076. Justia Banquet (15)

“Serena.”

Zeke kneeling in front of him.

Serena lightly placed her hand on Zeke’s fingertips.

Then Zeke stood up with his usual face.

pounding.

pounding.

A week ago.

Serena recalled the time she and Zeke were practicing ballroom dancing.

The time when his dancing didn’t improve no matter how much he practiced.

How dumbfounded he was when he first brought up the idea of doing a sword dance together.

So Serena asked him back.

“A sword dance?”

“Yes, it refers to martial arts performed with a sword.”

‘You didn’t ask the meaning!’

“I know what that is. But, it’s a sword-wielding dance.”

“It is.”

Zeke nodded his head with a calm face.

I knew early on that there was no common sense, but maybe this is too much.

Serena’s head was pounding.

“… … So, are you telling me to dance with a sword in front of the nobles of Justia? Are you going to get buried in the social world!?”

“Well? You don’t have to carry a knife.”

“Not even bread!!!”

Serena exclaimed in exasperation.

Of course, if Zeke and himself performed a sword dance in the middle of the banquet hall with baguettes, it would be very interesting.

From Justia’s point of view, she would want something like this, and she might achieve her original goal of attracting attention to overflowing levels.

Wow, how funny it would be to see him move his body while blowing bread crumbs with a serious face.

The problem doesn’t end there, but it’s a story that will flow out gossip in the social world after that.

Just the thought of him gave Serena goosebumps.

Probably, for Serena herself, she was the princess of bread.

Bread Crumb Lady, Serena Yoha Wouldn’t it be a funny nickname like ‘Yeast’?

The efforts to announce Zeke as a benefactor will be overshadowed, and stories that will become even more talked about will circulate.

Even if it’s a way to get the other person’s attention, there are things you can do and don’t do depending on the situation.

Wielding a baguette at a ball was unacceptable by common sense.

“bread? Why are you suddenly talking about bread? Are you hungry?”

Zeke asked.

“Yes, just take the bread without a knife. It’s not even a sword, so is there any problem in front of the nobles?”

Serena hardened her expression and imitated Zeke’s voice in a dry voice.

“What, you didn’t mean to say this!?”

“Hmm, Joheiden’s youngest princess is full of delusions.”

Zeke replied with an absurd face.

‘No!!! I don’t want to hear that from someone who always carries a baguette instead of a sword!?’

Serena became sensitive because she was already bruised from being stepped on countless times.

She puffed out her cheeks.

As if Zeke thought he needed a little more explanation, he opened his mouth in a soothing tone.

“I heard about your plans, but anyway, isn’t our purpose to go provocation to Justia?”

Then I felt a little better, and the wind escaped from my swollen cheeks.

She listened to Zeke’s story even though she wondered if it was too easy for her.

“… … It is, it is.”

“It’s not a normal dance, but it’s something that makes viewers unable to take their eyes off of it even for a second, overwhelmed by the beauty. And a move that can never be underestimated. He said that’s why we dance.”

“yes… … .”

“In that case, sword dance is more appropriate.”

“Even so… … . come now… … .”

Zeke continued when Serena showed hesitation.

Serena threw a bait that could not be easily passed.

“And sword dance is also related to Cheonyugeom, which you will learn in the future.”

“Chun Yu Sword!”

Serena’s eyes widened.

“Yes, the Cheonyu sword is based on the trick of skill control. In other words, it is a sword that overcomes hardness with softness. It is a sword that dazzles the target and is overwhelmed by its beauty. The opponent is mesmerized by the movement of the sword, and before they know it, they don’t even notice the blade touching their neck.”

It was the story of the ‘sword’ he learned for the first time from Zeke.

“So, the attribute of Cheonyu Sword is Hwansword. It has a close relationship with dance.”

The words definitely felt a shock, but soon Serena’s face hardened again.

“… … I, Instructor. Do you remember that I haven’t learned the sword properly yet… … ?”

As the saying goes, Serena is still barely feeling and releasing mana. I have never learned anything about swords yet.

But to teach it with a week left.

Will I be able to follow him?

“Yes, so I’m going to go to the property a little.”

“Uh, how?”

“Before, you said that your body is not suitable for swords, so you have to manipulate your body with mana.”

“Yeah.”

Zeke’s face was full of confidence unlike when he was ballroom dancing.

“This time I will directly manipulate your body.”

“My body?”

“It won’t be easy, but if it’s for a week… … . I guess I can imitate it.”

“Well, then what should I do?”

“Believe me.”

‘That sounds easy, right?’

Let’s just say that thought was written on Serena’s face.

Zeke warned with a serious expression.

“Don’t take it easy. How difficult it is to trust me completely. Let them understand.”

‘Actually, I’m not good at it either.’

Zeke was also the kind of person who didn’t trust others, so he thought maybe it would be harsh training for Serena.

However, she has a good soul. To put it simply, it’s a hogu.

That’s why he’ll show a far superior achievement than Zeke himself when it comes to trusting someone he’s given affection for.

Also, directly manipulating Serena’s body meant that she became a tool like a sword.

In other words, after completely handing over the initiative of the body, no matter how close you move your body, you will not consider her as a threat.

‘Ha, finally I can escape from ballroom dancing hell.’

Zeke started to roll Serena with a heart full of relief.

* * *

gulp.

And now it’s been a week.

Serena accepted Zeke’s words and practiced sword dance.

I was able to realize what trust Zeke was talking about only after practicing it.

Trusting others completely was never easy, as he said.

Should I say that walking on an unfamiliar road is like walking with your eyes closed and relying on the hands of others?

Even if there is a stone beak in front of you, even if an enemy appears.

You have to trust Zeke, not your own defense mechanism.

Ridiculous things like killing instinct.

Each gaze, each breath, and each movement of the fingertips is entrusted to him.

The fearful feeling of giving up everything and not trying to regain any control over yourself.

I felt like a doll that had lost all five senses.

Serena finally succeeded in carrying out the difficult act.

Sword dance with bare hands.

I do not lift a knife, nor do I lift a loaf of bread.

You might say what kind of sword is that?

Everyone who sees this will say that it is a sword.

This is because it has no choice but to be.

“Instructor.”

“yes.”

“I’ll believe you.”

“I won’t do anything to harm you, Serena.”

Zeke’s confirmation made Serena feel at ease.

As Zeke and Serena approached the middle of the ballroom,

Other nobles quietly gave up their seats.

It felt as if Zeke and himself were the only ones in the middle of the enemy territory.

However, Serena felt rather relieved in such a situation.

‘Because the instructor is by my side.’

He could feel Zeke’s mana covering his body.

Transparent and pure mana.

The feeling of being delicately connected to one’s own body and being gently pushed.

Serena even closed her eyes and completely surrendered her free will to Zeke.

And the sword dance began.

Stretch out your hands in the same posture as if you were taking a jockeying ceremony.

The fingertips sway gracefully.

The fingertips, which started softly, gradually divided each other’s territory and overlapped.

Sharp, dazzling, and beautiful.

Serena was still uplifting in the midst of unfamiliar body movements.

‘By the way, why does this feel good?’

She moves as Zeke swings, and her body swings as Zeke intended.

Even though she couldn’t do anything on her own, Serena felt a deep sense of security.

‘It feels like the instructor is completely dominating and conquering me.’

Passive or not passive.

Although he thoroughly killed his will, the choice and courage were his own.

A strong sense of immorality flooded Serena’s head.

*

They had nothing in their hands, but an illusion as if they had a sword at their fingertips.

The nobles who danced with each other had no choice but to stop and look at them.

A movement made together at the very center of the banquet.

The nobles had no choice but to feel unfamiliar with the dance they saw for the first time.

“I-what is that…”

“I think it’s a dance…”

“This is the first dance I’ve ever seen. Why is that…”

Flowing movements, like flowers that bloom without going against the music, scattering brightly.

Everyone watching the dance couldn’t take their eyes off of it and couldn’t help but be enchanted.

“Oh my goodness… … .”

“What kind of dance is that… … ?”

“It’s pretty… … .”

The ladies who attended the ball were immersed in their dance with sparkling eyes.

The same goes for Iriel.

After dancing with Serena, would she be able to do the same with herself?

Can we work together and realize that kind of beauty that seems to have become one?

Envy and jealousy reared up in her,

When their dance was over, he quenched his thirst with a reward that would come immediately to him.

“beautiful…….”

Iriel muttered involuntarily as he watched Serena and Zeke dance.