Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 92

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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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Chapter 92

“Are you nervous?”

The King asked Heidi casually.

“…Yes. A little.”

“Yes, that’s understandable.”

The King’s hand gently covered Heidi’s hand that rested on his arm. As his slightly warm hand enveloped the back of her hand, her stomach, which had been anxious to the point of pain, seemed to calm down a little.

“Just keep looking at me. Pretend everyone else doesn’t exist.”

“…”

“Let’s say it’s just you and me here. Just look into my eyes and follow me.”

The King slowly moved toward the center of the floor while maintaining eye contact with Heidi. People cleared the floor for the two of them, stepping back in a circle.

The King extended his hand toward Heidi. As Heidi took his hand, the music began.

“…!”

Upon hearing the familiar music, her body reacted reflexively. Her mind was still blank with nervousness and her body stiff as stone, but her feet moved on their own.

‘One-two-three, one-two-three…’

Heidi kept glancing down at her feet, trying not to make mistakes. Unfortunately, it was a fast-paced song, so one misstep would completely throw off the rhythm.

“Ah!”

Was the pressure not to make mistakes too overwhelming? Heidi’s foot stepped firmly on the King’s foot. She looked up in surprise.

“I’m, I’m sorry…”

“Haha!”

But the King unexpectedly laughed loudly and good-naturedly. Wrinkles formed around his curved eyes.

“It’s fine. You can step on them as much as you want.”

“Still…”

When Heidi continued to look troubled, the King lowered his voice and whispered.

“This is a secret, but Beatrice actually had no great talent for dancing either. She must have stepped on my feet thousands of times.”

“…!”

“So my feet have been trained to be as hard as stone.”

The King’s face sparkled as he talked about the Queen.

“Beatrice always used to ask for her dress hems to be made a little longer. Do you know why?”

“I’m not sure.”

“So that others wouldn’t see when she stepped on my feet.”

Heidi let out a small laugh. A smile deepened on the King’s lips as he watched her.

“Every time we danced, she would ask me something. Even if she accidentally stepped on my feet, she asked me not to show too much pain.”

“So no one would notice the mistake.”

The King nodded.

“So don’t worry about anything. As long as you’re enjoying yourself, that’s enough.”

Like frozen ground melting in spring, Heidi’s heart melted. The tension slowly drained from her stiff shoulders.

“…Yes, Father.”

She could no longer hear people’s murmuring. Their gazes didn’t bother her either. She wasn’t worried about making mistakes anymore.

Heidi looked into the King’s purple eyes and began to follow his lead. When she let go of the obsession to be perfect, her mistakes actually disappeared.

‘I’m not trembling anymore.’

Heidi smiled brightly at the King.

Meanwhile, the sight of the two created gentle ripples in the nobles’ hearts. The sharp gazes that had been looking for any fault gradually softened.

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen His Majesty dancing. Isn’t that right?”

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen him smile so brightly.”

Some of the older nobles even burst into tears. They kept wiping their eyes with handkerchiefs as they spoke.

“He hasn’t danced once since Her Majesty the Queen passed away. I don’t know why, but it makes me cry.”

“If Her Majesty the Queen were still alive, how happy would she be to see this?”

“If that were the case, there wouldn’t have been an accident like losing the Princess in the first place.”

The King’s face, smiling brightly at Heidi, moved the nobles’ hearts more powerfully than any words could.

It was tantamount to declaring that nothing had changed and that there was not the slightest wavering in Heidi’s position.

The brooch glowing softly on Heidi’s chest also conveyed a powerful message in itself. Regardless of the past, she was someone born with royal blood.

Heidi, having finished dancing, slowly turned around.

‘What should I do now? Should I stay close to Father…’

It was then that Heidi was pondering to herself.

“Princess.”

Heidi turned at the familiar voice.

“Duke Delern!”

The one who had called out to Heidi was her teacher, Duke Delern. He bowed respectfully and extended his hand.

“May I ask for a dance?”

Duke Delern asking for a dance?

It was somewhat puzzling, but Heidi quickly nodded. On a day like today with so many watching eyes, showing a friendly relationship with Duke Delern would be of great help to her.

“That would be nice.”

Perhaps she had harbored some prejudice because of his scholarly appearance and meticulous personality.

Heidi inwardly admired Duke Delern’s graceful dancing skills. When she matched his rhythm, even the stiff Heidi looked like a fairly decent dancer.

Glance.

Heidi studied Duke Delern’s expression. She couldn’t read any emotion from his usual expressionless face.

‘Why isn’t he saying anything? He must know about the rumors… and Father must have told him that those rumors weren’t false.’

Unable to know Duke Delern’s true feelings, Heidi became anxious and swallowed dryly.

Then Duke Delern opened his lips.

“Straighten your shoulders.”

Heidi’s eyes widened at Duke Delern’s words.

‘Was my posture strange?’

Heidi straightened her shoulders. Then the minister chuckled softly.

“I meant don’t be discouraged.”

“Ah.”

Feeling embarrassed, Heidi stretched the corners of her mouth.

“Have you committed some crime? Have you lived shamefully? There’s absolutely no reason for you to feel intimidated in front of people.”

“…”

“No matter what anyone says, Princess, you are His Majesty’s one and only daughter. When you proved your bloodline, the proof of that position was also complete. You need say nothing more.”

Heidi stared blankly into Duke Delern’s eyes. Perhaps because these words came from the lips of the cold and strict Duke himself, they resonated much more deeply.

“Thank you.”

“Of course, there are parts that you, Princess, should reflect upon.”

Heidi’s eyes widened. Her mind began racing. The Duke’s expression was so serious that she became unnecessarily nervous.

‘Parts to reflect on? Did I do something wrong? Was my response inappropriate?’

The Duke spoke in a stern voice.

“You skipped lessons on your own. Didn’t you make me take several wasted trips?”

“Ah!”

Relieved, Heidi burst into laughter. Then the Duke spoke in a much softer voice.

“I’m letting it slide just this once. If you skip lessons on your own again, I will report to His Majesty and ask him to impose appropriate punishment.”

Heidi nodded.

“I’ll keep that in mind. I’m sorry.”

* * *

‘I need to rest for a moment.’

After dancing several times in a row, Heidi gradually felt the limits of her stamina.

‘Where is Lawrence? Is he with Anastasia?’

Heidi walked toward the terrace while looking for Lawrence with her eyes. It was when she was wandering around looking for an empty terrace.

“It must feel rather awkward, don’t you think? A maid… Just think about how uncultured and crude those girls are.”

At the voice coming from beyond the curtain, Heidi slowly came to a stop.

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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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