CHAPTER 031
"You were nervous, weren't you?"
"Nervous?"
Was I nervous? I might be focusing too hard not to make any mistakes, so it could come off that way.
"I'm not nervous."
I replied with wide eyes, and Lewis said,
"Your body is stiff."
While dancing, Lewis had his hand on my back, and he pressed his fingers slightly.
Ah, that's how he noticed.
"Got me."
I smiled sheepishly at Lewis's words.
"Just relax."
Lewis laughed lightly, looking at me with eyes that seemed to say I was trying too hard.
"Do I look like such a bad guy? I won't kill you if you step on my foot once."
Then he added something quite chilling.
"But I won't let it go if someone else steps on me."
That's exactly why I'm trying not to step on you...
Anyway, since he kept insisting it was okay, I loosened my overly tense body.
"You're wearing those shoes?"
Lewis noticed the shoes that occasionally peeked out from under my dress as we danced.
"Yes. They go well with the dress, right?"
"They do."
He even complimented my outfit!
It felt more like he was answering because I asked, but still, isn't this great? It's amazing that I've become such good friends with Lewis.
Finally, the song ended.
We moved together to where the twins were.
"Lady Elsner!"
Charlotte, who was also invited to the ball, approached us.
"Hello, Marquis?"
Charlotte greeted Lewis brightly as well.
Lewis only nodded his head slightly in response.
He's so awkward, what should I do...?
Anyway, coming to the ball, I realized something.
In the past, people wouldn't have approached where Bella and Lewis were, but now, there were people coming over.
Count Millard approached us discreetly and greeted Lewis first.
"I've heard a lot about you from my son, Marquis."
"Really?"
"It's an honor that you decided to come to our ball. I should have sent an invitation earlier, but I thought you might avoid such events unless it's a special occasion-"
Lady Horse greeted Bella enthusiastically.
"Lady Croft, is the dress you're wearing from Plen Salon?"
"Yes, it is. You recognized it right away?"
"Of course! I've been keeping an eye on the new products."
The young lady accompanying Lady Horse was also listening to Bella's story with great interest.
See, Bella can get along with others just fine!
Feeling pleased, I decided to go get something to drink since I was also getting thirsty.
"I'll come with you."
Charlotte followed me.
"I saw you dancing with the Marquis. I didn't dance earlier."
"You didn't?"
"No, I'm planning to take it slow."
At the table set with refreshments, Charlotte picked up a glass of orange juice.
"Everyone was surprised to see the Marquis dancing with someone other than Lady Croft for the first time!"
"Really?"
"Yes. They said you're the only one who can be that close to the Marquis."
So that's why everyone was looking at me with curious eyes!
"It's a bit embarrassing. Haha..."
I placed enough glasses on the tray for our group.
"Let's carry it together."
Charlotte, holding a glass of juice in her right hand, picked up another glass from the tray with her left hand.
Just as we were about to return with some simple snacks, I stepped on something.
"Whoa!"
I stumbled but didn't fall.
Thank goodness.
Reflexively, I looked down and saw a squashed piece of cheese. It must have been one of the cheeses displayed on the table.
At that moment, before I could fully feel relieved, the glasses on the tray tipped over.
"What?"
Oh no!
The glasses toppled over and their contents spilled in an instant.
The liquid splashed onto the floor and my dress.
"Oh no..."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes... It's a relief that it was just water."
It was indeed fortunate that the glass at the edge of the tray contained water.
The wine that pooled on the tray—thank goodness it didn't ruin the dress Bella worked so hard to prepare.
Though I was relieved, Charlotte still seemed concerned.
She quickly placed the glasses she was holding back on the table and took the tray from me, placing it on the table as well.
"You're all wet. Let's go to the terrace."
The skirt part was indeed soaked...
I followed Charlotte's suggestion and moved to the terrace.
Charlotte, ever so kind, had brought a napkin and started dabbing at my skirt.
I also began wiping my upper thighs, grumbling.
"Why was there cheese on the floor? If it weren't for the tray, I would've shown off my amazing balance."
"That cheese was inconsiderate."
Even as she laughed at my comment about amazing balance, Charlotte agreed with me.
She's so kind...
I hadn't told Bella where I was going, so I planned to just dry off and head back.
At that moment, a disturbing sound came from the adjacent terrace.
"Lady, why do you keep refusing my dance requests?"
"What?"
"This is the seventh time!"
What is this? It sounded serious.
"How can you refuse every time?"
"You're being rude. You shouldn't intrude on someone's resting place."
The female voice sounded familiar.
Isn't that Lady Hopkins' voice? I wasn't sure, but it was clear that she was very upset.
The voices continued from the terrace next door.
"Please leave immediately."
"I won't leave until I hear a reason for the refusals!"
"You're incredibly rude! Barging into someone's resting place like this!"
"I won't leave until I hear the reason!"
He's persistent. What a complete...
Lady Hopkins sounded even more irritated.
"It's my freedom to accept or refuse a dance. Do I have to accept every request?"
"I understand refusing once or twice, but how can you refuse every time? Then accept someone else's request. Is that fair?"
He sounded very indignant.
But is it really such an unfair thing?
As Lady Hopkins said, it's up to her to accept or refuse a request...
"That man seems very drunk."
Charlotte whispered anxiously.
"Indeed."
The man seemed drunk. No wonder his words were a bit slurred.
Hearing the continuous argument, Charlotte abruptly stood up.
"This won't do. I have to intervene."
"I'll go with you!"
I couldn't let Charlotte go alone.
Following the righteous Charlotte, I moved to the adjacent terrace.
Although it was rude, in urgency, I opened the door directly and saw a man standing with his back to us and Lady Hopkins sitting in a chair.
The man turned around, surprised to see us.
"What... Why are you here?"
"Do you know us?"
I didn't recognize his face.
Even Charlotte, who had attended many gatherings in the capital, seemed to see this man for the first time.
While the man stood there in shock, Charlotte spoke calmly.
"Lady Hopkins is uncomfortable. Please leave."
The man's expression changed.
His face, which seemed dazed while assessing the situation, turned angry as if a switch had been flipped.
"Who are you to tell me to leave? You just barged in!"
"And so did you, didn't you?"
Charlotte didn't back down.
I looked at Charlotte in amazement.
She was just like her character in the original story—kind yet intolerant of injustice.
I felt more confident with her by my side.
I shouldn't stay quiet either!
I turned my gaze to Lady Hopkins, who looked at us in confusion.
Passing by the man, I walked over to Lady Hopkins.
"Let's go, Lady. Let's find another place to rest."
"What are you doing? These rude people..."
Next, the self-introduction!
Just as we were about to leave the terrace with Lady Hopkins, the man reached out to block the door.
"Didn't you hear me?"
"You're being disrespectful."
"What?"
"I said, don't be disrespectful. Otherwise, I'll speak disrespectfully to you too."
I hadn't had a single drink, but I could speak boldly.
The main character was right next to me, and downstairs were three reliable Croft members!
I'm doing something good, so I can be brazen about it.
The man burst out laughing in disbelief.
"Hah! Living with the Crofts made you think you are a Croft yourself?"
"Of course not. My last name is Elsner."
I widened my eyes and sent a worried look to Charlotte, who was now with Lady Hopkins.
Charlotte was the one who originally stepped in, but somehow I ended up facing the man.
"Don't force someone to dance with you if they don't want to. It's entirely up to the lady."
"What?"
"If you want to dance so badly, ask someone else."
Who knows who might agree!
"If no one else agrees, I can dance with you, so come back when you're sober."
"Who would dance with you?"
"What are you doing here?"
The man's voice was cut off by someone else's voice.
Turning around, I saw Lewis standing with Bella.
"Marquis?"
"You weren't coming back, so we came looking."
Bella answered for him.
Lewis stood with one hand on his hip, asking me.
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