Engagement (6)

I could feel piercing gazes coming from all directions, most of them filled with negative emotions.

Jealousy, disgust, wrath—these were the predominant sentiments.

Having experienced countless regressions and endured every conceivable type of gaze, I could easily discern the meaning behind their stares.

Yet there was one anomaly.

Despite harboring such hostile emotions, not a single person approached us.

No matter how you looked at it, it was strange that no one swarmed me—the infamous villainess—who had suddenly become the Duke's fiancée.

These were the same nobles who usually pounced on others like rabid hyenas.

"Hey, Abel."

"Hmm? What is it?"

I faltered for a moment at the unexpected honorifics he never used otherwise. When I lifted my head, I saw Abel smiling faintly at me, his lips curved in that familiar, polite manner.

His seemingly kind smile and the dignified way he guided me exuded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an air of nobility.

Was he putting on this act because he was conscious of others watching?

But even accounting for that, his movements were unnaturally smooth.

As expected of a Duke—even his acting was on another level.

"Why isn't anyone coming up to us?"

When I whispered the question, he paused as if deep in thought, then answered quietly.

"Because they know very well that I dislike social gatherings."

There was something weighty in his tone that made me suspicious. But I doubted he'd give me a straight answer even if I pressed him.

In the end, I abandoned the line of questioning and turned my attention toward the owner of a particularly conspicuous gaze.

While most of the stares directed at me were steeped in negativity, this one carried only a glimmer of curiosity.

'...That person.'

When I turned my head, I saw a woman staring straight at me. Even from a distance, her long golden hair and shimmering golden eyes were unmistakable.

'Princess Aria...'

In the original story, she was little more than a cameo character—someone always shrouded in mystery, giving off an air of being a hidden mastermind.

My friend had only explained her because most of the plot threads surrounding her had turned out to be red herrings.

In short, even in the original work, she was an enigmatic character ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whose true nature was never revealed.

'...Now that I think about it, she really does resemble Abel.'

Setting aside the whole "hidden mastermind" aspect, the way she looked at me was eerily similar to his gaze.

'Come to think of it, weren't they together earlier?'

I'd been too tense in the carriage to pay attention.

But now that I recalled, hadn't he and Aria been standing together on the balcony earlier?

Just what was their relationship?

For some reason, the thought made my head spin.

Meanwhile, the orchestra paused briefly between pieces—a sign that the next song was about to begin.

And also a signal that it was time for the banquet's dancing to commence.

'...Wait.'

Before I could finish the thought, Abel extended his hand with a smile.

"Would you care to dance with me?"

"...Of course. I'd love to."

At the very least, if we were to maintain the illusion of being love at first sight in front of others, we had to dance. Even if it was just for appearances, it was better than not doing it at all.

I followed the steps I'd learned from my dance instructor. Just as I took his hand to begin, I nearly twisted my ankle.

Fortunately, Abel seemed to notice—he subtly pulled my hand to steady me before I could stumble.

"You should be careful, Adel."

"...Thank you."

Was this just how romance fantasy male leads were?

Not only were his manners impeccable, but his dancing was also remarkably skilled.

At this point, I was starting to wonder if Abel even had any flaws.

"...Even I have my shortcomings, you know."

"...Huh?"

"Wasn't that what you were thinking?"

Was this what it meant to be a mastermind character?

To think he could read my thoughts so effortlessly. An uneasy shiver ran down my spine, and he sighed before speaking.

"It's written all over your face. You really should learn to control your expressions."

"...Thanks for the advice."

I thought I'd at least mastered a decent poker face... But I guess masterminds were just built differently.

***

'This is so irritating...'

Putting aside the fact that he saw me as some romance fantasy heroine, the way he looked at me—like I was some alien species—really rubbed me the wrong way.

Even if I'd lived in this world for over twenty years, I was still a modern person like her. How dare he look at me like that?

Annoyed, I subtly began leading the dance at a faster pace.

Compared to me, Adel was relatively inexperienced, so she kept her head slightly bowed, her focus entirely on her feet as she struggled to keep up.

Whenever she misstepped, I adjusted my own steps to match, seamlessly keeping the dance going. Thanks to Allen's strict training, I could handle this much with ease.

The music, having resumed, was now building toward its climax.

Adel was too busy trying to follow my lead to even glance up at my face.

As the song neared its end, I slowed the pace slightly. Finally catching her breath, she lifted her head to look at me.

Brimming with frustration, she whispered just loud enough for me to hear.

"Are you happy now?"

"Who told you to look at me like that in the first place?"

"What kind of look?"

"The kind you'd give when looking at a different species."

At my words, she fell silent as if at a loss for a response. Did she have nothing to retort? Well, it was true that Adel had looked at me with that kind of gaze.

"...I'm sorry. I didn't realize it would upset you."

"There's no need to apologize."

"Huh?"

I whispered it close to her ear, then, in retaliation, subtly hooked my leg around hers.

As she naturally stumbled backward, I caught her waist with one hand and gripped her thigh with the other.

It was one of the more challenging finishing poses from the dance manual.

Above all, it was also the kind of pose most likely to embarrass a female partner unaccustomed to dancing.

"Eh?"

"Consider this my way of accepting your apology."

When I said that with a slight smile, Adel stared at me with a dazed expression. Soon, as she regained her senses, her face began flushing as red as a ripe persimmon.

The way she recoiled in embarrassment was unexpectedly adorable—worth watching.

Who would've thought a single pose could make her this flustered?

Come to think of it, as a Possessor, this was probably the first time she had properly danced with a man.

Given Adel's notorious reputation as the Villainess, it was unlikely anyone had ever asked her to dance.

In that case, her reaction made sense. I, too, remember reacting similarly the first time.

After lingering in my arms for a moment, she hastily pushed me away and muttered in a small voice,

"...I'll be more careful next time. That should suffice, right?"

"I'm glad you understood me so well."

At my words, Adel turned her head slightly and began fanning her face with her hand.

Not that it would immediately undo the redness.

As I thought that, the orchestra's performance came to an end.

As the music faded, those who wished to leave did so, while others exchanged partners.

Among them, the young Noble Sons who had been eagerly inviting other noble Young Ladies to dance would hurriedly avert their eyes the moment they met Adel's gaze.

Were they still unfamiliar with the Social Circle?

Avoiding someone's gaze so blatantly was quite a breach of etiquette.

"It seems Adel isn't very popular among the young Noble Sons."

"...Shut up."

I whispered it teasingly. Adel snapped back irritably and made to leave the ballroom.

"Returning to the ducal residence?"

"Yes. The engagement has already been announced, hasn't it?"

"That's true."

I wasn't sure how Engagement Ceremonies were conducted in the real world, but in this one, they weren't typically held.

An engagement, unlike a marriage, was a relationship that could be broken at any time depending on circumstances, so Engagement Ceremonies themselves were rare.

Only when there was a long-standing connection between the two Clans involved would such an event be held.

Even so, Adel and I had decided to hold one. It was necessary to maintain the pretense that we had fallen in love at first sight.

A Duke and a Count's Young Lady, smitten at first sight, even holding an Engagement Ceremony—something most wouldn't do.

The romance-obsessed noble Young Ladies would whisper among themselves, spreading rumors that the love-at-first-sight story was true.

That way, Adel's Villainess image might soften somewhat.

Or, perhaps, it might worsen out of envy.

As I pondered, Adel spoke.

"Then I'll take my leave first. Abel."

"No. I'll accompany you."

At my words, Adel gave me a puzzled look.

"Didn't you have other matters to attend to?"

"Not particularly."

Adel subtly gestured toward a corner of the banquet hall. There, Princess Aria von Shpenheim, her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠long blonde hair cascading down, was staring directly at me.

When our eyes met, Aria grinned and gave a small wave.

'...Here we go again.'

For some reason, her cheerful expression irritated me, and I glared at her. Immediately, she averted her gaze and feigned innocence.

She should at least know when to joke and when not to. It wasn't like she wanted our relationship exposed—what was she thinking?

Officially, she and I were nothing more than acquaintances, so her little stunt right now was incredibly risky.

As I thought this, Adel shot me a questioning look.

"What's your relationship with Princess Aria?"

I sighed and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠answered.

"We're merely acquaintances."

Naturally, I couldn't reveal the truth of our relationship.

She and I were collaborators working to bring down the Imperial House. I didn't trust Adel enough to disclose that.

Of course, thanks to the Original Work, I had a general understanding of Adel's personality. I knew she wasn't the type to carelessly spread others' secrets.

But that didn't mean I could trust her with this.

No matter how tight-lipped Adel was, the nature of my and Aria's connection involved high treason against the Imperial House—something I couldn't casually reveal.

As I considered this, Adel pressed again, her tone skeptical.

"...Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"...Fine. Let's head to the ducal residence."

Adel frowned, clearly displeased, then turned and strode toward the carriage.

Lily, the maid who had been watching from the sidelines, hurried after her.

...What was the problem, anyway?

Having spent the last five years completely uninvolved with women, I couldn't begin to guess.