When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 15



Only Noblemtl

#15. Swirling Snowstorm
2024.01.15.

It was a short phrase, but it clearly contained the arrogant intention of making me happy. It was filled with an obsession with dancing that made all the worries I had had seem meaningless.

“… … Yes.”

It was a sudden change in attitude that could have been embarrassing, but no questions arose. Soon, Emilia calmly took a step back, then two steps, and then quickly turned around.

As he had said, she had come here to dance, so she decided to just finish what she had to do and go back.

However, she hid deep in her heart the thought that he was more crazy than she had imagined.

After a while, Emilia came out and stood in the center of the stage as if to announce the start. Enrico put down the wine glass he was holding and gestured to the butler who was waiting behind him.

Soft music began to flow out of the listening room. It was one of the songs that had been prepared on the gramophone in advance. Originally, he would have brought a pianist to create a perfect stage, but since there was no one who completely suited his temperament, it was a choice.

With the sound of the toe shoes hitting the wooden floor, Emilia’s body moved lightly.

‘The sound of the gramophone has become richer than before.’

It was not as good as the sound of an orchestra in reality, but it was still quite good.

Since he had invested in many places, he had many new inventions that he received first, but among them, the gramophone was an item that he could use better than others because Enrico had the only remaining ancient magic material.

In this age of scientific advancement, it was embarrassing to call it magic; it was only the ability to store multiple songs and amplify sounds, but it was not bad because it was the only remaining trace of ancient magic in this kingdom.

‘I can keep using it like this.’

He crossed his legs lazily and leaned back against the backrest. He had planned to watch the stage once today and consider hiring a pianist if he didn’t like it, so he was satisfied from the start.

There were times when I would rent a small theater outside and listen to the performances of sponsors alone, but in the first place, they weren’t worth bringing into this mansion.

However, if I had to invite those people because of this stage, it would have been quite unpleasant.

‘It wasn’t a bad choice after all.’

His arrogant and overbearing eyes gently curved as if they were collapsing. Emilia Este, the only one who recognized her value, danced beautifully like the day they first met, as if his aesthetic sense was not wrong.

It was a *pas de deux part where the two of them danced together, but Emilia danced without feeling the absence of her partner at all. Her natural acting and smooth dancing as if she was swimming in water were enough to fill the stage alone.

The look of her body trembling with caution a moment ago was nowhere to be found, and she simply smiled lovingly.

The smile on his lips that had been leisurely going up slowly disappeared. As if he were the male protagonist of [La Sylphide] who was completely immersed in a fairy and couldn’t come to his senses, his gaze never left her.

His head that had been evaluating her and his fingertips that had been tapping the armrest to the beat had all stopped.

Her hot passion that took over her surroundings like a blazing phoenix gradually heated up her surroundings. The sweat dripping down her flushed cheeks soaked the floor.

***

I had a dream last night. A time in the past when I was walking in the garden with my parents and laughing and dancing. The affectionate eyes of my parents looking down at me with joy were so sweet that I didn’t want to wake up.

“… … I miss you.”

Emilia slowly opened her eyes and an unfamiliar ceiling came into view. Her eyes, still half-asleep, were filled with a hazy feeling as if she were wandering in a dream.

Emilia placed one arm over her eyes. She wanted to search her memories as if savoring a dream, but when she opened her eyes, all that remained was a feeling.

‘Should I warm the bed?’

She tried to maintain that feeling, but suddenly, she was startled by the memory of yesterday that was gnawing at her,

and she jumped out of bed. She got out of bed and put on her soft slippers. The fireplace that had been burning all night was now only a small ember left after dawn. She

slowly approached the window. When she opened the green curtains, she could see the white snow that was still falling. The night she returned home was like this. The weather had been calm before she entered the duke’s residence, but as she was about to return home, it suddenly changed and a blizzard swept in. As

she was about to sit down on the chair next to him, she noticed a vase of flowers decorating the table that had been empty yesterday.

It seemed that Zabetta had arranged the gorgeous bouquet Enrico had given her the night before, but when she realized it, the room, filled with the scent of spring, was so different from the cold weather outside the window, just like Enrico yesterday.

‘He really is an unpredictable man… … .’

Yesterday, after the short stage, Enrico didn’t say anything for a while. He just stared at himself as he caught his breath and got up from his exhaustion. Then, when Emilia was wondering what to do next and whether she should just retreat to the side of the stage, Enrico blurted out.

‘Just do this.’

Maybe it was because he was sitting in a relatively dark seat due to the stage lights, but his eyes seemed to sparkle for some reason.

‘Then you’ll get more out of it.’

Yes, he looked very happy. His smile, which drew a curve at the corner of his mouth as if he was satisfied with everything, looked strangely sinister.

Finally, Enrico reached behind him. Then, as if he had been waiting, a servant appeared holding a huge bouquet of flowers. Enrico stood up from his seat holding the bouquet in one hand. Then he strode toward the stage.

‘Congratulations on my first time on stage.’

Standing right in front of the stage, he looked up at her as if he was gesturing for her to come closer. Every time she looked up, she was the one who looked up at herself, but Emilia hesitated and narrowed the distance because the situation was so unfamiliar. She carefully bent her knees and reached out her hand. Soon, the scent of flowers filled her arms.

‘It’s the first day, so shouldn’t we celebrate? Wait in the banquet room.’

‘Huh? No, it’s okay. I have to leave early tomorrow morning, so I’m going to-.’

‘Emilia.’

Her shoulders jerked. The voice calling her name for the first time was so sweet that it gave her goosebumps and made her feel awkward. He slowly turned his neck while lazily rubbing the back of her neck.

‘I feel really good right now.’

‘… ‘

‘So I’ll tell you just this once.’

‘… Yes.’

‘Don’t try to disobey me. No matter what happens.’

It was a feeling of pressure that made her nod without thinking. Even though her pride was hurt and she was ashamed, this contract was clearly divided into A and B from the beginning. She couldn’t waste the one opportunity she had barely filled with a needless objection.

Soon, Emilia nodded slightly, and his eyes, which had been cold for a moment, gently opened.

As if praising her obedient attitude, he gently pushed up the small hand that was holding the bouquet. As if telling her to take care of it.

‘I should just leave it in the living room.’

She had never once thought of disliking flowers, but seeing the flowers he gave her in the morning made her mood sink. Her plan to come home right after finishing the stage was ruined by him showering her and treating her to a sumptuous meal, and because it was snowing heavily, she was much later in the evening.

Emilia shook her hands off as if she didn’t want to remember yesterday anymore, and soon began stretching her entire body. Her body, which had been stiff from the chill, gradually became warm.

“I wish time would pass quickly… … ”

Emilia’s listless voice lingered in the air for a moment.

***

She gradually adapted to her daily life. Waking up in an unfamiliar house, saying goodbye to Zabetta who was waiting for her at home, and performing her second solo at Enrico’s mansion.

The weather had been sunny since the snowstorm a while ago. She didn’t know when it would change, but Emilia went to work at the ballet company today as well, seeing that the calm weather was continuing. Emilia parked her carriage a little way from the theater and walked slowly to the left, toward the emergency stairs instead of the main entrance.

“Este Young Lady?”

The title that shouldn’t be called here stuck in her ears. Emilia’s two eyes, which had been lowering their heads to avoid the cold, turned straight ahead.

“Ah… … .”

A person she didn’t know was there caught her eye. A handsome man with silver hair that reflected moonlight and purple eyes much brighter than Enrico’s was smiling happily.

Emilia stopped for a moment and then belatedly bowed her knees.

“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Alessandro Treano, the next ruler of this kingdom. He quickly closed the distance and gently grabbed one of Emilia’s arms as if telling her to raise her head quickly.