CHAPTER 88…………………………………………..
Laseil entered the room and examined the dresses.
Most of them were the kind that clearly reflected Miren’s taste.
This meant she had used lace, ribbons, and floral decorations without restraint.
“How about this one? It’s the latest trend.”
The first dress she suggested was particularly extravagant.
It was made of black fabric but adorned with various jewels.
It wasn’t quite to Laseil’s taste.
“I’m going to wear purple earrings. Do you have anything that would match?”
“Purple… purple?”
Miren blinked.
“Don’t we not have earrings in that color?”
“Lord Siren gave them to me as a gift.”
“When you applied for the ball? Ah, yes… that makes sense, I suppose.”
Miren looked momentarily confused.
“Has the definition of ‘partner’ changed without me knowing?”
“That can’t be.”
“When did you get them? You’re not saying it’s the same as last time, are you?”
“I got them today.”
She was going to wear small, teardrop-shaped violet sapphire earrings.
The necklace was also made of violet sapphire.
The only difference was that there was an emerald set right next to it.
It was impossible to tell when she had gotten a gemstone that matched Laseil’s eye color exactly.
“Do you think there’s something that would go well with it?”
“Hm, if that’s the case…”
Miren began diligently moving between the dresses.
Soon, a dress from the farthest corner was brought out.
“How about this one? It’s a bit plain, but we can add decorations.”
Miren brought out a pale green dress embroidered with gold thread.
It had a bright atmosphere and seemed like it would go well with light-colored jewelry.
The lace also hung quite long, so it wasn’t completely plain.
Of course, by Miren’s standards, it probably still was.
“It has a spring vibe; I like it.”
“But it’s late autumn now.”
“I mean, make the place you’re in feel like spring soon.”
After saying something incomprehensible, Miren continued.
“So, when did you get the jewels? When you received the partner application?”
“No, I applied to be the partner first.”
“What? That’s rude!”
Miren grumbled for a moment before her eyes widened in surprise.
“You went first? To Lord Siren?”
“Yes.”
‘Come to think of it, that’s strange.’
Laseil had brought up that thought due to an inexplicable impulse.
When she first heard about the ball, she naturally assumed she would be attending as a partner.
Then, the thought occurred that Irenes might attend with another noble.
‘The moment I thought that, I felt uneasy.’
It was an unpleasant feeling, like something was horribly wrong.
In an attempt to shake off that discomfort, she impulsively spoke.
Even imagining someone else sitting next to Irenes made her feel unsettled.
“…I guess I’ve just gotten too used to being next to Lord Siren.”
Miren’s reaction to this still made no sense to Laseil.
“You two really… what’s the problem?”
“What do you mean, problem?”
Laseil looked at Miren with a puzzled expression.
“I don’t think there’s a problem with either Lord Siren or me.”
“Hmm, well… it’ll all work out in time. Time will fix it.”
Miren, with a face that looked like she had given up on many things, soon got up.
“Anyway, we should start preparing to go out. Can I do your hair?”
“You could leave it to the maid, you know.”
Even as she said that, Laseil nodded.
She knew Miren wouldn’t back down over something as trivial as that.
Always insisting on doing her own hair, thinking, ‘I’ll do it perfectly myself.’
“Now that we’re here, I’ll make it so you can’t leave without confessing today.”
“Confessing to whom, exactly?”
“Be honest. You’re pretending to be this oblivious on purpose, aren’t you?”
After a conversation she still didn’t understand, Laseil was dragged into Miren’s room.
“Have a good time!”
Laseil had to stay with Miren for a full hour.
The ball dress issue was resolved, so now it was time to pick a dress for dinner.
As a result, the dress Laseil ended up wearing was much more extravagant than usual.
‘Miren probably picked it according to her own taste…’
A white dress decorated with sky-blue ribbons and lavish lace.
It didn’t feel like something one would casually wear out.
She wore it reluctantly since Miren handed it to her.
“All right, I’ll be going now.”
After a brief greeting, Laseil headed toward Lord Siren’s estate.
It was late evening, so there weren’t many people on the streets.
‘Was it this way?’
Since it had been years since she last visited, Laseil couldn’t remember the exact route.
Just as she started getting lost, a familiar voice reached her ears.
“Ella! There you are. I should have come to find you earlier, sorry.”
“You coming out is enough, I’m grateful.”
If it weren’t for Irenes, Laseil would have wandered the streets endlessly.
“Your dress suits you well. Was it custom-made?”
Irenes had turned her gaze toward Laseil’s dress.
“It’s ornate in design, and Ella’s face is so radiant it makes the dress stand out even more.”
“Really? Thank you for the compliment.”
Sometimes, Irenes seemed to see Laseil too favorably.
The dress was flashy, but it probably didn’t suit her that well.
“Which way should we go?”
“This way.”
Irenes naturally took Laseil’s hand to lead her.
The moment Laseil’s hand was held, she immediately felt awkward.
She had rarely held hands except when getting into a carriage or dancing.
No, even at the last social gathering, it hadn’t happened.
‘…That’s more than I thought.’
There seemed no need to feel this awkward anymore.
It was about time to get used to holding hands.
But holding hands was usually… something lovers did, wasn’t it?
‘No, even when escorting the lady… no, but I’ve walked holding hands before.’
Despite her chaotic thoughts, Laseil’s face remained composed.
Thanks to that, Irenes didn’t ask any questions.
Awkward silence continued as they walked.
“Ella? We’re here.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Laseil finally escaped the swamp of her thoughts once they arrived at Lord Siren’s mansion.
She couldn’t be thinking of anything else when it was time to greet the duke.
“Is the Duke inside?”
“Yes, and your mother will be with him.”
It had been almost a year since they last saw the Siren family.
The family had become busier for various reasons, and Laseil had gone down to her estate in the meantime.
Straightening her outfit again, Laseil followed Irenes.
“You’re coming home early today, young master. Is something the matter?”
The first person they met was the head maid of the Siren household.
She had worked there since Irenes was a child.
“The lady beside you… Ah, Lord Zane!”
The head maid’s face brightened slightly upon seeing Laseil.
“You must be the guest who brought her. Dinner will be ready soon.”
Up to here, her words were understandable.
“Well, you two are old enough now. When will you have the wedding?”
From here, Laseil could no longer comprehend what was being said.
She realized she was still holding Irenes’ hand at that moment.
“Head maid? It’s not like that.”
“Don’t be embarrassed, young master.”
“When will you stop calling me ‘young master’?”
Irenes muttered softly and then closed her mouth.
She probably realized protesting wouldn’t change anything.
Yujire had made the same face when Laseil tried to correct the way he was being addressed.
“Ella, the dining room is this way…”
“Someone said the guests have arrived.”
Just as Irenes started speaking, another voice intervened.
It was the Duke of the Siren family, Irenes’ father.
His short silver hair and imposing violet eyes were just as they had been before.
