Chapter 63 – 63
Unlike Euro’s beaming expression, Melione’s face was noticeably stiff. He didn’t hear a word of Euro’s excited chattering.
“No, I mean… are you saying you intend to dance… at the spring festival?”
“Not alone, but together.”
“…….”
“Dent told me that Your Excellency has never danced at a festival before.”
That would be true; who would think of dancing when they were dying of pain? Even if Melione had stepped forward and said he wanted to dance, everyone would have likely fought desperately to stop him.
‘They probably thought, He’s finally lost it. [Read on Read BL Novels][Read on Read BL Novels]I would have packed a lunch and followed him around to stop him myself.’
But this time was different. Melione was not only sleeping well but eating well too. It was the power granted by the healing ability.
The nausea he felt even after eating a small amount had vanished, and his headaches were gone even without alcohol or medicine. After all, a person’s health naturally improves simply by eating and sleeping well.
With both of those needs met, Melione’s complexion improved remarkably. Not only did a spark return to his eyes, but his work efficiency also increased, to the point where he had recently reclaimed tasks he had delegated to Raymond.
By now, Melione himself must have realized how much his health had improved. At the same time, he likely felt that something was strange, as there had been no logical reason for such a recovery.
“You’ve danced occasionally at other banquets. So, you’ll be able to learn the traditional dance quickly.”
Euro offered a half-hearted cheer. Since he himself didn’t want to learn, he planned to readily agree if Melione told him to dance alone.
It wasn’t a setting where a partner was strictly required, and he had no intention of coaxing and persuading Melione just to keep him by his side.
However, after a moment of silence as if lost in thought, Melione gave an unexpected answer.
“……I shall have to find a teacher to instruct us.”
“……What?”
“Since neither I nor my spouse know the traditional dance, we will need someone who can teach us, will we not?”
He spoke nonchalantly and turned his gaze toward Raymond. Sensing the cue, Raymond bowed his head and spoke.
“I will look into it.”
“No, wait, I mean…”
Euro was flustered; he had expected Melione to refuse, but the mention of bringing in a teacher caught him off guard. Since most people living in Silon would know the traditional dance, Euro had vaguely planned to learn from Courtney or Dent.
“Is there a problem?”
Melione asked the flustered Euro. While screaming internally, Euro maintained a smile on the outside.
“I mean, wouldn’t it be a bit… how should I put it… uncomfortable if a stranger came and taught us to dance?”
“The traditional dance is, by nature, a dance where one rotates through various partners.”
“Ah… is that so?”
“In that regard, it is similar to a banquet where partners change constantly. Though it is far more free.”
Euro had never seen a dance party at the spring festival, but while Melione had never danced in one, he had seen many.
As Euro listened quietly to Melione’s explanation, he suddenly realized that he knew nothing about traditional dances, nor the dances performed at banquets.
That was a bit problematic. An invitation from Gail would [Read on Read BL Novels]likely arrive soon, and it would be absurd if he couldn’t dance at all.
“Um… if you’re planning to hire a teacher, could I perhaps receive some private tutoring as well?”
Euro gave Melione an awkward smile.
“As you know, I didn’t learn much in Norden, so I barely know things like the waltz… danced at banquets.”
“You seemed to dance quite well when I saw you before.”
At Melione’s observation, Euro shut his mouth. He thought Melione only knew how to fight, but it seemed he had actually watched him dance.
Euro Leches had attended a capital banquet only once, as the King had been desperate to hide his existence. There, he had engaged in a pointless war of nerves with Melione and danced quite skillfully before returning.
Euro sighed inwardly, wondering when he had ever learned to dance, considering half his life had been wasted on singing lessons and the rest spent riding horses and hunting.
“That was just… once.”
“…….”
“I learned it in a rush, so I don’t remember it well. That was the first time in my life I’d ever attended a banquet, and I was always kept within the palace in Norden.”
“I see.”
“Back then, it didn’t matter if I didn’t learn, but my situation has changed now. We might attend other banquets together as partners.”
Melione gazed intently at Euro, who continued to say he wanted to learn other dances. Other banquets—did he believe such an opportunity would actually arise? He couldn’t understand.
Even as Euro claimed his situation had changed, he acted like someone who had no idea what had actually changed. Even if he learned something else now, there was no place to showcase it.
It was almost laughable. Even if they were forced to attend some banquet together, everyone would likely avoid dancing with either Euro or himself.
Thus, even if Euro learned to dance here, the only person who could join him would be Melione. But Melione was a man whose life was soon to end, and the same was true for Euro.
Did he intend to ask for a dance even after they became corpses? By then, they would have neither the spirit nor the will. Perhaps he was only saying this now, caught up in the excitement of seeing the festival preparations.
Though he had seen him suffer hematemesis, Euro didn’t seem to have any other health issues since then. However, Melione could tell. His complexion was different from before.
Though he always smiled brightly, he felt as if Euro was strangely losing his vitality. Conversely, since Melione felt his own body becoming lighter by the day, he had the absurd feeling that he was somehow sucking the life out of Euro.
“Find someone reasonably competent,” Melione said, without even looking toward Raymond.
Once the permission was granted, Euro smiled brightly and picked up his fork, while Melione simply watched him.
‘Has he gotten thinner?’
Euro hadn’t lost his appetite; he ate very well every time Melione saw him. Yet, despite that, the silhouette of his body visible beneath the shirt seemed somehow thinner than before.
Watching Euro continue his meal without [visit our site]even glancing at him, Melione [Read on Read BL Novels]suddenly recalled the Euro from his dreams.
That naked body, vivid even in the darkness, was clear not only in appearance but also in the sensation of touch. The flushed expression, the burning body heat. Recalling each detail, Melione closed his eyes.
The Euro in the dream and the Euro before him now could not be compared. It was impossible for a form sculpted in a delusion to be identical to reality.
However, as Melione closed his eyes, he felt the sensation of Euro’s both wrists filling his grip very distinctly. Because of this, he recalled not the second dream, but the dream of their wedding night.
Since some time had passed, he couldn’t feel the exact difference. But comparing the two quietly, something seemed different. There were subtle differences in the jawline and the thickness of the thighs.
Could one sculpt a partner so specifically in a dream? Melione suddenly wondered. The thought that Euro seemed somewhat thin was also something he had realized just now.
Yet, there was no way a sudden dream could replicate this. After sleeping with Euro not long ago, when he woke from that dream, many subtle traces remained on him.
But despite having shared an intimate act, Euro was not beside him; he was sleeping in the next bedroom, perfectly clean.
Melione concluded that the second dream was also a delusion. This was because no doubt had yielded a clear answer. Furthermore, whenever he tried [visit our site]to find evidence, a strange headache would wash over him.
It was as if his mind did not desire any answer. However, Melione could not easily erase his suspicion. Or, to be more precise, a strange greed arose—a wish that it hadn’t been a dream.
It was nonsensical. If it wasn’t a dream, what would change? Even if he greedily tied Euro to his side, would that even be eternal?
Melione slowly lifted his eyelids. He then met the eyes of Euro, who was gazing at him with concern.
“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
To that question, Melione shook his head.
“No.”
“You shouldn’t overwork yourself. I heard you’ve taken over Raymond’s work recently. Just as you always have, do your work in small amounts…”
“It is none of your concern, spouse.”
Melione answered somewhat irritably. Surprised by this, Euro blinked, then quickly turned his head and replied as if nothing were wrong.
“I’m sorry, I was just worried. Excuse me.”
Hearing the somewhat crestfallen voice, Melione snapped back to his senses. He had been so immersed in the memories of the dream that his head had throbbed slightly, causing him to speak coldly unintentionally.
An excuse that wasn’t the case surged up his throat, but Melione suppressed it. He hadn’t said anything wrong.
Regardless of how much work he did, or whether his health improved or worsened, it was not Euro’s concern. In the first place, there was no need for such a meal to take place.
However, Melione suddenly felt a suffocating pressure, as if someone had placed a heavy stone upon his chest.
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