By Zephyria 
The next dawn. I dragged Marianne, who had come out to the academy’s martial arts training ground for training, to the townhouse.
Marianne, who found herself in her training clothes before my Mother, glared at me as if she could kill me, but I had no choice but to pretend not to notice.
After hearing Mother’s explanation, Marianne, uncharacteristically, blushed and waved her hands several times.
“But, Countess Ernhardt. I am just, just Michael’s friend.”
“I know. Young Lady Philodendor is one of my son’s closest friends, and I’ve heard you are a reliable comrade who will ascend the Yuil Mountains together.”
“Yes? That, that is… true, but…”
Marianne glanced back at me. Her gaze seemed to ask if I had really said that.
However, it was not a matter to argue about. What more could I say, having already been thoroughly reprimanded? Even with a mouth, I had no way to answer. I just nodded silently.
“You can accept this much. Please allow me to express my gratitude to the Young Lady who is helping my son with his Debutante.”
“…Yes, Countess.”
Marianne, who bowed politely and shyly, grabbed my forearm and twisted it fiercely before being dragged to Mother’s toilette. It didn’t hurt, but my heart ached.
Since it took a lot of time to prepare Marianne’s clothes, commuting to and from the academy dormitory became inconvenient. Mother arranged a room for Marianne at the Valentia townhouse until the Debutante.
As I called Marianne to the martial arts training ground to train her whenever I had spare time from making clothes, it was also convenient to keep the child close.
Michael and Asdel greatly enjoyed Marianne’s magic demonstrations. Even I found it fascinating, so I didn’t stop them, thinking how much more fun and wonderful it must be for these young children to see.
Trying on newly made clothes, doing physical training, playing with the children, adorning myself with jewels, doing physical training, playing with the children, trying on clothes again, doing physical training, and playing with the children filled the end of the year.
And so, on the morning of the last day of the year.
I took Marianne’s hand, who was adorned to shine brilliantly from head to toe, and got into the carriage. I, wearing clothes of light blue silk embroidered with pale pink thread, and Marianne, in a pale pink dress with dark purple embroidery and lace, looked like siblings when placed side by side.
At first, she was flustered and dragged around, but later she laughed merrily, her eyes sparkling as she admired the lace and frills with my Mother.
Marianne, who let go of my hand, adjusted her skirt, sat down, and let out a high, bell-like laugh. After laughing for a long time for no apparent reason, she finally spoke, and what she said was amusing again.
“I feel just like a princess.”
“…Even though Princess Lucilla, who is a real princess, has a very spirited personality?”
“Including that. I’m truly like a princess.”
I let out a loud laugh at her prim reply.
The carriage ran towards the Imperial Palace without a sound. Between the massive gates of the Imperial Palace, which were wide open on both sides, carriages of similar size raced side by side. It was quite a spectacle.
❖ ❖ ❖
The hall we entered was vast, magnificent, and opulent. How could such large bas-reliefs be hung on the walls? My gaze was drawn to the shining objects as I looked around, and then I noticed the attention focused on Marianne and me, and I looked straight ahead.
Young talents of my age, dressed splendidly, were swaying to a slow melody.
From a distance, friends who had arrived earlier noticed me and waved their hands at shoulder height. As I started to approach them, Marianne let go of my hand and gently pushed my shoulder.
“Michael, you should go over there.”
“Now?”
“Yes, the Spring Dance will begin in about twenty minutes, so Michael needs to be in the hall. Do you see it? The line of boys.”
Young boys and girls with youthful faces stood with tense expressions, leaving the center of the hall empty, lined up on both sides. I quickly understood and nodded.
It was good that I brought someone who had experienced a Debutante before.
“Well then, have fun.”
“Yes.”
I obediently headed in the direction Marianne indicated. As I stood in a vacant spot, several children with tense faces bowed slightly with their heads and knees. I nodded to return their greeting and looked ahead.
After a short wait, a familiar prelude began.
The girls first stepped into the hall and spun around, followed by the boys who asked them to dance. I wondered what would happen as the number of boys and girls didn’t match, but several who were watching jumped in to form pairs. Judging by their dancing skills and smiles, they didn’t seem to be debuting this year.
As many children jumped in, if the numbers still didn’t match, other children would join in one or two at a time, dancing to the Spring Dance. The children who ended up holding hands with their seniors walked with shy smiles, diligently moving their feet.
It was a fascinating and enjoyable culture.
I also bowed politely to the child who lightly held my fingertips and began to walk. It was a magnificent sight as so many people moved to the same rhythm simultaneously.
After three breaths, another child would take my hand.
The Spring Dance and Summer Dance were dances where one mingled with strangers. Countless partners changed. It was a dance where our fingertips barely brushed, so there was no awkwardness.
We just looked at each other, took several steps, turned our backs to each other, watched the spinning child so they wouldn’t fall, and then took the next child’s hand.
The children who had been shyly withdrawn during the Spring Dance were now dancing with bright smiles, as if they could fly, by the time the Summer Dance began. A few children made mistakes, but their partners corrected them, and they quickly found their place.
Mother had said that no one in our lineage disliked dancing.
Now I understood. Her words were indeed true. It was enjoyable. The gazes touching my body were familiar, so there was no awkwardness. The faces of the children clapping their hands to the same beat and looking at each other were full of smiles.
The singing grew louder, and the sound of the instruments being struck grandly, kwang, jolted me awake.
The melody that followed was sweeter and more intimate. It was the Autumn Dance. The children who had been watching the dance floor with smiling faces until now poured into the hall.
The children who came out into the hall asked each other to dance. Some shyly retreated to the edges of the hall. Some held hands with their close friends.
It was fun, but I felt awkward among the children and tried to withdraw, but someone took my hand.
“…Senior?”
“I got permission from your partner, don’t worry.”
The gentle voice that landed by my ear was familiar. It was Rubel.
Looking to my side, I saw Marianne holding Jenny’s hand, winking one eye playfully.
Worried that I might be a bother to Rubel, I quickly scanned my surroundings. I saw a few pairs holding hands, boys with boys, girls with girls. I was relieved when I realized they were holding hands with close friends.
I placed the outer side of my thumb under Rubel’s waist, supporting him. Still, as we had practiced together, it wasn’t awkward to move together as soon as the dance began. My outer knee brushed against the child’s outer knee.
Perhaps because there were so many people, our bodies were a little closer than during practice.
I felt a gaze that didn’t leave my face. As soon as I looked up, our eyes met. My open mouth found a reason again without my realizing it.
“Why.”
“…No, just… because I like it.”
Like what?
Amidst the booming sound of the large drum and the whistling notes of the wind instruments, the chatter and laughter of children mixed in. I helped Rubel turn around.
I felt concerned, as if the children were laughing at him.
The Autumn Dance, which prayed for abundance and fertility, had large and sweeping movements. As I faced Rubel, who pulled me close as if to leap into my arms after widening the distance, I felt inexplicably embarrassed.
When the gentle melody of the Winter Dance began, I wanted to stop and leave the hall, but seeing Rubel looking at me with sparkling eyes, I swallowed a sigh. I obediently walked in the direction the child led.
Then.
A sharp sensation ran down my spine. My gaze snapped back.
Two young men standing in a corner came into view. One in white, with golden hair that shone like a chandelier, and the other in black, with light purple hair neatly tied up.
They were Martial artists of Hwagyeong.
The chilling Murderous Intent vanished in an instant. Walking as Rubel led, I hid my expression on his shoulder. I pulled the child holding my hand close to my waist. I did so even though I knew the startled child was pushing my shoulder away.
I realized belatedly that I was acting like a mother hiding her cub from a predator’s gaze.
“…What, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. No one is watching.”
“…Huh?”
I steadied the flustered Rubel and walked with him to the familiar melody. The turmoil in my heart subsided into a calm silence. I glanced back in their direction again.
“Is that, Wesley Kiadris?”
“Ah, yes… He came with his brother.”
I was someone who had killed many people. I could immediately recognize the killing intent and murderous intent that people harbored, even after decades. My insides churned.
Richard, I didn’t know, but Wesley Kiadris has no intention of leaving this child Rubel unharmed. Even if he cannot act now, he will someday.
As my gaze remained fixed on them, Rubel whispered close to my ear.
“…Shall we stop?”
“No, it’s not. I was merely curious.”
Rubel buried his head on my shoulder. I gently patted the child’s back to soothe him. Towards the end of the dance, it was common to see children supporting each other, catching their breath, so I didn’t feel awkward.
Wesley Kiadris was the first to look away. He whispered something softly into Richard’s ear, and both young men moved from their spot. I thought they had come to see me.
I was curious about how Wesley would have evaluated me.
In the eyes of a genius, how did an ordinary person who embraced his child, vowing to protect them, appear?
I felt a pang of regret for neglecting my training due to my wandering around.