Chapter 12 – A Dance (1)

Done with the duke, the emperor then looked down at the marquis again with a slightly awkward smile, ignoring the disquiet that fell upon the ballroom. Meanwhile, the marquis only kept a calm smile on his face. As if… he had guessed that this would happen.

“Now, do not mind Duke Rubiet’s words. You may talk freely about your wish, marquis. Is there anything you want?”

“Then, I’d like to request one thing.”

The marquis replied with a low voice. And the audiences’ eyes were all gathered at the marquis, half-interested and half-worried about what would come out of the marquis’ mouth.

Only Goyo Rubiet knew what Marquis Bethelgius would say. She knew that everyone’s anxiety was in vain since the marquis wouldn’t ask for anything noteworthy from the emperor.

From the news she heard in the past, he just asked for the eldest son of a count to take the 1st knights’ entrance exam. Though the excuse he gave was because he couldn’t bear the thought of wasting an excellent knight just like that, some people told her that it was just a trick so he would be easily accepted by the nobles.

And though Goyo didn’t remember who the count was, it wasn’t something that mattered to her since it didn’t concern her at all.

While everyone waited with bated breath for the marquis’ request, he opened his mouth.

“Please give me the first dance of the ball, your majesty.”

However, what the Marquis said was not what Goyo expected.

First dance?

Goyo’s eyebrows creased in confusion and she frowned. However, even when she looked around to check in case she misheard it, everyone around her was also uttering the word ‘first dance’ to each other.

Then, is my memory wrong? 

Goyo thought that she might have heard the wrong information about the ball. After all, she had only heard the news from other people instead of witnessing it with her own eyes.

But still… Goyo bit her lips, feeling doubtful with her memory now.

The emperor was also flustered with the unexpected request from the marquis. And after being silent for some time, the emperor slowly opened his mouth and spoke.

“… Oho. The first dance, is it? I’m sure you don’t want to dance with me, so it should be with other people. Which lady in this ballroom had stolen your attention and heart, I wonder? Well, never mind that. Anyway, your request is fine, and the ball should start after that.”

“I’m very grateful.”

The marquis bowed his head with polite reverence and turned around. He came down from the emperor’s place and walked slowly through the crowd. His white tailcoat fluttered gracefully and followed his steps.

As the marquis drew closer to her, his face became clearer in Goyo’s sight.

It wasn’t something she had never seen up close, but it had been a long time since they encountered each other during one of the balls. So, their single encounter was buried by the time in her mind and she couldn’t remember it. The only thing that lingered in Goyo’s mind was the impression that he was a dangerous man.

And now, she was seeing him once again. Her eyes couldn’t help but take in the sight of the man coming closer.

His perpetually cool expression hid his smiling eyes beneath his long eyelashes, accentuating the sharpness of his nose. And even from afar, she could see that his facial features were also gorgeous.

Just looking at him reminded Goyo of thorny roses. She then recalled the pile of roses that was laid all over her room before she died. The colors and the scents were extremely vivid.

And she just knew that a man like him… wouldn’t fit in with her, much like roses was not suitable for her.

This man was the one she chose for her certain destruction. Even his appearance alone seemed to symbolize the end for her. So, unconsciously, her mouth dried up.

“Miss Goyo Rubiet.”

Goyo, who was looking blankly at the Marquis, was surprised as she came back to her senses. Marquis Bethelgius, who she originally thought would pass by her, actually stopped in front of her.

It was clear what it meant. Without a doubt, for the first time in this timeline, their eyes met.

Beneath the long eyelashes, his shadowed gray eyes were reflected in Goyo’s eyes. The moment didn’t last long for the marquis soon bowed gracefully and extended his hand out to her.

“Would you like to dance with me?”

Goyo, who had toughened up, was once again in the center of people’s eyes. However, amidst the countless eyes that were fixed on her, Goyo Rubiet could only feel one gaze on her.

Annecy Bethelgius’