I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 26

“Don’t make fun of me, I’m usually good at dancing… It’s just because I’m a little nervous.”

The girl pouted her lips.

Not only her dancing, but everything was different from what it seemed from afar.

Her well maintained straight face was replaced by various expressions.

Every word she said, it was like her lips moved but her eyebrows did the talking.

Zachary found himself noticing irrelevant things that didn’t hold any importance.

More than anything, she didn’t put up airs.

The girl dancing in his arms didn’t seem to mind what he would think of her at all.

He could tell how preciously she was brought up to have that kind of self esteem.

“What are you nervous about?”

“I haven’t been to a party in a while so it’s a bit overwhelming.”

I’ve heard so… Mana intolerance, was it?

“For someone who’s nervous, you seemed to be doing fairly well earlier.”

The girl tilted her head.

She seemed to want to ask how he knew that, but somehow swallowed her words.

“ … ”

When they both kept quiet, the mood somehow became awkward and the short play felt longer.

✰✰✰✰✰

“… By the way, My Lord.”

Zachary tilted his head when the girl whispered in a somewhat innocent voice.

“Is it true that you can use magic?”

So you did know who I was earlier.

“That’s right.”

“Really? Can I perhaps see it?”

Unlike her earlier confident tone, her request came out closer to a shy whisper.

She seemed to think she might be overstepping her boundaries, yet couldn’t help her curiosity.

“ … ”

Zachary looked down at her blankly.

There were two kinds of people.

People who loathed magic wielders under the pretext of being descendants of the devils of the ancient kingdom.

And those who admired magic because of the false expectations they read in fantasy books and false records.

The girl in front of him seemed to be the latter.

However, to Zachary, everyone who witnessed his abilities only expressed fear.

Even if they were on his side.

“One day, maybe.”

Despite the vague answer, the girl smiled contentedly.

“I wish I could use it as well.”

“Since your mana seems stable, that’s not entirely impossible.”

The calm purple eyes glittered in excitement at his words.

“Right? I believe so too… It’s my mother who’s too stubborn to let me practice it.”

The two of them exchanged a few words after that and silence fell again.

✰✰✰✰✰

As he skillfully led her in silence, Zachary noticed the purple eyes glance over his shoulder.

Unfortunately, even without looking back, I already know who you’re searching for.

Suddenly, I thought about all of her dance partners.

Come to think of it, she wasn’t looking ahead at any of them.

Did you use them as an excuse to make your dance with him look like a casual dance?

Just one of many.

Zachary ‘s lips curled into a meaningful smile.

Bad girl.

The girl looked troubled when he suddenly smiled down at her.

“… What is it?”

In a swift move Zachary turned her over so that her back would face that brown haired young man.

“You should only focus on your partner, Miss Heisseintein.”

She immediately understood the meaning as she looked embarrassed with slightly wide eyes.

Unlike when she stepped on his foot, this time she looked sincere.

As if to make up for her earlier discourtesy, the girl started talking about this and that.

Holding onto her small delicate hands while listening to her bird-like chirping, Zachary forgot his father’s words and let himself be swayed in the spur of the moment.

Love.

If there ever was a sincere feeling that didn’t feed on mere instinct called love then I didn’t want that either.

I didn’t want to lose hold of myself in pursuit of someone else.

How frail is the human heart.

Zachary laughed at his own contradiction.

I might have had a bit too much to drink tonight.

That must be it.

Because at one point during the long night, I thought I wouldn’t mind if a woman shook my heart.

A woman who would bring a tide of waves over my calm world.

Whether it be mere physical attraction or a longing for the heart.

It would be a welcome change in this series of boring days.

The dance ended with a greeting and the two parted ways on good terms.

A strange feeling of accomplishment arose in his chest as the girl was no longer looking for that blue eyed young man.

Today was unexpectedly a good day.