房客(糙汉)何璐程曜坤

"I can't see a reason to refuse, my lady."

But doing the right thing would go against the plan that Aku and Kierul came up with, so the masked boy not only accepted the offer, taking the crimson-haired girl's hand but also made a pun about his porcelain mask blocking his vision.

"~!"

Ehmi seemed to be delighted while a disapproving murmur spread across the ballroom.

As the music picked up the peace, all eyes were focused on the pair.

The masked attendant was shorter than the well-developed crimson-haired girl but that only put him in a more enviable position from the perspective of all female asset's enjoyers.

"Hey, hey, I bet that he will step on young lady Victureo's foot and embarrass himself.

"No way, she will be the one in the lead, no doubt."

"Hmhm~"

Kierul hummed mischievously while picking on the whispers of the jealous men that moved aside to make way for the supposed shameful act that her attendant would provide for them.

Those fools were in for so much of a surprise.

After all, Aku was a perfect attendant, perfect in every sense of the word.

How come someone like that could not dance?

"...?"

Ehmi experienced it firsthand when she found herself in his arms.

None of her dancing instructors or practice partners, not even her father during their opening dance just a few moments earlier, made her feel like she had to try.

Being graceful and straight-up gorgeous was her second nature – she lead and made others follow her as if she was the spark of hope leading them through the night... but also could lead them astray...

A wild flame that was to be admired and feared but would burn anyone who dared to come too close.

And yet, the moment this boy younger than her by two years held her hand while his other hand couped her waist she felt the difference between herself and him.

An urge to be led, to entrust herself to him, those surprisingly strong arms gave her the feeling that her strength wasn't the only thing she could count on.

There he was, someone that she could trust to take care of her in her moment of need.

Someone who...!

"My lady, that truly was the best reward I could ask for. Thank you."

Before she even noticed it, the song was over and the masked attendant let go of her hand and nodded his head while expressing his gratitude.

"...eh...? Eh...?"

Ehmi gulped down her saliva and blinked in confusion.

It was over? Their dance was over?

Already?!

When?!

How?!

"...!"

Seeing the masked attendant turn his back on her, the crimson-haired girl unintentionally took a step forward and reached out her hand after him, already opening her mouth to call after him before she came to her senses.

"My, lady. I would be honored if..."

As if they were vultures waiting for the animal to take its final breath, all the men swarmed her again asking her for a dance and walling out the black-haired attendant who returned to his master.

"Ah... yes... of course..."

Seeing all of them made Ehmi regain her composure and nod, taking the hand of the gold-haired first prince.

Still, Ehmi's mind wasn't there. Even while dancing with the man was supposed to fancy her eyes would wander off in search of the clear porcelain mask of the attendant of the young lady of the Helterose family.

"...ah... I hope he isn't Miri's Zoemi..."

The cirmson-haired girl found herself muttering under her breath feeling her heart beat faster.

"Ehmi? Is there something wrong with my dancing?"

"O-of course not, Horeo"

The first prince asked discretely failing to understand the situation in which he wasn't the center of attention, to which Ehmi shook her head and smiled absentmindedly reassuring him.

But her eyes still wandered away...

"My lady, you are grinning a bit too much."

Aku stopped in front of his master and offered her a folding fan which she accepted and immediately opened.

"Ah, I can't believe I was worried that you will mess up because of stage fright~! Did you take a peek at young lady Victureo's expression? Are you sure you didn't wipe out her mana with the law of Aquarius? I can guarantee you that eighty percent of the people here would kill to have someone look at them the way she looked at you~!"

Kierul cheered out in a hushed voice while fanning her face flushed from excitement.

"It is true that the best way to capture the fire magician's heart is through dance~!"

"..."

She added while her attendant conveniently not reminded her that she was also a fire magician.

"That said, we seemed to succeed on all fronts~"

Kierul did not stop grinning but she covered most of her face with the fan while looking toward the other end of the ballroom.

There the healing magicians and her two attendants were hard at work trying to appease the furious young lady Espine.

The long hair of Miriette was all spiky, but instead of the forest of needles, because of their length, they looked like the forest of swords.

"She looks even lovelier when she's angry and jealous like that~"

Aku chuckled, clearly using the law of Pisces to have a look.

"No, no, no. No fawning over her. We want her to stop hanging around Ehmi and distance herself from the Victureo family. Without us saving the situation, the Espines will accept the marriage proposal from the Victureo family because of how close Miriette and Grazio appear to be."

*tap* *tap* *tap*

Kierul suddenly scoffed and closed her fan, patting her attendant with it as a warning.

"Hmph, you are the only one who thinks that I fancy young lady Espine."

"Because I know you the best~"

Aku grumbled to which Kierul snickered nudging him in the side with her fan.

"Hey, you know? Young lady Espine can't calm down because young lady Victureo keeps glancing at you longigly~! I can't believe this part is working out so well~! Kyaaah~! Should I start practicing calling her big sister Ehmi?!"

"Now you are jumping the gun. How many times did you even talk with lord Grazio?"

The red-haired girl caught the crimson-haired girl's gaze upon her masked attendant and giggled uncontrollably, causing her attendant to sigh in distress.

"...? What's a gun?"

Kierul froze for a moment and asked, looking up at the boy.

"Huh...? I... I don't know... How odd... why did I say that...?"

The masked attendant tilted his head, just as confused as his master.