It was just a short sentence, but it was full of arrogance, telling her to entertain him. It was clear that he was obsessed with dance, making all the worries she had been feeling seem insignificant.
“……Yes.”
His sudden change of attitude was confusing, but she didn’t question it. Emilia took a step back, then another, and turned around abruptly.
As he had said, she had come here to dance, so she decided to finish her task quickly and leave.
However, she kept the thought that he seemed to be a person who was easily carried away, even to the point of being obsessive, deep in her heart.
A moment later, Emilia stepped onto the center of the stage to signal the start. Enrico put down the wine glass he was holding and gestured to the butler who was waiting behind him.
Soft music began to fill the room. It was one of the pieces that had been prepared in advance on the phonograph. Originally, he would have brought a pianist for a perfect performance, but he had not found anyone who was completely to his liking, so this was the only choice.
With a tap of her toes to the wooden floor, Emilia’s body moved gracefully.
‘The sound of the phonograph is richer than before.’
It was not as good as actually listening to an orchestra, but it was still quite good.
Thanks to the fact that Enrico had some of the latest inventions that were being developed in priority as part of his investments, he was able to use the phonograph better than others because he had one of the few remaining ancient magic materials.
Although it was only a magic that could store a few songs and amplify the sound, which was embarrassing to call it magic in this era of scientific advancement, it was the only remaining trace of ancient magic in this kingdom, so it was not without value.
‘I guess I can keep using it this way.’
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs lazily. He had planned to watch the performance once today and consider hiring a pianist if he didn’t like it, so he was satisfied from the start.
He often enjoyed watching performances by others who rented out small theaters outside of his mansion, but even that was not worth bringing into his mansion.
If he had to invite such people to this stage because of the performance, he would have been quite displeased.
‘It wasn’t a bad choice after all.’
His arrogant and oppressive eyes softened as if they were crumbling. Emilia Este, the only one whose value he recognized, danced beautifully as she had the day they first met, as if to prove that his taste was not wrong.
Although it was a pas de deux part that there were two dancing together, Emilia danced as if she didn’t feel the absence of her partner at all. Her natural performance and her smooth movements, like swimming in water, were enough to fill the stage.
The way she had been trembling with fear a while ago was nowhere to be seen, and she was even smiling adorably.
The smile that had slowly crept up on his lips as he was leisurely watching it slowly disappeared. His gaze never left her, as if he had become the male protagonist of [La Sylphide], who was so infatuated with the fairy that he couldn’t come to his senses.
His mind, which had been evaluating her, and his fingertips, which had been tapping on the armrest to the beat, also came to a stop.
Gradually, the surroundings became heated by her burning passion, which engulfed the surroundings like a phoenix. A drop of sweat trickled down her flushed cheek and onto the floor.
* * *
Last night, I had a dream. I dreamt of a time in the past, walking through the garden with my parents, laughing and dancing carefree. The warm and loving gaze of my parents, watching me with affection, was so sweet that I didn’t want to wake up.
“… I miss you.”
As Emilia slowly opened her eyes, she was met with an unfamiliar ceiling. Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, held a lingering dreaminess, as if she were still wandering through the dream.
Emilia raised one arm over her eyes, as if to savor the dream and retrace her memories, but when she opened her eyes, all she could remember was the feeling.
‘Should I ask for the bed to be warmed?’
She tried to hold on to the feeling somehow, but she was startled by the memories of yesterday that suddenly flooded back, and she sat up straight in bed.
She got out of bed and found her soft slippers. The fireplace, which had been burning brightly all night, was now just smoldering embers as dawn approached.
She slowly walked towards the window. Drawing back the green curtains, she could see the white snow still falling outside. The road back to the mansion had been the same the night before. The weather had been calm before she entered the duke’s mansion, but as she was about to return to it, a sudden snowstorm had swept through.
As she was about to sit down in the chair next to it, she noticed a vase filled with flowers decorating the table that had been empty the day before.
It seemed that Zaveta had rearranged the gorgeous bouquet that Enrico had given her last night. As she realized this, she noticed that the room, filled with the scent of spring so different from the cold weather outside, was like Enrico himself yesterday.
‘What an unpredictable man…’
After the short performance yesterday, Enrico had been silent for a while. He simply stared at her as she caught her breath and raised her tired body. Then, when Emilia was wondering what to do now, whether she should just slip away to the side of the stage, and absentmindedly wiped her cheek, Enrico casually said,
‘Just keep doing this.’
Maybe it was because they were sitting in a relatively dark spot due to the stage lights, but his eyes seemed to sparkle.
‘Then you’ll be able to get more out of it.’
Yes, he seemed very happy. His smile, curling his lips as if he was satisfied with everything, was strangely sly.
After a while, Enrico reached back. As if on cue, a servant appeared with a huge bouquet of flowers. Enrico took the bouquet in one hand and rose from his seat. Then he strode towards the stage.
‘Congratulations on your first performance on my stage.’
Standing right in front of the stage, he looked up at her, beckoning her closer with a nod of his chin. Every time he looked up, it was at her, but Emilia hesitated to close the distance, the unfamiliar situation making her feel awkward. She cautiously bent her knees and reached out her hand. Soon, the room was filled with the fragrance of flowers.
‘It’s your first day, so shouldn’t we celebrate? I’ll be waiting in the dining room.’
‘Oh? No, it’s fine. I have to leave early tomorrow morning, so I’ll just-‘
‘Emilia.’
Her shoulders flinched. His voice, calling her name for the first time, was so sweet and eerie that it sent shivers down her spine. He lazily stroked the nape of his neck and slowly turned his head.
‘I’m in a very good mood right now.’
‘……’
‘So I’ll tell you just once.’
‘…..Yes.’
‘Don’t try to defy me. No matter what happens.’
It was an overwhelming sense of pressure that made her nod involuntarily. Although her pride was hurt and she felt humiliated, the contract was clearly divided into two sides from the outset. She couldn’t risk blowing the one chance she had barely grasped with pointless defiance.
As Emilia’s head nodded slightly, his eyes, which had grown cold for a moment, softened gently.
He gently pushed up the small hand that had been clutching the bouquet, as if praising her obedient attitude. As if telling her to take it.
‘You should just leave it in the living room.’
She never thought she disliked flowers, but seeing the flowers he gave her first thing in the morning made her mood plummet. Her plan to go home as soon as the performance was over was foiled by him treating her to a lavish meal after a shower, and the heavy snowfall made her return home much later than expected.
Emilia shook her hands as if she didn’t want to think about yesterday anymore and started stretching her whole body. Warmth gradually returned to her body, which had stiffened in the cold.
“I wish time would go by faster…”
Emilia’s lifeless voice echoed through the room for a moment.
* * *
Daily life had gradually become routine. Opening her eyes in an unfamiliar house, exchanging greetings with Zaveta who was waiting for her at home, and performing her second solo performance at Enrico’s mansion.
The weather had been clear ever since the recent snowstorm. Emilia knew that it could change at any time, but she headed to the ballet company as usual, relieved to see the peaceful days continue. Emilia got off her carriage a little away from the theater and walked slowly towards the left side, which led to the emergency stairs instead of the main entrance.
“Lady Este?”
A title that should not be called here pierced her ears. Emilia, who had been bowing her head to avoid the cold, raised her eyes to look straight ahead.
“Ah…”
A man of stunning appearance with silver hair that caught the moonlight and violet eyes much brighter than Enrico’s was smiling warmly.
Emilia stopped hesitantly and then bent her knees slightly in belated courtesy.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Alessandro Treano, the next ruler of this kingdom. He quickly closed the distance and gently took one of Emilia’s arms as if urging her to raise her head.
* * * *
If you want to support the Translator, Translator’s Ko-Fi:
Thank you!❤️🔥