Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Puberty or Perversion
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My eyes meet Lucy's as she stares at me in bewilderment right in front of me.
"...Y-Your Highness. What in the world..."
She tilts her head quizzically as she looks at me, and I meet her gaze while tilting my own head right back.
"What?"
"No, I mean... um..."
Lucy locks eyes with me before quickly averting her gaze.
"Never mind."
"Okay."
With that, I extend my hand to her again.
"So, are we dancing or not?"
"...Of course we are."
She looks at me, rolling her eyes this way and that, before finally offering her hand.
"I wanted to dance with you too, Your Highness."
"Good to hear."
I nod and glance at Lucy before turning my eyes elsewhere.
We were drawing more attention than I'd expected.
"Maybe it's because I'm a prince, but it feels like a lot of people are staring at me."
"..."
Lucy gazes at me quietly in response to my mutter.
"That might be part of it, but..."
"Hm?"
"No, it's nothing."
She shakes her head slightly at my words.
"I feel like I'm the one getting more stares."
"Are you bragging that you're the star of the show right now?"
"No, that's not it... Ugh. I guess you wouldn't understand how I feel, Your Highness."
Why wouldn't I understand?
I know all about kids showing off.
Especially that feeling of being the center of the world. Of course I get it.
"..."
Lucy stares at me quietly.
I occasionally notice it, but the kids here sometimes seem mature beyond their years.
Not in appearance, but in their aura, I suppose.
Maybe it's the difference in education.
Or perhaps because lifespans were shorter in the past?
As I gaze at her lost in such pointless thoughts,
a warm sensation spreads through my hand.
"...For now."
I turn to look, and there's Lucy, murmuring shyly while gazing at me.
"Thank you for dancing the first song with me."
"No problem."
First song.
Since balls like this go on for a while, partners naturally switch, but I'd heard that who you dance the first one with is pretty important.
People love attaching meaning to trivial things.
It's something I always notice in this world.
There's a solid big-picture framework, and even the details are well-structured, but the truly grand elements are lacking.
Like having the seeds of fruit but the trees being haphazard.
I should study more once I get out of this world.
With that thought, I step out into the ballroom.
By now, countless couples had joined hands.
Lucy and others too...
...but I don't see my family.
As I scan the surroundings with that in mind,
my eyes meet those of my family staring at me from afar.
Lily-sis with her eyes squeezed shut, Ravire-sis gnawing on her handkerchief.
And...
"..."
...Mother glaring at Lucy.
Why is she glaring at Lucy?
"Your Highness, what are you looking at? Me too—"
"Nothing."
I desperately stop Lucy from turning her head and resume our steps.
If she happened to catch Mother's eye, she might end up terrified out of her wits.
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
With that in mind, I continue dancing with Lucy.
"...Your Highness."
After dancing intently for who knows how long, Lucy speaks to me quietly.
"Your Highness, have you ever taken dance lessons?"
"Yeah."
What kind of royalty can't dance properly?
Of course, I didn't have a dedicated specialist teacher.
There were plenty of instructors around me, so it worked out.
Clue was especially helpful.
She'd say, 'Homunculi can do this too,' and keep dancing with me over and over.
I nearly died after two hours of it, but thanks to that relentless training, I guess you could say I achieved some results.
"No, of course you'd have... "
Lucy's words trail off as she dances with me.
The music was building toward its climax, and she scratches her cheek awkwardly before speaking up.
"How should I put it... You seem too familiar with it."
"Familiar? With what?"
I watch her as we step smoothly.
"Well, um..."
Lucy trails off again.
"More precisely, the way you touch feels familiar..."
"I see."
Well, yeah. I'd practiced so much with Clue's body.
"Look at the others."
At her words, I glance around briefly.
The boys my age were rolling their eyes clumsily, unable to handle their gazes properly.
Staring at the floor or avoiding faces altogether. Each handling their shyness in their own way.
Some even put on blank expressions.
Of course, that stuff is all bravado, basically.
Twelve-year-old boys haven't hit puberty yet.
Unlike the girls.
Which makes their actions come off a bit childish inevitably.
"See? No one else dances like that."
"Hm."
True enough.
But I've got age on my side, and I'm too old for that nonsense.
"So I thought maybe you'd danced with other girls before."
Lucy mutters, pursing her lips.
Ah, now I get it completely.
"You hoped I'd save my first dance for you?"
"Th-that's not it."
She averts her eyes, mumbling.
"I was just curious. Who did you practice with? And if you'd actually done it..."
"With Clue."
"That maid-like one?"
Lucy's eyes widen at my words.
Come to think of it, does Lucy know Clue's a homunculus?
"A maid who teaches dancing too? Impressive."
"She's not your average maid."
You could call her all-purpose.
She can do anything.
Guard duty, dancing.
And if push comes to shove, rip an attacker's arm off.
"...Do you like that maid?"
The steps grow more intense.
As I dance with Lucy, she looks up at me.
Depends on what kind of 'like' she means.
But at least I know she's not asking in a familial sense.
"Nah."
"Really?"
"Besides, 'liking' someone is a one-way street anyway."
Sorry, Clue, but it's doubtful she even understands love, and more than that, my conscience twinges at the thought of heart flutters with kids. It doesn't really hit home either.
"...So, Your Highness, do you have an ideal type?"
"Hm."
I ponder her question as we step along.
The song is nearing its end.
My ideal type, huh.
She's just a kid anyway, so maybe I can be honest.
"I want to live easy."
"Pardon?"
Lucy blinks at my words.
"Don't you want to live easy, Lucy?"
"Uh... well, I've never really thought about it."
Spoiled as she is.
The greatest goal in life is to live comfortably.
At least for me.
"I want to live easy."
"...Aren't you already living easy, Your Highness?"
"No."
She has no idea.
"Really, I just want to do nothing and live."
"..."
Lucy stares at me blankly.
"Sometimes, it sounds just like what our butler says."
"Yeah?"
"He's an old man. And you say the exact same things as him."
"Anyway, I like a woman who makes my life easier."
Too direct?
Kids won't even know if it's direct or not.
I can watch my words later in betrothal meetings or whatever. For now, just throw it out there.
At the same time, the music fades to an end.
"...Whew."
"..."
We slowly part, and Lucy does the same.
Applause echoes through the hall, and as we start heading back to our seats together,
"Got it."
"Hm?"
Lucy's voice rings out. I turn to her, and
"I'll do something about it."
Do what?
But before I can say anything, someone tackles me from behind.
"Ugh!"
"Theo!"
It was Ravire-sis.
"Dance with me now!"
"Wait, Sis..."
"Hurry!"
Before I can get a word out, Ravire-sis drags me by the hand, and I'm helplessly pulled along.
When I glance back at Lucy for a moment, she's lost in thought with a very serious expression.
Ravire dances with Theodor from afar.
For a moment, he's tossed about by her vigorous movements, but soon he catches up to her rhythm, and Ravire smiles as she follows his lead.
And Lucy simply watches them.
A man who makes life easy.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
A voice reaches her ears.
"...Your Highness."
Lily is gazing at her quietly, and Lucy slowly bows in greeting.
For the first time, she doesn't feel scared of her.
"Theo's so kind."
And then Lily's voice drifts into Lucy's ears.
"..."
"So considerate."
She slowly turns to look at Lily, who keeps her eyes fixed on Theo dancing with Ravire, without returning the glance.
Lucy's impression that fury was swirling in her eyes fades in an instant.
As if it had never been there, Lily turns slowly and meets Lucy's gaze.
The simmering anger is gone just like that.
"I hope you don't mistake that consideration for anything else, Lady Rig."
"..."
Before Lucy can respond, Lily walks slowly away into the distance.
Lucy watches her for a moment before turning her eyes back to Theo.
Still dancing.
Ideal type, ideal type...
"..."
When I get home, I need to ask Dad how to make a man live easy.
With that thought, Lucy starts walking.
She leaves the ballroom, muttering about how she'll tear her father's chest to shreds.
"Theo!"
Ravire-sis beams brightly as we dance.
"You okay?"
"Hm?"
"You looked upset!"
Me? Not at all.
"I wasn't?"
"No, you looked upset!"
As if I should've been upset, Ravire-sis laughs and waves her hand.
Why would dancing with Lucy upset me?
"You were upset, right?"
"No...?"
"You were."
"..."
She's not listening at all.
Ravire-sis steps lightly and nimbly,
"Come on, dance with me!"
I match steps with her and glance into the distance.
Lucy's already out of sight.
But my ball was far from over.
"..."
Fine then. Let's make a proper connection at this ball.
I steel my eyes, recalling the plan I'd made with Clue and Isfil.
Yeah. Time to scout this time.
For raw gems.
My gaze shifts to the few merchants' representatives permitted to attend the ball.
They were my targets.