Chapter 19: A Dance Between Enemies

I stepped out onto the balcony to calm my churning chest.

Stepping out into the empty open air made me feel much more refreshed than when I was indoors.

Staring blankly as I recalled Mikeron Leilight smiling bitterly, I squeezed both of my hands tightly against the handrail.

While I was lost in thought, I heard the sound of someone entering the balcony.

Tensing up, thinking it might be Mikeron, I turned around only to see Ran’s face.

The moment our eyes met, he smiled playfully.

“Hello, Count. Here you are.”

If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have exchanged a single word with Ran Ilay, but I bowed my head reluctantly.

“…Hello.”

“I saw the commotion just now. I didn’t expect you to have such guts. I was impressed.”

He clapped his hands mockingly.

The sound of his palms meeting echoed through the space.

I glared at him quietly while listening to the sound.

“Why don’t you show your true colors to me as well? Using that impressive dark magic of yours.”

Although Ran provoked me with raised eyebrows, I had no intention of falling for his provocation.

Having already exhausted myself dealing with Count Export, I lacked the energy to deal with him.

“Did you come find me just to say something like that?”

“Who knows?”

The moment I saw him shrug his shoulders obnoxiously, my irritation rose to the top of my head, but I struggled to maintain my composure.

As if he wasn’t finished saying what he wanted, he continued to speak.

“What is your relationship with the Second Prince?”

“Pardon?”

Unable to fathom why he was asking such a thing, my expression hardened, causing Ran to smile excessively with his superficial grins.

“I was already puzzled that the Second Prince let you into his palace, but seeing things today made me absolutely sure.”

“Sure of what on earth…”

“Were you perhaps unaware of the fact that the Second Prince has been looking only at you this entire time?”

‘Raihar was looking at me?’

I had been too flustered to notice.

I felt awkwardly embarrassed, thinking I had shown an unsightly side of myself to Raihar de Avelonia.

“Whatever my relationship with the Second Prince may be, what does that have to do with you, Young Lord?”

“Because I have some advice I wish to give you.”

Though I didn’t want to hear it since his so-called advice could never be anything pleasant, I couldn’t stop him from opening his mouth as he pleased.

“I do not know exactly what relationship you share with that man, but you had better not expect anything from him. He is a coward who will cast aside anyone around him without a second thought just to ensure his own safety.”

“…”

“Do not trust that man too much. This is advice I am specially offering for your own sake.”

Ran smiled playfully after spouting such nonsense.

‘I really shouldn’t have listened.’

If he had insulted me, I would have just ignored it and walked past, but it was difficult to overlook him insulting Raihar.

“Thank you for the advice. But what should we do? I find myself unable to trust you even more, Young Lord.”

The moment I raised my eyes in protest, our gazes locked strangely, and a suffocating silence fell.

The first to break the silence was Ran.

His muttering voice was unusually low.

“That man possesses no power, no ability, no will—absolutely nothing.”

“…”

“You cannot even begin to imagine just how cowardly and wretched of a human being he is.”

“Do you dislike the Second Prince, Young Lord?”

Because no matter how things were in reality, the two didn’t seem to share any notable connection, making me curious.

Judging solely by Ran’s words, he seemed to despise Raihar terribly, but I found it difficult to comprehend exactly why he hated him so much.

“I despise weak people.”

“…”

“Weak people do nothing but get dragged around without any spine, eventually even forgetting their own will.”

Ran smiled bitterly.

Just as I felt thoroughly puzzled by their relationship, he quickly returned to his obnoxious expression.

“Well, even if I say more, you likely won’t believe me. Seeing how you shield the Second Prince when you’ve barely known him for any length of time is simply amusing.”

Ran strolled over and pulled my shoulder.

An icy voice pierced my ears.

“Stay away from the Second Prince. If you do not wish to regret it.”

He merely said what he wanted to until the very end and leisurely exited the balcony.

He was a man who handled everything in this world entirely as he pleased.

Staring intently at the back of his head, I brushed my bangs up irritably.

Not long after Ran left the balcony, just as I was about to head out myself, voices could be heard from outside the door.

“You truly are malicious in many ways. I hadn’t realized eavesdropping was a hobby of yours.”

It was Ran’s voice.

The moment I quickly released the doorknob, wondering if he was speaking to me, I heard the voice of the person he was condemning.

“I merely happened to be standing here. Whatever misunderstanding you have made, I had absolutely no intention of eavesdropping.”

This light and cheerful voice was… undoubtedly Raihar.

An optimistic atmosphere, completely contrasting with Ran, could be felt from his voice.

“Do you wish to become a fool, or do you wish to become a scoundrel? In any case, I truly despise both that face of yours and your voice.”

I had thought he only acted recklessly with me, but I didn’t know he would go so far even when facing Raihar.

I grew tense, feeling as though something might happen at any moment, but even though Ran uttered insolent remarks, Raihar offered no notable response.

“A person like you—weak, spineless, and easily swayed by circumstances—is an eyesore.”

“Well…”

“You!”

Just as Raihar attempted to say something, Ran cut his words off mid-sentence.

His voice, thick with rage, was icy.

“I do not know why you are taking an interest in Leviat Kinesis, but you have no right to keep anyone by your side.”

“…”

“The one who cowardly pushed me away without even attempting to fight was you, wasn’t it?”

Ran laughed aloud and continued in a stiffened voice.

“Keep running away, being swayed, and acting like an idiot for the rest of your life, and then just die.”

Despite the over-the-line verbal abuse and blatant sarcasm, Raihar remained silent without a word.

Though I couldn’t know what expression Raihar was making behind the door, it likely wasn’t a good one.

“You are irritating, so stay out of my sight.”

The sound of irritated footsteps gradually receded, followed shortly by Raihar’s sigh.

I felt flustered, realizing I had overheard a conversation I shouldn’t have.

It seemed there was indeed something between the two that I was unaware of.

While mulling over when I should step out, Raihar entered the balcony.

Confronting him right at the doorway, I was so startled my heart nearly stopped.

Raihar also seemed surprised, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Ah… Hello, Count.”

“I greet the Second Prince…”

We smiled awkwardly and exchanged greetings reluctantly.

Though we hadn’t brought up any notable topic yet, Raihar mumbled evasively, as if something weighed on his conscience.

“Crowded spaces are a bit exhausting, so I came to take a break.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Are you alright? There was quite a large commotion earlier.”

Raihar skillfully switched the topic.

Come to think of it, Ran had mentioned that Raihar had been looking only at me.

‘If his words are true, from when and how much did he watch?’

It bothered me that Raihar had asked if I was alright, rather than checking on Count Export.

‘Could he have been watching from the very beginning…’

Shaking away the distracting thoughts, I slowly shook my head.

He likely only began watching from the moment Export started causing a scene.

I knew that even if he had watched everything from the start, there was no reason why he had to take my side.

“Yes. I am fine.”

“Is that so? I am relieved.”

The flow of conversation cut off with that.

Though I wanted to ask how long he had been watching and what relationship he shared with Ran, I quietly kept my mouth shut, thinking it would make things difficult for him.

While an awkward atmosphere lingered and we both stared listlessly into space, Raihar extended his hand and made a proposal.

“Staying like this here will only make our moods gloomy, so would you like to share a dance with me?”

“A dance?”

Frowning in bewilderment at the sudden offer, Raihar smiled softly.

Judging by his earnest demeanor, he didn’t seem to be joking.

I had only learned dancing for a short period, and since I barely attended events like parties, I lacked practical experience as well.

Even putting all those facts aside, I had no desire to draw everyone’s attention with my behavior twice in one day.

Yet before I could formulate a refusal, my hand was seized, and I was practically dragged into the banquet hall.

In the vast banquet hall, numerous people were already dancing to the orchestral music.

Though reluctant, since it was a proposal that left me with no choice, I had no option but to go along with his wishes.

Although I wasn’t good at dancing, I thought it would be better for me to lead since I was taller than Raihar, but Raihar beat me to it, gently wrapping his arm around my waist.

As I flustered in surprise, he slowed the tempo and began to lead me skillfully.

“You aren’t very good at dancing, are you?”

Raihar smiled mischievously.

Since it was the truth, I couldn’t refute him and merely parted my lips.

When I glanced around because I was bothered by what had just occurred, he pulled my waist close and whispered softly.

“Do not pay attention to anything else, just entrust your body to me. I’m quite confident in my dancing, if nothing else.”

“…Yes.”

Faced with his confident demeanor, I ended up voicing my consent.

Raihar was indeed as skilled at dancing as he had claimed.

Following his lead despite my poor dancing, we somehow managed to present a decent posture.

Stepping lightly and spinning once, Raihar pulled me close.

It was a distance close enough for our noses to touch.

Up close, Raihar was such a warm and attractive man that I wondered why I hadn’t realized it until now.

A sharp nose, eyes that commanded attention despite lacking double eyelids, and a slightly dark complexion.

As I quietly observed him, Raihar pushed me away slightly and smiled slyly.

“Why are you staring so hard? You’re going to drill a hole through me.”

“No, just… because you are handsome.”

Though not as much as Mikeron, who stole one’s attention in an instant even from afar.

The moment I unconsciously thought that, I startled and misstepped.

If Raihar hadn’t been holding me, I would have taken a nasty fall.

“Are you alright? Is your body perhaps unwell?”

“I-I am fine…”

There was nothing wrong with my body, but my mind had definitely gone strange.

Otherwise, there was no way I would have made such an absurd comparison.

Because such thoughts were absolutely forbidden.

To gather my wits, I chose to surrender myself to Raihar’s lead and focus on the dance once more, but then I spotted Ran Ilay staring intently in our direction from afar.

Though I couldn’t tell if his glare was directed at Raihar or at me…

His extraordinary gaze looked as if he were staring at an arch-nemesis.

‘Is it because two people he dislikes are gathered together?’

If so, he could have just looked away.

Frowning because I couldn’t comprehend his mindset, my eyes locked with his by some terrible luck.

Ran set his champagne glass down on a nearby table and began marching with long strides toward me.

As he drew near, Raihar’s confident movements stopped abruptly.

I never expected him to head over just because we locked eyes.

As I silently clicked my tongue, Ran extended his hand.

When I scowled, unable to comprehend what he was doing, a superficial smile took over his face.

“Share a dance with me as well, Count.”

Not only had he barged in out of nowhere, but he didn’t even glance toward Raihar as he proposed a dance to me.

Since his behavior was incredibly insolent, I expected Raihar to say something this time, but Raihar merely stared at him in silence and offered a faint smile.

“I am fine, so go ahead and dance.”

“Well, I don’t really…”

Just as I attempted to decline, Ran grabbed my wrist firmly, completely ignoring my opinion.

“Well then, let’s go, Count.”

Ran began to force me into a dance while tightly gripping both of my wrists.

I tried to withdraw my trapped wrists, but they wouldn’t budge.

When I struggled to escape, he tightened his grip even harder as if determined never to release me.

Unable to fling him off with pure force, I had no choice but to be dragged around as he danced.

Ultimately, unable to bear it, I complained sharply.

“Just what on earth do you think you are doing?”

“Because I suddenly wished to dance with you as well, Count.”

Ran replied in a tone as if asking something so obvious.

Looking at his displeased expression, I could be certain.

He was absolutely not doing this because he wanted to dance with me.

“You aren’t doing this because you want to dance with me. Why are you acting like this?”

When I snapped at his reckless behavior, Ran stopped dancing and pulled my waist close.

Up close, his golden eyes were flashing menacingly.

Goosebumps broke out so intensely that my body temperature felt like it dropped.

“Because seeing that man dancing so happily makes my blood boil with disgust.”

The ‘man’ he referred to was undoubtedly Raihar.

Uttering each word with cold fury, he let out a creepy, crazed laugh and began to dance once more.

Though he had replied in a positive nuance when asked if he disliked Raihar, looking at his actions, it seemed beyond simple dislike—he thoroughly detested him.

Yet taking his anger out on me, who wasn’t even the party involved, was utterly absurd; as I glared at him persistently, he twisted his lips and muttered quietly.

“How about we make a deal, Count?”

“What…”

“If you promise never to associate with that man again, I will stop investigating you and release your wrists. Furthermore, if you ever need my strength regarding magic, I will assist you as much as you like.”

Ran smiled creepily once again, proposing an absurd deal.

Why was he so obsessed with my relationship with Raihar and trying to tear us apart?

If he hated the sight of us, he could have just ignored us.

I simply couldn’t comprehend it.

“Wouldn’t accepting my offer yield far more benefits than staying beside such a weak wretch? This is advice for your own sake as well.”

“…”

“Stay away from him.”

Honestly, I was slightly tempted.

Because Ran, as the Lightning Magic Tower Master, likely knew a great deal about magic, meaning there was a high probability he already possessed the information I desired.

But I couldn’t choose to abandon Raihar.

I was the only one who knew his future.

I didn’t want to lose that uniqueness, nor did I want to sit idly by and watch him die.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“I am sorry, but I simply cannot do that.”

The moment I answered, Ran’s eyes wavered.

At the same time, the pressure applied to my wrists tightened.

I furrowed my brow at the painful sensation that felt as though my bones would break.

“That man is a coward. He didn’t even show anger at me for taking you away. Do you truly believe a man like that is capable of achieving anything?”

“He doesn’t have to achieve anything. Because I merely cherish the Second Prince.”

“What?”

When I rephrased my resolve not to let him die as “cherishing” him, any trace of a smile completely vanished from Ran’s face.

Unable to summon even the superficial grin he usually displayed so easily, he stared down at me with an expression burning with murderous intent.

Though every sense in my body reacted with heightened sensitivity, warning me not to provoke him further, I tightly suppressed my fear and glared straight back at Ran.

As if genuinely intending to snap my wrists, he twisted them slightly until a cracking sound echoed.

The moment a groan leaked through my lips, someone marched over, grabbed Ran’s wrist, and flung it away.

My heavy wrists instantly grew light.

Massaging my liberated wrists, I stared at the man standing before me.

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