Chapter 84
Due to Ruihart’s injury, Angelina’s partner became Grand Duke Sieghart.
“Her Ladyship’s partner is His Grace, Grand Duke Sieghart of the Lebladian Duchy!”
Dressed impeccably in a black tailcoat, Sieghart carefully took Lady Angelina’s hand and escorted her down the spiral staircase adorned with gold and crystal.
“What a perfect pair they make!”
“Just put a veil on Lady Angelina and it would be flawless!”
“So in the end, the winner is Grand Duke Sieghart!”
From afar, Helene clapped with a sour expression, feigning delight.
As expected, Lady Angelina was the star of the evening.
Helene had prepared a dress similar to Angelina’s, hoping to steal away even a sliver of attention—but one radiant smile from Angelina was enough to make the crowd cheer for her.
And Helene wasn’t the only one unhappy with Angelina’s partner.
Haley, who was to be introduced after Angelina, forced a smile.
She had planned to ask either the Crown Prince or Grand Duke Sieghart to escort her once Angelina’s partner was decided. That plan was ruined.
She lost her place as chief maid of honor, her dress color overlapped with another, and she couldn’t secure the partner she wanted.
The best she could manage was her cousin—though not just any cousin, but the most successful one: the commander of the Fifth Order of Knights.
For him, it was deliciously satisfying. The arrogant cousin who’d always boasted since childhood that she would at least become a duchess was now forced to ask him for help.
“Haley, is it really acceptable for someone as lowly as the commander of the Fifth Order to escort you?”
“…Do you see these shoes? Shut your mouth before I drive the heel into you.”
With a bright smile, Haley delivered her quiet, sharp warning and then descended the staircase with elegance.
“Lastly, Lady Liliana Emeldia of the Emeldia County. Her partner is Sir Andre Pend of the Marquisate of Pend.”
At last, it was Liliana’s turn.
When her name was called, Helene and Blaine clapped so hard their palms stung.
The guests began to murmur as they saw a completely transformed Liliana.
“L-Lady Liliana was always this beautiful?”
“My word, I thought she was a different person altogether!”
“How splendid, truly magnificent!”
The reaction was even greater than when Lady Angelina had appeared.
It was hard to believe that this elegant, dignified woman was Liliana—the same girl who always seemed lacking in confidence.
Wearing the Emeldia family’s tiara, she no longer resembled a fallen noble’s daughter, but instead looked every inch a lady of nobility.
Helene nodded over and over again, her face glowing with satisfaction.
It pleased her far more to hear Liliana praised than when people praised herself.
Once the introductions of all the debutante ladies were complete and both the Emperor and the Grand Duchess had given congratulatory speeches, the orchestra began to play a waltz.
Now was the moment for the young ladies to show off the waltz they had practiced for their entire lives.
The couple of the evening—Lady Angelina and Grand Duke Sieghart—took the first steps at the center of the Crystal Hall.
Although no one had assigned places, the other couples instinctively gave way.
Nobles whispered among themselves, admiring the pair.
“This year, those two will surely be the ‘Eternal Pair.’”
“So once again, an ‘Eternal Pair’ is born this year!”
Helene pricked up her ears at the murmuring of the noblewomen.
It was an old legend of the debutante ball:
Two people who danced together in the Crystal Hall and later married would never part until death.
The Emperor and his late Empress had been one such pair. So too had the late Grand Duke and the current Grand Duchess.
“An eternal pair… well, I suppose. They didn’t part while alive, at least…”
Helene tilted her head at the bittersweet and ambiguous conclusion.
And so the debutantes became all the more desperate to secure partners, chasing after the chance to become an “eternal pair.”
Will Lady Angelina and Grand Duke Sieghart truly become eternal partners?
Liliana might have given up, but Helene still could not let go of her own hopes for Sieghart.
“Those two over there make quite a pair as well!”
The noblewomen’s attention shifted to the next couple: Lady Liliana and Sir Andre.
Their striking appearance made them just as captivating as Angelina and Sieghart.
Helene raised herself on tiptoe to see Liliana and Andre better.
But even in heels over ten centimeters tall, it was useless—everyone else had the same idea.
She nearly toppled forward trying to crane her neck, only to be caught quickly by Blaine.
And just like that, she ended up in his arms.
“…Do you have to be such a nuisance?”
Already embarrassed at nearly falling, Helene found Blaine’s scolding insufferable. His face flushed red, as though even the brief contact with her was intolerable.
What, is it such a crime for a mother to be curious about her daughter’s love life?
Grumbling inwardly, Helene pulled away.
“…If you’re so curious, why don’t we dance as well? We can go into the Crystal Hall and see for ourselves.”
Blaine lowered his hand politely, offering it to her like a gentleman.
Though most guests avoided dancing at debutante balls, the novelty of the new Crystal Hall seemed to have drawn others out to the floor as well.
Caught off guard, Helene placed her hand in his.
“Ah…”
As Liliana entered the Crystal Hall with Andre to begin their waltz, her gaze met Sieghart’s.
It lasted only a moment, but she was certain his red eyes were fixed on her.
Why was he looking at her now?
And why, once again, was she wavering under his gaze?
She tried to focus on Andre, who had even received special lessons from a waltz teacher in preparation for tonight. But her attention kept drifting past his shoulder—to Sieghart, dancing with Angelina.
The same was true for Sieghart.
He could not take his eyes off Liliana, so elegantly dressed.
His heart pounded as though it would burst from her beauty, yet at the same time, a crushing sorrow pressed down on him.
Because there was another man at her side.
Should he have thrown away his loyalty to Angelina—friendship, duty, all of it—and asked Liliana to be his partner instead?
Ever since he was five until now at twenty, Sieghart’s favorites had never changed.
His favorite food was still ice cream.
His favorite animal had been Lulu, the golden retriever who crossed the rainbow bridge a decade ago.
His favorite books, music, plays—never once did they change.
Once he liked something, he liked it forever.
So how could it be that the woman he had believed would be his lifelong love—Angelina—was someone he no longer loved? Sieghart himself could not understand it.
No… had it even been love to begin with?
He had never understood the concept of a change of heart.
Especially in love—he believed that was one feeling that must never change.
Because once it began to change, wouldn’t it keep changing forever?
And if that were true… would the feelings he now held for Liliana eventually change too?
He thought he had no right to approach her.
Sieghart looked at her with sorrow in his eyes.
She was dancing gracefully, following Andre’s lead.
Seeing it, emotions surged within him—rage, jealousy, despair like drowning in a deep sea.
He didn’t know what to call it.
And he knew he had no strength to overcome it.
Helene, having good athletic instincts, danced the waltz surprisingly well for someone who had only learned it after becoming a countess.
Aside from sometimes missing a beat during turns, she managed.
And Blaine’s waltz was flawless.
Simply by following his lead, Helene found herself dancing perfectly.
Each time she was held firmly in his strong arms, his large frame supporting her, she couldn’t help but feel secure.
Even the advanced moves she had been too afraid to attempt before—like dipping her back and lifting a leg—were successful with him.
That made her happy… and a little resentful too.
“…You claimed you hated balls. So how can you waltz this perfectly?”
