Chapter 73: Misunderstanding

I left the restroom and headed to the table where the prince was waiting.

At the table, Yona was busy eating cake, and the prince was watching the people dancing.

I first checked on Yona.

“Have you been well?”

“Rachel, sister. Yes. I’ve been fine, what about Emily, sister?”

“She’s in the restroom. Are you okay, Yona? Are you feeling sick anywhere?”

“Yes. I’m fine. What about you, sister?”

“I’m not sick either.”

I wiped the whipped cream from her cheek and stroked her hair.

“I’m going to dance.”

“Okay~ Have fun!”

Yona resumed eating the sweet treats.

She seemed to be making up for lost time, as Emily had restricted her from eating too much due to her health back at the mansion.

I went over to Heimer.

“Shall we go. Your Highness, Prince.”

“Hmm. Where is Emily?”

I shrugged.

Heimer chuckled, got up, and we headed to the dance floor.

We didn’t hold hands or link arms. Because I’m not dancing with him out of liking.

Knowing the prince’s personality, I felt uneasy.

The dancers, upon seeing Heimer’s face, were startled and quickly made way.

Many eyes were also drawn to my face, but no one seemed to recognize me.

Instead, most of the reactions were like, ‘What’s with that woman? Who is she to dance with the prince?’ ‘Ha, she must have seduced him again. Deceiving our innocent prince.’

I fully understand.

Even daughters of prestigious marquis families put in all sorts of effort to dance with the prince, so it’s understandable that they react this way to an unknown nobody dancing with him.

I had already anticipated this reaction, so I ignored it without a second thought.

Heimer glanced down at my face and muttered softly.

“Shall I take care of it?”

I examined the prince’s expression.

It was expressionless, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

“It’s fine. I expected all these reactions anyway.”

“Oh. You really seem unfazed. Still, they dared to insult my partner, so they must be punished, right?”

His smile widened further.

This guy, once he says he’ll do something, he really does it.

I shook my head and stopped him.

“Your Highness, human selfishness and inferiority are natural emotions. The inferiority of a lower noble dancing with Your Highness and the selfishness of thinking this position should be theirs.

It’s not a crime to have such natural feelings, is it?”

“It’s not a crime. But don’t you think their expression was clearly wrong?”

“Did I suffer any harm from it? And I doubt Your Highness, being so noble, would be hurt by the words of such inferior nobles.”

At my words, Heimer finally raised both hands. He grinned, the corners of his mouth turned up.

“You’re an interesting woman. Very logical and with a strong sense of self, aren’t you?”

We arrived at the center of the dance floor and began to dance, holding each other’s hands.

Darara. Dadad dadadara~

The song’s name is ‘A Spring’s Evergreen.’

It doesn’t involve much movement, and one has to sway their waist and shoulders from side to side to the rhythm.

‘That’s a relief.’

The heels I wore to this banquet were higher than I thought. So, if I were to dance a lively dance with lots of movement, like a swing, I wouldn’t be confident.

There’s a high chance I’d fall.

With so many people still watching, if I were to fall while dancing with the prince?

It would be beyond embarrassing; it would be mortifying.

I held his hand and followed the steps as we had practiced.

For the first few minutes, we danced silently without a word.

“I thought you wouldn’t be able to dance since you’re a baronet, but you’re surprisingly good.”

“Emily helped me. She taught me well.”

“Emily… You two must be very close? For a mere baronet to call the successor of a duchy by her first name.”

“We became close by chance. She’s still someone I feel is beyond me.”

I moderately praised Emily.

This isn’t a place where it’s just Emily and me.

I responded appropriately and lowered my gaze again.

As there was a significant height difference between us, I watched his chest as we danced.

“Isn’t it about time you met my gaze? Making eye contact with your partner. You do know it’s basic etiquette, right?”

“…Yes.”

I slowly raised my head and looked into his yellow eyes.

Objectively, he’s a very handsome man. But his dazzling appearance doesn’t make me feel any affection for him.

Anyone who knows the original story would react the same way as me.

I maintained a blank expression and matched his movements.

“Usually, women smile when they see my face. Not feeling it today?”

“…No. You’re handsome.”

“Then why aren’t you smiling? Clearly, today’s outfit doesn’t suit me. I’ll have to deal with the maid first when I get back.”

What a nasty guy.

I forced a smile, thinking of Emily in my mind.

Fortunately, before Heimer could say anything, the corners of my mouth lifted into a natural smile.

“Yes. That definitely looks better.”

“Thank you.”

The atmosphere was by no means good.

But the atmosphere among the surrounding partners was good, and the song was calm. Especially since both of us were smiling, from a distance, we must have looked quite harmonious.

‘Maybe it’s just me who feels bad.’

Heimer clearly seemed to be enjoying himself.

“By the way, you said you were an alchemist?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“You must be quite skilled? To catch the eye of Delkarmen Muelia.”

Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to have heard that I’m the descendant of the Medicine King. Well, he’s just a prince, not the emperor, so it’s hard for him to know information that Delkarmen himself has hidden.

I was relieved by that fact and answered calmly.

“I was lucky.”

“Then, how about working for me? I’ll pay you well, and you’ll gain more power and fame than with the Muelia. Naturally, as my exclusive alchemist.”

“…I’ll think about it.”

I won’t accept. But if I refuse without even considering it, Heimer might hold it against me.

Heimer seemed satisfied with that answer.

Diririri~

The music is about to end.

Usually, one dances for only one song and then changes partners for the next, so once this song is over, I can get away from Heimer.

“Emily seems to care for you a lot?”

“We take good care of each other. As close friends, we cherish each other.”

“Indeed. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be giving you such an intense look.”

I stayed silent as if to say, ‘What nonsense are you talking about?’ and Heimer glanced sideways.

His gaze landed on Emily, who was now sitting at the same table as Yona.

The important thing is that Emily’s eyes looking this way were quite terrifying.

They were sharp and intense, as if they could pierce right through you if you stared too long.

‘Is she looking at me?’

Emily had clearly been keeping her distance from me earlier. It seems to be related to that.

“How many people would dare to send such a rebellious look to the prince of the empire?”

“I wonder. Perhaps she’s sending it to me, not Your Highness?”

“Hmm?”

The prince looked back and forth between Emily and me, then chuckled.

“Interesting.”

The nobles who had been dancing around us started to approach slowly.

“It was a beautiful pair. Your Highness.”

“As beautiful as a butterfly, and as free in movement as a bee. As expected of Your Highness.”

“Haha. It looks good. How about dancing with my daughter next time? She is said to be the most beautiful woman in the East…”

I was unfamiliar with this scene.

Having grown up with my grandmother and living a life of part-time jobs. I looked around, trying to find an opening to escape.

Just then.

“Let’s talk later.”

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

It was just one sentence.

All the surrounding nobles retreated, and my view was instantly cleared.

“Let’s go.”

“I can go by myself, you know?”

“Shouldn’t I escort a lady?”

I shut my mouth at this uncomfortable escort from Heimer and went to Emily. Yona clapped, saying she enjoyed the dance, and Emily was looking at us with an even more intense gaze than before.

“It’s been a while. Lady Emily.”

“It has been a while. Your Highness.”

“The lord seems to be doing well. Let’s have tea sometime.”

“That sounds good. I have something to discuss with you, actually.”

Heimer put his hand on my shoulder and smiled.

“Baronet Rachel. It was fun today. Let’s meet again soon. We seem to be quite compatible.”

“Oh… yes. I understand.”

It’s the prince’s words.

As a mere baronet, I can’t refuse or decline.

So I nodded, and a strange sound came from Emily’s direction.

Ssssk.

She was gripping the tablecloth tightly with her white hand. Her expression was clearly not good.

‘Uh… why is she acting like that?’

Judging by Emily’s expression, she doesn’t seem to like Heimer. So why is she reacting like this?

As Heimer left, I sat down next to Yona.

Emily’s gaze towards me was different from before.