Chapter 211 (2/2)

I wanted to hear the participants whispering here and there, then their eyes began to turn towards me all at once. I passed by Duke Verita and Marquis Enesil smiling faintly and my father looking at me anxiously and stopped before the young man with blue hair.

Placing my hand on my chest that seemed to burst, I opened my mouth carefully.

“Your Majesty.”

“… ”

“… May I dare ask you to dance for the first time on the occasion of my coming of age?”

“It’s my honor.”

My eyes opened wide at that. What did he just say? My honor?

People began to whisper here and there at his unexpected reply, which was far from customary.

My head was spinning like a top, but I held his hand casually with a smile.

When I stepped on the dance floor, controlling my nausea, he whispered, “How have you been?”

“… I’m doing well, Your Majesty. How are you?”

“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

Is it because I am dancing with him for the first time in about a year? Or is it because of the question that has been running through my head for the past few days?

I felt it was very awkward to see him face to face. Even though I danced with him numerous times, I found it very hard to do so today.

I stretched my arm stiffly, but I couldn’t feel anything on my cold fingertips. Pulling my hand in the air, he said, stepping on the first beat, “Are you nervous because it’s your coming-of-age dance? It isn’t like you.”

“… Sorry, Your Majesty. ”

I answered hesitantly, then moved back. However, my distance with him kept narrowing because he tightly wrapped his arms around my waist.

“By the way, I see lots of faces I didn’t want to see here. Did you invite them?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh, I see. I think you sent out the invitation.”

Why is he asking obvious questions? The moment I looked up at him curiously, my eyes met his. When I saw his smiling face and navy blue eyes, my head was messed up again.

I hurriedly lowered my eyes. I could feel he was looking down at me, but my eyes were fixed on his collar, but never above it. I didn’t have the courage to see his face again.

“Come to think of it, I danced with you at my coming-of-age ceremony three years ago.”

“… Yes, Your Majesty. ”

“Back then… ”

“Pardon?”

“…Oh, it’s nothing. ”

What was he trying to say? While I tilted my head, I let go of his hand, timed with the climax of the music. Two turns to the right, then two turns to the left again.

When I was going round amid the participants’ attention, I suddenly remembered the last time I danced with him. It’s the last day of the National Founding Day festival when I, without knowing I was poisoned, passed out while trying to stick it out to the last minute.

Suddenly, I caught a chill.

“… It’s fine.”

“Your Majesty?”

“I’ll make sure that won’t happen again,” he said, pulling me close to him when I was trembling

Did he already notice what I was thinking?

My trembling gradually faded away thanks to his low voice and warm touch.

My rough breathing also began to go back to normal.

‘Why is he so kind to me now?”

When I tried to express gratitude as I felt much better, I suddenly trembled again because I was suspicious about his sudden change of attitude. Why is he acting like this all of a sudden? He had been indifferent and cold just a while ago after I told him I would like to break off my engagement with him.

If so, did he send me the Orgel on purpose?

Once again my mind was so complicated. I wanted to ask why he sent me the music box, but the question was at the tip of my tongue. In the end, I couldn’t ask, and the music stopped.