Chapter 96.1

Raynard walked to the podium and got down on one knee in front of the Emperor. The Уmperor slowly rose from his seat, picked up the ornate sword that the servant had given him, and placed it on Ray’s shoulder.

“Will you swear allegiance to the Empire and the Imperial Family?”

The Emperor’s voice was so weighty and powerful that even hearing it not for the first time, Raynard’s heart began to pound faster.

“I swear.”

“I, Johann Alessandro Genosian, honor you with the title of knight in recognition of your abilities and the merits you have rendered to the Empire and the Imperial Family.”

And then the Emperor held out the ornamental sword to Reynard. When Raynard politely accepted the sword with both hands, the entire hall erupted in applause.

He stood up from his seat, looked around at the people, smiled meekly, gave his sword to the servant, and walked over to Yurina. Now the real banquet began.

“Lady Carthia.”

Reynard, who had come close to Yurina’s nose, lightly bowed.

“Will you give me the honor of dancing with the young lady today?”

Raynard held out his hand to her and spoke softly. And quickly added before Yurina could reply.

“Today, I’ll really try not to step on your feet.”

Yurina took his hand and resolutely looked at his face.

“I’ll believe you.”

Raynard led Yurina by the hand and directed her towards the center of the hall. The people around them parted and stared at the two of them. Yurina ignored the stares of others and struck a pose.

Starting with the melody of the violin, music in the palace magically sounded, incomparable to the piano of Reynard. Perhaps due to more practice, Raynard began to guide Yurina more gently than he had a few days ago.

Every time Yurina moved, the hem of her skirt wrapped around Reynard’s legs and their gazes continued to meet. Obviously, there were a lot of people in the palace, but Yurina had the illusion that she was alone with him.

As the two moved naturally, as if a stream was flowing, the song ended in the blink of an eye.

“Look, you never stepped on me?”

It was hard to believe that her dance partner was the same Reynard.

“Yes, that’s right.”

She was about to take a step back and disperse.

“Yurina.”

But Reynard suddenly pulled her close to him.

“Let’s dance one more song.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

Yurina asked, puzzled. A few days ago, Raynard practiced a dance that was close to a mock sword fight, and later announced that he would only dance one song.

‘It doesn’t matter to me, but…’

Yurina wondered why he had suddenly changed his mind.

“If we split up now, the other men will ask you to dance too.”

Raynard looked around and frowned as if he didn’t like it.

Yurina laughed.

“And what if I dance a little with the others? Even when lovers come to the party, everyone dances with others. And anyway, I had to dance with my brothers.”

“I still can’t. Just imagine that you are holding hands with other men is terrifying.”

Yurina paused and imagined Reynard dancing with another girl.

‘Well, that definitely not feels good.’

The thought of him putting his hand on another woman’s side and clinging to her seemed irritating. Even knowing in advance that he doesn’t have feelings for another, it’s all the same.

Yurina had never even known that she could be jealous of even an imaginary person.

“Besides, it seems that His Highness the Crown Prince is also looking at you.”

This time, Reynard looked to his left. Yurina, who turned her head after him, met Curtis sitting on the podium and their eyes met. As if Curtis had really been watching her all this time.

Curtis, who met Yurina’s eyes, cautiously got up from his seat. Seeing this, Raynard’s hands were now full of strength.

“Don’t worry. Even if they ask me to dance, I will refuse them all.”

Yurina added before Reynard could answer.

“Ah, but if it’s the Crown Prince himself, it might be a bit difficult to refuse.”

Raynard smiled slyly.

“Do you know what I will do in this case?”

“What?”

At that moment, a violin melody sounded. It was a little faster than the old waltz. Raynard put his hand on Yurina’s waist and struck a pose.

“You just need to keep dancing with me so they don’t have time to ask for a dance. Let’s dance until this prince is out of sight.”

Yurina laughed, but still put her hand on his shoulder.

“Okay, let it be as you said.”

With a satisfied smile, Raynard began to slowly guide Yurina.

* * *

After dancing three songs in a row, the couple nevertheless left the center of the hall. Then a certain woman suddenly approached Yurina. Yurina looked at her face and tensed up.

“Nice to meet you. You are young lady Carthia, aren’t you? And next to you is Sir Reynard, who was knighted this time. I heard a lot of rumors.”

Lydia now smiled at her with a friendly face, not at all evil. The friendliness that Yurina had previously seen from afar wasn’t an illusion.

However, unlike before, Yurina was more worried about the name Reynard coming out of her mouth than Lydia’s attitude.

‘Are you interested in Ray?’

As a child, Yurina was extremely reluctant to let Reynard meet Lydia. It was because she was afraid that Reynard would fall in love with her at first sight, just like in the original plot.