Do Your Best and Regret

Chapter 13

"Your Majesty, did you enjoy it?"

The words, so heavy that I didn't even know when I had been thinking about them, disappeared into thin air. A small crack seemed to appear above Leopold's calm expression.

For the first time, I felt like I could see unfamiliar emotions in the eyes that always leisurely looked at me.

"No."

I closed my mouth at the quiet reply. Today's Leopold was really different from usual. He directly referred to me as her fiancee, called me by my nickname, and asked me to do his first dance. Was Leopold's sincerity contained in those things that I thought were easy for me to see?

At first, I had no choice but to accept the engagement, but Leopold may have deep down acknowledged me as his fiancée. Perhaps Leopold also opened his heart to me subconsciously.

Small hopes came together one by one. With anticipation building on top of disappointment, I slowly looked at Leopold. Leopold gently rolled his eyes at me. The bright blue eyes in his eyes looked at me accusingly.

I had a feeling that Leopold would say something different from what I expected.

"How dare you treat me like that in the presence of all the nobles? It would be a lie if I said it was fun."

A playful coldness pressed on me. I smiled bitterly without realizing it. It seemed like if I didn't bite my lip, at least a sigh would escape.

"Thanks to Maria."

Leopold calmly mentioned Maria Ethel's name and affectionately tucked my hair behind my ear. As I approached him, I smelled a faint, wet smell of burning wood.

Leopold whispered before coughing.

"I would have been really upset if Maria hadn't tried to make me feel better."

Then yes. Leopold can't do that. I forgetting about his cough, gathered my wits as I walked away. My illusion was funny. Leopold was still the same. When will my expectation that people will look back at me if I do my best come true?

The realization of reality hit me cruelly. I barely raised the corner of my mouth. When new music started playing, Leopold's hand went up to my waist. The feeling of his hands on my waist was awkward.

As I trembled slightly, Leopold my fiancé, whom I loved, whispered.

"If you're clumsy, you should at least pretend to be skilled, Princess."

Those words pierced my heart like an awl. I did my dance. For countless days, I had imagined a day like this. I dance and step together with Leopold while wearing the same colored clothes. It certainly seemed like I would meet Leopold's eyes in the middle of a fancy banquet hall, with everyone's eyes on me.

I thought that when he held my hand and danced with me, Leopold's eyes would be as kind as the spring breeze. Reality was not as sweet or warm as I thought. Even though it was clearly the same dance, Leopold's lead pushed me mercilessly.

I struggled to keep up with Leopold's pace with all my concentration. I moved my feet quickly as I feared that Leopold would step on my feet. I spun around, floated, and then landed. This dance was not fun. At one point, I felt that my ankles were cold. The waltz song has ended.

Clap clap clap.

Thunderous applause erupted.

Leopold, who was looking at me as if it was obvious, gave a small bow. My breath, which I couldn't let out because I was paying attention to my feet, rose to the tip of my chin. I belatedly took a deep breath and lowered my head towards Leopold. When I immediately raised my head, Leopold had already turned around.