Dancing With You
* * *
The Founding Festival began with the sacred bell ringing three times. The High Priest standing before the altar offered a prayer to the goddess, wishing for the empire’s eternal glory.
Next, the Emperor himself stood before the nobles and read the commemorative address. It spoke of the empire’s prosperity and blessings on this Founding Festival, hoping the newly begun year would pass safely.
Once the Emperor’s greeting concluded, the grand ball officially began. The orchestra, composed of the empire’s finest musicians, started to play. A gentle prelude soon filled the imperial palace hall.
Usually, when the prelude played, nobles would begin walking toward the person they wished to ask for the first dance.
But today was different. Only two people moved through the hall holding roses.
Illid and Hellion. The two of them stopped before me, then knelt on one knee at the same time and offered me their flowers.
“Ohhh.”
Every noble’s gaze turned toward me. Gasps of admiration burst out from all around.
It was a moment I had imagined in my head many times. Yet now that I actually saw the two men’s roses before my eyes, cold sweat broke out without me realizing it.
“Um…….”
I covered my mouth with the edge of my fan and let out a small, thoughtful hum.
Beyond the fan’s feather decorations, I could see the faces of my family and friends. My older brother and his wife were clutching each other’s hands tightly, practically hopping in place. My great-aunt wore an extremely serious expression as she plucked the rose petals one by one.
Knowing how tense she was, Rose was gulping down liquor she normally barely touched, while Count Silanda kept fidgeting with a pouch full of money.
His Majesty pretended to be indifferent, but he was clearly eager; he sat perched on the very edge of his chair.
The moment I slowly raised my hand, another wave of desperate exclamations erupted from the nobles.
“Ohhh!”
A few of the orchestra musicians even hit the wrong notes while staring at me.
I swallowed hard. I saw Illid’s face, full of anticipation, and Hellion’s face as he tried to hide his emotions.
“Shall we dance, Your Grace Hellion?”
The instant I took Hellion’s rose, both cheers and sighs rang out at once.
Oliver Silanda let out a deep sigh and handed his brother the money pouch. His Majesty simply nodded without a word.
The southern vassals drooped their shoulders and bowed their heads, looking as if they might cry at any moment.
On the other hand, the northern vassals—
“Everyone, a round of congratulatory applause for His Grace the Archduke and the Duchess!”
They once again unleashed a thunderous, military-style clap that threatened to drown out the orchestra.
“I will wait for the next dance. Please honor me with it.”
Having accepted his defeat, Illid spoke with a calm face before turning back toward his vassals.
The orchestra’s prelude was coming to an end. Only then did the nobles begin to hurriedly move about in search of partners.
The stunningly beautiful Baroness Turen already had noblemen of all ages flocking to her. Several young men were already kneeling before Rose as well.
Marchioness Lilche, who apparently saw nothing more of interest, gathered her coat and quietly left the hall.
At last the prelude ended, and the waltz began. I took one step closer to Hellion, who still wore a dazed expression.
“Have you gotten any better at dancing?”
I asked while subtly loosening my body beneath the dress.
“When we learned to dance as children, you were always stepping on my feet.”
I recalled the little Hellion from over ten years ago. Unlike that memory, the now fully grown Hellion stepped boldly toward me.
“It seems in your eyes I still look like I’m six years old—”
Then he wrapped his arm around my waist.
“I’ve eaten my fair share since then.”
“You’re only nineteen.”
“Nineteen is an adult, you know? And my birthday just passed, so I’m twenty now.”
“My, my, little imperial grandson. You’re not upset that I treated you like a child, are you?”
I mimicked the exact words the maids used to say whenever young Hellion threw a tantrum. I thought he wouldn’t remember, but when I saw him pout, it seemed he did recall that time.
Following the orchestra’s waltz, Hellion took my waist and hand and began to move slowly.
Long ago, in this very hall, Primos, Hellion, and I had learned to dance together. For Hellion, who had no partner, I would dance with him after Primos, matching the piano melody.
Hellion would step on my feet once every three steps. Annoyed, I would shove him away in a fit of temper. That would start another fight, which Primos would somehow mediate until we reconciled.
“You’re good now.”
Not only did he no longer step on my feet, Hellion led me with skilled grace. Secretly impressed, I lifted my gaze from his feet to look at his face. When our eyes met, he blushed and quickly looked down.
“Why did you choose me?”
“What kind of question is that? Because I wanted to dance with you, obviously.”
The music began to swell. On the floor, noblemen spun their partners round and round, holding their waists. I fixed my gaze on Hellion’s blue eyes. With him as my anchor, the rest of the world seemed to spin in a dizzying blur.
“Did you really want to dance with me?”
“Of course. There’s no reason to refuse. It brings back old memories and it’s quite enjoyable. What about you? Was there someone else you wanted to dance with instead of me?”
“No, not at all!”
Hellion shook his head quickly. The sight was so adorable I barely held back a laugh.
“Then it seems our hearts are in sync. I look forward to it, my first partner.”
At those words, Hellion’s gaze, which had been avoiding mine, returned to its proper place. A faint spark of joy flickered in his blue eyes.
Today was a day when everyone present should be happy. I had no desire to bring up complicated political matters and ruin Hellion’s mood.
Dancing the first dance with Hellion and wearing this blue dress had both been planned from the start. A duchess’s life meant knowing how to turn even a place filled with lively music into a stage for politics.
I smiled at Hellion. His face was far brighter than when we had first begun dancing. It was fortunate that he believed my words so readily, yet at the same time, it made me feel a pang of guilt.
“I thought you would dance with Brother Illid first.”
“Why?”
“Well…….”
Hellion shrugged as if he wasn’t quite sure himself.
“Just… I had a feeling…….”
If I could truly follow only my heart, then perhaps, as he said, I would have danced the first dance with Illid.
Dancing with Hellion was fun, but dancing with Illid would make my heart flutter.
Hellion was like a brother to me, but Illid could never be that.
With Hellion, I wanted to reminisce about childhood memories, but with Illid, I wanted to dream of a future no one else knew about.
That was the kind of person each of them had been to me until now.
Soon the performance began to wind down. People stopped dancing and offered final greetings to their partners.
Hellion bowed and kissed the back of my hand. I curtsied lightly in return.
“Ishtel.”
Just as I was about to turn away, Hellion called my name. His lips moved as if he had something to say.
“Today you are incredibly… beau….”
“…?”
“Beau… I mean, beau….”
“Beau what?”
“You dance really well, just like before!”
Hellion suddenly burst out in a flustered shout. Then he spun around and practically fled toward the northern vassals.
“What the…….”
Was dancing well something to get angry about? No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t understand. Maybe he was just sulking because I danced better than he did.
‘He really is strange. Definitely not normal.’
Hellion, his face bright red, hid himself among the burly northern vassals. Sir Telia, who had been watching his lord intently, slammed his wine glass down on the table and clutched the back of his neck.
I could see Sir Telia scolding Hellion about something. I was curious what he was saying, but they were too far away for me to hear.
“The northern vassals really have it rough. Having to serve such an immature archduke.”
I shook my head and walked toward where Illid stood.
“You’ve come?”
As I approached, Illid quickly made room beside him and offered me a glass of water.
“Did you wait long?”
“Not at all. Watching the Duchess and Hellion dance made the time pass quickly.”
I nearly spat out my water. As I coughed, Illid swiftly handed me a handkerchief.
“…I’m sorry, Your Grace.”
“What do you mean?”
“Aren’t you mocking me for not choosing you first?”
“No, mocking? I truly lost track of time watching the Duchess dance.”
Illid waved his hands, insisting I not misunderstand.
“The Duchess’s dress was so beautiful I couldn’t take my eyes off it. No, I don’t mean the dress is pretty—I mean you, wearing the dress.”
Having stumbled over his words, Illid waved his hands again. Baroness Turen’s advice had been correct. Illid clearly liked this dress.
“Then shall we now dance with this beautiful dress, Your Grace?”
I took Illid’s hand and led him onto the floor.
“Really, please stop teasing me. I made a mistake.”
Illid gave an awkward, embarrassed smile.
Soon the orchestra began playing a new piece. It was slower and heavier than the previous waltz.
I raised my hands and wrapped them around Illid’s neck and shoulders. He slowly reached out and placed his hands on my waist and shoulder.
Our steps moved quietly and slowly in time with the languid melody. It wasn’t lively, but it was the perfect atmosphere for feeling each other.
I gazed into Illid’s blue eyes. They were always beautiful no matter when I looked at them, but listening to the cello melody while staring into them made my heart tremble even more.
“Were you upset?”
At my question, Illid gave a small nod.
“I was a little upset, but it’s all right.”
Then, in time with the music, he drew the hand holding my waist closer to his body.
“You may go around as many times as you wish. As long as you eventually come to me……”