It's an honor.
It's an honor.
The Pope never showed up, even by the time the banquet began.
I stared blankly at the vacant seat of the Pope, sipping champagne to numb my confused feelings even just a little.
What on earth was he planning, sending only Martian while failing to show up himself?
It was all too obvious that Martian had come to greet me under some order from the Pope.
"Rhea."
"Yes."
"Are you thinking about that old geezer again?"
Elisia snatched my glass away.
She took a sip of the champagne I had been drinking without hesitation, then immediately scrunched up her face.
Since Elisia liked sweet things when it came to food, alcohol probably wasn't quite to her taste.
"Blegh. It tastes awful."
"Then why did you drink it?"
"Because you were drinking it."
"Does that count as a reason?"
"I thought it was tasty!"
Even while acting utterly disgusted, Elisia didn't return the glass to me.
She held onto it, then placed it straight onto the tray of a servant passing by.
"Don't drink gross things."
"If the Saint-nim wishes."
"You sure talk a good game."
Elisia was clinging to me unusually tightly today.
I thought showing off this much would be enough, but apparently, it wasn't enough for her.
It seemed she genuinely planned on sticking by my side all day long.
Of course, as for me, it felt pretty nice.
Her soft body wrapped in a silver-white dress was pressed right against my side, so I could enjoy the sensation.
Just then, the music softly flowing through the banquet hall shifted.
As the gentle melody of string instruments filled the hall, the people gathered in the center began pairing up one by one.
The ball, the highlight of the banquet, had begun.
Of course, Elisia, glued right next to me, merely gazed at the fruit on the table with a face that showed zero interest in dancing.
She didn't pick any up to eat herself.
Apparently, she was waiting for me to feed her.
I picked up a piece of fruit and held it out before her red lips.
"Please eat."
"No."
"If you're not going to eat it, I will put it down."
As I went to pull my hand back because she was playing hard to get and being dishonest again, Elisia grabbed my wrist and took the piece of fruit into her mouth.
"I told you to eat it yourself."
"Your hand got dirty."
"Because I held the fruit."
"Shall I wipe it for you?"
"There's no need."
Regardless of what I said, Elisia brought my hand to her lips.
Realizing what she was trying to do, I hurriedly tried to pull my hand away, but I couldn't overcome Elisia's transcendent strength.
"Saint-nim."
"Yeees?"
Does this woman have no shame even in front of people?
No!
Watching Elisia lick the fingers that had held the fruit, I checked to see if anyone around us was watching.
And naturally, a great many people were looking at us.
Does this woman not know what embarrassment is?
No, if she had known, she wouldn't be doing something like this.
She's just doing this whether people look or not because the whole world belongs to her in her mind.
But that's not the case for me, you know?!
While I was enduring the sheer embarrassment that felt like it would kill me, an unfamiliar woman's voice was heard.
"Excuse me."
Wondering who it was, I looked and saw a young noble lady dressed in a light purple gown.
Pearl ornaments sparkled amid her neatly pinned-up brown hair, and she was bowing her head toward Elisia with a thoroughly nervous face.
"I greet the Saint-nim."
Naturally, Elisia didn't answer as she was busy licking my fingers.
As usual, she treated the person as if she didn't exist at all.
Perhaps the young lady had expected this reaction up to this point, as she promptly looked at me.
Seeing how she didn't keep clinging to Elisia, it seemed I was her goal.
To the extent that she approached me even while seeing our Elisia doing this to me right beside her.
"Adjutant Rhea Valentia-nim."
"Yes."
"This is my first time meeting you today, but I have heard many rumors."
I didn't particularly want to ask what kind of rumors.
Because I roughly already knew that I was called a mad dog.
The young lady demurely reached her hand out toward me, even blushing slightly.
"If it wouldn't be rude, may I request a dance?"
So it's a dance request.
But I'm a woman, though?
Don't people usually ask men?
Even before I could wonder if it was normal for a woman to ask another woman for a dance in the Holy Kingdom, I checked on Elisia.
Checking on Elisia whenever something unpleasant for her happened had already solidified into a habit.
And as expected, her expression had turned sour like she was chewing on a dirty rag.
Her murderously glowing blue eyes were looking down at the young lady's hand.
Those were eyes looking at filth that needed to be eliminated, not a human hand.
At that, I quickly beat her to the punch.
"You cannot."
"Why not."
"There are many people watching."
"So what."
As expected, Elisia looked poised to tear the girl's arm right off if I hadn't stopped her.
Only now did the young lady notice Elisia's gaze and become flustered, but she didn't back down easily.
"Adjutant-nim. Your answer, please."
"I'm sorry, but that is impossi—"
Mid-sentence, Elisia's hand moved, having run out of patience.
Interrupting my own words, I used my Authority and snatched Elisia's wrist.
Then I wrapped an arm around her waist and gently took her hand in mine.
The method to convey rejection to the young lady while calming Elisia down.
Striking first.
"Saint-nim. Do you know how to dance?"
"Of course."
Having grown used to my position instantly shifting through my Authority, Elisia answered without even being flustered now.
Of course, that was a lie.
I knew that Elisia was terrible at dancing, as well as most things involving physical coordination.
Still, I could just lead.
Taking Elisia's hand, I led her onto the dance floor.
Then, did I know how to dance?
Of course not.
Instead, this body of Rhea's was overflowing with physical talent, and seeing the people around us dancing, it didn't look that difficult and seemed doable.
As we stepped into the center of the ballroom, astonished gazes poured in from all around.
It was understandable.
Because Saint Elisia had never danced with anyone until now.
Such an Elisia was about to dance with a mere adjutant of obscure origins.
Even more so, between a woman and a woman.
Be that as it may, standing in the center of the dance floor, I held Elisia's hand with one hand and placed the other on her slender waist to get into proper position.
Beneath the silver-white dress, I could feel her soft curves and body warmth.
Elisia also followed suit with me for now.
"Please come a little closer."
"I'm already close?"
"To dance, we need to be closer together."
"Like this?"
"It seems a bit excessive, but... yes. That is fine."
Elisia took a bold step toward me.
Her voluptuous breasts, wrapped in the dress, lightly brushed against my chest and squished softly.
Having set our stance, I moved my feet first to match the tempo of the music.
"Right foot back."
"I know."
Contrary to her reply, Elisia's shoe stepped right on the top of my foot.
"That hurts."
"Don't exaggerate."
"It really hurts."
"You're the one who moved weirdly."
No way.
I saw you stammering and moving forward when I told you to move back, you know?
I held it in for now.
I knew she couldn't dance, and I brought her out knowing that anyway.
Another step.
This time it was the left foot.
Even if this body has Regeneration, it really hurts.
Elisia seemed to be groaning and trying her best in her own way, but her truly disastrous lack of talent was the problem.
The surrounding people watching us even began showing signs of holding back laughter.
Along with that, Elisia's expression grew increasingly ferocious.
Rather than feeling embarrassed about being unable to dance, she seemed angrier that people were watching it.
"Shall I kill them all?"
"Isn't it just that Saint-nim can't dance?"
"It is not that I can't dance."
"Then please stop stepping on my feet."
"You dodge them on your own."
Even while saying that, Elisia's steps tangled up in the end, and she stepped on top of my foot again.
I tried to resolve it as gently as possible, but in the end, I couldn't endure it.
At this rate, my feet wouldn't remain in one piece.
Grabbing Elisia's waist with both hands, I lightly lifted her up.
"What are you doing?"
"At this rate, my feet will end up flattened before the banquet ends."
I pressed the lifted Elisia completely against my body, having her stand with both feet atop mine right from the start.
This hurt a bit too, but it was better than getting stamped on while stepping.
Besides, this position offered its own kind of reward, making it bearable.
"I will do everything."
Naturally, the two of our bodies pressed completely against each other.
Her soft chest, belly, and hips touched my body across the fabric of our dresses.
A cold scent of roses rushed over me all at once.
"Please stay still."
"Put me down."
"I refuse."
"I'll kill you."
"Kill me after the dance is over."
With Elisia atop my feet, I began to step to the rhythm.
It was practically closer to moving while hugging Elisia than actual dancing, but this had its own charm, so whatever.
And despite Elisia's grumbling, she seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit.
"How is it?"
"Terrible."
"It's my first time dancing too, so thank you for the compliment that it's wonderful."
"Good grief."
The black dress and the silver-white dress twirled, intertwining with each other.
Lush black hair and brilliant silver hair crossed in midair.
Elisia's smooth waist and hips moved along with my guidance, and each time our bodies spun, her fair and beautiful face brushed right in front of mine.
"People are looking."
"Naturally, because it's us."
"What do you mean us? It's because it's me."
"Let's go with that."
As we conversed in whispers, the gazes around us grew even more intense.
They seemed curious about what we were talking about.
Not that I'm going to tell them.
They can just daydream all they want.
Of course, that was my stance, and Elisia was different.
Burying her head on my shoulder, she swept her chilly, piercing blue gaze across the banquet hall.
"Won't you lower your eyes?"
Her cold voice pierced through the music and spread.
The onlookers averted their gazes simultaneously.
"Are you satisfied now?"
"No."
"What are you dissatisfied with now?"
"Those things saw us dancing."
"Let them watch. Just how pretty our Saint-nim is."
"That's an obvious fact, so I don't care."
"Then what is your complaint?"
"They're looking at you with insolent eyes. When you're mine, how dare they."
I'm not yours either, though.
For now, it was an expected answer.
Without answering, I took the final spin slowly in time with the music.
By now, Elisia had completely surrendered her body to me while standing atop my feet.
When the music ended, I placed Elisia down on the floor.
Her shoes touched the marble floor.
Yet Elisia still remained pressed against me and didn't let go of her arms.
"It is over."
"I know."
"Then please let go."
"I don't want to."
"Why?"
"Just because."
Resting her chin on my shoulder, Elisia glared at the surroundings.
It seemed she was marking me as hers until the very, very end.
I'm telling you, I belong to myself, though?
"Next time, please practice in advance."
"Me?"
"Yes. If you wish to dance like this next time as well, you don't have to."
"Ha. Why would I?"
What do you mean 'why'.
Isn't it nice to dance together?
Having just tried it, it was surprisingly fun.
I provoked this precious brat of a Saint-nim to make her practice dancing.
"If Saint-nim doesn't practice, I will dance with someone else."
"You."
"Yes?"
"Consider it an honor. Because I'll practice."
"It's an honor."
Our Saint-nim is truly easy to handle.
I gave a bright smile to Elisia, who was looking at me with intensely dissatisfied eyes.
See, you should have been good from the start.