Chapter 66

‘To think I was so rhythmically challenged…’

I never would have dreamed it. That I couldn’t tell the difference between 4/4 and 3/4 time.

Over the past two weeks, Alex nearly developed anger management issues dealing with me, and Duke Ruthius almost fell ill from sheer frustration.

And I had to endure a lifetime’s worth of insults all at once.

What riches and glory was I trying to attain to deserve this? It felt unfair, but in the end, I managed to master it perfectly.

To be honest, it was less mastering and more rote memorization, but whatever.

“Shall we?”

I took Dante’s hand and walked out to the center of the hall.

As we stepped forward, the Hunters hastily backed away as if they’d seen a monster.

Just as we took our positions, the musicians changed the music.

My eyes widened. It was the crisis of a lifetime.

“This is a disaster.”

“Why?”

“This isn’t the music I learned.”

I can only dance to that one song I learned!

Dante looked at my flustered face with confusion.

“The rhythm should be the same, though?”

“…”

I don’t know *what* the rhythm is.

Ah, what was the point of enduring all that torment to learn how to dance?

As we stood there blankly in the middle of the hall, the Hunters started glancing our way.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, wondering what we were doing just standing there.

“L-let’s just go back…”

Just as I whispered that and turned to leave, Dante grabbed my waist, lifted me effortlessly, and spun me around.

The hem of my dress and my styled, wavy hair flew out.

“Ah!”

I instinctively wrapped my arms around Dante’s neck.

He didn’t put me down. He danced to the rhythm while holding me.

I didn’t even have to move myself. He was carrying me, so my feet weren’t even touching the floor.

Dante showed no signs of strain, even while dancing with a person in his arms. His movements were lighter than if he were holding a doll.

Dante lifted me high again. Then, as if soothing a child.

“Our Astell, shall we try a ‘hooray’?”

He says things like this.

‘Seriously, am I a child?’

It was childish, but it made my heart flutter.

In my past life, and in this one. Had anyone ever held me like this?

No one had held me this way, not even when I was very young.

I burst out laughing and threw my hands up toward the sky.

He spun around once more before setting me down, then took one of my hands and gently pushed me away.

‘Ah! I know this one!’

I let him push me back, then spun around and fell into his arms.

And then the back-bending pose.

Dante smiled, pulled me close, and we assumed the basic stance.

“Think you can handle it now?”

“More or less.”

I danced with my own two feet on the ground.

I didn’t need to worry about the rhythm.

Whenever I lost the beat, Dante would lift me, and when I found it again, I would follow the steps with my own feet.

‘This is fun.’

I never knew dancing could be this much fun. When I danced with Alex, I thought it was pure torture…

I didn’t want to admit it, but Dante was the perfect partner.

The music ended. Dante and I gracefully stepped back and bowed.

Everyone looked astonished. They probably never expected me to dance so well.

In truth, Dante did more than two-thirds of the work.

As we left the floor, Kaiel and Johan approached.

They gave Dante a cursory nod before extending their hands to me.

“Princess, would you grant me the honor of the second dance?”

“Lady Astell, will you dance with me?”

As I stared awkwardly at the two outstretched hands, someone wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

“Little sister, the second dance is for your brother.”

“…Alex, dancing with you seriously makes me want to puke.”

Alex’s face instantly turned red.

“W-what makes you think I enjoy it? I don’t want to dance with you either, you know!”

“Then why are you being so clingy?”

“Clingy! The second dance is traditionally with a family member!”

I completely ignored Alex and looked back and forth between Johan and Kaiel.

Johan seemed like he’d be fun, but maybe a little clumsy.

Kaiel looked like he’d scold me if I made a single mistake, but he’d also be a skilled lead.

“The second dance will be with…”

Just then, a chamberlain’s voice echoed through the rear garden.

“His Majesty, the Emperor, has arrived! Everyone, show your respects!”

The Emperor, leading a large retinue of attendants, entered the garden and began greeting the Hunters.

“Lord Patrick, it’s been a while. I trust you’ve heard about Bluebird?”

“I’ve already joined.”

“Excellent. You never disappoint my expectations. I knew I could count on you.”

“I am honored.”

“Oh! Lady Elaine, you look especially beautiful today. I heard a rumor… that you were waiting in line since dawn on the first day of Bluebird’s recruitment.”

“There was no reason to hesitate. I have long intended to follow Your Majesty.”

“That is indeed a choice for the good of the world. Please give my regards to Count Roma.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

So, this party was basically the founding celebration for Bluebird.

With a few exceptions, nearly everyone here belonged to Bluebird.

Everyone crowded around the Emperor, eager to appeal to him by mentioning they had joined Bluebird.

The Emperor, in turn, made eye contact with each guild member and offered them a smile.

‘Such a transparent way of managing his guild members.’

The Emperor’s kindness was reserved for the top rankers. For lower-ranked Hunters, he offered a cursory nod or skipped them entirely.

Naturally, he didn’t even glance at the Hunters who hadn’t joined Bluebird.

‘What? An emperor with more chivalry than a knight? *That* thing?’

“If he was going to act like this, he should have just invited his own guild members. What’s the point of inviting people just to treat them like this?”

“Ahem! Princess, your voice…”

“Ah, Lady Astell! Should I get you some champagne?”

“Hey! Are you crazy?”

As I grumbled, Kaiel cleared his throat, Johan frantically looked for champagne, and Alex hastily clamped a hand over my mouth.

I bit down hard on Alex’s hand.

“Agh!”

Alex shrieked as he snatched his hand away.

Because of the commotion, everyone’s disapproving glares turned to us.

The Emperor was among them.

‘A handsome middle-aged man, for all the good it does.’

Considering he was Dante’s father, it was to be expected, but I was surprised by how much more handsome he was than I’d anticipated.

A solid build on a frame that looked to be around 180 cm, with soft, wavy black hair.

Unlike Dante’s, his dark eyes had a hint of brown, giving them a gentle look, and his moderately tanned skin appeared healthy.

When expressionless, his thin lips made him seem sinister, but his impression changed to amiable whenever he smiled with his eyes.

I could see why the public supported him, despite his reputation as the most incompetent emperor in history.

The Emperor embodied the image of a righteous knight that perfectly.

He was the complete opposite of Duke Ruthius, who was cold and merciless to everyone.

‘I heard they were often compared in their youth, being of a similar age…’

Until now, the Emperor had always come out on top.

Despite Duke Ruthius being a handsome swordmaster, there was only one reason the Emperor was held in higher esteem.

Image.

‘In my opinion, Duke Ruthius is far better.’

Sure, Duke Ruthius is harsh, unaffectionate, and cold as ice, but at least he’s not a murderer.

The Emperor was the root cause of Astell’s guilt, which had driven her to develop social anxiety and panic attacks.

He was also the one who made Duke Ruthius abandon his children for the sake of revenge, and the one responsible for Alex growing up as an immature, reckless fool.

No matter how charmingly a criminal who destroyed a family smiled, to me, it was just pathetic.

I stared blankly at the smiling Emperor before slowly lowering my gaze.

“Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty.”

“Princess Astell, this is the first time we’ve met like this. Are you enjoying the party?”

“Well, I’ve been too busy wondering if this is a party I should even be attending to have properly enjoyed myself.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I thought this was the founding party for Bluebird.”

The people who had been nonchalantly enjoying the party began to cough awkwardly and glance my way.

It seemed their own disloyal actions were pricking their consciences.

The very people who had cheered when I announced I was creating a guild couldn’t wait to jump ship to the Emperor’s side.

The Emperor replied calmly.

“That was not my intention, but it seems to have turned out that way. It may be disappointing, but is not the choice of a guild a matter of freedom? I hope you can understand the hearts of those who chose Bluebird for the sake of peace.”

“Of course. I understand completely.”

“You must have made many preparations, Princess. It is truly a shame. Don’t be too disheartened even if you have no guild members. If you look hard enough, you’ll find that one-person guilds aren’t unheard of.”

The Emperor, who had been subtly provoking me, smiled brightly. He looked ecstatic.

“Ahem, ahem. Your party attire is quite unique. Is it a design by Louis?”

“Yes, but it’s not a party dress. It’s a slightly modified version of our guild’s uniform.”

“A uniform?”

“I plan on providing uniforms to my guild members. For free.”