"I didn't see you dancing. Why didn't you go?" Athena asked, sipping her juice.
"I'm not very good at dancing, so I'm happy to quietly admire everyone else's moves."
"Then you should be out there dancing all the more. The steps are simple. You'll learn after a few tries." Athena blinked, her expression hopeful. "If you want to learn, I can teach you."
Since the lady had taken the initiative, Liszt couldn't bluntly refuse. He could only stand and offer his hand. "May I have this dance?"
"It would be my pleasure." Athena took his hand and stood up.
And so, Liszt led Athena to the dance floor. To the gentle strains of the piano, he put an arm around her waist, clasped her hand in his left, and began dancing with her. The steps of a noble's social dance were always very simple. Liszt had never danced before, but his predecessor had plenty of experience.
"You're not at all awkward. It seems you were lying to me earlier," Athena said with a smile as they danced.
"Perhaps I'm doing unusually well right now."
"Is that so? Then I believe you."
After a brief silence,
Athena asked, "I've never been to Coral Island. In fact, I've never left Red Crab Island. Is Coral Island far away?"
"Not very. It's a little over half a day by ship. If the wind's favorable the whole way, it might only take half a day."
"What's Tulip Castle like?"
"It's built on a cliff by the shore. It's much smaller than Long-Yam Castle, but the surrounding hillsides are covered in tulips, blooming in every color."
"That must be beautiful. If I get the chance, I'd like to visit Tulip Castle."
"You'll get the chance."
"Do you live at Tulip Castle?"
"I grew up there, but I've since moved to my own little town."
"Oh, right. I heard Sir Meiopal mention it. You've been granted a barony, and your land is in Flower Town?"
"Yes."
"There must be lots of beautiful flowers there. Are the grounds around your castle full of flowers too?"
"I'm afraid you might be disappointed. There are only a dozen or so acres of tulips; the rest is planted with wheat. As for the area around the castle, well, I'm preparing to plant grass and build a horse pasture. I might even raise a few dairy cows," Liszt said calmly. He had a feeling Athena was asking about his circumstances.
Perhaps the girl had been drawn to his handsome looks and wanted to become Baron Liszt's wife?
It would be best to nip that idea in the bud. After a pause, he continued, "Well, my town is in a remote location. There isn't enough wheat to eat or milk to drink, and we can't even get vegetables regularly. Even with gold coins, it's hard to buy meat. A mountain range cuts us off, and there are magical beasts in the mountains, so merchant caravans don't want to come in."
Athena's mouth fell open in surprise. "Are you an Earth Knight?"
"I only advanced recently. I'm still getting used to the battle aura techniques."
Liszt, who stood a little over six feet tall, looked down at Athena, who was no more than five foot three. Her expression stiffened slightly.
Perhaps the gulf between her hopes and reality had troubled her.
Anyone seeing Liszt for the first time would surely feel favorably toward him—women, especially. But once they learned about his background, they would probably give him a wide berth. He was an unimportant, poor baron from a remote town, with mediocre aptitude for battle aura. Sooner or later, he might have to sell his fief and seek service under another lord.
Managing a fief was no simple matter. Many minor nobles went bankrupt and fell so low that they had to become tutors or knight-captains.
Gortai was one of them.
Even great nobles could go bankrupt and lose their fiefs if they mismanaged their estates.
"Next, she'll probably let go, signaling that the dance is over," Liszt thought.
But Athena didn't let go. The slight stiffness in her expression quickly gave way to her earlier, faint smile. "Your father, the Earl of Coral Island, surely won't just ignore Flower Town, will he?"
"My relationship with my father isn't very harmonious. Perhaps it's because my older brother and sister are so outstanding."
"But I think you have more presence. When you stand with Sir Meiopal, you look just like brothers."
"I take after my mother more."
"Your mother must have been a graceful and dignified noblewoman."
"I don't really remember what she looked like. She passed away when I was two."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"It's all right."
Neither of them spoke again. They danced with their arms around each other's waists until the song ended. During the break, he returned to his seat, only for Athena to follow him over.
She sat beside him and found another topic. "My family lives in Whitefish City. Our castle doesn't have a name. I have an older brother, and he's already married—to Lady Lydia, the daughter of Viscount Xavier. They met at a ball at Long-Yam Castle last year."
"Ah, no wonder I didn't see your brother here today," Liszt replied perfunctorily.
"He and Lady Lydia are very much in love, so he rarely attends these social dances anymore." Athena blinked. "My father is very hospitable, Liszt. You can visit my home sometime."
"I'm afraid I won't have time. My grandfather is recovering, and I have to return to Coral Island tomorrow."
"Then when will you come again?"
"During the New Year."
"Oh."
The piano began playing again, and Liszt danced another song with Athena. Then he used the stuffy dance floor as an excuse to turn down her hopes of dancing with him again.
After walking around the castle, he returned to find the ball nearing its end.
When the music stopped, Meiopal, representing the host, announced that the ball was over. Nobles who lived nearby drove home, while those from farther away followed servants to rooms prepared for them in the castle. Liszt was getting ready to return to his room too.
Athena came over again and said only, "Good night, Liszt."
"Good night, Athena."
Before Liszt returned to his room, Meiopal came by. "Liszt, you and Athena seemed to enjoy talking?"
"We only danced twice."
"I could tell Athena was interested in you. What do you think?"
"I haven't given it any thought."
Seeing that Liszt was serious, Meiopal nodded. "All right, I understand. Get some rest. Oh, Grandfather said he wants to give you an adult's gift tomorrow. He wasn't there for your coming-of-age ceremony, and he regrets it. He hopes this will make up for it a little."
"Grandfather is too kind."
"Mm. Good night."
"Good night."
Late into the night, Liszt still couldn't fall asleep. He kept wondering what the Marquis would give him as a coming-of-age gift. A gift from the Marquis ought to be something good.
"Maybe a magic longsword?"
Among nobles, gifts from elders to younger relatives were generally weapons. They symbolized that a knight's glory had to be won with blades and lances.
If the Marquis gave him a weapon, it would have to be a magical one, at the very least.
Magic weapons were extremely precious, and he had never owned one. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. His excitement was due, to some extent, to Athena's enthusiasm too. Everything about her suggested that she liked Liszt and wanted to become a baroness.
It was always nice to be liked by someone, especially a rather pretty lady.