Chapter 27

It seemed shockingly new that such big figures were dancing together, the Crown Prince, the high official, and the commander of the knights all had faces that would fit a funeral march. Callian, accustomed to my eccentricities, found it amusing as he matched steps anyway.

“Lady Adriana!”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for helping me.”

“It was nothing.”

I wanted to dramatically twist my ankle and capture the attention of the entire banquet hall, but I didn’t have to because I was already receiving fervent gazes. Especially those who had even once coveted the dance partner of an unmarried young lord were looking back and forth, as if spellbound, between me and the female lead, then at the Crown Prince and high official, and at the Grand Duke and the commander of the knights.

Again, it’s none of my business.

Hmm, my sister seems to think that one shouldn’t live life without responsibility, but I’m confident that it’s quite kind and soft-hearted to dance, eat, and drink well when one’s body is involuntarily entrusted to another.

Ah, it’s a problem that my heart is too weak. How would I have survived in this rough world without makgeolli…

“I, I might step on your feet.”

“It’s okay. I’ll avoid it well.”

Even my avoiding steps will be like those of an elegant butterfly.

“I’m still not well-versed in these courtesies, and I’m clumsy.”

“It’s okay. I don’t know them well either.”

I have no will to learn. The female lead, openly a foreigner, learned etiquette and common sense from a teacher appointed by the Emperor after her status was determined. As for me, who was forcibly put into Adriana’s body, I had neither the will nor someone to force me.

It’s a relief I’m not the protagonist. All I need to do is dance and drink. Is this what they call a drunken stupor? No, it’s not—indulgence in the six senses? That’s not right either……

“Are you okay, Lady Adriana?”

“What do you mean?”

The music was slowing down. It didn’t seem like the time to lift one leg high or spin around three times in place like before. The female lead probably couldn’t support Adriana’s weight. …Could she?

“They said earlier that I lack dignity, and I have many shortcomings. I never wished to be a saintess or anything, but still, I want to do well even though it’s difficult. …Even so, is it okay with you, Lady Adriana? Am I not bothering you?”

Oh dear. I don’t know what she’s been told by others, but her spirits were clearly dampened. I couldn’t pat her on the head while we were dancing but—

“Is that so? Then, should I bother you even more?”

I interlocked my fingers with the female lead’s and held on tightly. The female lead’s carefully chosen yellow dress fluttered. My feet were almost stepped on about five times, but it was okay. I could avoid it.

“…Yes?”

“It’s okay to cause a little trouble as you live. Apologize, and receive help too.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I will need your strength too.”

“Really, to me?”

“I’ll tell you when I need it. So for now, you do what you want to do.”

I wasn’t drunk enough yet… It was a trivial thing to say, but the female lead was thrilled and bounced her feet like a lively colt. The action had nothing to do with the music, but what did it matter.

Another song ended. The commander of the knights and the high official were nowhere to be seen. Tsk, such weakness.

“Miss Female Lead.”

“Ah, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“If it’s alright with you, would you like to dance to this music with me?”

It was a polite and gentle proposal. His eyes, green as fresh grass, sparkled endlessly, riding the light of the chandeliers. They were like shrubs dewy with water.

Indeed, the true male lead! When the sub-males are drained, it’s his chance to shine! Indeed, a male protagonist must surely possess a handsome appearance, a sturdy physique, unending gold, and a strong spirit.

“Ye-yes, I’d love to! Let’s dance together.”

Perhaps less tense than before, the female lead smiled brightly and took Arnen’s offered hand. Her curly black hair shimmered attractively in the light. The bright yellow dress with lace sleeves falling gracefully from her elbows suited her very well.

It was an ordinary romance novel. Ordinary.

The female lead and Arnen were dancing a dance that seemed worth about 3,000 characters in a romance novel, while I was mulling over a drink that would pass in a single line. I mean, in a typical novel, you wouldn’t find a Grand Duchess mixing champagne with wine, right?

What does it matter.

What does this banquet have to do with me-

“Your Grace, the Grand Duchess.”

“Oh? Um, you are,”

“It’s been a while. I’m Lucia, the second daughter of Count Castries.”

“Ah, it’s been a long time, Lady Castries.”

But why her? Why would the Crown Prince’s fiancée have any business with me? Even as my thoughts tangled, my hands diligently mixed the bomb shot, or rather, the alcohol. There was no secret method; I just mixed it by looking at the color, yet the scent was good.

“So- what brings you here?”

“……Well, Your Grace, the Grand Duchess-“

Her blonde hair looked as though it would melt in the sunlight, a bright yellow that could appear almost white at a glance. Serious blue eyes, careful demeanor. She typically gave off the impression of a ‘princess’ from a fairy tale.

“Um, would you like a drink?”

“I’ve never drunk alcohol before.”

“Try it once, and if you don’t like it, don’t drink more. Oh, and if you simply don’t feel like it, don’t force yourself. You should drink when you actually want to, right?”

“Then, just one drink.”

Castries, having vigorously downed the pink drink, opened her eyes wide and quickly reached for the variously colored alcohol I had mixed.

Do you know the best way to gauge someone’s alcohol tolerance?

It’s to have them try drinking first.

***

Lady Castries, Lucia. She is four years younger than the Crown Prince, his fiancée. A talent who graduated with excellent grades from the Empire’s sole Imperial Academy. Skilled in both literary and martial arts, not quite fit for the association but with a knack for magic—a beauty skilled in many ways.

The worker of this era! The typical ideal of corporate talent! And—

“Exactly 13 years. The time I’ve strived to stand by His Highness the Crown Prince and not be lacking is…”

Alcohol lightweight! Ironically, despite being cautious and giving her champagne with almost no alcohol, Lady Castries got quickly drunk on just a few drinks.

At most, she mumbled a bit about herself in a cute way, but spreading rumors among the many would not be good, so I led Castries towards the garden. It would have been troublesome if she had thrown a tantrum about not going, but she quietly followed along.

“I really, really tried hard…”

And now. Sitting in the gazebo in the back of the garden, Castries was incessantly unfolding her story. It wasn’t to the extent that she was grasping my head and cursing, so I was quietly listening, but as I listened, her life story seemed a bit pitiful and I felt sorry for her.

“I’ve been trying for 13 years…”

Lucia Castries had been designated as the prospective Crown Princess 13 years ago. She wasn’t officially listed in the royal family but was educated and behaved almost as if she were the Crown Princess. She underwent strict home education before academy admission and even after enrolling, she spent every vacation learning culture with the Crown Prince, waiting—

“After trying so hard…”

Then someone appeared who stole the Crown Prince’s heart, even bearing the name of a saintess.

“I must be lacking, I thought, so I tried even harder. But that position, that role, it’s not something so light, is it?”

“That’s true.”

“Just once! He danced with me just once out of politeness, and after that, he never came to me again. It’s something the Grand Duchess could do because we’re family. Even another lady could, because it happens at least once. The Crown Prince isn’t someone who acts on personal feelings alone. But, but! How can he offer his hand to that girl more than four times?”

“Ugh… that’s terrible.”

“Not even once! Never has His Highness looked at me with that expression. He’s a good person, considerate. And yet, I thought I was a bit special. But, but! It was the first time I saw His Highness blushing like that, like an ordinary boy,”

An expression he’s never shown me…

Her forehead creased. The purple dress that had been swaying perfectly at every angle was now disgracefully wrinkled.

Listening to romantic troubles isn’t my thing at all, but this was a different kind of problem.

If you think a place is yours and you’ve met all the qualifications, only for someone else to take it away completely, even a saint would be angry. But is it wrong for the female lead to fall for the handsome ‘prince’ who was kind to her after suddenly finding herself in a different world? That’s not it either.

There’s one person who is at fault here,

“That bastard is trash.”

“What, what?”

“He should behave properly. Even if it’s not romantic love, there’s such a thing as loyalty. Or friendship. Friendship is a form of love too, but anyway. He’s trash.”

I wondered if the alcohol was slowly hitting me or if my words were just charging out without filtering through my brain. Hm, do I usually speak without thinking much? My sister warned me that living like this would get me shot in the back someday.

“Ah, no, it’s not quite like that.”

“Lady Castries, um,”

“Please, call me Lucia.”

“Yes, Lucia. Lucia, you’ve done nothing wrong. Isn’t it even more remarkable that you’ve held your composure until now? If I were in your shoes, after everyone saying for over 10 years that this is your place, and then poof! A new person shows up and slurps up my spot, I think I’d be furious, right? I would have already smashed a bottle over someone’s head by now.”

“Moreover, isn’t the position of Crown Princess one that, once promoted to Empress, is maintained for life? It’s a flaw that there’s no resignation, but anyway, if you think of it as having your job stolen, it’s understandable. Although the status of Empress feels different from ‘occupations’ like a merchant or farmer.”

“Hea, head?”

“Um, shall we say ‘head’ more elegantly?”

“No, that’s not particularly elegant either,”

“Anyway! It was definitely Arnen’s fault. Love? It’s possible. But then at least he should have done it in a way that respected Lucia, somehow, well—properly.”

I may not know how, but honestly, I can’t say I don’t understand the Crown Prince’s position. How can someone tied by interests be the same as someone who truly fell in love at first sight?

Still, there’s something like loyalty and manners among people, isn’t there?

“Anyway, that bastard was awful. Next time I see him, I’ll scratch his back. Oh, would that be treason?”

“No, to the extent of hitting someone on the back of the head—”

“Shall I do it for you?”

“……I’d appreciate it.”

The serious face made me laugh for no reason. Everywhere, there are people who have been dealt a bad hand. Including me.

“……I feel like I’ve said something pointless to Your Excellency, the Grand Duchess.”

“What’s the harm? Oh, just call me comfortably. If it’s too long, just call me ‘Ah,’ or even ‘Aigoo’ is fine.”

“Ah, I’ll call you Lady Adriana.”

The gloomy face softened a bit, perhaps due to the alcohol. Twenty. Lucia, just a year older than the female lead, smiled for the first time like someone her age.

……How to hit the Crown Prince on the back of the head properly so that it would be considered well done—rumors shouldn’t spread about that, really.