~Chapter 40~
Damian shed a lot of tears, saying things like,
“I’m so glad I’m alive… Atty, I can’t believe you’re making your debut in society.”
“Atty, is it because I’m too pretty?”
Astia smiled, lightly holding up her dress.
Damian covered his mouth and nodded like crazy.
“Of course, Atty. You’re the prettiest and cutest in the world. And also…”
When Damian started a flood of embarrassing compliments, Astia regretted teasing him.
Actually, she was very beautiful in the mirror—maybe even too beautiful.
But she hadn’t expected that her attempt to change the mood would make things worse!
It seemed the cute acts she did as a child no longer worked; if anything, Damian just made a bigger fuss now.
“All right, all right, brother! So, to you, I’m pretty, cute, and kind, right?”
“Yes! That’s right! As expected, Atty, you’re so smart.”
She wondered what would happen at the debutante ball if Damian reacted this way just to the dress.
She soon found out her guess was correct.
The day of the debutante ball.
“Atty!”
Damian cried again. This time, he hugged Astia, who wore the sky-blue dress, and spun her around.
Astia felt like a child again, but only smiled quietly.
She understood how deeply Damian cared for her.
“Shall we go? The servants have been waiting for a while…”
“Okay. They must be waiting a long time.”
Damian held out his hand and escorted Astia to the waiting carriage.
Once they got in, Damian finally calmed down a bit.
But his worries didn’t stop.
“Brother, are you okay now?”
“Yes. I was just so happy I couldn’t help it. But, Atty…”
Damian looked at her with concern.
“How’s your body? Dizzy? Coughing? Anything wrong?”
“Don’t worry. I feel light now.”
“I trust what Adele said, but I can’t help but worry.”
Astia nodded and smiled softly.
She was a bit excited—this was her first official appearance in high society.
‘I’m not completely healed yet, but at least I escaped a short life…’
She looked out the carriage window, feeling grateful for all the good people who had helped her.
She saw carriages from other noble families also heading to the palace.
Everyone must be excited for the debutante ball.
As Damian watched her, he asked,
“Are you still thinking about Ruby?”
Astia flinched, as if he’d read her mind, then forced herself to act normal.
“No. It’s been a long time since Ruby disappeared. I’m fine.”
“Hmm… really?”
“Of course! I’m really happy right now. I get to go to the palace with you, and I’m going to do well at the ball, and…”
“…But you feel empty, right?”
“Huh? Uh… yeah…”
Under his sharp gaze, Astia nodded.
Ever since she met that man named “Ruby,” she kept thinking about her old friend Ruby.
Damian wasn’t wrong, though she hadn’t realized it was so obvious.
“Me too, Atty.”
Damian took her hand.
“When our parents died, and it was just us left… you were so sick, I was afraid you might die too. It was hard for me.”
“So I often felt empty. If you left me too, who would be left? I had those thoughts…”
Damian smiled to reassure her.
“I don’t think that way anymore. You’re alive and happy in front of me now. That’s enough. I’ll protect you to the end, and never let you be hurt again. So…”
He told her it was better to forget the hard times quickly.
Astia understood what Damian meant.
Memories were best left as memories, as long as they didn’t eat away at her mind.
That way, they could remain happy memories.
“We’ve arrived at the palace.”
Astia had dozed off and opened her eyes at Damian’s words.
A grand, majestic building appeared before her.
Finally, they had arrived at the palace for the debutante ball.
Before entering the ballroom, Astia met Countess Helen in the waiting room.
“Oh my.”
Even Countess Helen, who rarely showed emotion, was shocked when she first saw Astia.
Astia was overwhelmingly beautiful.
Countess Helen had seen many young noblewomen today, but none left an impression—except Astia.
‘She’s perfect.’
Countess Helen felt inspired, almost artistic.
‘Let me think what I can do to help her…’
A sponsor was really just a formal title, but it meant she could walk in with Astia at the ball.
She decided she would make sure everyone knew she was Astia’s sponsor.
“Ma’am, thank you for being my sponsor.”
Astia held her dress and bowed slightly.
Countess Helen smiled back.
“No, thank you. I almost missed out on a real gem.”
“N-no, you’re exaggerating.”
Astia shook her head shyly, but Countess Helen only smiled more.
As Astia was already perfect, there was nothing to fix with her dress or manners, so they finished getting ready quickly.
“Shall we go in now?”
Astia nodded.
“Yes, let’s.”
When they left the waiting room, Damian was waiting for them.
“Shall we go in, Atty?”
Damian held out his hand to escort Astia.
At the huge doors, the attendant checked them.
“And the lady in the back?”
“I’m here as Lady Rovellito’s sponsor.”
“Oh, I see.”
He nodded, surprised, then cleared his throat and called out loudly:
“Lady Astia Rovellito, Duke Damian Rovellito, and their sponsor, Countess Evelyn Helen, are entering!”
The knights opened the doors with a boom.
The massive ballroom was filled with nobles.
Chandeliers lit the hall, and there was delicious food everywhere.
Almost all the nobles had arrived, and everyone turned to watch Astia and her group enter.
The room grew quiet, and everyone stared at Astia in shock.
“No way!”
“Countess Helen? She’s the sponsor?”
“And Lady Astia is really at the debutante ball? So she really did go to the Alton family’s tea party?”
“That’s what I told you. I saw it myself!”
“I can’t believe it!”
Some young ladies had not believed Astia would come, thinking she was too sick.
And now, her sponsor was the famous Countess Helen.
“Lady Sylvia, did you know?”
Sylvia nodded slightly.
“A little.”
“If you had told us ahead of time, maybe we could have met her at the mansion…”
Sylvia smiled quietly at the disappointed girl.
“Would Duke Rovellito have allowed it anyway?”
“…That’s true.”
Sylvia turned to look at Astia, who was slowly walking in.
gulp
‘Finally, my chance has come.’
After the tea party, Sylvia had thought a lot about Astia.
She was annoyed by all the attention Astia received.
But strangely, the more she felt that way, the more she wanted to get close to her.
‘If I’m friends with her, maybe I’ll stand out too.’
Sylvia kept telling herself it was all just for her own benefit.
“Get it together.”
She tapped her cheek.
‘No way I actually like Lady Astia…’
“Lady Sylvia, are you okay?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just a headache.”
“Want to rest? There’s still time before His Majesty arrives.”
“I’m fine, really.”
Sylvia answered, a bit annoyed, and turned away—forcing herself to walk calmly toward Astia.
