The music was slow. Marianne squinted her eyes like a cat, listening to the music. She didn’t want to open her eyes wide and look straight ahead. The colorful clothes of the people became a blur of light and came into Marianne’s vision. The clothes bloomed and wilted like a rapid-fire display of budding flowers. It was like a fireworks display.
“They dance well, don’t they?”
Georg, standing next to Marianne, said in a casual tone. Georg sipped his cocktail and savored the taste.
“I wouldn’t dance well even with the help of my fiancée.”
“Is that so?”
Marianne nodded. Georg glanced down at Marianne, who looked a little out of sorts, and together they turned to where her gaze kept drifting. Elroy was holding onto Daphne and dancing at a moderate pace. Daphne’s face contorted into a wry, wistful smile as they slowly turned, and Elroy’s into a wry grin.
“…Aha, I wondered what you were looking at.”
Georg smirked. He lifted his glass and pointed it at Elroy.
“Well, I must admit, they make a stunning pair even from a distance. Look, even the young nobles dancing over there steal glances at Elroy. Although I must say, Daphne is also capturing the attention of the surrounding ladies.”
“…I wasn’t watching them.”
Marianne snapped her eyes open with a puzzled expression and jerked her head away. Georg chuckled and downed the rest of his drink in one gulp.
“It’s good to be honest once in a while. I’m sure Elroy won’t mind. Given how much he trusts and relies on you, he might even be pleased.”
“…I don’t even feel like dancing that much.”
Marianne scowled and grabbed a random glass from the table, bringing it to her lips and gulping it down angrily. Georg watched the scene in disbelief, then turned his attention back to where Elroy was dancing.
“…He must be a very guilty man.”
Georg shook his head in disbelief. Marianne seemed determined not to watch them and kept looking away.
“You’re going to be in trouble sooner or later.”
Marianne had already drained her glass. Georg gave her a curious look and poured her another. As the alcohol rose, Marianne set down her glass and walked away. Georg looked at Elroy and clicked his tongue.
“He’ll have to catch up with me later.”
The slow piece ended. People began to applaud the band.
***
I don’t know if she started drinking halfway through or was only using the power of alcohol when she asked me to dance, but Daphne was holding my hand, clearly sober.
“Are you sober?”
Daphne’s shoulders slumped at my words. Well, I wasn’t scolding her or anything.
“…Yeah.”
I didn’t ask more than that. Daphne leaned her head back, clinging to me. There were several things I wanted to ask her, but I deliberately kept them to myself.
“Are we not going to stop?”
Daphne asked, sounding unsure, though she made no attempt to stop dancing. I smirked and swayed with her, and she changed her expression and started dancing.
“Okay, let’s just dance through this one.”
Daphne said in my ear. I nodded. The stares that had been directed at us had faded. I deliberately avoided looking at Georg and Marianne. Maybe it was because I thought it would be rude, not to them, but to Daphne.
I suddenly glanced down at Daphne, who had a question mark hovering over her face as if to ask why she was looking at me like that.
“What do you think about being a part of the Hero’s Party?”
Daphne frowned slightly.
“You’re asking me that now?”
“I’m sorry, I’m not much of a talker.”
Daphne chuckled at my answer. Then a faint smile spread across her face. Daphne didn’t answer right away but seemed to be collecting her thoughts as she swayed her feet slightly to the music.
“Protecting the world is nice, but I like how it is now.”
Daphne spoke softly, her voice muffled.
“Elroy, Georg, Marianne. It’s the first place I’ve ever belonged, and I would fight tooth and nail to keep it. These are not empty words.”
I nodded. Her resolve was heavy; her life depended on this place. I shook the thoughts out of my head.
“Yeah. That’s nice of you to say.”
Daphne must have been expecting something else. She pursed her lips as if my answer was insufficient but said nothing else.
The song ended. People applauded the band and the dancers. Daphne hesitated, then released her grip on me and stepped back.
“Let’s go back. Georg’s over there. He’s been watching us for a while.”
I turned my head, and Georg raised his glass. When we returned to our seats, Georg drained it and said with a chuckle.
“Man, you guys stood out the most. Everyone was staring at you.”
“…There wasn’t much to look at.”
Georg wagged his finger at me and gave me a smirk.
“I’m just stating the truth. You should blame yourselves for standing out.”
“Yeah, yeah; I was wrong. So, where is Marianne now?”
I rolled my eyes and stared at the empty seat. Georg shrugged, rattling his glass as if he didn’t know.
“I don’t know. She just left her drink and went somewhere. I don’t think she went to the restroom with how long she’s taking. Maybe she’s pissed because you guys are having fun without her.”
I frowned, and Daphne gave me a look that said she didn’t know what to do. ‘Marianne was drinking?’ I haven’t seen her take a sip in all the parties we’ve been to. I stare at the elongated glass I assume she’s been drinking from and let out a short sigh.
“I’m going to go find her. Can you wait here for a while?”
Georg let out a wry laugh.
“If you hadn’t said you were going, I’d have punched you, Elroy.”
“You betcha, asshole.”
I smirked and turned to face Daphne. She looked at me and nodded, her worried gaze lingering on Marianne’s seat.
“You should go.”
I left my seat straight away. The palace was spacious. I think she would have stayed in the venue where the festival took place. Dresses of different colors caught my eye. They came up to speak with me, but I passed them without even pretending to hear their greeting.
They were invisible to me; I only needed to see Marianne’s silver hair.
(You should check the terrace.)
The Holy Sword suggested though she seemed pretty annoyed.
(I’m only helping you this once because there may be trouble within the party.)
“…Thank you.”
I quickly ran outside toward the terrace. Marianne stood alone, leaning against the railing. The noise was distant, and she looked as if she didn’t belong in this world. Her silver hair glistened in the moonlight. A few stray strands escaped her neatly tied bun and fell into disarray.
“Marianne.”
She turned at the sound of my voice. I’d expected her to be as expressionless as ever, but now her face was flushed bright red. Her usually cold golden eyes were not emotionless, and the corners of her mouth were pointing slightly downwards.
“…Hero.”
Marianne said in a hesitant voice. Her voice was shaky. She didn’t seem to use her magic to drive away the drunkenness. I raised my hand and stroked Marianne’s hair gently. Her head was hot. Unconsciously, I tried to pull my hand away, but she kept it in place with her own. As if asking for more, Marianne pressed her head into my hand.
“…Just a little more… I want to feel this.”
Marianne’s golden eyes glistened with tears.
***
The alcohol clouded Marianne’s consciousness and judgment. She was confused. She was feeling something she’d never felt before. No, she felt it many times. When Elroy had passed the trial of the crown, an uneasy feeling of wondering where he would disappear to. It was the same feeling she’d felt when seeing the letter he’d received and watching him and Daphne dance.
It had been an impulse that had driven her out of the ballroom. Marianne had never been one to give in to it, but her first drink had taken away a little of her reasoning.
“…Just a little more….”
In other words, Marianne needed reassurance that this man was here. That he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I want to feel this sensation.”
Elroy’s clothes today were black. The black suit looked better on him than his white uniform. As he stroked her head, Marianne squinted as she felt his touch.
She felt satisfied but also uneasy. Marianne still didn’t know why Elroy had been so worried the past few days. It couldn’t have been the Harvest Festival; he had casually breezed through it. It was the unanswered question that had been haunting her for some time.
“…Hero.”
She resented her slurred words but wouldn’t let this chance go. Once this drunkenness wore off, she’d be unfeeling and cold again, someone who wouldn’t ask Elroy honestly what was happening.
“I’m….”
Marianne stepped closer to Elroy and looked up. Beneath his gray hair were eyes that turned away from the brilliant lights of the ballroom. They were dark turquoise, like a deep forest. It was unrecognizable. Even Marianne herself could hardly recognize Elroy’s eyes.
“…I don’t know what to tell you.”
She probably looked like a mess. That fact bothered her for a moment, and then she buried her head in Elroy’s chest. All she had to say were a few words, but they were suddenly stuck in her throat and wouldn’t come out. Marianne put a hand to her heart, which was beating rapidly. Her face was flushed, and not just because she was drunk.
“It’s okay.”
Elroy stroked Marianne’s hair without stopping. Marianne loved the feeling but also felt like she would miss out on something if she didn’t say something now. He didn’t say anything for a while, just stroking her hair.
“Shall we go in now?”
When Marianne seemed to calm down, Elroy spoke up. She nodded. Elroy raised his hand and did his typical chuckle.
Elroy started walking. Marianne watched his back, but after a single step, she gently tugged on his sleeve. At the slightest resistance, Elroy stopped and turned around.
“What happened?”
Their eyes met, his deep blue-turquoise eyes staring into her golden eyes. Marianne looked into those eyes as if she were starving for answers. But she knew those eyes would not return any words unless she opened her mouth.
“…It’s nothing.”
“…Let’s go in. Everyone’s worried.”
With that, Elroy started to walk away. Marianne began to move as well. The little bit of reason that had returned had begun to suppress her so much again.
She couldn’t ask.
A memory came to Marianne’s mind.
The letter inviting him to the Harvest Festival lay on the floor was unimportant. However, the back had many different things written on it, like a piece of scratch paper.
But one phrase stood out from the meaningless mess.
Can I do it?
She wondered what it meant, what Elroy was trying to do, why he looked so blank, and what he thought when writing it.
Marianne looked up at his back again. It looked like he was going somewhere far without her. She had no choice but to follow him lest he slip further away.
