Chapter 56
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 56
Mother read the desperate plea in my eyes and approached Father.
"Darling, please compose yourself. You must maintain your noble dignity."
"Do I look composed to you right now!"
"I'll explain everything once we're home. So Father, please trust me."
I had intended to tell Father everything—the reasons behind my actions.
But this place was hardly suitable for discussing such matters.
We needed to have a serious conversation somewhere quiet about what had transpired.
"Darling, if we don't trust Belita, who will?"
"Hmph."
At Mother's words, Father fell silent.
"Once the Eve Festival concludes, you must tell us everything that happened—not a single lie."
"Yes, I promise I will."
"So you intend to dance with the Byon Family heir tonight?"
"Yes, I made a promise with him."
"Why on earth—. Never mind, I understand. Do as you see fit."
"Thank you, Father."
Father's permission for tonight's events had finally been granted.
With my mind at ease, the spread of food on the table came into view.
I reached for a wine glass on the table and brought it to my lips.
It was an exquisite wine—the sweet aroma mingled with the grape's subtle astringency and acidity in perfect balance.
As I sipped the wine and enjoyed the Eve Festival, the gentle music that had been playing ceased, and soon a lively melody filled the air.
It was the highlight of the Eve Festival—the Dance Time.
Before arriving at the Eve Festival, I had no intention of participating in this dance time.
I had planned to refuse anyone who asked me to dance.
But because of Cain Maxius, I ended up agreeing to dance with Aiden Byon.
I glanced sideways at where Aiden Byon was seated.
Aiden Byon had already risen from his seat and was approaching me.
Our gazes met.
The moment those violet eyes locked with mine, I found myself unable to move, as if someone had gripped my head and prevented me from turning away.
And then he arrived before me in an instant.
"Lady Heitz, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?"
That long, large hand was extended toward me—I had seen it countless times before.
"I'd be delighted."
There was no hesitation.
And so I found myself taking his hand once more.
He drew me by the hand into the throng of dancers, their bodies swaying in perfect synchrony.
The moment we appeared, I felt the scorching weight of countless eyes upon us.
I understood perfectly well why they stared.
How amusing it must seem to them.
They would whisper about what a delightful spectacle we made.
But it mattered not.
In this moment, in this place, there existed only him and me.
One of his hands encircled my waist while the other clasped mine.
I placed my hand gently upon his shoulder.
And I moved my body in time with the music, slow and deliberate.
Though I had never learned to dance, my body—Belita's body—remembered.
And though Belita's memories held no recollection of dancing with Aiden Byon, our movements were flawless in their harmony.
Those who had watched us stand motionless yet dance with such ease began to stir once more, one by one.
As time passed, I no longer felt their gazes upon us.
Save for one.
When we passed by Cain Maxius with our hands still clasped, his expression turned glacial as he watched us.
And I could feel that his gaze remained fixed upon us still.
But Aiden Byon and I paid him no mind, focusing instead upon the dance.
"Thank you."
"For what, if I may ask?"
"For playing along with my lie."
"It was no lie."
"I beg your pardon?"
Bewildered that he would deny what was clearly my own fabrication, I looked up at him.
"In truth, I wished to ask Belita to dance. I simply failed to find the moment to say so."
With those words, Aiden Byon smiled with shameless ease.
This sensation—this thundering in my chest—surely it was the music that caused it.
Or perhaps I had simply been captivated for a moment by his beauty, nothing more.
"Is that so?"
"It is."
"I see."
"Yes."
Feeling my lips grow parched, I deliberately teased him to distract myself.
And he, suspecting nothing, accepted my jest with grace.
We continued our exchange, neither willing to let the conversation falter.
"Have you practiced horseback riding extensively?"
"Well, to some degree."
"I do hope you emerge victorious."
"You must emerge victorious as well, Aiden Byon."
"I shall do so."
Afterward, I spoke of Adela, who had been unable to attend.
"Adela said she would come watch your final match if you made it that far? I hope her health is holding up."
"I told her there was no need for her to come, but I couldn't overcome my sister's stubbornness."
"Ah..."
Aiden Byon was indeed weak when it came to his older sister.
"But shouldn't you first worry about whether you can even make it to the finals?"
I threw out the joke with a playful expression.
"Then, if I do make it to the finals, would you come watch my match, Belita?"
"Pardon?"
Why did the conversation take such an unexpected turn?
I'd made a lighthearted comment and suddenly found myself in a situation where I'd agreed to attend the finals.
As I looked up at him with a slightly flustered expression, Aiden Byon continued with a beautiful smile.
"Your presence would give me great strength."
I hesitated for a moment, but then remembered how he had helped me today, and I nodded willingly.
"All right. Since Aiden helped me today, I'll come watch. But it has to be the finals."
"I understand. I will make it to the finals without fail."
Based on how skillfully he rode that day in Hemoa, his abilities already seemed more than sufficient.
And so we continued our dance in our own little world, exchanging conversation after conversation.
When I glanced around, the other dancers had apparently changed partners multiple times.
But we had not.
Just as I had told Cain Maxius, we never switched partners once, focusing entirely on each other.
Then the dance time, brief as it was, came to an end, and the music stopped.
With that, the feet of everyone dancing came to a halt.
"That was a wonderful time."
"It was for me as well."
In that moment, fireworks far more brilliant than those that had burst at the beginning of the night exploded across the sky.
"Wow!"
I lifted my gaze to the night sky and let out a cheer of delight.
"They're so beautiful, aren't they?"
Caught up in the excitement of watching the fireworks, I found myself grabbing Aiden Byon's arm and bouncing up and down.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Realizing what I was holding, I quickly withdrew my hand from his arm and apologized.
"It's all right."
I offered an awkward smile and looked back up at the sky.
But I could feel his gaze fixed entirely on me, and the fireworks no longer registered in my vision.
His presence beside me became impossible to ignore, and a wave of tension washed over me.
"Have you still never been to Peorat?"
"..."
I understood the deeper meaning behind his question, so words did not come easily.
"I've been remembering moments like this one."
I tore my gaze from the fireworks and looked at the man beside me.
His eyes seemed melancholic.
Had he felt hurt when I denied knowing him back then?
"...I am."
I opened my mouth slowly.
And now, finally, I spoke the words I'd wanted to say if I ever met him again.
"I'm Belita. Who are you?"
"...I'm Aiden."
"So we've met again after such a long time, from Peorat to Ulita. Have you been well all this while, Aiden?"
"I haven't been well."
"You haven't been well? Why?"
"Because there was someone I wanted to see for such a very long time."
"...."
My heart plummeted.
I should have answered, but the words simply wouldn't come.
As I remained silent, he spoke again.
"I wanted to see them, and now I finally have. So I think it will be alright."
"...That's a relief."
"Yes, it is."
Relief filled his handsome face.
We exchanged satisfied smiles with each other.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org