Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 161

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Part 2, Chapter 28

 

Adam cut him off so decisively that it was embarrassing to watch.

 

The Nobleman was so stunned by his response that he just stood there frozen.

 

After a brief silence, the Nobleman’s face turned bright red.

 

“No…!”

 

At that moment, the Elderly High Priest intervened.

 

After all, he was a Nobleman.

 

If Adam wasn’t going to become Emperor and would live as a Count, making an enemy of a Nobleman would be disadvantageous for him.

 

The Elderly High Priest spoke to Adam in a soothing tone.

 

“It wouldn’t hurt to know, would it? The dancing will start soon…”

 

“Oh my, didn’t you see? I already have a partner.”

 

Adam said with a smile, cutting him off cleanly.

 

His smile grew even deeper as he found them increasingly distasteful.

 

There was no more time to waste.

 

The orchestra had been reading the room and was starting to play the music for the main event.

 

He was worried someone might snatch Iberis away at this rate.

 

No matter what anyone said, he had to claim her first dance.

 

Only then could he tell her.

 

“Then I hope the Nobleman’s daughter finds a good partner as well.”

 

Adam politely declined and took his leave.

 

Toward the person who should be by his side.

 

* * *

 

After the shocking speech ended, the orchestra began playing the main music for the ball while reading the room.

 

Even after Adam and Judith came down from the dais, everyone was talking amongst themselves, causing delays beyond the expected time.

 

The orchestra hurriedly began conducting at the attendant’s words.

 

“Mm, this is really nice.”

 

While Abracxas’s performance at the Demon King’s Castle had been impressive, the orchestra’s grandeur in producing music loud enough to dominate the vast hall was magnificent.

 

However, no one could immerse themselves in the music.

 

It was probably because of the bomb-like declaration Adam had just dropped.

 

Adam was still mingling among the nobles. Earlier it looked like he had argued with the Elderly High Priest, but seeing the Elderly High Priest still nearby, it must not have been serious.

 

I quietly averted my gaze from watching Adam.

 

Today Adam had a quite different atmosphere from usual.

 

Of course, I knew that the Adam others saw was distinctly different from the attitude he showed me.

 

I should have gotten used to it by now, but I just couldn’t adapt.

 

Even when he treated others so coldly like a different person, when he looked at me…

 

“Ah.”

 

Even though I thought I wouldn’t look at him, my gaze kept turning toward Adam.

 

Then our eyes met.

 

“Eve.”

 

As soon as our eyes met, Adam’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he strode toward me.

 

My heart immediately started pounding.

 

I didn’t even notice the nobles whose faces were twisted as if they’d eaten something spoiled.

 

My heart pounded helplessly because of Adam approaching before my eyes.

 

Adam stood before me without even seeming out of breath despite running the long distance in one go.

 

“Eve, would you dance the first dance with me?”

 

And Adam extended one hand to me while slightly bowing his waist.

 

I couldn’t readily take his hand.

 

Of course, it wasn’t because I disliked Adam.

 

“I’m not confident about dancing.”

 

Of course, while preparing for the ball, they had provided me with an excellent teacher, but time had been short.

 

At balls, you had to dance to several different pieces of music, and I had only learned a few.

 

Fortunately, the dance teacher must have thought Adam and I would dance the first dance together, because familiar music was playing…

 

“Eve. Eve doesn’t need to worry about anything.”

 

At Adam’s gentle words, I took his hand after some deliberation.

 

Adam kissed it.

 

I felt like I could sense a touch that shouldn’t have been felt through the thick gloves.

 

“Just for today, you can enjoy yourself.”

 

Adam said with a bright smile.

 

Without realizing it, I tightened my grip on his hand.

 

I helplessly wanted to believe his words telling me not to worry about anything, just for today.

 

Soon those who had found partners gathered in the center of the ballroom.

 

Adam took my hand and led me.

 

With each step Adam took, people quietly stepped aside.

 

Thanks to that, we ended up dancing in the very center of the ballroom.

 

As the orchestra’s performance began in earnest, people started moving to the music one by one.

 

I also moved while recalling memories of the special training I had done with Adam long ago.

 

One, two. Extending my feet to match the music was surprisingly difficult.

 

When I put strength in my legs, my upper body became stiff, and when I tensed my shoulders, my feet stumbled.

 

But each time that happened, Adam held my waist firmly.

 

Thanks to that, by the middle section, I could naturally blend in with the crowd.

 

I suddenly remembered the ball we had held with just the two of us in the Demon King’s Castle.

 

The memory of dancing without a large orchestra, relying on the ghostly music Abracxas played.

 

It had been a ball for just the two of us without a single guest.

 

It was different from this place with countless nobles around, sparkling chandeliers, and plenty of delicious food.

 

Yet why did that memory suddenly come to mind?

 

“Eve, focus.”

 

With his voice, Adam put strength into lifting my body lightly and setting me down.

 

I spun around once and looked at Adam’s face.

 

He was smiling as if in a good mood.

 

Like the mischievous boy from that day.

 

But in an even more mature way.

 

“Eve has been like a knight going to war since earlier.”

 

“…Whose fault is that!”

 

Adam said with soft chuckles.

 

I finally vented my frustration to him in a small voice.

 

What was I supposed to do when he wanted to dance for the first time at such a grand ball!

 

Of course, after Adam declared he would take me to the ball, he started a week of special training in response to my wave-like worries.

 

But it was like telling a newborn baby who had just learned to walk to try running.

 

“Hup.”

 

I ended up stepping on Adam’s foot with my pointed shoes.

 

Adam’s shoes were leather too, so maybe he wouldn’t notice?

 

He definitely wouldn’t notice.

 

But when I stepped on Adam’s foot again as it slyly escaped, I couldn’t pretend not to know anymore.

 

I quietly turned my head to the side and said in a small voice.

 

“It was an accident.”

 

“Is that so? I thought Eve was punishing me now for bringing her to the ball.”

 

“I’m going easy on you because you know your crime.”

 

At my words, Adam burst into soft laughter.

 

“Are you worried?”

 

Adam asked bluntly.

 

I had been concentrating all my nerves on my feet to avoid making mistakes, and only then did I lift my head.

 

Unfortunately, it was a part where I had to be close to my partner, so I had no choice but to face him at close range.

 

“…What is it?”

 

In the end, I unconsciously swallowed and answered.

 

“I’m talking about what people are gossiping about regarding Eve.”

 

“Ah.”

 

I slowly nodded my head.

 

“I don’t like it when people talk about me behind my back. Usually when this happens, unpleasant things are said…”

 

It was something that had happened a long time ago.

 

After my parents died and I moved from one relative’s house to another, there were inevitably things I would hear.

 

Rumors spread among relatives that I was a burden.

 

When those words followed me like a tag wherever I went, it was bound to create trauma.

 

It wasn’t even something I experienced in this place, but the trauma was still lodged deep in my memory.

 

“Don’t worry, Eve. I’ll make sure anyone who says such things about you never speaks nonsense again.”

 

Hm? Adam, isn’t that a bit too ominous?

 

However, since Adam immediately grabbed my arm and spun me around, I couldn’t examine his expression closely.

 

…That was a joke, right?

 

After spinning around, Adam’s expression looked the same as usual.

 

No, he was smiling even more beautifully.

 

“So you don’t need to look so stiff.”

 

I nodded at Adam’s comfort. Anyway, I could overcome my trauma when I was by Adam’s side. Bad memories get covered by good memories. And the memories of being next to Adam were nothing but good memories.

 

Thanks to that, I could grumble with a much lighter heart.

 

“Still, there are too many false rumors! Like the talk about me being Adam’s lover.”

 

I was getting tired of denying it by now.

 

Then Adam’s words came to an abrupt stop.

 

And Adam asked.

 

“What’s wrong with people saying Eve is my lover?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

I unconsciously asked back.

 

“Wouldn’t that be okay?”

 

At his shameless question, my mouth unconsciously fell open.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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