IQBSA 26

Chapter 26

“……M-Me?”

My mind went blank, and I even stammered.

“Yes. Serpine Mirabel, mage of the Magic Tower—I am speaking to you.”

『……What trick is this now? And how does he know my name?』

So he did know who I was but pretended not to. What was he trying to do to me?

As all sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind, the Prince extended his hand toward me.

『Why on earth does he suddenly want to dance with me…….』

Could he be in cahoots with the Empress?

But when I glanced at the Empress, she looked just as bewildered, as if she had no idea what was going on either.

As I agonized over how to get out of this predicament, the Prince spoke again.

“I had to return to the palace in a hurry and couldn’t secure a proper partner, so please, just one dance with me. Just one dance is all I ask.”

“I’m deeply honored by your kindness, but…… I’m not very good at dancing.”

All I could think about was finding a way to refuse.

I had learned social dancing as a required subject at the Academy, and I’d practiced over and over for the graduation party—I could dance even with my eyes closed.

But even if I could dance, I had to say I couldn’t right now.

Because I wanted to avoid the disaster of dancing alone with Prince Enok, the icon of sinister scheming in the novel.

However, the Prince didn’t back down as easily as I’d hoped.

“That’s fine. I’ll lead you properly, so all you have to do is stand still.”

With him saying that much, it was hard to refuse further.

“It’s just that…….”

『……Why do all these main characters refuse to leave me alone!』

I shot a pleading look at the Tower Master, the one who started it all.

But Roakin merely watched the Prince with an unreadable expression. The relentlessly persistent two-faced Prince was still holding out his hand right in front of me.

『This useless Tower Master…….』

Even if the Prince and the Empress had conspired to kill me, it probably wouldn’t happen right away.

『With so many eyes watching, surely he wouldn’t try anything foolish in such a public place.』

Steeling my resolve, I placed my hand in the Prince’s.

Prince Enok led me to the dance floor as if he’d been waiting for this.

“Place your hand on my shoulder.”

I was reluctant to touch the Prince’s body, but refusing now would look strange.

Because of the height difference, I had to practically rest my hand on his shoulder. Prince Enok carefully wrapped his arm around my waist.

At that moment, I felt goosebumps rise along my arms, but I barely held back and tried not to show any fear.

The dance music that had stopped began to play again, and as the melody swelled, the Prince guided my body and started to dance.

『……Is it because he’s royalty?』

I was inwardly amazed by the steps, which were on a completely different level from dancing with a fellow Academy classmate.

Elegant yet flawlessly sharp, his movements flowed like water.

But this wasn’t the time to be impressed, so I kept my wits about me.

“For someone who said she couldn’t dance, you’re following quite well. I almost mistook you for lying because you didn’t want to dance with me.”

“……”

Yes, it’s not a misunderstanding—it’s the correct answer.

Realizing my inner thoughts had been seen through, my expression must have stiffened, because the Prince hastily added as if making an excuse.

“I’m joking. You’re the type whose emotions show plainly on your face, aren’t you? I’m the same way, so I feel a sense of kinship.”

『What exactly are you trying to say?』

I wished he’d just get to the point, but I couldn’t exactly press him directly……

“Haha……, is that so?”

I just laughed awkwardly.

“I know you must have been surprised by my sudden dance request. But there’s something I absolutely wanted to ask you.”

It seemed he was finally getting to the main point.

“……And what is that?”

Just as I tensed up, we reached a section where I had to do a turn in the air.

The Prince lifted me as if I were made of feathers, set me down gently, and leaned close to my ear to speak.

“I saw you entering my brother’s room.”

I thought he had pulled back immediately, but it seemed he had witnessed me going into the Crown Prince’s bedchamber for the examination.

“Serpine, in your opinion…… how was my brother’s condition?”

Why was he asking me this?

Was he trying to confirm for certain that the Crown Prince was still unconscious?

“……Why are you asking me that?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m only asking because I’m genuinely worried about my brother—I have no other intention.”

His eyes looked earnest for someone scheming dark plots. But having read the original novel, I couldn’t take what I saw at face value.

“And how did you know my name?”

“Ah, I was curious because I saw an unfamiliar face entering my brother’s room, so I did a little personal investigation…… I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable.”

As expected, I couldn’t tell how much of it was true and how much wasn’t. I thought for a moment about how to respond, then opened my mouth.

“I’m sorry, but even if you are the Prince, that’s not something I can speak about carelessly. Before examining His Highness the Crown Prince, I swore an oath not to disclose his condition to anyone outside.”

At those words, Prince Enok’s face clearly showed disappointment.

Moreover, his broad, dependable shoulders suddenly drooped, making him look like a hungry beast that had gone days without food.

『……Don’t pretend to be pitiful.』

Prince Enok—the villain who would stab his own brother in the back—was trying to stir sympathy with a pitiful expression.

Of course, I wasn’t about to fall for such tricks. I scoffed inwardly.

“Understandable.”

But then, an unexpected remark came out of Prince Enok’s mouth.

“I won’t trouble you any further.”

I’d been worried he might show his true colors and get angry or threaten me, but the Prince yielded readily.

『There’s no way he’d give up this easily, right?』

Was he trying to employ a one-step-back strategy? Just as I was feeling confused, the Prince continued.

“However, I ask you this: even if someone other than me asks, please give them the same answer.”

I nodded reluctantly.

Prince Enok immediately released his arm from my waist, bowed politely, and left the dance floor.

“……What kind of person is he?”

Prince Enok’s actions were impossible to predict.

I stared blankly after him until he exited the banquet hall and vanished from sight.

The dance music spread throughout the hall.

It was a beautiful melody, but for some reason, it grated on me today.

“……”

Roakin’s gaze was fixed on the two people crossing the dance floor.

Serpine and Prince Enok—the two of them, clinging together, holding hands and dancing as if they’d known each other for ages.

『They definitely weren’t acquaintances before.』

There was no way Serpine, who spent all day holed up in her quarters researching potions, had any connection with Enok, who flew around the empire like he had wings on his back.

They’d only briefly crossed paths earlier today, and even then, there hadn’t seemed to be anything between them.

Then what did it mean for the Prince to suddenly ask her to dance?

『……What’s that now?』

Roakin, who had been watching the pair while tapping his fingers on the table, nearly rose from his seat.

Enok had suddenly lifted Serpine into the air.

It was fine that he put her down right away, but watching the Prince then lean his face toward Serpine’s ear, Roakin narrowed his eyes.

『What are the two of them muttering about?』

Roakin leaned his upper body forward slightly and perked up his ears.

Of course, this was for the purpose of protecting his subordinate—nothing else.

His secretary, Serpine, was currently under threat of assassination, wasn’t she?

Roakin had a duty to find out why Enok had approached Serpine.

But there was no way he could hear their private conversation in the noisy banquet hall. Roakin leaned back again and crossed his arms in dissatisfaction.

“Hmph. She hasn’t looked back once.”

Serpine seemed entirely focused on Prince Enok, not even glancing in his direction.

“……”

Roakin was following the trajectory of their dance with a displeased look when—

Suddenly, he felt a faint pain near his chest.

『Surely it’s not starting again.』

The unpleasant sensation quickly grew, and a thin gasp escaped him at the heavy pain coiling inside him.

“Hah…….”

The dancers began to overlap in layers before his eyes, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

*Scrape—*

Roakin pushed back his chair and headed out of the banquet hall. There was no way he could show such an unsightly state in a place like this.

『This is why I despise crowded places.』

His tightly gritted lips—clenched from enduring the pain—even tasted metallic.

As he passed through the corridor, about to disappear into the darkness, Roakin suddenly remembered Serpine’s request and stopped.

—

“While I’m staying at the palace, you’ll have to watch over me, Tower Master. So I don’t die at the hands of some common criminal.”

—

He didn’t know who that “common criminal” might be, but he had promised to guard her side—so he couldn’t just vanish, leaving Serpine alone.

『But I can’t take her with me either.』

As Roakin hesitated, Charis happened to come into his view.

“Charis Ril.”

Charis, who had been joking with her adjutants and laughing heartily, expressed confusion when Roakin suddenly stood in front of her.

“……Huh? Tower Master? Why are you already out here?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“We’re not exactly on the kind of terms where we do each other favors, are we……?”

“I’m being serious.”

Sensing the grave atmosphere, Charis’s expression turned serious.

“What is it?”

“I need to step away for a while. Can you stay by Serpine’s side until I get back?”

“Well……, I’m free right now, so it’s not a problem, but…….”

Charis looked somewhat flustered by the rare sight of the Tower Master being so solemn.

“Then please.”

“Where are you going—”

Before she could finish the question, Roakin was already on his way.

“Ugh! He leaves without even answering?”

Charis raised her fist at his back, which was quickly receding with no intention of stopping.

『So his own business is done, is it?』

Still grumbling, Charis got up and headed into the banquet hall.