The sensation of his voice traveling down and tingling through my lower abdomen was strange. I tried hard to ignore that feeling as I turned.
“…I know too. That you’re the best man.”
“Then shall I make you the empire’s best woman later?”
“Wh-what?”
“You who started dancing before the Crown Prince even came out seems like you’re a similar type to me? Am I mistaken?”
“I did it because you suggested it! I had no such intention…!”
“Why so serious? You seemed unable to concentrate, so I tried joking around.”
My ankle stumbled at the suddenly surfacing word ‘rebellion,’ but Cesare naturally supported my misaligned steps and perfectly smoothed it over. It was a ball sweet enough to melt my heart, but it was also a time where the bitterness lingered just as long.
* * *
The garden behind the community center, where early spring darkness had settled, was tranquil. Having finished dancing before the ball even properly started, Cesare brought me and immediately left the Grand Hall.
Something about my complexion looking bad. It was obviously Cesare’s excuse for disliking crowds at peak times, but I pretended not to know and followed along.
I didn’t want to run into familiar faces anyway. If I happened to encounter Aunt Belitia at the ballroom, I might vomit from embarrassment.
“Here, take it.”
“It’s a chocolate crepe!”
Cesare, who said he’d bring some finger food for a simple snack, came back holding only two large crepes and held one out to me. A crepe, of all things. It seemed just like him to be indifferent to women, but still, since it was one of my favorite snacks, I had no complaints.
“Aren’t macarons or canapés usually for ladies? With crepes, if you eat them wrong, the filling spills out.”
“For complaining, you looked way too happy just now.”
“Right. I really love it! Hehe!”
“Hmm.”
Just as I took it and bit into the still-warm crepe, something covered my upper shoulders. It was Cesare’s dress jacket.
“Hm?”
“The weather’s still chilly. Keep it on.”
What the hell. This guy with worn-down character is pretending to be nice because he’s in front of a woman.
At Cesare’s excessive kindness, the crepe in my mouth almost came back out to see the moonlight. This guy who normally steals my clothes or blankets and uses me as his wardrobe is now covering me himself saying it’s cold! As I wondered what to say in response, I cautiously told him.
“Thanks. After getting some air, I’ll return it when we go back in to dance.”
“Dance? You want to dance more? Your expression didn’t look so good earlier.”
At Cesare’s question, I fell silent.
Dancing at the homecoming ball was like a badge of honor for academy male students. In a place where the number of female students was remarkably small, finding a partner itself was difficult, and on top of that, coming out to the floor and dancing meant you were ‘students doing fairly well’ at the academy.
Earlier, even Cedric hadn’t come out yet. Cesare would also want to show his rival Cedric that he was a student doing well.
So I thought we’d go back in to dance, but instead he was asking my opinion, which was more flustering.
“But the ball just started, didn’t it?”
“Are you friends with Lionel?”
At my name suddenly popping out, I tensely replied.
“Yes. We take liberal arts reading class together.”
Then Cesare snickered and bit into his crepe.
“He even knows how to read?”
This bastard.
This son of a bitch Cesare recognizes me as a leaky gourd, so he knows I leak even when I’m not there.
Of course, I do doze off a bit during reading time and secretly eat things…!
“It’s obvious without even looking. He’s got books piled up and is hiding behind them sleeping. Or eating biscuits behind them. Hahaha.”
Hey!
At this fact-bombing, I gripped my crepe so tightly that the chocolate sauce bulged out from inside.
“Still, I didn’t think there’d really be someone.”
“What.”
When I spoke curtly, feeling slightly annoyed, Cesare looked at the star-filled sky and said.
“White skin with short blonde hair. Cute but not docile style. I asked Lionel to get me such a partner. It was something I said carelessly, but now that he’s actually gotten one like this, I’m speechless.”
“Something you said carelessly?”
This bastard!
Strength surged into my hand gripping the crepe again. Since I couldn’t hit Cesare in front of me, I imagined shoving dozens of crepes into Miche’s mouth. Miche dangling from my arm, struggling to chew the crepes. Poor thing.
“Lionel never fails to meet my expectations. That’s quite cute.”
Not knowing that I’m boiling inside, Cesare started giggling with laughter. I endured while shoving all the remaining crepe into my mouth. I’m Lucy right now.
“The way he moves around eagerly is just like a golden retriever, but sometimes he’s exactly like a Maltese, you know? He pokes around everywhere without fear. Haha!”
“……”
“Really, just watching him is funny. The day passes quickly.”
“Lionel is just kind.”
“I know. The problem is he’s too kind. Maybe it’s a problem of dullness.”
Finally, at his tone that looked down on me, I couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Lionel isn’t someone who should be looked down on by you like that. He’s… he’s someone who only says good things about you.”
“I wasn’t looking down on him.”
“Yanox. He’s someone who’d throw everything aside and help you if it’s your business. He bowed his head to me several times to get you a partner, and he told Cedric sunbae that unlike the rumors, you’re not gloomy and you’re a good guy. But you… Lionel… you.”
My words poured out rapidly and got tangled with mixed emotions. I hurriedly took out my handkerchief and caught my breath, pretending to wipe the chocolate from my lips.
“You… can’t talk about Lionel like that…. He… you…”
“……”
“…likes you. He really likes you.”
I spilled out words as hot as my breath, crumbling. At this indirect confession so unseemly and confused compared to the great emotion, I carefully lowered my head while clutching the handkerchief tightly.
Gentle moonlight settled over the ripples of the water-colored dress, and around us was only the sound of early spring insects crying, but inside was complicated.
Was it because of the addiction? Only the sentence ‘likes you’ kept echoing in my head. Within it, Miche was propping her chin and looking straight at me. Miche winked one eye and grinned. As if telling me to go straight for love.
I was so confused. Even knowing this emotion was fake, it was hard to bury it. They say if a man and woman are together on a suspension bridge, they feel love—was it a phenomenon like that?
I silently tried to calm my heated throat, but it wasn’t easy. The fact that I like him but he hates me was sad. I was even starting to feel jealous that Cesare was treating me, disguised as Lucy, romantically right now.
– Tap.
Suddenly Cesare’s fingers grabbed my chin and lifted it. However, the strange thing was that his eyes were sharp rather than romantic.
“Do you perhaps… like Lionel?”
‘Oh no. Did I hurt his pride by praising myself too much compared to Cesare?’
As I rolled my anxious eyes around, Cesare whispered low.
“I’m sorry, but Lionel won’t do.”
“Uh…?”
“He’s not in a situation to like anyone right now.”
At his face gradually approaching closer, I also slowly backed away. It was close enough for his hot breath to reach the deeply cut neckline of the dress.
“If your heart goes to him.”
“……”
“I think I’d be really sad.”
“Th-that… Yanox… you’re too close…?”
“I told you earlier. Lucy Franceau. Listen carefully.”
It was as close a distance as when dancing, but I couldn’t shake off the somehow threatening feeling. It’s clearly a sweet and romantic statement, so why does it sound like a threat?
“The empire’s best man is me.”
“Gasp! It hurts…!”
Strength surged into his hand gripping my chin, and at the dangerous feeling, I immediately twisted my head. But he forcibly grabbed my chin and made eye contact with me.
“So don’t give Lionel or anyone attention, just look at me. You and Lionel? I’m sorry, but you don’t match at all. Got it? He won’t do.”
It was a voice thickly laden with possessiveness he’d never once shown to me.
‘I’m envious. Of being an existence that can receive Cesare’s love….’
My heart ached, making it hard to face him. When I turned my gaze away and lowered my eyes slightly, he murmured while carefully observing my face.
“Your way of speaking and actions… are somehow strange. Too similar. Wait a moment.”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
Cesare, whose face suddenly crumpled, suddenly cupped my cheeks with his hands. Before I could even be surprised, he wiped my lips with confident touch.
“…I thought something was strange.”
“What are you doing!”
At my outcry, Cesare made a strange expression as if holding back laughter or anger, and snatched my wrist.
“You’re driving me crazy.”
“……?”
“Lionel, Lionel, Lionel! Of course it was you. Everything was so clear! Ha!”
“Hngh!”
This perceptive bastard! How did he figure it out?
At his gradually rising voice, my head went completely blank. Not knowing how to make excuses, I was only trembling my lips when my head was most complicated—
– Fwoosh.
Fireworks announcing the official start of the ball shot high above us. I heard the sound of people coming out to the terrace to watch, then suddenly heard a roar that shook the ground.
– KWAANG! BANG!
“Kyaaah! What is it?”
– KUGUUGUGUNG!
The ground began to shake violently.
