My Fiancée Hates Me novel Chapter 20

Preparing for my first debut ball in my first life...

Step.

"Ow..."

I accidentally stepped on Erik's toes for maybe the fifth time.

"I'm sorry," I told Erik.

"It's fine... Love can get me through anything," Erik said.

Ah, he is pale...

"...If love could get us through anything, we would not need doctors or other religions," Garett said.

"Welcome back," Erik told Garett.

"...Yeah. Have you two been dancing for so long?" Garett asked.

"We just started a half an hour ago," Erik answered.

"From the looks of your shoes, it looks like you have taken quite the beating..."

I had no words to deny it.

I released Erik's hands.

"I think I will go back to my previous instructor..."

"Switch over to me," Garett said as he moved in between us. He impertinently grabbed my hands without any warning and positioned them onto himself. He then placed his hand by my waist and pulled me in much closer. "You have to be around this distance."

It was a bit too close for my comfort, but I suppose that is what dancing with another person is like.

The music soon began playing. I felt as though I was being led strongly by Garett. Erik was so gentle with teaching me before. The difference made it difficult for me to catch up.

I soon made a mistake and overstepped when I was not supposed to. I thought that I would step on Garett's toes, but missed by a hair.

"Phew..."

"Let me teach you as well, Prince Erik... When she makes a mistake, you must avoid it and retaliate," Garett said as he stepped down on my toes.

I flinched from the pain.

"...You are too cruel, Garett," Erik said.

"They say that when the gentle approach does not work, it is better to learn through pain," Garett said coldly.

"Lady Wordsworth?" my dance partner called out to me.

"Yes?" I answered him as I snapped back to reality.

My dance partner was a senior. He already had experience in dancing. It was not his first time being a representative either.

"I was calling you for a while, Lady Wordsworth..."

"My apologies... I am used to being called that."

"May I have the pleasure of calling you by your given name then?"

"...Of course."

"You can also call me by my name, Glen Elsie."

All of the first years were to be trained by elder students. The other students were getting tutoring lessons from the other instructors. About halfway, we would switch and repeat the process.

Senior Glen happened to ask for my hand first.

Glen Elise was the previous student council president. He retired from his position last year. He was gifted looks of having chestnut brown hair and peridot green eyes and much charisma. In short, he is a capable man with also good looks.

"Yes..."

Charlotte was dragging her partner around with her strength and refusal to yield to another man.

A female instructor soon came by to scold Charlotte for her actions.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Did I happen to make a mistake?"

"No, you dance rather splendidly for someone daydreaming."

I forgot I was in the middle of dancing...

"I could not help but recall a distant memory."

"You move rather well on your feet. Do you happen to have experience dancing?"

I looked over at Prince Erik. He was dancing with a senior girl that happened to fancy his looks.

"It's my first time..."

"Lady Arielle, did you happen to know of the jinx that the couple that receives the last dance together during the intermission will end up as lovers?"

My ears perked up.

"No, I do not believe in jinxes like that..."

"...If we end up a couple, would you start believing in them by then?"

He got my full attention when he moved his hand from my shoulder blade to my lower back and pulled me closer to him.

"...S-Senior."

"You broke formation for a moment," he said deviously.

He did not seem like moving his hand anytime soon.

I decided to press on despite feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"Senior Glen is a jester..."

"I think that I am a rather serious person. I have my eye on you since you first came to this school. We were in different grade levels, and you happened to always hide away somewhere during your breaks. I would have never thought that I would have the chance of seeing you here or having you in my arms like this."

"...The masquerade ball is exactly as it says. It is a costume party. I would not be able to identify you even if I could."

"How about a hint? I will be wearing some kind of 'gold' somewhere on my body."

"Senior, it is not nice to tease me too much..."

"I suppose that I am just a bit excited. I just want to share my last dance with you in a beautiful ball gown. I would be honored if you would choose me as your dance partner," Senior Glen Elise said as he kissed the back of my hand and separated from me.

When I saw Crown Prince of Nariel on my way to the library, I tried jumping out of a window