Due to him holding my hand, I had no choice but to quietly put down the knife again.

Linel’s gaze continued to be directed towards Emperor Adrian. So, it seemed he hadn’t deliberately held my hand to prevent me from throwing the knife.

I breathed a sigh of relief and listened attentively to the conversation between him and Emperor Adrian.

“If we continue the match here, it may appear not as a demonstration of the Tavelo Imperial Consorts’ martial skills but as an act to make women from other empires feel threatened.”

As Linel finished speaking, Prince Kalvain of the Parsha Empire stepped in to mediate.

“Emperor Adrian, how about substituting the martial arts duel with a sword dance performed by the Imperial Consorts? I heard they used to dance after the duels ended.”

“Yes, it might be good to boost the mood with a sword dance instead.”

Emperor Adrian also showed an attitude of stepping back, seemingly not wanting a conflict with Linel.

In the meantime, Elan, the Imperial Consort who had left the banquet hall with the deceased Selina and returned after receiving treatment for her right cheek, caught my attention.

I stared at Elan’s pants pocket.

It’s gone…

The knife that was in her pants pocket was nowhere to be seen.

Did she throw away the knife when she went out of the banquet hall for the wound treatment?

“Well, since there was an incident, let’s delay the dance until later.”

The guests also agreed with Linel’s opinion.

The awkward atmosphere lasted only for a moment.

The guests quickly laughed and chatted as if asking what had happened, tilting their glasses.

Around the end of the dinner, Emperor Adrian sought permission again and instructed three Imperial Consorts to perform the sword dance.

They quickly grabbed swords, stood in a triangular formation in the center of the dance floor, and as one of the consorts nodded towards somewhere, a Parsha Imperial Consort, the orchestra from the Tavelo Empire started playing.

The guests, captivated by the tense music, held their breath again and focused on the Imperial Consorts.

The initial movements of the dance were mostly restrained, like those of knights, but as the music sped up, the slender waists and hips of the Imperial Consorts, visible through the sheer fabric, began to move loudly.

The eyes of the guests from various countries, especially the men, followed the splendid waist movements of the Imperial Consorts.

They seem like pitiful spectators.

I chuckled quietly and, with a sly smile, looked at Linel to mock this pathetic spectacle together.

“…Your Majesty?”

My man’s mouth was half open, and his blue eyes swirled back and forth like waves.

He didn’t even hear me calling him.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh? What did you say?”

He asked in surprise.

“It’s a sword dance, but it looks like they’re trying to kill men with their waists and buttocks.”

I pointed to the center of the dance floor with my chin.

“No, it’s not. Why?”

He replied, as if arguing.

“Because Your Majesty seems to be staring at it in ecstasy.”
“Impossible. Why would I be contemplating such a dangerous dance? Hmm, especially with swords in hand.”

Seeing him forcibly making an displeased expression, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Without saying anything, his gaze returned to the Imperial Consorts who were gracefully performing the sword dance.

At that moment, one of the consorts twisted her waist back and shook her entire body in a flexible motion, catching his attention. He took a sharp breath, and our eyes met.

“The dance is truly dangerous.”

Linel shook his head in amazement for no reason.

“Yes. The movements are… indeed, provocative.”

I replied with a deep tone, not taking my eyes off the dance.

Then, as if he had been waiting, he blurted out, “Isn’t what you’re doing with your heels more provocative than that?”

“…Pfft.”

I burst into laughter at his nonsensical flattery.

Even to me, a woman, the sword dance was charming.

The Tavelo Imperial Consorts had captivated the souls of everyone in the banquet hall.

Ironically, Emperor Adrian’s expression, the man of those consorts, was utterly indifferent.

Amusingly, Emperor Adrian’s gaze was constantly focused on me.

Whenever there was a chance, he would glance at me and subtly smile when our eyes met.

Stop staring at me like that, you silver-haired nuisance!

I was getting annoyed by Emperor Adrian’s persistent gaze.

After a while, the sweet yet fierce sword dance of the consorts concluded, and the tables where the evening meal had taken place were cleared.

Starting with a lively waltz, a full-fledged party began.

Most of the guests wore joyful expressions, but I felt too exhausted.

My mind had long gone to the bedroom.

In the early stages of the party, I had greeted guests from various countries, clinking champagne glasses with Linel, but at some point, we had separated and engaged with different guests.

I chatted with Empress Katria of the Delroi Empire.

During our conversation, I discreetly made way for her when her guard and government official, Clark, asked her to dance.