"Would you like to dance with me?" A little girl asked while extending her hand to a boy who was drinking grape juice alone with his servant.
The boy in question is me, and I am wondering the same thing. But my mind short-circuited before I could think.
Huh?
What?
1+1 equals 5.
To understand Liam's current predicament, we need to go back in time.
***
"Wow! It really is big."
I gazed with awe at the manor in front of me while stepping out of the carriage.
The manor was big. No, it was huge. It had multiple stories, numerous windows, and a big door at the front with two knights in silver-coloured armour with their swords in hand, the tips pointed down for security.
The road connecting the main gate of the manor with the gate outside had a fountain in the middle, and on both sides of the road was a lush green garden decorated with various kinds of beautiful flowers and bushes shaped into different kinds of mythical creatures.
I walked along the road with my parents and siblings, leading me and Alina.
Yes, I brought Alina with me, and it was something many nobles did.
Looking to my side, Alina walked wearing a stunning black dress with a floral design that reached her knees. Her beautiful, silky black hair cascaded down her back, and with her cute face and milky white skin, she looked fabulous.
Thinking about it now, I didn't compliment her, did I?
"Alina."
"Yes, master."
"That dress looks great on you."
"Huh, uh, thank you, master."
'But why did she turn her head while saying that?'
I shrugged my shoulders and walked, but then I heard Alina's barely audible voice by my side.
"You look great, too, master."
"Thank you."
I thanked her with a faint smile on my face before reaching the main gate. As my father stepped into the hall, his name was shouted.
"David Rysen, the Rysen household's patriarch!"
All eyes turned our way because of the man standing in front of me. He had worn a blue suit, which complemented his blue eyes, his one hand entangled with a woman's. She had worn a beautiful brown dress that reached her ankles, her silky brown hair cascading down her back in waves.
'Hey, isn't that the one who killed a colony of monsters?'
'Yes, I heard he was drenched in blood head to toe.'
I gazed around as murmurs started to spread within the hall. All talking about one man and one man only.
Damn, my father sure is popular.
I don't know if it is in a good way or a bad way for now. But who is that man who is coming our way? No… towards my father.
A man in a white suit that had a small symbol of two swords making an X on his chest, around 6 meters tall with red hair and crimson eyes that seemed a stark contrast to his white suit, came to a halt in front of my father.
His crimson eyes had an intense glare that was shot toward my father, and my father let go of my mother's hand and directed a glare of equal intensity with his blue eyes toward the man with red hair.
Both men glared at each other, making the atmosphere around them suffocating. But then… they gave a faint smile to each other and shook hands.
Wait, weren't they looking at each other as if they were old enemies that had finally gotten the chance to confront each other?
"My friend, David, it has been a long time."
"It indeed has been a long time, my friend, Corwin."
Wait… so, they were actually friends.
…
….
Their chatter didn't go on for long, as they just greeted each other and promised to talk more later.
My father then informed us that we could go and socialize with other kids our age and also not to cause trouble, which, strangely, sounded to me as if they were directed at my siblings.
...
....
Now I was alone with Alina walking by my side.
"Master, where should we go?"
Hmm… to have a quiet and peaceful life, I don't need to interact with other noble kids, and besides, who knows what kind of trouble they are going to make? So, it is better to go to a quiet corner and eat the food with Alina.
"Alina, let's go to a quiet corner and eat food by ourselves."
"Yes, master."
I went to a corner and started eating with Alina.
"This is amazing. By the way, Alina, do you know who that man was from earlier?"
"Yes, master. He was the head of Crossblades, and the girl whose birthday is going to be celebrated is his eldest daughter."
"I see, so he was the head of Crossblades." I shrugged my shoulders because it was a good thing that my father was on good terms with a big shot.
"Anyways, Alina, try this parfait. It is amazing."
We enjoyed our quiet time trying new delicacies.
But…
A commotion broke our quiet and peaceful time on the opposite side.
A few boys around my age were trying to impress a girl. She was wearing a red dress with beautiful ornaments attached to it, complementing her crimson eyes and auburn hair.
She was truly a beautiful girl, I would say, almost comparable to Alina. On the other hand, Alina gave quite an intense glare to whoever came close to her, scaring them away.
"She seems to be in quite a lot of trouble and annoyed. Alina, do you know who she might be?"
"Master, I think that is Julie. The second lady of the house, Crossblades."
"I see. It is amazing how much information you have, Alina."
"Thank you, master, for the compliment."
"I think the show is going to start now," I said, after the lights went off and were focused on the staircases where a man in a white suit with red hair could be seen.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I appreciate the presence of every individual who came to tonight's birthday banquet…"
He continued with his speech that lasted three minutes. In short, what he said was that he appreciates whoever came to the banquet and that it is a very special day for him, as his eldest daughter was born, and blah blah.
After his speech, the lights' focus was now fixed on a girl with red hair that reached her shoulders and green eyes that shimmered like stars in the night sky.
She had worn a green dress that almost touched the floor. A golden necklace was hanging around her neck that looked captivating.
She came slowly down the flight of stairs, reaching her father, taking his hands, and they came down to socialize with the guests.
The lights returned, and soon harmonious melodies of music echoed through the hall, and noblemen who came with their wives started dancing.
Amidst the dances, a small girl in a red dress was approached by many boys of a similar age to her, and she rejected them all, but soon a commotion erupted among them, and a duel was suggested, with the winner getting the chance to dance with the girl in a red dress.
'How did they even get the permission for the duel?'
"Haa… that's why I didn't go to make friends with those noble kids. They really are immature. Right, Alina?"
Hearing no response, I turned to look at Alina, who was munching a big parfait in her mouth with a delighted expression on her face. She really did look lively and was a stark contrast to the first time I saw her.
Her gaze at that time was hazy, her skin dry, and she was covered in filth due to not being able to wash herself for a long time.
Yet, right now, here she is looking so lively with a beautiful smile on her lips with each bite she takes.
'Cute.'
Noticing my gaze, she got embarrassed. Putting down the parfait, she looks at me.
"Uh, um, master, sorry. Did you say something?"
"No, it is okay. I just…" I paused, looking toward the direction of where the duel was going to happen. "… wanted to know your thoughts about their behavior?"
"I think they just want to impress the girl and that their actions are quite childish, master."
"I think so too."
Haaa…
I watched with Alina as two boys came face-to-face with wooden swords in their hands, and the referee looked at the two.
"The fight will be over when one is defeated, cannot stand, or admits defeat!"
And so, the first duel began.