You Called Me Your Person?
I headed to the center of the banquet hall with Cecilia in tow, hand in hand with her.
“Whoa. People are staring at me like I’ve grown a second head.”
I understood perfectly how ridiculous the situation was in my head.
The empire’s highest noblewoman accepting a dance partner request from some lowly secretary?
And it was her first dance at a banquet ever since she’d become empress.
It would be strange not to draw attention.
“……”
The gathered nobles parted left and right, opening a path. Was this the miracle of Moses?
But for me, I would have preferred they blocked the way.
Because once we reached the center, there was no escaping the dance with Cecilia.
My heart was racing like it might burst.
It wasn’t because I felt any rational attraction to her.
It was just that the entire situation was overwhelming and nerve-wracking.
‘I’m truly screwed…’
Meanwhile, the gazes from the aristocratic young ladies fixed on me were dripping with jealousy and envy.
The extra pressure made my tension unbearable, wondering if I could even manage the dance properly…
But contrary to my fears, we quickly reached the center of the hall.
“Hands.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
We took the dance position, holding each other’s hands. The hall fell into instant silence.
The orchestra didn’t even start playing, and the chattering nobles fell quiet.
This was the first dance of the evening banquet.
And on top of that, Cecilia’s very first dance at the banquet.
The center was empty except for the two of us.
That was only natural. The host or organizer usually started the first dance.
Cecilia satisfied both conditions.
And once the host began, the other guests would not interrupt.
Meaning: one mistake, and I would be laughed at for the rest of my life!
“Luke.”
Cecilia called my name in a soft voice.
Our bodies were so close that her words reached my ear clearly.
“Yes?”
“Have you ever learned to dance?”
“I have, but I’m not very good at it.”
“Hmm……”
A troubled look appeared on Cecilia’s face.
But there was no undoing what had already happened.
“Fortunately the first piece has a slow tempo. I’ll lead you properly, so just follow along.”
“I will do my best, Your Majesty.”
Cecilia gave a signal to the orchestra, who began a slow, gentle melody. The hall instantly filled with music.
Cecilia extended her left hand and left foot to the side on the beat. Fortunately I knew the song, so I followed her movements without issue.
“It seems you know the steps.”
“Yes. I practiced this piece a few times.”
“Good.”
Cecilia looked visibly relieved.
The next move was two steps to the left. We faced each other, then turned our heads to face forward together.
In my memory this move required a slightly faster tempo. But Cecilia took it a touch slower than I remembered.
Probably her consideration for me.
That made it even more important to stay alert.
One mistake would turn both of us into the joke of the hall.
“Surprisingly well. I’m relieved.”
“I’m giving it everything to match Your Majesty.”
“That’s a good attitude.”
A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
The slow melody began to pick up speed. This was the midpoint.
“Luke. Are you curious why I chose you as dance partner?”
“Eh?”
Her unexpected question made me blurt out the first thing that came to mind.
Fortunately the music filled the hall, so our voices stayed private.
“Because you would be curious. And my thoughts also include something that needs explaining.”
“Yes. I’m curious.”
Since the empress had offered, there was no reason to refuse.
Cecilia continued the next move while speaking.
“Actually, I saw you at the dais with the Marquis Marlboro. Leaving through the side door together.”
“……”
Should I have kept my curiosity to myself?
But it was too late to take back the spilled words. Damn it.
“I apologize for causing you concern.”
“I wasn’t criticizing you. You probably wouldn’t have gone to meet the marquis first.”
“Yes… that’s true.”
Ah, thank goodness.
I let out an inward sigh of relief.
“What did the marquis ask of you?”
I couldn’t answer immediately. The 360-degree spin move was next.
“That last move wasn’t bad at all.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“So, answer the question.”
Cecilia asked again.
Yes. Since I’d already seen us with the marquis, there was no hiding it.
And Cecilia was far more rational than I expected. She wouldn’t act rashly just because of the story.
I trusted that and told her everything about my conversation with the marquis.
“Oh? Demanding a transaction over information about me.”
“Yes. He said it clearly.”
After hearing my explanation, Cecilia fell into thought, even while we continued dancing.
Dancing while keeping a secret conversation?
This was truly tricky.
“The marquis acted rather hastily.”
She spoke calmly, more than I’d expected.
“It could mean he sees you as highly valuable talent.”
“……”
I stayed silent. Cecilia gave a light, sarcastic laugh.
Honestly, her reaction was a little hard to understand.
Anger or at least a sigh of relief would have been more fitting.
“Perhaps he simply tried to lure me because I’m the one closest to Your Majesty.”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
“Really?”
Her reply was soft. “Of course we’re close. We receive a lot of varied information. But was the marquis’s goal only that?”
Her ruby-red eyes sparkled with something like expectation as she looked at me. It was like a teacher waiting for the perfect answer from her student.
The next move was to press our bodies together and take five big steps.
I focused on the steps, my mind racing.
“In the end, I think he tried to use you to pull me into the aristocratic faction.”
“Same here.”
Satisfaction flickered in Cecilia’s eyes.
“That would strike a blow to my imperial authority.”
“We could never get along with them.”
“It’s a pity, but yes.”
The melody now surged toward the climax. Dancing with Cecilia for even a minute or two was all I could hope for.
If I finished these minutes without a single mistake, the nobles’ gossip would end!
“Now you know why I chose you as dance partner.”
“To warn them?”
“Warn…?”
A strange smile appeared at the corner of Cecilia’s mouth. It looked like mockery toward the marquis, but not entirely.
“Then what kind of warning is it?”
The answer wasn’t easy.
“You can’t obtain my weaknesses through me, so don’t dream of that.”
“Half correct.”
This move was to lightly clasp only our right hands and stretch the left leg straight back.
I almost lost focus for a split second, but Cecilia’s lead saved me.
“If it’s not an imposition, may I ask about the other half?”
“Oh? You didn’t notice.”
Cecilia raised an eyebrow, giving me a knowing smile. As if my failure was amusing to her.
Now only one final move remained in our dance.
The music raced toward its peak, and we prepared for the closing steps with lighter feet than before.
Even so, Cecilia kept her lips moving without any sign of fatigue.
“It could stay a secret, but I know it would worry you, so I’ll tell you.”
The moment for the final move was almost here.
The move was for the female partner to fall backward as if collapsing, supported by the male partner’s right hand so she wouldn’t fall.
I took a deep breath,
“It’s right then… that I want to let everyone know you’re mine.”
The music reached its absolute climax!
I steadied Cecilia’s shoulder with my right hand, making sure she didn’t fall.
I finished the dance perfectly!
A thrill ran through me.
“……”
Our breaths, pressed close, brushed my ears. With a little more concentration I might have even heard her heartbeat.
“It’s that I want everyone to know you’re my person.”
“!”
My breath caught. I never imagined she would say it like that…
It left me dizzy, but we had to finish the dance.
I helped her stand up. Immediately applause erupted from all around.
“You won’t let anyone else take this capable secretary. Think of that as the message.”
“Ah. I see… what meaning it had.”
“Hm? Were you expecting something else?”
“No, I wasn’t…”
I’d taken “my person” literally, as meaning between two women.
And then she clearly clarified it wasn’t…
Actually, that made me happy!
“Now you may go.”
“Yes. Thank you for leading me, Your Majesty.”
I bowed to Cecilia and returned to my original spot.
* * *
Duke Montersen showed no sign of hiding his discomfort at the sight of a mere secretary dancing with the empress.
“He actually looks quite fitting…”
His eldest son, Theo, standing beside him, let out a calm comment.
Theo had been among the many men who requested dance partners when Cecilia rose from the dais.
“Why couldn’t you even request a proper dance partner?”
“I tried, Father. But how am I supposed to get closer to someone who doesn’t even refuse?”
Duke Montersen’s stomach turned at his son’s answer. If no one else were watching, he would have given the oversized, foolish boy a good smack on the back.
“Then you should have chased him to the end.”
“Come on. That won’t work on him.”
The duke’s headache worsened from their arguing. He let out a heavy sigh and pressed his fingers to his forehead.
Then he watched Luke’s every move as the secretary left the center of the hall.
‘I need some kind of countermeasure…’