“I don’t f*cking know.”

I couldn’t empathize with or understand the feelings of lovers about to marry, or the psychology of dancing joyfully in front of family and friends, from deep in my heart.

I threw the book I was reading and collapsed on the table in frustration, when Carl, who had been reading a book like a painting with his legs crossed across from me, asked bluntly.

“What’s the problem.”

“……Everything.”

When I answered gloomily, he closed his book and looked straight at me.

“Tell me in detail.”

“Sigh…… I don’t know what it feels like to fall in love with someone and promise to marry them.”

After eating dinner and gathering to read, the outside had already been shrouded in deep darkness.

The moon and stars twinkling in the night sky, and the soft light flowing from chandeliers and candlesticks hanging on the ceiling and walls illuminated above our heads.

“Actually, that means creating a new family. I don’t have a family, so I can’t relate to how good that is or why it’s so joyful.”

Isn’t the world originally about being born alone and living alone?

At least I had lived such a life. Shailyn, whom I possessed, wasn’t much different either.

I was just trying to capture male leads to return to my original world, not because I seriously wanted to date or marry.

I had just downloaded the game because it looked interesting.

Carl, who had been quietly listening to my words, opened his mouth in a low voice.

“You don’t need to think grandly about it. If you promise to stay by that person’s side for life, you become family. Regardless of whether you actually kept that promise.”

A promise to stay by someone’s side for life…….

Someone lonely like me would definitely be tempted if they received such a promise.

But it still felt vague and unclear.

“Is it because I have no family or friends that I’m like this……?”

As I muttered dejectedly, something large and warm covered my cheek and head.

It was Carl’s hand.

“I’ll be both for you, so don’t get discouraged. It’s not strange to not have them. Humans are animals that live in groups, but there are always exceptions.”

Even though it was his usual blunt voice, perhaps because his comforting tone and patting touch were affectionate, my heart fluttered a little.

This was the first time someone had said this to me.

When people learned about my situation, they either pitied me excessively or found it burdensome and pushed me away—it was always one or the other.

Strangely, my chest felt full, so I didn’t move at all, and Carl chuckled and ruffled my hair.

“While doing this, you dream of marrying a blond handsome man?”

“I’ll know when I try.”

“Really ridiculous.”

He withdrew his hand with a hollow laugh and added casually.

“And you have the people from the Diart ducal family, Master.”

“……”

I silently fixed my hair and straightened my back.

Coldly speaking, they were the family of the game character ‘Shailyn Sharofe,’ not my family.

A relationship that would end when I returned to my original self.

“……You don’t know. I and those people can’t become a real family.”

When I muttered bitterly, Carl shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“I’ll become that for you.”

“You’re really acting up for a bondservant.”

“What about the master who’s smiling while saying that.”

Ah.

Caught with my twitching lips, I belatedly covered my mouth with my hand.

Carl rested his elbow on the table, propped his chin, and looked at me.

“Imagine bragging to other people that your bondservant made such a promise. Wouldn’t it be a similar feeling?”

“Hmm……”

I imagined as Carl said.

Him swearing loyalty to me and promising to stay together for life, and proudly announcing this to people who had ignored me for being an orphan or to those who had worried about me.

I felt like I could fly with joy, proud, happy, pleased, and…… somehow comforted.

“Ah…… I think I understand a bit now.”

“Then, want to try dancing once now?”

Carl stood up from his chair and extended his hand to me.

I looked up at him in bewilderment.

“Huh……?”

“There’s no music, but you can dance while imagining an orchestra in your head.”

Is, is that so……?

Without realizing it, I took Carl’s hand as if enchanted and stood up.

In doing so, I failed to hear the footsteps moving away after watching us through the gap of the not-quite-closed door.

I clasped hands with his calloused ones and placed my other hand on his shoulder.

Then Carl also gently wrapped his other hand around my waist.

‘His hand is really…… hot.’

The hand I felt through the thin, light dress was hot and firm.

Until now I hadn’t noticed because I was focused on dancing, but I suddenly became aware that Carl and I were really close, bodies touching.

‘Crazy, why at a moment like this……’

Unaware of my confused inner thoughts, Carl naturally led me.

I moved my steps following him and stepped to the rhythm. My legs moved more lightly and smoothly than before.

Somehow laughter bubbled up irrepressibly. My lips completely relaxed and my heart floated along.

So this song feels like this.

Was it because I was overly excited from dancing with immersion for the first time?

“Ah……!”

I swayed after stepping on my dress wrong by myself. It was a mistake I hadn’t made since learning the basics from Madam Madison.

Fortunately, before I could fall, a large hand firmly supported my back.

“Be careful.”

A low voice resonated right nearby. I reflexively raised my head and flinched at Carl’s face placed right in front of my nose.

Our bodies had become more pressed together as he caught me.

Since Carl was also wearing only a thin summer shirt, his prominent muscles, solid frame, and thick build all transmitted to me through the fabric.

“So, so, sorry.”

Strangely, heat rushed to my ears like when I had seen his bare body.

What was this embarrassing feeling? As if Carl suddenly felt like a man…….

Feeling like I shouldn’t dance anymore, I hurriedly escaped from his embrace.

“Sh, shall we stop here? Come to think of it, it’s time to sleep now.”

“……Yeah.”

Carl, who had been staring at me with strange eyes, obediently nodded.

After sending him out of the room, I felt somewhat relieved and patted my chest.

‘This is why handsome men are scary and harmful……’

Especially when they have aspects that match my taste like black hair, it’s even worse.

Just breathing draws my attention.

I lay in bed, pulled the blanket over my head, and closed my eyes tightly. Hoping this strange feeling would quickly pass.

***

After that day, Shailyn came to dance ‘Dawn of Happiness’ properly.

Madam Madison, who returned, praised her amazingly changed song interpretation and immersion, saying.

“Now you can really match timing with your actual partner.”

“Oh, really?”

Shailyn’s face brightened completely. On the other hand, Carl made a sullen expression.

That meant he was no longer needed and should vacate his spot.

Indeed, from the next day, Chester came to the duke’s residence and began practicing with Shailyn.

Carl, standing in one corner of the room under the pretext of guarding, watched the two people dancing.

“I’m sorry. I might step on your feet, so I’ll apologize in advance.”

“Not at all. Just step on them.”

Shailyn placed her hand on Chester’s shoulder with a shy face.

Chester led her somewhat stiffly but not roughly.

“Oh! You said you couldn’t dance, but you’re doing well, Tower Master.?”

“Fortunately. I tried not to be a burden.”

Contrary to his calm voice, Chester’s ears were burning.

The cause was the good fragrance from Shailyn close by, her thin and soft hands, and her eyes that smiled brightly when their gazes met.

Except for reluctantly responding to a few dance requests, this was his first time voluntarily dancing with a woman, so he was nervous and trembling.

Watching the two people gradually matching their timing in a harmonious atmosphere, Carl felt something strangely twisting inside him.

‘Why do I feel so disgusted?’

Strength naturally entered his jaw and hands, making cracking bone sounds.

Unaware that three people in one room were each having different thoughts, they gathered together every day until the day before the selection.

And the day of the long-awaited social queen selection dawned.

***

Duke Celsior’s residence.

Johanna, who had been listening to a maid’s report, frowned.

“So you’re saying Miss Sharofe is participating in this year’s queen selection?”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Huh…… How shameless.”

She muttered with coldly sunken eyes and swept her hair up with an irritated gesture.

Recently, Johanna had also suffered considerable damage from the noble Lady A controversy.

Since several people had heard about her fight with Shailyn at Cream Rose Boutique, rumors quietly spread that she was the true identity of Lady A.