The banquet hall was quite lively with the sound of chatter and laughter. However, upon our arrival, the attention in the room shifted toward us. In particular, all eyes were fixed on Adilun.
All kinds of shady glances mixed with admiration and jealousy were directed at her, but unfortunately, there was nothing I could do right now. Because I was in a situation where I had to treat her coldly.
I was quite dissatisfied with that because even though everyone was looking at her, I had to turn my eyes away from her.
Moreover, even I had to speak bad words about her in front of the other princesses. I couldn't help but sharpen my nerves.
The warmth that radiated from our clasped hands was a little sad.
After receiving a formal greeting that was not at all sincere, Adilun and I stood at the center of the banquet hall. The first dance eventually came back to us because Adilun was the highest-ranking noble representing the northern nobility.
I tried to look at her with irritation and coldness in my gaze.
In response, Adilun also gave me a cold gaze.
It was the first time we were looking at each other like this since we met as soon as I realized my previous life. I felt like I was in the middle of a snowstorm right now.
A slight chill ran through my body for an instant, but I didn't try to express it.
"Adilun."
"Shh. Don't say anything."
"… …Yes."
"I'm sorry for asking too much. Just for today, just for today, please be patient."
As the golden eyes instantly erased the coldness and embraced the gentleness and apologetic feelings, my twisted heart began to loosen little by little.
As she wished, I looked at her coldly.
And at that moment, calm music came out and a rather creaky dance began.
It was a terrible dance that couldn't be compared to the dance I had danced with her a few days ago.
* * *
[Adilun's POV]
Feet don't fit each other. Breathing was also starting to become disturbed little by little.
A dance that was lousy no matter who saw it. Since I was quite confident in dancing, it was even a little humiliating to dance like this.
An uncomfortable feeling raised its head a little.
As a result, Physis held my hand tighter.
From the moment I felt a little discomfort, he somehow noticed and comforted me.
That was why the uncomfortable feeling quickly disappeared.
I raised my head and looked at him. I felt a cold stare linger on me. It was really unsightly, but even though I requested it from him, a place in my heart instantly tingled.
But I didn't bother. From the start, he was against it. I shouldn't have that mindset after forcing him.
After a while, the flowing music stopped, and the dance finally ended. I could hear the buzz around the dance and feel the cacophony of harmonious harmonies.
"What happened? It is quite different from the dance I saw at the National Foundation Day."
"Why? I can't understand this… …Could it be that they fought?"
"It can't be. For the insult of Princess Rodenov, Prince Ortaire himself went all the way to the great duel."
A voice mixed with questions began to be heard in our ears. And I felt that this was the best time to start acting.
As the dance ended, his hand which was holding my hand took advantage of the loose gap and stroked vigorously.
Percussion!
Don't forget, Adilun.
My gaze became cold, remembering the insults he had done to me in the past.
Remembering him, who remained only as a trace in me, I revealed the feelings I had that time on my face, hinting that I was angry.
Physis paused and stood there. His cold gaze was fixed on me. My eyes were not different from that either.
My heart was pounding.
Physis was the one who made the first move. He turned his head and walked away, leaving me behind.
For a moment, my heart stopped. And disbelief started rising inside me.
'Do I really have to do this?'
Could it be that I was unwilling to admit that he was changing?
I could not erase the mistakes he made to me, but now that he was changing, shouldn't I forget those things? Maybe I thought too high of myself?
Suddenly, I thought that if someone else saw me like that, our plan would be distorted.
* * *
[Physis's POV]
The surroundings were noisy. Leaving the fuss behind, I sat down in a suitable seat, rested my chin on my arm, and narrowed my eyes.
Would this have been enough smoke?
I slightly turned my gaze to look at Adilun.
With her expression completely distorted, she headed in the opposite direction from me.
No matter who saw it, we looked no different from a couple who had fallen out with each other.
It was frustrating to sit still and sip drinks. The turmoil around was still there. It was laughable to see them smile and chat to see me and Adilun fighting.
They didn't even know that it was our plan to fish them all out.
I fiddled with the magic tool for recording in my arms.
Now it was about time to get a bait. Maybe other guys will stick to Adilun too.
Just thinking about it made me angry, but I tried to hold it in. Perhaps, in the eyes of others, I would look like I was trying to calm down my anger at Adilun.
And shortly after, someone approached me as we expected.
It was a woman with red hair. Unlike the color of her hair, and crimson eyes full of confidence, I could tell who she was, just by looking at her appearance.
Selina Idenea.
Indeed, she was exactly as Adilun had explained. I had heard that she had participated in the National Foundation Day, but I had never actually seen her.
"Are you alright, Sir Physis Ortaire?"
She looked at me with a worried expression.
"Oh, excuse me. Perhaps… …"
"I'm Selina of Idenea. I think you can just call me Selina."
"Yes. Princess Selina. Do you need something?"
"Oh, nothing special, I just wanted to have a little chat."
"I don't think the princess and I were that friendly."
"Don't be too hard on yourself. As we talk, we become friends little by little."
Even if her face looked pretty good and she was strong, I didn't really like the way she smiled and talked. But our efforts would be in vain if I didn't talk to her.
Still, I didn't bother to express it. Because I still had work to do.
"Well, do whatever you want. I used to have a headache because of an annoying woman, but it turned out better."
"Who is that annoying woman?"
"You already know everything, don't you?"
I looked at Selina dissatisfiedly and said.
"But why did you fight? After fighting so hard for Princess Rodenov during the Great duel."
"There are many things... We just don't fit. She is a woman who is very eager to get hold of me. So what if you take off your scales and get smooth skin? Do you try to control people?"
I put out a lot of words that I didn't even want to say. The fact that I had to say such a thing was unpleasant to me, and I wondered what if Adilun listened attentively.
In the end, the concentration of annoyance engraved on my face and had no choice but to become thicker.
"Aha… …"
"I can't cancel my engagement, so it's just frustrating. I knew from the beginning that our personalities didn't match. Since it was an engagement my father forced in the first place, I had no right to refuse."
"By the way, when Princess Rodenov was insulted by Aiden, during the land battle, during the joust… … It didn't feel like you were forced to?"
"That was all acting. I think that would ease the pressure on me a little. And in the great duel, they promised to guarantee my freedom if I fought well, they will not interfere with me. But now, they suddenly changed their words."
"Oh my gosh."
"Anyway, that's how it is."
"Lord Physis hates being oppressed."
"How many people in the world like to be oppressed? I want to live freely. I can't help it."
"Oops. Drink this first and let go of your anger. That handsome face... isn't it a waste to frown like that?"
"Am I good-looking?"
"You are the most handsome man I've ever seen."
"Well, thank you for your kind words."
"It's not just out of being poilte… …"
"Is that so? I ask for your understanding in advance if my tone is unpleasant. Because I'm a guy who is only used to fighting."
"Ahahahaha. it's okay. Anyway, I've seen a lot of strong men. Sir Physis is a nobleman."
"This is a place where I don't like anything, but… … But right now, it's not too bad."
I deliberately threw the bait at Selina.
"Me too. Why bother telling people to come?"
"Selina seems to be quite dissatisfied… … Let it go. I will listen."
The way of addressing her was also changed from princess to her name. As if that had worked, she gradually began to tell her story.
Of course.
They were just trivial stories that did not inspire me at all.