Chapter 24
Once the dress was decided, everything else fell into place seamlessly. Benoît shed a few tears of joy at seeing the dress and immediately produced several accessory design drafts.
A necklace and earrings were completed, with strands of platinum and emeralds and peridots layered like droplets caught in a spiderweb.
Only the ring was an exception—it was ruby.
“It’s to match the accent color.”
“With the dress?”
“Well, yes, but more importantly, it’s to match His Grace!”
Iva said, her eyes sparkling, hands neatly folded in front of her.
Hmph. Guess there’s no hiding from this.
Preparations for the ball went smoothly. Somehow, I managed to officially become the Marchioness’s daughter, which meant I could receive the invitation that arrived a week before the ball in my name:
[To Lady Rohela Lisbeth von Hübener]
Since when did I get a middle name?
Lucas von Hübener did not give me any special instructions. What exactly was he thinking, disguising a commoner as his heir?
Dorian didn’t say much either. All I could guess was that some kind of deal had been made between the two of them.
‘He said he couldn’t talk about Lewin’s muteness due to security reasons.’
I hugged the book and looked at the child buried in the sofa.
Lewin’s condition was steadily improving. The child, who had only spoken to me, had started to communicate in simple words with other servants besides Hartman and Iva.
Still, he was reserved and his language skills were lacking compared to peers.
Of course, I couldn’t be sure if this was genuine, considering he often woke from sleep.
“Let’s read this book for the next lesson.”
I showed Lewin three picture books, two of which we had read just the day before.
Lewin nodded earnestly.
“Mm-hmm.”
Should I be relieved that there were picture books at least? When I was in the orphanage, I didn’t even get to look at books. Aristocratic life was completely different.
“Shall we organize the books?”
“Lewin wants to do it.”
“Alright, then Lewin can do it.”
I handed him the books obediently. Last time, I had placed them on the shelf for him since he couldn’t reach, and he had thrown a tantrum.
I had quickly retrieved them and handed them to him, but his mood was already unsettled, and he wouldn’t stop crying.
‘He’s at the age to try on his own and feel a sense of accomplishment.’
Though I had worked part-time at a kids’ cafe, I had no formal training in child psychology, so mistakes were inevitable.
“This is tricky.”
I murmured as I watched Lewin approach the bookshelf. On tiptoe, he carefully placed the books into the shelf.
It would have been nice if someone could give advice. I thought of my mother, whom I had never seen.
I wondered if such a person had existed for me, across both my past and present lives.
And I wondered—did I cry like this for her back then?
While I attended the ball, Iva was tasked with taking care of Lewin. Since she ate with him and stayed close during lessons, they had grown quite familiar.
However, I worried whether Iva could really protect Lewin. Dorian and Hartman, seeing my concern, were startled.
“It should be fine for a short while.”
“Oh, don’t worry! You should be more concerned about blessing the person who attacked him, really.”
Where exactly was that? But seeing their reactions and Iva’s proud look, I decided not to add anything further.
The real challenge was persuading Lewin. He wore a confused expression for a long time. When I explained that I had to step away with my brother, he almost looked ready to have a seizure.
“No…!”
Just like when we first met, he grabbed my sleeve tightly. Of course—he couldn’t understand leaving behind someone resembling his father and someone resembling his mother.
If he remembered everything, he wouldn’t want to let us go at all.
“Don’t go. Don’t leave Lewin.”
Before his tantrum could prolong, Dorian lifted Lewin into his arms and said to me:
“I will persuade him.”
“No! I don’t want you to!”
Then he carried Lewin out to the balcony, with Iva following awkwardly.
When Lewin returned shortly after, his eyes were puffy, but he didn’t stop me from preparing. Eventually, he locked himself in his room.
I wanted to soothe him more, but the ball’s timing wouldn’t wait for me.
I put on the prepared dress, along with the accessories Benoît had provided. I closed my eyes, enduring the tickling brushes on my face.
Knock. Knock.
Before the knock faded, a cheerful voice came from outside the door.
“Are you ready?”
Iva sighed, and the brush moved away from my face. She answered for me:
“Almost done. Just a little longer.”
“So, you really aren’t going?”
“Why would I go there? Even though you’ve been friends with me so long, you don’t know a thing.”
The murmured complaint faded. Unsure if I should open my eyes, I squinted slightly. Through the mirror, I saw Iva putting away the brush.
“Oh, you can open your eyes now!”
When I fully opened my eyes, the light blinded me momentarily. I blinked repeatedly.
The reflection in the mirror looked back at me, eyes slightly larger than usual. The light makeup, dress, and accessories made me appear more elegant than usual.
My half-tied hair flowed naturally, probably secured at the back with a rose-shaped pin adorned with rubies.
Honestly, it suited me better than I expected.
“You really look like a Marchioness’s daughter.”
“Really? Perfect! Sometimes Lady is too hard on herself.”
With that, Iva opened the door. Honey-colored hair peeked in.
“Excuse me, Your Grace, the Duke is waiting downstairs.”
Hartman greeted me with a warm smile. I smiled back.
“Understood. I’m ready, so let’s go.”
I rose from the chair, the dress falling smoothly and spreading elegantly.
Hartman bowed politely. I walked past the doorway and descended the staircase. Each step pressed into the soft carpet.
Through the left staircase leading to the hall on the first floor, I saw Dorian standing at the door.
“Your Grace.”
He looked up as I called his name, and our eyes met. Dorian smiled gently, his half-lidded eyes warm.
“Call me Dorian. As always.”
“Yes, Dorian.”
He stepped closer and extended his hand. I lightly placed my hand in his.
It was warm.
The carriage rolled smoothly. I glanced at the darkening sky.
Thin clouds floated above, and stars shimmered, making me feel as if I were inside a picture book.
While I looked out, Dorian spoke quietly.
“I plan to investigate the Austalgoi Duke.”
I turned to him. The carriage contained only the two of us.
“Excuse me?”
“The rock that trapped us was mainly Austalgoi stone.”
Dorian opened and closed his mouth slightly, then continued, turning his gaze.
“…It was a mixture of a specific substance and Austalgoi stone.”
“The one with the red cross-section…?”
“Yes.”
I recalled the white room filled with soft light. From the surface, the rock was indistinguishable from Austalgoi stone.
I fully understood why someone would develop such a material. They wouldn’t want to lose the privileges it gave them.
The reason the Duchy could claim to be a “Grand Duchy” lay in Austalgoi stone.
So the Duke tried to kill Lewin? But the Duke would gain nothing from that.
Wasn’t the royal family the original force targeting Lewin?
It was common knowledge that the Duke and the royal family didn’t get along—so did they join forces because of Lewin?
Why?
I pressed my forehead, a headache coming on. Seeing me frown, Dorian quickly opened the carriage window.
Streetlights shone intermittently over the cobblestone road. The gas lamps cast a yellowish glow.
Fresh air eased my headache gradually.
“So the culprit…”
“I can’t be certain, but we need to consider it.”
After that, silence fell inside the carriage. Feeling the cold wind, I closed the window.
Click. As the window locked, Dorian broke the silence hesitantly, hands clenched.
“…Actually, Lewin was present at the scene.”
“Excuse me? When we were trapped?”
“No, at the train accident scene.”
What?
I thought he was simply mute due to his age. Seeing my shock, Dorian continued.
“It was a manipulated accident.”
“So… could it be Lewin?”
“He could be called the only witness.”
Wait a minute.
Let’s think carefully.
But contrary to logic, words were already spilling from my mouth.
“You mean the witness is why they’re targeting Lewin? But Lewin can barely speak, and if it’s just memory, there’s the memory-erasing pen.”
Words tumbled out like spilled rice. Dorian blinked a few times, surprised.
“So you’re saying the accident itself was aimed at Lewin?”
“…Uh, yes?”
Saying it felt strange.
If the target was Dorian, that made sense. Why Lewin? Mana levels aside, Dorian seems more vulnerable.
My head hurt again.
I decided to stop thinking. I couldn’t handle this in my current state.
“My head hurts.”
Leaning back in my seat, Dorian looked at me with a sympathetic gaze.
“You should rest a bit.”
Even as he said that, I sensed he, too, was uneasy.
Really.
I wished Scarlet would reappear. I can use magic now, so I could fight and win. I wanted to grab him by the collar and ask.
By then, daylight was breaking. Countless carriages lined up under the guards’ guidance.
Beyond them, the massive castle walls came into view.
“Almost there.”
Dorian glanced and said. The carriage we were in moved smoothly, avoiding others, taking a different path without stopping.
