Naturally, what Akkad was trying to say was cut off.
Soon after, everyone inside the ballroom bowed and lowered their heads for one person entering.
Although it was just a regular ball, there was an indescribable grandeur emanating from Jerald as he made his entrance into the ballroom. A noble and dignified atmosphere seemed to flow from him, as if to prove his royal lineage from birth.
Overwhelmed by this atmosphere, Pristin stared at Jerald for a moment, her expression dazed.
“Countess.”
Until Akkad, who realized, whispered to her quietly.
It was only then that Pristin tried to follow everyone else and bow.
‘…Ah.’
And at that moment, Pristin and Jerald’s eyes met.
“…”
“…”
The ballroom had become so quiet that it was almost unbelievable, with only the gaze of the two people moving back and forth.
Jerald, dressed immaculately and exuding dignity, noticed Akkad standing next to Pristin and his gaze momentarily wavered. Then, he continued to look at Pristin with a tumultuous gaze.
Pristin hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she felt strangely uncomfortable in this situation. It was an expression that didn’t fit her at all, but it made her feel as if she had been caught doing something wrong. Despite the fact that they were no longer involved in any kind of relationship, the shocked and wounded look in Jerald’s eyes made Pristin feel that way.
In the end, feeling burdened, Pristin quietly lowered her gaze, bowed her back, and tightened her head before the emperor’s dignity. However, even though she averted her eyes, Pristin noticed that Jerald was still staring at her. She closed her eyes altogether.
“Your Majesty.”
The servant, embarrassed by the prolonged silence, called Jerald. However, after that, Jerald continued to fix his gaze on Pristin, and only opened his mouth after such a time that silence seemed excessive.
“I would like to thank everyone for attending today’s ball. I hope you have a great time.”
After those simple words, the silence finally broke. As Jerald walked away again, the ballroom began to fill with conversation, as if reminding Pristin of how quiet it was before.
Pristin slowly straightened up and turned her head towards where Jerald had been earlier. When she naturally met his gaze again, Pristin’s expression twitched.
However, Jerald remained steadfastly focused on Pristin without any wavering or distractions. Though she knew it would seem strange to others, Pristin decided to be the first to avert her gaze. She clenched her lips and turned her head toward Akkad.
“What were you about to say earlier, Your Excellency?”
“Ah.”
Akkad replied, shaking his head lightly.
“It was nothing important. Shall we continue dancing?”
“Yes, let’s.”
The two moved back to the center of the ballroom. The music, which had stopped with the appearance of the emperor, was showing signs of starting again soon. Pristin placed her hand on Akkad’s shoulder, and naturally, Akkad’s hand went to her back.
After a moment, the music began, and Pristin started to move her feet, searching through old memories. The soft and melodic tune filled the ballroom. It was while Pristin was momentarily lost in thought, watching couples dancing all around, that she heard Akkad’s voice from up ahead.
“You dance well.”
Pristin locked eyes with him as Akkad smiled softly.
“You were being modest when you said you couldn’t dance.”
“It’s been a while since I learned.”
Pristin replied with a slightly puzzled expression on her face.
“I’m glad I’m not making any mistakes.”
“I don’t see any signs of that at all.”
Akkad replied, tilting his head slightly.
“You dance really well. I should be nervous too.”
“You’re exaggerating with the praise. It’s not that…”
At that moment, Pristin’s words were abruptly interrupted. It was because beyond Akkad’s shoulder, she saw the familiar figure of a man. He was looking at her with the same gaze as before, albeit from a different position.
In his hand, Jerald held a glass filled with alcohol, his eyes seeming a shade redder. Despite meeting Pristin’s gaze, his eyes continued to tremble with sadness, a mixture of shock and hurt entwined within them.
No matter how determined someone might be, when faced with such a gaze that seemed capable of shaking one’s resolve, Pristin couldn’t remain composed. It was when she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Jerald, her face filled with bewilderment.
“Oh…!”
As her concentration was shattered, Pristin stumbled awkwardly. Pristin stumbled with a bewildered face. Then, a firm force held Pristin tight. Pristin looked up with embarrassed eyes.
“Be careful.”
A low voice whispered quietly. For a moment, Pristin couldn’t comprehend the situation, but soon she spoke up.
“…I’m sorry.”
“It seems you were thinking about something else.”
It felt like the words “with me in front of you” were omitted, which made Pristin feel slightly embarrassed.
“Yes. Just for a moment…”
“What were you thinking about?”
Akkad gently guided Pristin back into her original posture as he asked. Pristin made a vague gesture, trying her best to focus on the dance.
“Just some stray thoughts. I tend to have a lot of distractions in general.”
She couldn’t bring herself to answer truthfully. Pristin gave a half-hearted response and unconsciously clenched her lower lip. Watching her intently, Akkad spoke.
“Since you were thinking about something else while standing in front of me, you should be punished.”
“Punished?”
“Yes.”
Akkad’s expression turned stern, and he leaned closer to Pristin’s ear, whispering softly.
“For the next three songs, dance with me.”
“Ah…”
Pristin didn’t comprehend it for a moment, and she asked.
“Is that… the punishment?”
“Yes. It’s a punishment.”
“But it’s too lenient.”
“If you want something stronger…”
Akkad tilted his head slightly to the side.
“There’s also the option of dancing for ten more songs.”
“That’s too excessive.”
Pristin smiled unknowingly.
“After all, I came prepared for about five songs as Your Excellency’s partner today.”
“Oh dear. I underestimated the countess too much.”
Akkad let out a somewhat embarrassed laugh, as if acknowledging his mistake.
“Then shall we go with five songs?”
Pristin silently smiled and nodded her head. Surprisingly, her gaze naturally turned back to Jerald, who was still looking only at her with his pitiful, wounded face. Feeling uncomfortable with the thought of looking at him any longer, Pristin quickly averted her gaze.
After that, Pristin made an effort to avoid looking at Jerald for a while.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Jerald had been drinking only ever since he entered the ballroom. Because he was a person who never drank too much during balls, the servants who served him next to him naturally had no choice but to panic.
‘Is it because of Countess Rosewell?’
Although the reason was roughly guessed, it wouldn’t solve anything by knowing it. Simply because Pristin Rosewell was Akkad Bachell’s partner for today.
It was when Jerald was about to empty his glass again.
“Your Majesty.”
A genial voice intruded on his drunken state. When Jerald turned his head, not one but two faces that he didn’t want to see at this moment came into view.
Jerald could barely bear to make a straightforward impression in the spirit of alcohol.
“Duke Gennant.”
The duke was undoubtedly a loyal subject to Jerald. At least that was the case until he tried to seize the throne from Emperor Albert. However, after Jerald became the emperor, Duke Gennant was no longer a loyal subject.
To be precise, even in the past, his loyalty was closer to betting or investment rather than pure feelings. Nonetheless, Jerald acknowledged his past merits, but that was already rewarded, so he no longer held any positive feelings toward him.
The little remaining favorable feeling he had was almost depleted due to Duke Gennant’s greedy behavior after Jerald’s ascension. And now, even the negative feelings were starting to seep in.
“Why are you all by yourself? It’s such a joyous day.”
“…Just. I’m not feeling particularly good today.”
“At times like that, wouldn’t you feel better if you danced?”
Duke Gennant looked at Jerald with subtle eyes.
…Especially since Jerald found the relentless efforts to make his daughter the empress the most repulsive thing.
Not to mention that it was not a good intention, but rather a greed to become the emperor’s father-in-law and manipulate the state affairs, and even further, the Imperial Family.
“It seems like you haven’t chosen a partner, so if you don’t mind, my daughter can be…”
“I already have the princess.”
Jerald interrupted Duke Gennant in a dry voice.
“So, I appreciate your concern, but I’ll have to decline, Princess Gennant.”
However, for Jerald, such things were not worth caring about now that he had become the emperor.
His gaze, which had lost a place to go for a while due to the appearance of the two, was about to be concentrated on one person again. And Tanya, who confirmed who Jerald’s gaze was after, unconsciously clenched the expensive dress fabric in her hand with enough force to tear it with her nails.
‘That girl again.’
She wondered why he was looking at the woman dancing with another man with such a longing gaze. Tanya, who remained silent by her father’s side, felt as if a fire was igniting in her heart.
Meanwhile, Duke Gennant, too focused on looking at Jerald, failed to notice what his daughter had discovered and continued to talk to the emperor.
“But, Your Majesty, if you want to sober up, you also need to move your body…”
“Indeed, that’s some great advice.”
Jerald, who was still watching Pristin dancing with Akkad, interrupted Duke Gennant’s words once again.
From the side, an unpleasant voice uttered words he didn’t want to hear, and in front of him, the person he longed to see created a scene he didn’t want to witness.
This was the worst.
He opened his mouth with a weary voice.
