Despite his dashing and elegant appearance, Anselot’s dance steps were a complete mess, missing every beat.

Less than 3 minutes into the dance, I had nearly been stepped on five times, and I even suspected that this might be his new way of tormenting me.

“Ah, it’s because it’s my first time.”

Anselot replied in a nonchalant voice.

“Your first time dancing?”

Anselot was the prince of Luenhart. Yet the prince of a kingdom had never danced before. Does that even make sense?

“The ladies of Luenhart didn’t like being my partner. Despite my looks, I was a truly unpopular man.”

Anselot said, deliberately drooping his eyebrows in a pitiful manner.

Even so, the corners of his mouth were smiling, so it didn’t feel sympathetic at all.

‘That’s impossible. With Anselot’s status, he would have at least had a formal partner….’

Suddenly, I remembered a sinister rumor surrounding him.

‘They say that the women who were engaged to the prince all died mysterious deaths. And the suspect is none other than that bloody prince….’

Could it be because of that rumor?

It was a rumor that gave people a creepy feeling, even though I knew it was baseless.

I, too, had feared him at first when I learned of Anselot’s true identity…

“What deep thoughts are you having in that little head of yours again?”

At this moment, Anselot interrupted my train of thought that seemed to go on endlessly.

“You should focus on dancing with me.”

“I’m dancing much better than you even without focusing.”

I retorted, pouting my lips.

Anselot burst into laughter as if finding it amusing.

But I couldn’t laugh with him.

Because I had to move my steps to avoid the heel of Anselot’s shoe that was about to step on my delicate foot.

Anselot danced terribly, but perhaps because his appearance was so dashing, it didn’t look ridiculous.

Anyway, after avoiding the crisis of nearly being stepped on by Anselot about 1397 times, the musicians’ performance came to an end.

Amidst the applause, I could hear whispers about Anselot and me.

“Don’t you think the two of them look good together?”

“It was a truly marvelous scene.”

“Could this be another opening in the relationship between the empire and Luenhart…?”

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who heard those words, as Anselot’s expression became smug.

“See, everyone says it’s marvelous.”

Anselot arrogantly lifted his chin, enjoying the attention directed at him.

“I don’t think they’re talking about your dancing skills.”

As the second song began, Anselot and I retreated to a corner and quenched our thirst with champagne.

‘That was tough…’

It wasn’t simply because I felt burdened by the focused attention of the people.

Although it was my first time dancing the first dance, I had danced in front of people a few times before.

Anselot was such a terrible dancer that I had been incredibly tense, fearing I might die from being stepped on, and now that tension was suddenly released, leaving me feeling drained.

I was watching the dancers with a soul-drained expression when…

Tap.

A soft cloth touched my forehead.

“You’ve been sweating for a while.”

Anselot wiped the beads of sweat on my forehead with a white handkerchief.

Then he suddenly leaned in close to my face and grinned.

“Princess, were you that nervous about dancing with me?”

“O-of course I was nervous! I nearly got trampled to death!”

When I unknowingly raised my voice slightly, Anselot let out a pleasant laugh.

“Here, keep this.”

He handed me the handkerchief and left.

‘Where is he going?’

I was tilting my head, watching his nonchalant back, when…

“Your Highness Luibel!”

Sylvia walked towards me with sparkling eyes, taking big strides.

“I knew it! I knew you two would look good together! What was that just now? Did he wipe your sweat?”

“It’s just a gentleman’s manners, things like this.”

“But he’s Salto! He doesn’t know anything like a gentleman’s manners!”

“Huh?”

Anselot did say and do some bizarre things at times, but he generally maintained proper manners, didn’t he…?

I glanced up above Sylvia’s head.

, the young lady of the Winster Viscount family

Favorability: 279

‘Sylvia… so you didn’t dislike me.’

I had thought Sylvia disliked me and was making up stories to put me in a difficult situation, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Oh my, you’re really clueless about rumors. Especially rumors about your potential lover.”

Sylvia clicked her tongue and scolded me.

Seeing her like this, it seemed like she didn’t really like me, but…

“You really didn’t know? Some time ago, a young lady who had fallen for Prince Anselot spoke to him, and Prince Anselot showed…”

Sylvia paused for a moment, glancing around to gauge the surroundings.

Then she lowered her voice and whispered so that only I could hear.

“He showed absolutely dog-like manners.”

“Dog… what?”

I blinked in surprise. Sylvia blushed slightly and fanned herself.

“Phew, using such a crude expression makes it a bit hot. But there was no other way to describe it.”

What on earth did he do that made Sylvia, who valued a noble’s honor the most, use the expression “dog-like”?

He said he was unpopular in Luenhart. Could it be because of that dog-like personality?

“Ah, right. I came with my elder brother today.”

“Elder brother?”

“Yes, my elder brother who was studying abroad. He returned to the capital in time for His Majesty’s birthday banquet. I mentioned it several times, so you couldn’t have forgotten, right?”

I vaguely remembered hearing that Sylvia had an elder brother at some point.

However, since Sylvia always sniped at me whenever she saw me, I didn’t pay much attention to what she said.

“Of course not. I definitely remember.”

“Perfect timing. I’ll introduce you to my elder brother.”

“No, it’s fine…”

I waved my hand, trying to refuse as I didn’t particularly want to be introduced to her family, but she was faster in calling out to her elder brother.

“Klaus elder brother! Come over here!”

At Sylvia’s call, a man approached us.

He was a man with a height similar to Anselot and a tall, well-built physique.

Judging by his disciplined gait, he seemed to be a knight.

‘Is that man Sylvia’s elder brother?’

With each step he took, his fine, platinum-blonde hair that reached his waist swayed gently, captivating the gazes of the young ladies.

‘He’s handsome.’

As I raised my head with a casual thought, I saw the name written.

I was certain I had never seen that handsome face before, but the name sounded strangely familiar.

‘Wait a minute, if it’s Klaus…!’

As I racked my brain trying to remember, I suddenly realized who he was and was taken aback.

“Hey, Sylvia… Is your elder brother’s name Klaus Winster?”

I asked hesitantly, watching the approaching name tag, and Sylvia laughed and fanned herself.

“Oh, yes. You remember it accurately.”

“The Klaus Winster who grabbed a sword at the age of six and beat a bear to death…?”

“My, did I even mention that to you?”

“The very Klaus Winster who went to study in the Holy Kingdom, caught the Pope’s eye, and received an offer to become the Holy Knight Commander, but flatly refused and returned to his home country…?”

“What? Our elder brother received an offer from the Pope to become the Holy Knight Commander?”

Sylvia’s eyes widened as if it was the first time she had heard of it.

“…”

I pressed my lips tightly together.

There was only one reason I knew a story that even his sister Sylvia didn’t know.

It was because he was one of the heroes who appeared in the original story.

‘The Shield of Light, Klaus Winster!’

In the original story, he becomes the first companion of the protagonist Hezen, forming a solid bond of trust with him!

I vaguely remembered Klaus’s full name but hadn’t connected it to Sylvia.

‘To think that Klaus was Sylvia’s elder brother.’

I was newly shocked to learn that one of the heroes of light who appeared in the original story was Sylvia’s elder brother.

But what was even more shocking was…

, the heir to the Winster Viscount family

Favorability: −100

His favorability towards me was extremely low.

‘What’s with that negative favorability?’

Sylvia introduced me to Klaus.

“This is Her Highness Luibel Azester, the 3rd Imperial Princess. She is my closest friend.”

Since when were we…?

I suppressed the question that rose to my throat and smiled calmly.

At Sylvia’s introduction, Klaus looked at me. And the moment our eyes met…

[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has decreased by −10. (Favorability: −110)

Wait, what did I do?

“Greetings, Princess Luibel. I am Klaus of the Winster family.”

Klaus greeted me in a polite voice.

Just by his voice and expression, it didn’t seem at all like he disliked me.

“Hello, Sir Klaus. It’s nice to meet you.”

I greeted him in the most gentle and friendly voice possible, mindful of Klaus’s favorability.

[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has decreased by −10. (Favorability: −120)

‘…!’

My expression stiffened at the subsequent system notification.

‘What, he dislikes me just by hearing my voice?’

Well, just a moment ago, his favorability dropped just by making eye contact…

‘Still, it’s unfair.’

In the original story, he had a good relationship with Hezen. Hezen was able to easily make him his first companion and set off without much difficulty.

‘Why is he only like this to me?’

Seeing Klaus’s favorability dropping every moment, I made a firm resolution.

‘I’m definitely not progressing the scenario.’

Look at that favorability.

No matter what quest comes up, I absolutely won’t be able to succeed.

No, what success?

It seems impossible to even start the scenario in the first place.

Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Klaus greeted me with a elegant and polite gesture befitting a perfect gentleman.

“I am also honored to make your acquaintance.”

[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has decreased by −10. (Favorability: −130)

Along with the system notification informing me of the decreased favorability, he gave a neat smile.

‘Honored to make my acquaintance, my foot. It’s all lies…’