# 21
---
Episode 21
* * *
Ruelia paused for a moment at the sudden command.
Her eyes quickly darted around to find the reason for her boss's anger.
Her foot is a step behind and the heel is slightly raised.
“I'm sorry, I didn't notice.”
Ruelia quickly pulled her leg up and lowered her heel.
Caelce's gaze darted to the tips of her distant toes.
His leg muscles seemed to tense for a moment, but he quickly crossed his arms and stood with a side tilt.
“You weren't trying to escape, were you?”
“No, of course not!”
Ruelia waved her hands vigorously when she saw Cales' cold look.
"I was really scared. I never danced."
Caelus raised his eyebrows further at her gloomy face, his eyes shining with even bluer suspicion.
"Didn't you graduate from the academy? Didn't you learn to dance as part of the culture?"
"Of course. But dancing isn't done alone, is it?"
“Do you mean that your colleagues harassed you?”
“Not necessarily harassment, but they ignored me as if I didn’t exist.”
The academy she attended was intended for the children of nobles, especially those who would not inherit their family positions.
They were full of arrogance mixed with inferiority, and Ruelia was a thorn in their eyes.
A common girl, she tops the classes and is admired by the teachers, so how can she not be hated?
She spoke softly, but her mouth was bitter.
“I see. Those narrow-minded fools will definitely regret it now.”
“Yes, even when I was in the Bellona Guild, they ignored me, but now they reckon with me.”
Did Kayles' supportive words help?
Ruelia smiled brightly. She was not the type to be easily affected by such matters.
But Kyles, on the contrary, frowned even more.
Ruelia hesitated, then added.
“It's all thanks to you, Sir Duke.”
Kyle's eyebrows finally relaxed.
Ruelia was reassured when she saw his calm face, but her joy did not last. He extended his hand again.
“Sir Duke?”
“If everyone knew you were my partner and we didn't dance together, they would write silly stories.”
Certainly not fun.
But today she had a more important goal, so she would not be distracted by such matters.
“There is no escape then.”
“I also need training.”
"What? You?"
“Yes. If I make a mistake, Gallion will mock me mercilessly, so I must prepare.”
Cales' fingers trembled nervously, and Ruelia felt a bad feeling.
“Is His Highness the Prince’s partner Miss Emil?”
“Yes, that is what was said.”
She was expecting this, but the confirmation disappointed her.
Do things really go according to fate?
“How ironic...”
When Ruelia muttered as she lowered her shoulders, Caelce's eyes narrowed slightly.
“Yes, it would be annoying if you gave Galleon an object of ridicule.”
Right, how could the Duke change fate so quickly?
There's still a long way to go.
“That woman will be watching us too. I can’t appear helpless to lead you.”
He seemed to realize, albeit belatedly, the need to impress Ayla.
Ruelia finally felt motivated to work.
“Okay, that makes things easier. Next step...”
I remembered Belén's advice.
-Make him practice beforehand.
It was very appropriate advice.
“You are correct, sir. I will try.”
Ruelia went to the dressing room, grabbed a music box, and began to twist the key excitedly.
When the soft tunes started, she placed her small hand on top of Caelis's large hand.
Cayce's gaze lingered on her hand for a moment. Then Ruelia took a step towards him.
By her own will.
A satisfied smile appeared on Kyle's lips.
“It's finally you.”
He grabbed her hand tightly and pulled her towards him.
The distance between them suddenly decreased.
Kyles smelled a different scent: not the usual smell of ink, but a sweet floral scent that made his nose twitch.
Rose perfume? With a slight hint of refreshing herbs.
"not bad."
Whether her choice was voluntary or not.
Ruelia raised her head from under his chin.
"What? What do you mean?"
Instead of responding, Caelus pulled her closer to his chest.
Ruelia's eyes widened in astonishment.
“Wait, that's too close!”
“This is how it's supposed to be.”
He responded rudely, then began to move gracefully.
Ruelia followed with shaky steps, staring at the ground.
After a big lap on the carpet, Kyles laughed and said:
“Relax and keep your head up.”
“You said you needed training, you lied!”
Ruelia raised her head in frustration. All her attempts to trample his feet failed.
“My body remembers.”
He intended to teach her how to cover up a partner's mistakes, but it seemed there would be no mistakes.
However, there is no room for negligence.
“Even if your feet are stepped on, don't get angry. Anger increases stress and causes mistakes.”
“This is basic etiquette.”
“If possible, compliment her with kind words while dancing.”
Despite Ruelia's advice, Cales seemed to be in a good mood.
He carefully guided her another turn, then tilted her waist back, bending down to face her.
Ruelia saw his lips raise up in a confident smile.
“You have many demands.”
“Isn't that normal? If you're creative, I'll save face as your assistant. That's why I'm staying by your side.”
Kyle's smile suddenly stopped.
At that moment, the door opened.
Ruelia pushed the duke's chest in panic and straightened up.
Kyles looked coldly at whoever opened the door.
“I have an urgent report!”
Belén was holding a piece of paper, shrunken and smiling awkwardly.
He looked at his master and immediately realized.
“Tomorrow the hellish training begins again.”
* * *
When the red sunset covered the streets,
Ruelia was sitting in the duke's carriage, urging the man across from her in a whisper.
“When are you going to give it to me, Ser Belin?”
"What?"
“The information you talked about. Isn’t the investigation finished yet?”
“Oh, you mean the Duchess candidate file?”
He teaches and demonstrates.
Ruelia glanced out of the carriage and extended her hand.
Belin carefully took out a piece of paper from his chest, watching outside.
"Here is."
"Thanks."
Ruelia hid the paper in her chest, planning to read it later in the break room.
“By the way, I followed your advice today.”
"What?"
“I said the Duke needed training. We practiced dancing before the ball, and he seems to have gained confidence.”
"truly?"
Belen replied, constantly watching outside.
Despite her outward calm, Ruelia was nervous.
-I'll go check, stay and protect Ruelia.
On their way to Countess Bellona's house, they saw the prince's carriage near the city center. One of its wheels was broken.
Caelus went to rescue the prince.
They parked her car in a remote alley in case of any emergency.
“It wouldn't be an attack, would it?”
Everyone knew that the prince had been subjected to assassination attempts by his half-brothers.
Maybe some of them stayed.
But there is another possibility.
Ruelia looked at Belin, who appeared at a strange timing, with a skeptical look.
“The Duke is going to be late, isn't he?”
At that moment, a noise was heard from the side of the prince's carriage, as if a battle was taking place.
"What's going on? Are they killers?"
Ruilia asked Belin, who quickly checked the situation, panicking.
Belin scratched his head in embarrassment.
“Well… it looks like the Duke hit the prince in the stomach.”
It seems that the Duke has finally lost his mind.