Chapter 51

‘Oh, right…’

I suddenly realized we were in the dance area.

I glanced around, realizing how disruptive it must have been for us to stand still among the dancers.

But what I saw before me was surprising. I was moving smoothly among the other dancers.

How was this possible?

I quickly looked down at my feet, then at my arms and his body.

Was I following his lead?

The music and dance were familiar to me. I could dance to this tune with my eyes closed.

Surprised by Alec’s sudden grip, I hadn’t even noticed my feet moving.

But he was leading me naturally.

‘…Is this even possible?’

In terms of dancing skills, Alec and I were worlds apart.

It’s not that he couldn’t remember the steps, but my skills were far superior.

I looked at our legs, arms, and clasped hands in disbelief.

Sure enough, he was leading me.

Whirl.

He raised our clasped hands above my head and gently pushed my back, spinning me around.

“…!”

Through the corner of my eye, I saw other women turning in sync with the choreographed steps.

I spun back to face him, his movement as natural as if he’d done it a hundred times. His expression remained nonchalant.

Was I the only one who found this strange?

“…Were you always this good at dancing?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Then why…”

I trailed off, then quickly realized.

“Ah, is this also because of coming back to life?”

“Perhaps.”

He replied casually and continued to lead me with skillful ease.

His movements were effortless and fluid.

Unlike the strong grip he had when he grabbed my waist, his dance had a different kind of power.

I was at a loss for words, my body relaxing completely.

I let myself go, feeling the movements as if I were on an amusement ride.

Dancing wasn’t just about steps; it was about the seamless connection with a good partner.

I was so amazed that I felt speechless.

It was like walking on clouds, feeling light and buoyant.

When I regained my senses, two songs had already ended.

***

Crash!

Julia’s thrown glass shattered on the marble floor.

Red wine splattered like blood, staining the broken shards.

“Who was that woman?”

The other noblewomen in the lounge watched Julia nervously.

They were all wearing cumbersome masks but knew exactly who each other was.

Rose approached Julia with a worried yet gentle smile, lightly holding Julia’s hand.

“Julia, you’ll cut yourself if you’re not careful.”

“That woman couldn’t have been here.”

Julia’s hand trembled. Rose subtly checked Julia’s expression.

It was hard to tell if she was more angry or anxious.

Julia had been shocked to see her beloved Owen dancing with another woman.

For Owen to ask another woman to dance was unthinkable, but the real shock was who the woman was.

Despite the mask and unusual styling, Julia’s keen eye recognized the woman immediately.

“How could she come to this ball? She’s not even a noble anymore!”

Julia’s voice shook with fury.

She rarely lost her composure, even when angry, but she had been on edge lately, afraid Marcel would discover her lovers.

Scarlett approached Julia, looking puzzled.

“It is strange, indeed. Maybe she stole or found an invitation?”

Scarlett’s eyebrows arched in genuine doubt, but internally, she was pleased the ball had been a masquerade.

If it hadn’t been a masquerade, Louise wouldn’t have dared come after seeing the invitation.

A fallen noble showing up at a ball would have drawn much attention, making Louise look foolish.

Scarlett had persuaded Julia to make it a masquerade for this reason.

“Julia, I know you’re feeling down. The more glamorous the event, the better you’ll feel. How about wearing masks so Marcel won’t notice?”

Julia had been receptive to the idea, thinking it a good way to avoid Marcel’s scrutiny.

But for one of Julia’s faithful lovers to dance with Louise was unexpected.

The noblewomen had invited Louise to unsettle Julia, but they hadn’t anticipated such a reaction.

Tonight, Louise appeared not as a mere cat but as a regal panther, making their hearts race.

Julia was consumed with the desire to kill Louise, who had exposed her secret to Marcel.

“Bring that woman to me immediately.”

***

“Who are those people?”

“They’re so beautiful and perfect.”

“Was that dance always that magnificent?”

Alec and Louise were drawing increasing attention, eventually becoming the center of it.

The other dancers near them sensed something unusual and gave them space.

They were so overwhelmingly elegant that no other couples could be seen.

It felt as if they were the only two people in the world.

But the magical moment ended quickly.

Alec’s arm slipped away from Louise’s waist, and he stepped back to a respectful distance.

Though they had danced twice, it felt shorter than once.

Alec performed the characteristic bow that signaled the end of the dance, lifting one arm gracefully and bending at the waist.

Even as he straightened up, his eyes remained fixed on Louise.

Ding.

[Affection has increased by 1.]

Louise met his gaze, lifting her skirt and bending her knees in response.

His movements were elegant and his eyes serene, yet there was something provocatively mesmerizing about him.

Still dazed from the enchanting experience, Louise’s mind felt hazy.

As they began to leave the dance area, people stepped aside, unable to take their eyes off them.

Louise grabbed two whiskies from a passing servant and downed them both in one go.

Only now did she feel the dryness in her throat and her shortness of breath.

“…Alec, I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

They were outside the ballroom, in the garden, needing fresh air.

Louise pressed her hand against her heaving chest, taking deep breaths.

Ding.

[Affection has increased by 1.]

“It felt like walking on clouds. I’ve attended countless balls, but I’ve never danced like that before. Phew….”

Her deep breathing continued.

Her heart was pounding so loudly Alec could almost hear it.

Ding.

[Affection has increased by 1.]

“…”

The constant increase in affection indicated how much Louise had enjoyed herself at the ball.

Every time the notification sounded, Alec’s heart seemed to skip a beat.

Louise, trying to calm her excited heart while looking at the forest connected to the garden, suddenly turned to him.

“How are you so skilled at dancing? It’s not just that you’re good; you’re exceptionally skilled….”

“Well….”

Alec finally spoke.

It was strange.

He had mastered numerous classical dances in his previous life because of the dungeon keys.

There was a quest to level up in the dungeon, requiring mastery of various skills, including cooking, musical instruments, and ballroom dancing.

These were all challenging, and without sufficient skill, it was impossible to obtain the dungeon keys.

Failure or even avoiding the tasks resulted in penalties that could be deadly.

But now, it seemed as though those tasks were designed for today.

Back then, he wondered why he had to learn something as seemingly useless as old ballroom dances, but now it was proving to be beneficial.

Feeling the peculiarity of the situation, Alec looked away and said,

“Strangely, it feels like I learned them for you, Louise.”

“What? Hehe….”

Louise looked up at him dreamily, her eyes sparkling.

Perhaps it was the two whiskies, but she seemed slightly flushed and dreamy.

Could it be that his previous life’s quests were meant for this world?

For the woman he needed to gain affection from…?

With a serious realization, Alec looked at Louise. Even through the mask, her eyes were filled with fondness.

A man who had such a woman as his wife must be the luckiest man in his past and present lives.

“What are you thinking about?”

“…That the man who has you as his wife is fortunate.”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories