Class E's Dance

In Class E, the children of knightly houses quickly paired off, and since there weren't enough girls, they called over girls from Class D and partnered with them.

What should we do...? We commoners had no idea what to do, so we just stood there. We couldn't dance in the first place, and inviting a noble girl to dance would only end in humiliation...

I could manage the bare minimum, but the other children and Ronnie probably couldn't. Ronnie was standing beside me with a deathly pale face, trembling slightly.

"You there! Hurry up and form pairs. You're holding up the class."

The teacher said that while looking at us with contempt. I really hated this teacher!!

I could at least dance, so I just needed someone to partner with me. But I didn't even know whether anyone would agree... If I asked and got rejected, it would hurt far too much...

Ronnie couldn't dance no matter what.

I guess I'll just have to be honest.

"Gramillian-sensei. We can't dance..."

"Oh my! There were people who couldn't dance? I never even considered that. I thought everyone could dance, but I see there are people who cannot. I apologize for my lack of consideration."

This teacher was seriously infuriating! Why was she so condescending? Was she a noble of higher rank?

"Gramillian-sensei, these people are commoners, so perhaps they simply cannot learn to dance. It is only natural that they cannot keep up with us highborn people. We must be generous enough to accept that."

"Artur-sama, what a splendid way of thinking! Indeed, it would be wrong to force people to do what they cannot. It would be troublesome if people mistook it for bullying commoners. In that case, those who cannot dance need not dance."

Artur-sama and Gramillian-sensei were getting along incredibly well. I could never like a teacher who hit it off with Artur-sama.

Wait... Come to think of it, Gramillian was on the list of hostile factions Richard-sama gave me before, wasn't it? That's right—the Gramillian Marquis family!

Ugh... I don't want to take this class anymore. This teacher couldn't be one of the children of the Gramillian Marquis family, so perhaps she was the marquis's wife? Given her age, she might even be the former marquis's wife. Why was she teaching, of all things?

Sigh... Either way, that means she's my enemy. I'm exhausted by all the dangerous people lurking everywhere.

"Then please dance only with those who can. Those who cannot dance should learn before the next class. However, please rest assured. Starting with the next class, those who cannot dance will be given free time. It would be wrong to force you to do something you cannot."

She was saying all sorts of reasonable-sounding things, but what she really meant was that she didn't want to teach commoners to dance. Commoners couldn't dance anyway, so there was no point in trying, right!?

She was unbelievably infuriating!!

Looking around, I saw that all the commoners who had been pale-faced moments ago now wore frustrated expressions, as though they wanted to be angry but couldn't.

At least I should dance. But would anyone be willing to partner with me...?

I raised my head and looked around for someone who would partner with me.

However, whenever I made eye contact with someone, they all looked away. Who knew having so few friends would come back to bite me like this?

"Then let us begin the dance."

The dance was about to start! All right, I'll just go for it!

"Wait a moment! May I dance too?"

When I said that, the teacher turned toward me with an extremely strained smile.

"If you cannot dance, there is no need to force yourself, you know? I would never force you to do something you cannot."

"No, I can dance, so that's fine."

"You, you lowly commoner! There's no way you can dance!"

Artur-sama was barging in again... He was seriously annoying.

"I am a commoner, so I cannot dance as elegantly and beautifully as all of you. However, commoners can dance too."

"That is impossible! My father said that commoners are lowly people who cannot dance or understand art!"

Artur-sama really was an idiot... I had thought better of him earlier because he could dance, figuring he wasn't completely incompetent after all. Maybe he really was incompetent...

Actually, did Artur-sama simply believe everything his parents told him at face value? Did he really think commoners could not learn to dance or dance at all?

If so, then he might be incredibly straightforward, in the best sense of the word... In that case, his parents were truly awful. Though, for nobles in this world, perhaps Artur-sama's way of thinking was perfectly normal.

"Then please watch me dance and see for yourself. Would anyone be willing to partner with me?"

I said this while feeling incredibly nervous inside. I'd just blurted out that I could dance, but what would I do if no one agreed to partner with me...?

My heart was pounding... If no one volunteered, maybe Lucien would dance the woman's part with me?

I waited with a calm, confident expression so no one would notice my panic, and then one girl stepped forward.

"I will be your partner."

Martine!? What? She was willing to dance with me!?

Wouldn't dancing with a particular person cause all sorts of trouble?

"I am very grateful, but... are you sure?"

"Yes, of course."

Martine smiled brightly and took my hand.

"Martine-sama! Why are you dancing with a man like him? He cannot dance anyway, so you should just leave him alone! If you are going to dance with him, would you not dance with me instead?"

Artur-sama said that and stepped between us.

"Y-yes, exactly. There is no need to trouble Martine-sama."

The teacher hurriedly cut in as well.

"No, it is fine. I wanted to try dancing with him. Besides, no one else was willing to dance, were they?"

"That is true, but..."

"Then will you dance with Leon, Gramillian-sensei?"

"Leon...?"

"Oh my, you have not even memorized your students' names? Wouldn't it be proper etiquette to learn them before class? If that is too difficult for you, I will recommend that a replacement be appointed. What do you think?"

Martine was frightening... She was pretty angry, wasn't she? The teacher's face had gone completely pale.

"I-I apologize. I will make sure to memorize all the students' names before the next class... But how do you know his name?"

"Leon is my friend. More importantly, let us begin the dance."

"Y-yes, of course."

Had Gramillian-sensei thought she wasn't directly discriminating against commoners and therefore wouldn't be punished?

Or had she thought the royal family would never intervene over a problem involving mere commoners?

Well, probably both. If I hadn't been here, Martine probably wouldn't have said anything either.

I really am protected by everyone around me... Thank you so much. I will definitely repay you.

I'll work hard so I can be useful to everyone.

"Martine-sama, what do you mean, he is your friend!?"

Another troublesome person had shown up...

"I mean exactly what I said."

"How could that happen...? You should stop being friends with him immediately! Associating with a lowly commoner could affect you as well, Martine-sama! Could it be... Lucien's doing? That man says ridiculous things about how we should help each other, even with commoners! Surely you do not share that opinion, Martine-sama...?"

"That is not the case. However, as a member of this country's royal family, I have a duty to protect it. Following the rules is important if we are to protect it. Since social status does not matter at this school, I will befriend anyone. Besides, Leon is affiliated with the Townsend ducal family. He is different from other commoners."

"But..."

"You call commoners lowly, Artur-sama, but how much do you actually know about them? Rather than relying on information you have heard from others, why not see for yourself? If you still hold the same opinion afterward, then stand by it. The important thing is to make an effort to understand them first."

Martine was saying all sorts of things, but was this really all right...? The royal family was supposed to avoid siding with either faction for now, so as to prevent a civil war, right?

Well, perhaps she was handling it skillfully as long as no one could use her words against her.

"Then please begin the music."

When Martine said that, the music began to play.

"Leon, can you dance?"

As soon as the music started, Martine spoke to me in a quiet voice.

"I can manage the basics."

"I will follow your lead, so do not hold back."

"All right... Martine, thank you. Really."

"Let us enjoy the dance."

Martine said that and smiled like a flower in bloom. She was incredibly beautiful.

"I will be careful not to step on your feet."

"I certainly hope you will."

I felt the strange tension draining from my stiff body. Phew... All I had to do was remember my practice and dance to the best of my ability.

I do not remember much of what happened after that, but before I knew it, the dance was over.

"Leon, you were very easy to dance with! With a little more practice, you will be able to dance beautifully."

"I am honored by your praise. Thank you for the dance."

We exchanged a brief smile at the end and finished the dance.

"Teacher, starting with the next class, I think it would be best if you taught those who cannot dance, beginning with the basics. Do you know how to teach people who cannot dance?"

"I-I do."

"Then, although it may be difficult, I hope I can count on you."

"...Yes, of course."

I happened to see the teacher's face as she bowed her head, and it was deathly pale... I was reminded once again just how powerful royalty was.

"Artur-sama, it seems that even some commoners can dance."

"Indeed... It seems so."

Artur-sama said that with a thoughtful expression, then lowered his head.

From my perspective, Artur-sama's parents had raised him in a warped way, but he was probably a straightforward and good person at heart... I hoped he would realize something from this.

"Then, although it is a little early, now that I know everyone's abilities, we will conclude today's class."

It was finally over! I said goodbye to Martine and went to Ronnie.

"Ronnie, it looks like you'll be taught how to dance starting next class. That's great."

"Yeah... Leon, you're amazing."

"No, I'm not. Martine-sama was the one who helped me."

"That was certainly part of it, but it was still amazing that you were the first to speak up. I couldn't have done that."

"You think so? Thanks."

Hearing him say that made me pretty happy. I'm glad I found the courage. Though, I think I only managed it because I was so irritated at the time.

After everyone had left, Ronnie and I went to the changing room last, retrieved our belongings, and headed home.