Arthur And Elaine’s Dance

The music began again, and this time Arthur and Elaine started to dance. And immediately, Arthur noticed one thing.

‘This woman isn’t very good at dancing… and she seems inexperienced.’

Of course, it wasn’t that Arthur’s powers of observation were especially sharp. Elaine was barely managing to follow his lead, muttering to herself as she tried to keep up. To anyone watching, she was clearly a beginner.

“Like this… right…”

On top of that, perhaps from nerves, Elaine’s movements were stiff, her steps clumsy, and her face as red as chili spice. So why had this woman challenged him to a dance battle?

Arthur understood the answer at once. She must have aimed for when he was exhausted. Winning in her opponent’s specialty would feel the sweetest.

After all, that was exactly what Arthur did when he wanted to put someone in their place. It was a very petty conclusion to reach.

“I’ll teach you what real dancing is.”

“Eh…?”

As Elaine froze for a moment, Arthur gently led her. He matched her ability, stepping just fast enough for her to follow, guiding her arms to move exactly where they needed to go.

It was a perfect teaching dance.

“Lord Arthur…”

Elaine looked at him in surprise, and Arthur gave her a sly grin.

Fuhahaha, how humiliating it must be to be shown mercy by the rival you despise. Taste the bitterness of defeat!!

And so Arthur, grinning as he imagined Elaine’s frustrated face, danced on—never realizing that to everyone else, he looked like a prince gently guiding a nervous saint.

★★★

Elaine was not a noble but a Saintess. For that reason, she had only been taught the bare minimum of etiquette. In fact, when she attended foreign parties as a Saintess, her duties were simply to smile and display her healing powers.

So why could she dance at all?

Because after receiving the Founding Festival’s invitation, she thought she might have a chance to dance with Lord Arthur… and had begged Helene to be her practice partner, training desperately. Thanks to that, she could at least manage the basics, but…

“What… that’s impossible… their level is far too high…”

Watching Arthur and Morgan’s beautiful, fiery dance, Elaine had been struck dumb. She had been to noble parties before, but such dazzlingly high-level dancing was rare to see.

‘There’s no way I can even say I want to dance after that…’

She felt her spirit breaking, nearly to the point of tears.

“What are you doing, Elaine? You’re supposed to dance with Lord Arthur!!”

“Eh, but…”

“Don’t worry about it—just go!!”

The timid Elaine was practically pushed in front of Arthur by Helene. And in her sight then were a smiling girl, Morgan, who had just finished dancing happily, and Arthur himself.

‘How nice… I want to dance with Lord Arthur too…’

The sight made a flame ignite in Elaine’s heart, giving her the courage to speak.

“It has been a while, Lord Arthur.”

“Indeed. I’m honored you came all the way from Jerusalem. Is the healing there all right without you?”

“Yes. We have excellent priests even in my absence…”

Even as they conversed, Elaine’s feelings blazed higher. She reminded herself: why had she practiced so hard, despite being so busy? It was so she could dance with him!

And so, what came out of her mouth was:

“Dance with me, Lord Arthur.”

Why that tone!? She messed up—she panicked inwardly, wondering what to do, but Arthur simply smiled as if he understood it was a cover for her embarrassment, and accepted.

But once they actually began, the result was disastrous. Just holding his hand made her so nervous that she couldn’t even manage the simple steps she had learned.

‘Why did I ever think I wanted to dance…?’

On the verge of tears, she then heard:

“I’ll teach you what real dancing is.”

“Eh…?”

At those words, Arthur’s style changed. He adjusted to a level just slightly above hers, guiding her with movements easy to follow.

‘How kind he is… as expected of the successor to the Holy King…’

Moved by Arthur’s consideration, Elaine continued the dance. For her, this first dance would become a cherished memory.

And when Arthur and Elaine finished, applause erupted, no less than before. It was no wonder. Never before had the Saintess danced, and though her steps were clumsy, the sight of the sculptural beauty Elaine dancing was like a living work of art.

And what surprised the nobles even more was Arthur. His reputation had been improving, true—but he was still known as a spoiled, ignorant prince. Some still doubted him.

But with this dance, Arthur had shown breathtaking skill, drawn a smile from the stern Morgan, and led the Saintess in such a way that she was not shamed.

It was enough to erase the image of him as one who could not understand people’s hearts.

His consideration to protect his partner from embarrassment convinced everyone that Arthur’s kindness was genuine. Those who had doubted, thinking it merely Morgan’s strategy to polish Arthur’s image, reconsidered when they saw the beaming faces of both Morgan and Elaine. Meanwhile, Tristan—who had abandoned his guard duties just to watch—was overjoyed.

But not everyone was pleased.

“Grrr…”

Some, like Rod, glared at Arthur as though he were a mortal enemy, and others from his and Mordred’s factions wore conflicted expressions.

Amid that atmosphere, the king spoke.

“I trust you all enjoyed the dancing? Now, please enjoy what my sons have prepared for you.”

And thus, the Founding Festival moved on to its second stage.