Chapter 55 - Chapter 55
I watched my father and mother chatting amiably with a count and his wife before moving toward the window. Perhaps it was because it had been so long since my last ball, but my shoulders felt tense. I took a deep breath and looked out at the dance floor, where I could see His Highness dancing. Then, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
"Would you care for a dance?"
I turned at the voice.
"Theodore-sama! My, you look quite different."
"I am the heir to a marquessate, after all. I can clean up when the occasion calls for it."
Theodore-sama stood there in formal attire. His silver hair, tied with a blue ribbon, seemed to shimmer under the light of the chandeliers. He looked like a prince from a fairy tale, a noble youth from another world. More importantly, he carried himself with a refined smile and grace that hid his usual bluntness. He was completely monopolizing the attention of the women nearby.
"So, what do you say? You're just standing here with nothing to do. You'll have to dance with someone eventually, so why not me?"
"Fufu, I suppose you're right. I look forward to it."
I placed my hand in his, and we moved to the dance floor. To my surprise, he was an excellent dancer.
"You're very good at this."
"Surprised? I've been forced to do this since I was a kid. Besides, if I want to do what I like, I have to be good enough at the basics to keep people from complaining. I hate being nagged."
"That sounds very much like you, Theodore-sama."
"By the way, that dress. It suits you."
"Thank you."
"It was worth all the agonizing Louis did over it."
His Highness was agonizing? What does that mean? My confusion must have shown on my face, because Theodore-sama looked equally puzzled. Then, he nodded as if realizing something and leaned in close to my ear, as if sharing a secret.
"Louis designed that himself."
What?
For a moment, I couldn't process his words. My feet kept moving through the steps of the dance, but my mind was stuck. His Highness designed this? This dress? As the fact slowly sank in, my face flushed a deep crimson.
"T-That... surely not."
"He really went all out. Even I was impressed."
"So, it's true?"
Theodore-sama didn't look like he was lying. His expression was one of genuine disbelief and exasperation; it was clear that His Highness really had designed the dress.
"Oh, that look on your face is bad. Louis noticed."
"What?"
"Your face is bright red... Wow, he's really glaring at me now."
Even as Theodore-sama told me to do something about it, my face only grew hotter. To think that His Highness had been thinking of me while designing this dress... I couldn't believe it. While my head was spinning, the music came to an end. Theodore-sama led me back to a quiet spot by the window, but a frantic, strained voice called out from behind us.
"Rachel!"
"Your Highness... is it alright? Weren't you dancing?"
"I've already danced with five people. That's enough. Theodore, what do you think you're doing?"
His Highness closed the distance, cornering Theodore-sama. Theodore-sama pouted like a petulant child.
"I didn't do anything."
"Then why is Rachel's face so red?"
"...Isn't that your fault?"
His Highness turned back to me, his brow furrowed with worry.
"Rachel, what's wrong?"
"Um, actually..."
Seeing his worried, vulnerable expression and knowing I was the cause of it filled me with a strange sense of joy. I looked down to hide my blushing cheeks and was about to speak when—
"Your Highness!"
A bright voice rang out as Anna-san approached, her white dress fluttering. She was leaning on Ernest's arm, likely having just finished a dance with him.
"Your Highness, I'm so sorry to interrupt. Your first dance was absolutely wonderful. Viscount Frion, it has been a long time."
Ernest bowed deeply to His Highness and Theodore-sama, then gave me a similar nod. His Highness merely nodded back, his brow still furrowed. Anna-san, however, seemed to have eyes only for him, smiling brightly as she stared at him.
"We shall take our leave then."
Ernest must have sensed the irritation behind His Highness's smile. His face paled, and he tried to lead Anna-san away. But she slipped her arm from his and stepped directly in front of His Highness, performing a graceful bow.
"Your Highness, today is my debut as well."
Ernest looked stunned, whispering "Miss Carroll" in a rebuking tone, but she ignored him, smiling expectantly at His Highness. His Highness gave her a cold, brief glance before turning back to Theodore-sama and me as if she weren't even there.
"Um, Your Highness?"
Anna-san called out, looking as if she couldn't believe he was ignoring her, but he didn't respond. As I watched the scene unfold with bated breath, Theodore-sama put a hand to his forehead and let out a long sigh.
"Come, Rachel. It's too noisy here. Let's finish our conversation elsewhere."
His Highness gave me a gentle smile and placed a hand on my waist, preparing to lead me away from Anna-san and Ernest. Is this okay? I glanced back to see Anna-san asking in a small, desperate voice, "Will you not dance with me, Your Highness?"
The expression vanished from His Highness's face. He turned back with a freezing smile.
"Why would I ever need to dance with you?"
His voice was so cold it sent a shiver down my spine. Behind Anna-san, Ernest's face went completely white. But Anna-san didn't seem to notice.
"I heard... you dance with the debutantes."
"Whether I dance with you or not is for me to decide. Your father is Baron Carroll, correct?"
"Yes."
"I shall inform him that your debut was premature."
Anna-san's eyes widened, and she stood there frozen, looking at him as if he were a monster. His Highness simply turned back to me. "Shall we go?"
"...Why?"
Anna-san's tiny whisper was the last thing I heard as we walked away.
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