CH 2

“That step is wrong! Be more elegant, more graceful.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

I shrunk my body after receiving scolding for the umpteenth time.

Until the Exiled Duke’s Daughter,...

I wasn’t originally someone with good motor skills, so my feet inevitably got tangled in the unfamiliar dance. I’m making an effort, but it’s no use since I wasn’t originally equipped for it.

Right now, I was in the dance hall inside the Marquis’ mansion.

It was one of the smaller halls among several, apparently used only for parties with close family and friends. It was also used for practice.

The sound of a light piano echoed in the room.

Surprisingly, a piano almost identical to the one in that world existed here. I don’t know the details of how it works, so I don’t know if it’s exactly the same, but to an amateur’s eyes, it looked almost identical.

The piano, which occupied a corner of the hall, had his friend’s wife (a beauty) sitting on it, and his friend (the Count’s son, who was the object of admiration) was laughing happily nearby.

I want them to help me instead of laughing, but unfortunately, my SOS doesn’t reach them.

Reluctantly, I stepped on the steps with the feeling of “Awaken, motor skills, awaken!”

To be honest, it was a painful time. I want to be released as soon as possible.

After that, I tried to decipher his rude words in my own way. I could have asked him directly, but I thought it might be rude.

The conclusion I came to was that I should pretend to be his girlfriend during this period, or make them think that I am the person he is interested in. In other words, I would be his convenient girlfriend.

If I was wrong, it would be embarrassing, so I mustered up the courage to ask him before I was brought here. The answer I got when I returned was, “What, didn’t you realize it?”

“I interpreted it as you admiring me purely because you often looked at me and didn’t seem to have fallen in love with me.

Besides, you’re so plain.

I thought it was lucky that someone as plain as you was invited here. And as I thought, you accepted it. My evaluation of you was not wrong after all.”

He said this while poking me with a needle.

I know that I’m plain, but it still hurts when someone else says it. Anyway, as a result of talking to him, I realized that he lacks “sensitivity.”

Certainly, he wasn’t wrong.

Rather, the correct answer is a big hit, ding-dong, ding-dong. It was intensely frustrating.

So, I retorted a little.

“Oh, my, you were observing me to the point of knowing that? Jeremiah-sama must have been very free. Or do you have a hobby of observing people?”

When I said that, he blinked for a moment, then said somewhat flustered.

“Simply put, among the flashy poisonous flowers, you, who are plain, were easy on the eyes.”

Once again, I was treated as plain, but my remark seemed to greatly confuse him, and I was very satisfied with the result. When I remembered that moment and grinned, I was scolded again.

“What are you laughing at? Concentrate properly. You’ve been stepping on my foot since earlier.”

“Oh, sorry. I guess I’m not good at dancing I’m not used to.”

I apologized in a hurry, and he finally stopped moving.

He was slightly out of breath. I was grateful that he stopped moving because I was even worse. My lack of exercise was painful. I don’t feel like making more effort in the future, but I feel heavy thinking that I’ll have muscle pain tomorrow.

“Let’s take a break. Also, it seems like it’s better to give up on teaching you the new dance.”

He said it in a tone that seemed like he was about to click his tongue.

“I’m glad you finally noticed.”

I said with a smile. Then he turned his face away looking troubled and called a servant with a bell. It seems that he wants to have tea.

It was around noon.

In this country, there are two meals a day.

Dinner is around evening, so a light meal is taken from breakfast until dinner.

I sat down on a chair placed against the wall and watched the situation.

The servants skillfully carried tables, chairs, tea utensils, and tableware at a fantastic speed, and created a space where we could easily enjoy tea in the previously empty hall.

I was impressed.

We don’t do this kind of thing in my house. We make our own tea, and we have a designated room for meals, and we only eat there.

I thought to myself that they are truly a great noble family as I took my seat. Jeremiah sat on my right, and on my left was Tatiana, the lady who had played the piano earlier.

She exchanged smiles with her husband, Lord Bruno Grimani, and then spoke to me.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Lorraine… It feels strange to introduce myself like this. Actually, I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a long time. So, I know about you.”

I was surprised.

I didn’t think anyone besides Jeremiah had noticed me, a plain person like my humble Lorraine.