Chapter 104
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Intensely captivating red and alluring hair that grabs attention. Contrasting with that, a dazzlingly fair complexion and a slender neck.
“There are two princesses of Diollus Duchy. Which one was the gatekeeper referring to?”
“Look over there. Lillia Diollus has already arrived, so he must refer to Rubetria Diollus.”
She dressed in a black evening dress, ignoring the dress code of the white theme. With a figure that seemed perfectly tailored to her slim body, she walked gracefully.
Click, click… Making distinct sounds with her high-heeled shoes, she walked across the hall.
Gulp. The sound of someone swallowing dry saliva echoed loudly.
“Rubetria Diollus is the incredibly chubby red-haired lady.”
“The red hair part is accurate, though, right?”
The woman paused momentarily, then flashed a sly smile toward the whispering noble attendees.
“Sh-sh-she just smiled at me.”
“What? We made eye contact, didn’t we?”
“Who is that person, anyway? Does anyone know them?”
“Is it Rubetria Diollus?”
With an arrogant gaze, the woman with raised eyebrows scanned the room as if searching for someone. She soon burst into laughter and headed toward a gathering of people huddled together with surprised expressions.
“Hello, Lillia.”
Lillia stood there dumbfounded, unable to respond. To ridicule her, the woman covered her mouth with a spread-out fan.
“A-are you truly Princess Rubette?”
“That’s right, Lady Pelkan. I am Rubetria.”
It was indeed true. Some of the ladies who recognized Rubetria’s face were astonished and couldn’t believe what they saw.
“The last time I saw you was probably last year, right? What did you say again when I bought macarons at the dessert shop?”
Lady Pelkan, Nora, who had been sticking to Lillia’s side like a piece of chewing gum, inexplicably blushed and became flustered.
Rubette, who smirked at the flustered Nora’s fidgeting, spoke in a gracious voice, “It’s been so long that I can’t remember well. It’s nice to see you after such a long time. Let’s have a separate chat over a cup of tea next time.”
“Ah, well… Yes. Sure. Th-thank you.”
“P-Princess Rubette, by the way, the dress you’re wearing now…”
“Oh, right. You recognize it. I mentioned that I would have a belated debutante ball, and Madame Becky personally made and sent me this dress.”
“Really? Is that true?”
“In-incredible…”
Madame Becky, the exclusive dressmaker of <Blanc de Ruby>, which was considered the pinnacle of fashion at the moment. Rumors had it that her creation couldn’t be afforded even with money, but Rubetria received it as a gift for the ball?
Among the stunned expressions of the noble ladies who couldn’t close their mouths, Lillia managed to compose herself and slowly parted her lips, “You’ve gotten a lot…thinner, Rubette.”
“Well, rather than being thin, I’m now in a healthy state, right? It’s all thanks to you. Thank you.”
“Thanks for what? Haha… You look, you look much better now…” Forcing a smile, Lillia began taking deep breaths to calm herself down. “But Rubette, couldn’t you find a partner? Surely, you didn’t come alone to the once-in-a-lifetime debutante ball?”
There was never a case where someone entered the ballroom without a partner.
However, Rubette was alone, wasn’t she?
Seeing Rubette’s sullen expression, as expected, Lillia quickly regained her composure.
“Oh my, Young Duke Kedrick.” Rubette’s gaze shifted soon after. Someone approached and stood beside Lillia. “Have you been well all this time?”
Good timing. Thanks to Kedrick, who was her partner, Lillia was able to stand tall.
“…Oh, it’s been a while.”
“How could you come here alone? Why don’t you ask Ricky to be your partner?” Lillia, who quickly intertwined her arm with Kedrick’s, quietly mocked, but Rubette only smiled as if she found it amusing.
“Ricky? Not really. He wouldn’t be suitable as a man by my side. Doesn’t he seem too inadequate?”
“What, what did you say just now?”
“Lillia, thank you for your concern, but I didn’t come alone. Due to the protocol regarding my partner’s position, we couldn’t enter the hall together, so we decided to come separately.”
“You couldn’t come together?”
“Ah, according to imperial etiquette, the party’s host is not allowed to enter the main entrance where the guests come and go.”
“The host of the party?”
“What does that mean?” In an instant, Lillia’s expression froze.
“You mean the host of the debutante ball? That’s…”
“His Highness, Crown Prince Lark van Rashmagh Descarde!”
The beginning of the ball.
The moment the host, Crown Prince Lark, appeared.
‘No way, no way, no way? It can’t be, right? Is this a dream?’
Seeing the crown prince confidently walking toward this place while receiving everyone’s welcome, Lillia futilely kept praying.
‘No, it can’t be. It has to be something else.’
A beautiful figure that didn’t fall behind even when compared to herself. Dressed in a famous shop dress that attracted envy from everyone’s eyes. If she also had a perfect partner by her side…
‘Today, I should be the main character! Not that girl!’
However, cruelly, Crown Prince Lark stood before Rubette and smiled with his beautiful face. There was a deep gaze in his eyes, like a man who doesn’t know what to do when faced with his beloved lover…
“It’s the duty of a partner to accompany you, so I apologize for letting you enter alone.”
“It’s okay. I have to be understanding, right?”
Despite her somewhat arrogant tone, Lark found Rubette utterly beautiful. As he gently kissed the back of her hand, extended haughtily, he whispered words to her, “You look incredibly beautiful today.”
Lillia listened attentively and fell silent.
***
At a fast pace, with an upbeat melody.
“How do you feel?” Lark asked as he stepped onto the dance floor in the center of the ballroom.
“What do you mean, how do I feel?”
“Everyone is paying attention to you, Princess.”
“Pfft.”
I glanced discreetly at the group of noble ladies behind Lark’s shoulder.
Lillia had staggered and clutched her neck moments after I started dancing with Lark and had long disappeared somewhere.
“It’s exhilarating.”
As I approached him a few steps, Lark took a step back with a mischievous smile.
“Good to hear.”
He pushed my hand that he held with force, and I gracefully extended my arms, spreading them wide.
I could see the entire ballroom.
‘Careful not to get your eyes popped out, folks.’
The young noble gentlemen, instead of approaching the ladies to ask for a dance, were captivated by me with looks of enchantment. Like a dancer standing before an audience, Lark and I dominated the ballroom.
There were only the two of us dancing.
“How are you feeling, Your Highness?”
Lark gently pulled me close as I asked, pausing.
“Wow.”
“Oh my…”
“Wow.”
Surprised exclamations erupted from various directions.
Instead of stepping with the beat, Lark skipped a beat, and he pulled me tightly into his embrace right then and there. Somewhere around the nape of my neck, where my hair tickled, Lark buried his face and whispered quietly.
“I’m exhilarated too.”
He pushed me away slightly, grabbed my thigh, and held me upright—a perfect finishing pose. Simultaneously, the dance melody came to an end.
“Wow…”
“That was amazing.”
Clap, clap, clap, clap…! Like impressed spectators, everyone applauded in awe.
Only after we completed our first dance did the attendees at the ball finally manage to find their partners.
And as expected…
“Princess Diollus! My name is Orlando Dran of Dran County. Maybe the next dance…”
“Princess Rubetria, I am Young Viscount Piacce…”
Like hyenas eagerly approaching, the young noble gentlemen came toward me as if they had been waiting.
“Hmm.” Lark, who let out a slightly discomforted grunt beside me, whispered in my ear with an unwilling tone, “As promised… I’ll dance with Lisbeth for one song…”
I suppressed my laughter and replied, “Yes, go ahead.”
“See you later.” With a hint of disappointment, Lark gently brushed my cheek and departed.
“Sorry. Excuse me.” As I tried to push through the men blocking my way, preventing me from taking a step forward…
“Step aside.”
With a familiar voice, the surroundings split open, and Kedrick appeared. He stood confidently before me, smiling as if he owned the world.
“Long time no see, Rubette.”
Trying to act friendly.
“Yes, it’s been a while, Young Duke Kedrick.”
“You don’t have to address me so formally. Just call me as you used to.” Kedrick’s casual remark made everyone around us hold their breath. Some gave up on trying to approach me and left. “You’ve become incredibly beautiful during this time apart. I had hoped to be your dance partner at the ball, but the circumstances didn’t allow it.”
“…”
The men around us murmured in response.
Kedrick’s intention was clear as day. He wanted to flaunt our friendship in front of them. He wanted to show that I had followed him like a puppy.
“Hmm? Really?”
“Don’t you remember?”
“Not at all. It’s news to me.”
Feigning surprise, I tilted my head, causing Kedrick’s eyes to widen.
“What the hell?
“He said she followed him around earlier…”
“Pfft. Well, Young Duke Kedrick is good, but still, how could he let someone like the princess go?”
Even though everyone whispered, it was audible to my ears and Kedrick’s.
Visibly taken aback, Kedrick nervously chuckled, licking his lips with his tongue. “Was it because I haven’t been in touch with you all this time?”
“…? When did we have personal contact?”
Well, that’s the truth. The murmuring grew even louder.
As I tried to pass by, the persistent brat blocked my path, fidgeting in front of me.
‘Ah, I’m really tired…’
I wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine, but too many eyes were watching, so I couldn’t.
At that time.
“Your Highness, shall we go?”
“Ah, forget it!”
As I glanced beyond Kedrick’s shoulder, I saw a familiar face amidst the commotion. A face I hadn’t seen since the day I went to Magic Tower to buy the video board. It was the owner of the Tower, Shane.
‘I heard Lark invited him. He really came?’
I wanted to act as if I knew him, as the timing wasn’t bad, but as soon as our eyes met, Shane swiftly turned and went somewhere.
‘Oh, well, he’s still as arrogant as ever!’
What did I expect?
Sighing, I tried to pass by Kedrick and avoid him, but he grabbed my wrist firmly.
“Ah!” As soon as he grabbed me, I let out a pitiful scream and frowned.
Startled, Kedrick widened his eyes and lowered his head, whispering, “R-Rubette, why are you screaming? I didn’t hold you that tightly, I mean…” I could feel Kedrick scanning the surroundings slowly. Everyone was looking at him with disapproval in their eyes.
‘Oh dear.’
I nailed it.
“Young Duke, please let go.”
“Ahem, let’s maintain some manners for the lady.”
“Just be reasonable.”
Amidst the snide remarks coming from the surroundings, Kedrick fell into contemplation and quietly pleaded with me.
“Rubette, if you act like this, it damages my image. If you’re feeling upset, let’s dance together and unwind.”
Contrary to Kedrick’s whisper, I intentionally raised my voice, “I’m sorry, but I don’t want to dance with you.”
The murmurs from the surroundings grew even louder, and Kedrick’s face turned even paler.
And then, at that moment…
“Hey.”
Someone interjected between us. It was Shane, who I thought had disappeared.
He held something out in front of Kedrick and me. It was a dance card that ladies carry. My name was written on the front.
“Eh, the owner of the Magic Tower?”
Shane, who had been looking down at the bewildered Kedrick with disdain, spoke, “Did you write your name?”
“Um?”
“Did you write your name here?”
“…”
Suddenly, Shane thrust the dance card with a string toward me.
“Here.”
“Thank you.”
“I wrote my name. Look.”
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦