Chapter 18

The empire’s third star.

Princess Rosabel gazed at one spot in her spacious room with a satisfied expression.

A display case made of the finest reinforced glass, commissioned from a renowned craftsman.

She had requested various magical enchantments from a magic tower, so if anyone other than Rosabel tried to force it open, an alarm would sound.

Moreover, it was so sturdy that not even decent weapons could scratch it, making its security arguably the best in the empire.

It was worth spending more than half of this month’s dignity maintenance fee.

‘Only signed books can go in here.’

Four books were lined up regardless of version, including those she had directly received from Katarina.

Although she hadn’t won a Masked Ball volume 2 signed copy, she had paid a hefty sum to purchase one from a winner.

If something couldn’t be obtained with money originally, she had to check once more whether the amount was insufficient.

Now, shall I start appreciating them?

She had separately prepared books to actually read, not for storage.

She was sure it ended with encountering a different man instead of Edwin in the final scene…

She had sent out all the maids to appreciate it completely without interruption.

“Hmm.”

This time it unusually starts from a male perspective.

Lying in bed with the deluxe version open, Rosabel was quickly drawn into Karma’s characteristic short and intense writing style.

What’s supposed to be fun about this anyway?

Gerard had to attend the masked ball by force after losing a bet of all things.

Without the sword he always carried, no matter what.

Standing still near the entrance after taking about three steps, he clenched and unclenched his fists. He wished time would pass quickly.

‘Why is that woman coming this way?’

As time passed, more and more people came through the entrance.

Among them, when he noticed a woman who had made eye contact from afar approaching, he wondered.

Surely with magic changing my hair and eye color, she can’t recognize my identity.

“Would you like to dance with me?”

“…I’m sorry, but I don’t know any dances.”

No matter how unfamiliar Gerard was with such parties, he knew it was natural for men to ask women to be partners.

But what is this woman exactly?

“Well, then let’s not dance.”

Despite being rejected, her face responding matter-of-factly as if she had expected this was curious.

“She’s the one asking to dance first?”

Rosabel tilted her head and felt the same emotion as Gerard while watching Rose act outside common sense from the beginning again.

‘Already interesting.’

It was very Rose-like to suggest only dancing without adding any other flowery words.

The connection between the two people, who seemed like they would part ways, continued again as Gerard showed curiosity.

“Would you teach me once?”

Rose wouldn’t be in a position to teach anyone.

There was no way she, who had bought a title and never had a debutante ball, could have danced.

Sure enough, the book’s content flowed with Rose not knowing how to dance as Rosabel had worried, but an unexpected result emerged.

“What are you doing right now?”

“Dancing. It’s my first time too so I’m a bit clumsy… but trying it out, it seems pretty good.”

When did she readily agree to teach him?

From a sword master’s perspective, watching her try to lead Gerard, who was much larger than herself, with very awkward movements was absurd.

But why did the corners of his mouth keep trying to rise?

Due to his excellent sense, he felt many people’s gazes.

To others, they probably looked like a man and woman dancing clumsily, but the woman’s expression reflected in Gerard’s eyes was endlessly serious.

“Everyone’s looking at us.”

“Let them look.”

“…Ha.”

Again.

Gerard found himself caught up with this woman again, laughter escaping him.

Although he didn’t know about dancing, he had expertise in using his body. Before long, he began leading her with skillful technique.

“…You said it was your first time dancing.”

“It is my first time.”

He chuckled while watching the woman make a sulky expression despite her skills improving from before.

“Really?”

“Why would I lie?”

While the two exchanged idle conversation, the song ended. It had been quite an enjoyable time, so he directly suggested dancing to her once more, but received an unexpected rejection.

“Now that I’ve tried it once, I understand. It’s actually not much… and besides, I can’t dance.”

I don’t think I need to dance anymore.

She clearly spoke in a spirited voice, but to Gerard it felt like her mood had sunk.

‘This side is just starting to get interesting.’

When the woman gave off an atmosphere like she might disappear at any moment, he spoke to her as if addressing a close friend.

“Then, let’s do something other than dancing.”

Rosabel turned the pages as if entranced, listing the activities the two did together.

Secretly wandering around the imperial palace.

Then getting caught by guards and running away.

Choosing party food and giving it to each other.

They went around together doing all sorts of things possible at a ballroom without dancing.

Playing pranks and joking around constantly was countless, and unlike with Edwin, watching the two become much closer during that time, Rosabel began to feel anxious as the end approached.

“They still have a long way to go before marriage…”

The amount of remaining pages was woefully insufficient.

She resented Rose for leaving Gerard behind without regret as soon as the masked ball ended again.

“Go tell her, you fool!”

Anyone could see he had clearly fallen for Rose.

This stubbornly upright sword master couldn’t even recognize his own feelings.

‘Ugh, frustrating.’

Rose, who had safely returned to the mansion this time too, greeted the next day while thinking about the day’s events and Edwin before sleeping.

The end of the eve festival, the last day of the masked ball.

Rosabel was already hoping in her heart that Gerard would end up with her.

“It ends here?”

With Rose’s familiar entrance into the ballroom, no more pages existed.

Despite this being the third time, Karma’s cutting technique that she couldn’t adapt to each time she was hit by it.

Rosabel seriously considered using her princess privileges but stopped.

---

Meanwhile, Bern, the empire’s sword master and knight commander, had been feeling unusual gazes since last night.

“Bern, you can dance, can’t you?”

“…Ahem. Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

The reason seemed to be this, but suddenly dancing?

While he might be a sword master that knights outside respected without reservation, to someone he was just an ordinary husband.

“I’m confident with swinging. Dancing and such is a completely separate domain.”

Bern tried to make excuses while coughing awkwardly, but it was useless.

“It would be troublesome if a sword master in name can’t even do this. From today until the masked ball, you can practice with me, so come home as early as possible, understand?”

His wife Rubia’s gentle voice contained steel-like firmness.

When daily training was already insufficient, he was about to practice dancing out of nowhere.

Bern made a troubled expression and tried to escape somehow but failed, and headed to his workplace muttering words he couldn’t say in front of his beloved wife.

“A sword master just needs to handle a sword well. What’s so important about such things?”

Going to the imperial training grounds, he saw knights training their bodies with resounding battle cries echoing throughout.

With entrance exams coming soon and just before new recruits joined, this should be when knights were most relaxed, but—

“We greet the empire’s sword.”

For some unknown reason, discipline had been tight recently.

There should be at least one latecomer visible.

Instead, seeing them devoted to training full of passion, a satisfied Bern didn’t spare his advice.

‘It’s about time to go.’

Feeling his aide approach from the side, he roughly signaled with his eyes before moving his steps.

As he headed toward the inner part of the imperial palace, the number of visible people gradually decreased, and when he could breathe the quiet air—

“Are you ready to sweat today as well, Your Highness Leian?”

He saw the crown prince standing alone in the center of an empty training ground.

“Please take care of me.”

From a very young age, from the moment Leian first grasped a sword—

Bern had been in charge of his instructional sparring almost without missing a single day.

“Come.”

Without any need for explanation—

Leian kicked off the ground and instantly closed the distance, thrusting his sword.

Multiple air-rending sounds echoed throughout the training grounds.

After continuously probing each other and attacking in rapid exchanges, when they had traded countless moves, Leian first manifested his aura.

As if waiting for it, Bern responded with the same aura as well.

When the sound of clashing swords exploded outward, Bern, who had been observing the crown prince without loosening his guard even slightly, spoke.

“Let’s stop here.”

The vessel wasn’t complete yet, so pushing further would overload the body.

Because Leian always pushed to the limit when using aura, Bern always had to restrain him first.

“…Good work.”

Putting down his sword, he caught his breath while wiping away the flowing sweat.

Now that sparring was over, Bern should return to his original place, but—

“Does Your Highness also dance well by any chance?”

The question that had troubled him since morning suddenly came to mind, and he spoke.

“Refrain from unnecessary questions during instruction.”

Hearing Leian’s cold response, Bern clicked his tongue.