Everyone's gaze was focused on me.
Some might feel pressured but I felt liberated.
I was fully aware of how I looked to others. Not in twins' words; not the abandoned child of the Prysters, but as Cayden. I was letting everyone know that I was this kind of person; I was not ashamed of myself irrespective of my origin.
I never thought being a commoner made me less capable than others. After all, ‘Eric Endra’, the protagonist of this novel, also showed a story of overcoming the hurdles within the academy while accepting his origin.
Keeping quiet and accepting everything even after understanding the twin's ploy wouldn't be me.
This was a ballroom, a social place. The twins wanted to hold me down, but…
I realized now that I didn’t have to back down anymore.
I reached out to Daisy because I always wanted to talk to her once.
That was also the reason why I gave her the flower in the jousting match after being disappointed with the twins.
If there was anyone in the academy that I looked up to affectionately after twins, it was Daisy. Even in the novel, she was my favorite.
We’ve never approached each other like this because we consider each other’s positions, but now I decided not to hide.
“…”
I waited for her patiently.
Daisy got up from her seat… and slowly took my hand.
✧ ✧ ✧
One hand grabbed her hand and the other grabbed her waist. She also put her remaining hand on my shoulder.
Several gazes were fixated upon us, but we melted among the other men and women who were already dancing.
I could feel the twins’ gaze in one corner, but I ignored them.
“…Sorry.”
It was the first word I spoke.
“I don’t think it drew any attention.”
Hearing the blunt and straightforward reply just like her, I smiled and asked in a surprised tone.
"You knew?"
In the end, there was absolutely no need to hold my hand, but I think she accepted it because she thought it would ruin my reputation.
Of course, I didn't know exactly how, but I had the illusion that the distance between the two of us became quite close even in our hearts due to this small conversation and her consideration.
It seemed it was the right decision to ask her for a dance.
“Yes. I know.”
She said while we moved in a rhythm.
Daisy frowned slightly.
“…I’m confused right now. Because I’m embarrassed by the kindness Cayden-sama is showing me. But it’s not like anything happened between us.”
“…..”
“I was grateful for the flower, but you didn’t even tell me the reason after the match. I felt quite confused.”
“…”
“So today, I accepted Cayden Sama's hand just to understand your intentions, it doesn’t mean anything else.”
I nodded and replied to her.
“…You must have felt that way. But, I have no desire to take advantage of you or anything like that."
“…Then what is the purpose of this?”
I didn’t know about Daisy, but I had quite a bit of inner intimacy with her.
“Isn't it a good reason that I like you?”
“…We both know that’s not the case.”
As we danced, I burst into laughter.
It was not a lie that I had a crush…but, as she said, there was another motive behind my actions.
“How did you know there was another reason?”
“…You are not shy. You are proud. I don't think you would play such games just to gain my attention.”
“…..”
When the music stopped for a moment, we also stopped while staying in each other's arms.
I asked looking into her eyes.
“Let me ask you one question. What do you think my childhood was like?”
“……”
She hesitated for a second and said cautiously.
“…It must have been difficult.”
“…Why?”
It was a completely unexpected answer. Why did she think so?
“…It looks like the twins hate you.”
“Ah.”
I quickly nodded.
When Asena first talked about me with student council members, Daisy was also present. And the fact that the twins asked her not to get closer to me, must have made it clearer for her how they felt about me.
But that wasn’t the intent of my question, so I asked her again.
“…I'm asking about before that.”
“Okay… but I still don’t understand your intentions.”
“Once you answer the question, you will know that too.”
“…..”
The second music started, we also started moving again.
But this time, Daisy’s body stiffened slightly. Perhaps because she was too engrossed in my question.
As I got closer to match her pace, I could feel all of her reactions.
She looked at me thoughtfully and stumbled.
“…Careful-”
I pulled her closer to balance her and moved her body with the rhythm again.
"-Ah!"
Daisy made an unnatural sound, feeling ashamed of her mistake.
Ignoring that, I gave her a hint.
“It's even before I met the twins.”
“…At that time…because you were adopted… must be in an orphanage…”
“…That’s right. I was in an orphanage until I was adopted by the Prysters.”
She seemed to have already realized.
“…No way...”
“Yes. It was run and sponsored by the Hexters. I grew up there until I was 10.”
Daisy Hexter's expression softened subtly.
“…You’re not lying, are you?”
She said as she paused for a while as if in disbelief.
“Why would I lie about it? And I just wanted to say thank you. So it came out like this.”
The vigilance in her eyes disappeared, and her expression softened even further.
For a moment, I had the illusion that it was just the two of us at the ballroom.
“…You have nothing to thank me for. I didn’t do anything.”
I shook my head.
“Still, thank you, Daisy. I could grow up safely because of your family.”
She blinked and lowered her gaze, avoiding my eyes. A small smile appeared on her lips.
We didn't speak anything for a while and just danced quietly.
I had finished all the things I had been wanting to say to her, so I was just waiting for the music to end.
The moment the music ended, I took away my arms, and the distance between the two of us widened as we stepped back.
I just wanted to say 'thank you' to her from the start, but I couldn’t even do this until today because of the twins who tried to control me.
“It was fun.”
After speaking out my honest thoughts, I turned around.
At that moment, Daisy grabbed my wrist.
“…I don’t think I ever said thank you.”
“...Yes?”
I inquired.
What could Daisy have to thank me for?
“…the flower at the jousting match. It was pretty. It is still… well kept.”
Her words put a smile on my lips.
It seemed that all the stress I had received throughout the day melted away.
✧ ✧ ✧
From the moment Cayden left her and asked Daisy to dance, Keirsey began to feel the previous beautiful melody was just annoying.
Cayden, who said he would not dance with her, reached out to another woman.
Keirsey wore a pretty dress and practiced for today day and night. But her Oppa abandoned her and went to someone else.
All the anticipation she had for her first social dance was in vain.
“…Oppa?”
She called him, but the sound was silenced by the growing music.
At first, she was in disbelief that all of this happening in front of her eyes was some illusion.
But immediately after accepting the reality, she wanted to separate them, but for some reason, her feet did not move.
The space seemed too out of reach, and she didn’t know what to say after stopping their dance.
Keirsey had no choice but to watch everything; When he offered his hand. When Daisy accepted it. When the two stood together in the center of the ballroom. When Cayden’s hand touched Daisy’s waist. When their bodies stuck to each other. Seeing everything, an endless wave of negative emotions hit her.
Keirsey couldn’t stand it any longer.
She turned her head in a different direction as if wishing that not seeing them would change the reality.
And at that moment, something caught her eye.
In the corner, where Cayden was sitting from the start, several empty drinking glasses were placed.
She had no idea that he had drunk so much already. Evidence of the anger expressed on the balcony seemed to be visible now.
She only knew he didn’t enjoy the ball because they suppressed him… In a way, she felt it was natural.
But Keirsey thought he would understand this time too. She thought he would be patient.
She never imagined he would commit such deviance.
“…..”
'Did Unnie see this?'
She looked up at Asena, who was next to her.
Her older sister was staring at Cayden and Daisy with unmoving firm eyes.
✧ ✧ ✧
When the dance with Daisy was over, Asena silently grabbed my wrist and began to head out of the ballroom. Keirsey was following hurriedly too.
They had similar firm expressions on their faces.
It seemed they were just angry because I turned the plan upside down.
But it was not like I had nothing to say; They said it was for family… but in the end, it was just an attempt to control me.
'I am not a pet whom they could put on a leash.'
I was a human who deserved to be treated as one.
I couldn't allow the whole academy to watch their behavior and think that I was not a Pryster, or that they were ashamed of me.
I had done nothing to be ashamed of after all.
As we reached a rather dark road where no one was present, Asena put my wrist down and looked at me.
“Oppa. Why?”
I could feel the heat of her burning anger due to her cold tone.
I was seeing Asena so angry for the first time.
“We were supposed to be quiet and come back! Why all the attention—”
As Asena was speaking, I moved forward and hugged her tightly.
Then I leaned back and lifted her off the ground.
“Oh..!”
Asena screamed in surprise like a girl, not showing her usual mature attitude.
“Asena… are you mad?” I whispered softly.
Asena put her hand on my shoulder and looked down at me, her face hardened again.
“…I wish Oppa could have been a little more patient..! I said next time I’ll take you to a nice place outside—“
Again, I interrupted her words.
Gently lowering her a little, I kissed under Asena's chin.
-Puch.
I wanted to kiss her on the cheek but then I would have to lower her to the ground.
“Don’t be angry, my lovely little sister. Oppa is sorry.”
There were no lies.
I was indeed sorry.
I didn’t regret it though.
I understood she was upset that things didn’t go her way.
'But I can't always follow your command like a dog now, can I?'
Rather, it seemed that it would be better for me to do what I was comfortable with and ask for forgiveness.
I had told them several times that I couldn’t stand such behavior. Since they didn’t listen, I’ll do what I wanted.
It was embarrassing.
'Why do I have to lose every fight? I have something I want to do too.'
“…”
Asena could not speak as if frozen in my arms.
She looked at me from a close distance with a complex and subtle expression.
It seemed that the anger had not yet been resolved.
I rubbed my cheeks against hers.
“Calm down, okay?”
“……”
Power drained from Asena’s hand that was on my shoulder.
She slowly released her hand and wrapped her arms around my neck, and her blunt voice rang in my ears.
“…not again, Oppa.”
“Ahaha. Thank you, Asena.”
Putting down Asena, this time I turned my head to Keirsey.
Her eyes wandered between Asena and me.
Just looking at Asena, she seemed to know what was going to happen to her.
“…I…I was looking forward to… dancing with my Oppa… at the prom…! I mean, I wanted to do my first dance with you…! …But Oppa danced... for the first time with a woman like that…”
Gently nearing towards her, I grabbed Keirsey’s cheeks with both hands.
I held them tight enough so she couldn’t turn her head away from my gaze.
I felt a little resistance, but it didn’t seem like she really meant to shake my hands.
“…Why didn't Oppa dance with me…! If you’re not going to do it, don’t do it at all..! Do you know that I really hate you right now?”
“Keirsey.”
“…..why…!”
“Look into my eyes.”
Keirsey, who had both eyes down with a frown, began to look at me.
“Are you very angry?”
“…I just said I am angry…!”
-Puch.
I put my lips on her forehead and lifted them off.
“…are you never going to forgive me?”
“…..”
-Puch.
“Even now?”
“……”
Keirsey looked at me, then her gaze turned to my lips.
She gulped as if swallowing in anger.
Then she replied with a crawling sound.
“…I am very angry…”
“…Sorry. Let’s not get angry, okay Keirsey?”
“…..”
“If you don't get angry, I’ll take you for a ride next time on Storm.”
“…Uh?”
“Ride... Just like last time.”
Keirsey paused for a moment, then closed her eyes.
Then she pinched my forearm.
“Oh.”
As soon as my hands left Keirsey's cheeks because of pain, she dug into my arms.
“…..”
As she hugged me, she breathed heavily.
I asked, stroking her silver hair.
“…Is it okay to say that you accepted it?”
She nodded slowly.
“Then are you upset?”
But this time she shook her head.
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