Young Master, Please Put Some Pants On! - Chapter 42

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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 42

“I promise you that no harm will ever come to you.”

As Mellis’s silence grew longer, Kermanomon spoke in a gentle tone. Though he had said it was fine to refuse, it seemed like a difficult situation in many ways.

‘I want Kerman to find his own happiness now.’

Above all, the conversation she had just shared with Reiana filled her mind completely. He was someone who usually received a lot of pressure from the ministers. Mellis thought that if she played the role of his partner, he might be able to escape from that burden, even if just a little.

“Yes, I’ll do my best!”

Soon, Mellis clenched both fists and answered determinedly. Being Kermanomon’s partner – there was no reason she couldn’t do such a thing.

“Good, I’m counting on you.”

He gently curved his lips upward and extended his hand toward Mellis. She lightly placed her hand on top of his, just as noble ladies do when accepting a partner’s proposal.

However, excited by the fact that she could be helpful to Kermanomon, Mellis had forgotten the most important fact. It was something beyond her control, and a fatal weakness that could put both of them in a difficult position.

* * *

“Mellis, how could you hide such a fact from me?”

About an hour later. Kermanomon, his brow deeply furrowed, spoke with an ice-cold attitude. Knowing her own fault, Mellis could only bow her head deeply and apologize to him.

Malcolm, who had been watching the two of them for a while, also had a serious expression. He seemed unable to take Mellis’s side and buried his face in both hands.

“Mellis…”

Kermanomon let out a deep sigh and roughly ran one hand through his hair.

“If you’re this bad at dancing, you should have said something.”

“Well…”

“We’ve been repeating the same movement for 30 minutes and there’s no improvement at all. This is ridiculous. Are you deliberately playing around?”

He muttered quietly, seeming genuinely shocked. Normally Mellis would have made some excuse, but this time she couldn’t say anything at all.

Though she had briefly forgotten it herself, Mellis was incredibly clumsy. During her Academy days, she was the first student ever to receive the lowest possible grade of D- in the liberal arts class where they learned dancing. Even Vivian, who had reluctantly been assigned as her partner, had turned pale and begged the Professor to change partners.

Mellis comforted herself by thinking this was Sandra’s fault for never providing her with a single private tutor, unlike other noble ladies who received dance education from childhood.

“Let’s try once more.”

At Malcolm’s words, Mellis grasped his hand again. Mellis moved her body earnestly, trying to match his movements, but she kept stepping on something soft under her feet.

“If your plan from the beginning was to crush my feet, then I’ll praise you. You’ve succeeded perfectly.”

“…Don’t tease me.”

Mellis clamped her mouth shut as embarrassment washed over her. She had accepted this proposal wanting to help him, but somehow it seemed like she was only causing more trouble.

“There’s no rush, so try to move slowly, one step at a time.”

When Kermanomon whispered in her ear, her body stiffened even more from nervousness. She clearly understood it in her head, but strangely her body wouldn’t cooperate, and she was on the verge of tears.

Moreover, the more she realized how terrible she was, the more her body stiffened in a vicious cycle.

“Your Grace, since it’s getting late, how about we stop here for today?”

“That sounds good.”

“I’m sorry. It’s all because of me that you two…”

Mellis hung her head low and clutched the hem of her clothes with both hands as she spoke. She felt sorry for taking up the time of two people who were already incredibly busy.

‘Should I suggest finding someone else even now?’

Though she was filled with the desire to keep trying until the end, time was running short since the banquet was right around the corner. As Mellis hesitated, unable to speak easily, Kermanomon placed his hand on top of her head and said,

“You don’t need to apologize. I told you, didn’t I? You don’t need to bow your head at everything. Rather, I’m the one asking you for a favor. So don’t worry about reading the mood.”

“Still….”

“Well, people will just think that this time the Grand Duke brought a lover who can’t dance.”

“It’s not that bad.”

Even at words that hurt her pride, Mellis couldn’t strongly deny them. Kermanomon said it was fine, but her heart still felt uncomfortable. Countless people’s attention would surely be focused on them, and she didn’t want to damage his honor with careless actions.

Moreover, according to what she had overheard from Kermanomon, the Imperial Faction nobles would be trying very hard to push their marriage candidates on him at this banquet. So this lover role was several times more important than usual.

She couldn’t understand why she couldn’t follow even simple dance moves. Moreover, since Kermanomon moved instinctively, his abstract explanations weren’t much help.

‘How did I do it in the old days?’

Mellis, who had been frowning and searching her memory, suddenly remembered something.

“Grand Duke, is there anywhere nearby where I could borrow books?”

“Books? Why suddenly?”

“I want to look at the theory once.”

During her Academy days, a few days before an exam, Vivian had handed her a book. He said he had no confidence to teach her anymore, so she should just skim through an instruction manual. It was more like picking a fight than showing concern, but surprisingly his gift was a great help.

Learning the movements that were hard to follow with her body one by one with her eyes made it relatively easy to understand. It was thanks to that book that she got at least a D- on an exam where an F was almost certain.

“You mean an instruction manual? Well, I don’t think reading that would help.”

“It might be surprisingly effective. For people like Lady Mellis who are clumsy—I mean, whose physical reactions are slow—learning theory first can sometimes help.”

“Well, if you need it, looking for one wouldn’t be bad. But there’s something you need to be careful about.”

At Kermanomon’s suddenly serious voice, Mellis swallowed dryly and concentrated.

“Don’t be disappointed that there are no decadent novels in the Imperial Library.”

“Pardon?”

Mellis, who doubted her own ears, made a blank face, and she caught sight of Kermanomon covering his mouth and holding back laughter.

“Your Grace, didn’t I clearly tell you it was a secret?”

Going one step further, Malcolm also joined in. Just as she was wondering how these two people knew about that incident, Malcolm, who had been reading her expression, cleared his throat with an awkward face and spoke.

“Actually, I was supposed to meet Anna at the library that day….”

“Ah.”

So Malcolm had been watching everything that happened at the library from behind. Mellis’s face, having grasped everything, heated up as if it would burst.

“I don’t read those kinds of things! This is unfair!”

Though Mellis belatedly shouted in a booming voice, Kermanomon was already laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

* * *

“Hmph, this is really ridiculous! As if I would read such novels!”

Kermanomon’s teasing continued for quite a while after that. Malcolm also pretended to stop him with polite words, but his face was equally red from holding back laughter.

If Garulus hadn’t returned late and asked what was going on, Kermanomon might have collapsed from laughing.

Honestly, it wasn’t like she hadn’t glanced through the book she borrowed…. Anyway, it wasn’t a loan with such impure intentions!

Thirty minutes later, having finished her daily routine, Mellis headed straight to the Imperial Library located in the Imperial Palace outskirts. However, perhaps because it was late at night, the surroundings were as quiet as a mouse. The location was also remote, so she couldn’t feel any sign of people at all.

‘Maybe I should have asked Lord Noel to come with me.’

She belatedly regretted refusing when Kermanomon had ordered Noel to accompany her, saying it was fine. Mellis, who had been hesitating and looking around, carefully headed inside.

Perhaps the librarian had left their post, as the loan counter was also completely empty. The somehow desolate atmosphere made her spine tingle with an eerie feeling.

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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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