Father, I Won’t Do Anything

As Jaina was about to respond, someone cut in from the side.

“Ah, so Prince Rosian flew in from afar for the debutante of his beloved woman?”

It was rare for someone to brazenly provoke Rosian, the Prince, so Jaina could discern who it was without even turning her head.

“Your philandering ways remain unchanged, I see.”

It was Arnen, Rosian’s cousin.

‘He used to be quite the pretty boy back then… but now, he’s a bit…’

As if noticing Jaina’s observing gaze after such a long time apart, Arnen quirked an eyebrow.

‘Is he having a seizure?’

Thinking it would be embarrassing, Jaina maintained an impassive expression as if she hadn’t seen anything. Soon, Arnen’s expression seemed to twitch, his pride evidently stung.

However, he quickly curved his lips upwards.

Then, he extended his hand towards Jaina with impeccable etiquette.

“You look truly beautiful today, my lady. Would you grace me with the next dance?”

The previous song had just ended. Jaina glanced around.

Everyone seemed to be parting from their partners to find new ones.

It was seen as unsophisticated in high society to dance consecutively with the same partner after entering together.

“Then I shall oblige you.”

There was no need for hesitation. Like before, she didn’t want to wander around finding someone else to dance with.

‘It doesn’t have to be an acquaintance, after all.’

As Jaina was about to take Arnen’s hand-

‘Huh?’

She blinked at Rosian in surprise.

“There’s no need to concern yourself with my partner as well.”

Despite the second piece starting, Rosian showed no intention of releasing Jaina’s hand.

“Let’s go.”

“Hey, wait a minute…!”

As Arnen raised his voice, Jaina could sense the surrounding gazes shifting towards them.

“Didn’t you two just dance together?”

“To dance two songs consecutively with the same partner?”

No matter how close a couple was, it was unheard of to dance back-to-back.

It went against high society’s custom of mingling with as many people as possible.

However, Rosian met each disdainful gaze around them with a smile. One by one, they turned away, seeming embarrassed.

Chuckling, Rosian leaned in and whispered to Jaina.

“Isn’t this fun?”

“Breaking convention, you mean?”

“People gossiping about what we are to each other.”

Adding that she should guess if she could, Rosian tilted his head at an angle, leaving room for her response.

It was the perfect opening.

‘I suppose one’s innate nature doesn’t change after all.’

No matter how diligent Rosian had become, his mischievous tendencies seemed to remain.

Belatedly, Jaina let out an ‘ah’ of realization.

“Your Highness came to observe the debutante ladies, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

Rosian only asked in return, but Jaina nodded as if in understanding.

Rosian gave a bewildered laugh.

“Why would you suddenly say that?”

“Well, Your Highness does seem to favor ladies…”

“What? I’m not…”

“It’s alright, you don’t have to explain further.”

“What’s alright? You’re completely misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding, you say? Do you really think so?”

After pondering for a moment, Rosian furrowed his brow slightly.

“Don’t tell me you suspect me because of how I used to play with girls when I was ten?”

“Twelve, Your Highness.”

Jaina calmly corrected him.

Though Rosian protested that ten or twelve made no difference, Jaina didn’t react further.

“It seems you were being considerate of Lord Arnen, so for the next song, please go observe another lady you’ve been eyeing.”

“Then who will you be dancing with?”

“Someone else, of course.”

“No.”

Jaina tilted her head defiantly. In response to her questioning gaze, Rosian hurriedly said:

“I came all this way because of you, Miss Jaina. You think I’ll let you go so easily?”

“Huh?”

“Ah no, I mean Arnen. You know how insufferable he is. Now that you’ve made your debut, he’ll find it easier to approach you, so I’m worried.”

Having hastily changed his words, Rosian emphasized once more that Arnen should be cautioned against.

Claiming Arnen might try to take Jaina away from him out of a sense of rivalry, Rosian frowned as he spoke, treating her like an object.

However, Jaina calmly responded as if it wasn’t her concern.

“Do I have such value for him to do that? I don’t quite understand.”

Rosian and herself weren’t lovers or anything of the sort. Even if Arnen tried to seduce her, nothing would change.

Rosian’s lips moved wordlessly before he replied with an oddly dazed expression.

“Well, I do think of Miss Jaina as a younger sister…”

Jaina answered nonchalantly.

“Then since I won’t be going to Lord Arnen, please let me dance with someone else.”

Even after the second piece ended, Rosian refused to release her hand, so Jaina had to reaffirm she wouldn’t go to Arnen before finally breaking free from him.

* * *

That day, Jaina danced with numerous men.

Since dancing consecutive songs with the same partner was highly unusual, Jaina didn’t want to cause any further commotion.

She simply wished to mingle and dance with various gentlemen, just like the other ladies.

‘Why is this Prince behaving this way?’

However, Rosian seemed displeased whenever she danced with other men, like a jealous boyfriend.

-I came from afar to dance with Miss Jaina, yet?

-If it’s a brotherly affection for your younger sister, please help ensure I can dance with the other gentlemen.

After repeatedly assuring Rosian that she would move between the gentlemen, leaving no room for Arnen to request a dance, Jaina soon took another man’s hand and left Rosian’s side.

-Thank you for the two dances, then.

Rosian could only gaze blankly at Jaina’s retreating figure.

While she had to stand idly for the first dance meant for partners, from the next order onward, Jaina received many dance requests.

And she didn’t refuse any of them.

Though romance and love were luxuries in her precarious situation of unknown longevity, she wanted to indulge herself, just for today.

-You look truly beautiful today.

-Lady Jaina undoubtedly shines the brightest.

As she danced with various men, Jaina realized one fact.

“It’s been so long, I’m delighted to see you again, Prince Rosian.”

“Thank you. You’ve only grown more beautiful since I last saw you, young lady.”

“Oh my.”

While Rosian was adept at smooth flatteries with others during her absence-

“Did you enjoy yourself, dancing with all those other men?”

He had never once called her beautiful to her face.

‘He could at least offer empty compliments.’

“Is something the matter, Lady Jaina?”

“Ah, my apologies.”

Jaina withdrew her gaze that had drifted towards Rosian, refocusing on her current partner.

“…”

And the moment her gaze shifted away, Rosian leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, watching Jaina dance.

“Your Highness, would you honor me with a dance?”

“You look beautiful today, Lady Neira. If I were to dance with you, I fear the other gentlemen might be overcome with envy?”

Rosian didn’t discriminate against who approached him, but he ultimately refused every dance request.

This went against the tradition of princes and lords dancing with multiple ladies at the debutante ball.

“Could it be because of Lady Jaina that you won’t dance with the other ladies?”

A lady hid her face coyly behind a fan, her eyes twinkling with interest.

Rosian hesitated briefly before taking a step closer, bowing his head and whispering something in her ear.

Even from a distance, their interaction appeared quite intimate, prompting Jaina to avert her wandering gaze once more.

Though too far to make out his exact words, the affectionate atmosphere was unmistakable.

‘He really is clever, as they say.’

While dancing only allowed him to engage one lady at a time, conversation allowed him to banter with multiple ladies simultaneously.

“Won’t you dance a song with me as well, Lady Jaina?”

Jaina shrugged her shoulders and willingly took another gentleman’s hand.

* * *

When exchanging letters with Rosian, there had been no awkwardness. It felt as comfortable as before. But meeting in person, the gap of several years felt pronounced.

-You said we should meet next time. When shall we meet?

-I’m afraid I can’t give a definite answer, as I’ll be quite busy for the time being. My apologies.

And that was the end of it.

‘Perhaps we might lose contact like this.’

Jaina and Rosian’s relationship was more tenuous than expected. The thread of connection could easily be severed if one party pulled away, even slightly.

‘I had wanted to attend the martial arts tournament together with Prince Rosian… Well, I already have plans with Princess Elia, anyway.’

Jaina went to watch the martial arts tournament with Elia, Rosian’s mother.

‘Princess Elia seems easier to understand, in a way.’

Elia was consistent, fair, and even-tempered.

“What is it?”

“At this debutante, I danced with Prince Rosian… but he seemed quite busy these days.”

Would she be unable to remain as close with Rosian as before?

‘I had been hoping he would return from the academy soon.’

Though she had Marilyn and other friends, the truth was, Rosian felt the most special among those she had spent her childhood with.

Upon hearing Jaina’s concerns, Elia gave a faint smile.

“So you do like Rosian, after all. I had thought only Rosian felt that way about you.”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

The arena was too noisy, causing her to miss words she would normally have heard clearly.

Jaina looked at Elia with dissatisfaction, but Elia simply continued watching the matches ahead.

“Still, it’s unlikely Rosian thinks any less of you.”

With Elia’s words, the match began.