They're the kind of person who stands out wherever they are, so there's no way they wouldn't be noticeable.
'Could it be that they didn't attend?'
In the meantime, the Duke's greeting ended.
"I hope you thoroughly enjoy this evening, specially prepared by Lord Bell."
As the attendant gestured to the orchestra, the music that had stopped began to flow again.
A soft, calm, yet resilient melody. It reminded me of one of the many melodies Leagrin had played.
'The first song is supposed to be a slow dance.'
I recalled the etiquette of banquets that Leagrin had taught me yesterday in a crash course.
At that time, I was holding Leagrin's hand and dancing.
Leagrin showed me the basic steps of the dance while explaining, but I was so busy following his movements that I didn't really hear the explanation.
And when I tensed up at the mention that the first song was a dance song, he chuckled and added an explanation.
'You don't have to worry too much. The person who dances the first song is predetermined.'
'Who is it?'
'The host of the ball. So, this ball, it's the head of the family. And...'
He raised his hand. I spun around under it.
Leagrin praised it as an excellent turn.
'The host's partner dances the first song together to announce the start of the ball. Usually, the partner is the wife or fiancée, but...'
Leagrin leaned back slightly.
I took a step forward.
'If there isn't one, a family member takes on that role.'
Having said that much, Leagrin gave a smile that seemed somehow bitter.
I immediately understood the meaning of that smile.
'He must think there's no way I'd be chosen as the partner.'
Because Miracle is here.
Of course, I agreed with Leagrin's thoughts.
The first song, becoming the Duke's partner in front of the imperial dignitaries, had another meaning.
As the music began, the Duke turned to look at us.
His gaze went straight to Miracle.
It wasn't just the Duke.
Everyone was looking at Miracle.
Everyone had no doubt that Miracle would become the Duke's partner.
That was the same for me.
...That's what I thought.
The Duke approached.
"...?"
Straight towards me.
I thought the Duke would turn around and go to Miracle.
But the Duke came straight over without changing his course and stopped in front of me.
I looked up at the Duke standing in front of me with confused eyes.
"...Duke?"
Miracle is right there.
Miracle is looking at you with a bewildered expression.
Why did you come to me?
I sent a look containing such questions.
"..."
The Duke ignored that look and extended his hand to me.
I stared blankly at the black glove that was the opposite of his hair color.
"Gasp."
"What is this..."
"You mean it's not Miss Miracle?"
People who were watching the situation from afar were also shocked and whispered.
They seemed so flustered that they couldn't even think about their voices reaching the Duke's ears.
'That's normal.'
Who would have expected it?
That he would choose a bastard child he had mistreated, putting aside the daughter he had cherished so much.
Even I didn't expect it at all.
Unless there was something wrong with his head.
"Dad, Daddy...?"
There's no way he would ignore Miracle, who was calling out to him with shaky eyes and a pleading voice.
For a moment, I wondered if the Duke would belatedly come to his senses and turn his hand towards Miracle.
Even though I knew that Lord Bell would never do that, I couldn't understand the situation in front of me, so I thought so.
But no matter how much time passed, the hand directed at me was not withdrawn.
"..."
In the strange silence, only the orchestra was slowly looking around, drawing out the performance.
And then, the Duke's lips parted.
"Lucia Lord Bell."
My shoulders flinched at the name that fell from his mouth.
I raised my head again and looked up at the Duke.
It was only after looking into his eyes that I realized that all of this was not a mistake.
The Duke is waiting for me now.
Ah.
'...I don't know why, but.'
I carefully took the Duke's hand.
At that moment, I suddenly became curious.
I wonder how I look in the eyes of those arrogant aristocrats right now.
I took the Duke's hand and moved to the center of the ballroom.
The orchestra, which had been slowly looking around, regained its normal tempo.
Brilliant light fell on the Duke and me.
The people who had stepped back moved away, encircling the Duke and me.
And.
"Do you know how to waltz?"
I hesitated for a moment at the Duke's question and answered.
"The butler taught me a little."
"I see."
He moved slowly.
I followed him, stepping as I had learned from Leagrin.
But....
'Slow.'
The movement was much slower than what I had learned from Leagrin.
Did Leagrin teach me wrong?
I soon realized that wasn't the case.
'The orchestra's performance...'
The tempo of the performance was also slowing down to match the Duke's movements.
Feeling the melody stretching out for a long time, I realized that the orchestra had increased the tempo to match the Duke's movements.
There's no way the Duke's dancing skills are terrible.
Could it be....
'Is he 맞춰주고 me?'
Because I'm a beginner?
I immediately shook my head.
'There's no way.'
There's no way the Duke would show such consideration for me.
But does it matter now?
From the moment the Duke chose me over Miracle, what I knew became meaningless.
Yeah.
Why did the Duke choose me over Miracle?
That's strange to begin with.
I can't understand it even if I try to understand it.
So I.
"Duke."
I decided to ask him directly.
"Why did you choose me?"
I raised my head and looked at the Duke.
He looked down at me.
My reflection was captured in his amethyst eyes.
The way I was staring at him without shaking.
"What do you mean?"
He was being coy.
I held back the laughter that almost came out because that look was somehow funny and said.
"Miracle must have been very surprised."
"..."
"Everyone must have thought that you would choose Miracle."
"..."
"But why did you choose me as your partner?"
I don't think it's an act with a special meaning.
I didn't even start with the delusions that he accepted me as a family member or acknowledged me as a daughter.
It's just a question.
Even in the midst of this, the waltz was heading towards its climax, and the Duke and I were gradually moving more greatly.
Even if he moves slowly, I'm barely able to keep up, and it's the first time I'm dancing in front of people.
Thud.
"Ah...!"
I stepped on the Duke's foot.
I was so flustered that I stopped dancing without realizing it.
"I, I'm sorry..."
"You asked why I chose you."
Then the Duke pulled my arm weakly.
I moved to the side following his lead.
As if he didn't care at all that I stepped on his foot, he continued speaking with his usual expressionless face.
"There is a hidden reward for hunting monsters."
"...A hidden reward?"
"When a number of children take the exam together, the child who hunts the strongest monster becomes the main character of the exam."
Purple eyes captured me.
"You only hunted ogres."
My eyes widened.
I only hunted ogres.
There was some kind of misunderstanding.
It wasn't me who only hunted ogres, it was the Crown Prince.
But....
'He might be hiding his abilities.'
The Crown Prince's power - White Flame.
If I say the wrong thing, even the Crown Prince could be in trouble.
So, towards me, who couldn't easily continue my words, the Duke murmured quietly.
"So, the main character of tonight is Lucia, you."
"..."
"That's all."
I was momentarily stunned and looked at the Duke.
I'm the main character of tonight?
'I thought there might be another purpose hidden in that test, but.'
I didn't expect that it would be to find out who caught the strongest monster.
And the "main character" that the Duke said wasn't just a simple thing that ended with getting a spotlight once.
'Certainly...'
I spun around holding the Duke's hand and scanned the surroundings with my eyes.
A place where the Elders who uphold Lord Bell and the bigwigs from the Empire gathered.
All of them were focusing on me.
They were watching me dancing while holding the Duke's hand with astonished eyes.
The bastard child who was chosen by the Duke.
The weight of that one line was by no means light.
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