Chester, who had been concentrating on his steps, staggered from the sudden attack.

Before he could fall, Shailyn reached out and grabbed his uniform collar.

Chester’s face, pulled along unexpectedly, stopped right in front of Shailyn’s nose.

His blue-green eyes shook roughly, and Shailyn naturally moved her hand to cup his face.

And she smiled brightly.

“Remember, we’re lovers about to marry right now.”

“……I understand.”

Chester, who barely came to his senses, nodded slowly.

Since they were doing this among those dancing in full swing, it rather felt romantic to the audience.

“Oh my, those two look just like real lovers!”

“The lovely atmosphere of the song seems to come alive even more?”

“It’s embarrassing but somehow it reminds me of when I got married.”

Not knowing how much pleasant smiles they had drawn out, the two continued their dance again.

As their stiffly tensed bodies gradually relaxed, their immersion in the song also heightened.

Watching Chester, who was now beginning to smile little by little, Shailyn thought.

‘If I could get such a languid cat-like handsome husband, I’d be excited enough to dance.’

Even just as a lover, he has looks I’d want to show off everywhere. Imagine if he became mine forever.

Ugh, my mood is soaring.

“……Miss, your smile is too excessive right now.”

Chester, who saw her grinning without realizing it, hesitantly advised.

Shailyn sheepishly quickly composed her expression.

“Ah, sorry. I was imagining actually getting married.”

“With me…… you mean.”

“Well, I’m dancing with the tower master, so would I think of another man?”

At her somewhat coy reply, Chester blinked his eyes as if flustered and averted his gaze.

Since she said such things so casually, he felt embarrassed on her behalf.

It was when a strange atmosphere formed between the two.

‘This time I’ll definitely trip them!’

Janice approached them again without getting tired.

She had used her head somewhat and aimed for the moment when people’s attention was briefly focused on Johanna’s side.

‘Oh, is that girl coming again without learning her lesson?’

Shailyn deliberately didn’t avoid Janice’s contact.

Swoosh.

She spitefully dodged the foot Janice extended, then conversely stepped firmly on the back hem of Janice’s dress.

“Ah!”

Janice screamed and lost her balance, falling backward with a thud.

Her bewildered partner couldn’t catch her falling body in time.

What showed persistence in the midst of this was.

‘I won’t die alone!’

She grabbed Shailyn’s dress as if by mistake in a drowning ghost strategy.

“……!”

Because of that, Chester urgently grabbed the waist of Shailyn, who was staggering.

The audience, who had turned their gazes toward them due to the commotion, let out exclamations.

Chester’s appearance firmly supporting Shailyn’s half-leaning body was dramatic and beautifully picturesque.

In that closely embraced state, Chester whispered quietly.

“Be careful.”

“……Yes, thank you.”

Shailyn, who became slightly embarrassed for the first time, answered softly.

Soon after, the two who straightened their posture danced again nonchalantly.

The audience’s evaluation rose due to their perfect harmony along with naturally flowing past the mistake.

“Lady Celsior’s side was also fine, but Miss Sharofe’s side seems a level above. Their coordination is much better.”

“First of all, wasn’t Miss Sharofe’s dancing skill superior?”

“Oh my, I felt that way too! People who judge others must be similar.”

Especially since Shailyn wore an open dress that showed her leg movements well, she received good reviews in the dance portion she had been worried about.

After that, the performance ended without any particular incidents and the dance also concluded.

***

While the observers voted, the participants had time to wait briefly outside the hall.

‘Did we really stand out among all these people?’

Since the tower master and I have the faces we have, we probably drew attention, but Lady Celsior’s presence bothered me.

When I glanced over after the dress introduction ended, the lady was standing with a confident, dignified attitude.

As if she had already won.

Honestly, I understood since she was someone who had the conditions to deserve that.

‘……Come to think of it, who did the lady dance with?’

Suddenly curious, I looked for her. I found the lady found faster than expected.

Because right beside her was platinum blond hair that perfectly contrasted with her own black.

Head Priest Raviel was none other than Lady Celsior’s dance partner.

‘Those two are together again.’

Come to think of it, at the ducal family party too, those two were partners.

Could they possibly be lovers?

When I harbored anxious doubts, the imperial head maid called us inside.

The empress, who had been sitting in the seat of honor, slowly stood up and looked down at the audience.

“I will announce the results of this year’s queen selection.”

Everyone perked up their ears at the low, dignified voice.

I secretly clasped my hands together and prayed earnestly.

Please let it be me.

“As a result of judging and voting, the candidates have been narrowed down to two. Lady Johanna Celsior and Miss Shailyn Sharofe.”

“……!”

Crazy. I covered my mouth and was moved. Being selected as a candidate meant my possibility of becoming queen had increased.

The empress, who silenced the murmuring people with a single gesture, continued.

“The observer voting result was 48 to 56, and as a result of judging, the imperial consort and I each cast votes for different people……”

The empress drew out her words with tension.

While everyone’s gazes focused only on her lips, the empress smiled slightly and proclaimed.

“Finally, Miss Shailyn Sharofe, who received 57 votes, is this year’s queen.”

“Waaah!”

Unable to contain the adrenaline that surged momentarily, I screamed and hugged the tower master who was next to me.

They said I’m the queen, me!

“I’m the queen, Tower Master.!”

“Ah, yes. Con, congratulations.”

As I hugged him and bounced up and down, the tower master carefully patted my back.

I had barely calmed my excitement and was about to go receive the golden rose, the queen’s symbol, from the empress.

“This doesn’t make sense!”

A sharp voice burst out from among the people.

The owner was none other than Lady Celsior.

“How could that kind of young lady be chosen instead of me? Didn’t you count the votes wrong? I can’t believe it!”

Unable to accept the results, she pointed at me and protested.

What’s this, why is she acting like that.

The empress, who slightly narrowed her brows, answered firmly.

“The voting was conducted transparently and fairly, Lady. 56 observers chose Miss Sharofe.”

“That’s exactly what doesn’t make sense! For a young lady wearing a vulgar dress to be the social queen, this is degrading the prestige of the selection itself!”

The lady shouted loudly in front of the empress like someone who couldn’t see what was in front of her.

No, but the more I listen, the worse her words are getting?

Not only did she point and call me ‘that kind of’ young lady, now she’s calling me vulgar?

“Watch your words, Lady. I have no reason to hear such things from you.”

The moment I warned quietly, unable to bear it anymore, a rough scolding flew at me.

“How dare a mere count’s daughter presume to lecture my daughter!”

A middle-aged man with black hair and red eyes similar to the lady glared at me.

The lady, who called him ‘Dad,’ looked at me triumphantly.

With a face as if saying ‘I have a dad, but you don’t, right?’

‘Of course, even if my dad were here, he wouldn’t be helpful at all……’

Since it was difficult to argue back and forth against a duke, I kept my mouth tightly shut, and he turned toward the empress and requested.

“Your Majesty, please quickly correct the results and establish discipline in the social world. How can we let small fry run wild.”

It was crude language befitting that pair of father and daughter.

I was pondering how to resolve this when suddenly a wrinkled hand firmly embraced my shoulder from behind.

At the same time,

“Small fry? Lord Celsior, are you talking about my granddaughter?”

An unexpected ally appeared on my side.

Lord Celsior frowned at Lord Diart’s sudden appearance.

“Lord Diart, I’m merely trying to correct wrong results.”

“Why is my granddaughter becoming queen a wrong result! You should have raised your daughter to be more creative too.”

Duke Celsior bristled at Lord Diart’s sharp rebuke.