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Chapter 84 Part 5 – When the rose of winter bloom. Feelings of first love that transcend time ……

The ‘Thunderbolt Polka’ dance has moved on to the second stage.

Forbidden love.

It is a dance that expresses the frustration of love when you want to get close to someone but is unable to approach them.

In this section, there are many parts in which the dancers have to face each other with their backs to each other. There are almost no parts where they face each other. It is a very different type of polka. But the dance is more difficult than when the dancers can face each other. If she is not constantly aware of the partner’s movements even when the partner is out of her field of vision, she will be in total disarray in an instant.

The dancers have to fiercely turn around each other, move closer together, touch only their fingertips against each other, and then move apart again. If we add to the minuet dance a high-speed rotation like a colliding spinning top and a one-footed leap, it could become something similar. However, the trajectory is not only in the shape of ‘Z’, but changes in various ways, and in this state, the dancers are further required to move in a full circle on the stage. It’s like playing catch while moving around, but the degree of difficulty is incomparable to that.

The unique polka steps in which it looks like one foot pushes the other forward and the skipping-like footwork that frequently switches between the forward and backward order of the left and right feet.

Moreover, the dancers are required to cross each other’s feet so close that they are likely to touch each other. If the timing or position is off even a little, a collision is inevitable. If this were to happen, it would be impossible to catch up with the high-speed musical accompaniment of ‘Thunderbolt’.

It’s a part that makes the dancers’ hands sweat as they are constantly forced into the tension of a make-or-break game.

「…… Master, it’s amazing that you can dance like that. If it was me, I would have gotten my head and legs mixed up and fallen over long ago.」

Arnold groaned amidst the bright melody of the stringed instruments that were beginning to scream from overuse.

「It’s certainly true that the dance skills of the Duchess and Countess Rosenthal are remarkable. But more than that, the combination of the two of them is incredible. …… I can’t believe it. I’m shocked that they can dance the ‘Thunderbolt Polka’ so well even though it’s their first time dancing together.」

Said Seraphy as his eyes widened in surprise.

「Perhaps mother and Countess Rosenthal are kindred spirits.」

It’s a cliché expression, but that’s all I can say. That is why the breathing of my mother and the countess are so perfectly in tune, as if they had been partners for many years. If they had met earlier without any misunderstandings, they would surely have become close friends.

Countess Rosenthal spoke to mother while their backs were facing each other.

「Hmph, you’re doing pretty well for a shut-in. You’ve been keeping up with me very closely.」

Mother smiled as if she was a junior who couldn’t help but be happy after being praised by a senior whom she respects.

「I’ve been practicing for this. If …… I continued to tremble in fear and stay as a shut-in forever, I won’t be able to keep up with my daughter. That child is capable of flying as high as she wants. The same is true for my husband, Wendell. I have been Wendell’s shackles for a long time. That was my complex. But just lamenting that didn’t change anything. Rather than that, I should take a step forward as a mother and a wife. My family and my friend Mary’s courage taught me that.」

No, mother, I’m sorry to say this, but my dream is to be a shut-in in the first place ……
But I’m very happy to hear your feelings.

「…… That’s why there is no hesitation in your dance steps. It’s the embodiment of your determination.」

While rotating like flowers, mother and the countess talked to each other.

「…… But, Cornelia, you’re still too naive. You said earlier that you do not want revenge against the red nobles. But they are still making a mockery of that night of bullying 14 years ago. They are proudly spouting half-truths and spreading rumors of what happened there. That would also lower the reputation of the Crimson Duke and Scarlet, whom you want to catch up with. You are being looked down upon. They think that you will not fight back no matter what they do. Your noble thoughts will not reach those fools. If so, you should take revenge, not for the past, but for the sake of the future.」

I was startled. That is not a good topic to talk about in the middle of the red nobles watching. However, it seemed that the red nobles couldn’t hear their conversation. And yet, Bradd, I, and the others who are quite a distance away could clearly hear what mother and Countess Rosenthal were saying. Now that I think about it, it’s quite strange. There were even the sounds of musical instruments and a fair amount of murmuring. It must be due to the power of the Ruby of the True Emperor, or the power of Countess Rosenthal’s evil eye.

「It looks like you did think about revenge. Your dance …… it’s becoming disordered.」

While casually hiding the mistake of mother’s leg with the hem of her dress, the countess warned her. Mother thanked her with downcast eyelashes and extended her fingertips. She squeezed the fingers of the countess who responded to her action. This is an action that does not exist in the original ‘Thunderbolt Polka’ dance.

「…… I had noticed that the red nobles were still talking ill of me. It would be a lie if I said I didn’t want revenge. After all that they’ve put me through, they still want to trample on me for their amusement? It is absolutely unforgivable …… I’m ashamed to say this, but it is true that I feel a sweet tingle when I imagine getting revenge on them. It would be easy to do so with the help of my daughter’s hidden influence. I am …… a dirty woman.」

If the person my mother was dancing with right now was me, I would have interrupted the dance and hugged her to shout, 「Mother, that’s not true」. Anyone who is subjected to such terrible bullying that destroys human dignity is bound to harbor resentment. Who could blame Mother? If mother wants to, I will mobilize the royal family and the great nobles to help her get revenge without any hesitation.

「…… Then why don’t you take revenge?」

It was time to move away from each other, but Countess Rosenthal did not let go of mother’s hand and took a closed position. She wants to improvise and take the lead for the next movement. She stared into mother’s eyes and asked her a question. Mother also stared back at her.

「…… Because I am Scarlet’s mother. If I take revenge with the help of my daughter …… I will never be able to call myself her mother again. I once …… nearly killed my daughter. How can I smile and hug my beloved daughter with the blood of revenge on my hands?」

「Heh, what beautiful words to say. Reality is covered in mud and blood.」

Their gazes collided and seemed to scatter sparks. The second stage returned to the normal flow from the improvisation and entered the finish.

「I am fully aware that it’s mere beautiful words.」

Mother smiled with dignity.

「I …… am not a genius with wings like Wendell or Scarlet. I said earlier that I wanted to keep up with them, but in reality I can only look up at them from the ground. My talent is not enough to support my family.」

I covered Arnold’s mouth as he tried to shout, 「No, master is a super genius in archery ……」.

Shhhh!! Their conversation is getting so thrilling, so stay quiet!!

While mother and Countess Rosenthal were staring at each other, they were also spinning around intensely. Sparks are about to fly from their toes.

「…… But, no matter how high the birds can fly, there will come a time when they get tired. It may be that they get drenched in blood and become unable to fly. At such times, I want to be a perch for them to rest their wings. I want to absorb all the blood from their wings with this body and encourage them that they will be fine and that they can still fly. That is the atonement I can do for my daughter. …… For that, I cannot be stained with the blood of revenge.」

…… Mother ……