Red Tape

Liam got a golden opportunity to see the ball in person inside the ballroom.

It’s because Viscountess Eloise Motier liked Liam’s appearance and ordered him to be placed in a prominent place for the guests.

And given the fancy clothes of a receptionist and assigned to receive the guests’ coats at the entrance.

After all the guests had entered, he stood at the door of the ballroom. He is like a decoration, like the sculptures and statues placed throughout the ballroom.

The ball, which lasted over five hours and began with a short welcoming speech by the Duke, ended successfully.

The guests who lived nearby boarded their carriages and went home, and the guests who had come from far away were guided to their respective rooms.

Thanks to the quick movements of the maids, the ballroom returned to its appearance before the start of the ball.

Finally, it is Liam’s job to turn off the oil lamps on the wall and the candles in the chandelier and lock the door to the banquet hall.

Everyone yawned and disappeared with sleepy eyes, Liam turned off the lights that illuminated the banquet hall one by one.

The only thing that illuminates the empty banquet hall with all the lights off is the moonlight coming through the windows.

Liam glanced around the empty surroundings and slowly walked under the chandelier where people were dancing. Then he looked around once more.

After confirming once again that no one is there, he stands where Erwin had stood earlier.

Erwin had stood around here and bowed his head slightly to Lady Helestein. Then he held the Young lady’s hand with one hand and gently placed the other hand on the Young lady’s back.

Liam stands there awkwardly, with both arms stretched out in the air as if he is holding a transparent person.

Then he started to move little by little. He took two steps forward, then turned sideways, then moved to the right and left, constantly recalling the image of the young master dancing the waltz in his mind.

It is completely different from the dance Liam had seen at the local festival.

Hundreds of people vanished from his sight, leaving only Erwin visible under the chandelier. His movements were like a butterfly landing on a flower, a swan gliding gracefully across the water, and sometimes a swift swallow.

He seemed to have circled the stage like that, and when the music reached its peak, he firmly supported Hehenstein’s waist and bent her body.

“Did you do it like this…?”

Liam bent his waist crookedly.

“No.”

Liam is so surprised by the answer he hears from behind that he jumps up from his spot.

“You’re wrong.”

When he turns around, Erwin is leaning against the door frame of the banquet hall entrance, looking at Liam.

Would he get scolded for doing something so strange? What if he kicked out, saying, “What kind of crazy person is that?”

If there is a mouse hole, he would like to crawl into it. But It would have to be a pretty big mouse hole for his big body to fit into.

Erwin walked slowly and stood in front of Liam.

Liam’s heart beat faster and faster as the footsteps got closer.

Finally, Erwin reaches Liam and pretends to grab the hem of his skirt with both hands, as if he is wearing a transparent dress. Then he slightly bent his knees and tilted his head. The golden eyelashes that lowered sparkled in the moonlight.

“Hello, Mr. Jenners. “My name is Erwen Caliwell.”

Erwin is a male name and Erwen is a female name with the same meaning.

Liam’s jaw opened wide as if it would fall off.

As he stood there dumbfounded, Erwin raised his eyes.

“The Duke’s young lady greeting you. Aren’t you going to answer?”

“Oh, hello. Young… Ca, Miss…Caliwell.

Only then did Erwin straighten up, smiling softly at the corners of his lips as if satisfied.

“Hand.”

Liam raised his hands and placed them in front of Erwin, as one would show his backhand when having his nails trimmed.

“Are you a gentleman asking the lady for a dance, or a dog showing off your skills?”

“Ah…”

Only then did Liam understand Erwin’s meaning and stretch out one hand so that his palm could be seen.

“The shape of your hand should be like this. Not too stiff, not too loose.”

Erwin touched Liam’s hands with his own, making the gesture of a gentleman inviting him to dance.

Liam stared down at the sight, both eyes wide open but still dazed. His eyes can see it, but his brain can’t accept it.

The most rough thing he could think of for this soft hand to have touched was a toy sword used for fencing, but now the gentleman’s delicate hands are touching my rough hand. Erwin’s hands were so soft that I wondered what would happen if they were scratched.

“Your hands are really big.”

Compared to him, my hands feel like immature boy’s hands. Erwin, impressed, raised his head to look at Liam.

“Straighten your back. Imagine someone pulling your crown from above.”

Liam had been told he was tall so many times that he had developed the habit of hunching over when speaking to others, so when he stretched out like an animal, Liam grew much taller.

“Wow, you are big.”

At Erwin’s words, Liam’s shoulders shrank again. He looked like a turtle that was scared and retreating into its shell.

“I told you to straighten up.”

“Yes… .”

Liam, who straightened up again, seemed to be about 6 feet 7 inches (200 cm). Erwin is also taller than average, but the difference between him and Liam is greater than the one between him and Selina Helstein.

“One hand here.”

Erwin took Liam’s other hand and placed it on his lower back. The warmth of his hand, as if he is suffering from a fever, can be felt through the thin fabric of Erwin’s shirt.

“You have to hold the lady firmly with this hand. If Miss Erwin Caliwell falls or loses her balance and looks bad, it will be your fault. Got it?”

At Erwin’s words, Liam nodded with a determined expression, like a knight who has been given a mission to protect something with his life.

As long as Miss Erwin Calliwell is in his arms, there will never be a time when she will fall.

“I’ll take two steps back.”

Speaking from Liam’s perspective, Erwin took a step forward. Liam, who took the same step forward, stepped on Erwin’s foot.

“Uh!”

“Ah! I, I’m sorry! How dare I… .”

Erwin glared at Liam with furrowed eyes.

“I said I’d take the back!”

“Yes. So I’ll go forward… .”

Erwin is speechless. For a moment, he had forgotten the difference in status between the two. The lowly servant could never have imagined that a person of noble rank would speak from his perspective.

Erwin, who realized his thoughts belatedly, sighed deeply.

“Okay. Two steps forward.”

The lesson resumed, and as soon as he called the first command, the two took another step forward. This time too, Liam’s foot stepped on Erwin’s foot.

“Uh!”

“Ah! I’ve committed a mortal sin… .”

“I told you I’d go forward!”

“Didn’t you say that earlier? I thought you’d say the opposite this time…”

Erwin glared at Liam, rubbing his sore toes as tears welled up in his eyes. Liam came up with a brilliant idea.

“How about you step on my feet… .”

“Do you think I’m a child? Do you want me to break your feet?”

“It’s okay, I… .”

Seeing Liam acting like this. Erwin climbed on top of Liam’s feet, thinking, “Okay, you’ll get a taste of it.” However, Liam didn’t even blink as if nothing happened. It’s embarrassing for me, who is acting grumpy.

“Two steps back. Just like I did earlier.”

“D-Did you do that, Master?”

“Pretend not to know. You are staring at me without looking away.”

“…!”

Erwin had seen countless people staring at him while he was dancing, so he said it without thinking much, but Liam blushed as if he had been caught.

“Why are your elbows falling again? Raise them.

“Yes, yes!”

There is no performance by an orchestra with outstanding skills, no admiring gazes or clapping from those looking at you, and no sparkle from crystals scattered like jewels.

“Left, two, three, back, two, three. Look straight ahead.”

All he can hear is Erwin’s soft voice giving orders, and the only thing illuminating the space is the faint moonlight streaming in through the window.

But to Liam, this ball that is currently taking place is much more beautiful.

Erwin is humming the melody of the music the band had been playing earlier.

Liam prays to the heavens to stop time like this, walking around the ballroom with the young master in rhythm.

But God pretended not to hear his prayer.

There is a sudden creaking sound in the hallway. Someone coming this way.

Erwin grabs Liam’s arm and walks to the ballroom door. Then he pushed Liam against the wall behind the open door and stood right in front of it. Their bodies are pressed together without a single inch of space.

“It must be Jeffrey. Shhh.”

Erwin whispered. Liam shut his eyes tightly as his breath touched his neck and chest.

As Erwin had said, Jeffrey, holding the oil lamp, is looking around the mansion to see if anything is wrong.

Liam slowly opened his eyes and looked down at Erwin. Erwin’s face is full of life as he holds Liam’s collar and looks through the open door.

His face is not arrogant, but rather boyish. He even looks a little excited. Like a child playing hide-and-seek for the first time.

Jeffrey took a quick glance around the banquet hall before walking away.

Only after there was no more noise did the two of them come out.

“Ha, it was fun.”

Erwin said as if he was sighing.

‘It was fun.’

Those words in the past tense made Liam realize his ball was over.

Even though the ball is over, this memory will remain forever.

A book Liam read a while ago said that the most impressive scene in a person’s life comes to mind at the moment of death.

The author was not someone who has experienced death, so he cannot confirm the truth, but if the moment of his death comes, he will definitely remember the ball he had with his master today.

He said with all his heart.

“Waltz… Thank you for teaching me.”

What Erwin gave him today is a memory more valuable than any jewel, one he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

Erwin turned around as he headed toward the door.

“What are you talking about? You’re pathetic.”

“…yes?”

“You are just full of energy with no flexibility. It was such a mess that calling it a waltz would be an insult to the waltz.”

It is a sudden harsh criticism. There’s no need to say that when there’s really no reason for it. Liam’s face turned gloomy. Erwin turned around and said, leaving Liam there.

“It means that you need a lot of studying.”

Liam was confused. What does he mean?

Liam summoned all the courage he had inside him and asked.

“That means…you’re going to tech me next time…?”

Erwin answered with a refreshing smile like spring

“Because I know can you do it.”