"Yes? Master."
Dylan whispered as if trying to get her consent. Charlize was a little surprised.
As the saying goes, once is difficult, twice is easy. Dylan didn't seem to think it was rude this time even though he called her name.
'It doesn't matter if you call my name, but…'
Many eyes can be felt. Because there is a veil over Charlize's face. It was not direct contact.
Dylan's hand, which was covering her cheek, quickly fell off. They missed the timing to point it out because he was so natural.
A beating heart in bewilderment.
"To me."
Her cheeks are hot as if she were burned.
"Will you grant me the honor of dancing with Lady?"
Dylan's possessive gaze that she just felt. Was it for this dance request?
"Hold on, this situation is…"
Charlize felt a sense of deja vu.
"I'm here to receive the first dance that was stolen, Master."
Dylan said, reaching out to Charlize.
The first dance? Ah, she remembered it.
When Dylan was the Crown Prince. He wanted to do his first dance with Charlize.
'I was supposed to dance with him, but I couldn't.'
Dylan was away after receiving an urgent call from the emperor. At that time, Kahu approached Charlize and asked her to dance.
'It's not polite to refuse the first dance request, so I ended up dancing with Kahu.'
The first time Dylan called Charlize's name. It was then.
Charlize suddenly realized the attention of many people. Because a lot of eyes have poked her skin to the point that her cheeks are sore.
Among them, Kahu's gaze was also added.
Dylan's words, which he asked to look only himself, caught Charlize's eyes.
'Originally, it's polite to have your first dance with an escort.'
It was Kahu who broke the unwritten etiquette first. So will it be okay?
Once the gaze stays, it is naturally fixed comfortably on Dylan.
The luminous-reflecting black suit was very well matched with Dylan's body. While revealing the shape of his body as it is, he also has a luxurious look with elegance.
A handsome face with a tall and attractive-looking and a soft smile. Dylan knew how to make good use of what he was born with, and so did his appearance.
Her heart beats heavily. Somehow, she felt like she was caught in a trap.
"Alright …My lord."
Charlize took Dylan's hand.
"It's an honor to be chosen as Your Majesty's first dance partner."
Charlize looked at Dylan and put her right heel back. She bowed slightly.
Dylan gently pulled out Charlize. He took the lead well.
Dylan and Charlize stood in the middle of the ballroom. At the same time, the chatter of the nobles stopped like a lie.
Only the melody of beautiful music flows. Because it was the emperor's dance. All the nobles stepped down on their own.
In the midst of the silent gaze. Dylan slowly reached out to Charlize's veil.
He carefully lifted it up as if to remove the veil. Admiration flowed from everyone on Charlize's revealed face.
"Oh, my goodness…"
"I would believe it even if she was the incarnation of an angel."
Charlize's biological mother was often called 'The Grand Duchess of Cinderella'. Because of her outstanding appearance and unique atmosphere, she has risen from the status of Baron's esteemed daughter to the Grand Duchess.
Rumors of jealousy and envious eyes always followed her.
Charlize was the daughter who inherited the Veneta blood of the Grand Duchess the most.
The mysterious eyes were mysterious even when you saw and looked at them. Even if it looks like just navy eyes, if you look closely, it gets darker toward the edge of the pupil.
It sparkled as if it contained the vastness and ecstasy of the universe. A unique ash blonde, mixed with gold and silver, fluttered.
"I heard that she has the fairy's blood…"
"Isn't the rumor true?"
Some of the nobles remembered Charlize's sword dance.
A picturesque figure. The elegant atmosphere resembling a work of art was enchanted with the sparkle.
The gaze that had been on the thin fence was intertwined.
It was strangely breathtaking. A string of tightly pulled air. Charlize drew more attention than when wielding a sharp sword.
It's fascinating. Charlize was blazing like the sun, shining unrivaled. It was definitely a dark night, even though it was indoors.
Only the flowing air between Charlize and Dylan looked different from the air in other spaces. Heavy air with high viscosity.
"Your earrings look good on you, Master."
Dylan's eyes reached Charlize's sapphire earrings. Charlize looked at him as if she were affirming in silence.
When the maids recommend two accessories. Charlize eventually chose an earring that resembled Dylan's color.
Dylan had a full, stuffed beast look on his face.
Slowly, the song began. Dylan held Charlize's waist with his right hand, and his left hand clasped her hands.
A happy touch that touches the palm of her hand. The warm warmth tickled.
"Your hands are cold, Master."
"I hear that a lot."
Charlize replied slowly.
As if he wanted to melt it with warmth, Dylan's hand strength became a little stronger.
Their dance was tango.
It was not a dance as intense as a swing, but it was a dance where you had to walk elaborately with your chest to chest.
A dance where you can communicate well with your partner because you have to hug it close.
It was a tango, also known as the 'Grave of Dance' because anyone could enjoy it. In other words, it was so attractive that it was called the last stage.
"Today, Your Majesty feels a little unfamiliar to me."
"…In what ways are you unfamiliar with?"
"You look a little different."
Charlize said what she felt. Earlier, Kahu was very nervous while escorting Charlize.
Dylan showed no signs of trembling while dancing. It was refreshing because he was different from the two images Charlize knew.
Dylan's gaze reached Charlize's cheek, then her earring, and then back to her eyes. Why does it tickle so much even though it's eye contact?
Charlize blinked her eyes.
The melody of calm music became increasingly irregular like the sound of the heart.
"I don't remember teaching you social dance, Your Majesty."
"Yes, Master."
Move your feet according to the steps. Dylan's waist is getting hot.
"How can you dance so well?"
"Well, is that so?"
Dylan's lips drew a soft line, perhaps the compliment was pleasant.
"I wanted to dance with Master, so I've been practicing alone."
Dylan's voice echoed in her ears.
Is it an illusion if the hot breath feels like a shackle? A heavy breath permeated and seemed to squeeze into the heart.
Charlize inadvertently closed her eyes.
The nobles who were watching from afar made eye contact with each other and whispered.
"The dance of both of them is more like an art than a dance."
"I can't believe they're so accurate when they're moving their feet comfortably."
They were nobles who once praised Charlize and Kahu's dance for getting along well. But when they saw Dylan and Charlize dance, they couldn't help but admit it.
This is a perfect beauty itself, beyond the standards of the world.
Dylan, a charismatic emperor in front of his subordinates, was softened very gently only when he looked at Charlize.
Are those who have gone beyond the master's level even dancing differently? Even with the same movement, only the two of them were elegant.
"Just…"
"Glamorous."
The young noble master admired. The nobleman who had seen Charlize's sword dance the other day began to boast small.
"Of course, today's dance is great, but when the grandmaster performed the sword dance blindfolded, it was so fascinating that no one could learn it without admiring it."
"No, it's a sword dance with blindfolded? It's amazing just to hear it."
Kahu remained silent and listened to the admiration of the nobles.
As everyone said, Dylan and Charlize in the middle glowed splendidly. Like the main character of a true ball.
Kahu's gaze slowly reached Dylan's suit fabric.
[Madame Cole told me that she has a busy schedule for the time being.]
It was Madame Cole, who had built trust through long-term transactions for more than 10 years.
[So Madame said that it would be difficult to make the master's new tailcoat for the ball…]
The butler was very sorry as he delivered the news to Kahu.
Time was running out for a new dressing room to be set up for the ballroom.
He hurriedly matched the coat that would give a point over the already existing black suit.
However, whether it was because of impatience or lack of it, Kahu wasn't confident today.
'It must be a coincidence.'
There is a limit to human imagination.
It's hard to get out of the box to make clothes that match the trend and formality.
However, Madame Cole was a person who thoroughly obeyed Kahu's mother, the Duchess.
'Can you turn your back on me in an instant?'
He felt the threat of invisible hands.
That's why he was so nervous from the beginning.
He wasn't nervous if he wasn't thirsty. Even if he didn't leave in a hurry to drink water.
It would have been Kahu, not Dylan, who was dancing with Charlize now.
"…Ah."
Kahu's idea of getting deeper with her has been cut off.
At that moment, it was because Dylan and his eyes met in the air.
Maybe it's just his feelings.
After seeing Kahu, Dylan pulled and hugged Charlize a little stronger. And the tail of his lips rises strangely.
The entanglement of the eyes was just an instant. Shortly after, Dylan smiled softly, making eye contact with Charlize.
Charlize smiled beautifully for all to see. It feels innocent and bright.
Kahu suddenly clenched his fist.
'Grandmaster, you've been taken away.'
That thought occurred to him, profanely.
***
In the past, when Dylan was a boy, Charlize sang when he played the piano.
She seemed to be approaching cautiously. Beautiful singing.
Now that they have grown up, they danced hand in hand with each other. Is it because it feels like progress in a relationship? A little. Sentimental.
'Is it because it reminds me of the wedding clothes?'
Charlize in a white dress and a thin veil. Dylan in a black suit.
If it's the royal marriage, you would have worn more luxurious clothes. It was the best combination for the image of marriage.
Charlize's skin was soft. Whether it's because she's sensitive, whether Charlize is too beautiful, or both.
Dylan's heart was still beating at the heat of the touch left in his hand.
Charlize's smile lingers in front of his eyes like an afterimage. It is imprinted on the skin for a long time like an aftertaste.
The empty hands were unfamiliar, so he folded and unfolded them repeatedly.
"Your Majesty the Emperor."
When Dylan lifted the wine glass, an unwelcome voice called him.
The red wine was as red as human blood. Dylan looked ahead.
It was Kahu.
"Any business for me?"
"The young Duke of Duke Delmon, Kahu, I have a conversation I'd like to have in private with Your Majesty."
"…"
"Would you please respond?"
Dylan's eyes, which had been deeply immersed in boredom, revived for a moment.
Dylan took a sip of wine. The Emperor's lips soon turn red like blood.
Dylan looked at Kahu without expression. Kahu gazed tightly at Dylan in his green eyes, not intimidated.