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Episode 76

Lifting my chin and casting a seductive gaze downward, I met the eyes of a young nobleman among the crowd. As I gave him a deep, alluring smile, his face flushed bright red.

"Eyes here."

Leonid's hand gently gripped my chin, turning my gaze away from the man. To anyone watching, it was a clear sign that the King disliked even her glancing at another man. Sure enough, another wave of murmuring rippled through the nobles.

I leaned my head slightly against Leonid's arm, flaunting our closeness.

"Your Majesty, didn't you promise me the first dance?"

As I pouted and whined, voices rose from behind.

"Oh my! What is she doing in front of everyone!"

"Just as I heard—as vulgar as a singer..."

"Really, how could he bring such a woman..."

The remarks were all negative, as expected—harsh enough to grind a person to dust. But even hearing them, I wasn't bothered.

Swish—

All it took was one sharp glance from Leonid toward those behind me.

"!!"

"Ahem!"

They turned pale and fell silent, shrinking back on their own.

"Your Majesty~"

"Ah."

"The dance."

At my words, Leonid nodded and signaled to the musicians waiting nearby. As the melody slowly began, he took my hand and waist and led me into motion.

Following his lead, I moved with composure. I had practiced dancing extensively ever since I started performing as Jamila at the palace, so I could manage without much difficulty. Leonid's good leading also helped, and I subtly glanced around as we danced.

The first thing that caught my eye was Cael. He stood with his arms crossed, looking displeased. Behind him, I could feel Oren watching us with an amused expression.

And—

As I turned the other way, I spotted our targets: Godwin and Grand Duchess Isabelle, standing stiff-faced.

I leaned closer to Leonid and whispered.

"They're watching us."

"I see."

I was considering how to provoke them further when Leonid pulled me closer and whispered back.

"I think it's better to focus on our dance for now, don't you?"

"...Huh?"

"Right now, we need to show our affection for each other, don't we?"

"What?!"

The music tempo suddenly quickened, and Leonid's steps sped up. Though I had learned to dance, I wasn't used to such a fast tempo, so I struggled to keep up with his pace. But once I adjusted, a deep smile spread across Leonid's face.

After dancing intensely for a while, I suddenly felt my body lift into the air—I recognized it as one of the finishing moves I'd learned in dance class.

Leonid held me by the waist, lifting me above his face, and looked up at me. Under the countless lights, his cobalt-blue eyes reflected a deep ocean glow, shimmering like the surface of the sea.

Captivated, I couldn't look away. When he gently set me down, applause erupted around me, snapping me back to reality.

I quickly composed my bewildered expression.

"This way."

Leonid and I moved to a side area. The music resumed, and the nobles who had been watching began to look at each other. With the King's dance over, it was now the nobles' turn. They approached their partners and gathered in the center of the hall to dance.

"Here."

"Thank you."

I took the glass Leonid offered and took a sip. Just as I was about to share my thoughts on the dance with him, his gaze shifted to something behind me. I fell silent.

His warm expression had changed into that of a King.

"Speak of the devil. Here they come."

"!"

At his low murmur, I immediately knew who was approaching from behind. Turning, I saw Grand Duke Godwin and Grand Duchess Isabelle, both with honey-blonde hair like Leonid's—though their eyes were green, not cobalt.

They bowed to Leonid.

I kept my mouth shut and bowed my head, recalling Esther's advice:

Lady Jamila, the nobles will likely ignore you at the banquet. Even with His Majesty beside you, you must greet them. But you must not speak first, nor should you fail to greet them at all. Simply perform a curtsy without a word. His Majesty will handle the rest.

Just as Esther had said—they treated me as if I were invisible. They only spoke to Leonid, ignoring my presence entirely.

I smiled faintly beneath my bowed head, knowing they couldn't see my expression.

Even after several minutes, their behavior didn't change. I was about to think Leonid would step in, when he finally moved.

As if expecting this, Leonid ignored their greetings as well, taking my hands and helping me rise.

"Rise, Jamila."

"Leo..."

At my affectionate address, their expressions shifted in surprise.

As I stood with his support, I met Isabelle's glare from behind her fan. She looked quite displeased by Leonid's actions—ignoring her while tending to me. I met her fierce gaze and smiled sweetly.

At my smile, Godwin's eyes sparkled as if seeing something intriguing, while Isabelle frowned.

"Still as insufferable as ever."

Leonid's cold remark was directed at them, but he checked on me. I smiled to show I was fine. He nodded, then warned the crowd that had been silently watching.

"From now on, anyone who treats my Jamila this way will not be forgiven."

"Even if you are fond of her, bringing a woman so unsuited to such an occasion seems like a mistake, Your Majesty."

Godwin tried to gloss over the situation with a smile, but Leonid's response was sharp.

"Coming from you, who used to bring women equally unsuited to these places to introduce them to the late king—that's rich. I still remember vividly the words you said to me barely four years ago, about someone who might become my new stepmother, Grand Duke."

"...Ha. Did I say that?"

For the first time, the Grand Duke looked flustered by Leonid's sharp retort. Though his brazen expression had slipped, Leonid pulled me closer and introduced me proudly.

"This is Jamila, who will become my official fiancée. Ah, if you're concerned about her background, I'll have her adopted into a suitable family and make her a noble lady."

"..."

"This method shouldn't be too difficult, thanks to your precedent."

"I see..."

Godwin nodded at Leonid's words. His momentary fluster had vanished, replaced by the gentlemanly smile he wore at the earlier banquet.

"I'm not saying anything against it. If that's what you wish, so be it. It's simply a shame for the royal bloodline of Harcanslond."

"Ha, bloodline..."

"A noble king's blood is precious. Therefore, Your Majesty, I believe some compromise is necessary to preserve that noble lineage."

"Compromise?"

Instead of Godwin, Isabelle stepped forward, folding her fan.

"Your Majesty."

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