatched in luxury, a thin slip that fluttered in the light breeze.

And so, with no one watching and no one applauding.

But nevertheless, it was a rather satisfying shoddy debutante ball.

How long had they matched their steps and walked in rhythm, dancing together? Before she knew it, a light sweat had formed on Elaina’s white face. Sinclair carefully stopped moving and sat her on the bed, then sat down next to her himself.

“I can’t keep making a young lady who just had her debutante ball work so hard.”

Then, lightly brushing Elaina’s forehead with his large hand, he said.

“Of course, I should say that I worked harder.”

“You almost stepped on my feet a few times too.”

“That’s because you stepped on my feet first. Our steps got tangled.”

That was true.

“I didn’t show it at all, but you’re scolding me like this. You really are a young lady with no manners to be found.”

That too.

So Elaina, before she knew it, laughed like a flower petal swaying in the wind.

“……”

What else had I not been able to do for you? There must be more things you wanted to do. What more can I do for you? Even as he unknowingly got lost in such thoughts, Sinclair smiled faintly.

…He liked seeing Elaina smile.

He liked being with her like this.

That fact, at least, could no longer be denied.

“……”

As Sinclair remained silent like that, Elaina also closed her mouth at some point and stared at him intently.

It was her who had made the absurd request, but she hadn’t expected Sinclair to accept it like this.

And so perfectly at that……

And before she knew it, unlike earlier, he was just smiling brightly like her… That fact seemed to make her insanely happy too.

Perhaps it was because so many things that were different from usual happened today. Or perhaps it was because she made them happen.

As if she was enchanted by Sinclair’s golden eyes that reflected her face, just like when she had hugged his back……

Without realizing it, Elaina kissed his cheek.

…It happened in an instant. Without a chance to control herself.