CH 12

“Nice to meet you...”

How many times do they have used these cliche lines, which always start with, 'Nice to meet you' ?

They were a pack of wolves who did not even know anything about the person they were hunting. Just like wild animals, all they knew was to bite someone, spread disgust, and fill their stomach.

The deep contempt in their eyes was clearly visible. Probably, they weren't happy or welcoming to local aristocrats for even just a day or two.

Some were surprised to see Adilun’s different appearance from a normal human being, and some were even frightened by her appearance.

It’s probably because there were a lot of ears to listen to, so they were not making fun of her with their mouths, but their thoughts would probably boil down to one thing: The monster of Rodenov.

The series of emotions in their eyes could not be hidden, so I could judge them right away, and perhaps Adilun felt that too, hence her hands were trembling slightly. And since she couldn’t show her usual confidant attitude, Adilun had no choice but to be exposed to those gazes. And for now, all I can do is hold her hand and ask in her ear, 'are you okay?'

How long has it been like that? Finally, with the loud voice of an attendant announcing that members of the imperial family had arrived at the ballroom, the door to the huge ballroom opened.

Excluding the empress, people in The Imperial Family or otherwise called the Golden Clan bloodlines are always born with brilliant blonde hair and golden eyes. However, the one who stands out the most by far is the emperor, Deas Enadeim.

His strong body was beyond description, and what stood in his eyes was a knife-like anticipation. Quite a few people would have trembled just by making eye contact, so it seemed like he was declaring who the emperor was.

Although he recently became tyrannical in collusion with the central nobles, but he was clearly the master of this empire who no one dared to rebel against.

Why did he suddenly change his attitude, who was originally famous as a sage? What was his intention for changing this much? Everything was hidden in a veil.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”

All the nobles bowed their heads as soon as he walked in. Because even if he practiced tyranny, his absolute power was still there.

What may be the reason for the central noble to check the local nobles right now? Is this the emperor’s will, hence they are wagging their tails like this? Because if the emperor hadn’t allowed it, they wouldn’t have done anything like that.

The only time we could raise our heads was when the emperor reached the throne in the center of the ball and said.

“Raise your head.”

A deep voice descended upon the ballroom. At that moment, even the atmosphere stiffened.

“It is a happy day. This is the day when Enadeim began. So enjoy my people. This is all I mean.”

After saying that, the emperor sat down on the throne and looked around.

And at that moment, the music starts playing. As if trying to relieve the rigid atmosphere, the upbeat tone evokes the atmosphere of the prom, gradually encouraging the excitement of those present.

The main attraction of a ball was, of course, dance. So, eventually, those who have their partners started dancing in sync with the music.

The feast of dresses and conquests spinning round and round creates an illusion that you are in a flower field.

I took Adilun’s hand and said.

“Shall we go too?”

“Yes.”

Adilun was still looking around the crowd with a stiff face. Are there any eyes staring at her? Wouldn’t it be like telling gossip about herself?

She seemed to be trying hard to make up her mind, but it couldn’t be easy. The feeling of trembling hand transmitted to me. But, suddenly, she closed her eyes as if trying to cut herself off from the world, and when she finally opened them again, she had a determined will to block all the gazes of hatred and contempt directed at her, she weaved a shield with the firm will to protect her heart.

Therefore, the wavering golden eyes regained their original light and did not shake anymore.

“Let's go. And you should know one thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I dance really well, so follow me. The moment you behave in the slightest clumsiness, I will stomp on you, so keep that in mind.”

I smiled internally looking at Adilun who was trying to show her confident self. I didn't mind her earlier words because I knew she would not follow them as we could not afford to show our enmity in front of central nobles.

At that moment I realized, Why do I want to make her happy? It was because of that point. An attitude to stand up without retreating even in the face of adversity and hardship. Gaining the courage to overcome fear and overcoming it in the end.

Yes. Adilun.

Let’s go. Let’s show your natural beauty to those who only see your outer appearance and don’t want to see your inner side.

“Don’t worry. I am quite confident in moving my body too.”

I replied to her with a smile and confidence.

* * *

With every step taken and our breathing intersected. And I saw Physis in front of my eyes.

Just as he said he was confident in using his body, he had amazing moves. There was consideration for the other person in each of his steps, and he always moved in sync with my breath.

Originally, I wasn’t the type to enjoy dancing actively in front of others, but I changed my mind, to show those who despised me and send a gaze that even harbored hatred, that  I was not something to be ignored.

Behavior has a person’s inclination. If I’m intimidated by that kind of gaze, I’ll just give them an excuse to bite me.

But I won’t allow it. If they are wolves who like to bite others, I am the noblest dragon with the thickest blood of the ancestral dragon, Altair.

In which food chain, do wolves come before the dragon?

If they stick their insignificant teeth at me, I will chew them and swallow them all.

It is not necessarily limited to this place. They will continue to look for gaps in me and touch my vices.

My resolve came from, funnily enough, Physis’s hand. 

To feel at peace in the hands of the person who threw my self-esteem into the abyss. Am I crazy too?

No, rather, I might have gained more confidence because of that.

Because he was the one who treated me the most insignificantly. Seeing that even such a person thought he was wrong, I thought that I might not be the insignificant person I thought I was.

Maybe that’s too good an interpretation. But, what does that matter now? The important thing now is not to be weak. What I need right now is the courage to overcome those gazes directed at me.

Confidence dwells in me, and the moment I draw a complete picture of my dance, I can feel the eyes on me.

And a little bit of admiration dwells in the gaze of disgust and contempt.

I don’t know if it’s another place, but this is definitely a prom.

The essence of a ball is dance, and now I must be the most beautiful of them all.

There is something I finally realized. That there is no need to be intimidated. I just need to change the way they look at me. There is nothing to be afraid of, I just lay out what I have in front of them.

Because the things I’ve accumulated weren’t insignificant by any means.

* * *

I watched my brother and his fiance dance. It was an amazingly beautiful dance. The gaze of the people around them who had been looking at Princess Rodenov as if she were a monster gradually began to change.

Along with that, my thoughts about my brother were gradually changing too. It’s such a move to be considerate of your partner like this. It was a move anyone could never even imagine if they knew the usual Physis.

It’s a strange thing. Even when I heard the news of the engagement, I couldn’t get used to seeing my younger brother, who had gone crazy as if he had a fucking disease, dance like that.

Moreover, what happened to him in just 3 months? The time I spent with my younger brother was never like this.

Has he really come to your senses? I couldn’t figure it out, but somehow I thought it would be different this time.

3 months is a time that can feel quite short, but it is a period that can be felt as long for a person.

Since Physis proved his change during that time, shouldn’t I at least get rid of the suspicious gaze?

In my eyes, I see the figure of a girl covered in bluish-white scales, a different appearance from others. The living dragon of Rodenov, who is said to have inherited the dragon lineage most heavily in the history of Rodenov, Adilun Rodenov.

The girl who had been hurt by my brother was looking at the surroundings with her eyes shining once again with a resolute gaze.

“That’s it, you don’t have to worry about them.”

I said to my father, Giltheon, next to me. And he also nodded.

“I’ve never seen that guy treat someone so sincerely.”

“Me too. What kind of change of heart could there have been?”

“Well... I don't know...”

“But a good thing is a good thing. I’m satisfied that he doesn’t have any more accidents.”

“That is me too. Anyway, we should do our job. Tsk... My back hurts.”

“I also have a bit of a sore throat. There are too many people who bother me.”

“At least, they probably trying their best to separate us from Rodenov.”

“It looks like they will do quite a bit of tickling.”

“Don’t fall over. Always think about what they want and act accordingly.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The two took their eyes off the dance of Physis and Adilun, and began contacting the nobles around them.