Since When Were You The Villain?

Chapter 59.

 

Intentionally writing the characters with a stiff and angular demeanour, Sophia penned just a single line before drying the ink and folding the paper.

Then, she placed the paper into an envelope, wrote Killian’s name as the recipient and her name as the sender, and called for Jenny.

“Jenny, please deliver this letter to the Rivelon Duchy.”

“Have you already written a response?”

Jenny was surprised by how quickly Sophia had composed her reply, in just few minutes.

“What more could there be to write with heartfelt sincerity?”

Sophie said, lifting her chin in a somewhat haughty manner.

* * *

Translator: HaileyFranchette. Read on moonlight novels only

“I surely must have said it’s unnecessary.”

Ian’s voice was sharp as he addressed the dance instructor who had come to see him since morning. The servants broke into a cold sweat at the growing irritation in his tone.

“I… Your Grace, Lady Rubisella insisted that I teach you to dance.”

The root cause of all this was Rubisella.

With the upcoming week-long National Foundation Day celebration, not only the royal family but also the noble families were holding parties and dances without rest.

Rubisella had arranged a dance instructor for Ian in preparation for the event.

However, Ian believed he didn’t need dance lessons. He had never been embarrassed by dancing at any ball he attended.

Thanks to his mother’s emphasis on “noble behaviour” from a young age.

He had learned all the necessary dances when he was young, and with his exceptional coordination and athleticism, he danced better than most nobles.

However, he didn’t enjoy dancing.

While he liked moving his body, he disliked the exaggerated gestures and movements people made to show off or look graceful in front of others.

Trying too hard to impress people felt like a burden.

“It’s not necessary, so you may leave.”

Ian turned his back to the dance instructor.

Dance practice? There were so many other things he needed to train for right now.

He was diligently preparing for the match with the military police, scheduled for the last day of the National Foundation Day celebration.

He didn’t have leisure time for dance practice.

“But the Countess insisted that you must have lessons until 2 o’clock in the afternoon.”

The upright dance instructor stood with determination, suppressing her frustration as she spoke.

They say you have to pay attention to even the smallest details in a big event.

She had already received a substantial sum of money, and she couldn’t defy the Countess’s orders.

Rubisella argued that despite Ian’s good dancing skills, he hadn’t practiced for over a year, so he needed to refresh his abilities through lessons.

Moreover, she insisted that the dance instructor must hold onto Ian and teach him, emphasizing that she (dance instructor) also had to introduce him to the latest dance trends.

“I have to go to Ruchtainer.”

Fiddling irritably with his sleeve button, Ian suddenly had a good idea.

“Oh, I can have the dance lesson and then head out.”

“Excuse me?”

“Follow me.”

With a gesture, Ian left the room without any further explanation.

The dance instructor, completely in the dark, followed Ian up to the third floor of the mansion.

Ian stopped at the door to the room at the far end of the corridor.

“Sophia.”

As he knocked and called her name, a creaking sound came from inside.

“What’s going on?”

Apparently not planning to open the door, Sophia asked from behind it.

Anyone witnessing this might think he’s about to devour her.

“Just open it.”

“….”

After a brief silence, the door creaked open slightly.

Through the narrow crack, Sophia showed half of her face, cautiously peeking out.

“What’s the matter?”

With her eyes wide open like a startled cat, Sophia stared at Ian.

“You don’t know how to dance, do you?”

“Dance?”

“What do you think about doing on the National Founding Celebration’s ball?”

Ian looked down at her with a smug expression, his arms crossed.

Sophia had never attended a ball before. Rubisella had never taught her how to dance.

“Uh… right. I haven’t thought about it.”

Sophia chuckled awkwardly, scratching her cheek with her finger.

Fool.

‘Mother indeed didn’t bother to get me a tutor…’

After Sophia returned from the Grand Ducal Manor, Rubisella didn’t bother tormenting her separately. However, she treated her as if she didn’t exist, ignoring her. Not wrestling, not undermining her, but ignoring her as if she were non-existent.

Knowing that Sophie would be attending the upcoming ball with Killian, not arranging a dance teacher was part of that scheme.

For Ian, who was more than capable of dancing, forcing a prominent teacher onto him…

Perhaps they hoped Sophie would be embarrassed in front of others.

They might have even wanted to say, “This daughter is so inept that she hasn’t been shown at any balls until now.”

“Though she used to dance quite readily when she was young…”

Ian recalled the image of young Sophie dancing. It was a child’s dance, but in his young eyes, it seemed remarkable. He couldn’t take his eyes off her fluttering skirt, like flower petals carried by the wind.

While the former countess had taught Sophie basic etiquette and dancing, that had happened over a decade ago. Afterward, she had been treated much like a servant, so how could she have continued to learn to dance.

“Well, this works out.”

Ian pulled the dance teacher, who had been standing behind him, and placed her in front of Sophia.

“Learn.”

“Huh?”

“Yes? Young master!”

Both Sophia and the dance teacher widened their eyes in surprise.

“Since I don’t need it, you can learn. Just go to the separate practice room and learn there. Go with this teacher.”

“All of a sudden?!”

“Well, you don’t have any other plans, do you?”

Ian raised an eyebrow and asked with a half-smile.

It was an expression that questioned what the problem was, even if she, an unemployed person, suddenly got a lesson.

Why is he doing this? I’m busy in my own way too!’

While it might seem like she had nothing to do because she didn’t meet anyone, Sophie was always occupied with something. Whether at the Grand Manor or at Fraus, it was the same.

She wasn’t the type to confine herself to just staying in bed; she poured her efforts into constant self-improvement.

‘Do you think becoming the heroine is that easy?’

Even though life might seem messy and hopelessness could be perceived, she was a person who lived with determination.

Even in this life, where a happy ending was almost guaranteed, she found the motivation to put in the effort.

After all, what better motivation than wanting to be recorded as a splendid heroine in the book?

Moreover, an environment had been created exclusively for her to focus.

She secretly delved into various subjects, ranging from significant fields like history, geography, economics, astronomy, and military tactics to learning about the lengthy names of nobles and even understanding the finances and operations of Fraus.

But officially speaking, she didn’t have much to do. (T/L: Since she ain’t no heroine, kekekeke)

“Then come with me.”

When Sophia firmly bit her lip, Ian chuckled with a hint of a smile.

* * *

Translator: HaileyFranchette. Read on moonlight novels only

After that, Ian’s dance instructor arrived to teach Sophia.

Fortunately, the involved servants kept quiet, and Rubisella was busy with preparations for the National Celebration, so the change in lesson focus remained a secret.

About ten days passed like this.

Due to complaints from the knights, Ian changed the daily schedule to include private training sessions. It made him wonder how well Sophie was doing with her lessons. After his morning training, he headed to the practice room.

The practice room was a separate building on the first floor where Count Fraus provided a place for individuals to freely practice dance, music, painting, and other arts.

However, even before he reached the practice room, he could hear the dance instructor’s voice echoing in the corridor.

“Thump, clap, thump, clap, thump! No, you should extend your foot on the ‘thump,’ Lady!”

The dance instructor’s lecturing voice, which seemed elegant on their first encounter, was nowhere to be found.

What could have happened to her in these ten days?

Ian looked through the glass window in the middle of the practice room door, peering inside.

Within the practice room, there was the dance instructor, Jenny, and a squeaky wooden doll. The instructor clapped her hands to set the rhythm, but Sophia moved her body slightly offbeat.

With stiff arms raised in the air and taking awkward dance steps, it was almost comical. Ian had to suppress his laughter at the sight.

Even amidst stumbling and awkward footwork, the fact that she managed to point her toes at times was amusing.

Being so earnest in her efforts was quite endearing…

He found himself staring at Sophia beyond the glass window, lost in thought. Her clumsy yet sincere expression, the earnestness in her eyes, and the beads of sweat forming on her forehead captivated him.

A smile curled on Ian’s lips at her awkward yet passionate movements.

After a round of routine steps ended and there was a brief break, Ian purposely jiggled the door handle and made a noise instead of knocking, then entered the practice room.

“Ian, my lord!”

“Ian?!”

Sophia, who had been practicing strange movements on the floor of the practice room, froze in her tracks upon seeing Ian.

“I came to see how you’re doing…”

“I haven’t learned for long, that’s why!”

As Ian trailed off, Sophie, who felt pricked by his words, retorted.

Sophia belatedly released herself from the odd posture she had been frozen in.

“Still, I’ve memorized all the basic routines! It’s just that my body isn’t quite keeping up yet.”

Given that she had less than a month to learn the routines from scratch, it was natural that her body was struggling to catch up.

Furthermore, Sophia had never been particularly strong in terms of stamina, and she lacked muscles. After dancing half of a waltz routine, she would start to feel exhausted.

“With practice like this, I might even get to variations…”

“Variations are too much for your current skill level, my lady!”

The dance instructor, who had been listening, firmly shattered Sophie’s ambitious dream.

With all the effort needed just to improve stamina and build the basics, who had time for variations?

“Variations become natural once you have a solid foundation.”

“Right…? I guess I was being a bit too ambitious?”

Sophia laughed awkwardly as she wiped her sweat with a handkerchief.

‘Phew, that’s a relief. She won’t go as far as variations.

‘I even tried asking a question with a modified sequence, so it’s fortunate that she’s not planning to cover variations for now.’

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TRANSLATOR:

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