Raise Me, So That I Can Eat You Up - Chapter 21

His ticklish breath touched my ear and then withdrew.

Not only my cheeks but also both my earlobes instantly became hot.

He surely didn’t intend it.

Right. The dance music.

It must have been just because of the dance music.

He probably couldn’t have a conversation without speaking this close.

It must have been just that.

I was deeply worried that he might hear my heartbeat from our touching chests.

Was I originally this shy? I thought I was far from being that type of person.

Just, I was too nervous. I couldn’t gather my thoughts due to a strange feeling, unsure if it was excitement or anxiety.

Whether he knew this or not, he led me with quite skillful moves.

They say if you wish for something desperately, it comes true. He seemed like a savior who appeared to rescue me from my isolation in the crowd.

It felt just like a dream.

No, really.

Maybe I was dreaming.

The kind of dream that fades away hazily when you open your eyes.

“Are you afraid of me?”

“…Pardon?”

My eyes widened like a frightened deer at the sudden question. He smiled faintly as if he found it cute.

“Because you’re trembling.”

Had he felt the slight tremor in my body?

Thanks to his lead, I was dancing as if nothing was wrong, but in reality, my whole body was stiff and I wanted to sit down.

“What?”

He prompted for an answer again.

His red eyes scrutinized me as if piercing through. Under such a gaze, I felt as embarrassed as if I were naked.

“I’m not scared. It’s just…”

The more I avoided his eyes, the more he lowered his gaze, smiling kindly as if to reassure me.

“Just?”

“I’m embarrassed.”

I felt embarrassed even after saying it. Suddenly telling a man I’ve never met before that I’m embarrassed.

I thought I might look like a crazy woman.

“That’s a relief. That you’re not scared.”

He smiled with relief.

“If it were that, I would have been hurt.”

I was still trembling.

“…”

I felt his persistent gaze, but I just couldn’t look him straight in the eyes.

“What’s making you so embarrassed?”

“It’s just a bit awkward. It’s my first time dancing with a stranger.”

“Am I a stranger to you?”

“…”

“Ariella.”

He called my name.

‘Huh? Did I tell him my name?’

He seemed to know me.

“…Do you know me?”

“Of course.”

“How?”

As I opened my eyes wide, he gently closed his.

“It’s a secret.”

He smiled primly and swiftly made a turn.

“When you say it like that, it’s starting to get a bit scary.”

“I’m not a scary person.”

“Scary people don’t readily admit that they’re scary.”

“Is that so.”

As I joked to ease my tension, he playfully retorted.

“Don’t worry. Everyone’s watching, so I can’t do anything scary.”

He wasn’t wrong. Even while dancing, I could feel everyone’s eyes on us.

“Aren’t you curious about who I am?”

“You’re not going to tell me anyway, right?”

“How did you know.”

If he had no intention of telling me, I didn’t want to ask. My accepting his dance invitation was quite impulsive in the first place.

Considering my daily life that was far from romance, it might be wise to leave this as just a dream-like experience.

“Why did you ask me to dance?”

“You looked bored.”

“Seems like you were the same. Since you noticed me.”

I was indeed bored, but hearing it so bluntly made me a bit annoyed.

“Just like that. My eyes naturally went to you.”

“Naturally?”

“Yes. You were sparkling the most here. I found you right away.”

He added, looking straight into my eyes.

“I like things that sparkle, you see.”

To say such embarrassing things so casually. My face flushed hot.

I didn’t know where to look, so I just kept staring at the floor.

“Is there something on the floor?”

“Ah, no, I’m just worried I might step on your feet.”

I searched for an excuse due to embarrassment.

“I’m not very good at dancing either. Please understand.”

“It’s okay to step on them, so please show me your face.”

“I really might step on them.”

“If you’re that worried, why don’t you dance on top of my feet?”

He cheerfully suggested I step onto his feet.

I’ve heard that young girls learning to dance for the first time dance on their father’s feet.

It seemed like he was referring to that.

“That would be a bit troublesome.”

“If that’s troublesome, then just step on my feet. Please look at my face.”

“Alright.”

I reluctantly looked into his eyes. His red eyes were full of mischief.

“To be honest, I needed someone to play with like this too.”

“Seems like you don’t have friends either.”

“Right. I have just one.”

When I shot back, he laughed as if he found it hilarious.

“I promised to wait quietly, but I got restless. If they know I’m doing this, I’ll be in trouble.”

“So I’m just a stand-in?”

Suddenly, as if intoxicated, I felt dizzy and my ankle wobbled.

This has never happened before. Why is this happening? As I stammered in confusion, he nonchalantly supported my waist.

“Yes. But the stand-in is more fun.”

Our upper bodies suddenly pressed together due to his strong arm. I felt dizzy with bewilderment.

“That’s why I told you to step on my feet and dance.”

He clicked his tongue teasingly. Because of that, my face turned as red as a radish.

The dance music had ended before I knew it. I hurriedly separated from him out of embarrassment.

“I’ll be going now. Th-thank you for the dance.”

I bowed at a 90-degree angle and turned to walk away quickly.

I was so embarrassed I wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

Leon. Leon… Leon.

Where was Leon?

I had to find Leon.

I quickly fled from the mirage before my eyes.

***

“What’s going on?”

It was the umpteenth time he had asked “What’s going on?” since earlier.

“What do you mean, ‘what’s going on’? Huh?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Do you know how many times you’ve said that?”

Leon asked with a somewhat agitated voice.

“Well, that’s because you keep asking.”

“Ah, forget it. Should I find that bastard and ask him myself? Would that make you feel better?”

It meant I should answer obediently if I didn’t want to see something unpleasant.

As soon as the dance ended, I fled and walked straight ahead.

I could feel the gazes pouring in from around me, and I felt that man watching me too, but I wanted to pretend I didn’t notice everything out of embarrassment.

Someone grabbed my wrist.

My heart dropped thinking it was that man, but it turned out to be Leon.

He seemed to have seriously misunderstood something, as he was breathing heavily and appeared quite angry, but seeing Leon’s face gave me an inexplicable sense of relief.

“Let’s go home quickly. Is the carriage here?”

I kept urging him to go home while avoiding answering his questions.

“Stop changing the subject. Talk. Otherwise, I’ll find that bastard and ask him before we leave.”

“You can’t find him anyway.”

“What?”

“If you had found him, you would have confronted him already. You’re doing this to me now because you couldn’t find him.”

“Haa.”

It seemed I had hit the nail on the head. Leon let out a deep sigh and had no particular response.

As the tension eased, fatigue washed over me. My whole body ached and I just wanted to sleep.

“So you’re not going to tell me? I need to know too, you know.”

“There are too many people here, I’ll tell you in the carriage.”

He prepared the carriage without further argument. He must have noticed the fatigue plastered all over my face.

“Alright, now we’re in the carriage. You have 10 seconds to spill everything. Go.”

As soon as we got in the carriage, I tried to catch a quick nap, but his persistent questioning continued.

“Umm… Ah! Right. You, you went to get some al-alcohol when I asked. Where did you go?”

“Is that important right now?”

“It is. So you answer first. You’re partly responsible for this situation because you were gone for so long.”

“Oh my, what a sophistry till the end.”

Leon made a face of disbelief and rubbed his face dry.

“You were tipsy. Would I have gone to get you more alcohol then?”

“Wh-when did I get tipsy?”

“You seemed to want to leave quickly, so I immediately prepared the carriage. The little one would throw a fit if we’re late, you know.”

It seemed he had done his part in his way. I felt awkward and turned my face towards the window.

“A-anyway, sorry. And thank you.”

“Are you really drunk?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you beating around the bush instead of answering the questions I’m asking?”

I tried to brush it off, but he was quite persistent.

“I’m asking. Did you get a man?”

“No.”

“Then who was that bastard? Why was he embracing you?”

“We were just dancing. Don’t exaggerate.”

“Fine. Let’s say that. Who was this person you were ‘just dancing’ with then?”

“A stranger.”

“What?”

Leon’s face contorted in disbelief.

“Don’t lie.”

“It’s true.”

“You’re saying there’s a madman who danced with you while the prince was watching with blazing eyes?”

“Yeah. There was. Since there was, I danced right away.”

“Whoever he is, he’s got guts spilling out of his belly.”

Leon let out a hollow laugh, seemingly dumbfounded.

Well, any nobleman invited to a royal ball wouldn’t be able to help but be cautious.

Even if Henry was a prince in name only, it was an action tantamount to provocation.

That’s why that man’s eccentricity left a deeper impression.

“You’re crazy too. You danced with a stranger who asked you to?”

“W-well. He was handsome.”

“What?”

Leon asked back with an expression of utter disbelief.

“You know I’m weak for good looks. That’s why it was hard to break up with Henry too.”

“What a thing to brag about.”

“Still, it’s better than getting back together with Henry, right?”

“What kind of miraculous logic is that?”

I tried to spout sophistry, but it didn’t work at all, as expected.

“Anyway, sorry for making you worry.”

“You’re weak for handsome guys, but you don’t care about your handsome brother worrying?”

“You’re family. Stop saying creepy things.”

“Anyway, he’s a guy who’s lost his mind. He was wearing a knight’s uniform. I’ll ask around a bit.”

“Really?”

When I opened my eyes wide, Leon’s face contorted.

“Why are you so excited?”

“Wh-when did I do that?”

“I’m going to keep an eye on him. He seems out of his mind.”

But was there such a handsome guy? Is he a new recruit?

He grumbled and sighed deeply. Leon, thinking there was nothing more to get out of me, stopped probing further.

Maybe it was the combination of intoxication and fatigue.

An irresistible drowsiness came over me. I could no longer hold my heavy eyelids and dozed off briefly in the carriage.

I only opened my eyes when the carriage arrived at Hayworth.

Looking at my pocket watch, it was almost midnight. I wonder if Oscar is sleeping. There shouldn’t be any problem since I kept my promise.

‘I’ll wash up quickly and play peekaboo right away.’

It seemed he was sleeping, given how quiet it was. I opened the door to my room with a languid face.

As expected, I saw Oscar sleeping soundly in bed.

“I’m back, Oscar.”

I gently kissed Oscar’s cute forehead before washing up.

“Oscar?”

Oscar’s forehead was as hot as a fireball.