Without a moment's hesitation, Westheid swept the Silver-haired Princess into his arms and began to dance with Reiya.
However, it was less a dance for two and more a solo performance by Westheid. He simply held Reiya tightly and moved as he pleased.
It was not a courtly dance of any kind, merely a spontaneous spin guided by the rhythm of his heart.
But the man's movements were so confident and magnanimous that the dance possessed an incredible, effortless grace.
After Westheid stepped onto the dance floor, bringing the Sinful Blood Princess whom everyone shunned into its center, no one could remain indifferent. All eyes turned to stare in astonishment at the absurd scene.
Even the most crowded areas cleared out to give them a wide berth—no one wanted to get near that cursed, tainted bloodline. It was something that shouldn't even exist.
The entire vast square had effectively become a stage for Westheid and Reiya alone.
"What is that mongrel doing here?"
"Where are the Guards? Why don't they throw her out!"
"Is that Duke Qinghui holding that mongrel? Why would he do something like that?"
"I'd heard Duke Qinghui wasn't picky, but no matter how you look at it... this is just too depraved."
"Perhaps he's after her status as a Princess? After all, even if she's a mongrel, she's the highest-class mongrel there is."
Scorn, confusion, disgust, mockery... All manner of gazes and whispers assaulted them without restraint. Listening to those vile words, Reiya looked up at the fantastically handsome face so close to her own and whispered:
"By doing this, Duke Qinghui, you're about to be ostracized by the noble circles."
"Do you care about their stares? Or their words?"
The Silver-haired Princess shook her head. "I'm long used to it. But you shouldn't be doing this."
Seeing this, Westheid laughed. "And why not? Have you done anything that deserves blame?"
Reiya said, "My birth... is my original sin. Many people died because of me. Their parents and children, their brothers and sisters..."
"So what does that have to do with you?! To be born is a sin? I refuse to acknowledge such absurd nonsense."
The handsome young man raised his voice, as if intentionally emphasizing his point:
"At the end of the day, it's just misplaced anger from cowards who bully the weak and fear the strong. They don't dare vent their fury on their true enemies, so they gang up on a little girl instead!"
"Those shallow fools who can't see your beauty! Those mediocre nobodies who can't perceive your Charm! What right do they have to make me care about their opinions?"
"Praise and mockery, worship and hatred... It's all the same. I couldn't care less!"
Westheid only wanted to raise Reiya's affection level, hoping to share her Tier T0 Talent as soon as possible.
As for the opinions of those around them? The disgust and ostracism of the nobles?
'Perfect. This is all part of my play, anyway.'
After taunting the crowd, Westheid, as expected, earned a volley of furious glares.
'It's easy for you to say—none of your family died because of her!'
Never mind those who had already lost their families and fallen from grace; even the Branch of Prosperity in its heyday would never have dared to look down on all the great lords like this!
One unfriendly gaze after another immediately shifted to Westheid.
"Did Duke Qinghui just call us such shameless people?"
"I'd long heard of Duke Qinghui's debauched and ridiculous reputation, but it seems the rumors don't do him justice."
"This is truly unwise. This can't be considered just misplaced anger..."
"..."
Even Reiya herself hadn't expected Westheid to so openly and clearly speak up for her, as if he were afraid others wouldn't know.
"You're truly... insane."
Westheid gazed into the Silver-haired Dragon Lady's magnificent blue-violet eyes and said:
"I only care about you. Forget everyone else. Just answer me this: are you enjoying this dance right now?"
'Am I enjoying it?'
For Reiya, this question was impossibly difficult. Since the moment she was born, she had never known what "enjoyment" even was.
If not for her desire to see the flowers by the courtyard, she would never have come to this corner of the ballroom. A body with nearly all its limbs missing couldn't support any kind of dancing.
Yet Westheid had practically forced his way in, swept her into his arms, and now was asking if she was enjoying herself. For a moment, Reiya truly didn't know how to answer.
'What an impudent and absurd man.'
Reiya felt her body pressed tightly against Westheid's. This was a level of contact she had never experienced with anyone before. In the Holy Tree Palace, no one would ever touch her.
It wasn't that she longed for contact with others. Given her life's experiences, every instance of physical contact had been unpleasant—ranging from punches and kicks to hair-pulling and slaps.
But sometimes, in the dead of night, Reiya would trace the words in her books and wonder what it felt like for people to hold each other close. Was it really warm?
Reiya said, "You're colder."
"Hm?"
"Your temperature... it's colder than mine."
The Silver-haired Princess's lips curled up unconsciously, a fact she herself didn't even realize.
"But... it's so warm."
Reiya's hand tightened around Westheid's. Mustering her courage, she turned her head and pressed the unmarred inch of her cheek against the man's shoulder, slowly closing her eyes.
"I'm enjoying this. Very much so."
"Please, let me sleep for a little while..."
Westheid looked at the Silver-haired Princess resting peacefully against him, as if she had shut out the entire world, and wondered how much tonight's actions would raise her affection meter.
Although the progress couldn't be quantified, it was obvious even to a fool that Reiya was overjoyed.
'That's good enough.'
Westheid calmly continued the dance. Since this was what Reiya wished for, he would keep going until his stamina was depleted and he could no longer carry on.
Unfortunately, not everyone could tolerate Westheid and Reiya's interaction. A tall, handsome young man in Silver Light Armor stepped forward self-righteously and rebuked them.
"This is a public desecration! That's enough!"
Westheid snapped, "Shut up!"
"What did you say? I am a..."
Westheid shot the man a freezing glare. "I told you to shut your mouth! Whatever it is, we can talk about it later."
He then issued a direct command to his sister, "Yolanda, keep him from bothering me!"
The young woman's fairy-like face was covered in frost as she stared grimly at Westheid.
"Brother, you will give me an explanation for this later."
Then, Yolanda glanced at the seemingly asleep Reiya and stepped between Westheid and the Guard Knight.
"Andre, please wait a moment."
"Miss Yolanda... why are you?"
The young nobleman who had stepped forward clearly knew Yolanda. He frowned, wanting to say more but holding his tongue.
Yolanda said coolly, "Consider it a favor to me."
The young nobleman pressed his lips together, but ultimately chose not to press the issue. Instead, he folded his arms and watched coldly from the side.
And so, Westheid was able to continue dancing with Reiya.
During this time, many of the spectators who had been whispering amongst themselves gradually lost interest and drifted away. The Holy Tree Palace was large enough, and there were plenty of other places to continue the celebration. There was no need to keep watching such an unpleasant sight.
Finally, as Westheid's strength neared its limit, he placed Reiya back in her wheelchair with trembling arms. Only then did the Silver-haired Princess seem to awaken from a dream, her magnificent eyes filled with a deep reluctance to let the moment go.