Chapter 48
In front of the Mingcen Count’s mansion, Liriana trudged out wearily.
Clutched in her hand was a list of names and addresses of young ladies who would be attending the debutante ball.
The first person on that list had been the Count’s daughter. But the moment Liriana asked her about the color of her ball gown, she had been all but thrown out of the house.
At this point, there wasn’t a single noble lady unaware that Liriana had become Lady Angelina’s chief maid.
The Count’s daughter had thought Liriana was there with an official notice regarding the ball, which was why she had let her in. But then, out of nowhere, Liriana asked what color she intended to wear.
Lady Cecilia of the Mingcen family had flared up, convinced that her house was being mocked.
Even as she was escorted out, Liriana apologized—eight times.
She had expected it to be difficult, but finding out the colors of the gowns for the debutante ball turned out to be far harder than she had imagined.
Normally, she was cautious, never one to make careless promises. But somehow, as though bewitched, she had boasted to Lady Angelina that she would find out.
Liriana let out a long sigh.
She couldn’t possibly return to the palace empty-handed. That would be admitting she was incompetent as chief maid.
“…So that’s what you were trying to find out—the gown colors for the ball.”
“Eek—!”
Lost in her dejection, Liriana nearly jumped out of her skin. She hadn’t realized anyone was behind her.
It was none other than her stepmother, Helene.
Peeking at the list over her shoulder, Helene snatched it from her hand and began reading it carefully.
“Wh-what are you doing here?”
“I went to the Lefia Palace looking for you, but they said you had left. Then I saw you head into the Mingcen estate, so I followed. I see now—you were after gown colors.”
Liriana’s heart lightened at the sight of Helene. She wanted to cling to her and pour everything out.
No matter what anyone else said, Helene was the only person she had to rely on.
“I’ve never seen Lady Cecilia so angry… I apologized over and over, and she seemed to calm down a little, but… I guess gown colors really are a taboo subject at debutante balls.”
She lowered her gaze.
If she had ever attended such an event herself, she would never have made such a reckless promise to Angelina.
All she had done was ask for the color of a gown, and she had been thrown out on the spot.
From now on, Cecilia probably wouldn’t even acknowledge her.
And if Cecilia’s reaction was typical, then it was impossible to learn the other ladies’ gown colors.
Once more, Liriana sighed deeply.
“At this rate, I’ll end up being hated by every young lady at the ball.”
“Not all of them,” Helene said calmly.
She took Liriana’s pen and began writing something on the list.
What could she possibly mean? Confused, Liriana quickly glanced down when Helene finished.
At the very bottom, written in neat letters, was: Liriana Emeldia.
Her eyes went wide.
“Wh-what is this?”
“Liri, you’ll be formally debuting at this year’s debutante ball.”
Helene announced it as though it were the happiest news in the world.
But Liriana didn’t react at all.
Puzzled, Helene explained again.
“The Grand Duchess said she couldn’t bear to see such a faithful and talented young lady like you left out of society. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Even so, Liriana remained speechless.
Was she thinking it was some kind of cruel joke?
Helene softened her voice.
“I can’t give details, but the Grand Duchess owes me a favor. This is her way of repaying it. So, Liri, you’d better start thinking about what color gown you’ll wear.”
She studied her stepdaughter’s face.
But Liriana still didn’t answer.
And then, from her green eyes, a tear slipped down.
“…Y-you’re crying?”
“I-I…”
She quickly wiped her tears away and forced a smile.
“…I’m so happy, all thanks to you, Stepmother. To think I’ll actually debut at the ball…”
Ever since her father’s death, she had abandoned the dream of standing at a debutante ball.
She had only ever wished for Jaina and April to experience it. For herself, she had long given up.
But now that she was given the chance, she realized just how much she had secretly longed for it.
“…Now I finally understand how the other young ladies must feel.”
She could suddenly see things from their perspective.
Even just thinking about what gown to wear that night gave her a headache.
And she too wanted—just for that one evening—to be the star.
“…So?” Helene asked gently.
“…I don’t want to wear anything the same or even similar to someone else’s.”
Liriana bit her lip. She regretted it now. She would have to go to Angelina and admit she couldn’t keep her promise.
“…I see. But doesn’t that make things easier?” Helene replied with a confident smile.
It looked as though her stepmother had come up with another clever idea.
“…What do you mean?”
“Instead of asking them to tell you, you offer to tell them.”
Helene’s cryptic words left Liriana tilting her head in confusion.
Soon after, Liriana once again stood at the gates of the Mingcen mansion.
Despite the servant’s doubtful look—why had she returned?—she insisted firmly on meeting Lady Cecilia once more.
Though an unwelcome guest, she was still Lady Angelina’s chief maid, and this was about the debutante ball. They could hardly turn her away.
So Cecilia reluctantly received her again.
If only those clear green eyes wouldn’t plead with her again: Please, tell me what color gown you’ll wear.
“Why are you here again?” Cecilia asked curtly.
“N-no, this time I was hoping to conduct a small survey about the ball. I won’t ask about gowns, I promise.”
Cecilia had a weakness for pretty and endearing things.
And Liriana reminded her so much of her childhood Pomeranian, Lily—even her name was similar. She couldn’t quite bring herself to drive her away twice.
“…Very well, I suppose.”
With a sigh, Cecilia led her back to the drawing room.
True to her word, this time Liriana asked only general questions about the ball: what color lighting would suit the chandeliers, what music she hoped would be played.
She and Cecilia chatted for quite a while.
By the time Cecilia had nearly forgotten the earlier offense, Liriana took a sip of tea and smiled shyly.
“…Actually, I’ll be standing at this year’s debutante ball too.”
“Truly? My goodness, that’s wonderful!”
From the moment she had met her, Cecilia had found herself liking Liriana.
Her family had only recently settled in Lefia, and she had few close friends among the capital’s noble ladies. The thought of having a companion at the ball delighted her.
“Have you chosen your gown yet?” she asked eagerly.
Liriana had sworn not to bring up dresses, but since Cecilia herself had asked, surely it was safe to answer.
After all, nothing was as exciting a topic as gowns for the ball.
“Ah… not yet.”
“With less than a month left?”
“I-I only just found out I’d be attending…”
She explained that she had been added at the Grand Duchess’s recommendation.
Unlike the other ladies, who hid their weaknesses with proud boasts and roundabout words, Liriana spoke plainly, with no artifice at all. Cecilia found herself liking her even more.
“I see. Still, you must decide quickly. The best ateliers will already be fully booked.”
“Of course… thank you so much for telling me.”
“You have no idea how stressful it is, choosing a gown! Imagine last year—five young ladies wore the same color as me. It was dreadful.”
Cecilia shuddered.
And at that, Liriana sensed the moment she had been waiting for.
With a knowing smile, she asked:
“Wouldn’t it be truly awful if someone ended up in the same color as Lady Angelina?”
“That would be the worst of all!” Cecilia cried.
She had never met Angelina, but everyone called her the angel of the Empire—so beautiful and beloved.
The thought of wearing the same color and being compared to her made Cecilia’s back break out in cold sweat.
It was a nightmare every debutante had surely imagined.
All of them saw it as an honor to stand beside Angelina, yet also dreaded it.
“If you’d like, Lady Cecilia… I might be able to tell you what color gown Lady Angelina will wear.”
Just as she had rehearsed with Helene, Liriana said it at last—though her hands trembled beneath the table.
But Cecilia, her brown eyes wide with surprise, seemed not to notice.
And Liriana recalled Helene’s words before she had entered the mansion.
