I was overwhelmed with a sense of betrayal from losing a friend, but Enoch, unconcerned, extended his hand toward me.
I thought it was an offer to help me stand, so I reached out my hand.
“Then dance with me.”
“Dance? With you and me?”
However, upon hearing Enoch’s following words, I slapped his hand away.
“Why would I dance with you?”
“Because Lady Balmore told me to.”
“And why are you listening to her?”
“There’s no harm in it.”
“No harm? I’m the one who’s harmed, my mood is ruined.”
I brushed myself off and stood up without Enoch’s help.
If I had the kind of shamelessness needed to dance with Enoch after hearing those words, I wouldn’t find this social party difficult at all.
“Still, dance with me.”
“…Wow. Were you always this hard to communicate with?”
I stifled a laugh at Enoch’s stubbornness.
He clearly knew I was here, yet he didn’t bring his Gray Knights along, which means his visit today was probably about me.
Knowing Enoch Gray’s determined nature, I could easily guess that no matter how much I refuse, he’ll make sure we dance somehow.
“I might step on your feet since I haven’t practiced the woman’s part.”
“Then you take the man’s role. I’ll do the woman’s part.”
“You’ll do the woman’s part? How would you… No, have you practiced?”
Enoch lifted his chin slightly, staring straight at my face, which was twisted in shock.
“I can do anything.”
“………”
So annoying. The people of the Lutinas Empire should all know how insufferable this guy is.
I felt a bit cheated, thinking I might be the only one aware of it at this moment.
‘If I had known it would be like this, I should’ve brought my guys. They would definitely have gone crazy and chased Enoch Gray away from me.’
I missed the knights training in the Emblem Training Ground, especially Jack and Lucas, who were my formal knight appointment batchmates.
When it comes to the Gray Knights, our guys would jump out of bed in a heartbeat, feeling a burning rage inside, and gulp down cold water…
If they were here, Enoch Gray would have been no match for them!
“Stop daydreaming and hold my hand.”
Enoch, as if knowing everything, broke into my thoughts without even knowing what I was thinking.
“…Ugh.”
In the end, I was led out to the terrace by Enoch, feeling like a person being dragged to their execution.
“Look over there. Enoch Gray and Cherrya Emblem…”
“Come to think of it, they haven’t officially called off their engagement yet, have they?”
“During royal events, it made sense for them to partner up since the Emperor acknowledged their future engagement, but who would have thought they’d pair up in a place like this?”
“Look at Cherrya Emblem’s face. She doesn’t seem to be in a good mood. And Enoch Gray, his face looks cold but beautiful as always…”
“Huh?”
Listening to the odd conversation between a lady and her husband praising Enoch’s beauty, I arrived at the dance hall.
As soon as we entered, the dancing couples didn’t leave naturally but cleared out like a receding tide.
In an instant, the dance hall was empty, leaving just Enoch and me standing there.
“……….”
“……….”
Both Enoch and I frowned simultaneously.
When I danced with Olivia, the star of today’s party, the nobles didn’t clear the floor so blatantly.
‘I understand they don’t want to miss out on such a spectacle, but how can they be so ill-mannered! No manners at all!’
Internally grumbling, I took Enoch’s hand, matching the musician’s timing as they changed the music.
People gasped when they noticed the role reversal in our dance positions.
“Is there a way to block all the society papers from being delivered to the mansion tomorrow morning?”
“No.”
Enoch shook his head firmly.
“You said you could do anything. Just figure something out, so I don’t have to get angry over your show-off.”
“…Just get angry. That’s more like you.”
“What do you mean by ‘like you’?”
“Getting angry and trying to beat everyone up.”
“You sure know me well.”
Despite everything, having spent years sparring together, Enoch knows me well.
His analysis of me was accurate, but at this moment, I didn’t even have the energy to get angry.
Just thinking about the gossip columns that would write yet another novel about Enoch and me, and how it would flip our mansion and even the knights upside down, made me feel more resigned than angry.
‘A dance? Did you say you danced with Enoch Gray?’
‘Have you forgotten why and for what we are training so hard?’
‘To crush Gray! To beat Enoch Gray to a pulp!!!’
It was as if I could already hear the voices of the Emblem Knights criticizing me.
“Well then.”
The music started. Enoch and I bowed to each other respectfully and took each other’s hands.
Our bodies were close, and as the one taking the male role, I placed my arm around Enoch’s waist.
“……….”
But it didn’t completely wrap around. It was nothing like Olivia’s waist, which had fit snugly within one arm.
When was the last time Enoch and I danced like this? The last royal event we attended as partners was already about a year ago.
Since then, except during sparring sessions, I haven’t been this close to Enoch. Even during sparring, we were only close for a moment when wrestling for control with swords between us, with no physical contact otherwise.
“Did you grow taller?”
Enoch’s changes over the past year became more noticeable.
“Yeah. My knees still hurt from growing pains.”
“You still have growing pains?”
“Yes. Didn’t you know and deliberately target my knees during sparring?”
“That’s true, but….”
I did often see an opening at his knees, but I had no idea it was due to growing pains.
Now that I think about it, the hands clasping mine are bigger and longer.
Enoch’s shoulders, which used to reach my chin, were now tall enough to be at my forehead, and his frame seemed broader too.
“…………”
Seeing the bulging Adam’s apple on Enoch’s neck up close gave me a strange feeling, and I couldn’t help but look down.
Enoch had grown. More than I realized, more than I felt before.
Of course, now that he’s an adult, it’s incomparable to when we were kids, but I guess in my mind, I still held on to the image of Enoch hiding in our garden with his pale face.
Even though I witnessed the entire process of him growing from a child to a boy, and then to a man, it still felt unfamiliar to me now.
“Cherrya.”
When I silently focused on dancing, Enoch called my name. I barely managed to calm my chaotic thoughts and looked at him.
“I’m sorry for telling you not to be boring during our last sparring match. I apologize.”
“It’s the second time I’ve heard you call me boring. Seems like Sir Enoch Gray is prone to making the same mistake twice.”
“I’m genuinely sorry. Don’t be sarcastic.”
Enoch was sincere. Maybe he felt uneasy after saying that to me?
I smirked.
“I’m not accepting your apology. Someday, I’ll throw those words right back at you.”
“……….!”
Enoch widened his eyes and then curled his lips into a small smile.
I was momentarily surprised, as I hadn’t seen him smile since he grew up.
“That’s just like you.”
“I didn’t get angry.”
“Saying you’re like yourself doesn’t always mean you’re angry, Cherrya.”
“Stop pretending to know me.”
“Just don’t step on my feet. Didn’t you say you knew how to lead?”
“I stepped on them on purpose because you’re annoying.”
Just like in the old days, I playfully squabbled with Enoch. I deliberately aimed to step on Enoch’s feet, but he smoothly dodged and smiled.
“I’ve already figured out your moves.”
“…………..”
Is he challenging me now?
