Chapter 70 – ​70

“It ​is ​a ​tiger ​raised ​by ​His Grace the ​Duke. ​Though ​saying ​he ​’raised’ him is a ​bit ​of a misnomer… ​as he is ​also ​the ​second ​master ​of ​the mansion.”

“…The master?”

“Just ​keep ​that ​in mind. He ​usually moves about without ​being seen ​by the ​servants, so ​you shouldn’t ​have ​encountered ​him, but Kisha ​is simply ​too fond of the ​Madam.”

“….”

“The Madam is the ​only one who can ​touch him ​like ​that.”

Anne found the words difficult to ​comprehend, but she simply ​nodded ​with ​a ​half-dazed ​expression. The musician, ​who had ​stood ​up with the ​help ​of a servant, was trembling, ​unable to ​even ​look properly at ​Kisha.

It ​was ​a ​natural ​reaction for ​anyone ​with a ​tiger right in front of them. It ​was Euro who ​was strange, touching ​and playing with Kisha ​as if ​he were a ​house ​cat.

“Kisha, stay in ​the third-floor office ​and I’ll ​come ​up soon. ​After ​I wash ​and ​change my ​clothes.”

At ​Euro’s ​words, Kisha, who ​had ​been silently ​letting ​his ​face ​be touched, gave a sudden shake of his body. Anne and the musician recoiled in terror, but Kisha merely let out a slow yawn before turning around and leaving the room.

“D-does he understand speech?”

“…It would be best to think so.”

Since Raymond couldn’t explain the intricacies of Kisha’s nature, he simply nodded. Watching Kisha’s retreating back as he left the room obediently, Euro quickly approached Anne and apologized.

“You were surprised, weren’t you? I’m sorry. He’s so free-spirited that we can’t keep him locked up anywhere. But he doesn’t harm people, so don’t worry.”

“…I can’t believe that,” Anne said with a stiff face. How could anyone look at that massive frame and believe the claim that it doesn’t bite people?

“It’s true. He has very little interest in humans. I’ll be careful to make sure you don’t see him next time you visit. You must have been very startled. I was incredibly shocked at first, too.”

“But do you… touch him like that?”

“Because he doesn’t bite.”

“….”

“I’m still alive and intact after touching him like that, aren’t I?”

Euro laughed as he spoke, but Anne couldn’t bring herself to smile.

‘He must have let it slide… though I don’t know why,’ Anne thought to [Read on Read BL Novels]herself. She knew nothing about the tiger named Kisha, but based on [visit our site]Raymond’s words that Euro was the only one who could touch him like that, it seemed likely.

“Anyway, I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll make absolutely, absolutely sure you don’t see him. So please, just don’t say you won’t come back.”

Fearing that Anne might be too scared to return to the mansion, Euro held her hand and pleaded. At this, Anne took a deep breath and nodded.

Seeing this, Euro also approached the musician, who was clutching his chest in relief, took his hand, and apologized sincerely. The musician also nodded reluctantly, as it wasn’t Euro’s fault.

“Raymond, take these two home in the carriage. Give them a generous parting gift… and include some wine as well.”

“No, that’s quite alright. I’ve already received the lesson fee,” Anne said, waving her hand in surprise, but Euro was firm.

“It’s a token of my gratitude.”

“….”

“Come visit sometimes. It might not be the most comfortable place, but you’re always welcome. I truly enjoyed myself, Anne.”

“It was an honor, Duchess.”

Anne took the hand Euro offered. While coming to the Duke’s residence to teach him how to dance, she had also spent a quite pleasant time. Not only did she like Euro’s dancing, but his attitude toward her was always polite.

The word ‘gentleman’ fit Euro perfectly. [visit our site][stolen content]Moreover, she was grateful that he treated her comfortably regardless of her status. She didn’t know it, but this was possible because Euro was not royalty by birth, but a possessor.

While the two were facing each other and smiling, Melione entered the room. Euro, with his back to the door, didn’t notice him, but Anne quickly let go of Euro’s hand and bowed.

At that sight, Euro merely turned his head to gaze at Melione. Today wasn’t a day for dance lessons, so he couldn’t tell what business had brought him here.

“Madam.”

“What brings you here, Your Grace?”

Melione strode over to Euro’s side and suddenly held out his hand as if requesting a dance. Wondering what this was about, Euro gazed blankly at Melione before lightly placing his hand on top of the other’s.

Then, Melione gripped Euro’s hand tightly and pulled him toward himself. Pulled along blankly, Euro was momentarily startled and recoiled.

“Wh-why? So suddenly?”

Melione remained silent despite Euro’s question. Then, Anne, standing behind them, spoke hurriedly.

“W-we shall be going now.”

“Ah, yes. Get home safely…”

The musician also gathered the fallen sheet music and [visit our site]hurried out of the room with Anne like a bolt of lightning. A Read on Read BL Novelsservant followed after [unauthorized copy]the two of them. Even then, Melione remained silent.

“Your Grace?”

“The dance.”

“….”

“Have you learned it all?” he asked in a low voice.

Euro nodded. “Yes, I’ve learned all the other dances as well.”

“You are fast.”

“I didn’t learn every single detail; I just learned enough to dance at a banquet.”

“….”

“But how long are you going to keep holding my hand…?”

“….”

“It hurts a little.”

Euro looked back and forth between his hand gripped tightly by Melione and Melione’s face, wearing an awkward smile. The distance between them as they stood facing each other was far too close.

Avoiding the somewhat persistent gaze, Euro lowered his head halfway and looked down at his captured hand. At the mention of pain, Melione loosened his grip slightly, but he still didn’t let go.

Melione’s hand holding his was large and firm. His body temperature, which Euro had always felt was cool, now felt very warm. It seemed his health had improved significantly.

At this, Euro unconsciously moved his hand, which had been merely resting there, to grip Melione’s hand back. As they held hands, he felt an illusion as if heat were surging from their joined palms.

An unusually hot temperature transferred to him. In that moment, Euro realized that he wasn’t just being held unilaterally, but was holding hands with him.

Startled, he tried to open his hand to pull away, but Melione pulled Euro even closer and wrapped his arm around his waist. Surprised, Euro looked up, and Melione gazed down at him calmly.

“Try to match me.”

“What?”

“We must try dancing together.”

“But there is no one to play the piano…”

Now practically embraced by Melione, Euro’s [Read on Read BL Novels]face turned bright red, and he turned his head away. The heat that had traveled [visit our site]through his hand now surged through his entire body.

Not only did his cheeks feel flushed, but even his ears turned red. Seeing Euro’s ears, Melione unconsciously let a curve form at the corners of his mouth.

Thump, thump. His heart beat violently. He felt as if Melione, standing right in front of him, could hear it.

Where to look, how to regulate his breath—Euro’s mind went completely blank, and he couldn’t do anything. Had he ever been this conscious of Melione before?

Euro almost wanted to cry. He couldn’t even imagine what he looked like. Normally, he should have poured out more than ten flattering remarks, such as saying his skills were too embarrassing to show or that he was nervous about dancing together.

But Euro couldn’t do that. His body was currently frozen stiff, and he had even forgotten how to breathe; how could he possibly think of acting?

“There’s no one to play the piano…”

The only words he managed to squeeze out were a mere excuse about the musician. To this, Raymond, who had been silently standing behind them, answered.

“I shall play.”

For some reason, Raymond sat at the piano with a beaming smile. Even though the musician had already taken all the sheet music, he looked confident.

“Waltz.”

Melione spoke lightly and obediently let Read on Read BL NovelsEuro go. Raymond began to play as Melione instructed. Read on Read BL NovelsAs the sweet melody began, Melione [stolen content]stepped half a pace back from Euro and bowed his head slightly.

Euro, caught up in the moment, also bowed back to him. Soon, the two approached each other, took hands, and moved their bodies to the music.

Their feet intertwined smoothly and lightly. It was the first time Euro had danced a waltz, rather than a traditional dance, with Melione.

Furthermore, although Euro had learned both male and female positions while learning from Anne, he usually took the male role when coordinating, so he had never stepped through the female’s steps with a partner.

Consequently, Euro’s hand resting on Melione’s shoulder tightened slightly. Because of his nerves, Euro’s movements were somewhat awkwardly clunky.

But that was only for a moment. Melione led Euro far more skillfully than expected. In dances with a partner like this, the male’s role was crucial.

Even if the female appeared more flamboyant, it was difficult to dance without the supporting strength of the partner.

“You are too tense.”

Following Melione’s lead, they spun lightly once, and when their bodies pressed close, he whispered low in Euro’s ear.

“Relax your body.”

“….”

“Look at me.”

It was obvious that looking at him would make him more nervous, yet Melione continued to demand eye contact. Left with no choice, Euro lifted his head from looking at his feet and gazed at him.

The moment their eyes met, Melione spoke with a bright smile he had never shown before.

“You did well.”