Chapter 5

As I stood alone while glancing around, a number of people approached me.

In order to preserve their lives, I moved out of the way and avoided them.

At the same time, I worked to find Rodrigo.

The spacious banquet hall was crowded, however, I could spot Rodrigo without any difficulty.

He has dark hair, red eyes, taller than others, and a leaner physique; the conclusion is, he was handsome. Suddenly, the thought I had back in the carriage about if I would be able to find Rodrigo, seemed utterly ridiculous.

After all, he is the male protagonist!

I naturally narrowed my distance from him.

“Lady Estiya. Could I speak with you for a moment?”

Then, someone spoke to me.

Tch, stupid beings. They’re always hovering wherever I go. People like bugs who swarm towards lantern lights without any thought.

I desired to ignore him, however, after he constantly called my name, I halted and turned around.

“Hello.”

I raised my head. Then I quickly checked the crest on the man’s collar.

Ah…

The two-headed dog pattern on the man’s collar caught my eye.

It belonged to a family of villains that were a bit lower than Cartina.

Being a bit lower was about the matter of skill and wealth, not their bad intentions.

The Frey family.

Somehow he had the courage to speak; it seems a few assassins are component enough to voluntarily get rid of themselves.

“Hello, Lady Estiya. I am Barbati, the eldest son of the Frey family.”

I greeted him by nodding my head.

“If it’s not rude, I would like to ask Lady for her first dance.”

He reached out his hand.

Over his shoulder, I could see Eyla approaching Rodrigo.

Oh, this will require countless excuses.

I wanted to get rid of Barbati right away.

“I’m sorry, I’m busy right now.”

I deliberately replied to Barbati as I turned to Rodrigo. Barbati reached out his hand to grab me. However, my pace was very brisk, his fingertips barely touched me.

“Hold on young lady!”

Barbati followed me. Whatever, I’m in a hurry.

Eyla opened her mouth in order to call Rodrigo.

“Hello!”

Before Eyla could catch Rodrigo’s gaze, I barely settled myself under his chin.

Eyla stood behind me as Rodrigo stood in front. I could feel Eyla flinching towards the unexpected situation.

Sister, I’ll explain everything later.

I took a breath before lifting my chin. I made eye contact with Rodrigo.

“Hello, Lord Rodrigo?”

As if he had found a strange intruder, a vigilant light shone in Rodrigo’s eyes.

“I’m Estiya, one of the Cartinas.”

My introduction changed the expression in his eyes. His eyes, which glimmered as if they had found a very interesting amusement or toy, seemed jewels.

His gaze slowly shifted from me to Eyla, who had stood over my shoulder.

And Rodrigo, who saw me again, smiled softly. It seemed stiff and exasperated. Nonetheless, it was a strangely beautiful sight. My body temperature rose little by little with the tickling grin placed across his mouth.

“Ah, Cartina… I see.”

I couldn’t figure out where he was thinking about me or my family.

Sharp and clear features overshadowed my view. His gorgeous eyes curved brilliantly. It was a spine-chilling smile.

“Do you have any business with me?”

It wasn’t like we even began speaking, yet his eyes said it all.

Of course I have business. Yes, I do.

“Would you like to dance?”

I reached out my hand.

“Do you have any business with me?”

Rodrigo stared at Estiya under his chin.

From the moment he entered, he expected to be entangled with a member of the Cartina family.

If not, they wouldn’t have attended the banquet of Duke Gloria; they never move without a motive.

Their purpose was self-evident.

A target.

It was not difficult to conclude it was himself.

He knew very well that the Cartina’s were after Erhardt.

He couldn’t help knowing such.

Cartina also interfered in Erhardt’s business

Such as secretly blowing up his well-run mine, causing a life-threatening accident.

From the point of view of a Cartina, it may seem like they had done something very cute.

Rodrigo confronted the Emperor, convinced Cartina was the one behind such acts.

However, the emperor stated he had no physical evidence and pretended to console him.

It happened several times.

So, Rodrigo hated Cartina.

He tried to avoid meeting them as much as possible.

However, Cartina appeared at the banquet of Duke Gloria, the rumored supporter of Rodrigo.

It was inevitable.

Their intention was obvious.

Thus, he thought she would, in the least, show her dagger. Maybe even blood.

However, right under his chin, ridiculous words flowed from Estiya’s mouth, the youngest daughter of Cartina.

“Would you like to dance?”

Are you kidding me?

Rodrigo’s brows narrowed.

The atmosphere turned cold.

Rodrigo, whose impressions were usually nothing but cold, made his nanny, whom he had known for a long time, feel as if in freezing weather. Even when he was expressionless.

She would say, ‘He’s like a reaper of death.’

Most of the time, whenever he frowned, she would be frightened.

However, Estiya, opening her rabbit-like eyes, smiled and extended her hand once more.

A gloved hand containing no speck of dirt.

A white and miniscule hand that did not suit the dirty underworld of the Cartina’s, which endlessly displeased him.

It wasn’t about fighting, it wasn’t handing a glass of poison, it was about dancing.

In addition, today was her debut.

Did she not know the meaning of the first debut dance?

“Can’t you dance?”

As Rodrigo stared into Estiya’s hand, she asked him carefully.

Carefully?

It was a word that didn’t suit Cartina in the least.

Come to think of it, Estiya wasn’t like a typical Cartina.

A pure expression, clear eyes.

He became curious.

Was it a new assassination technique?

He wondered what she was trying to do.

Rodrigo grabbed Estiya’s hand and gently pulled it.

He grabbed her swaying, luscious waist and pulled it close.

“Huh?”

Eyla’s astonished voice hit Estiya’s ears.

Kaylan and Ether, on the second floor to target Rodrigo, were also surprised.

A shaky energy emerged.

Estiya quickly figured out their location.

“Are you a good dancer? I wasn’t able to learn properly because I was positioned in the battlefield.”

“I will lead you.”

Although he danced well, she was going to lead anyway.

Somewhere on the second floor, Kaylan and Ether would go after Rodrigo.

Estiya naturally placed her hand over Rodrigo’s shoulder.

I placed my hand on his coat, and through the palm of my hand, I could feel his heart-beat close to his asceticism.

The wild, untamed, and strong body that would not easily give in, could be seen straight through the neat coat.

I lifted my heels almost as if I had been waiting for Rodrigo.

Oh, that’s big.

He’s going to leave an extremely objective review.

I made eye contact with Eyla over his shoulder, whose soul had already penetrated from her body.

Eyla mouthed her words.

‘Estiya, what are you doing now?’

I gave a prepared answer.

‘Sister, temptation skill, temptation skill!’

In the middle of the dance, her mind was distracted because of Eyla, so she stepped on Rodrigo’s feet unconsciously.

“It must be empty words after saying you dance well?”

His cool beauty tickled my ears.

“I’m sorry! I was looking elsewhere…”

“Where? Did you hide anything on the second floor?”

I was surprised when he pointed out the second floor.

Did you notice Kaylan and Ether were hiding?

I looked through Rodrigo’s eyes.

“No way.”

I responded cleverly and waved my hand behind his back.

Go somewhere else.

Eyla glared at Rodrigo’s back as if she wanted to pierce the back of his head before disappearing into the shadows.

Ah, now I can focus on the conversation.

“Now I’ll show you my great dancing skills. It might be too overwhelming to follow.”

“How difficult is this dance for it to be overwhelming?”

Rodrigo seemed confident.

I laughed awkwardly.

The dance we would perform from now on wouldn’t just be a mere whirl.

I was convinced he would soon change his mind.

The fast-tempo beat was a very difficult dance for anyone who hadn’t learned it.

However, Rodrigo was Rodrigo.

His ability to say that he did not learn it separately was above the standard.

Is there anything this man can’t do?

I fixed my gaze at the end of Rodrigo’s jaw and pulled the tension string tightly.

Ether and Kaylan were timing to fire a poisoned needle at Rodrigo.

They will fire before the dance is over.

I had to protect him naturally as I danced.

The tempo became faster and faster.

The moment the song turned to the climax, the silver needle sparkled in the light of the chandelier.

The web-like needle was specially made by the Cartina family, and its use required a high level of skill. It was also difficult to find.

There was no way to stop an attack unless you knew in advance what you needed to watch, touch, and attack.

But I am Estiya Cartina.

It took a little effort to block that attack.

I gave strength to his right hand as I held on his shoulder.

Rodrigo turned around along with the unexpected force.

Like a dance move, he and I hugged each other as we turned to the right.

At the same time, I kicked hard at the inside of my dress.

Rodrigo’s thighs were completely covered as the hem of my dress swayed.

The silver needle embedded in my splendidly inflated dress skirt.

All right, I blocked one.

It was definitely a poison needle that Kaylan shot.

So one, two, three.

After blocking exactly three needles, the first dance was over.

I felt a bit guilty when I recalled Kaylan, who would eventually be condemned by Ether for failing the attack.

They would never even imagine that I had deliberately blocked their attacks, and all failures would be attributed solely to Kaylan’s lack of skills.

“It was a pleasant dance.”

As soon as Rodrigo finished the dance, he distanced himself from Estiya.

“Would you like to dance again?”

We haven’t had a proper conversation yet.

I caught Rodrigo before he could flee.

Rodrigo closed his mouth as if he had heard something unpleasant.

I knew how ridiculous I seemed.

I’ll look like a woman who became obsessed with him in a glance.

As the main character, there would be a lot of women around him.

Why would one or two women suddenly talk to him and flirt with him to dance?

You must be very tired, I understand.

Unlike his beautiful face, well-trained body, and ascetic expression, his strangely colorful eyes would captivate anyone regardless of gender.

But why couldn’t the Emperor and Cartina be possessed?

“Lady Estiya.”

A short silence enveloped.

Rodrigo’s red eyes stayed on me for some time.

Then he slowly opened his mouth.