CH 30

(Terrence’s 3rd Person POV)

It was time for the third dance to start, but Eve still didn’t show up, making Terrence feel nervous.

‘Should I send someone to find the Princess?’

When that thought occurred, the noisy chatter disappeared as if washed away in an instant.

In the sudden silence, someone’s voice echoed through the ballroom.

“Oh my God, it’s Her Highness the Princess!”

At that word, Terrence turned his gaze towards the entrance.

Eve was standing in front of the entrance door to the ballroom.

Instead of the luxurious dress she usually wore, she wore a light green silk dress that went well with her hair color, and her long red blonde hair was naturally loose.

(T/N: Ooh.. this may be the dress from the Novel Cover.) 

It was a little different from the past when she used to dress up splendidly. But this time, she looked rather elegant and refined.

Eve looked around and slowly stepped into the large banquet hall.

A still-silence echoed inside the ballroom.

Everyone stopped chatting and focused their eyes on Eve.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

People were surprised and worried about Eve’s sudden appearance, but on the other hand, they looked at her with eyes filled with anticipation.

Perhaps they hoped that she would get angry at some point, like those actors in a third-rate play.

There’s nothing more entertaining than seeing a noble Princess and a young Grand Duke turning a formal ball into a spectacle.

Terrence looked at her for a moment, then he started moving.

He met Eve in the middle of the ballroom.

It was a tense moment where even breathing could not be heard.

“Princess.”

Terrence smiled faintly as he greeted Eve with politeness.

Then he reached out a hand to her and gently asked.

“If it’s all right, will you give me the honor of having your first dance?”

In an instant, a wave of shock spread among the surrounding nobles.

The sound of someone gasping in surprise was heard.

The soft melody that resonated sweetly was also cut off for a moment.

Even without looking,  Terrence could feel the shock of people vividly.

A smile spread across Eve’s lips amidst the shock and astonishment that erupted silently.

Eve proudly raised the tip of her chin and took his hand.

“Of course. I will allow it.”

With everyone’s eyes wide open, Terrence took Eve’s hand and walked to the dance floor.

Before heading out to the center of the floor, Terrence realized that Eve’s mood was a little different from the last time they met.

Eve had an arrogant expression on the outside, but her body was stiff. He could feel the tension in the hand who was holding her breath.

“Relax, Princess.”

Even though they only spoke quietly, Eve seemed surprised.

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Now that he can see her up-close, her face is paler than usual. She seemed unwell, is she sick by any chance?

“You look like you’re being dragged to the execution ground, not the dance floor.”

“If I step on your feet, I feel like I’m going to die.”

Eve responded to his words with a calm voice, even though she was hardened with tension.

Terence laughed a little.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.”

The sweet melody of the waltz began to resound in the quiet ballroom.

Terence, who came to the floor, took the first step and led Eve.

Her body wrapped in a gorgeous dress looked a little thinner than he had seen a few days ago.

‘It was said that she became sick after going to the temple that day, was it the aftermath of that?’

‘Or is it because of worry?’

No one can live in peace knowing that her biological father is plotting to kill her.

That’s probably why she was very nervous and tense while dancing.

As he knew, Eve loved to dance and always showed off her skill.

But now Eve didn’t look happy at all.

She was smiling, but her body was stiff and she could barely follow the steps.

Suddenly, Eve from the past who had been begging him to dance with her every time they saw each other at a banquet, came to mind.

Looking back, this was the first time we danced together.

It must have been what she had always wanted to do, but Eve was not even happy, let alone concentrating at this moment.

“….”

She’s the woman I’ve been bothered with so much until recently.

Terrence suddenly felt pity for no reason, maybe because he had talked to her a few times.

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Even her pale slender body and pearly white skin somehow stimulated a feeling of pity.

‘What useless thoughts.’

Terrence spun around the floor, holding Eve’s body firmly, driving away his thoughts.

Usually, he didn’t feel much interest in the slender women who seemed to fall with the touch of a hand.

Maybe the reason why he was enjoying this moment with the Princess, probably because of her special abilities.

(T/N: Ayiee the ship is starting to sail!)

[ PR/N: help, i’m kicking the air-!!]

-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-

(Eve’s POV)

I slowly followed the steps that were led by the Grand Duke.

The people inside the ballroom were still looking at the two of us with astonishment.

Originally, as soon as the music started, everyone should have gathered at the dance floor with their partner, but nobody followed nor joined us at the center.

It was very fortunate.

If there are other people around, I will be distracted and I will not be able to concentrate more.

Well It seemed that our plan of letting everyone see that Terrence and I are now in a good relationship, has definitely succeeded.

In fact, I didn’t even have time to think about it.

Now, just dancing in the Grand Duke’s arms was enough to lose my strength.

Still, it was worthwhile to practice desperately with Nell.

Thanks to that, I was at least following the steps without stomping on the Grand Duke’s shoes.

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I seem to be doing well despite the short preparation.

Considering that I practiced for about four days, it was a phenomenal result.

‘Perhaps because of the experience that this body had, from the original Eve.’

Just like when I first came here, I was able to speak the language and read the characters naturally.

Eve’s body instinctively had the remaining skills, so it seems that I was able to learn it easily.

I followed the Grand Duke’s lead and took careful steps.

It’s the first time the Grand Duke danced with Eve, so there’s no doubt that it’s a little strange.

After getting used to the repeated steps to some extent, I unintentionally looked up at the Grand Duke and stopped at the end of the song.

Under the soft lights of the ballroom, the beautiful face of the Grand Duke was seen in front.

Being used to seeing this man’s enchanting beauty from afar and now up-close, nearly gave me a heart attack.

‘Because this man is really needlessly handsome.’

As my heart pounded a little faster, the last step came to an end with the gentle music.

It ended without any event.

I even sighed with relief.

I stopped and belatedly looked around.

But for some reason, people’s eyes were focused on other places instead of on our side.

I inadvertently followed people’s gaze and stopped.

A familiar red-blonde man was standing at the entrance of the ballroom.

It was my older brother, Crown Prince Arentine.

Arentine, dressed in robes, stood at the door and looked directly at the Grand Duke.

Why did my brother come here? He said that he couldn’t come because he had a lot of work to do.

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“Your Highness, The Crown Prince.”

The Duchess ran in haste and bowed down to him.

“Forgive the rudeness. I couldn’t go out to meet you, knowing that you wouldn’t be able to come.”

“No, it’s okay. Don’t mind me.”

Although Arentine was the Crown Prince, he treated the Duchess with courtesy.

The Duchess’ eyes made the two seem quite friendly. Seriously, how many times has he been to this mansion before?

“I was invited, but I came late because it seemed disrespectful to the Duchess to send only my sister and not attend at all.”

Arentine’s eyes lit up and returned to the Grand Duke’s side.

However, it was a gaze that felt a little uncomfortable rather than curiosity or wonder.

Is he annoyed or something? But why?

“I greet you, Your Highness The Crown Prince.”

The Grand Duke showed politeness with a dignified manner.

Arentine looked at him for a moment, then turned to me and said,

“It’s nice to see the two of them getting closer.”

A whisper could be heard from among the nobles around.

“Is it because of The Crown Prince’s request?”

“That might be it. Unless….”

“That doesn’t make sense at all.”

I can hear everything.

Even so, it seems to me that they want to find a suitable reason.

In which I couldn’t understand.

When people see a phenomenon that cannot be understood with their common sense, they try to find a convincing answer somehow.

I even thought it was a strange phenomenon that the head of a normal person could not comprehend for the Grand Duke and Eve to dance as tenderly as lovers and suddenly fall in love.

For a moment, I felt a hand wrapped around my shoulder.

The Grand Duke who was standing next to me wrapped one arm around me and smiled sweetly.

“We are engaged, of course.”

Silent screams and astonishment passed like waves again among the masses.

Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.

No matter how the people around me reacted, the Grand Duke did not take his eyes off me.

His eyes, looking at me, overflowed with affection, as if he were dealing with a lover he had loved for decades.

It was a natural look that seemed to treat a truly precious fiancée.

It was so perfect that I even got goosebumps watching his action right in front of me.