Chapter 153
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 153
I blinked, staring at Ferdinand’s hand extended toward me.
Wait.
What?
Huh?
I wouldn’t have been this shocked if Kim Ddong-byul had suddenly turned into a human and reached out to me.
Even in my daze, I noticed his hand was covered in scars. It was completely different from the clean, pristine hand I had seen before.
So, he changes too.
I thought he would only change after meeting Corico.
“Lady Frezier?”
“Ah. Yes, Your Highness. But, I was originally supposed to dance with Prince Dave…”
That brat Dave had been carried out with his eyes rolled back in his head. Quite the unsightly scene.
As if reading my thoughts, Ferdinand spoke.
“My brother has a weak constitution. I hope you understand.”
He certainly is weak, I muttered to myself.
To be honest, I didn’t realize Dave was such a total weakling. To think he’d be carried out just because his feet were stepped on twice. I had intended to trample his insteps not twice, but three thousand times.
If I’d done that, I’d probably be locked in the underground prison by now.
Charged with the attempted assassination of royalty or something.
I felt a sudden surge of gratitude for Ferdinand’s abrupt appearance—and for the way he’d snatched me away from Dave to dance the debutante dance.
In the end, the Crown Prince had essentially saved me.
Of course, it wasn’t like Ferdinand intended to do me a favor, but isn’t my safety what matters most?
I made up my mind instantly and flashed a bright smile.
“Since I’ve already drawn the red bead, it’s impossible for me to dance with any gentleman other than Your Highness.”
Taking Ferdinand’s hand, I performed a light curtsy, following the etiquette for a lady asked to dance by royalty.
“It is an honor, Your Royal Highness.”
Without a change in expression, the Crown Prince led me onto the floor.
He’s shorter than me.
His back looked like that of a young boy, yet his presence felt larger than anyone else in the room. It was strange. Was it because he held the highest rank?
We reached the center of the floor.
Unlike before, when only Ferdinand and Dave had occupied the space, this time numerous couples joined us.
Now that the first dance with the same sex was over, it was time for the first dance with the opposite sex. This moment was effectively the highlight of the debutante ball.
Whether for the benefit of their families, because they’d caught each other’s eye today, by pure chance, or simply because they were the only ones left—for all sorts of reasons, many ladies and gentlemen stood holding hands, looking nervous.
If I had to pick the most nervous person among them…
It’d be me. Dammit.
I could still feel the sharp sting of the heels I’d had specially made for today beneath my feet.
I stole a glance down at the Crown Prince’s shoes. Fortunately, he was wearing the standard dress shoes worn by young lords at debutantes.
He is the Crown Prince, after all.
Sure, he was a Crown Prince heavily persecuted by his stepmother, the Empress! And sure, he was a Crown Prince who’d had to throw himself onto the battlefield!
But surely he’s a much better dancer than me!
I tried my best to relax and ease my tension.
Just as I was mentally rehearsing the steps I needed to take, text I really didn’t want to see flickered brilliantly before my eyes.
[System] Sudden Quest Triggered!
[System] Sudden Quest Objective: Step on the ‘Crown Prince’s’ feet fewer than 10 times during the ball!
Success Reward: New control over ‘Kim Ddong-byul’ unlocked.
Failure Penalty: One of the male leads will die at random.
Abort Penalty: Marriage to the Second Prince, Dave Ewigkeit {Main Quest Failure (Death)}
“…”
God, I’m going to kill that Kim Ddong-byul today and go straight to hell.
* * *
Ferdinand was holding Tulia Frezier’s hand, so he felt it the moment her hand began to tremble.
He couldn’t be sure, but it felt as though she had seen something that left her utterly shocked and enraged.
Yet, Tulia wasn’t looking anywhere else. She had been looking at his face when she suddenly seemed to be struck by a massive blow.
Ferdinand’s brow furrowed slightly. He cast a brief glance toward the mirrors on the wall. Though the distance was great, Ferdinand possessed exceptional kinetic vision.
“My Lady.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
Her response came out smoothly enough.
If it weren’t for the immense fury flickering in her forest-green eyes, Ferdinand would have likely lost interest in Tulia Frezier immediately.
Probably.
Most likely.
Ferdinand asked, genuinely curious.
“Is my face that hideous?”
“Pardon? No?”
“Then why the look?”
Ferdinand looked up at her and asked bluntly.
“You look like you’re furious.”
* * *
Wow. What is with his intuition?
Is this what it means to be a male lead? Of course, as a villainess, I was also equipped with the intellect, virtue, and physical prowess of my role.
“My apologies, Your Highness. It’s not that I’m angry. I’m wearing new shoes today, and the heels are a bit high. I was just worried I might accidentally step on your feet, and I suppose I failed to control my expression out of nerves.”
Ninety percent of that was the absolute truth.
I’m terrified I’ll step on you, Prince…
“It’s fine.”
“Pardon?”
Ferdinand’s crimson eyes swept over my shoes before traveling back up to my face.
“I’m saying it’s fine if you step on me.”
“…”
What could I have possibly said to that?
I should have used my brain to come up with an elegant, lady-like response befitting a noble.
But before I could even express my gratitude for his sincerity, a sweet melody began to flow.
The debutante ball had officially begun.
And then.
“Ah!”
“I-I’m sorry!”
“Gah!”
“I didn’t mean to step on you…!”
“I-It’s fine… Urgh!”
The debutante balls of the Brillant Empire were exactly like this.
Before their debutante, nobles were forbidden from dancing with the opposite sex in public, excluding family members. The same applied to the same sex.
That was why it was so meaningful.
And that was why it was… a den of mistakes!
Was the bouncy, beautiful music from the Imperial Orchestra perhaps intended to drown out the screams coming from all directions?
The apologies of ladies and the muffled groans of young lords trying to look cool while enduring the pain could be heard in short bursts everywhere.
Dammit.
Of course, my situation was far more urgent.
[System] 1 count deducted.
[System] 9 attempts remaining.
.
.
.
[System] 6 counts deducted.
[System] 4 attempts remaining.
That was right. I had already crunched down on Ferdinand’s instep six times.
And what were my shoes again?
They were a type of weapon I’d spent a fortune on to ward off the evil spirit known as Dave.
And here I was, using that weapon to demolish the feet of a human being who was both a male lead and the Crown Prince of this empire.
Do you think I was in my right mind?
Especially with a quest hanging over my head?
When we spun around the floor and I caught a glimpse of the mirrored wall, I was genuinely startled.
Instead of the beautiful Tulia Frezier from earlier, there was a demon with bloodshot eyes.
A poor soul drenched in the desperate desire to survive and the agonizing need to stop crushing Ferdinand’s feet!
Ah, but I think I’m screwed.
Why do you think I didn’t practice dancing as Tulia?
Lisian had been my practice partner until the day before he left for the Academy. I’d stepped on Leon Frezier’s feet a few times on purpose, but I’d practiced as hard as I could.
I knew Tulia was uncoordinated, but honestly, I didn’t think it was this bad!
She’s good at riding horses and everything else, so why does she turn into a disaster the moment she starts dancing?
It was like she was the girl from the fairy tale with the possessed red shoes, stomping on her partner’s feet like a madwoman!
It’s because I kept dwelling on the quest window.
That was it.
As I re-read the Sudden Quest, I felt a sense of confusion—no, suspicion.
Success Reward: New control over ‘Kim Ddong-byul’ unlocked.
Kim Ddong-byul?
How do you know that name?
I’d occasionally glared into empty space when I was alone and muttered things like, “I’m going to kill that Kim Ddong-byul, I’m really going to kill him,” but why was that showing up in the system window?
It was chilling.
With my heart already pounding from nerves, the added creepiness caused me to leave a vivid mark on the Crown Prince’s instep from the very first step.
Crunch.
And now… the seventh time.
I want to die.
[System] 7 counts deducted.
[System] 3 attempts remaining.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
But even if I didn’t mutter about wanting to die, if I stepped on his feet any more, one of the male leads would die one way or another. And whoever it was, I would also die from failing the Main Quest…
Honestly, I wanted to shove my fist in my mouth and wail right then and there.
What did I do wrong?!
What did I do to deserve such cruelty, Kim Ddong-byul!
I said I’d do a good job!
Huh?!
You said we were in this together!
Huh!
“…My Lady.”
One step.
“…Lady Frezier.”
Crunch.
My feet got tangled again during a three-step sequence.
[System] 8 counts deducted.
[System] 2 attempts remaining.
Oh, boy.
I can feel it. I can feel it coming.
I can feel myself carving the headstone for my own grave today.
“Tulia Frezier!”
Gasp.
I snapped back to reality.
Ferdinand—this boy so dazzling it was painful to even look at him—was staring up at me, his eyes darkening.
Naturally, my vision felt like it was turning blue.
“I am so sorry, Your Highness. I’ve stepped on you so many times…”
“Right, I’m the one being stepped on.”
“Yes…”
“Then why have you been the one crying this whole time?”