CH 55

I grabbed his hand with fake embarrassment and began dancing. For a nutjob, he was quite good at dancing. Although I heard that he had never danced with anyone in public before, he was very good at it. Honestly, he was very handsome. If he weren’t so crazy, maybe the fight from under the shadows among the ladies would have been fierce.

Although he was deemed perfect in every aspect, including his looks, he was very selfish and more merciless than anyone. As a result, it was difficult to cope with him for the average noble lady. As such, it was known that no one dared to court the Crown Prince.

The party’s sole purpose was to find a wife candidate for the Crown Prince, and he picked Elise von Schuteiner, who apparently was annoyed by everything. Maybe it was bound to happen, as she was the most beautiful girl among the ladies from the competing noble families. At last, it was the flower of the beau monde, Elise, who was promised to be his wife.

But now, the Crown Prince, who didn’t even dance with his fiancée at a public party, was dancing for the first time. With me! I glanced around to see people’s eyes filled with jealousy, envy, and anger. It was especially amusing to see Sir Hillain, who is Elise’s follower, and his expression. I almost laughed. How can he have such pure love? Honestly, if the person I liked was the fiancée of someone else, I would have gone crazy out of jealousy.

In that regard, he sure was a great loyal dog. But my present was meant for someone other than him. While I was trying to check on Elise von Schuteiner, who made me do such a bold act, the Crown Prince pulled my waist toward his and said to me, “Aren’t you dancing with me right now? Don’t you dare look elsewhere, or I will pull those eyeballs out of your face.”

Like always, he was splendidly insane. He’s threatening to make me blind because I have committed blasphemy by not focusing on him, who was so full of himself. I suddenly felt sorry for Elise, who is said to be marrying this man.

“I thought you didn’t have feelings for me with this dance either, Your Highness.”

“Even then, I won’t allow you to put your mind somewhere else while you’re dancing with me,” replied the Crown Prince.

‘How childish. Now that I know that you love dolls, you’re not even going to try to hide your childishness, Your Highness?’

Anyway, it was a shame that I couldn’t see Elise’s distorted face because of the debacle with the Crown Prince. I felt so good when I saw that face she made when she saw us coming out together a while ago. I was too busy with my thoughts when I realized the music had stopped. The dance with the Crown Prince had come to an end. I bowed to him and paid my respect to my partner.

“It has been my pleasure, Your Highness.”

“Of course, it was,” the Crown Prince replied.

I almost clicked my tongue at the Crown Prince, who was obviously receiving my fake respect. Oh God, I’m truly worried about the future of Genorium.

“If you will excuse me then.”

I was going to leave when I realized the Crown Prince held my wrist and didn’t let go. I saw him frowning from not understanding what was happening. He then got up to me, lowered his head towards mine.

“So, when will you give it to me?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“That thing you promised.”

Oh, you mean the doll. As if I wasn’t going to say you’re not crazy, why do you have to ask me in such a weird way? I can sense everyone’s eyes on us. I glanced around and noticed that damn Elise’s face and became happy. She was shaking in anger with her pale face as she looked at me!

“I’m not sure when, but I will prepare it as soon as possible,” I whispered as I smiled, to which the Crown Prince froze like he felt unpleasant, but it didn’t matter. It was so pleasing to tease that damn girl. I should do this more often! If only I could…

“Then, please excuse me,” I smiled and gracefully left the spot. I almost wanted to jump at the feeling that I was walking above a cloud.

‘Oh, it was great to come to this party today. It was a bit annoying, but to see those damn people’s faces crumpled like that!’

***

“Wait.”

It was Sir Hillain, the younger brother of Rave and the second son of the Duke of Harsen, who stopped me to talk to while I was out at the garden taking a rest. What loyalty he had! Honestly, if it were me, I would hope that their relationship was destroyed. Is he very understanding, or is he just trying to act understanding like I was in the past? I pretended to understand Kyles, who made Elise his friend. Either way, he was a sorry man.

“What the heck are you doing, Marina von Harrant? You hung around with Sir Droinel, who is very noble unlike you, and you even courted His Highness, who certainly has a fiancée. This is disgusting.”

He glared at me with his dark blue eyes and dark blue hair, which was the only resemblance he had to his brother Rave. His eyes looked so merciless that I almost swore in return. Sir Hillain’s mouth poured out strong criticisms that were intentionally hateful towards me, but it was unfortunate because those words won’t hurt me.

“You are being disrespectful, Sir Hillain. Have you not learned about manners when you are talking to a lady?”

“Disrespectful? Disrespectful, I see. Have you not done something disrespectful yourself?” he asked back.

“What did I do that was deemed disrespectful? I accepted Sir Adrian’s offer to dance, and I danced with His Highness out of courtesy as I got to meet him due to business reasons. On what pretense are you allowed to criticize me like this?”

“You use your sly tongue well, Marina von Harrant.”