Chapter 30………………………………..
Rosebell was famous for creating trend-setting designs using elegant fabrics in colors no other shop could ever imitate.
And it was outrageously expensive, too.
“I see! So His Holiness has taken a liking to you!”
“That’s not it. His Holiness supported all the priests who wanted to attend the ball.”
“All the priests got Rosebell support?”
At my mother’s question, I fell briefly silent.
Most of the dresses the priests bought were ready-made pieces.
Since it was difficult to summon tailors to the temple, they’d chosen off-the-rack garments from catalogs that roughly fit their measurements.
But mine was a custom-made Rosebell dress?
If I told her the truth, my mother’s imagination would spiral completely out of control.
“His Holiness is someone with such immense wealth that he can support not only the priests’ dresses, but even their accessories.”
In other words, I wasn’t the only one receiving special treatment.
It wasn’t even a lie.
Rosebell was special treatment, yes—but there was no need to explain that part to her.
Thanks to that, my mother’s interest shifted from my relationship with Cassius to his personal treasury.
To be honest, I’d been surprised too.
Even the Emperor wouldn’t readily spend that kind of money.
“Miss, the bath is ready.”
Thanks to my carefully vague answers, the strange misunderstanding was cleared up, and the maid came to call me.
With a much lighter heart, I headed off to prepare for the ball.
Around the time Sonia was in the middle of getting dressed up, Lancelot was riding in a carriage through the noble district—toward a dark alleyway.
Why would His Highness ask to meet in a place like this?
Recently, Lancelot had reflected on his behavior and deliberately put distance between himself and the Crown Prince.
If they happened to meet at parties, he’d maintained proper courtesy, so it wasn’t as if they were on bad terms. Calling him out of the blue to meet alone was strange.
And what about the ball preparations?
Even if it was still well before the ball began, the Crown Prince had many duties.
He was the one who needed to receive high-ranking priests in place of the busy Emperor.
For someone like that to insist on meeting outside was odd.
Lancelot pulled a letter from inside his coat.
Stamped boldly on the letter guiding him to the meeting place was the black eagle crest of the imperial family.
Just in case, he had compared it with the crest on an official imperial document sent to his father—it was genuine, not a forgery.
The handwriting is His Highness’s, too.
The Crown Prince had a distinctive habit of using certain words.
It was so well known that some people even tried to imitate his handwriting, but no one could copy it perfectly.
So aside from the meeting location itself, it was a flawless letter with no reason left to doubt it.
Lancelot looked out the carriage window.
Where is this? A commoners’ shopping district?
It was a remote street he’d never once visited.
“Ah……”
Letting out a short sigh, Lancelot drew the curtain shut.
Half-naked women were lining the street, waving toward the carriage.
This was the courtesans’ district.
There were rumors.
That Prince Shane had spent nights with countless women.
Now I see why His Highness wanted to meet here……
It seemed the Crown Prince had abandoned his duties of welcoming honored guests and was off meeting women instead.
Lancelot had secretly been pleased that the prince remembered him and acknowledged his business—but now, disappointment washed over him. He’d misjudged the man.
Still, he couldn’t turn back.
One could not defy a letter bearing the imperial seal.
Whatever the prince wanted to say, it would be best to resolve it quickly and head to the palace.
—Bang!—
Suddenly, the carriage screeched to a halt with a loud crash.
Clang! Clang! Sharp sounds of metal colliding rang out in quick succession. A fight had broken out.
“He’s—he’s monstrously strong! We can’t win! Aaaah!”
“S-Save me—aaaargh!”
“P-Please, just spare my life—aaah!”
Death screams echoed. Lancelot hurriedly opened the curtain.
In front of the window stood the driver, covered in blood.
“Y-Young master……”
He barely managed those words before collapsing to the ground.
“Driver!”
Startled, Lancelot drew the sword he kept beneath the carriage seat and threw the door open.
Behind the fallen driver stood a man.
He wore a robe, his face hidden from view.
“So you are Lancelot Theodore.”
Lancelot rushed at him—but it was useless.
Despite being skilled enough to earn knighthood at a young age after learning swordsmanship directly from his father, Count Theodore, he was taken down without landing a proper counterattack.
The robed man slung the unconscious Lancelot over his shoulder and disappeared deeper into the darkness.
After finishing my preparations for the ball, I quickly called a carriage and arrived at the imperial palace, searching everywhere for Lancelot.
Lancelot, where on earth did you go?
Thanks to the maids moving far faster than usual under my mother’s orders, my dressing had been completed quickly.
That gave me time to look for Lancelot. I went to where noble carriages were parked, but our family’s carriage was nowhere to be seen.
Has he not arrived yet?
Just then, two young ladies stepped down from a carriage that had just arrived, chatting away.
“I heard that today, the Crown Prince himself is greeting the guests.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Since so many high-ranking priests from the Holy State are visiting, they say he came out early to guide them.”
“Hehe, then we’ll get to see His Highness a lot tonight.”
Giggling, the two young ladies entered the ballroom.
So Shane is in the ballroom.
Yet Lancelot, who had supposedly gone to meet him, hadn’t arrived.
Had Lancelot met the Crown Prince and then gone straight back to the estate?
If he heard belatedly that I was coming home, he might have turned back.
If Lancelot wasn’t at the ballroom, that was actually for the best. It meant he wouldn’t run into Shane—or Schwarz, if he attended.
I headed to where the priests were gathering.
The priests of the Holy State were scheduled to enter together.
Normally, people entered a ball as couples.
Married couples or lovers entered together, while some searched for their partners at the entrance.
Families often entered as a group.
The priests were mixed men and women, but rather than partners, they were more like family. In fact, priests who devoted themselves to God were often interpreted as belonging to one family.
That was why the Holy State delegation would all enter the ballroom together.
A man was standing in front of the palace assigned to the priests.
Even from afar, I knew who it was.
He looks like he’s glowing even at night.
Almost like a halo behind his head.
Cassius’s blond hair was just that radiant.
“Sonia.”
Cassius, calling my name, was dressed in colors that matched my blue dress.
Not only the colors, but even the design of his clothes and the brooch on his chest matched my hair ornament.
Like lovers.
Anyone would think so at a glance.
At the same time, it felt presumptuous to think that way.
As the sole healing priest, I was an important figure in the delegation. It made sense for me to stand beside him, and for our attire to be coordinated.
So that’s why it had to be a Rosebell dress.
The Holy Emperor couldn’t just wear anything.
It was only natural to commission attire from the most fashionable dress shop in the Empire.
Even as I rationalized it, I couldn’t stop the flutter rising from my heart.
Strangely, my chest tickled, my mood lifting.
What’s wrong with me……
It was probably because it was my first ball—and because my partner was Cassius—that I was so nervous.
Well, so what? It’s only for tonight.
Once I returned to the Holy State, I’d go back to my life as a priest.
So I decided to enjoy this fleeting excitement.
He extended his hand in a perfect escort’s gesture. I lightly placed my hand in his.
Cassius leaned his head slightly toward me and whispered.
“You are beautiful.”
My gaze locked onto him.
Cassius looked so outstanding I could hardly tear my eyes away.
“You as well, Your Holiness.”
Was I even speaking properly?
I was so nervous my voice came out trembling.
He smiled. Though he wasn’t using alpha pheromones, I could clearly sense his mood.
He was shy—and pleased—by my compliment.
You feel the same way.
That thought made me happy.
“Do you like it?”
How could I dare to evaluate his appearance?
“Yes.”
All I could do was nod. He gave a satisfied smile with his eyes and kissed the back of my hand. My heart fluttered even more strongly.
Meeting my gaze, Cassius said,
“It’s the imperial style of greeting.”
I didn’t know what my expression looked like, but I didn’t want him to see it, so I lowered my head.
I was sure my face was as red as a ripe apple.
“The representative of God, His Holiness, enters!”
The announcer’s voice rang loudly through the hall.
“Following him, the priests of the Holy State have also arrived!”
The other priests couldn’t follow closely behind Cassius and waited briefly at the entrance.
Standing at the very front of the Holy State’s procession, Cassius and I stepped inside together.
Under the brilliant chandeliers lighting the hall like midday, the blue Rosebell dress revealed its true beauty.
As it caught the light, golden embroidery hidden within the blue fabric emerged—flower-shaped patterns.
Blended with the pearls adorning the dress, it created a pure, delicate look, like baby’s breath flowers.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
With soft gasps, countless gazes turned toward me.
Having left the Empire at a young age, I’d never even had a debutante ball.
Not that I needed one, since I’d chosen to become a priest.
Still, entering while receiving so many stares was a first for me, and my body stiffened.
Nervous, I tightened my grip on Cassius’s arm.
Skillfully, he freed his arm and gently took my hand instead, leading me into the ballroom.
