# 12 -
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“Will you give me the first dance?”
Seret's eyebrows furrowed slightly at Lydia's request. It was a very rude request to ask a man who attended the party with his fiancée to dance with her.
Moreover, she asked him to dance the first dance with her, not the second or third. This was an open disregard for his fiancée.
Did she just want to be pampered in front of Yuan?
Despite her dissatisfaction, Seret was curious about Lydia's intentions.
Was it like this in my previous life? What happened then? She searched her memory.
When she remembered, she realized that Yuan had danced the first dance with her back then. Lydia had never asked for anything so rude.
This is strange.
What would bother her to do something that would harm herself?
Dancing with an engaged man for the first dance is absolutely indecent in everyone's eyes.
Lydia Eliot, the flower of aristocratic society, could not commit such a mistake.
She must know better than anyone that if the story got out, it would be harshly criticized.
Whatever Syrett thought, it wasn't just a momentary jealousy.
She studied Lydia's face, searching for her true intention.
Lidya said with a faint smile, "Actually, I'm wearing uncomfortable shoes, and my feet hurt a little. If I dance now, I'm bound to make a mistake. Since I used to dance a lot with Yuan, I thought he would guide me well."
Yuan replied politely, “I will join you in the second dance.”
But Lydia, as if anticipating his refusal, was not at a loss and answered immediately;
“The truth is that His Majesty was the one who asked me to open the ceremony.”
The imperial ball always began with a dance performed by a member of the imperial family. So, Lydia's words caused a subtle hum in the hall.
Crown Prince Henderson and Crown Princess Christine immediately stiffened, dissatisfaction written on their faces.
Asking Lydia to begin the ceremony implied that she was declared a member of the imperial family.
This was a shock to the Crown Prince and his wife, who hated Lydia.
Returning to her previous life, Seret remembered that Lydia actually opened the party.
Then, she danced with the Marquis of Golding, grandson of Alexander Golding, the great war hero, and one of the many men who loved Lydia.
At that time, Seret, as a new participant in the imperial ball, did not understand what it meant for Lydia to start dancing.
All she could think of was that Lydia, dancing with the Marquis, was so beautiful.
She did not understand the meaning of the matter until after her marriage, which is why it was not deeply imprinted on her memory.
Did the Emperor know that his health was not good?
He seemed to want Lydia to be treated as a member of the imperial family even after his death. What touching paternal affection.
said Lydia in a low voice, with a downcast face;
“I was going to dance with Yuan and then have a rest… but if Miss Innohater doesn’t let me, I have no choice.”
She glanced sideways at Seret, as if the whole problem lay with her.
He refused, and you blame me? It was then that Seret realized Lydia's intention.
You deliberately made this rude request to put her in an embarrassing situation.
But she knew Lydia's tricks from her previous life.
What now? I won't let you win that easily. Seret smiled, mocking this superficial trick.
Lydia was trying to suggest that the decision was up to the Duke's fiancée, not the Duke himself. Thus, the decision-making power is placed in Siret's hands.
Perhaps she thought that the country girl was ignorant of the ins and outs of the imperial court. But Seret, who had lived a full life before, knew her intentions well.
The Crown Prince was against recognizing Lydia as a member of the imperial family, but the Emperor wanted that.
Whatever Siret decides, it will fall from the eyes of one of them.
If you please, she gained the Emperor's favor but lost the Crown Prince.
If she refused, she would please the Crown Prince but anger the Emperor.
In any case, you will gain nothing. As for Lydia, she would have been happy with the result, whatever it was.
Seret looked at her, seeing her features struggling to hide a smile.
Your plan won't work, Lydia. I won't choose anything.
She said with a bright smile;
"I don't think that's my decision, Miss Elliot. It's for Duke Frecktwister."
She turned to Yuan. He replied with a gentle, sarcastic smile, and he seemed to understand Lydia's meaning well.
What decision will the Grand Duke make? Seret asked with a smile.
Yuan looked at the audience, then his eyes fixed on Grand Duke Regan Poplaruel.
Seret's eyes traveled behind him to the man himself.
Grand Duke Regan Poplaruel was a handsome man with delicate features.
His hair is light brown and his eyes are the same color as his hair.
His smile was fresh, giving off a feeling like early summer, and his personality was similar.
Reagan is the Emperor's nephew, and was raised in the palace after his parents died early.
The Emperor, who loved his father dearly, treated Reagan as his own son.
For this reason, despite his different title from the imperial family, he always appeared among them on court occasions.
Yuan returned his gaze to Lidya with a sly smile and said;
“What do you think of Grand Duke Poplaruel as your partner, Miss Elliot?”
"What?!"
“Huh?!”
Lydia and Regan said at the same time in astonishment.
Lydia couldn't hide her shock, while Reagan looked at Yuan in bewilderment. Because of their family resemblance, the scene seemed funny.
Yuan said seriously;
“I remember that Grand Duke Poplaruel taught Miss Elliot to dance when she was young. He was even her partner in the first dance, wasn't he, Your Highness?”
Reagan responded with a smirk
“That's right, Duke Frecktwister.”
But his features were dissatisfied, as if his eyes were saying; Would you sell your friend?
Yuan continued, “Then he would undoubtedly be the perfect partner for Miss Elliot, who suffers from her feet.”
There was a tense silence among the members of the imperial family. Yuan clearly put the ball in their court: The problem is your problem, so solve it.
As expected, everyone got the message.
Reagan broke the silence, saying, “That's okay. Lydia, let's dance the first dance with me.”
“Yes, Brother Reagan.” She answered hesitantly.
As for Yuan, he offered his arm to Seret after he skillfully ended the situation.
Seret grabbed his arm, turning away from Lydia, whose face was clearly marred by anger.
To whom is this victory attributed? She wondered secretly.
She looked up at Yuan. His face was calm as usual, as if nothing had happened, even though he had just rejected the request of the woman he loved.
What a cold heart. Isn't he supposed to dance with her for once? Is this how he puts his family above his love?
Or perhaps his heart is being torn apart inside him. He might have wished to dance with her a hundred times, but he refused out of consideration.
What about me? She muttered to herself.
He is a man whose heart no one can easily see. She sighed lightly and said,
“He is a loyal friend, His Highness Grand Duke Poplaruel.”
Yuan replied coldly, “He is always a loyal friend.”
The two have been childhood friends, and Reagan is perhaps the only man in the country who dares to treat Yuan with such familiarity.
Unlike the Crown Prince, Reagan was on good terms with Lydia, so the three are said to have spent their childhood together.
In her previous life, Lidya had always boasted of her childhood memories with Yuan.
She always portrayed him in her stories as a compassionate man who would melt to see her cry and grant her everything she wanted.
Every time Siret heard her stories, she felt jealous and sad. She was certain that she would never see that tender side of Yuan.
“Miss Elliot must be disappointed, Your Highness,” she said with a wry smile. “Why didn’t you just dance with her?”
Yuan furrowed his brow and looked at her,
“Did you really want me to?”
"I don't care." She replied, shrugging her shoulders.
Some might whisper that Duke Frecktwister's fiancée was left alone, but she didn't care.
The conversations will also reach Yuan and Lidya. Since she would soon be separated from him, her name would not be mentioned for long.
Yuan muttered; “Do you call this being generous on your part? Or is there another purpose behind it?”
A slight smile appeared on Siret's lips. She stopped walking and withdrew her hand from his arm, saying with a bright smile:
"It's not too late. Why don't you grant Miss Elliot her request?"
Yuan looked at her for a long time before picking up her fingertips and kissing the back of her hand. Then he raised his eyes to her.
Seret's brow furrowed at the touch of his lips on her gloves.
Yuan said in a sarcastic tone
“It is an honor to share the first dance with Miss Enohater.”
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