In truth, I wanted to confess that this was my first time dancing since I took over somebody's body in this world, and that I didn't recognise him earlier today because I had, in fact, never seen him before. Of course, that was out of the question.
Telling anyone that I was possessing someone else's body or that I came from a different world might label me as a witch, just like in medieval Europe. I might even be burned at the stake. I didn't know if such a tradition existed in this world, but that was irrelevant.
Xavier continued to speak, breaking through my thoughts. "That was a first for me—being stepped on by someone so much, and meeting someone who does not recognise me."
"I am truly sorry. If Your Highness would like, please step on my foot as much as I stepped on you."
Xavier laughed, seemingly taken aback by my nonsense. "You are quite a character, really."
"You know what they say—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
"Which is precisely why I would like to buy you a new handkerchief after dirtying yours earlier today."
The conversation finally returned to its original subject. My mind wandered back to the handkerchief that I had completely forgotten about. With it naturally came the memory of the expensive-looking ivory jacket that I had dirtied. I heaved a sigh.
"Please, don't mind the handkerchief. I was actually planning to keep quiet about it for Your Highness' sake if anything at all, but I cannot let myself do that after stepping on your foot so many times." I caught myself in shock. "O-Of course, I am not trying to suggest that my stepping on Your Highness' foot fifteen times is of equal value to my mere handkerchief."
"I understand," Xavier replied vaguely, and I could not tell if he was smiling at me or not. I sighed internally.
My tongue almost slipped back there.
"I will send one of my men to the Bellafleur house as soon as possible."
"Yes, Your Highness. Thank you very much." After replying so, I added with a trembling voice, "On another note, about the medical expenses for Your Highness' feet that I stepped on today—"
"My feet are fine, Lady Maristella. You need not worry."
"…"
Fine, after being stepped on fifteen times with heels?
My eyes widened in disbelief. "There is no way that you are just fine, Your Highness. I stepped on you so many times with these high heels. No matter how I think about this, I believe I should compensate you."
Xavier smiled at me for almost the first time. "I am truly fine, Lady Maristella. Please pay it no heed. It really is nothing at all."
I forgot everything that I was about to say and stared at his outworldly beauty with my mouth open.
"Am I right, Lady Maristella?" he said, a smile playing across those beautiful lips.
"Yes…"
To be honest, I would have nodded in that moment even if he told me that he could make miso paste with red beans.
In other words, I lost all of my sanity to his beauty.
***
When the dance was over, Xavier left after telling me that he would send someone over to my house soon.
The dance left me exhausted, and I left the banquet hall to head home. Just then, however, someone called out to stop me.
"Marie!"
As soon as I heard that familiar voice, I took a deep breath and turned around. Dorothea was standing right before me.
"What in the world happened between you and His Highness?" she demanded.
Suddenly, an evil thought popped into my head. I could use this situation for my own amusement. Like… teasing Dorothea about what happened earlier.
"What do you mean?" I asked back, feigning innocence. Dorothea angrily stomped towards me.
"Don't act oblivious, Marie. You even got to dance with His Highness."
It was no surprise that she knew. It was likely that everyone in that hall knew that I had danced with Xavier. His status as Crown Prince aside, he was one of the most sought-out husband material within the palace these days.
"Yes, I did," I said.
"I'm asking how you got the chance to dance with him in the first place."
Was it just me, or did it feel as if she were supposed to accentuate the word "you"?
"What are you asking, Roth?" I quietly replied.
"I already said it. How did you get the chance to dance with him?"
If that was her only question, it wasn't difficult to answer. I smiled confidently at her.
"His Highness asked me for a dance first."
"His Highness? To you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Who knows? I didn't ask why."
Of course, I could see the reason why. I was acting quite suspicious, and he had some questions that he wanted to ask. However, I had no intention of telling her everything.
"I mean, there's no way that he asked me to dance because he was interested in me, right?" I said nonchalantly.
Although I had phrased it as a question, Dorothea heard the implied answer. Her face was red and fuming. I almost burst out in laughter at that sight, but managed to hold myself back and moved on.
"Still, I'm glad that I was able to grow closer to His Highness. If I grow even closer to him, Roth you could also speak to His Highness with more ease than now. Don't you think so?"
"Dancing aside, then, how did you even meet him in the first place?"
She was referring to when I accidentally dirtied Xavier's jacket. I twisted my lips into a smile.
"There was actually a small incident between His Highness and me… which dirtied my handkerchief a little bit."
"What incident?"
"Let's just leave it at that."
When I smiled and avoided delving into the details, Dorothea furrowed her brows.
I gracefully ignored her and continued. "Anyway… that must have bothered His Highness quite a bit. He offered to buy a new handkerchief and have it delivered to our house."
"Oh my, really?"
Dorothea seemed overjoyed, as if she herself were Maristella. It was obvious what she was going to say next. She would ask me to use this as an opportunity for me to somehow tie her into this.
"Then introduce me to His Highness, Marie!"
As expected. On top of that, it was more of a command than a request.
"That's going to be a little difficult, Roth," I said with fake regret.
Dorothea knitted her brows at my immediate rejection. "Why not?"
"I also have an appearance to uphold. Think about what happened between His Highness and you today. I can only expect His Highness to be… unfavourable towards you."
"…"
Dorothea must have understood what I was referring to, and she pursed her lips before throwing me a glare. "That's because you put me in that position."
As usual, Dorothea's common sense was leaking right out of her brain. To be clear of who was at fault, Dorothea was the one who insulted me first with the phrase "how dare you".
I laughed emptily. "Me?"
"You had the ga— well, you didn't even tell me that you were going to be with His Highness. Would that not surprise me?"
"So what you're trying to say is…" I looked at Dorothea in astonishment. "…that it's my fault?"
"You should have told me that you were going to be with him!"
"Dorothea." I cocked my head to the side and gazed upon her. "Why should I do that?"
"What?"
"Why should I always ask for your permission to meet anyone? Whether I go meet His Highness or converse with Lady Odeletta, that's all up to me. Not even my own family tries to control me like that. Why is any of that your business?"
"…But you're my friend."
"Dorothea, let's make this clear." I gave a short sigh. "Are you looking for a maid or a friend?"
"…"
Dorothea's face was flushed red. Her lack of an answer told me that it was the former. I knew that from the beginning, but I couldn't help but feel incredibly pissed off at this very moment.
At least I wasn't actually Maristella. If the real Maristella had been standing here, I couldn't possibly imagine how hurt she would be.
"I'm not your maid, Dorothea. Go find someone else if you need a maid."
"Why are you acting like this all of a sudden, Marie?" Dorothea gave a frown. "You know what? You've been acting strange lately."
"…"
Wow. I was just… at a loss for words.
So you think it's strange that I'm not acting like your maid like I used to?
I shut my mouth, dumbstruck. Then, I reopened my mouth to make things clear once and for all.
"This is normal, Dorothea. Friends are supposed to be equal. Friends aren't supposed to have a vertical relationship."
"What did I do?"