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qiutls · 1 year

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TNGDH 017

In fact the owner of the flower has been decided from the beginning, so there was no need to deliberate. I'll give it to you, okay? Since you helped me attend the banquet as exchange for it. After all I'm a law-abiding citizen of Korea, I don't break my promises.

"Here, Your Highness."

The entrance fee for this banquet.

I gave Belial the white flower with a bitter face. Still, he is indeed a prince, if he didn't get a single flower, it would be quite embarrassing.

"I'm giving it to you as I promised."

Belial glanced at me with soft eyes and smiled slightly with his eyes bent like crescent moons. It seemed like a graceful gaze that would melt anyone who was looked at.

"Thank you."

Hey, don't act too moved. Why are you so touched? It's not like it was a surprise gift.

Belial cut the stem of the flower short and inserted it onbliquely in the front pocket of his coat. I was wondering why despite his flashy clothes, he didn't wear a corsage, now I see why. This bastard planned this from the start.

"Receiving the symbol of respect from a subject of the Blake estate sure feels quite refreshing."

Belial turned his head slightly towards Kyle and asked,

"Don't you think so?"

He seemed to be quite excited to have an opportunity to be condescending. What are you a kid? Are you actually going to brag about a flower?

Kyle on the other hand didn't that much interested in his gloating and replied bluntly,

"Congratulations."

It was a tone that didn't seem congratulatory at all. His red eyes turned to look at me berating my actions.

What? What was I supposed to do? You already have a lot of white flowers from the citizens of the duchy. Look at your basket filled to the brim. So please spare this one flower, okay?

"What are you going to do with that one?"

Kyle pointed towards me, to be exact, he pointed at the red flower sitting in my hand.

I stood still and continued to grasp the red flower, while everyone else was giving it to others, asking for a dance.

Sen said this flower symbolizes love. But I don't have anyone I 'love' right now. Even as the human Bae Soohyun, I had built a Great Wall around me, rejecting any possible affection.

"I'm not giving it to anyone."

I said flatly.

Why are you asking? I'm not giving it to you. I'm not giving it to others as well. This is mine.

To make matters worse, Belial also anticipated my next actions. Apparently, Sen gave both flowers to him.

I already gave you one, and you still want more? You two brothers have no conscience! Are you toddlers? Stop competing for a flower!

"....."

I really didn't want to give it to anyone, but how am I supposed to reject both the grand duke and the prince.

Can't you guys just pretend not to know? Let's just skip this, get rid of those competitive gazes. I sighed deeply, then put the stem in my mouth.

I am not giving it away! It's mine!

"Euf yeu reely weant it, then teuk it."

*he's biting the flower stem so he can't talk properly XD 'If you really want it, then take it.'*

...Well, I think the pronounciation was fine.

Even if I said it like that, it was understandable right? I turned my head away after seeing the glances from the crown. Get lost! Go and keep dancing, why are you looking this way.

"Pff- hahaha!"

Belial burst into laughter.

"Everything you do is really so strange, I didn't know there was such an interesting person in the North."

Kyle's eyes suddenly brightened, then he stepped in between me and Belial as if to block him, and offered me a red flower.

....Wait, what? Why are you giving that to me?

"Can I have your first dance of the day?"

Wait a minute!

"The music will start soon, will you accompany me for a dance?"

Stop!

Hey! This isn't right! Why are you asking me to dance out of all the people here. I can't even answer you properly because I'm biting a flower!

Kyle grabbed me by the arm, not even waiting for my reply. Before I knew it we were on the dance floor, and receiving strange looks from everyone.

...That's right, isn't it weird if the Duke of Blake, chose some unidentified man as his dance partner.

I'm doomed.

"I- I heuv never deunced befeur."

I've never danced before! Let me go, you punk.

Of course, there was no way he could have understood.

"Wheuy deu yeu weunt to deunce with me!"

Why do you want to dance me with me? There's a lot to choose from!

This time seems like Kyle understoon perfectly even though I said it with clenched teeth.

"Why do I want to dance with you? Because out of all the people here, you were the only one who...."

Kyle leaned down and whispered in my ear.

"What was it that you said? My companion?"

Fuck. This damn situation is...

I wanted to refute his statement but the flowers were in the way. When I moved my hand to remove it, he grasped my arm and put it on his waist. My other hand was also trapped in his as he lead me to dance.

Soon, at the sound of the music, we along with the other people in the dance floor began to spin like dolls in a music box.

We moved with the cheerful waltz beat... And I kept stepping on Kyle's feet. I can't help it, I've never dance before. This kind of fast paced beat is sure to break my legs.

Stomp.

I stepped on his foot again, this time it was much harder than before, but Kyle didn't seem to be in pain. Well what else can he do, except endure.

"Why did you say that back then?"

"....."

Because I was confessing that I was your pet! Your pet hamster! This mouth of mine is the problem. Ah! Why did you say that Bae Soohyun.

This time I stepped on his foot on purpose, as payback.

"Come to think of it, you look strangely like someone I know?"

Suddenly Kyle lifted me slightly and let my feet step on his. We continued dancing like this. Well, more like he continued, since he was the only one moving.

'Am I not heavy?'

Anyways, thanks to this, I felt more comfortable. Now all I have to do is stick to him and not worry about following the beat.

Of course, the distance between us bothered me a bit. His bangs often brushed against my forehead and it made my heart feel itchy.

By the way, what do you mean I look like someone? Everywhere you look, all the face you'd see are westerners, where could you have found a face that resembles an Asian like me?

'... Don't tell me, you think I resemble your hamster?'

Ey, that's impossible, it's a different species. Hm, I guess there's really someone in the Blake estate who looks like me.

"Isn't that statement quite brazen of you?"

...Oh, you sly man. You're really fiendish.

Kyle said in a low tone,

"So, what do you think?"

His voice was cold and intimidating. I felt extreme pressure and my body was trembling as if my whole body's blood was being drained out.

I shrank reflexively.

N-no, but there's really nothing to say. I was originally going to ask if you thought I looked like your pet hamster, but now I don't think I can.

And this damn flower. This damn flower is my enemy. I'm glad I didn't drool on my shoes. That's right don't talk to me, or else I might drool on your shoes too.

"I think yeur just jeuking."

I think your just joking.

Right? It should be. Don't pry into me anymore, lest you get an idea.

"That's right, I was kidding."

Kyle's eyes narrowed, I didn't know if he was smiling or threatening.

"I guess it's time I take the flower now."

His head got closer and at that moment, I forgot I was on the dance floor. When his face filled my entire vision, I couldn't even hear the music the was originally loud.

It felt like we were the only ones who existed in the world at that moment.

"....."

Kyle seemed to move slowly. His face came close enough for us to touch foreheads and his eyelashes fanned my cheeks. He tilted his head slightly and took the red flower that had been in my mouth, our posture looked as if we were kissing.

"This... What..."

I closed my eyes and felt our noses touch. Soon, I opened my eyes and realized I lost the flower. What the hell?

Before I could argue, he pushed me away slightly and spun me around. While I was turning around to the sound of the violin, he broke the stem of the flower and placed it on his front pocket, just like what Belial did earlier.

Kyle did the job skillfully with just one lap of turn, grasped my hand and pulled me back in again. As soon as my body tilted, I stumbled and stepped on his foot again. He's such a great dancer, meanwhile I...

"What are you going to do if a rumour spreads that the Grand Duke of the North is into men?"

It seems like the north will be thrown into chaos as soon as word gets out.

Kyle answered my question blankly as if it was a small matter.

"I can afford to not have children nor a family, unlike some people."

"But aren't you the lord?"

"The North does not rely on lineage to choose it's leaders. Only the strongest can rule here."

"Ah right..."

I answered awkwardly. Let's just keep quiet.

"What's your name?"

"It's... Shu."

I said half-heartedly and looked away for fear that he might discover something.

The first song came to an end, and the crowd seemed to be a bit more active, looking for partners for the next dance. From the gap, I saw Belial and Sen move toward the dance floor.

'Hey System, how much time do I have left?'

[ "Summon" will end in approximately 10 minutes. ]

"....What?!"

10 minutes? That's not enough!

[ Would you like to buy an item from the 'Nut Shop'? ( •̀ .̫ •́ )✧ ]

There's no choice, the chandelier incident still hasn't been prevented. I sighed deeply and bought what I saw earlier.

[ Long-lasting Acorn cookie, consumes 1% miracle value, purchasing this item grants an extension of 1 hour for the skill "Summon." ]

A small snack came straight into my pocket.

"It really looks like an acorn."

I unwrapped the package and put it in my mouth without hesitation.

....Tastes like acorns, but a bit bland.

"Well, I guess dancing to one song would be fine. As I told you, I'm not a good dancer."