Descending On France 1780
Chapter 300 - 293 Did Pauline’s scheme succeed...?

Chapter 300: 293 Did Pauline’s scheme succeed...?

At the ball, Anning mainly engaged in chatting because being a poor dancer and constantly stepping on the young ladies’ feet wasn’t very nice.

The first dance was inevitable, as the host must lead the dance, but after the first one, Anning was thoroughly exhausted and sat aside feasting and drinking, conversing with the stream of gentlemen and ladies approaching.

Pauline also made her way to Anning, incessantly looking for opportunities to ask about the old stories between Anning and Napoleon.

So Anning happily enlightened Napoleon’s sister about many of Napoleon’s past deeds, things like chasing the nobles who bullied him with a shovel to protect the saplings he had planted in the nursery, his obsession with Rome so he insisted on calling Anning Caesar and he himself wanting to be Octavian, to name just a few.

Pauline probably thought these stories were inconsequential, so she always shut up and gave way to others whenever another gentleman started to speak.

Then, whenever no one was talking to Anning, Pauline would find a gap and start questioning.

Anning always felt the whole scene was somewhat odd.

However, in the eyes of the approaching gentlemen and ladies, it probably had a different significance. More than one person politely requested Anning to introduce Pauline.

After Anning made the introductions, they all revealed an "Oh, I get it" expression.

Anning could probably guess what they understood but did not bother to correct them. This worked out well; during Anning’s days in Paris, ladies formed queues to invite him to various tea parties, as it was assumed in this era that a successful man must have a lover, so everyone wanted to fill that spot.

Now that Pauline had taken up that spot, Anning was happy to be unbothered.

While the ladies expressed dissatisfaction with Pauline’s presence, the gentlemen took turns coming over to ask Pauline to dance, probably aiming to build good relations with someone who could potentially influence General Frost.

But Pauline declared that she was tired and did not want to dance anymore.

Anning teased, "You can get tired without even dancing a single tune? It seems the Briena Military Academy didn’t give your body enough exercise!"

Pauline: "Aren’t you the same? Besides the mandatory first dance, haven’t you been just sitting on the side? Do you know how many Parisian young ladies have been looking longingly at you when each tune ends?"

"How many? Tell me!"

"Eh? Uh, about five... no, ten! There must be at least ten!" Pauline said, convincing herself as if to affirm, then muttered under her breath, "Yes, there must be at least ten."

Anning said, "So there are ten young ladies eagerly hoping I’ll invite them to dance, huh? Then tell me who they are! I’ll go invite them and step on each of their feet!"

"Uh, well..." Pauline didn’t expect someone to actually ask her to name those young ladies and was caught off guard. Realizing too late the issue in Anning’s words, she asked, "Wait, what’s this about stepping on feet?"

Anning pointed at Christina, who was chatting with a few ladies, "Didn’t you notice how unsteady Christina is walking? That’s because I stepped on her foot and bruised it during the first dance, and now it hurts when she walks. I didn’t mean to, but... I’m not good at dancing."

Pauline: "I see there’s something you’re not good at after all."

"Of course, I have things I’m not good at, I’m not a deity."

Pauline looked at Anning skeptically, "But my brother said you are all-capable, and he also said you compose music; the Hymn of Rome is your composition. How can a musician not know how to dance?"

Must a musician necessarily dance? Some musicians... Anning suddenly hesitated because he really couldn’t think of any musician who couldn’t dance.

Come to think of it, musicians are very sensitive to melodies, so for them, it should be quite simple to move their bodies to the rhythms of dance tunes.

Pauline: "I don’t believe you’re bad at dancing, and I didn’t notice Miss Christina walking unsteadily."

Anning: "You mean you’re keen to be stepped on yourself, right? Alright, I’ll oblige you. Wait, by saying this, aren’t you actually inviting a man to dance? Miss, that’s not proper etiquette!"

Pauline: "I thought the Republic would have its own new traditions. Didn’t you say women could hold up half the sky? How come holding up half the sky doesn’t even allow for inviting a man to dance?"

Anning watched Pauline with his mouth half open, now fully convinced that she was indeed Napoleon’s sister. Her argumentative manner just now was so reminiscent of Napoleon himself.

"Alright, you’re right," Anning said with a laugh, "So go ahead, invite me to dance!"

"Eh?" Pauline was stunned, "Invite you... what do you mean?"

"Meaning you come up to me, bow like a man, then extend your hand and say: ’Dear Mr. Frost, may I have the honor of asking you for a dance?’"

Pauline’s face turned red in an instant: "What? There are so many people watching!"

"It’s precisely because so many people are watching that it’s the perfect time to announce the birth of a new Republican tradition."

Despite her flushed face, Pauline revealed a competitive expression: "You think I’d be afraid? Fine, I’ll invite!"

Having said so, she walked in front of Anning and cleared her throat.

As a result, her cough drew the attention of everyone around.

Pauline became even more embarrassed, her face growing redder, but still, with the polite tone of a gentleman, she said, "Dear Mr. Frost, may I have the honor of asking you for a dance?"

As she said this, she extended her hand.

Anning, smiling, placed his hand in Pauline’s palm: "Of course, it would be my pleasure, Miss Pauline Bonaparte."

And thus, Anning stood up, hand in hand with Pauline.

Beethoven in the music area noticed Anning stand and made a gesture to the orchestra to get ready.

Typically, at balls, the interval between two dance pieces is theoretically the time for a personal SHOW, where men and women who catch each other’s eyes may request a tune from the orchestra and then complete a couple’s dance with a lady to a specially selected piece.

This scene has appeared in many movies, like the new "Zorro" or the famous artistic film "Scent of a Woman."

Anning had his scene memories triggered, imitating the classic dancing segment from "Scent of a Woman," although he wasn’t sure if Beethoven was familiar with that song.

It was said that the song was an old folk tune that had been passed down for a long time.

He decided to give it a try and called out to Beethoven: "Por Una Cabeza!"

Beethoven nodded immediately.

He nodded!

They really had it.

Then the music that touched Anning’s DNA began to play.

Hearing the music, even Pauline was shocked: "What, isn’t this a tango? Does it have to be so intense?"

Anning, recalling Al Pacino’s dance moves from "Scent of a Woman," began to imitate them.

Pauline, while lamenting "I can’t dance," cooperated with Anning’s steps.

Because her cooperation was so poor, Anning stepped on her feet with unerring accuracy.