Ch. 178
Even if my attack speed and reflexes were faster than most mages, they were nothing compared to swordsmen who trained their entire lives around that. Rai’s overwhelming defense helped, sure, but there were times I couldn’t bring him out, and times when I couldn’t use him publicly. So I needed countermeasures.
Down with Rovenin!
Swordsmanship might be cool, but Rovenin could drop dead for all I cared!
“…A swordsman’s weakness, you mean?”
“Yeah.”
He might hate that question, huh? If someone asked me how to take down a Spirit Mage, I might just punch them in the gut. Hard.
“If it helps you, I’ll gladly tell you.”
“Huh? You will?”
“Yes. If it can be of use.”
“As expected of our Ash.”
His sincere answer earned him a wide smile from me, and every time I smiled like that, he got adorably flustered.
I started swinging my arms lightly as I walked ahead, stepping only on the white stones in the path, feeling oddly like I was dancing. When I turned back, catching the wind in my hair, Ash was watching me, so I gave him a playful grin.
Then, naturally, I tripped over a rock and nearly fell flat on my back.
“Geenie.”
Of course, Ash caught me instantly.
He looked more startled than I was. What could I say—I was clumsy. Always managed to bump or bruise myself somewhere.
Half-falling back, I was still calm. “Thanks.”
“I had a bad feeling this would happen…”
With a sigh of relief, Ash helped me stand upright again. The way his arm supported my waist felt strangely familiar.
Once I straightened up, he seemed to realize what kind of position we were in. His hand was still at my waist, and both of my hands rested on his shoulders from the fall.
We were standing far too close.
“I know this pose.”
I couldn’t help but giggle. It was probably more familiar to him than to me. We looked like a pair dancing at a party. When else would we ever stand this close?
He didn’t pull away immediately. Glancing toward the farmhouse in the distance, he hesitated, then slowly lifted my hand and brushed his lips against its back.
Everything about the gesture was so careful it almost felt pitiful to reject it. I found myself wanting to accept it.
A kiss on the hand could mean many things—but usually, it was a request to dance. And the best part of that gesture was the way you could meet each other’s eyes as it happened.
“So you weren’t as stiff as I thought.”
“This is just etiquette, my lady.”
“Is that so?”
Well, at a real party, failing to follow through with a dance after that would be downright rude to a lady.
Except… this wasn’t a ballroom. And I wasn’t exactly a lady.
Well, I mean, technically I was—but not the type used to that kind of treatment.
“Fine then. I’m in a good mood anyway.”
Whatever we were doing today, it was more play than anything else. I followed his lead lightly, spinning once with the flower crown still on my head, the fields behind us glowing in the sunlight.
After a few steps, I leaned closer and whispered near his ear, because this wasn’t something I wanted anyone to overhear. My lips might have brushed his cheek.
“As expected of a prince. Your dancing’s not half bad.”
How many times had he done this to be that smooth?
Impressive. I didn’t even step on his feet this time! Though, to be fair, he was fast enough to dodge even with his eyes closed.
“You flatter me,” he said quietly.
“I mean it. People used to call me tone-deaf and hopelessly uncoordinated. I hated dancing—but dancing with you actually feels nice.”
Praising Ash never felt like a waste.
I twirled again, slow and light, crossing my steps and leaning briefly against his chest, moving as best I could remember. Honestly, I seemed more excited than the one who had started it.
“Heh, guess that training for the founding anniversary ball is finally paying off.”
“You trained for that?”
“For three days! The Headmaster wouldn’t stop nagging, saying I couldn’t embarrass His Highness.”
“I see.”
“But all I did was get scolded.”
We spun apart, my hand still in his, letting the breeze carry us before I returned to his arms again.
“It wasn’t even this fun back then.”
Really.
When I added that softly, Ash flushed again. Naturally, he was far better company than that old dance instructor.
“They said I had absolutely no talent for dancing, you know?”
Wasn’t that too harsh?
When I looked at him for sympathy, he just smiled warmly back. He wasn’t the type to gossip or agree with insults anyway.
“Ah! Maybe this is my debut, then!”
“…Excuse me?”
That was the first time his perfect steps faltered. Only for a second, though.
“I was always stuck in the training halls, so I never had a debutante ball. Got a few invitations, but I couldn’t be bothered. That’s why I took the dance lessons—I’d never been to a real party.”
His shocked expression was priceless. I couldn’t help but grin.
“If I hadn’t been kidnapped by a dragon, the founding anniversary ball might’ve been my debut. Can you imagine?”
“I… didn’t know.”
“I wasn’t exactly the talk of the empire like you. How would you know? Ah, guess I should use past tense now. Anyway, thinking back, it’s kind of a shame. If everything had gone smoothly, King Dikel III himself might’ve been my first dance partner. That would’ve been quite something, huh?”
Having your first dance with your own king—now that would’ve been a debut worth remembering.
Still, I’d long since strayed from the proper “lady” path, so it wasn’t exactly a lasting regret. Some girls debuted at thirteen; I was already way behind.
“…If you’ll allow me,” Ash murmured suddenly.
“What?”
He stepped closer, speaking softly like he was sharing a secret.
“I’ll officially invite you to a ball someday. In a proper venue… where I can be your partner for your debut.”
“Eh, no thanks.”
He looked like he’d just been hit in the head.
“Too much trouble.”
That one really did him in.
“I’m not going to any of those again. All the glitter and gowns are nice, but ugh, it’s just exhausting. Dancing’s fun with you, but this level of effort is plenty for me.”
“I see…”
“Makeup’s fun to wear but annoying to remove, dresses are gorgeous but a pain to take off, and don’t even get me started on heels. My feet still hurt thinking about it. I could never live like that every day.”
Even if, by some absurd chance, I married into a prestigious noble family, I’d refuse all social events.
And if that was ever mandatory—then I simply wouldn’t get married.
Ash looked quietly relieved.
“In that case, I suppose that’s… good news?”
“Why?”
“Because dancing with me could ruin your marriage prospects. If you said no for that reason, I’d understand.”
“Oh, right. Dancing with a prince is risky. People might think we’re engaged.”
That was probably our cue to stop.
We were close enough to the farmhouse now that voices could be heard inside. I started to pull away before anyone saw us—
“Geenie.”
Ash didn’t let go. He sometimes said my name in this low, resonant way that sent a shiver through me. Our bodies had parted, but our hands were still intertwined.
“What is it?”
Was he feeling unwell?
“…Something’s wrong.”
“What is?”
“Me. Something’s wrong with me. The more I try to ignore it, the clearer it becomes.”
What’s with him all of a sudden?
I blinked, meeting his eyes—rippling with emotion. He bit his lip and spoke haltingly.
“When I see you, my heart races. Even when I’m doing nothing—just looking at you—it pounds like crazy.”
“That’s… serious.”
“It doesn’t feel like my own body anymore. I can’t control it. Even as a swordsman, I can’t suppress it. It’s unbearable.”
He looked like he was suffocating, so I reached up and pressed my hand against his chest.
His heart really was pounding like mad.
“Ash…”
“Geenie.”
“Do you have… heart failure?”
“…What?”
“The symptoms fit perfectly. You’re too young to be this frail, honestly…”
I shook my head in pity, as if mourning a weak constitution. Poor guy. A total herbivore—and now apparently a sickly one too. Perfect prey for the royal family.
“No, no! This is all because of you! Geenie, my health is perfectly fine!”
That made even less sense. I frowned.
“So your heart’s racing… because of me?”
He nodded gravely.
I thought hard. If his heart raced because of me… that could only mean—
“Oh, I get it! You’re scared I’ll kill you?”
“Haah… Geenie…”
“Don’t worry! We’re friends. I won’t kill you, promise!”
I even clasped his hands and shook them for emphasis. Ash just sighed right in my face.
Maybe I ‘should’ kill him.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what? Just say it.”
“I… I…”
He looked like he was about to choke, then, upon seeing my furrowed brow, gave up and closed his eyes.
“No, never mind. If you only see me as a friend, then… that’s enough for now.”
“What!?”
“I’d just be rushing things otherwise. It’s embarrassing. We’ve only known each other for two months—even if it’s technically a reunion.”
Was that really something to be ‘that’ embarrassed about?
Ash’s behavior baffled me. Weird—aren’t I supposed to be the perceptive one here?
“I need to get a better grip on my feelings first.”
“Meaning what exactly!?”
“Geenie, remember what you said once? That if someone doesn’t ask for permission, they can’t be rejected?”
“Yeah, when you tagged along with our party.”
“When I’m certain I won’t be rejected… then I’ll tell you. I just don’t want things to get awkward between us.”
“…Coward!”
“I’m only trying not to offend you.”
He was too polite for his own good. Sometimes you just have to ‘do’ something without overthinking!
“ASH!”
Leaving me full of questions, he turned and walked off toward Chad’s voice by the well.
I stood frozen where I was.
“Ugh…”
What the heck was that? What just happened?
I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d missed something important. Weird. I’m supposed to be the sharp one here!