Karma After the Ball
The next day's lesson was on conversation. One might wonder why Chloe, a former assassin, was teaching painting—no, wait, conversation. But during her assassin days, even when she was striking out on her own, Chloe had been known in high society as the scourge called Golden Darkness. Her etiquette at social gatherings and her elegant eloquence in dealing with high nobles far surpassed that of a mere baron's level. Rosetta had even entrusted her with teaching party manners and simple dances, which said it all. She was more than qualified to tutor Marian.
"Alright, let's pretend I'm the youngest son of a marquis house... say, the northern Marquis of Lotail."
"Why?"
"Well, the only family on your level is the Lotail Marquis house guarding the north..."
It pained Chloe to say it directly to Marian, but the eldest or second son of Marquis Lotail wouldn't match a bastard like her. At their age, they likely already had fiancées lined up, and Marian, the sole heir of the Evergreen Grand Duchy, couldn't possibly marry out anyway. But the youngest son? He could easily be brought in as a son-in-law. By process of elimination, Chloe ended up role-playing as the youngest son of the Lotail Marquis house.
"Anyway, let's begin. Lady Marian Evergreen?"
"Uh...?"
Chloe extended her pale hand slightly forward.
"May I have this dance?"
"Ah...?"
As Chloe cautiously invited her to dance, Marian turned beet red like a ripe tomato, unable to string words together. To Marian, whose knowledge of noble society came indirectly from fairy tales, asking for a dance was an implicit signal of an impending engagement or marriage! Right now, Chloe was the youngest young master of the Lotail Marquis house, but Marian forgot all that in a daze and murmured blankly.
"C-Chlo... eh?"
This must be Chloe subtly telling me she wants to marry me...! Then, she won't just be a family-like tutor—she could become real family...! Such thoughts raced through Marian's mind at breakneck speed.
But.
"No, that's not it. I'm not Chloe—I'm the youngest son of the Lotail Marquis house, remember?"
"Ah...."
"And your initial reactions were all wrong too. How can a noble lady look so stunned?"
Chloe had no such intentions. She lightly scolded Marian for breaking character, placing her hands gently on both cheeks.
"Of course, you being a bit naive is cute."
"Hehe...."
"I just don't get why someone so sweet like this changes after lessons end...."
"Huh?"
"Nothing, never mind."
Chloe aired her mild grievance lightly, but Marian wasn't mature enough yet to pick up on that subtle dissatisfaction.
"Anyway, let's start over from the beginning. Lady Marian Evergreen?"
"Dance with me."
Right now, all Marian wanted was to throw Chloe's dance invitation right back at her—to show that she felt the same affection. She was still just an immature girl caught up in that.
"Sure, why not."
With a short sigh, Chloe took Marian's hand. She gazed up softly at Marian, who had grown tall enough to surpass her eye level, and began stepping slowly. The basics of education were interest first and foremost—interest above all. For Marian's sake, starting with dance over mere etiquette seemed the better choice.
"This way."
"Oh, okay...."
"You don't need to reply every time."
"Phee...."
"No making those sounds either. At social events, you must maintain the dignity of an Evergreen lady. No acting cute on your own."
And besides.
"You're cute enough without trying."
"...."
Marian beamed at Chloe's effortless compliments, following her lead toward the wider space in the bedroom. Chloe took the male position, and Marian naturally fell into the female one under her guidance. And so, the two women, hands clasped, drew apart and together with the rhythm, spinning in circles.
C-Chloe...
Marian couldn't tear her eyes from Chloe's blue gaze. Sapphire-blue eyes, beautiful as jewels. She saw her own reflection in them. And that face wore an expression happier than anyone else's in the world.
Dancing with Chloe filled her with joy. The occasional brush and separation of their breasts brought an indescribable ticklish thrill. Her heart pounded wildly, her face burned hot. Was it flushed red? Would Chloe feel this happiness too? Chloe's blue eyes held no red hue, so Marian couldn't tell her own color. She simply savored the moment, matching Chloe's lead.
And Chloe.
Why that expression...?
Felt an inexplicable unease from Marian. She'd seen that blissful look before. At social balls, noble ladies had followed her lead with the same happy faces. But their emotions couldn't match Marian's. They saw Chloe as the prince they'd finally found, the partner to spend the night with.
Hmm...
Maybe there wasn't much difference? No, fundamentally, there was. Back then, Chloe—no, Edwin—and the ladies had been opposite sexes. Chloe and Marian were both women. Marian looked happy, but it couldn't be more than 'like.' That would be weird. Marian was in puberty, itching for independence from Chloe.
Time to wrap up.
Shaking off stray thoughts, Chloe slowed her steps. Soon, the two women, who had turned Marian's bedroom into a ballroom, came to a stop. Their pose was awkwardly stiff to an onlooker. Chloe executed the textbook finish, but Marian didn't know it yet, so it couldn't be helped.
"Ah, ahaha...."
For a brief, intense moment after their short but vivid dance, Marian replayed it in her mind.
"Chloe...."
Calling her prince's name, she hugged Chloe as always, pressing their chests together fiercely. She wanted to know if Chloe's heart, beyond those beautiful, soft mounds, beat as wildly as hers.
Huh...?
But sadly, Chloe's heart wasn't racing like Marian's. It wasn't about excitement—Chloe's heart, tempered by daily intense training and night patrols, wasn't weak enough to pound from one dance.
"Phee...."
Disappointing was disappointing. Feeling Chloe's steady beat, Marian puffed her cheeks and let out a deflating whine.
Chloe.
"Well then, I'll be going."
"Eh...?"
Ignoring Marian, who seemed to want to linger in the afterglow, Chloe prepared to leave immediately.
"Ch-Chloe? Where are you going?"
"You need time alone, don't you? I have things to do in my room too."
"Eh...?"
This was Marian's karma.
Chloe gave Marian time alone, but sadly, Marian couldn't fully accept the consideration.
"Ch-Chloe...."
Chloe had left abruptly, ignoring Marian's pleas to bask in the dance's afterglow together. She just walked out.
"Wh-what do I do...."
Improving the brain orb's compression ratio? Finishing the healing artifact? None of it stuck. Not even a thought. Chloe filled Marian's mind completely. It was the first time the Chloe who indulged every whim had rejected her.
"Wh-what was the problem?"
Marian began analyzing slowly. Today? No issues today. No mistakes in the dance, and breaking role-play because she was distracted by Chloe was a minor slip. Chloe hadn't seemed upset during the dance—in fact, she'd enjoyed it.
Then yesterday? Yesterday, definitely...
'Chloe.'
Marian had curtly told her to leave.
'Yes...'
Chloe had left with a dejected face, chased out.
"A-aaaah...!"
Realizing the cause, Marian wailed loud enough to shake the Grand Duke's castle.
Chloe hated her now....