Unable to grasp the intent behind his words, Shailyn was confused as he continued.

“When we sparred, you seemed like a small carnivore. Are you still not fully recovered?”

…Is this an insult?

Before Shailyn could decide how to respond, Dain intervened.

“Linus, what’s with you?”

He placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder with a look of exasperation.

“You kept asking about Shailyn’s well-being before. Why are you being mean now that you’ve met her?”

“What nonsense…!”

Ignoring the flustered Linus, Dain turned to comfort Shailyn.

“Shailyn, don’t mind him. Linus sometimes says the opposite of what he means. You look pretty today, and he’s just being difficult.”

“Dain, stop talking nonsense. I never said that.”

“You didn’t say you never thought about it?”

“……”

Linus fell silent at his friend’s retort. The tips of his ears turned redder than his hair.

Shailyn blinked her long eyelashes and tilted her head, boldly asking.

“Your Highness, do you think I’m pretty?”

“……”

“Pretty enough to bring me stars and the moon? To drop everything and come running for me? So captivating that you can’t sleep at night thinking of me?”

“…Not to that extent, so don’t exaggerate. I just thought you were the most tolerable here.”

“Humph.”

Shailyn was disappointed, having imagined the cliché of him falling for her after seeing her all dressed up, unlike when they first met.

At that moment, Dain, who had been watching them, cheerfully suggested.

“Shailyn, how about dancing with Linus for the next dance?”

“Brother!”

Deborah called out to Dain in a voice filled with reproach.

How could he pair the clumsy Shailyn with the Crown Prince?

But it was too late to fix it.

Both Shailyn and Linus had clearly heard Dain’s suggestion.

“Well… If Lady Sharofe wishes.”

“I do want to, but I’m not good at dancing. Is that alright?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Then I’m fine with it too.”

Ignoring Deborah’s concerns, Shailyn took Linus’s hand and headed to the center of the hall once more.

Many young ladies whispered as they watched.

* * *

In romance novels, the male and female leads dancing at a party is a classic scene.

So if the Crown Prince is the male lead, I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

I approached with the mindset of a predator eyeing its prey, but as I prepared, I started to worry.

“…Your Highness.”

“What?”

“You can’t get mad if I step on your foot. You chose this, after all…”

I was tempted to tell him to endure it with grit and determination.

Because the heels I’m wearing are quite sharp.

The Crown Prince looked down at me with an incredulous expression and leaned in to whisper.

“Just relax and trust me. I’ll handle it.”

“Can I trust you with my heart too?”

That seemed too much for him, as his handsome face turned serious.

“Stop talking nonsense and focus.”

“Yes, sir.”

A new piece began to play. The Crown Prince wrapped his hand around my waist and moved gracefully.

I tried to feel his large hand and warm presence… but I was too busy focusing on not making mistakes.

When your boss tells you to leave work early, it’s foolish to actually leave excitedly.

I tried to rely on the Crown Prince as much as possible but also put in my own effort not to step on his foot, focusing all my attention on my legs.

Thanks to that, the dance ended before I knew it.

By the time we returned to Deborah and Dain, sweat was beaded on my forehead.

“Well done. You two seemed more in sync than I expected. How was it?”

Dain patted both our shoulders, asking for feedback.

The Crown Prince glanced at me and replied.

“You really can’t dance.”

…It was true, so I couldn’t argue.

Still, I looked up and spoke directly to him.

“I enjoyed it very much.”

“…I didn’t say it was bad.”

“That’s a relief.”

I smiled genuinely, and the Crown Prince quickly turned his head away.

Unfortunately, there was no further chance to speak with him.

A group of young ladies who had been waiting nearby swarmed over.

“Please dance with me, Your Highness!”

“Young Duke, may I request a dance?”

Thus, Dain and the Crown Prince were swept away, and other men gradually filled the empty space.

They were gentlemen coming to request dances.

Deborah crossed her arms and looked at them with a haughty expression.

“Young Lady Diart, if it’s not too much trouble, may I have a dance…?”

“It is too much trouble, so don’t ask.”

“What about me? Would you consider…?”

“I’m not interested.”

The young men who had bravely extended their hands withdrew one by one, dejected.

Instead, they lingered around her, sending longing glances.

‘I knew Deborah would be popular as the young lady of Diart, but…’

I was a bit taken aback.

“Lady Sharofe, would you like to dance with me?”

“Why not dance with me first? I’m much better.”

“No, dance with me!”

It was unexpected that several gentlemen were competing to ask me to dance.

I thought they wouldn’t approach me since it was my first appearance in the capital’s social scene.

“If you plan to keep dancing, choose your partners wisely, sister. Many people are watching since you just danced with both my brother and the Crown Prince.”

Deborah whispered to me.

Ah, they’re curious because I danced with two top predators.

Following Deborah’s advice, I carefully observed the men reaching out to me.

There was a high proportion of blondes.

‘In a way, this is an opportunity.’

While dancing, I could ask if they knew Dain or had been injured in the square, which might help me find the male lead.

‘At this rate… I’ll dance with them all.’

With a slightly manic look, I took the hand of the most decent-looking blonde gentleman.

Thus began the serious dance labor.

I realized dancing was indeed exercise.

After dancing five times in a row without rest, my legs were trembling.

Even the gentlemen who danced with me staggered away, looking drained as soon as the music ended.

They must have struggled to lead me.

‘But they were all misses…’

None of them matched the hints I was looking for.

Exhausted, I declared a break and stepped aside. Deborah was nowhere to be seen.

I was alone, refreshing myself with a drink from a nearby table when a stranger spoke to me.

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello…”

I turned my head absentmindedly, then widened my eyes.

The voice belonged to a woman with silky black hair and a rose-red dress.

Beside her stood a man with beautiful platinum blonde hair, smiling.

I knew who they were.

The Lady of Celsior and the head priest.

The young lady was the one Deborah had pointed out earlier.

I couldn’t not recognize the head priest, the blonde man I was searching for, who had ignored me when I sought help.

I glanced at him somewhat reluctantly, and the young lady spoke.

“You look like someone I haven’t seen before. What’s your name?”

She smoothly curled her lips into a smile. It was a beautiful but formal smile.

Her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“I’m Shailyn Sharofe.”

“I see, Lady Sharofe.”

She stepped forward, removing her hand from the head priest’s arm.

“I don’t recall inviting you. Who did you come with?”

…Come with? That’s a bit rude.

I stared at the young lady, who was using an annoyingly snobby tone.

Now I see why Deborah disliked her. She’s truly unpleasant.

Still, I politely answered the young lady’s cold smile.

“I came with my cousins, Dain and Deborah.”

“Oh, not siblings but cousins.”

She muttered loudly, apparently intending for me to hear.

I had hoped mentioning the Duke of Diart would soften her attitude, but she showed no such response.

“Have you always lived in the capital?”

“No, I lived in the Sharofe county and came up recently.”

“Ah, then this must be your first party. You must be very excited and thrilled.”

Her voice was laced with a condescending tone.

The young lady, who had just flicked her glossy hair, spoke softly.

“Still, don’t make it too obvious. You might be dismissed as being unsophisticated.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine, young lady.”

I smiled sweetly and took a step closer to her.

She was unusually close to my height.

Still, I was slightly taller, allowing me to look down at her.

“Fortunately, I must not seem too unsophisticated, as I received many dance requests.”