Chapter 102
TLS : Shenks
"Well, I think I’ve heard of it."
Shananet nodded at what her father said.
Seeing him sighing quietly, Gallahan seems to know about it.
"The Imperial debutante ball is definitely different from other debuts. In addition to the fact that the host is the Imperial family, the number of people who can participate is limited to less than ten, and the participants are invited by the royal family strictly, not first-come, first-served basis."
"Yes Shananet, you made your debut there."
As grandfather spoke, Shananet’s face turned slightly red.
"But as I said a while ago, it’s a debut that is as demanding as it is. If you want Tia to make the most spectacular and high-profile debut, there’s no better chance than an Imperial ball."
As for advice from someone who dominated the high society, it will be extremely beneficial to debut there.
And Shananet is right.
In the Empire, there are several debutante balls hosted by noble ladies who are one place in society.
But the highest peak was the Imperial debutante ball no matter what anyone said.
Girls who officially debut in society there are in different starting lines from others.
The method of selection was different.
That year, anyone who wanted to participate in the Imperial debutante ball had to write a letter with their own introduction and send it to the organizer.
There was nothing else that people and families who wanted to participate could do.
Just wait to be chosen.
Girls from high-ranking noble families were often chosen, but not always.
Sometimes, it was selected because of their pretty heart in the letter, or because it was a family that was not very powerful but had a long history.
The number of participants also varies from time to time.
Sometimes, it was a full 10 people, and if there were no sufficient applicants, they would not hold a debutante ball at all.
Under these circumstances, everyone is paying keen attention to whom makes their debut at the Imperial ball every year.
"It’s a perfect debut for Tia. It should be that much, yes."
Grandfather said with a satisfied smile.
"I’ve never seen an Imperial debutante ball before!"
"I’ll definitely go on Tia’s debut day!"
The twins also drank a lot of kimchi soup. (Well it’s not Korean kingdom, but idk the hangeul text is kimchi.)2
Well, I don’t want to dampen their spirits.
But someone had to tell them the reality.
"I don’t think everyone knows."
I got their attention and everyone around the table looked at me.
"The Imperial debutante ball is in the next two months, right? Then wouldn’t the application be closed a long time ago?"
Since I’m doing it, I want to properly brand my face to everyone at my debut.
"This year’s contestants haven’t been announced yet but it’s probably too late. And even if there’s still a deadline I can’t guarantee that I’ll be chosen."
But their reactions are unexpected.
Everyone just stared at me without saying a word.
"Why are you all... Looking at me like that...?"
"You might be chosen."
Gilliu said tilting his head.
"That’s right, it’ll work."
Mayron replied.
"Because."
"It’s Tia."
What?
I was expecting a proper reason from the twins...
"Maybe it will."
"Wouldn’t they accept it?"
Even my grandfather and father joined.
I looked at Shananet as if saying ’Please explain to these people’.
"If you write and send a letter saying you want to participate."
No, not even Shananet!
However, even Shananet’s ears are fluttering a little.
"... Re- really?."
Then Shananet replied with a small smile.
"Because you’re a Lombardy."
Oh, right.
Slightly dazed by such a simple and clear answer, Shananet gently explained to me.
"On the Imperial side, Lombardy’s little girl’s pride would be hurt if she made her debut elsewhere. Don’t worry and send a letter."
I somehow trust whatever Shananet says.
I nodded with a little doubt, though.
* * *
"
I shouldn’t have sent it. I shouldn’t have. Oh, I’m embarrassed..."
It has been two weeks since I sent a letter to the organizer of the Imperial Debutante Ball.
But there has been no contact from them.
I trusted Shananet and wrote every word with all my heart!
"Don’t be too disappointed, just wait a little longer."
Louryl comforted me, sprawling on the table in shame.
"No, I think it’s already wrong..."
But that’s too much.
Have they read it? Have they?
I’m miserable.
As I was soaking my tears on the table, I heard a knock on the door.
"Ms. Florentia, it’s the butler."
"Heuk! Come in..."
The butler of the annex, who opened the door carefully, bowed politely once and said, sticking out what was in his hand.
"A letter from the Palace to Miss Florentia..."
Hurry up!
I ran quickly in front of him and received the letter.
The envelope containing the letter was not gold used by the Emperor, nor purple used by the Empress, or pink used by Perez.
It was my first time seeing a neat, brown envelope.
On the back, it said ’Lady Florentia Lombardy’ in very nice handwriting.
I carefully opened the envelope and took out the paper inside.
[We invite Lady Florentia Lombardy to the Imperial debutante ball.
The first meeting of the participants will be held at the same time as below, please be in attendance.]
* * *
In front of Poirak Palace, Lombardy’s carriages stopped.
And it was not Florentia Lombardy, the playmate of the Second Prince.
Caitlyn, who was waiting, bowed politely and greeted him.
"Here you are, my Lord."
"Well, how are you?"
Lulak Lombardy tapped Caitlyn on the shoulder a couple of times and said.
"His highness the Second Prince is waiting in the drawing-room. Please come this way."
Lulak obediently followed her into the Palace.
Then, suddenly, he asked a question into Caitlyn.
"Is it worth cleaning up after that child?"
"...Sometimes I only wish that the Second Prince was a little more childish."
"Well, that was his personality. But if you’re tired of this, come to Lombardy anytime. I’ll always leave your seat empty."
"Thank you, my Lord."
After a short conversation, the two entered the drawing-room.
"Long time no see."
At Lulak’s words, Perez only briefly saluted.
Caitlyn was on her way back to report Perez’s latest condition.
Therefore, she knew how many servants of the Empress had been in and out of Poirak Palace.
As if to hurry and kick him out to the academy, the Empress urged Perez to take his own steps or write an application for admission to the academy every day.
In the meantime, Perez has also kept out the pressure well, and Caitlyn was used to it and just ignored and pretended not to hear.
That’s why Lulak, the Prince’s guardian, asked for his intervention.
While watching Perez disapprovingly, Lulak immediately brought up the subject.
"Why do you insist on not going to the Academy?"
Perez’ dark eyebrows wriggled once at the word ’Academy.’.
Lulak, who was trying to tell whether he still couldn’t fix his habit of keeping his mouth shut like a clam, looked more unhappy with the low voice that came out.
"I don’t want to go."
If it were his grandson, He’d beat him up.
If you beat the Prince in the Imperial Palace, you will be bothered to clean up the mess.
"What’s the reason?"
Perez looked up at Lulak’s question.
Then he answered, looking directly at Lulak with red eyes.
"I will not be pushed out of this Palace."
It came out quite strongly.
But the words that came back were cynical.
"If you don’t want to be pushed away, is that the best you can do?"
"At least the Empress does not achieve what she wants."
"That’s not the answer to my question."
Perez shut up like a habit again.
But the red-blooded eyes were no different than they were when he was a child, and Lulak clicked his tongue.
He wanted to use Empress Rabini as a tool to thoroughly offend him but he thought otherwise.
Maybe it was because his beloved granddaughter complimented him every time she had a chance, saying, ’He’s my best friend.’.
Lulak opened his mouth, thinking this was the first and last time he gave advice.
"Do you think you can stay in the Palace and fight the Empress and Angenas?"
"...There’s nothing you can’t do."
That dream is so ambitious.
Lulak did not hide his grin.
"You can disturb them and harass them. You could be the troublesome stone that bothers them every step of the way to sit on the throne. But a mere stone won’t stop Astana from sitting on the throne. Don’t you want revenge?"
Instead of answering, Perez’s red eyes blazed like a sword on fire.
"Then take away what they want most. That’s revenge."4
Lulak rose from his seat, leaving only that word.
Perez, who was left alone, also did not see him off, but sat idly in the spacious drawing room, deep in thought.
* * *
The first gathering of participants in the royal debutante was held in the small banquet hall of the Royal Palace.
Seven girls had already arrived at the place where tea parties were usually held, except for me.
"Uh...?"
They seemed surprised when I showed up to see as if they already knew who was participating in the royal debut party.
But they didn’t dare approach me and kept themselves company.
At the sight of it, my desire to go first and say hello disappeared, so I settled on the other side of the round table.
I could feel the red-haired lady sitting alone near my seat looking at me.
But before our conversation could start, a group of people entered the banquet hall.
And the gray-haired old lady, who was leading the way, looked back at us and said.
"You’re all here."
She was a small old woman with a bent back and skinny waist, but no one in the Palace can ignore her.
Even Empress Rabini kept her temper in front of this woman.
"This old woman is Fonta Impigra, the head of the Palace. Feel free to call me Fonta."
For 40 years since the reign of the late Emperor, she has been the head of the Imperial Palace and organized the Imperial debutante ball of aristocrats, even the royal Palace ladies-in-waiting hall was all managed by Fonta Impigra.
And her eyes immediately turned to me.
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