CH 28

“Um… Wasn’t it that you didn’t want to be my partner?”

Riett looked up at Evan, recalling the mistake of that day. Perhaps displeased, Evan’s thick eyebrows slightly raised.

Evan remained silent for a while, then let out a sigh.

“…When did I say I didn’t want to?”

“That day, your expression seemed bad.”

“It’s not because I disliked it.”

“Then what is it?”

Smooth expression. Riett thought Evan had been frequently grumpy lately.

“Be my partner, no matter what.”

Riett nodded in response to Evan’s insistence. After all, it was a bet.

“What’s going on?”

Lucas interjected at that moment.

“I thought you said you’d never do it with just the two of us!”

“It happened.”

“Then what about Samuel?”

Ah, Samuel. Looking at him, he seemed downcast.

“Ah, um. Sorry. Find another partner.”

Riett patted his back.

Then she suddenly looked around and noticed that everyone’s gaze was on them. Evan, Lucas, Samuel. Each of them stood out at school. With all of them gathered in one place, it was inevitable to attract attention.

Riett felt burdened by these gazes.

“Why did you come here, Evan?”

She asked, wanting to send Evan away quickly.

“I was worried that my partner might be thinking about something else, so I came to check, and it turned out to be true.”

Just because of such a reason, he came all the way here. Riett grabbed Evan’s arm and pulled him out of the classroom.

“I told you, I knew you didn’t want to. You’re not even in our class, so go back quickly!”

“I’ll come to your house tonight.”

The words were directed at Riett, but Evan’s gaze was directed at Lucas.

“Because we have to practice dancing.”

It was as if he was telling him to listen carefully.

* * *

“Oh my, Evan! What brings you here at this hour?”

“Good day, Lady Marren.”

Evan greeted Lady Marren with a charming smile.

“Oh, my. Evan seems to come to life every time I see him.”

“Madam, you seem to be getting younger and younger.”

“Oh my, oh my. Riett, did you hear?”

Hmm… Riett narrowed her eyes and looked at Evan.

‘That fox-like guy.’

Evan was particularly good with adults. Especially with Riett’s mother and father. It often felt like he got along better with her parents than with the duke.

“Evan, you’ve made a big decision. To be dance partners with Riett.”

Lady Marren looked at Evan with an approving look.

“Ah, I still can’t forget it. The expression Riett had when her dance teacher quit…”

“Mother.”

Riett interrupted with a disgusted expression, and the Duchess burst into laughter, “Hoho-“.

“Anyway, Evan, do me a favor.”

“Not a problem.”

The Duchess looked at Evan with a pleased expression on her face.

“Go up quickly. Evan, be careful with your steps!”

Riett stomped up the stairs with a thumping sound, clearly irritated.

‘Just when I’m already nervous. Mother always says unnecessary things!’

Since becoming Evan’s dance partner, Riett had been tense ever since school. She had faced many challenges, but she had never learned anything from him.

If she wanted to become this year’s prominent figure, she needed his help.

“What are you thinking?”

When Riett stood quietly in front of the door, Evan asked curiously.

“It’s nothing.”

Riett hastily opened the reception room door. The spacious area that had been prepared in advance caught her eye.

“Oh, what should we do since our mansion doesn’t have a magic device that plays music?”

“It’s alright. Today, we’ll only practice the basic moves.”

Evan casually spoke and scanned the surroundings. Then he reached out his hand to Riett.

“Huh?”

“Take my hand.”

Ah, right. Riett, who had been silently gazing at Evan’s hand, belatedly took it. As expected, she could feel his warmth.

“When I count to three, move along with me.”

Riett nodded her head. She calmly moved her body following Evan’s escort. However, eventually, their steps got tangled, and Riett’s foot landed on Evan’s instep.

The same mistake was repeated twice, thrice. Riett became disheartened by the repeated errors.

“Alright, let’s relax and try again.”

Unexpectedly, Evan didn’t show any frustration or mockery. Calmly and affectionately, he taught her the same moves several times.

Thanks to Evan’s encouragement, her stiff movements gradually became lighter.

And finally,

“That’s it!”

She flawlessly executed the steps for the first time. Riett held Evan’s hand, beaming, and leaped up in joy. Evan looked at the delighted Riett with tenderness.

“Well done.”

“It feels like I’ve completely let go of all my worries for the first time!”

“I noticed you memorized the moves, but you kept making mistakes. It seemed like you were tense.”

Riett finally realized the cause of her repeated mistakes.

Evan was right. The thought of “I can’t dance” had unconsciously taken root within her, causing her steps to be stiff as if she were under a curse whenever she danced.

If Evan had shown even a slight negative reaction, she wouldn’t have been able to break free from this curse.

“Now, shall we try some more challenging moves?”

Upon Evan’s words, Riett, filled with confidence, nodded her head.

However, the curse started again. To prevent herself from stumbling due to tangled steps once more, Riett exerted force on her toes.

But then,

“Oops!”

Riett sat down on the floor, and Evan quickly sat beside her.

“Why did that happen?”

“I think I sprained my ankle…”

She had exerted too much force all of a sudden, and it had resulted in side effects. Riett massaged her throbbing foot.

Back then, Evan put his hands under Riett’s back and knees and lifted her.

“Hey!”

Riett struggled, but Evan walked steadily while holding Riett and placed her gently on the sofa.

“Give me your foot.”

Evan knelt under the sofa and looked at Riett. Riett, feeling embarrassed in this situation, tightly huddled up on the sofa.

“No, I don’t want to.”

“You have to let me.”

“I can… do it myself!”

As if her foot were something precious, Riett pulled her knee and embraced it. Although her sore foot still stung, Riett, who was oddly drawn to Evan’s kindness today, momentarily forgot the pain.

Evan sighed once, resembling a cautious cat, and grabbed Riett’s foot.

“Hey! It hurts!”

“You have to massage it because it hurts.”

Evan pressed Riett’s foot carefully. With each touch of Evan’s hand, the pain slightly eased.

Considering that she had been wearing tight shoes for a long time, her feet must have been sweaty, but Evan seemed unconcerned as he quietly applied pressure to Riett’s foot.

“…It’s dirty.”

“It’s not dirty.”

Riett tightly shut her mouth.

‘Yeah, I didn’t ask for it.’

She offered to do it.

After a few minutes, the foot returned to its original state. Riett pushed Evan’s shoulder away.

“It’s enough now.”

Riett stood up from the sofa, and Evan also stood up following her. Riett and Evan stood in the middle of the room again.

“Don’t get nervous already. On the day of the dance party, you’ll have to dance in front of many more people.”

“I know! It’s just that it doesn’t go as smoothly as I want it to.”

As they imagined the dance party, it felt like their bodies became even more rigid.

“Riett, trust me a little more.”

“…”

“I will never let you be embarrassed.”

Evan’s pupils, facing each other, were serious. Upon seeing this, Riett’s fluttering heart calmed down a bit.

Riett swallowed a dry spit and held Evan’s hand.

“Slowly.”

Compared to earlier, Evan’s movements were much more cautious. As time passed, Riett felt more at ease. Riett, who had been moving gracefully for a while, knew that the climax was right in front of her.

‘After I finish this final turn…!’

And finally, she smoothly turned and stood in place. It was a perfect move.

Riett blinked and looked at Evan. Evan’s features were beautifully curved.

“You did well.”

Hehe, a delighted smile escaped from the corners of Riett’s mouth.

It wasn’t as exhilarating as before, but she felt just as good.

Riett poured a glass of water left by the maid and handed it to Evan.

“Good job, Evan.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Glug-glug. Evan’s throat moved to the beat of the water as he swallowed.

Watching that scene, Riett realized once again how much Evan had grown. It was the same when Evan lifted her earlier. Unfortunately, now Riett wouldn’t be a match for Evan in terms of strength.

Even the difference in scores between Riett and Evan ultimately came down to the swordsmanship that required strength. Although they were both in the A grade, Evan had received the highest score among the A grades.

As Riett thought about their grades, a curious question arose in her mind regarding Evan.

“Evan.”

“What?”

“Why do you want to partner with me?”

Seeing how hard he was working, it seemed like he was genuinely focused on his grades too…

If Riett were to become the highlight of the dance party this year, Evan would lose his first place. Could it be that he’s pretending to help but planning to sabotage on the day of the event? To find out his true intentions, Riett stared intently at Evan.

“A competition is more fun when there’s tension.”

“What?”

“An outright first-place victory is boring.”

Riett’s mouth fell open at Evan’s arrogant remark. This guy always goes beyond expectations with his statements.

“So… Are you deliberately trying to make me get bonus points?”

Lowering the sleeves he had been adjusting, Evan nodded his head. His casual answer ignited a fire in Riett’s heart, but she wouldn’t fall for this guy’s provocation anymore.

Riett composed her expression and looked at Evan.

“Watch and see, Evan. It’ll be me who graduates as the top student.”

“Sure.”

Evan smiled calmly.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

And a few days later, the dance party took place.