The Abandoned Empress

As I didn’t wear such a dress normally, I felt strange about it.

Lina carefully let down my hair, grabbed half of it and turned it up with a silver hairpin made of large ruby. Then she grabbed the other curly half and combed it. Then, after my hair was shiny, she stopped combing with a satisfied expression.

I thanked her, then headed downstairs where Carsein was waiting.

“Hi, Sein.”

“Oh, hi.”

Carsein, dressed up in the 1st Knights uniform, stood up and approached me. The 1st Knights uniform, with its red badge on the black background and two red shoulder straps symbolizing that he was a full-fledged knight, matched very well with his hair.

When I saw the spear-shaped badge on his chest, I suddenly recalled what happened at the regular training. As I was smiling, lost in memories, Carsein looked at me up and down and suddenly circled around me.

What the heck is he doing? Is there anything wrong? I thought it was okay when I just looked in the mirror.

“What’s wrong, Sein?”

“Hmm, I can’t find fault with what our ancestors said.”

“Huh? What are you talking about suddenly? ”

“As they say, fine clothes make the man. You really look beautiful today. I was trying to look for something flawed, but failed.”

“What the heck…” I broke into laughter. I knew he was good at cracking a joke, but he had a way with praising, too.

Looking at me giggling, he said with a nod, “Good. That’s what I want.”

“Huh?”

“I mean your expression. Try to keep it like that, okay?”

“Ah…”

Was he worried about my expression because I might feel uncomfortable due to the pressure by the pro-emperor faction?

I looked at him with a pleasant surprise. I was very grateful for his consideration today.

‘Okay. Let me forget all the complicated thoughts. Like he said, let me enjoy the ball. I still have one year to go. ‘ I smiled brightly at Carsein.

“Okay, I will. Thanks for your concern, Sein. ”

“Good. Then shall we go, lady? ”

Carsein politely bowed, reaching out to me. After gently putting my hand on his big hand, I headed for the palace with him.

“Duke Lars’s second son Sir Lars and the Moon of the future, Lady Aristia Pioneer La Monique are entering the hall.”

I was always introduced at the imperial ball with the modifier ‘Moon of the future’ in front of my name.

I stiffened at such an introduction because I felt like it was the standard modifier showing others that I was the crown prince’s fiancee. I didn’t think much about it in the past because I always appeared with him at such events. So, I felt already pressured when the protocol officer didn’t omit the modifier.

‘Is it because the emperor or the pro-emperor faction intervened that the protocol officer used the standard modifier before my name, even though I am not the crown prince’s partner?’

I reluctantly turned up my mouth, conscious of others at the banquet. I stepped into the banquet hall with a ceremonial smile that I was quite used to by now.

“Oh Master, Aristia, welcome!”

“Hi, Frincia, hi Sir Lars!”

Sir Lars, dressed up in the 2nd Knights uniform, and his wife Frincia, approached us, with their arms intertwined.

Frincia with light purple eyes smiled brightly and said, “Aristia, your dress is very pretty. It really looks good on you.”

“Thank you, Frincia.”

“You must be ready for some stress today. I don’t know if I can be of any help, but I will do my best to help you. Please let me know whenever you need my help. ”

“Thank you, Frincia. Thanks for saying that.”

I smiled slightly at her warm encouragement.

At that moment, the protocol officer announced the arrival of today’s protagonists.

“The Little Sun of the empire, Crown Prince Rublis Kamaludin Shana Castina and Lady Jiun Graspe de Jena are entering the hall!”

Everyone bowed towards the entrance all at once. I also put one hand on my chest and leaned forward, holding the hem of my dress slightly with the other.

I heard his robe rustling over the floor and shortly afterwards he told us to raise our bodies.

When I straightened up, I noticed him dressed in a formal dress marked by blue on a white background, and Jiun wearing a black dress studded with silver cubics and ornaments made of blue pearl. It looked like they had their dresses custom-made as a couple.

When I saw the noble faction and the pro-emperor faction whispering about the couple, my head already seemed to throb. Pressing on my temple, I was about to turn my head when I met the crown prince’s eyes, who was looking at me. His eyes were sparkling sharply.

“Are you okay, Tia?”

Did I flinch unconsciously? Carsein grabbed my hand tightly. When I barely took my eyes off from him and looked at Carsein, he patted my back lightly with a smile.

“…Thanks, Sein. ”

“Do you remember what you promised?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then smile, little girl. If you keep smiling like this, let me treat you to something delicious today.”,

“…Well, I know you will let me have what you want, right?”

“That’s because you always prefer vegetables. I told you not to pick at food, right? I think I have to watch you every day. ”

I broke into a smile at his threatening attitude. Looking at me giggling, he also smiled at me.

“So, shall we go now, young lady?”

“Huh? Where? ”

“You’re so beautiful. Even if we can’t dance to the first tune, don’t you think we should be the main dancers on the next song?”

“The next tune must be courant, right? I think that’s too…”

I flinched momentarily.

I almost fell down when I failed to dance through the steps at the crown prince’s birthday banquet in the past. The beat of the tune often changed with irregular rhythm, so it caused one to miss the steps if one didn’t concentrate. As someone with some experience in social dances, I found the tune rather difficult to dance to it well.

Besides, the tune required the dancing couple to be in sync with each other well, so it was mainly favored by those who got married or engaged. Accordingly, I found it rather hard to say yes easily. No matter how much I didn’t want it, I was officially the crown prince’s fiancee.

“Why? Are you not confident? Don’t worry. Believe me. I will make sure you won’t make an exhibition of yourself.”

“Well… Can we just dance to the next tune?”

“Oh, no. I don’t like slow-tempo songs. As you know, I don’t like dancing, so if the tune is slow, I really can’t have any fun.”

I sighed, watching him shaking his head from side to side. But he didn’t care.

“Hey, let’s do it. As you lost the first tune to her, you should be the heroine of the second tune. Are you going to lose to her?”

“… ”

“Okay, I understand you. Come with me for the next song. Got it?”

Smiling brightly at me, Carsein pulled me hard when I was hesitant. I helplessly walked after him as he pulled me with a soft but strong grip on my hand.

When I walked to the dance floor, I saw the crown prince with blue hair nodding with an expressionless look and Jiun saying something with a bright smile as if they were done dancing just a moment ago. I met his navy blue gaze, but gently bowed to him because the next tune was about to play.

“… Hope I’m in great hands, Sein.” Only

“Don’t worry. Just trust and follow me, little girl.”

Carcein, who bowed politely before the start, got ready for dancing with a smile. Shortly afterwards, a cheerful tune began to play.

I moved my body as led by Carsein, dancing to the tune while taking care not to miss the steps. Was it because he led me skillfully? Even though I have danced with him only a few times, I felt much more comfortable than when I danced with the crown prince.

Sein, who pulled me tight with his hand around her waist, said, “I thought you only practiced fencing every day. When did you practice dancing?”

“Uh, are you jealous now? Are you worried I danced with another man? ”

Was it because he was too close to me? I felt his hot body temperature as I danced in a thin muslin dress. At that moment , I missed the steps as I stiffened, but he quickly led me to the next action and chuckled at me.

“I’m troubled.”

“Huh? What?”