Chapter Thirty-eight: Dance and Playacting
“Even if you step on my foot, keep dancing with a smile like nothing happened, okay, Sister?”
“If that’s what’s best for you, Master Sieg… understood.”
Sieg had grown rapidly, now reaching about 130 centimeters. Karen was around 150 centimeters, making their height difference about 20 centimeters. Karen wore flat shoes while Sieg gained about 10 centimeters from heels. This reduced their height difference to 10 centimeters.
“You don’t need to be so tense, Ms. Karen.”
“That’s right. This is just to show everyone how well Sieg has recovered.”
Though Alise and Helfried said this, Karen was determined to make it a success for Sieg’s sake too. The feeling that someone was scrutinizing Sieg with a calculating gaze was surely not just Karen’s imagination.
As the crowd moved to the edges of the hall, Sieg and Karen stepped into the open space in the center.
“Sorry if I step on your feet, Sister.”
“I’ll keep dancing even if my bones break.”
“That’s scary!”
They laughed together and began to dance. The musicians seemed to be playing slower than usual. They could play even slower and it would be fine.
“Pff, Sister Karen, you look so serious. Smiling is important, you know.”
“I don’t have the luxury for that.”
After the dance ended, Karen felt completely drained. Though she managed not to step on Sieg’s foot, she remembered stumbling around at some point. Her desperate expression would surely highlight Sieg’s composure and light steps. Karen decided to convince herself.
"This is… a strategy to make you look better through contrast, Master Sieg!”
“Yeah, that’s one way to look at it. Thanks for going along with it, Sister Karen.”
Sieg hugged Karen and stood on tiptoe to kiss her cheek. Moved by his sweetness, Karen teared up. Warm applause followed as if to say "How touching.” Thanks to Sieg’s cuteness, Karen’s wobbly dancing seemed to be forgiven.
“Ah, Sister Karen, Uncle Julius is coming this way. I wonder what he wants?”
Sieg said this and left Karen standing in the center of the hall. It seemed Sieg knew about this playacting between Julius and Karen.
“Karen.”
“…Master Julius.”
Sensing that something was about to happen, everyone watched them. The attention felt somewhat pleasant. After all, Karen was about to receive a marriage proposal from Julius. Even if it was an act, it was exciting as a woman.
With this many eyes on them, surely her brain wouldn’t melt.
“If I may borrow this moment, I have something I’d like to tell Karen. I ask everyone here to be witness to the words I’m about to speak.”
After looking around, Julius knelt before Karen. As women’s screams erupted from here and there, Karen looked triumphant. Seeing Karen’s expression, Julius struggled to hold back his laughter.
“Karen, I’ve fallen in love with you. Please marry me.”
“I believe I already declined that offer.”
Barely maintaining her composure while puffing up with pride, she answered. This was all according to plan so far. That there had already been a discussion, but Karen had declined of her own will. This was the setup they needed to make public.
Screams erupted everywhere. A few were excited squeals, but most were groans from pale-faced young ladies. The situation of having the capital’s most eligible bachelor kneeling and proposing felt so good that Karen didn’t care who she made enemies with.
However, even if it felt good, she had to keep acting. Karen cleared her throat and said:
“Through the process of making potions for Master Sieg, I’ve come to want to do more work as an alchemist to help people. I want to live for my work, not marriage.”
“I have no intention of asking you to quit being an alchemist if you marry me. Won’t you stay by my side?”
“No matter how many times you ask, I—”
From here, she would receive Julius’s pleading several times before eventually softening her stance and leaving the marriage discussion pending.
As she mentally reviewed the sequence of events, Julius suddenly took her hand. Karen’s heart skipped a beat and she started to pull away. This wasn’t part of the plan.
“When I first met you, I barely even believed in your abilities. I’m ashamed to say I even suspected you might be lying to get close to me.”
“Th-that’s understandable.”
Though confused by the sudden improvisation, Karen played along.
“But Sieg recovered remarkably thanks to your potions. Learning of your excellence as an alchemist, I began wanting to marry you for the benefit of the family.”
Julius spoke the truth. He wanted marriage after recognizing the value of Karen’s abilities. In a way, this was something to be proud of as an alchemist.
“But when it came to your reward, you didn’t even glance my way and instead asked for an appraisal mirror. When I saw your profile as you excitedly received the mirror from Brother Helfried, saying it would help advance your research—you looked breathtakingly beautiful.”
“I-I don’t think that’s true.”
Why did he have to keep bringing up things that actually happened? Karen denied it uncomfortably, shifting in place. Julius fixed her with his golden eyes and smiled.
“You were beautiful, Karen. Your eyes as you gazed at your bright future were as clear as a cloudless sky, so dazzling I caught my breath. Forgive me, but I found myself wondering again and again if you had always been this beautiful. Even now, you shine brilliantly in my eyes.”
Julius even narrowed his golden eyes as if dazzled—such attention to detail in his acting. Yes, this was just acting. Karen’s face turned bright red as she trembled. She had to keep reminding herself, or her pounding heart would drive her mad.
“Even if thorns await your path forward, you’ll keep moving ahead. I want to be the sword that cuts down the thorns in your way.”
Sighs could be heard throughout the hall. Not just from women, but also impressed and surprised sighs from men.
From these reactions, it seemed the message that Julius was seriously proposing to Karen had gotten through. If so, according to the plan, they should be heading toward the conclusion.
She had to guide it to the conclusion, Karen decided, clutching her thundering heart. But Julius’s offensive didn’t stop.
“I want to be the partner who supports you as you live as an alchemist, Karen.”
As Julius brought his lips to her gloved fingertips, a chorus of gasps and screams swallowed any words Karen might have uttered. Looking up at Karen, Julius said:
“Won’t you grant this pitiful man who’s fallen in love with you even a small chance?”
Pinned by his sharp gaze, Karen felt like her whole body would burst into flames as she said:
“…If it’s as f-friends…”
“Then I’ll work hard to develop that friendship into something more.”
Julius stood up before Karen, who was fighting back a scream at his sweet words.
“Everyone, I apologize for taking up your precious time. I would have liked to show you a successful proposal, but I believe I showed what was most important—that she is someone precious to me.”
Finally, back on script, Karen felt exhaustion wash over her. Julius’s acting as if he were truly in love had been intense. She’d meant to enjoy this, but it was too powerful. Even knowing it was acting, she’d almost believed it, breaking into a cold sweat. A soft handkerchief was gently pressed against Karen’s forehead.
“Ms. Karen, you’re sweating so much.”
“Lady Alise…”
Alise, Sieg, and Helfried approached Karen and Julius.
Julius had said all of the family would gather in the center of the ballroom.
“The alchemist Karen is a lifesaver whom the future head of the Ehlertt family calls sister, a friend to the Countess, a trusted advisor to the Earl, and the object of my affections.”
Alise linked arms with Karen, and Sieg held her other hand.
It was a very reassuring and heart-soothing formation.
“She is like family to us. I would like everyone here to keep this in mind.”
“Now then everyone, please enjoy my recovery celebration to your heart’s content.”
At Sieg’s words, the music began again.
Oh, I so hope the next chapter has a Lyos’ POV. I want that man writhing in disbelief. Thank you for the chapter!
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