“You looked adorable to me than any other young lady.”

Felix said it firmly, causing the surroundings to fall silent.

(Are you drunk again, by any chance?)

Aurora’s eyes widened. Today, he was clutching a glass in one hand the whole time because he couldn’t keep the conversation going. After all, he has a record of getting drunk and choosing a fiancée by throwing away a ring.

(……I’m certain, he couldn’t keep up the conversation at that party either, and got drunk while drinking to keep up, for sure)

“I’m not drunk yet.”
“Please don’t read my mind.”

Felix, with a wry smile on the edge of his mouth, placed his white gloved fingers on Aurora’s cheek. Aurora, unable to fully comprehend the situation, opens and closes her mouth, but all she does is breathe.
He looks profoundly into her forest-green eyes that his words choke.

“Your smile is so adorable, and your profile looks beautiful when you are embroidering without a care in the world. Your magic is soft and pleasant. And your patience with a clumsy man like me is wonderful. Compared to those, your appearance when you dress up is a trivial matter.”

(I-Is it necessary to make such a desperate lovey-dovey appeal?!)

Aurora, with her dumb mouth still open, was met with a passionate gaze. She was so confused that she involuntarily let her gaze wander as if looking for help.
However, the Marquise Kirsten, who is close by, has shining eyes peaking behind her fan, while the Marquis behind her is looking at her with dismay. The young ladies watching from a little distance had bitter looks on their faces, or else they were looking away with flushed cheeks, while the noblemen were smiling wryly. The men in military uniforms, who seemed to know Felix daily, had faces that read ‘Shock!’ on their foreheads, and their eyes were wide open so wide that their veins were about to pop out.
No one seems to be able to help.

“Oh, um, thank you?　Well, it’s about time you let me go!”
“Why?”

Hearing the question in a truly mysterious tone, Aurora was flabbergasted and distraught. Then, as if to say that she can’t escape, the arm around her waist tightened.

“Wh-Wh-Why?! Or rather, what happened all of a sudden, Lord Felix?!”
“No, it’s not suddenly. But it’s nice to hear you call my name.” (Tl:- yup, he is drunk)

(Wha-what should I do? He’s drunk after all?)

“It’s pretty impressive to woo your fiancée right in the middle of the party.”
“…Loomis?”

Somebody help me!

As she recited the monotonous lines in her mind, a low voice reached her from behind, and Aurora instinctively turned around to see a face that looked as if he had swallowed a bitter pill, ruining he beauty of his looks.

“I never thought the day would come when I’d see you indulging in love.”

Yule el le Loomis, the heir of the Loomis family, the host of the evening party, walked up to them, making a high-pitched clacking sound with his polished black leather shoes on the polished floor. He was the one who invited Aurora and Felix to the party.
He was dressed in a white ceremonial uniform with gold embroidery, gold buttons, and a red cape. He was wearing the so-called ‘white uniform’ of the imperial guards, which is the colour counterpart to Felix’s ceremonial uniform and is only permitted for members of the 1st Platoon, 1st unit of imperial guards. It is one of the few attire that are permitted even in places where wearing white is taboo.
Blue eyes filled with hostility, disguised as a sweet smile, pierced Felix, who grimaced clearly and slowly released Aurora.

(Tha-Thank goodness! ……Never in my wildest dreams did I think this man’s words and actions would save me!)
“What do you want?”
“What else do you think? I took the trouble to invite you, but you haven’t come to meet me since you greeted my father, so I decided to come to see you.”

‘Oh dear, ‘ Yule shrugged. With Felix glaring sharply at him, he looks over Aurora, who was standing next to him, from head to toe, as if licking her. Felix hid Aurora, who frowned, behind his back.

“Huh?”
“What?”
“They say even a coachman looks good in a nice outfit, right? You are much prettier than when I saw you the other day in town, Miss Aurora.”
“Don’t call her familiarly.”
(Wow, the sting of the thorny gaze!)

Felix’s icy gaze pierced Yule. At the same time, Aurora was subjected to the arrow-like stares. They were the jealous arrows of the daughters of the new royal faction. They may be jealous of me being sandwiched between two beautiful knights. However, she was being subjected to much stronger gazes than when she was alone with Felix.
To them, no matter how beautiful Felix was, he was merely a figure of beauty, from a different faction, while Yule was probably more attractive as a real partner. However, Felix was someone who would one day inherit the title of marquis. For most girls, he was a dream come true, let alone being spoken to by him. It must have been unforgivable to them that a girl from another faction, who wasn’t particularly pretty, would be approached by him.

While Aurora was horrified, the men were exchanging glances, which was not unusual for them. Felix was quicker to avert his gaze from the fruitless staring contest that continued for a while.

“……Should I say thank you for inviting me today?”
“Hmm, should I say you’re welcome?”
“No need to… Stop glaring.”
“It is the host’s responsibility to keep a close eye on the guests.”
“Shut up, it’s draining. Don’t look.” (Tl: – didn’t understand what he was saying. In the raw, it literally said ‘decreasing’)
“Pretty much.”

Yule didn’t take his eyes off Aurora. When he glared back, she was pushed into Felix’s shadow by a large hand. With a shocked look in his eyes, Yule shrugged again.

“Well, enough, it’s time for the dance. Move to the dance floor.”
“Needn’t be told.”
“–Miss Porta”
“Okay”

When her name is called, she moves a bit and peeks out from her hiding place. A sweet, gentlemanly smile graced Yule’s handsome features, to which he quickly extended his hand to Aurora.

“Would you like to dance the first dance with me?”
“……Huh?”

Aurora’s green eyes blinked.
The first song is with your partner. That is the basic rule of evening parties in the Kingdom of Welbum. However, it is also a rule of evening parties not to refuse a dance requested by the host.

“With me?”
“Yes. Miss Aurora el la Porta, with you.”
(…What a mean guy with ulterior motive!)

Aurora thought quickly.
Yule is the host, the eldest son of the Marquis Loomis. Their rank is higher than that of Aurora’s family, the Earldom of Porta. As the host with a higher rank, it would be proper etiquette in the social circles of the Kingdom of Welbum for her to take Loomis’s hand. However, Aurora is a young lady who has just been engaged, and her fiancé is a member of the Clavis house, a marquis house of the same rank as the Loomis house. As long as he attends the soiree as her partner, Aurora’s position is that of a member of the Clavis house.
Therefore, no matter which option Aurora chooses, she will not deviate from the unspoken rules of high society.
But rules are rules after all. What people think when they see them is another matter.
If she takes Yule’s hand here, she will be judged to be well-versed in the rules of high society. However, the people around her, especially the older generation, would surely frown at the thought of her taking another man’s hand when she had just gotten engaged. Also, the flames of jealousy from the young girls would threaten to consume Aurora. Moreover, Felix will be waiting for Aurora, looking absent-mindedly.
So what if she were to take Felix’s hand? Yule would laugh at her, calling her a lady with no etiquette. While the young ladies would say, “How dare you turn down Lord Yule’s invitation!”, and then engulf her in the flames of rage. Yule might retaliate by claiming that she had ruined the face of the organiser.
Either way, Aurora doesn’t have a good reputation to say about.
(…… but, well, it’s the only option.)

After a few moments of imagining, Aurora smiled. Biting back laughter as the two men tilted their heads quizzically, Aurora squeezed Felix’s arm.

“I’m sorry, Loomis-sama. Today is the first evening party since Felix-sama and I got engaged. So I really want to dance the first dance with him. Could you please invite me to the second dance?”
“…Hmm?”

Yule’s eyes narrowed as if to say he had seen something interesting.

“I am a country girl with no interest in games. Please understand the yearnings of a country girl.”

If she had been a better actress, she might have been able to smile with a sweet, girlish face here, but Aurora couldn’t manage that. Instead, she smiled a little more manly.
If either of the options would leave a bad impression, then the only choice for Aurora to take was of Felix’s choice. If she took another man’s hand, it was obvious that Felix would not even think of asking another woman to the dance, even if they approached him, saying Aurora was not there for him, and he would be standing by the wall for the entire duration of the dance. Aurora could waste as much time as she wanted looking at the embroidery, but if he was left alone, he would probably feel depressed and unable to converse with the people around him. After spending some time as his fiancée, she had developed a certain amount of affection for him.
Besides, Yule, whom she had encountered on the street, seemed to have the air of a ‘playboy’. If he had that kind of pride, he wouldn’t do something so unrefined as making a move on a “girl in love,” so she made a small bet.

“I don’t intend to give you away on the second song or any other.”
“Woah”
“Well, well”

Felix once again pulled Aurora’s waist closer, perhaps because it fit well or was a good position. Seeing this, Yule clears his throat. The corners of his mouth turned up in amusement, but his blue eyes were not smiling.

“Well, I’m just kidding. I don’t think I’d be the kind of rude guy who would tear apart lovers. — Enjoy the dance.”

Yule shrugged his shoulders again with an almost audible “Oh dear” look on his face and walked away in a futilely elegant gesture. Aurora resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at his back.
Perhaps as a signal, when Yule returned to his seat, a fast-paced waltz began to flow through the hall.
Relieved that the storm has passed for now, Aurora takes a deep breath, and a hand is quickly held out in front of her. It is a large hand wrapped in a white glove. Looking up, she sees a pair of blue eyes with a hint of purple looking down at her.
Aurora blushed when she realised that she was still being held, come to think of it. It was a little embarrassing to feel those firm arms on her stomach, even through the thick corset and dress.

“That?”
“Will you be my partner for a song?”
“Ah… yes, with pleasure.”
ti
Remembering her dance practice in Marquis Clavis’s study, Aurora cleared her throat and placed her silk-gloved fingers on the outstretched hand, but was suddenly grabbed tightly and looked up in surprise.
(………………That face is unfair!)

Aurora’s back stiffens like a kitten startled by a loud noise. Oh, who in the world would have termed him a Noble of Ice?　I didn’t know he had such a soft face!
Aurora, who had closed her mouth to hide her red cheeks, was stared at by his sweet blue-violet eyes, which had turned a sharp shade of crimson and loosened slowly.

＊

“I-I’m exhausted……”

Indigo leaves rustled in the pale moonlight. Aurora staggered over to the terrace, where the sun was setting and the breeze was beginning to cool her pleasantly, and leaned against the stone railing. Beyond the few steps at her feet was a neatly landscaped garden of lush green grass, with white summer flowers swaying in the breeze. Perhaps they planted the white ones so that they would be visible even after the sun went down. Even outside the venue, one can’t help but let out a breath of admiration at the immaculate maintenance.
Aurora rested her weight on the railing, remembering that the Loomis house was a distinguished house comparable to the Clavis house.

“Sorry, I got carried away.”
“I’m glad you had a great time…….”

Although he was apologising sincerely, his beautiful silver-haired profile was illuminated by the light overflowing from the venue, which looked satisfied. Aurora exhales a long, thin breath that seems to replace all the air in her lungs while she slumps down. Even though she was wearing soft leather and low-heeled dancing shoes, her feet were shaking like a newborn foal from repeated dancing, her heels were a little sore, and are complaining with muffled heat.
Yes, this man danced from one end of the floor to the other, not just for the second song, but for the third, fourth, and even the fifth song, as if he were mesmerising the audience.
The young man’s hand on her waist lifts and turns her again and again, each time expanding her black-embroidered dress on a white background. Reflecting the overflowing lights like stardust, shining like a first-class star of the north, is the blue stone of her hair ornament that swings next to her temple. His dark blue military uniform and silver hair fluttered in pursuit of her. The light steps and smiles exchanged in perfect sync with each other, and the joyful appearance of the couple attracted the eyes of many young ladies in the hall, inducing sighs of envy, but the dancers were not so interested in that.
Aurora’s physical strength is better than that of an average young lady, but not as good as that of a working commoner. She can stay up all night to embroider, but her dancing is limited to three songs. No matter how much fun she has, she cannot keep up with the physical strength of a knight with her mental strength alone. So, although she tried her best to keep up with the happy Felix, Aurora’s smile began to twitch as the third song began, and by the time the fifth song was over, she was about to fall over.

“…I’m sorry. I left everything to you, from greetings to everything else.”
“Don’t worry about it. ……”
“But this is the first time I’ve had so much fun at a party.”
“Well, that’s good to hear!”
(That’s why making that face is unfair…! It’s outright poison to eyes…!)

The destructive power of people who are usually expressionless is when they soften their expressions. It was easy to understand why the military-clad guests looked so shaken up. He wasn’t completely smiling, but he was satisfied, and his mouth and eyes, which expressed how happy he was, were so dazzling that it was impossible to even look at him, as if the ice spirit had pumped warm blood through them. Aurora could only look away and reply monotonely.
(…… I was used to seeing beautiful people because of my brother and father. But, Lord Felix is truly frightening……)

Even though she was looking away, her cheeks grew hot as she felt the gaze fixed on her face.

“Are your legs okay?”
“Hyah!”

Aurora let out a scream as she was suddenly lifted by her waist. Felix didn’t care and just picked her up and sat her down on the railing.

“Um, wait a second, Felix-sama?!”
“Let me see your feet for a minute……. Oh, as expected, it is Inflaming.”
“N-No, you can’t! What if someone sees you?”

Aurora’s face turned bright red as her shoes were easily removed and her heels were touched through her silk socks. It is said that the daughters of noble families should only expose their feet in front of their husbands. No matter how engaged she is, this is impolite.

“You must not!　Oh, um, if you don’t know, it is going to be a big trouble!　A woman is only allowed to show her legs to her husband!”
“…I, is that so? I’m sorry about that.”

As Felix hastily adjusted the hem of her dress, Aurora shook her head helplessly.

“I’ll forgive you today… but I don’t think I can dance any more.”
“……I’m sorry I pushed you too hard. I had a feeling you could dance forever because you are as light as that embroidered little bird.”

Aurora looked up at him with a wry smile on her face, as if he were a kitten with drooping ears. The night breeze, which was supposed to be cool, did nothing to cool her cheeks.

“I’m not that light, though.”
“You were like a feather, though”
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not one to joke around.”
(That’s right……)

However, that is because he is a knight who works out. Compared to the dainty-looking young ladies, she was quite heavy. Aurora cleared her throat and calmed herself down, then looked up.

“When shall we go home?”
“Well, I suppose it’s time to pull out now, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

‘You’re still in your teens and my fiancée, ‘ Felix continued, and Aurora nodded.

“I think we have achieved what Luna Mare-sama said about ‘lovey-dovey appeal’, well, to a certain extent. It might be about time. With that much dancing, I think it left an impression.
“I don’t usually talk much and I don’t dance, so I’m sure I left an impression on the knights.”

After nodding in agreement with Aurora’s words, Felix lowered her down from the railing. Tapping her lightly bruised heel to get used to it, Aurora stretched lightly.

“Do you want to leave now? Or would you like to say goodbye one last time before leaving?”
“Well, I guess it’s ok to say goodbye.”

Author’s Note:-

The first line is a repeat on purpose so it’s okay.