I Became The Secretary Of A Tyrant Chapter 54

Chapter 54

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The dance hall next to the second annex was a small building prepared exclusively for balls. Of course, it was smaller than the other buildings in the imperial ialace, but it was very large for a dance hall. The floor area was large enough that about fifty couples could dance at the sa ti. There were only three halls of this size in the entire capital.

It was not uncommon to hold large-scale balls. Most of the nobles held banquets, but rarely held dances exclusively for dancing. This was especially the case because the elderly ladies dominated the social world, and balls were the place for young girls and young people to et and socialize.

Therefore, there were tis when a ball was not held until spring had passed unless a good-natured lady held one out of the goodness of her heart.

“It’s a ball, it’s really fun!”

“Are the noblen coming too?”

It was nice to hear the babbling of the blushing young ladies. Rosalind leaned against a wall and watched the people entering the ballroom.

“They’re coming in.”

“Who?”

Perhaps rembering Hui’s words that Kahir was sure to co, Rosaline involuntarily stood up straight and turned her eyes towards the entrance.

“The young noblen.”

Those words unwittingly relieved the tension in her stomach. She turned her back to the door.

Hui smiled and patted Rosaline’s skirt as if fixing it. “You are waiting, aren’t you?”

“Who am I waiting for, Hui? His Majesty? I’m sorry, but he doesn’t even enjoy dancing, and he thinks balls like these are only for lazy nobles with nothing to do. I have no expectations,” she said distractedly.

She only noticed that the chattering had ceased when Hui bowed in front of her. Only noticed that her nose was being tickled by a familiar scent, ears filled with a low-pitched, charming voice.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Rosaline, but I ca.”

“Your Majesty!” She turned around and sank into a curtsy, her skirt swishing around her.

‘It’s real. He’s real.’

Cahir had put on his best for the ball. His normally disheveled hair was slicked back with pomade, revealing his forehead. The gold embroidery on the collar of his outfit looked luxurious, not at all out of place in the equally sumptuous material of his clothes, so smooth that one could see his muscles ripple at the slightest movent.

And that was all.

He didn’t shade his eyebrows, nor did he put too many accessories on himself. He was even wearing his normal shoes. Still, he caught everyone’s eye, though his being the emperor likely played so part in that.

Rosaline looked down at herself, once again feeling overdressed in comparison. She felt strangely defeated.

‘I guess it can’t be helped that I wasn’t born with the author’s affection like he was.’

She swallowed bitterly, deciding that as long as he didn’t laugh at her, she would be satisfied even without complints.

“Rosaline…” Cahir trailed off, his throat bobbing.

“Um, Your Majesty, if…”

“Shush, Rosaline,” he interrupted, but he didn’t say anything more. He simply stared, eyes deepening.

She began to feel the weight of all the eyes on them. “Your Majesty, if you’re planning on just standing there, I’ll have to excuse myself to go dance.”

Just in ti, they heard the squeaking sounds of the musicians tuning their instrunts, signaling the start of the first dance. Finally, their audience scattered and beca busy with other things.

“Your Majesty, please let pass…”

“You’re beautiful.”

Rosaline stiffened. Behind them, Hui smiled triumphantly.

“Where are you looking, Rosaline?” He stepped closer, almost possessively.

“Your Majesty, you are too close.”

“Not if we’re dancing. Hui, can you write my na on Rosaline’s card?” Cahir asked, his eyes unmoving.

“You haven’t even asked to dance yet.”

“Are you going to decline?”

“That’s a different matter. Also, how could I…”

“Rosaline, I’m rather troubled. Are you going to dance with soone else in front of , looking that beautiful? I’m the only one in the empire who can match you. Even if you dance with soone with good intentions, you will only crush them with your superior looks. It would be so cruel.”

Was that a complint or an insult?

She hadn’t yet decided which it was when Cahir gently held her hand and pulled her to the center of the dance floor. Those who already had a partner smoothly stepped aside for them, making the ball look like a grand wedding reception.

No one had put their na on Rosaline’s card, in the sa way that no one expected Cahir’s na on theirs. The two were already perfectly matched, and everyone acknowledged it.

Well, except for Ella.

The first song was a light waltz.

Rosalind didn’t even have to worry. Because Kahir gently rolled her hands and made her way to the center of her hall. People who were already seated naturally moved to the side. The day of the prom turned into a grand wedding reception.

No one put her na on Rosalind’s card, and no one expected Kahir’s dance request. Rosalind and Cahir were already the perfect pair. Everyone admitted it.

Except for Ella.

As the two of them sat down, a light waltz ca out.

“It’s our second dance.”

It was the second ti after Azela’s birthday party. Rosaline nodded.

A large hand cupped her waist, pulling her in. Cahir’s gaze passed over her shoulders and rested briefly on her collarbones. “After this song is over, I’ll get you a shawl right away.”

“Hm? I’m not cold.”

“You look like you are.”

“No, I am not cold. All the eyes on us are making feel feverish.”

Cahir didn’t respond. Instead, he focused on dancing, Rosaline following his lead.

She was confident that she could manage the waltz, the most basic social dance. No, actually, no matter how difficult it was, she was confident that she would be able to do it as long as Cahir was leading. He was so good that he could elevate soone’s dancing to a passable level even if they had no sense of rhythm.

“Rosaline, don’t you have anything to say to ?”

“What do you an, Your Majesty?”

“I told you you were beautiful when I saw you, so aren’t I supposed to receive a complint out of courtesy as well?”

“You don’t like those. You told that complints should always be said with the utmost sincerity.”

Indeed, Cahir looked great today. Unlike his usual casual appearance, his neatness further emphasized his masculinity. Had she still been working as his secretary, Rosaline would have praised his current appearance to death.

Had she not been dancing with him in close quarters, her heart beating violently…

“Even then, please complint . Don’t I look cool today?”

The waltz was coming to an end, the passion in Cahir’s eyes confounding her, making her wonder if he wanted more than just praise.

“Rosaline, are you sure you won’t?”

His lips were chapped. She couldn’t stop staring at them.

“Please, Rosaline.” His breath disturbed the stray hairs on her forehead.

‘It’s just my hair. I feel this way because my hair is tickling .’

Why did his words feel so far away?

Noticing that she was averting her eyes, Cahir smiled slowly and tilted his head. He looked confoundingly different at that angle, like a man, not a teasing boy.

Rosaline shifted backwards.

“Hey, the song isn’t over yet.” He took back the small distance she had gained, his scent piercing her lungs.

‘He really is cool…’

“I can tell just by looking at your face. You have a crush on , don’t you?”

‘…No, he just looks like it.”

Rosaline ca to her senses, snorting. “Pfft, not at all,” she said, mildly relieved that her heart was slowing down to a normal pace.

Again, he smiled beautifully. “It was a wonderful dance, Lady Rosaline.”

“It wasn’t bad, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, then I’ll have to dance even better next ti.” He reached for her hand to escort her to the table.

At that mont, a string in her heart snapped.

The relationship between them had changed.

She no longer felt anxious to please him. Although she was… conscious of him, she felt comfortable enough to do and say what she wanted, to refute him if she thought he was wrong.

Rosaline no longer had the attitude of a tyrant’s secretary, and neither did Cahir treat her as such, much less act like how he used to.

Everyone knew that he was particularly generous to her, but she never realized it until then.

‘I wonder if… he’ll only be this way towards .’

She looked down at his hand.

“Aren’t you going to hold it?”

“…I won’t.”

For so reason, she felt like being a bit grumpy. Rosaline grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled away, leaving Cahir on the floor.

A flash of embarrassnt passed his face before he swiftly followed her, ignoring the gazes of all the other young won in the hall.