I Possessed The Villain’s Childhood Friend

17 – You are like the night sky

A lot of jewels were embroidered on the ceiling like starlight.

The old-fashioned sound that suited him resonated calmly.

Thousands of people were dancing to it, and people who weren’t were chatting with each other.

It was a splendid and beautiful ball that anyone could not help but admire.

And this place where the ball was being held was the venue of Heros.

As it turned out, the dance competition was a party to celebrate Reina’s 14th birthday, and this prom was the after party.

“Aristocrats differ in size.”

I’ve never had a birthday party myself, but I knew it wasn’t normal.

The ball was smaller in scale than the one held at the imperial palace last time, but that’s a relative story.

Nobles are great.

To be precise, the Duke’s family is great.

With that thought in mind, I quietly drank lemonade alone in the corner of the ballroom.

I couldn’t help it because I still didn’t know the etiquette of the party, and I didn’t even know who most of the people in the party were.

Raina is the main character of this stage, so she is busy.

“Princess Ike.”

“Oh, Miss Helen.”

The one who spoke to me was Helen Oberon, my opponent in the semifinals of the dance competition.

She was wearing a gorgeous red dress, not the flimsy attire she used to see at her competitions.

“Congratulations on winning.”

“Thank you. I learned a lot from Miss Helen’s movements.”

“Thank you so much.”

It wasn’t a lie.

There was a lot to learn from her moves that pierce her opponent.

“I also learned a lot from Young master Ike at this dance competition. In particular, I thought a lot while watching the finals.”

“Can I know what you were thinking?”

“I thought of the dance competition simply as a starting point for becoming a knight. Usually, knights say they win dance competitions before they are 15 years old. So I took it for granted that I won the dance competition.”

Helen’s face was slowly stained with regret.

“And this time I realized what a stupid idea that was. Drunk with her own strength, oblivious to her own limits. There’s no way you can win with that mindset.”

“Ms. Helen.”

“I had to face it with the determination to win at any cost. Because knights are also people who can never lose. I think the reason I lost, and the reason Prince Ike was able to win, is the difference in mindset.”

“That’s too much praise.”

“Of course, I’m not trying to say that I lost because I didn’t give my all. I did my best in that match.”

Helen smiled softly.

“I learned so much. Young master Ike and I are the same age. In other words, we will meet again in Arcana. I hope I will have a chance to fight again then.”

What was in Helen’s eyes was the determination to defeat me next time.

A little cold sweat broke out on my back from that passion.

“By the way, doesn’t Prince Ike dance?”

I fell silent at Helen’s question.

It would be comfortable to say that I can’t dance confidently, but a ball is also a place to show off my family’s name.

In a place like that, the second son of the Axus family doesn’t know how to dance.

“As far as I know, Prince Ike doesn’t have a fiancée yet, so it’s probably not even a matter of customs at the ball.”

But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with an excuse.

… Let’s tell the truth.

Helen was also a heavy-mouthed character in the original work, so I’m sure she’ll be fine.

“That….”

“Princess Ike?”

Just as I was about to tell her everything, I heard my name coming from behind her.

When she turned her head, Reina was standing there in a purple dress.

It was a dreamy outfit.

Originally, the subject of the party should stand out more than anyone else, so most of them preferred colorful outfits.

But now Reina was the complete opposite of that.

It’s hard to say that the calm and dreamy appearance suits the atmosphere of the ball.

But rather, that fleeting feeling drew more attention than anyone else.

It was definitely possible because she was an ice princess.

“Raina. Happy birthday.”

“You must have been the eldest daughter of Count Oberon, right?”

“Yes. I hope to go along well.”

“I enjoyed watching the match of the dance competition. I was amazed at his great skills.”

“It’s an honor.”

While I was mesmerized by Rayna, she started talking to Helen.

Reina’s expression didn’t change at all to say that she was chatting.

However, it felt a bit strange to see two people who were in conflict with each other in the original work talking.

“By the way, were you looking for Prince Ike earlier?”

“Yes. Because I have a story to share with him, the winner of the dance competition.”

A story to share?

I couldn’t guess.

But when Helen heard that, she left her seat saying see you later.

“Young master Ike. Then, move your seat for a while.”

“Oh, yes.”

Following Reina’s guidance, she moved her steps.

After leaving the ballroom for a while, we arrived at Raina’s private waiting room.

“What did you talk about with Miss Helen?”

After entering her private waiting room and being alone, Reina opened her mouth in a comfortable tone.

“Well, the story of the dance competition and why I don’t dance, that kind of story.”

“Huh. Didn’t you just tell me the truth? He says he can’t dance well.”

I laughed bitterly at the words that seemed to be ridiculing and filled with malice.

“Thanks to you, I lived. Thank you.”

“Yes.”

By the way, was Ike originally not good at dancing?

For some reason, I felt a sense of kinship.

“So what do you want to say?”

“I talked to my father earlier, but I think we should dance with you before the ball is over.”

Raina said as if nothing happened.

At the incomprehensible words, I stopped thinking for a moment.

“What are you talking about?”

“I am also in trouble now. Her Highness returned to Jedo while saying that something was urgent.”

“… Ah.”

Originally, Reina should dance with the crown prince.

Because the most important person at the prom is the engagement partner.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have an engaged partner or don’t attend, you can dance with someone else normally.

The problem is that Reina’s fiancee is the crown prince.

Anyway, she is the daughter of the Roselia family, the second-generation duke of the Empire.

If the fact that she is the future crown princess is added to that.

To put it simply, it’s out of place for ordinary people.

Because at a prom, you usually dance with someone you look good with.

However, it is absurd to say that the main character of the ball does not dance.

“Did you notice what I was talking about?”

“Roughly.”

“The children of dukes who are equal to the family with deep friendship. Even Ike, you are the winner of this dance competition. There probably won’t be much noise.”

It was definitely understandable.

But if there is another problem.

“I think there will be noise in a different way.”

Of course, the point is that I can’t dance.

It wasn’t that I didn’t practice at all, but I was barely following the basics.

Dancing at a ball is one of the factors that affect a family’s reputation. Is that okay?

“It’s okay.”

While I was thinking about that, Reina said confidently.

“I’ll just practice briefly here, and I’ll be the lead when I go to the venue. Don’t worry.”

Her expression was full of confidence as she slowly extended her right hand to me.

“So please take good care of my escort, Prince Ike?”

I smiled bitterly and gently grabbed her right hand.

“Miss Reina. Would I be honored to dance with you?”

“Please take good care of me, Prince Ike.”

A calm accompaniment began to flow.

It was music that went well with the dress Reina was wearing.

Did she prepare something for her?

Take one step at a time slowly and naturally.

Maybe other people think I lead Reina, but the truth is quite the opposite.

I am not the one who creates the flow.

I only need to be conscious of Reina’s touch and follow it.

Originally, it is normal for a male to lead a dance at a ball, but I don’t have that ability.

“Slightly put her left foot back….”

From a position invisible to the others, Reina whispered in her ear what to do next.

She followed her instructions, holding back the heat on her face as much as she could.

I gradually felt that attention was gathering.

Every time her mistake was about to come out as her pressure increased, Reina aroused admiration with her splendid technique.

Even though she appeared as a villain in her original work, I could see why she was described as stealing her attention every time she danced.

Reina Roselia, the ice princess, dancing in a dreamy dress in a cold atmosphere.

It had the same charm as the night sky, which you can only do by looking at it.

“Thank you.”

After the performance of the song, we exchanged thanks to each other, and applause came from all directions.

That’s how the prom ended.

“I’m glad. Finally, it ended well.”

There was a sad smile on Reina’s face as she looked around and said that.

★

“Reina will no longer be visiting the Duke of Axus.”

“… Yes?”

The day I return to Akka after finishing my 3-week stay in Heros.

While preparing to return, she was called by Duke Rickard to come to her office.

And I heard the unilateral sentence.

“Young master Ike. I trust you will understand.”

“Hey, over there. It’s such a sudden story, I want to be sure to hear what it means.”

“Don’t you know? Roselia and Axus have been interacting for generations, but you and Reina turned 14 this year. Although they are not adults, there are gender differences.”

“But.”

“And Reina is the fiancée of Her Highness the Crown Prince. Continuing to be intimate with another man is not good in many ways.”

“….”

“A man and woman in their prime develop their feelings even over trifles. Even if she’s a childhood friend I’ve known since I was 3 years old. Are you sure you’ll be friends with her for life? Rayna still thinks of you as a mere childhood friend, but she believes that the slightest act of the boy could set a fire in her heart. And vice versa.”

I couldn’t resist.

“Actually, I wanted to object to Reina dancing with you at yesterday’s prom. You know what the slightest noise at a ball can do to a family’s reputation. Fortunately, there were no major problems with yesterday’s prom due to various factors.”

Because Duke Rickard’s words were the correct answer that I had no choice but to accept.

“That’s why I can’t make Reina go to the Duke of Axus anymore. Maintaining a good relationship is a different matter.”

In fact, it’s even more so because she even thought that the distance with Reina was too close recently.

“Is Miss Reina aware of this?”

“Raina was notified about two months in advance. Yes. Addos and Nia also agreed. Now, the story ends as long as you accept it.”

After hearing that, she was able to understand Reina’s recent behavior.

The way she tried to do as much as she could for me, as if she was in a hurry, was all because she knew that this was the last time.

“… All right. Instead, just give me one permission.”

“Let’s listen first.”

“Is it okay if we continue to exchange letters?”

“If it is six months from next week.”

Duke Rickard said patronizingly.

No, actually, it would be right to patronize him.

“Thank you so far.”

“Don’t be too heartbroken. You’re not trying to sever ties with the Axus family. It’s not like we’ll completely stop meeting.”

And it was a story I could fully understand and accept.

“Can I ask you one last question?”

“Yes.”

“It is said that memories with close friends last a lifetime. I understand that, so I didn’t put any restrictions on this time so that you can enjoy it the way you want. I wonder if Reina understood that, she roamed around pretty freely.”

She seemed to be telling the story of when she left for Vulcanus.

“Reina and you too. Have you made enough memories this time?”

“… It was undeservedly enjoyable.”

“If you’re serious, it’s fortunate. Young master Ike. Congratulations on winning.”

Duke Ricardo, who said that, smiled kindly.

I put that smile behind me and left the office to get ready to go back to Arkady.

And I tried to say goodbye to Reina one last time before leaving Heros, but unfortunately I couldn’t even see her face.

Now I will meet Reina when I enter Arcana.

Reina’s personality has already faded a lot, and I think this is a pretty good trend.

But it was forbidden to be careless.

There were quite a few reasons for Raina to fall into her abyss besides her cold personality and her avatar.

If you can’t stop them all, the ending won’t change.

“Just not enough.”

You must become stronger.

To protect Reina no matter what happens.

Even if you face the worst, you must become stronger so Reina can remain her crown princess.

What I want is a happy ending where even Reina can laugh at the end.