Chapter 31………………………………………
He leaned slightly toward me and spoke softly enough that only I could hear.
“I was nervous at first too.”
His Holiness often stands before large crowds.
Imagining him feeling even a little nervous like me loosened the tension in my heart, and a smile came to my lips.
Once again, I was being helped by him.
Whenever I’m with him, his careful consideration drives away my anxiety and leaves me calm.
And that, in turn, makes me feel sorry—because the kindness he shows me is far greater than I deserve.
“Thank you. You’ve given me strength.”
Cassius tightened his grip on my hand.
“Whenever you need me, please come find me.”
Our relationship is one of mutual necessity.
I need a safe place. Cassius can protect me.
And he needs my omega pheromones to lift the curse of his special ability.
‘But that’s not the only reason.’
Simply being with Cassius puts me at ease. It makes me happy.
With all my tension gone, I smiled and squeezed his hand.
“Your Holiness, can you dance?”
“I am the Holy Emperor. We hold balls in the Holy Kingdom as well.”
Ah—he might actually be better at this than I am.
I received social training when I was young, but it was so long ago that my memory is hazy.
For some reason, I didn’t want to lose.
“Then you must be good. I’m going to choose a rather difficult dance—can you keep up?”
“You underestimate me.”
His gaze sharpened, serious.
He really does sound confident.
I stepped into the center of the ballroom with him and began to dance.
My first dance in my life was with Cassius.
His hand settled around my waist. Mine rested against his back.
We moved steadily, in time with the music.
He flowed like free-running water, without the slightest hesitation.
If anything, I was the one falling behind.
“You dance Imperial styles well.”
“I practiced separately. I hoped you’d like it, Sonia.”
I laughed softly.
“What do you mean? You practiced because of the event.”
“No.”
His voice grew low and serious, just as our chests brushed during the step.
From the moment I saw him standing there in formal attire that matched the color of my dress, my heart had been racing.
The longer we danced together, the stronger the trembling became.
I wondered if he could feel the frantic beating of my heart through where our bodies touched.
Not wanting him to notice how carried away I was by the atmosphere, I tried to pull back slightly—but instead, he tightened the arm around my waist.
I was drawn fully against him.
“I practiced because I wanted to look good to you.”
Knowing he’d gone to that effort for me made me happy.
I smiled, my face flushed.
Cassius whispered,
“If you enjoyed it, I’d like to ask for one more dance.”
“Do you know Imperial customs?”
“I know them perfectly.”
Dancing twice in a row with the same partner meant feelings that went beyond simple goodwill.
Neither friends nor lovers.
But perhaps something that could become love.
Guided by his hand, I spun gracefully in place. The blue fabric of my dress and my silver hair entwined before settling back into place.
The music ended.
So did our first dance.
I lifted my hand to fix my slightly disheveled hair—but Cassius reached out first, gently smoothing it into place.
‘His hands are big.’
I’d noticed it when we held hands too—long, straight fingers.
I wanted to hold them again.
Maybe it was because I wasn’t wearing my priestly robes.
For just today, I felt like it might be all right to be honest—as Sonia Theodore, not as a priest.
Once I returned to the Holy Kingdom and put my robes back on, everything between us would return to how it was.
I reached out.
“One more dance, please.”
He intertwined his fingers with mine.
Like a knot pulled tight, impossible to loosen, he held me firmly and stepped closer.
The corners of his eyes curved in delight.
“With pleasure.”
***
“Your Highness, His Majesty says you must attend the ball this time.”
Sertina let out a short laugh as she leaned against the window, watching the fireworks burst above the ballroom.
“He always says that.”
Every noble knew that Princess Sertina’s legs were in poor condition.
But there was no reason to announce to a crowded hall that her legs still hadn’t healed.
Unless there was something to gain.
So she always ignored the requests.
The Emperor would suggest it once, but never force her.
‘Besides, it’s an event related to the Holy Kingdom.’
Sertina had grown to truly hate the god Magnus.
Some of her childhood memories were missing.
It had happened during a picnic with the imperial family.
In a shaded area, a white table had been set with delicious food.
She remembered eating—but nothing after that.
According to witnesses, while the Emperor and Empress were talking, she disappeared with Shane, and the Crown Prince was later found struggling in a nearby lake.
Much later, Sertina herself was found with both leg tendons severed.
The shock and pain had erased her memory of the incident.
People speculated that the lost child might have been stabbed by something sharp like a tree root, severing her tendons.
A renowned physician had been summoned, but even after treatment, she could barely stand without assistance.
From that point on, the only thing Sertina could cling to was the mercy of the god Magnus.
She prayed desperately for a miracle to descend upon her as well—but her legs never moved.
‘After all that devotion!’
The god hadn’t even pretended to listen.
She came to hate Magnus. And, by extension, the priests as well.
When she heard that a Sanctuary of Healing had been discovered, a sliver of hope returned—only to be crushed when she learned that the prayer needed for final awakening couldn’t be deciphered.
‘As expected, the only thing I can trust is the recovery potion the Mage Tower is developing.’
The Mage Tower promised to create a medicine to heal her legs.
Unlike the priests, they didn’t ask for donations—and they wouldn’t demand payment until results were achieved.
Recently, they reported success in animal trials.
Unwilling to rely on words alone, Sertina personally confirmed it through a communication device she’d received upon signing the contract.
She watched as a rat’s broken leg was restored.
After that, she sent the Mage Tower the contract fee.
It was a large sum—but she assisted with the merchant guild run by the Empress’s maternal family, and her own private ventures were also succeeding.
Even so, it hadn’t been an easy payment.
‘I should’ve contacted the Mage Tower sooner.’
The time and money she’d wasted clinging to Magnus felt unbearable.
“Your Highness.”
The maid who had been observing the ball returned.
For her to come back mid-event meant something had happened.
“Speak.”
“Grand Duke Lündmeyer has attended the imperial ball.”
Her second older brother?
He’d recently begun attending noble gatherings, but to appear at an official event—
‘This is my chance.’
She wanted to speak with Schwarz at least once. To make him her ally.
But he’d cut off all contact, making it impossible to even send a letter.
She couldn’t chase after events he attended either.
He appeared without warning, like a natural disaster—never even responding positively beforehand.
“I’ll attend the ball. Prepare immediately.”
It was rare for Sertina to leave the Princess’s Palace.
At the thought of finally wearing the dress she’d had tailored, the maids excitedly began their preparations.
***
My second dance with Cassius ended.
As if he’d been waiting, the Emperor struck up a conversation with him.
They’d already talked at length before the ball—it seemed he still had much to say.
Unable to interrupt, I wandered the ballroom alone.
I was looking for Lancelot, just in case he’d arrived late.
As with Cassius, people flocked to me.
“I had no idea someone so beautiful was here—may I ask your name?”
“You’re a priest from the Holy Kingdom, yes? Would you care to dance?”
They were all taller than me, blocking my view.
I needed to find Lancelot—move!
“I’m here with someone.”
I rejected them firmly, but a few men clung stubbornly.
After circling the ballroom once at a brisk pace, still fending them off, I couldn’t find Lancelot anywhere.
‘Schwarz isn’t here either?’
Prince Shane was.
‘Lancelot must have gone back to the estate.’
It seemed there would be no chance of Lancelot, Schwarz, and Shane meeting together.
I should rest for a bit.
I stepped out onto the terrace.
I was overheated from all the movement.
Thankfully, no one followed me out.
“So refreshing.”
The cold breeze soothed even my excited heart.
As the heat faded, the ache in my feet grew noticeable.
‘I’m never wearing heels again!’
The shoes priests wear are designed for movement—I could run all day in them.
These pointed shoes matched the dress, but while beautiful, they hurt terribly.
I glanced around.
The neighboring terrace was empty.
Reassured, I kicked off my shoes.
My bare feet touched the cold marble floor.
“Now I can finally breathe.”
I wished there were somewhere to sit, but there were no chairs on the terrace.
So I perched on the railing instead.
It was dizzyingly high—but after seven years of cleaning bell towers, this height didn’t bother me at all.
I was resting comfortably, swinging my legs—
When suddenly, the balcony door flew open.
‘Didn’t they see the sign saying it was occupied?’
I’d definitely put it up.
Was it one of the men who’d been following me?
I froze in surprise—then relaxed when I saw who it was.
“Your Holiness.”
Cassius was holding two slender glasses filled with a golden drink.
He stopped abruptly as he stepped inside.
