NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 56
– 1 –
Though still referred to as Lady, Shue was inwardly tensing her entire body, wanting to call her deeply revered “Master,” as she requested a dance.
The reason this scene could unfold lay in the compromise process between Evangeline and Shue, aimed at their shared cause.
[Dalggak (Even though we swore never to allow a single leap forward until everyone gathered…)]
[But I can’t let my Master attend the first banquet without a partner…]
[Ddak (And right now, the only one who can be that partner is you. How frustrating)!]
Shue, unwilling to let her Master suffer the humiliation of having no partner at the ball.
The sense of urgency that absolutely could not allow anyone, especially an unknown man, to take the position of her Master’s first dance partner in this other world.
[Swear by our friendship and the love for our Master… I will not use this as an opportunity…]
Those two feelings united the hearts of two competitors and friends.
[Dalggak (It’s hard to believe! Even now you’re showing off your cuteness. But I must believe it for now).]
[One should allow some cuteness… You wouldn’t hesitate when it’s time to embrace the Master…]
[Ddak (Such a sly fox).]
[If I don’t adapt… I won’t survive…]
…It must be right to say they came together.
In any case, as a result of this compromise, Lin Xue was able to kneel before the Master she loved.
“Lady. Would you grant me the honor of sharing the first song with you?”
And at Shue’s serious expression and earnest request, Libertus petrified.
For about thirty seconds, he returned no answer or reaction.
– 2 –
I thought I was accustomed to earning the favor of people since coming to this world.
After all, since I arrived, I had been constantly bombarding my senses with the goodwill and respect shown by my Summons.
Feeling others’ emotions, solely their goodwill without any dislike mixed in, became so addictive that I felt if I ever stopped gathering myself, my perception of feelings would warp.
The reason I could handle everything relatively calmly after arriving in this world was partly due to my traits, but also significantly because of this emotional backing.
‘No matter who may hate me, I believe there are beings who will affirm me no matter what.’
That belief gave me confidence in all things. Even with the assistance of my traits, it wasn’t a force that created something I lacked.
“…”
However, while this emotional support allowed me to become accustomed to goodwill and better shed others’ hostility, it seemed to have made me feeble in the clash of “true affection.”
“Lady…?”
I had felt it now and then.
Evangeline’s restrained sincerity, sensed through the connection established as Summon and Master.
Although not connected in any special way, I could directly feel Shue’s intense genuine feelings that looked straight at me.
“…”
I could not ignore the emotional display she was showing now.
Even without accessing the magic of the Contract Pass, her eyes and expressions were already full of sincerity.
“Master…?”
“We should go ahead. It might take a little time.”
“Ah, yes…”
Given that I had a comparative variable right beside me.
Leo’s face moments ago when he had requested a dance with Sonia, and Shue’s expression, now looking up at me with tension, were nearly identical.
Thus, I found it hard to open my mouth.
‘My heart… is racing too fast.’
If I were to expose the hot reaction stirred up by the duo of Shue’s serious feelings and tense expression, I felt I’d burn up completely.
In that blazing aftermath, it felt as though these feelings would not persist but would instead leave just ashes behind.
So.
“I’m still not accustomed to dancing. Is that okay?”
The words I managed to voice, while as organized as usual, must not have aligned with my expression.
– Dak!
“Of course…!”
Evangeline and Shue, both seeming about to go wild with surprise, showed their reactions.
Seeing that scene made me think.
“Be a bit more confident. Who are you dancing with?”
“Uh, uhm…!”
“You too.”
– Ddak!
Overwhelmed with embarrassment, I couldn’t help but blame those girls.
– 3 –
Meanwhile, Maria, who was watching the two couples from the side, was truly experiencing what the term “fresh shock” meant when seeing the new side Libertus was showing.
‘So, she can make that kind of expression.’
The subject of that shock was Libertus, her expression.
‘She’s usually expressionless.’
Of course, it wasn’t a stiff or cold feeling. It was just a face with a comfortably subdued essence.
Her smile was similar.
When dealing with people, her smiles became frequent, yet they also felt restrained.
It was a smile that seemed to keep an appropriate line and distance while expressing closeness and “familiarity.”
“I’m still not used to dancing. Is that alright?”
But both the ‘face of indecision’ Libertus had shown a moment ago and her current countenance, neither conveyed any calculation.
In fact, the usual nobility seemed to have diminished significantly.
A face full of awkwardness and shyness, beaming with feelings of ‘I like and cherish you.’
It exuded a boyish charm, wholly unrestrained in contrast to her usual femininity and nobility.
In summary, it was a display of her ‘hidden sincerity.’
‘If that were directed at me, I would have a hard time staying calm.’
Maria thought.
That would be a magical face capable of breaking down any dislike towards the subject and turning everything into fondness.
Especially considering that the one witnessing it had always held affection.
“Of course…!”
Whether she understood the sincerity behind that expression, Shue wiped away her usual blank look and, after having been tense up until just earlier, now was filled with exuberance as she nodded thrice and kissed the small hand that had come to rest on her own.
The force with which she squeezed was such that when Shue began to rise, following her movement, Libertus almost lifted off the ground briefly before being enveloped in her arms.
“I’m sorry…!”
“It’s alright.”
As usual, Shue, who’d typically be glued to me as a figure a head shorter, now froze slightly at seeing Libertus in her embrace.
With her face half-buried in the uniform, she glanced up through the neckline, lingering surprise giving way to warmth in her expression.
“Escort.”
“Uh… Huh?”
“Are you not going to do it?”
“Ah… Yes!”
– Ddak!
At Shue’s dazed response, from the shadows of Libertus, Evangeline yelled with the meaning of ‘Get it together, you fool!’
Yet, that naturally didn’t reach Shue at that moment.
“… Hoohoo.”
That only deepened Libertus’s smile.
Thud thud
Where the usual limp expression had gone, now Lin Xue walked forward with unusual tension, extending one arm and leg together in an awkward stride.
– Look over there.
– So cute…
The accompanying Libertus and the noblewomen in the banquet hall who were watching them couldn’t help but smile.
None among them laughed at or looked strangely upon a woman requesting a dance from another woman.
In a world where anyone could train physical strength regardless of gender, it wasn’t uncommon for a noble lady to have no partner, and thus it was quite normal for a knight escort to be a lady’s dance partner.
– I used to be like that once.
Even a female knight might occasionally be inexperienced in such situations.
While crossing that line might raise a few eyebrows, as it stood, it was just a common occurrence.
“Shue.”
“Uh, uh…? Yes?”
“Calm down. You’ll faint at this rate. Aren’t you going to dance with me?”
“…!!”
That intense state of tension shattered instantly with a single word from Libertus.
The situation of being in the middle of people already dancing and not partaking would simply mean Libertus would be left awkwardly standing there.
“I’ll do well.”
“Alright. I’m looking forward to it.”
In the blink of an eye, Shue was becoming the most gentlemanly lady in the world.
However, the tension that filled the space between them did not disappear, and this time it shifted direction, focusing on Libertus.
‘Hmm. …This is unfamiliar.’
As she felt Shue’s transformed masculine hand confidently resting on her waist, and with her earnest gaze looking down at her, it struck her anew that they were about to dance in front of so many people.
It wasn’t a personal stage; it was a group stage, so there was no need to be concerned about the gazes and evaluations of others, but just being aware of being on stage was enough to create tension.
Especially with Shue’s height, which was considerably larger than her own, contributing to that tension.
“I’m ready.”
Libertus hid her tension within her usual gestures, but Shue had already sensed it in Libertus’s muscles.
“Not yet? Relax. Lady.”
It was naturally Shue’s role as the partner to ease the tension that subtly stiffened Libertus’s back.
Now fully relaxed, the silver-haired, red-eyed werewolf whispered softly with a smile on her lips.
Revealing particularly sharp fangs, her smile felt much cooler than usual.
“I may not be as good as some, but I’m quite confident in playing the role of a man.”
“What do you mean…?”
“It means today’s finest lady will be you.”
That was when.
The ‘someone’ murmured from the shadows as Libertus opened her mouth to say, ‘That’s unnecessary…’
♩ – ♪♪ – ♪♪
The music, which had been subtle until now, shifted to a more lively tune.
The grace period allocated to the people who had performed hastily after the countdown was over, having finished their self-checks, it was peak time to move.
“Leave it to me.”
“No, I mean…”
It was Libertus’s first couple dance, somewhere in her entire life.
Clap!
That memorable first beginning came from the lively footsteps of her partner, Shue.