Yustia Banquet (15)
“Selena.”
Zeke was kneeling on one knee before her.
Selena lightly placed her hand on Zeke's.
As if in a practiced motion, Zeke rose to his feet, his expression unchanged.
*Thump.*
*Thump.*
One week ago.
Selena recalled the time she practiced ballroom dancing with Zeke.
No matter how much they practiced, his dancing didn't improve.
How absurd it was when he first suggested they dance the sword dance together.
Selena had asked back then,
“Sword dance?”
“Yes, a dance performed with swords.”
‘That’s not what I meant!’
“I know what it means. But, that’s a dance where you wield swords.”
“That’s right.”
Zeke nodded nonchalantly.
She knew he lacked common sense, but wasn't this too much?
Selena felt a headache coming on.
“……So, you’re asking me to dance with a sword, in front of all the nobles of the Yustia faction? Are you trying to get me ostracized from society!?”
“Hmm? You don’t have to hold a sword.”
“No baguettes either!!!”
Selena shouted in exasperation.
Of course, if she and Zeke danced the sword dance in the middle of the ballroom, each wielding a baguette, it would be quite a sight.
The Yustia faction would be baffled, and they would certainly achieve their initial goal of attracting attention.
After all, how comical would it be to see them moving with serious faces, flour flying as they swung baguettes around?
The problem wouldn't end there. The real issue would be the gossip that would follow in social circles.
Just imagining it sent shivers down Selena's spine.
Perhaps she would be nicknamed 'Princess Toast’ or something ridiculous like that.
Or maybe ‘Lady Breadcrumb’. Or Selena Yoha ‘Yeast’.
All the effort she put into revealing Zeke as her benefactor would be overshadowed by this.
There was a time and place for everything, even when it came to attracting attention.
Wielding a baguette at a ball was something that could never be accepted by common sense in this world.
“Bread? Why are you suddenly talking about bread? Are you hungry?”
Zeke asked back.
“Yes, we can hold baguettes instead of swords. It’s not a sword, so there’s no problem with doing it in front of the nobles, right?”
Selena said, mimicking Zeke's voice in a dry tone, her expression stiff.
“Is that what you were trying to say!?”
“Hmm, the youngest daughter of Yohaiden has quite the imagination.”
Zeke replied, looking dumbfounded.
‘No!!! I don’t want to hear that from someone who carries a baguette around instead of a sword all the time!’
Already on edge from the countless times Zeke had stepped on her feet during dance practice, leaving them covered in bruises, Selena puffed out her cheeks.
Zeke, sensing that a little more explanation was needed, opened his mouth in a soothing tone.
“I heard your plan, but our purpose is to provoke Eustia, isn't it?”
At that, her mood improved slightly, and the air hissed out of her puffed cheeks.
Though she wondered if she was being too easy, Selena listened intently to Zeke's words.
“……That’s… true.”
“It shouldn't be a typical dance. It should be something that overwhelms the viewers with its beauty, something they can't take their eyes off of. And the movements should be undeniable. That is why we dance.”
“Yes……”
“Then the sword dance is perfect.”
“Even so…. At this point…”
Seeing Selena hesitate, Zeke continued. He threw in a bait that Selena couldn’t possibly resist.
“And, the sword dance is related to the Heavenly Dance of a Thousand Swords that you will learn in the future.”
“Heavenly Dance of a Thousand Swords!”
Selena’s eyes widened.
“Yes, the Heavenly Dance of a Thousand Swords is based on the principle of ‘overcoming rigidity with softness’. In other words, it’s a sword that subdues hardness with gentleness. A sword that captivates and overwhelms with beauty. The opponent becomes mesmerized by the sword's movements and doesn't even notice the blade reaching their neck.”
This was the first time Zeke had talked about the ‘sword’ that he would teach her.
“So, the essence of the Heavenly Dance of a Thousand Swords is illusion. It’s closely related to dance.”
Although tempted by his words, Selena’s expression hardened again.
“……Instructor. Do you remember that I’ve never properly learned swordsmanship before…?”
As she said, Selena was only at the level where she could barely sense and release mana. She had never learned anything about swords.
And yet, he was saying he would teach her in a week.
Could she even keep up with him?
“Yes, that’s why I’m thinking of going a little fast.”
“H-How?”
“I once told you that your body wasn’t suited for the sword, so you would have to manipulate your body with mana.”
“Yes.”
Unlike when they were doing ballroom dancing, Zeke’s face was full of confidence.
“This time, I will directly control your body.”
“My body?”
“It won’t be easy, but in a week… We should be able to manage a decent imitation.”
“T-Then what do I have to do?”
“Trust me.”
‘That… sounds easy enough?’
As if reading her mind, Zeke gave her a serious warning.
“Don’t take it lightly. You’ll realize how difficult it is to completely trust me.”
‘To be honest, I’m not very good at it either.’
Zeke himself was the type of person who didn’t trust others easily, so he thought this might be a harsh training for Selena.
However, she possessed a kind soul. To put it simply, she was a pushover.
As such, she was far superior to him in trusting someone she had opened up to.
And, directly controlling Selena’s body meant that she would become a tool, like a sword.
In other words, once she completely surrendered control of her body, even if he moved closely and manipulated her, she wouldn’t perceive him as a threat.
‘Ha, I can finally escape from this ballroom dance hell.’
With a relieved heart, Zeke began to train Selena.
* * *
*Gulp.*
And now, a week later.
Selena had taken Zeke’s words to heart and practiced the sword dance.
It was only after the actual practice that she realized what Zeke meant by trust.
As he had said, putting complete faith in another person was no easy task.
It was like walking on an unfamiliar path, blindfolded, relying solely on the guidance of another’s hand.
Even if there was a stumbling block ahead, even if an enemy appeared.
She had to trust Zeke, not her own defenses.
It was an absurd task, akin to silencing her instincts.
Entrusting every single thing to him - her gaze, her breath, even the movement of her fingertips.
The terrifying feeling of having to relinquish all control, to avoid even a moment's attempt to regain it.
It was as if she had become a doll, devoid of her five senses.
But Selena ultimately succeeded in accomplishing this difficult feat.
A sword dance performed with bare hands.
No swords, no baguettes.
Some might question if it could even be called a sword dance.
But everyone who witnessed it would call it a sword dance.
Because it couldn't be anything else.
"Instructor."
"Yes."
"I trust you."
"I will not harm you, Selena."
Selena's heart eased at Zeke's firm reply.
As Zeke and Selena approached the center of the ballroom,
the other nobles subtly made way for them.
It felt as if only she and Zeke existed in the middle of enemy territory.
However, Selena felt a sense of security in such a situation.
‘Because Instructor is by my side.’
She could feel Zeke’s mana enveloping her body.
Transparent and pure mana.
It felt as if it was delicately connected to her body, gently guiding her.
Selena closed her eyes, surrendering her free will entirely to Zeke.
And the sword dance began.
They extended their hands in unison, as if taking a starting stance.
Their fingertips moved gracefully.
Starting gently, their fingertips intertwined, gradually encroaching upon each other's space.
Sharp, dazzling, and beautiful.
Even amidst the unfamiliar movements of her body, Selena felt exhilarated.
'Why does this feel so good?'
Moving as Zeke led, her body swaying according to his will.
Even though she was incapable of doing anything on her own, Selena felt a deep sense of peace.
'It's like Instructor is completely dominating and conquering me.'
Passive, yet not passive.
She had thoroughly extinguished her own will, but the choice and courage to do so were her own.
A powerful sense of transgression washed over Selena.
*
Though their hands held nothing, an illusion flickered, as if swords were grasped within their fingertips.
The nobles, who had been dancing with their partners, couldn't help but stop and stare.
The movements unfolded in perfect harmony at the very heart of the banquet hall.
The nobles couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the unfamiliar dance.
"What... What is that?"
"It looks like a dance... but..."
"I've never seen a dance like that before. Why..."
Elegant movements, like flowers blooming and scattering in the air, never once disrupting the flow of the music.
All who watched were captivated, unable to tear their eyes away.
“Oh my…”
“What kind of dance is that…?”
“So beautiful…”
The ladies attending the ball gazed at their dance with sparkling eyes.
Iriel was no exception.
Could she experience something like that with Zeke after Selena?
Could she embody such beauty, moving in sync with him, as if they were one?
Jealousy and envy reared their ugly heads within her but she soothed her thirst with the anticipation of the reward that would soon be hers once their dance ended.
“Beautiful…”
Iriel murmured unconsciously as she watched Selena and Zeke dance.
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