Episode 19

Episode 19. Look Into My Eyes

“Do you happen to need a lover?”

His tone was incredibly calm—gentle, as if simply offering an apple.

But the meaning behind those words was anything but light.

“A lover.”

Such a short word, yet so heavily symbolic.

Someone one loves or makes love to besides a spouse.

In other words, a formal extramarital partner.

Leonard had just asked me whether I wanted someone like that.

No—what made it worse was who had asked. The man currently stirring the most gossip in society: Leonard himself.

“A lover?”

“Wait… Did he just say he wants to be Her Majesty’s lover?”

“Leonard? That Leonard?”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

All eyes darted between me and Leonard.

But I didn’t care about their reactions right now—I had no idea how to respond to this.

Leonard wants to be my lover?

Why would he say something like that?

It couldn’t be serious. The Leonard I knew wasn’t the kind of man to offer to become someone’s secret partner.

So I stood there, completely unsure how to answer.

The reaction came from somewhere else entirely.

“A lover?”

Jerome’s voice cut through the tension with an icy scoff as he appeared.

He stepped directly between me and Leonard, glaring coldly at him.

“What did you just say?”

Leonard didn’t reply.

But his gaze didn’t waver either—even in the face of the Emperor.

There was no fear in him.

Jerome’s brow twitched with irritation.

“A lover. If I didn’t mishear you, that’s what you said, yes?”

“I did.”

“Hah.”

Jerome clicked his tongue, half-amused.

“So the rumors really were exaggerated. I was told Leonard was quiet and had no interest in women…”

He glanced around, continuing in a light tone.

“Turns out he’s more playful than expected, isn’t he? Making such absurd jokes like this.”

The tension in the room eased slightly as people began to laugh along.

“Sir Leonard really knows how to surprise us—it’s been a while since he last attended a ball!”

“Oh my, I thought he was serious!”

“It must’ve been his way of easing the tension after Her Highness’s little accident.”

Laughter spread through the room.

I nodded absentmindedly.

So it was a joke. Of course. No way he meant that seriously.

If I got the chance, I should lend him something like “101 Social Jokes That Work at Balls.”

Even Fay looked dumbfounded, eyes wide like a startled rabbit.

Just as the laughter began to fade, Leonard stood up.

“It wasn’t a joke.”

Jerome frowned.

“It wasn’t?”

“No,” Leonard nodded, firm and sure.

A clear, unmistakable answer.

What is even happening right now?

It wasn’t just me—others looked equally bewildered.

Soft whispers passed from ear to ear.

The flurry of glances and gestures made it easy to guess what was being said.

At this rate, who knew what kinds of rumors would spread? I had no choice but to intervene.

“Sir Leonard. Your Majesty.”

I calmly spoke to break the tension.

“Today is Your Majesty’s birthday celebration. But due to my clumsiness, I’ve ruined my dress. May I excuse myself for a moment to change?”

Jerome’s eyes widened ever so slightly—so subtly that only I, standing close, could notice.

There was something unreadable in his gaze.

Either way, I had his permission. I turned to Leonard.

“Thank you, Sir Leonard. Your little joke gave us a moment of laughter. I’ll have the dress cleaned and sent back through a lady-in-waiting.”

Leonard responded with a charming smile.

“I’m honored to have brought Her Majesty some amusement.”

“Haa…”

My first ball—it had been a whirlwind.

And I’d stood at its center, like the eye of a storm.

A lover’s proposal, out of nowhere. From Leonard, of all people.

“What on earth is he thinking?”

He’s the novel’s shadowy mastermind.

I knew he wasn’t just some ordinary character, but still—this?

“A declaration of love from the story’s villain?”

If it had been a coup d’état, maybe I’d understand.

This never happened in the original plot.

At this point in the story, Helena and Leonard weren’t even connected.

My head spun with questions.

At least when I returned in new clothes, the room was less charged.

Jerome, Fay, Leonard—every central figure had vanished.

“Her Highness the Imperial Concubine was very distressed after the wine accident. She started crying uncontrollably, so His Majesty accompanied her to her palace,” a maid explained.

“And Sir Leonard?”

“Hmm, he was just here a moment ago…”

Countess Chloe tilted her head, puzzled.

Perfect. Wonderful.

The main characters were gone—which meant I didn’t have to deal with them.

A little earlier I’d been agonizing over how to respond. Now, I felt free.

People still stared at me, but that was manageable.

The greetings were over. I could claim exhaustion and quietly retreat to the Empress’s quarters.

I let out a long breath of relief—when it happened.

♩♬♩

The music shifted from a soft melody to something upbeat.

Just a change in tune, but the entire atmosphere transformed.

People who had been chatting quietly rose from their seats, all looking my way.

Why is everyone staring at me?

As confusion set in, Countess Chloe leaned in and whispered:

“Your Majesty… the opening dance awaits.”

The opening dance?

“Ah.”

Of course.

When a party reached its peak, it was time for the dance—and the highest-ranking guest was expected to start it.

And tonight, that person was…

“…Me?”

Everyone was waiting for me to begin.

Utter despair.

Now that I thought about it, there was a scene in the novel where the Emperor and the imperial concubine danced together.

Fay, soaked in wine, face scrunched with tears.

Jerome gently leading her into a dance despite it all.

A tender and romantic moment.

But now?

The Emperor had stormed off with the crying concubine.

And I stood here, alone, at the center of attention.

Conductor!

Have you no sense? Didn’t you see the Emperor leave just now?

What am I supposed to do, dance by myself?!

Not to mention—I’d never danced at a ball before.

Even my desperate look didn’t deter the conductor, who seemed utterly entranced by the music.

His baton waved passionately.

He’s long gone. Spiritually, he’s not even here anymore.

I clenched my fists.

There was only one choice left: collapse.

Yes. I’ll pretend my condition has flared up and make a graceful exit.

Helena was always skipping events due to poor health anyway—people will buy it.

Let’s start with a little fainting spell.

I raised my hand daintily to my forehead.

Then—

“Your Majesty.”

The voice made me glance up, startled.

“…Sir Leonard?”

Didn’t you leave?

He extended a hand toward me.

“Would you do me the honor of this first dance?”

I narrowed my eyes slightly, signaling with a look:

What trick are you trying to pull now?

First the lover proposal, now this?

He lifted the corners of his mouth in a slow smile, as though saying:

“Because you’re the Empress.”

I glanced at the hand he held out.

“Let’s start by moving that hand away, shall we?”

He gave a small shake of the head.

“No.”

His quiet refusal made me blurt out without thinking:

“Why not…?”

Remembering the watching eyes, I quickly cleared my throat.

“Sir Leonard. I appreciate the offer, but now isn’t the time. I’m not in the mood to dance.”

Not that I could even if I wanted to; especially not with him.

His earlier remark about becoming my lover was already drawing strange looks.

If we danced, it’d be a full-blown scandal.

“Is that truly your final answer?”

“Yes. But thank you for asking.”

“What a shame.”

What is wrong with this man?

Suddenly, he looked up at me with the expression of a forlorn puppy.

Then he leaned in slightly, whispering just low enough for me to hear.

“I’m just so heartbroken… Who knows what secrets I might spill in my grief.”

Secrets?

A chill ran down my spine.

“For instance, that book I borrowed from Your Majesty…”

“…On second thought, I do believe I’ve always wanted to dance with you.”

He grinned slyly.

“Such an honor to hear it from you personally.”

This blackmailer!

Lively music filled the ballroom.

The crowd parted in a circle, creating space for us.

All eyes on the two people in the center.

This was supposed to be the beautiful dance scene between the original leads.

So why was I the one standing here, soaking in the heroine’s butterflies?

Because of the man holding my hand.

“You’ll pay dearly for this, Sir Leonard.”

“If it’s a price set by Your Majesty, I’ll gladly pay it.”

“You’ll regret this.”

“It would be an honor.”

Maybe it was the chandelier’s light—but his jet-black hair glistened like obsidian.

His handsome features looked even more striking.

For a moment, I couldn’t look away.

Then I sighed.

“I have a confession.”

Leonard blinked.

“A confession?”

“I’m… not very good at dancing.”

In fact, I wasn’t just bad—I was an absolute beginner.

This was my first time at a proper ball, let alone dancing at one.

I mean, who knew the leads would just walk out and leave me behind like that?

“So before I embarrass myself—”

“Don’t worry.”

His soft voice reached my ear.

I flinched slightly, glancing up—just as he pulled me closer and whispered:

“Look into my eyes.”

His gaze, deep like the ocean, captured mine completely.

“All you need to do, Your Majesty,” he said, pulling me into his arms, “is keep looking at me.”

“…!”

Too close!

Way too close, I screamed internally.

He, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered.

Amidst that tension, the dance began.

And surprisingly—

It worked?

Maybe Helena’s muscle memory helped. Or maybe Leonard was just a skilled partner.

Either way, I managed to follow his lead.

It was stiff and awkward at first, but it looked… passable.

Still, I was concentrating hard not to trip when he leaned in and murmured:

“So, have you given it any thought?”

I blinked.

“Given what thought?”

“My earlier proposal. I’d like to hear your answer,” he smiled mischievously.

He means the lover thing, doesn’t he?

“That joke has gotten old.”

“It wasn’t a joke.”

“So you’re saying you’re serious? Why would you say something like that out of nowhere?”

What would even possess someone to bring that up?

He didn’t answer. Just waited for my reply, silent and steady.

His gaze was too sincere—it made me feel like I might actually believe him.

It was unnerving.

I shifted the conversation to something else with a forced smile.

“Anyway, what changed your mind? I heard you don’t like parties like this.”

“Parties?”

“Yes. I was told you rarely show your face at them.”

“It’s not that I dislike them—I just don’t care much for them.”

“Then why come tonight?”

“Tonight…”

“Something must’ve piqued your interest, no?” I said playfully.

“Yes. Something did.”

His smile softened as he met my gaze.

“Because tonight…” he said, eyes still fixed solely on me,

“There’s someone here I’d very much like to win over.”