I stare down at Gilbert's red hair and his red eyes filled with nothing but 'friendliness'. At least on the surface. Because he is still smaller than I am he looks like an innocent younger brother, but there is nothing innocent about what he is currently doing.

I admit. I was never fond of the color red. It's the color of the dishonorable scum had me killed in my last life... this boy is just like those people. Not everyone can feed people poison with a calm smile, with absolutely no spite in their eyes, but this kid can.

In the book Gilbert had been a happy go lucky young man with no real ambition, and no real strings attached. A player. He was the kind that was friends with everyone, but didn't seek help from anyone. He kept a barrier between himself and others, and when the heroine appeared, he opened his heart and showed a sincere smile for the first time, and he stopped flirting with other girls entirely.

Again... I feel like the novel hadn't quite expanded enough on these hidden sides of the characters in the novel. I felt like I was missing half of the story for all of them.

If he did things like this, then pulling away from people later in life would make sense, but he is still so young.

Was Gilbert always like this?

I dig through my memories of this kid while he waits for me to drink of the poisoned glass.

Gilbert... Gilbert... his introduction party three years ago. He... he'd been a very quiet boy three years ago. I didn't really start noticing him until two years ago after he suddenly started being outgoing and started talking to me.

This doesn't really tell me anything about the current situation. The book had said nothing about Gilbert trying to kill Lily with poison either, and I couldn't think of anything I had done to provoke his anger to this extent.

Though, if it had only been Lily, then she probably would've just refused him plainly. I regret my curiosity. I should have just refused it... why did I have to confirm whether or not it was poison?

Why did I panic and grab the accursed glass?!

I stare down at the reddish liquid that should have been orange.

Should I see if I can distract him... but then what?

Should I pour it into a potted plant somewhere?... but... it would kill the plant. The Gods would not be happy.

I stare down at the glass in front of me quietly.

"Gilbert, could you find my brother?"

I turn a bright smile at him. In return he stares at me with a dissatisfied expression, just for a moment though. Then he brightened again like a little sun.

"Of course I will help you find him."

Che. Not cooperating at all. He was supposed to go alone. I can't think of a way out of this, and I'd already accepted the drink. Even if I look for help, Magdalin... Magdalin is getting ready for her second dance and doesn't notice me.

What about Ameline? I scour the dancing hall for her... where is she?! She's always so busy saying I can't do this and I can't do that, but where is she when I need her?!

Then what about the guards...? It's at this point I realize that the dancing hall is black with adults standing in groups, and we are completely out of view for even the guards.

I look back to Gilbert after realizing I'm on my ow and see this satisfied smile on his lips...

I've tried this before. A chill runs down my spine as I stare at Gilbert with a newfound caution.

"Lady Lily." A calm voice interrupts the tense moment.

Alstair? My hero of the moment is the crown prince himself?

Alstair reaches out a gentlemanly hand and with the other motions for the dance floor.

"May I have the first dance?"

I don't want to dance, but right now anything is better than being near Gilbert. I don't care if it was just an obligatory invitation from Alstair, it was perfectly timed. I smile back politely.

"It would be an honor," I answer back politely.

I give Gilbert back the glass back along with the now empty plate, curtsy to both of them and head for the dance floor with Alstair. I note a hint of darkness in Gilbert's eyes as he smiles.

"Enjoy yourselves."

Needless to say, as we head for the middle of the floor my hand is just barely in Alstair's. Personally I don't like holding hands, but probably due to Alstair's dislike of Lily Alstair allows this. He's putting in just the absolute minimum amount of effort he's required.

Thankfully, Lily loved dancing so I won't be humiliating myself even if Alstair's lead is lacking. At least, his lead is usually quite lacking if I compare it to the teacher's.

He leads me to the middle of the dance floor... and as he does a chill runs down my back.

Everyone pull away from us.

We've become the center of attention.

Alstair gently pulls me in front of him so we both stand at ready, and with the start of the music he slides an arm around my back, and takes my hand with the other. The hold of our hands is loose at best, and his hand which should be pressing against my back just barely brushes against me.

He won't be able to make a proper lead like this, but his posture is okay. First of all, the space between us is much much too wide. Our lower bodies are supposed to be close enough for him to use his body to lead me. Of course, we both knew why he didn't do as he should and why I am perfectly happy with that.

It must have looked like a childish dance to those who looked. After all, I cannot read people well enough to predict what he wants to do... and the lead wasn't willful enough to make me do it properly... There were no incidents, but I was always lagging the tenths of a second behind.

Still, though childish we probably looked good together. His eyes matched my hair, and my pastel golden colored evening dress matched his hair. We were flowing across the floor like wheat and water under the summer sky. The mutters and cheerful mutters nearly reached us all the way out here on the dance floor... it makes my skin crawl.

I want to end it... the leering feels sickening. Their eyes crawl and their lips curl into smiles... like the smiles of those people... I try to keep up a facade of a polite smile, but it doesn't quite work and ends up a grimace like an awkward frown instead.

I look to Alstair, but he isn't smiling either. It's like the people around us doesn't sense any of the discomfort.

I let my gaze wander to the gawking crowd and find a sharp gaze meeting mine. Lionel's eyes are watching me coldly, and on the opposite side of he hall my gaze finds Gilbert watching me intensely.

I find Eric's cautious gaze nearby among the dancing crowd as well next to the prime minister's son William.

Even Bridgette is still here and sends me a trembling glare.

It's a full gathering of all the people that want me dead... perhaps with the exception of the heroine herself.

I suppose Alstair must be the center of attention as the crown prince. A suffocating and jeering feeling fills my body, is the dance over soon?

"...you don't need to worry about their looks..." The unexpectedly gentle words left me in no better mood. I did not want him to see my weakness, and I would never admit my weakness either.

—-*—-

The music stops. My second hell of the evening is over, but the exhaustion begins to build.

"Thank you, your highness," I thank him for the dance as he leads me off the dance floor.

"It was a pleasure," he lies.

"Now, you were having a conversation with Gilbert, yes? I will guide you back."

I nearly freeze at his words.

"No, it is quite fine, your highness, we were done talking." I reply firmly and finally manage to force a smile.

"It appears he still wants to talk with you, though?"

I glance ahead of us where Gilbert is still waiting for me, with the drink... and now with the little plate of snacks refilled as well. My troubles had doubled while I was away. I stared up at Alstair with the same forced smile.

"I've found myself with a need to powder my nose. It will have to wait." I try to cut him off and... it works. Alstair lets go of my hand, and the second he does, I take a 90 degree turn for my escape. I'm free. Now I just need to stay on the opposite side of the hall from Gilbert when I come back. How hard can that be?