Chapter 21 - Boiling Point

It was the moment of truth.

I had bought myself as much time as humanly possible, but "leg pains" can only last for so long before people get suspicious. Tonight was the night I'd have to attend my dance lessons.

"Um, good luck, young master." Emma said, looking at me worriedly.

"Any chance you could go in with me?"

She shook her head. Decisively.

"Thought so," I sighed. "Fine, fine, you should go get some sleep. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow."

My attendant bowed one last time, and I opened the doors to the ballroom.

It took some serious effort to keep my jaw from dropping to the ground. I thought that I had become thoroughly desensitized to the mansion's grandeur and opulence by now but apparently I was mistaken. This ballroom was amazing! The sheer number of magic crystals lighting up the place were enough to bankrupt a lesser noble house, and the- oh wait, stop, don't gawk like a lost tourist. Alexander must have already seen this place enough times to memorize the number of tiles. I forced myself to look ahead while keeping my face neutral.

As I entered, I was immediately greeted by a sullen blonde teenager.

"You're late," Christine muttered. Tonight the little grump was dressed in a sky blue dress which showed off her shoulders, making her look like a delicate fairy. She also looked tired and her voice was more subdued than usual. I had to admit that she was a lot cuter when she wasn't glaring at me though.

Before I could answer, a plump woman with graying hair and dressed in exotic foreign clothing bounded over to me, smiling as wide as possible.

"My, young master. You look positively dashing! Let's get started right away, shall we?"

So this was Ms. Perrins. Aside from her eye catching clothes, the woman's appearance was unremarkable - she looked just like any other friendly neighborhood aunt. Most people would unconsciously feel at ease in her presence. From what Emma told me, this woman was a famous dance tutor from a foreign kingdom, invited over by my family at great expense. I heard she even taught royalty before and was a master of over thirty different styles.

Not even giving me any time to collect myself, she pulled on my sleeve to drag me to the center of the ballroom.

"Missing so many lessons, tut tut. Such a shame. Don't worry though, we'll make up for it! I trust you've warmed up? Good!" She said cheerfully, not giving me any window to respond. The woman snapped her fingers and a strange, box-shaped device (much like a gem studded phonograph) started playing music. "Let's start with the Swan's Court. Now one, two, three..."

The two of us moved along with the music. Even with the abrupt start, I was able to more or less keep up at first. But it didn't take long before we stopped.

Ms. Perrin's brows furrowed. "Is your leg perhaps still hurting, young master? You're…"

Terrible. She didn't say it out loud, but the implied meaning was obvious. My practice sessions with Emma ensured that I at least knew the steps to the most common dances of our kingdom, but that was pretty much it. I moved with the grace and confidence of a floundering tuna.

"Sorry, I feel somewhat rusty." I scratched the back of my head sheepishly while trying to think up an excuse. "Can we take it slow today?"

Ms. Perrins heaved a large sigh. Her earlier enthusiasm was nowhere to be seen. "I must say I'm disappointed, young master. I've never seen a student regress this much after just a few days without practice. Has your sister been rubbing off on you?"

Christine bristled at the remark. "How is any of this my fault!?" I had to agree, that jab was totally uncalled for.

"Hmph, is it not because of your lax attitude infecting the young master that this has happened? He's shown himself to be a marvelous talent, unlike you."

"LAX!? I've been practicing as hard as I can!"

"Well I am certainly not seeing any results," Ms. Perrins said, rolling her eyes. "I've taught dozens of noble children over the course of my career, yet none of them have been as thick skulled as you. "

I frowned. "Ms. Perrins, my mistakes are my own. Do not bring Christine into this."

This was absurd. She was blatantly trying to rile up my sister with her barbed words. Was this the famed instructor's way of doing things? Lavish praise on the good student while childishly mocking the one who failed to meet her expectations? Maybe that approach does work and can light a fire under some people, but I still felt it was little more than bullying.

What really upset me though was her complete lack of hesitation in insulting Christine.

No matter how well connected and renowned she might be, Ms. Perrins wouldn't dare speak to a duke's child so rudely without my parents' tacit approval. She wouldn't have lasted for more than a week in our employ otherwise. Perhaps our mom and dad even encouraged it, thinking that it was the best way to motivate Christine into doing better.

And if she didn't hesitate to say such things in front of me, the old Alexander must have been completely fine with it too.

Damned idiots.

"Oh?" Suddenly she clapped her hands together. "I understand now, young master must be pretending! It's very kind of you to go so far just to make your sister feel better about herself, but coddling her in such a way is counterpro- my word!"

Ms. Perrins' words were interrupted by a balled up handkerchief being thrown at her face.

"Go to hell, you old windbag." Christine snarled, looking outright murderous. "I've had enough!"

...

SLAM!

So stunned by her outburst, I wasn't able to react until she had already left, the doors shutting behind her tiny frame.

"Tsk, that's another thing we'll have to work on. The girl will never make it in high society with a temper like that. Poor manners, terribly clumsy, and the charm of a wood block… such a mess." Ms. Perins tutted disapprovingly.

My anger flared, but I didn't even bother trying to refute her. There was something more important for me to do.

"This lesson is over. I can't believe you would speak to her that way! We will talk about this tomorrow."

Throwing the confused woman one last scowl, I left the ballroom and chased after my sister.