I could feel gazes from all around, as if they were trying to pierce through me. Most of these gazes were filled with negative emotions.
Jealousy, disdain, and anger were predominant among them.
Through countless reincarnations, I had experienced various kinds of gazes. Thus, I could fully grasp the meaning behind their stares.
However, there was one peculiar point.
Despite the overwhelmingly negative emotions, no one approached us.
It was odd that even after an infamous woman like myself suddenly became the fiancée of a duke, people didn’t swarm in immediately.
That’s how these aristocrats usually acted—like hyenas eager to tear others apart.
“Um, Abel.”
“Hm? Is there something?”
I momentarily froze at the polite honorifics that weren’t usually offered to me. Raising my head, I saw that Abel was looking at me with a smile on his lips.
His gentle smile and the poised movements leading me carried an air of grace.
Is he putting on an act for the sake of others’ gazes?
Even so, his behavior seemed entirely natural.
It was clear—dukes were exceptional even in acting.
“Why isn’t anyone coming over?”
When I whispered the question, he seemed to ponder it for a moment, lowering his head. He then replied softly.
“It’s because they know I don’t like social events.”
His tone was meaningful, raising my doubts. However, it didn’t seem like he would answer if I asked further.
In the end, I gave up on questioning and turned my head towards the person whose gaze had been troubling me since a while back.
Most of the gazes directed at me were filled with negative emotions, but this particular one carried only a trace of interest.
“…Who is this person?”
Turning my head, I spotted a woman watching me—a long head of golden hair catching even from a distance, glowing amber eyes.
“Aria, the Princess…”
In the original story, this character only made cameo appearances without much prominence, always shrouded in mystery, giving off an air of being a behind-the-scenes manipulator.
My friend had explained the cryptic hints surrounding her because they mostly turned out to be a MacGuffin.
Simply put, her true identity was never properly disclosed in the original story—an unusual character.
“…Thinking about it, she really resembles Abel.”
Leaving aside the manipulative aspect, the gaze she fixed on me was quite similar to Abel’s.
“In fact, weren’t they together just now?”
During the carriage ride, I was too tense to notice. But now, reflecting back, weren’t Abel and Aria standing together on the balcony earlier?
What was their relationship, exactly?
This speculation made my head feel rather overwhelmed.
As the band playing music paused briefly, signaling the start of the next piece, it also implied that it was time for dancing at the banquet.
“…Hold on.”
Before I could even finish the thought, Abel smiled and extended his hand.
“Would you do me the honor of a dance?”
“…Certainly. Let’s.”
At least, in front of others, we needed to act like we had fallen in love at first sight, which required dancing together. Even if it was just for show, it seemed better than not doing anything.
I stepped carefully as I had been taught by my dance instructor. When I grabbed his hand to start, I accidentally twisted my ankle.
Fortunately, Abel seemed to notice this and subtly steadied me by adjusting his grip.
“Please be more careful, Adelle.”
“…Thank you.”
Indeed, was this why male characters in romance novels were like this?
They had impeccable manners, and their dancing skills were also top-notch. At this point, I began to wonder if there was anything Abel lacked.
“…Even I have my shortcomings.”
“…Hm?”
“Didn’t you just think that I might not have any?”
“Should I classify you as a manipulative character, then?”
Guessing my thoughts so calmly certainly unsettled me. It seemed this character was indeed different.
“It’s all written on your face. Perhaps you should consider improving your expression management.”
“…Thank you for your advice.”
I thought I had somewhat mastered the poker face, but it seems manipulative characters are truly a breed apart.
*
“There’s something that is really irritating.”
Setting aside the assumption that I am a romance novel male lead, the fact that he looked at me as if I were another species truly didn’t sit well with me.
Even though I have lived in this world for over twenty years, I, like her, came from the modern era. That he would regard me with such an expression was truly infuriating.
Feeling increasingly annoyed, I started leading the dance a bit faster.
Adelle, who was relatively inexperienced in dancing compared to me, was looking down with her focus on her feet as she followed my steps.
Whenever she made a misstep, I adjusted my own to maintain a smooth flow, easily keeping pace thanks to the strict training from Alan.
As the music resumed, it was inching toward its climax.
Adelle was too focused on following my steps to even look at my face.
As the music’s conclusion approached and the tempo quickened, I slightly slowed it down. This gave her some breathing room, and she suddenly looked up at me.
Adelle whispered rather irritably, loud enough for only me to hear.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Who told you to look at me that way?”
“What look?”
“The look as if I’m a different species.”
My words left her momentarily speechless. She had no counterargument, as she really had looked at me that way.
“…I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it would bother you.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
“Really?”
Whispering close to her ear, I added with a touch of vengeance by slightly tripping her.
Naturally stumbling backward, I held her waist with one hand and her thigh with the other, maintaining the high-difficulty finale pose typical in dance manuals.
This pose, especially for female partners inexperienced in dancing, was bound to make them blush in embarrassment.
“Eh?”
“Consider this my apology.”
Saying this with a faint smile, Adelle looked at me with a dazed expression. Then, upon regaining her composure, her face turned redder than a persimmon.
Her embarrassed visage was unexpectedly endearing to look at. Who would’ve thought she’d be so shy about a simple pose?
Considering that she, as the reincarnation, might have never danced properly with a man before, it seemed probable this was her first time.
Given her infamous reputation as a villainess, it’s unlikely anyone would have asked her to dance.
Therefore, her reaction was somewhat understandable. I recalled my own similar reactions when I first danced with Adelle.
After resting momentarily in my arms, she gently pushed me away and quietly said,
“…I’ll be more careful next time. Is that alright?”
“I’m glad you understand.”
Upon hearing this, Adelle slightly turned her head and began fanning her face with her hand.
Although it seemed unlikely that doing so would instantly make her red face return to normal…
Meanwhile, the band finished their performance.
As the music ended, those who intended to leave began to disperse, while others changed dance partners.
The young noblemen who were earlier so eager to invite other noblewomen to dance quickly looked away and turned their heads when they happened to meet Adelle’s eyes.
Perhaps they were still unfamiliar with social circles?
Avoiding someone’s gaze so conspicuously was quite a violation of etiquette.
“Looks like Adelle isn’t very popular among the young nobles.”
“…Shut up.”
I muttered jokingly. Adelle responded irritably and attempted to leave the ballroom.
“Are you going back to the duke’s residence?”
“Yes. Wasn’t our engagement already announced?”
“That’s true.”
In reality, I’m uncertain how engagement ceremonies proceed, but in this world, there isn’t necessarily a separate event for engagements.
Engagement, unlike marriage, is a relationship that can be broken easily based on personal circumstances, so such ceremonies are rarely held.
However, they might be held in cases where there’s an established relationship between two families that spans a long period of time.
Even so, we had decided to have an engagement ceremony. It would help maintain the pretense that both of us fell in love at first sight.
When an engagement ceremony is held between two people who supposedly fell in love at first sight, it would surely generate gossip among romantic-loving noblewomen, spreading the belief that our first-sight love was real.
This could help neutralize Adelle’s infamous villainess reputation.
Or, perhaps it might worsen due to jealousy.
Lost in thought, Adelle said,
“Then, I will go ahead, Abel.”
“No, I’ll accompany you.”
At my words, Adelle asked as if something seemed off.
“Aren’t you supposed to have something else to attend to?”
“Not particularly.”
Adelle gestured with her eyes to a corner of the ballroom where Princess Aria stood, her long blond hair flowing gracefully. She was watching me directly.
Meeting her gaze, Princess Aria smiled slyly and waved her hand slightly.
“…Here we go again.”
Seeing her seemingly cheerful expression made me irritable, so I glared at her. Princess Aria immediately averted her gaze and pretended not to notice.
At least there should be a distinction between when she plays tricks and when she doesn’t. We don’t want our relationship exposed. What is she even doing?
Considering the public perception, she and I were merely acquaintances. Her joke at this moment, therefore, was quite dangerous.
While lost in my thoughts, Adelle asked me with a suspicious look.
“What is your relationship with Princess Aria?”
With a sigh, I answered her.
“We’re mere acquaintances.”
Of course, I couldn’t reveal my relationship with the princess.
She and I collaborate to bring down the royal family. My trust in Adelle isn’t strong enough to divulge such information.
Certainly, through the original story, I understand that she has a reserved character and doesn’t divulge others’ secrets recklessly.
However, that fact is separate from whether I trust her.
No matter who Adelle is, the relationship between Aria and me involves treason against the royal family, a grave crime, so I cannot disclose it lightly.
While contemplating, Adelle asked again in a tone suggesting suspicion.
“…Is that true?”
“Of course.”
“…Alright. Let’s head back to the duke’s residence.”
Adelle furrowed her brows, seemingly unhappy, turned around, and walked towards the carriage.
Lily, the maid who had been watching by her side, quickly followed her.
What was the problem, exactly?
After remaining isolated from women for the past five years, I couldn’t quite grasp the feelings involved.
