Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 723
723. [Side Story] Lake Kingdom (4)
“Ader. Are you… … I know how to dance?”
“…….”
Ader stammered..
Of course, I know how to dance. Because non-nationals have their own culture.
But what Ariel asked for was, of course, a ballroom dance befitting royal etiquette, and there was no way Ader could dance like that..
“Originally, my brother didn't particularly enjoy this kind of situation, so he didn't push for it... … Still, I don't know what will happen.”
Ariel smiled and held out her hand..
“I'll teach you simply enough to avoid getting a seat at the prom. Well, come here..”
therefore.
From the evening with a red sunset, to the night with the bright moonlight shining down.
Ariel gave Ader short-term ballroom dancing lessons..
On the outside, it only seemed like a brother and sister, a prince and princess with the same silver hair and turquoise eyes, dancing happily together..
Fortunately, Ader had a talent for dancing. He quickly learned the steps, and his fake siblings were soon twirling and dancing together..
“It feels strange to practice dancing like this with someone who has the same face as my brother..”
Ariel covered her mouth and smiled and said this.
But the strangest feeling was Ader..
Just because his face resembles that of a prince, he is pretending to be a fake prince in the royal castle, and practicing dancing while holding hands with a princess who would normally not even look at each other, within breath distance.…….
‘Is this reality??’
In a dazed state, as if floating in a dream, Ader learned to dance from the princess..
“Well then, tomorrow is the prom.!”
The day before the prom.
After making them familiar with party manners and who to watch out for in addition to dancing, Ariel said this with a slightly nervous face..
“This is probably the most dangerous time while you are pretending to be your brother... … Let's do it well without getting caught.!”
***
prom day.
This prom was a kind of after-party following the victory declaration ceremony. If the victory declaration ceremony was an occasion to show off national power with foreign guests, this time it was an occasion for domestic people to celebrate the victory of the Kingdom of Lakes..
It was an event hosted by the royal family, and since the king was absent due to illness, it was actually a party that had to be hosted by the prince and princess..
So Ariel was so busy that she couldn't even wake up. Next to him, Ader also did his best to play Prince Christian..
Countless guests came one after another to congratulate the prince and princess. Each time, Ariel called out his partner's name first and congratulated him, and Ader chimed in appropriately..
“Phew, luckily I've done well so far.!”
After several hours of greetings and baptisms were roughly concluded,.
Ariel smiled at Ader, cooling her flushed cheeks with a fan..
Unlike Ariel, who was slightly exhausted but still holding on with a calm complexion, Ader was completely exhausted and slumped over in her chair..
He never imagined it would be this difficult to be greeted by people..
‘I thought the royal family would spend their lives having fun and doing nothing.…….’
Not at all. The royal family had its own difficulties..
‘Still, if I had to choose between the two…….’
Of course I want to live like royalty.
Ader glanced sideways. Ariel was wearing an elegant dress, cooling her cheeks with her fan, and she was dazzlingly beautiful..
She was dressed more extravagantly than usual for the prom, from makeup to accessories, but only the red ribbon tied behind her head was the same as usual..
Ader tied it this morning..
At that time, Ariel felt Ader's gaze and gently shook her head and gently caressed the ribbon..
“Hehe, no matter what event there is, I can't give up this ribbon..”
Then he winked playfully..
“Thank you for tying it up so well, brother.?”
The fact that he left a trace on the sky-like princess somehow made Ader's heart tremble..
At that time, music rang out at the event venue..
It was time for full-scale ballroom dancing..
People poured into the main hall of the ballroom and held hands with their respective partners. Ariel let out a happy laugh as she watched this scene in the ballroom..
“…….”
Suddenly, Ader hesitated..
I knew it was presumptuous, but.
There was one thing I wanted to ask the princess..
‘Not practice dancing, but real dancing…….’
That was the first wish of Ader, a slave boy who had no dreams and was just surviving day by day. Ader swallowed dry saliva..
If I could dance with you just once…….
However, before Ader could make that presumptuous request,.
“Prince!”
A gorgeously dressed woman who looked like a peacock approached and spoke..
Ader, who managed to remember the other person's identity, clumsily called the other person's name..
“ah… … duke's daughter.”
“Please give me the honor of singing a song with the prince.?”
And almost at the same time.
“princess.”
A middle-aged knight with a strong expression approached Ariel, bringing another young knight with him. Ariel recognized his partner and made eye contact..
“Ah, Lord Baltimore..”
“My son dares to ask the princess for a song. Is that okay??”
The middle-aged knight pointed at the young knight and stepped aside. The young knight with a very red face bent down at the waist and then stretched out one of his arms toward Ariel..
Ariel smiled skillfully and took the knight's hand..
“Sure.”
Ariel and the young knight linked arms and went down to the central hall, and Ader, who was hesitant, was also held by the duke's hand and went down to the central hall..
The music started and people started spinning and dancing..
“Ugh…….”
Although she had been practicing hard over the past few days, Ader was well aware that her steps were sloppy. He tried his best not to step on the duke's feet..
And while I was struggling like that, I suddenly looked to the side and caught the eye of Ariel, who was watching me..
Ariel smiled brightly and made a small mouth shape..
I'm doing well.
Ader's heart thumped..
I don't even know what this feels like, I don't even know if this place is a dream or reality..
Dazed, Ader danced, swept away by the waves of people..
The fake prince and the real princess danced right next to each other, holding each other's hand..
Round and round, round and round…….
***
After the prom was held safely,.
After that, there were many events and schedules, but Ader was able to safely perform the role with Ariel's help..
And, before I knew it, a month was almost over..
“Thank you so much for your hard work, Ader..”
Ariel called Ader and praised her..
“I received a call from Research Institute Director Dirandahi. They say he will return to the Lake Kingdom tomorrow..”
“ah……!”
Ader sighed..
Before we knew it, it was time for the prince who left for the Eastern Continent to return..
Ariel smiled brightly at Ader..
“I didn't want to, but I was dragged in just because my face resembled my brother... … It was hard both physically and mentally during this time.?”
“No, no! Not at all!”
Ader waved her hands in denial..
“It was just an undeserved honor for someone as lowly as me to be able to stay in the royal castle.……!”
I meant it..
If I hadn't been lucky enough to resemble a prince, how would I have been able to live in such favour, even if it was only for a month?.
And, how could it be like this…? … Would you have been able to see the princess up close?.
“Hehehe. Thank you even if it's just empty words.”
Ariel covered her mouth and smiled and suddenly held something out in front of her..
“Now this is my gift!”
“yes?”
“You worked hard for a month. So I prepared it.”
What Ariel gave was none other than a glasses house..
When Ader took it and looked puzzled, Ariel smiled shyly..
“When I first came here, I did a physical examination to see if you were my brother... … Adar, your eyesight is extremely poor.?”
“yes? Ah yes… … Actually, it looks a little blurry..”
Ader's eyesight was poor even at a young age because she always worked in a dark basement, relying on dim lighting to do odd jobs..
“It looks a little blurry, doesn't it? Then I must have looked blurry during that time too.?”
Ariel opened the glasses case and took out the thick glasses inside and approached Ader..
“So I guessed it. If you wear this, you will be able to see better in the future..”
Ariel's hands, holding the temples of her glasses and unfolding them, came closer to Ader's face..
Ader, who was nervous without realizing it, shrugged her shoulders. Ariel put the glasses on Ader with a gentle touch..
Ariel's hand, holding the temple of her glasses, brushed Ader's heated earlobe..
A lifetime of blurred vision was covered by a clear lens - the world became brighter..
“how is it?”
And, in the bright and clear center of the world.
The princess, who seemed to have been created by gathering only the most dazzling parts of all the sunlight in the world, was smiling brightly..
“I can see it well?”
“…….”
How should I answer?.
‘It's not just 'I can see it well'.
How should I express the feelings reflected in these eyes?.
Ader lowered her head, cursing her low vocabulary and her even lower status. And he managed to answer.
“……yes. Really, it looks good. Thank you, princess. I will use it well for the rest of my life.”
“Hehehe. For life. Next time my eyesight changes, I'll get you a new one..”
Ader blinked, not really understanding what that meant..
Ariel took a deep breath and explained..
“Ader. After my brother comes back... … After that, how about you become my servant??”
“yes?”
“If you teach, you will learn it quickly, and you may need to act as your brother's substitute in the future... … Also, tie the ribbon well. So I want to keep seeing you in the royal castle..”
Ariel's face became serious..
“Above all, the lives of non-citizens that you have heard about... … It was a shock that shattered my narrow insight..”
Over the past month, Ader has informed Ariel of how the non-citizens of the Lake Kingdom live and what the Lake Kingdom looks like outside the outer castle..
And this changed something inside Ariel.
“Ader. I want to change this country for the better.”
Ader looked up blankly at the profile of the princess looking up somewhere far and high..
“Our country thrives on magic, I know. That you can't rule a country with magic alone. Magic is only a means, and the country must be governed by people.…….”
“…….”
“I also know the lesson of history that if you maintain national power with only one resource, a big crisis will occur when that resource is depleted..”
Ariel shook her head slightly..
“But now in this country, people's status is divided based on whether they use magic or not. This extreme structure will one day eat away at this country..”
“…….”
“I want to change this country slowly. And I hope you help me.”
Ariel urgently added to Ader, who had a blank expression..
“Oh, of course! If you tell me there is something else you want to do, I will send it to you. It's your freedom. Just being forcibly dragged in this month was a hardship.…….”
“Oh no! no! I want to be next to the princess!”
After spitting it out urgently, Ader added with a red face because the vocabulary was somehow strange..
“If I can help the princess on her path, whether as a servant, assistant, or in any other way... … I'm willing to stay.”
Then, as if relieved, Ariel gently rubbed her chest and smiled..
“thank you. then… … Instead of saying goodbye, I'll say this.”
Ader also slowly smiled at the words that followed..
“Best of luck in the future, Ader.?”
***
next day.
The Eastern Continent expedition team that returned to the Lake Kingdom brought back, instead of the magic of immortality, a sad treasure..
It was news that Prince Christian had been involved in an accident and had disappeared on the Eastern Continent..
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