Preparations for the Ball (1)
Just three days after my tea time with the Emperor, I received another summons from him and headed to the greenhouse once more.
...What's going on? Didn't he usually call me once a week?
I broke out in a cold sweat down my back, wondering if I'd slipped up somehow during that call with my homeland a few days ago.
But the Emperor's demeanor when I arrived at the greenhouse was completely different from what I'd expected.
"Oh, there you are."
"Yes, Your Majesty. You summoned me?"
"Indeed. Come, sit. Today I've brewed some of the finest tea leaves from the south. The very best from near your homeland—I wonder if it'll suit your taste."
"Thank you so much for going to such lengths, Your Majesty."
Instead of his usual impassive, pressure-filled aura, the Emperor greeted me with an oddly kind and gentle attitude.
...Why the sudden change? It's creepy.
It felt like the last meal for a condemned prisoner; the tea wouldn't go down my throat easily.
But as if to ease my tension, the Emperor chatted lightly about the weather or books he'd read in the library lately. Normally, he'd fire off sharp questions that I'd have to wring answers for from my brain, but today he just nodded indulgently at whatever I said.
It was suspicious, but not unwelcome, so I played along appropriately and sipped my tea.
Once our cups were mostly empty, the Emperor got to the point.
"By the way, as I mentioned a few days ago, the Empire's grand social season will be upon us in about a month."
"Yes, I remember."
"Daytime will bring nobles, foreign envoys, and hostages together for light refreshments... but the true highlight of the social season is the evening ball."
The Emperor set down his teacup and gazed at me steadily.
"You'll be at the center of high society, so you'd best not slack on your dance practice. The Empire's nobles are tiresome lot—they'll chew on any little misstep for days if your dancing is even slightly off."
I reflexively flashed an awkward smile and replied,
"Ah... I'll keep that in mind, but honestly, I've never danced at a ball even once, so I'm worried."
"...What did you say?"
For a moment, the air in the greenhouse seemed to freeze.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes at me, as if he couldn't comprehend what he'd just heard.
"A royal who's never danced at a ball?"
"...Ah."
Oh shit.
I wanted to smack my own mouth.
As an ordinary college student from my past life in Korea, I'd obviously never done the waltz or any ballroom dancing, and in this life, I hadn't properly attended a ball either. A backwater kingdom like Sterling wouldn't have had proper ones to begin with. Holding hands and going round in circles—that was Sterling-style dancing.
...But explaining that would be a hassle too.
As suspicion flickered in the Emperor's eyes, I racked my brain desperately to survive. Fine, time to sell out someone who owed me one.
Sorry, Sterling King. You sold me out like a girl anyway—now it's your turn.
I adopted a bitter, pitiable expression and cast my eyes downward.
"...It's embarrassing, but Father was extremely averse to me appearing at balls."
"Averse? Why?"
"Because if I attended... all the attention and interest from the nobles that should have gone to Brother Joseph—that is, Sterling's crown prince—would pour onto me instead."
I fiddled with the rim of my teacup, lowering my voice as if wounded.
"Worried that it would undermine Brother's position, Father strictly forbade me from even learning the waltz or any ballroom dances. On ball nights, I was always stuck in a corner. So of course I've never danced."
"...".
As my excuse wrapped up, the Emperor stared at me with his mouth slightly agape, at a loss for words. His purple eyes trembled faintly.
"...Hoo."
The Emperor rubbed his forehead and shook his head as if exasperated.
I couldn't read his exact thoughts, but judging from the incredulous look on his face, my lie had landed quite convincingly.
With a deep sigh, he spoke in a much softer tone than before.
"...Well. If you haven't learned, you can start now."
"Thank you for your leniency, Your Majesty."
"We can't have you shaming yourself in Imperial high society, so just pick up the basics. All those imperial kids you're close to are seasoned dancers—they can teach you."
The Emperor stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Who would be best... Ah—no, learn from Chloe."
"You mean Her Highness the Second Imperial Princess?"
"Yes. She's been holed up in the library anyway, probably lacking exercise. Use dancing as an excuse to drag her outside. Chloe's quite skilled, and she loves teaching others—she'll make an excellent instructor."
The Emperor waved me off with a strangely pleased expression.
"Off with you. I'll be expecting great things from your ball preparations."
Escaping the greenhouse, I let out a heavy sigh as I returned to my quarters.
Phew, close call. But it worked out.
I plopped onto the bed and picked up the communication magic crystal from the table.
Amber had told me it could connect to the imperial intranet, so I infused it with mana and dialed Second Princess Chloe's number.
Hummm—
Moments later, a soft glow rose above the crystal, followed by Chloe's voice.
"Prince Ian? What brings you to call?"
"Ah, Your Highness. I have a favor to ask, so I reached out."
"A favor? If it's from you, Prince, I'll grant anything. What is it?"
Chloe's voice was far gentler and warmer than usual.
"His Majesty commanded me to prepare for the social season ball in a month... but I've never danced before. He suggested I learn from Your Highness, so I took the liberty of contacting you. Would you be willing to teach me?"
"...You've never danced? Not even once?"
"Yes... It's a long story, but the corner of the ballroom was usually my spot."
A very brief silence followed from the crystal.
But instead of prying, Chloe replied with utmost kindness.
"Of course. I'll teach you properly."
"Thank you so much, Your Highness. Where should we meet?"
"Come to my annex palace. Ask Sir White for directions—she'll know. You'll come right away, won't you? I'll be waiting, Prince."
"Understood. Heading out now."
The call ended.
I stepped out with light footsteps.
Today was supposed to be lower-body training with the Second Prince, but thanks to the Emperor's orders, I could skip it with a clear conscience.
At the same time, in the underground gymnasium of the Imperial Palace.
Shirtless Second Prince Arthur lifted and lowered a massive dumbbell, eagerly awaiting his excellent training partner's imminent arrival.
Ian's core muscles are developing splendidly. I can up the weight today.
As he hummed contentedly while warming up his muscles, an imperial servant timidly opened the gymnasium door.
"Um, Your Highness the Second Prince..."
"Hm? What is it? Ian Sterling hasn't arrived? He's late."
"Well... Prince Ian won't be coming for training today."
"What?"
Arthur's thick brows furrowed sharply.
"How dare he break our sacred appointment! What's the reason?!"
"By His Majesty's command, he must attend to other preparations for the ball."
"Father's command?"
Only then did Arthur's fierce momentum wane.
"...Well, if it's Father's command, no helping it."
Arthur smacked his lips regretfully.
"What preparations, anyway? For the ball?"
"H-He went to the annex where Princess Chloe resides. Apparently to learn ballroom dancing from her."
"...What?"
In an instant, Arthur hurled the enormous dumbbell to the floor.
The thick leather mats did nothing to stop the gymnasium from shaking like an earthquake.
As the servant toppled over in shock, Arthur bulged his purple eyes and bellowed,
"The Empire's finest dancer is right here—why the hell go to that bookworm for lessons?!"
Arthur's bold claim was, astonishingly, true.
Many dismissed him as a muscle-headed fool, but he was a genius among geniuses who mastered any physical motion. Give him one step, and he'd perfect the dance; explain the principle of any move, and he'd execute it flawlessly.
Dancing was child's play he'd mastered long ago. At actual balls, he'd dominate the floor with perfect steps, his massive frame moving lightly.
To him, his training partner ditching him to learn from his bookworm little sister was an unbearable insult.
"No, I have to drag him back myself!"
Arthur flung his towel to the ground, slung his sweat-soaked shirt haphazardly over one shoulder, and kicked open the gymnasium door as he charged out.
"Wait, Ian!! I'll show you true steps with my own body!!"
The enraged muscle prince's roar echoed thunderously through the underground palace corridors.