Chapter 44 (1/2)

Translator: Jawbrie

It was fun.

The syncing of your feets movements with the music. Two people holding hands, moving together, becoming one heart and one body.

While there was enough light, it came dimly from the full moon alone. I dance with Charles by our thin, moonlit shadows, as the music leaks faintly from the dance hall.

There is no audience. There are no extravagant decorations. I was Christina Noir, daughter of a duke. I loved pomp, praise, and power. I wanted to show my own excellence to a crowd of onlookers. And yet, somehow this dance with Charles, which had no audience or stage, was so very fun. I wondered how it was that my heart felt so satisfied by this.

Though, I did have a vague idea.

“Hey, Charles.”

“What is it, Chris?”

“This is fun.”

“Yeah, it is.”

Charles nodded with a bounce, he was in a good mood. I was sure that the happiness within him was at least equal to mine. Hearing it confirmed with words brings yet another layer of satisfaction to me. I was feeling more and more satisfied by the minute, and yet I was feeling lighter and lighter. My heart was floating as we danced, I spun my body in a turn.

“You’ve improved a lot.”

“I tried.”

His soft blonde hair, which looked so similar to that of my beloved Mishuli, blew in the wind along with our movements. I smile at his inept, yet earnest attempt to lead me.

It seemed that he had indeed learned the steps for dancing in these past two years. It was a huge improvement compared to the first time. At that time, Charles had never danced before, and so I led, which did not go very well. We had both ended up falling very dramatically.

It was a precious memory.

One, two, three, we ride the rhythm in sync with the tempo. He wasn’t a genius like me, his experience wasn’t there, and so his dancing was still awkward. I liked to lead in nearly all things, but with dancing, it was the man’s job to lead and the ladies to support. And so I focused on supporting Charles as we danced.

It was not bad.

Always, and with everyone, I wanted to stand dominant. But having Charles hold my hand and lead me like this-it was not bad.

“I wonder why.”

“What?”

“Hm? Mmm… It’s nothing.”

“What’s that?”

I dodged the question, but those eyes that looked so much like the morning sky, looked discontent. He clearly hated having secrets withheld from him. But, I didn’t hate this expression from him either. So I would not tell him.

“It’s a secret.”

“…Mm. You are quite mean sometimes.”

“Fu fun. It’s the right of elders to be able to make fun of others.”

It was fun seeing his expression change in such a way that was hardly fitting for a noble. It satisfied me even more.

Perhaps, I take a guess at my last question to myself.

Perhaps, I was only happy in this moment because Charles was with me. I liked receiving attention, I preferred to be lauded with praise. I could return to the dance hall now, and dance with some fool in order to shock everyone with my genius. But my heart would not take flight as it did now if it was not with Charles.

“Charles. Do you like me?”

“Of course I do.”

The honest words and emotion in them fulfilled my heart even more.

“You do.”

“I do.”

It was now two years since we first met. I was happy with his words which hadn’t changed in spite of his growth.

“I as well.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I do.”

I was fulfilled, full to the brim, my heart was starting to overflow.

It wasn’t ‘quite.’

It wasn’t ‘rather.’

Charles, I.