CH 13

The First Evening Party (Chapter 12)

Before the season of social life begins, there was a thing that Nicolette had to solve, it was her dancing. For her, who was raised at a monastery, she never learned about dancing, she received dance lessons everyday since she arrived at the Hainzel Empire.

Did she perhaps have a knack for it? Nicolette had been able to perform dancing without any problem in just one month since her arrival, a problem has arised since then though. There wasn't any noticeable problems until midway through the dance, but whenever she tried to do a slow turn, her balance always break.

"WAWAh!"

"Oops. Are you alright?"

Since Nicolette was falling toward him, Wolfgang caught her. Though Nicolette was able to escape from falling down, she still looked up toward Wolfgang, and then said,

"I, I'm sorry…."

With a downhearted tone, Wolfgang felt like he can see an invisible ear and tail that flopped down attached on her, which is when Wolfgang stroked her hair.

"It's alright. You have already done a good job on your step. If you just practice, surely you will manage to do it."

"....Yeah."

Nicolette raised her face, and then made a bold smile. Since they already knew where the problem lies, it's true that it will somehow be resolved if she practiced more.

The problem is the difference between Nicolette and Wolfgang's height. It's not like Nicolette is short, she was at an average height of a woman at her age. It's not her, but Wolfgang is just too big.

If they stand side by side, it is noticeably that Wolfgang had a body twice the size of Nicolette, which is a one foot difference. Nicolette, who was still not used to dancing, wasn’t able to follow the tall Wolfgang's movement.

Since she wouldn't have any problems when paired with Alberto or Marcus since they didn’t have much height difference than her, the problem must be because of her height difference with Wolfgang. There was an option of her wearing high heels, but since high heels are unstable, she wouldn’t be able to properly walk when wearing them.

As she tried to do it once again, she failed her steps as expected. Nicolette smacked her lips together so she wouldn't cry. The dancing teacher Aisura toward Nicolette, said,

"Her Majesty, perhaps you have a deep knowledge in art or something?"

"Eh….Eeh, well….I can't draw myself though."

It seems that she was good at observing. Wolfgang thought that she would be happy if he brought her to the gallery.

Hearing the answer from Nicolette, the stern faced Aisura loosened his face. Looking at him, Wolfgang only had the memories of himself getting crammed with knowledge of mannerisms by Aisura which made him feel taken aback.

"Even if Her Majesty is not really good at painting, the fact that Her Majesty could understand an art means that Her Majesty has a playful heart. It is the same for dancing, it's fine for Her Majesty to add her playfulness into the dance."

Hearing those kind of complicated words, Nicolette tilted her head. Wolfgang also almost tilted his head to reflect, but since it will only look disgusting, he was able to preserve himself by looking at Nicolette cutely tilting her head.

"....Do you want to try the dance again?"

Nicolette nodded as she took Wolfgang's hand. They danced slowly following the rhythm of the piano played by Maria. The song that Maria kept playing was a song that was aimed for beginners, but if one can master dancing with this song, they can cope with almost any other kind of songs.

Nicolette already understood the basics, the problem is only when she tried to do turns….

"Oops…."

Nicolette was able to hold her pose even though she almost fell down. Though it felt a bit unnatural, if she kept practicing, then it will surely be alright. Rather than that, Wolfgang was interested in why she was suddenly able to dance with just a ‘playful mind’.

Wolfgang gave a cheer and clapped his hands at Nicolette who was somehow able to finish dancing until the end. Nicolette didn’t mind other people so she shouted, ‘Yaaay!!’, while raising both her hands.

"Her Majesty just needs to cram all of those feelings into your body."

Though Aisura casually said it, hearing those remarks made Nicolette take a step back. Cram all of this into your body? Wolfgang got told something like that a lot. Wolfgang smiled at Nicolette who was making a difficult expression.

"Nicola, are you still not tired?"

"....Yep, i'm fine."

"Is that so? Then, i’ll also do my best for a little longer."

"....Yep."

Nicolette nodded with a stiff face. After that, she practiced a few more times, which let her dance without any problems. As he thought, her learning powers are really high.

By the way, Wolfgang tried to asked what the meaning of having a ‘Playful mind’ to her was, but it seems that the person herself also didn't quite understand. Since it's not impossible for anyone to suddenly be able to do that even though she wasn’t able to just a moment ago, so it's not like Nicolette is weird about that, but it seems that she really relied on her instinct a lot, or so Wolfgang thought.

Either at shooting or dancing. He felt like she was relying on her instincts by doing both of those things. She herself couldn’t explain how she was able to become good at both of those things. Wolfgang thought that perhaps Nicolette is indeed someone that can be called a genius.

Then, the fact that Wolfgang thought of a rude thing, ‘The border between genius and idiocy is paper thin’, is because he wanted to look away from the reality that folded in front of his eyes. Saying that, it's not like the reality was a bad thing. On the contrary, it was good thing.

The Emperor and Empress will be attending the evening party that will be held at this palace. For the Fourth Empress Nicolette, this evening party will be the first for her in a lot of meanings. All of the maids that serve the Empress, including Helma and Maria, are in high spirits.

Thus, the results.

"What do you think? It's a bit hard to move though."

Saying that, Nicolette pinched the tip of her fluffy skirt. The dress was mainly coloured blue and white with a gentle finishing touch that seems to match the atmosphere around Nicolette. If she stayed silent and only smiled, she gave off quite a gentle atmosphere.

It gave a gentle impression, but the fact that her skirt didn't swell that much made her also look like an adult. Since she's bustier on the upper half of her body, they made her wear a cloth that revealed her slender shoulders. A glove that covered up to her upper arms, while wearing a necklace that matches the color of her eyes. Though she was wearing makeup, since in the first place she was already a beauty, it polished her off naturally.

Though it was impossible for Wolfgang to like her based only on her appearance, but seeing her dressed up like this, Wolfgang once again thought in his mind, ‘Aah, I really love her’. Since he didn't really pay any attention during their marriage, this is the first time Wolfgang saw Nicolette’s dressed up appearance.

"....Aah, it really suit you. It’s even to extent that I want to lock you up and monopolize you all by myself."

He walked toward Nicolette, took her hand, and kissed her fingers through her glove, which caused Nicolette's face to become red. However, she also seems rather happy about it. Her appearance while smiling with that embarrassed look on her face was really charming.

For a moment, Wolfgang really considered to lock herself up, but he immediately threw away such a thought. Wolfgang loved the Nicolette that spread her wing whenever she wanted, but if he did lock her up, it will make him no different than the King of Roware that locked her up at the monastery.

“Then, shall we go?"

As he held out his hand, Nicolette timidly took it. Looking at her reaction, Wolfgang suspected that she gets unusually nervous.

"It's alright, after all, it's Nicola."

As he said that to comfort her, Nicolette make a shy smile on her face.

"....Yeah, thank you." (TL: She said Onegaishimasu though)

Regarding the evening party, the Emperor and Empress were the last to enter this place. For Nicolette, it was literally the first time she showed her face in public. She made a cramped face while sitting on her throne basking in people’s gaze.

The nobles came in front of the Emperor and Empress to give their greeting, but while it was just a courtesy, being praised like that made Nicolette uncomfortable.

At the same time, when the greetings from the nobles ceased and they had time to rest, Wolfgang asked Nicolette,

"Are you tired?"

She waved her head left and right in response.

"No, i'm fine."

Seeing Nicolette answer with a smile, Wolfgang somehow felt healed.

"Then Frau, will you be my partner for tonight's dance?"

"....With delight."

Though there was a slight delay in her answer, Nicolette still took Wolfgang's hand while standing up. Seeing the Emperor and Empress come down from the throne, the nobles were making dancing space for them, while backing away a little.

The Emperor and Empress were dancing slowly while being watched over by the nobles. Then, Wolfgang whispered to Nicolette because she seemed to be nervous.

"It's alright as long you have your playful mind."

Nicolette looked surprised while looking up at Wolfgang, followed by her smile.

"That's right."

Since she already practiced several times, she was able to dance one song without any problems. Right now, she was neither good nor bad, but then again, the end is about her getting used to it. Since Wolfgang and Nicolette returned to their throne, the nobles started to return to dancing.

It was at that time. There was one noble that came late to the evening party, and that noble immediately went straight toward Wolfgang and Nicolette.

Seemingly stiffening because of an unknown face, Nicolette asked, ‘What's happening?’, while looking worried. However, Wolfgang didn't have any composure to answer her question. After all, that noble was already standing right in front of the two of them, he looked like he exceeded 50 years old. That noble gazed at Wolfgang and Nicolette, then laughed.

"It's been long time, His Majesty. This is the first time we’ve meet, Her Majesty. I'm Helmart, the Duke of Raihenbahha."

Huh? That’s the name of Wolfgang’s First Empress.

At the end of the evening party, different from how it begin, it was Wolfgang who was lead by the hand by Nicolette. It seems that the appearance of the Duke of Reihanbehha was way too much of a shock to him. In the end, by the time he realized it, the party was already over. It seems that Nicolette was able to take it well after being instructed by Hainz.

"....Sorry."

"Why did you apologize?"

Even though their room was right in front of them, Nicolette stopped and looked up to him. Nicolette, with a smile blooming on her face, stretched her back, and patted Wolfgang on his head.

"It's alright. I'm-Kyaaa!"

Just like always, Nicolette raised an unwomanly scream. Suddenly, Wolfgang hugged Nicolette's small body, while burying his face into her bare nape.

"Re, really, what happened….?"

Though he heard Nicolette's question in a shaking voice, Wolfgang answered about a totally different matter.

"Can we…. sleep together tonight?"

"Ok, I don’t mind…."

Nicolette quickly gave her approval seeing the unusual Wolfgang, which caused Wolfgang to mutter thanks. He kept hugging Nicolette until he calmed down.

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