Chapter 108
Perez, dressed in a neat black suit and a huge diamond brooch I gave him before, glowed even more today.
He’s a genius who was capable using of Aura when he was 12 years old. And he’s so handsome.
Perez’s share price seems to rise vertically among the nobles.
"Perez, you look great today..."
"Pretty."
"...Huh?"
"Pretty."
Perez said with a slight smile under his long eyelashes.
"Oh, yeah. You’re pretty today, too."
I answered half-heartedly.
"Thank you."
But Perez is very grateful.
I asked because I was a little curious.
"Are you not angry?"
"Angry? To you?”
Perez opened his eyes slightly wide as if he had heard something strange.
"No... Men don’t like it that much when they called ’pretty’?"
Especially the kids.
But Perez rather smiled furtively and replied.
"Tia likes pretty things."
"Yes..."
It was when I was mulling over Perez’s words.
"Your Highness The Second Prince, Lady Lombardy."
Mrs. Impigra approached us.
"It’s time for you to enter."1
"Fin-, finally..."
My heart, which had subsided a little while talking to Perez, began to fluctuate again.
"Whoa..."
I take a long deep breath even though I know it won’t help.
"Let’s go in."
Mrs. Impigra came out and said, gently pushing Perez on the shoulder.
At the same time, the door, which had been closed in front of me, began to slowly open.
The voice of the servant introducing me leaked from inside the banquet hall.
"Lady Florentia Lombardy! As the only daughter of Lord Gallahan Lombardy..."
It’s the first debutante of all my life.
* * *
After safely introducing himself and greeting each other, Perez and everyone stood hand in hand in front of their partner to perform their first dance.
I can feel people’s eyes all over my body.
I whispered lowly to Perez, trying to force myself to relax.
"There are more people than I thought."
"I know."
"Perez, aren’t you nervous?"
Perez glanced down at my hand and replied.
"I’m nervous."
"...a liar."
You’re not nervous at all.
"But I’m glad."
"What?"
"You’re so handsome, people will see you more."
"...is that so?"
Perez stared down at me for a moment and continued.
"I’m glad to hear that."
And that’s when the music started.
Now, along with the familiar music, we slowly began to step on the steps.
One, two, three. One, two, three.
The first time was smooth.
I practiced so much that I had no fear of mistakes.
However, as we moved on to the second half, the song changed when the tempo became a little faster.
My tense legs were shaking as I missed a beat.
I’m doomed!
That was the only thought in a moment.
Until Perez’s arm, which held my waist tightly, supported my body.
"Uh..."
I looked up at Perez in surprise.
"It’s okay."
Perez smiled faintly and said a word in a low voice.
Perez was leading me all by himself, even as I was embarrassed and lost.
Looking into my eyes, I didn’t lose my composure.
This was the only thought in my head as I came to my senses again and finished the second half safely.
When did he grow up so much?
The one who was squatting in the woods and eating the herb leaves, when did you?
While thinking so, the rest of the couples joined and finished the group dance once again.
And when the music ended with Cavaliers stepping back and bowing politely.
Perez kissed me briefly on the back of my hand as people applauded.1
Surprised, and flinched for a moment, but I didn’t pull out my hand.
Perez smiled when he looked up to see if I felt it.
It was a deep, lingering smile.
A beautiful face that anyone else would have looked at in a white way, sounded a strange alarm to me. [1]
Something feels odd.
It looked like nothing special as usual, but something was different.
"Come here for a second."
Once we were out of the dance floor, I grabbed Perez’s hand and led him to the table where the drinks were.
Fortunately, there aren’t many people around.
"What’s wrong with you?"
I asked in a small voice.
"What?"
Perez asked again with a casual face.
I think he’s trying to pretend.
"It doesn’t work for me. Tell me quickly. What’s going on?"
Ever since Perez appeared as debutante Cavalier, it felt strangely strange and strangely annoying.
There’s definitely something.
"How can you...You know me that well?"
Perez said with a slightly frowned eyebrow.
"What, new. We’re friends. Isn’t that obvious?"
"Is that so..."
Perez smiled slightly for some reason as if he had lost his energy.
"Yeah, so tell me. What are you thinking about?"
"Well, just."
Perez replied, pointing behind my back.
"We had a hard time practicing together. I don’t think I’ll have any more chances to dance with you."
Looking back, my father was approaching me with a big smile.
I don’t think so.6
Perez sidestepped my gaze as I blinked.
"Tia!"
In the meantime, my father approached me and hugged me tightly.
"Congratulations on your successful social debut, my daughter!"
I know, Father. I can’t believe I finished my debutante.
It felt real to hear it through my father’s mouth.
Twelve years old.
In my previous life, I was old enough to go through the darkest dark ages of my life.
"Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you very much."
"I was honored to be Tia’s Cavalier."
Perez also bowed his head as my father greeted him politely.
My father nodded and smiled gloatingly at Perez and said.
"Of course, Tia. Why don’t you dance with me for the first time after the debut?"
My father slightly bent over and said, reaching out one hand to me.
It’s a common courtesy when you ask for a dance, but it’s different because your father does it.
Should I say that you look much more natural and courteous?
The ladies around him even looked back at my father.
As expected, my father.
"Yes, Dad!"
I said, putting one hand over my father’s.
"See you in a little while, Perez!"
We’re not done talking!
Wave to Perez and get back on the dance floor with my father.
Unlike the debut group dance, which had to strictly keep the beat, light music was playing a little bit more than before.
Maybe that’s why other people were dancing in a much freer atmosphere.
"It’s an honor to share Lady’s first dance, Lady Lombardy."
My father really spoke to me in the way he used to ask me to dance in society.
I also answered to the rhythm of it.
"Of course, Lord Lombardy."
And as soon as we joined hands, new music began as if it had waited.
But I couldn’t fully enjoy it.
It was because people who noticed me and my father were looking at us.
I was looking at my father while dancing, but I was filled with strangers as a background that passed by busily.
When the first dance ended and the second dance began, my father called me as if he had noticed my condition.
"Tia?"
And my father looked around and nodded as if he knew it.
"Well, then..."
At the moment, a slightly mischievous expression passed over my father’s face.
"Gasp! Dad!"
My father held my hand up and pushed me lightly on the shoulder to spin in place.
"Haha!"
My father laughed like a child at me when I was surprised.
So in the end, I can’t help but burst into laughter.
"Haha! What are you doing, Dad!"
When I got back to the usual steps, my father held my hand tenderly and said.
"Now you’re smiling a little, my daughter."
Oh, was I not laughing?
I was dazed for a moment.
My father spoke to me as if he was comforting me.
"You must have been nervous. Are you feeling better now?"
"Oh, so earlier."
There was a reason for his playful behavior, unlike my usual father.
Obviously, after a big laugh, I felt much lighter.
"Yes, I’m fine now, Dad."
"You don’t have to be too nervous, Tia. And one thing to keep in mind."
My father said, gently dragging me to the edge of the dance floor.
"You don’t have to stay in society. You can quit anytime you want. Like you’re leaving the dance floor, okay?"
Society is as hard and a cruel place as it is important to nobles.
In fact, many women get too immersed in social activities and get hurt in severe cases.
That’s what my father wants to tell me.
That social circles aren’t everything in the world.
"Well, maybe socializing is a harder place for women. Tia is having a hard time..."
Suddenly, my father stops talking.
Something was unusual, so I got a little closer and checked my father’s face.
"Oh, Dad, are you crying...?"
"...no, I don’t cry. I just wonder when our Tia grew up so much..."
You’re not crying! You’re crying!
My father blinks desperately, but the tears rising are much faster.
Before I knew it, people around me were smiling and looking at my father.
How the hell am I supposed to appease my crying dad?
I once reached high and said, patting my father on the shoulder.
"Oh, Dad, don’t cry...What’s wrong with you, my dad?"
"Yeah, good day, but dad’s such a fool."
Fortunately, my father seemed to pull himself together soon.
The father, who quickly wiped tears with his sleeve, smiled with his eyes still wet and red.
"I can’t believe I’m crying over your debutante. When our Tia gets married later..."1
"Hmm!"
Oh, damn it.
This time it exploded properly.
My father shut his mouth and shook his shoulder, turning his head to the side.1
Is this what makes him cry!
But then my grandfather approached me and asked.
"What’s wrong with you, Gallahan?"
My father couldn’t answer properly and be sniffing and printing tears with his sleeves.
I sighed softly and answered instead.
"My dad asked me when did I grow up like this and he was like this during the debut party, and what about when I get married... Ha, grandpa?"
I’m doomed.
Grandfather eventually catches his forehead.2
Oh, now I don’t know.
I was standing looking at my grandfather and father half-worn out, and from the back, Shannanet approached me with the twins.
I looked up at Shannanet, not even having the energy to explain.+
Shannanet looked at me and shook her head as if she knew even if I didn’t tell her.
"There are a lot of eyes to see, so don’t do this here and go that way."
"...Hmm."
Grandfather and father sniffed and quietly followed behind Shannanet.12
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Glossary
[1] ’White way’ - A brilliantly lighted street or avenue especially in a city’s business or theater district.
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