The Queen and the Lion - Chapter 57
Lysian’s fingertips grazed Aslan’s chin. Aslan petulantly pushed her hand away, a little like a pet refusing unwanted affection. Amused by his rejection, Lysian chuckled and added,
“He’s just a friend.”
“But he’s…”
Handsome and well-mannered. Aslan swallowed the rest of his words. Chrysanthemum’s strengths were Aslan’s weaknesses. The same unease he had felt with Kaplan was shaking him once more. He was still an outsider in Florea. It didn’t matter about the others, but what if Lysian felt the same?
Lysian quickly noticed Aslan’s wandering thoughts. She tugged at the collar of his shirt with her fingers.
With a languid gesture, Aslan bent his waist in compliance. His face came down so that their eyes met directly. Lysian whispered in his ear as if sharing a secret.
“Honestly, he’s not sexually attractive.”
She giggled softly.
A mischievous smile played on her lips, like a mischievous girl. With each of Lysian’s laughs, her breath tickled Aslan’s ear. Aslan’s body stiffened at her bold statement.
Lysian didn’t miss her chance and pressed her lips firmly against Aslan’s cheek. The rough stubble from the evening pricked her tender lips, but she didn’t mind. A faint trace of the lipstick she hadn’t yet wiped off was left on Aslan’s cheek. Lysian rolled her eyes.
“I prefer someone like you.”
Embarrassed by Lysian’s words, Aslan turned his head away. Every time she said something nice, he felt as awkward as a boy confessing for the first time. Lysian was delighted by Aslan’s shyness.
On the surface, they were a giant man in his thirties and a tiny girl of eighteen, but in reality, she was a girl with unwavering authority, and he was like a top being spun around in her palm.
Lysian took a step back from Aslan. The distance between them, which had been so close that a sheet of paper could have fit between them, suddenly widened.
“Speaking of which, let’s check your lesson results. What did you learn today?”
“…The waltz.”
“Show me.”
Lysian’s tone was rather strict.
Her shoulders shook slightly as if trying to suppress a laugh, and the pink hair that draped over her rounded shoulders fluttered. At Lysian’s command, Aslan walked awkwardly to the middle of the room. His pose was as stiff as a broken automaton, with his right arm and right leg moving together.
Standing in the middle of the room, Aslan extended his hand to Lysian. Unlike his awkward walk, his initial posture was quite dignified.
Lysian lowered her eyebrows, put on a prim expression, and gracefully approached Aslan. She looked like a young lady just making her debut in society.
Lysian’s hand rested on Aslan’s. Aslan clasped her hand firmly, feeling the light, feathery touch of her fingers. Her hand was warm, like a kitten’s belly. When Aslan pulled her closer, their chests nearly touched. It was the perfect starting position for a standard dance.
The waltz required a lot of space, but Lysian’s room was spacious, even after accounting for the furniture. Aslan took a step forward. Lysian entrusted her entire body to him, and Aslan’s arms firmly supported her.
They couldn’t call for musicians as they had during lessons. Instead, Lysian hummed a waltz tune. It was a familiar melody that Aslan knew well.
He stepped forward with his left foot. Then, he stepped his right foot in front of his left. Next, he placed his left foot beside his right, and then stepped forward with his left again.
It seemed simple enough, but if he lost even a little concentration, his steps would quickly become tangled. However, unlike before when he had wandered around not knowing where to put his feet and had stepped on his partner’s feet several times, Aslan was now able to dance with confidence.
The waltz was a lively 3/4 time piece. For Aslan, who was used to hearing only folk songs or military marches, it was a remarkable achievement to be able to keep the rhythm of a waltz.
The gentle music began to grow more lively. Aslan’s steps grew larger, and Lysian’s back arched. Normally, he would have been excited by the feel of her thin, soft slip against his skin, but right now, he was so focused on not making a mistake that he couldn’t feel anything. Lysian smiled as she watched Aslan count out the beats, one, two, three. It was endearing to see him so focused.
Lysian’s humming reached the end of the song. The waltz ended as well. It had been a short time, but Aslan, who had been so tense, finally let out a sigh of relief. A deep breath tickled Lysian’s forehead.
“You’re doing quite well.”
Lysian smiled contentedly and praised Aslan. Their hands were still clasped together.
Aslan realized, belatedly, that his hands were damp with sweat. He quickly released Lysian’s hand and muttered.
“I’m glad. I was so worried I would make a mistake.”
Lysian shook her head.
“You were almost perfect. Because you’re so skilled with a sword, your posture is very straight when you dance the waltz. You look very noble.”
Aslan grinned at Lysian’s praise. It had been worth all the effort. He still wasn’t confident in other manners, but he felt he could now dance with Lysian in front of others.
Lysian suddenly turned around.
Gracefully, she turned and walked leisurely towards the bed. With the nonchalance of a cat, Lysian perched herself on the bed and said seductively,
“You deserve a reward.”
