Delia couldn’t believe she was successfully dancing. Niol also had an expression of disbelief, but for a different reason. He smiled and gently shook his head.

“To think I’m dancing with you, Delia. My heart feels like it’s going to fall out.”

It was an obvious fact. Every time his hand touched her body and pulled away, the plausibility score increased. Delia answered.

“Oh…… Ah, really?”

Focusing so hard on not making mistakes in the dance, she couldn’t properly respond to Niol’s words. The moment her concentration broke even slightly, she immediately stepped on Niol’s foot.

Of course, he didn’t even flinch when stepped on. When Delia stepped on Niol’s foot for the third time, laughter flowed from above.

“Is it very difficult?”

“……”

Niol checked Delia’s expression, nodded, and didn’t speak anymore. He just perfectly finished the first song as smoothly as flowing water.

“Well done, Delia.”

Niol, who threw praise in her ear, could no longer stay with Delia anymore.

Because numerous young ladies immediately rushed over. Chlois, who approached as soon as the song ended, also stood close beside Niol.

“Your Highness.”

“Ah, Miss Bennett.”

Niol stared a bit more persistently at Delia’s form before moving along with Chlois. Chlois glanced back and sent what might have been a wary look toward Delia.

Delia bowed her head slightly in greeting. Whatever the case, thanks to Chlois’s appearance, now she wouldn’t have to dance while receiving everyone’s attention.

Delia let out a long breath.

“……Phew.”

She also wanted to end dancing here.

Delia’s purpose was ultimately to appeal to Kaiel that she was qualified to be Ashlene’s substitute, and that purpose was already achieved.

Except for the dancing.

Delia, who was turning to head toward a corner of the banquet hall, drew in a short breath.

“Ah.”

“Miss Averbit. May I request the next dance?”

“Miss Averbit?”

It wasn’t just one or two.

Several men were gathering toward where she was. Upon discovering the men, Delia began backing away while forcing a smile. Even if she wanted to enjoy this occasion, she couldn’t. She resented her dancing skills.

‘Should I just run away?’

Thinking this was enough, Delia looked around. Right then her eyes met Kaiel’s, who was almost glaring at her. She also caught sight of Chlois standing far away with Niol.

‘No.’

Delia stopped backing away.

‘I can’t end it like this while Kaiel is watching. I need to appear more skilled.’

Since Chlois was currently the most likely candidate, she needed to at least match her qualities.

Delia straightened her back and corrected her posture. Then she gave the men a shy eye-smile. Taking out a fan from her waist and gently fanning it near her collarbone, a rich grape fragrance wafted out.

“Apply perfume near your collarbone and chest. It’s killing two birds with one stone since you can draw attention with the fan while also spreading the scent.”

Lady Evans’s playful voice came to mind and disappeared.

‘Thank you, Lady Evans.’

She would show off all her capabilities to Kaiel.

* * *

“Miss Averbit, would you please grant me the next dance?”

One man extended his arm with a very nervous voice. At the same time, Delia’s ear rang.

Ding.

[Villain ‘Kaiel’ felt displeasure.]

[Plausibility score increases by 5 points.]

Delia deliberately ignored the system notification and asked the man.

“Sir Phillips, are you good at dancing?”

Perhaps taking Delia’s question as a playful joke, the man laughed softly.

“You’ll be surprised.”

Delia slowly raised her hand and placed it on the man’s arm.

Watching Delia lower her gaze and smile with a slight blush, those who were looking at her all gaped blankly.

Like sparkling jewels, each of Delia’s actions captured people’s attention. The mixture of nobility and elegance with a hint of coquetry made viewers’ hearts flutter.

Delia, worried about dancing in her mind while being conscious of Kaiel, didn’t notice how many gazes were pouring onto her.

That’s when it happened.

Ding.

[Plausibility score increases by 10 points.]

[Analyzing cause……]

[Cause analysis failed.]

[This is an unregistered emotion for this person.]

Ding.

[Plausibility score increases by 10 points.]

[Analyzing cause……]

[Cause analysis failed.]

[This is an unregistered emotion for this person.]

While the notifications only Delia could hear continued to ring.

“Stop……”

At the low voice that burst out, those standing around Kaiel looked up startled.

Just standing near him felt like the temperature dropped sharply. People shrank back at the inexplicable chill, getting goosebumps.

Delia too had noticed the atmosphere here and was about to look over. Suddenly her eyes met directly with Kaiel’s. A scratchy low voice rang from his lips.

“Del…… you. Come here.”

“……”

The man who had offered his arm to her gulped.

“Though it seems unlikely…… did you make some mistake with His Grace the Grand Duke?”

“How could that be?”

As Delia stood still, this time Kaiel began approaching directly.

With each step he took, the people standing in front split to either side creating a path.

“Um, Miss Averbit. Though I don’t know what’s happening, I should step aside. If there’s a chance later perhaps we could dance……”

As Kaiel came closer, the man’s words couldn’t continue as he quickly moved aside.

As attention focused on Kaiel and herself, Delia quietly headed toward him, worried things might escalate further.

“You called for me, Your Grace.”

Kaiel’s lips moved.

‘Oh. Will he scold me? Get angry?’

I wonder what he was going to say.

“Dance. With me.”

Delia’s eyes widened. Kaiel asking for a dance?

Before she could be more surprised, Kaiel extended his arm.

“Here.”

“Uh…… I……”

No way.

The moment she started dancing with Kaiel, her dancing skills would be clearly exposed.

If she was to substitute for Ashlene at the masquerade ball, she needed to be skilled at dancing above all else. Of course she could learn given more time, but a week was far too short.

‘If I dance with Kaiel now, I’ll be eliminated right away without even a chance to argue more. How can I face Kaiel again if I can’t even dance?’

“S-sorry. My head hurts so just……”

It happened in an instant — Delia backed away as if escaping and rushed out of the banquet hall.

The light in Kaiel’s eyes, left alone, went out for a moment. Along with it, the liveliness in the banquet hall faltered and disappeared.

How could this be?

It was already surprising that the unmovable Grand Duke made his first dance request, but to be so openly rejected!

Between the young ladies’ whispers of incomprehension and the startled Ashlene, only Niol calmly took position with Chlois.

“Miss Bennett, shall we?”

Chlois was quite hurt in her pride by the previous situations. Hadn’t Kaiel clearly told her he doesn’t dance? She felt mercilessly rejected.

But what else could she properly do now?

Chlois quietly placed her hand on Niol’s shoulder.

‘Well, it’s fortunate.’

Rather, if things went well between the Grand Duke and the new young lady, the position beside His Highness would be hers.

Chlois sent a deep gaze as she took Niol’s hand.

As His Highness Niol began dancing, people who had been standing around awkwardly also joined the formation one by one.

As the song progressed and reached the climax of the lively string instruments’ melody, Kaiel left the banquet hall following Delia.

* * *

Tap tap.

Delia’s urgent shoe steps echoed through the wide corridor.

Though she was worried about rushing out without properly finishing, it was better than showing her inadequate self to Kaiel.

Having been extremely tense trying to show only perfection all day, her whole body went limp once she got outside.

Delia headed toward the garden. As soon as she found a space to hide behind an entrance pillar, she leaned against it and slumped to the ground. Only then could she take off the shoes that had been constantly pricking and stabbing her feet.

Sure enough, her heels were scraped.

“Ugh……”

Such attire was still difficult to adapt to. It was fortunate enough that she had forcibly reduced the number of underpants and petticoats to make the dress somewhat lighter.

If not for that, she might have wanted to strip off everything right away from how stuffy it was.

Her head cleared as she took in the night air.

It was the moment Delia closed her eyes while letting out a sigh—

Rustle.

A presence was felt nearby. Before she could open her eyes to confirm who it was.

Reflexively stretching out her foot as if to kick, Delia twisted her body. Something warm seemed to touch her sole before fully grasping her foot.

“Who–!”

“It’s me.”

Kaiel, who had appeared silently, grabbed Delia’s ankle with one hand and lifted it up.

“K-Kaiel! What are you doing!”

A voice calm beyond measure answered.

“Stay still. You’re hurt here.”

“I know! I know!”

Delia struggled to pull her foot from his hand, but it was useless.

Finally, Delia stopped, exhausted, in the strange position with her ankle held. After a moment, she spoke in a gentle voice as if making an excuse.

“The shoes were uncomfortable so I couldn’t dance. That’s why I came out. My feet……”

Just as Delia was about to blame it on the shoes, she suddenly closed her mouth.