~Chapter 91~
Late at night, under the twinkling starlight, Leah was secretly practicing her dancing alone on the spacious terrace.
The birthday banquet was just around the corner, but she still hadn’t improved much, and that really worried her.
“Ugh… I think I might seriously be hopeless at dancing.”
That’s what she kept thinking while learning from Isabella.
Even though Isabella had spent several days teaching her, Leah’s body still moved stiffly and awkwardly.
Do I really have to go to the ball? Do I really have to dance?
“Ugh…”
If she didn’t have to, she’d rather not dance at all.
“I’ll just embarrass myself.”
Since she suddenly became the fiancée of the Duke of Blumhardt, many nobles were probably already judging her.
If she danced poorly on top of that, they’d laugh at her even more.
“…And I’m totally going to step on his foot with my heel.”
She had already stepped on Alfred’s feet several times during practice.
Each time, he smiled and told her it was okay, but she could see hints of pain behind his kind smile.
“I feel so bad for the butler…”
Leah stopped dancing and mumbled, covering her face with her hands.
Since she wore higher heels than usual when dancing, it must have really hurt.
She didn’t want to hurt his feet anymore, but her body just wouldn’t move the way she wanted.
There’s not much time left before the crown prince’s birthday banquet… What should I do?
With her shoulders drooping, she slowly walked toward the terrace railing.
“…Haa.”
She rested her chin on her arm on the railing and let out a heavy sigh.
Johann had been so busy lately that they hadn’t practiced dancing together even once.
His feet would probably end up suffering under her heels next.
She really didn’t want that.
And I just know… he’s going to pretend like everything’s fine.
She didn’t want to see him forcing a smile for her sake.
“Practice is the only way…”
Leah straightened herself with determination.
Slap!
She lightly tapped her cheeks and started practicing again.
The moonlight shone down on her as she spun in circles, making her look like she was dancing in a snow globe.
—
Johann had another long, busy day and only returned home late at night.
As usual, he stepped out of the carriage and looked up toward Leah’s room on the fourth floor.
“…Huh?”
Unlike usual, he saw Leah on the terrace—practicing her dance.
Johann stood there, staring at her, completely entranced.
In the moonlight, she looked just like a music box ballerina—beautiful and delicate.
A soft smile appeared on Johann’s face.
Come to think of it… this morning, Mother told me to make time to help Leah practice dancing.
She said Leah was feeling down about not dancing well and asked him to encourage her.
Johann quickly went inside, changed clothes, and headed to Leah’s room.
Knock knock knock.
There were some rushed, flustered sounds from inside, and then the door opened.
“Duke, you just got back?”
Leah asked, brushing away the sweat-damp hair sticking to her forehead.
“Yeah. I saw you dancing from downstairs.”
“…W-Wait, you saw that?”
Leah’s face turned bright red.
“I wasn’t trying to spy or anything. You just looked really focused, and I couldn’t look away.”
Johann answered, hiding a smile at how cute she was acting.
“Ugh, I should’ve just danced inside!”
She covered her red face with her hands and mumbled.
“I was practicing because I’m really bad at it…”
“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to help you.”
He couldn’t believe how adorable—and honestly, how lovable—she looked right now.
“Help me?”
Leah blinked at him with wide eyes, like a bunny.
“Mother asked me to be your dance partner too.”
“But you’ve been working late every day… You must be tired.”
Leah said, looking concerned.
“I’ll be busy until the banquet anyway, so this is the only chance I have.”
“If you’re that busy, you really don’t have to…”
“I want to help you. So please, don’t say no.”
Johann gently cut her off.
“Besides, it’s good for us to try dancing together at least once before the banquet.”
“…Then, thank you.”
Leah nodded slightly, her face still a little flushed.
Johann stepped into the room, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.
Leah stood there awkwardly, sneaking glances at him.
The muscles under his linen shirt were clearly visible.
Ahh… I’m really about to dance with him out of nowhere.
Can I even do this?
Johann walked up to her.
“Leah, shall we try dancing?”
“But… there’s no music.”
“I’ll hum a tune. Just follow that.”
Johann placed one hand on her waist and held her other hand.
Wherever he touched burned like fire.
Maybe that’s why her body felt even stiffer than before.
Don’t freak out just from touching.
Get it together.
Leah gave her head a little shake and tried to move with his humming.
But instead of relaxing, she got more and more tense, feeling every detail of his touch.
I’m totally going to step on his foot soon…
Despite her nerves, Johann danced flawlessly.
“…You’re really good at this.”
“Mother said dancing is as important as swordsmanship and made me practice a lot as a kid.”
“Oh…”
“She said, ‘You don’t want to mess up when you finally dance with the girl you like.’”
He smiled at Leah.
“Back then, I didn’t see the point… but now I’m really glad I listened to her.”
His eyes were full of warmth.
Flustered, Leah suddenly misstepped and stepped hard on his foot.
“Ow.”
“Oh no, I’m so sorry!”
She quickly apologized.
Oh no… that sounded bad. It must be bruised or worse.
She tried to crouch down and check, but—
“Leah, I’m fine. You don’t need to look.”
Johann gently stopped her by holding her shoulders.
“That sound was loud. You can’t be okay.”
She tried to look again, but Johann held her shoulders more firmly.
“I’m really fine. Let’s just keep practicing.”
“…But you must be in pain.”
“I’m not.”
That was a lie.
But it was a kind, sweet lie… and it made her heart flutter.
“I’m going to step on you again, I just know it.”
“You’re only tense right now, that’s all.”
He gently patted her back.
“I don’t want to be nervous, but I can’t help it.”
And it’s even worse dancing with you.
I didn’t even step on the butler that hard…
“Then how about taking off your shoes for now?”
Johann pointed to her heels.
“…Huh? Take off my shoes?”
“It’ll help you relax a bit.”
“…Ah.”
Johann suddenly knelt down and took off her shoes one by one.
…Every time he touches me, it tingles…
His hands carefully placed her bare feet onto the carpet.
“Now, step onto my shoes.”
Johann moved her heels aside and put his hand back on her waist.
“Wait—on your shoes?”
Leah asked with wide eyes.
Putting her bare feet on his shoes? Not even something they did after getting married.
“Just try it. You’ll feel more relaxed and start to get the rhythm.”
“…Okay, excuse me.”
Leah hesitated, then slowly stepped onto his shoes.
“Leah, relax your feet.”
Johann whispered near her ear.
Even her heart—locked behind iron doors—felt ticklish from that whisper.
As Leah relaxed, Johann started to hum and gently led them in a waltz.
“Just trust me and lean on me.”
“…Okay.”
She took a deep breath and let her body lean into his.
It’s only because I have to learn the dance, she told herself.
As her body relaxed, she finally started to feel the graceful flow of the dance.
So this is how it’s supposed to feel.
I think I understand it now—just follow and trust your partner.
For the first time, she felt like she might be able to do the waltz properly next time.
Her lips, which had been tight from nerves, finally relaxed into a soft smile.
Johann caught a glimpse of it and smiled too.
Then he gently lifted her off his shoes, spun her lightly, and set her down.
As she twirled, her cheek brushed against his chest.
Thump-thump-thump.
She could hear his fast, loud heartbeat in her ear.
It felt like it was contagious… and that thought scared her.
