Chapter 46
News came that the prince who had fallen into the water had caught a severe cold and was bedridden.
‘Yet, I fell into the same water and came out perfectly fine.’
I had sensed it when we first met, but isn’t His Highness far too fragile?
Still, even while sick, Roaz sent me a letter and a gift.
The letter contained gratitude for saving him when he fell into the water, along with an apology for the strange rumors that had spread afterward.
And the gift that came with the letter was…
“Oh my, what a beautiful dress.”
Marina’s eyes sparkled as she held up the dress.
It was a graceful and pure light-sky-blue gown.
Inside the large box were matching shoes and a hat to complete the outfit.
“There’s also a card here.”
Marina handed me a small card from the box. The message was short.
I couldn’t recover the dress that sank beneath the lake. My apologies.
So, this must mean he sent me a new one in its place.
“But for a replacement, this is far too much…”
The dress I had lost that day was just an outdoor outfit, but the one Prince Roaz sent was clearly for parties.
Delicate and ornate—it must have been several times more expensive.
And since it was my fault that Roaz had fallen into the water in the first place, there was no reason for him to send me such a thing.
As I stared at the dress with a troubled expression, Marina let out a laugh.
“Don’t you think His Highness wants you to wear this to the Founding Festival ball?”
“Huh?”
“That’s why he deliberately sent you a party gown, don’t you think?”
There was a certain unspoken delight on Marina’s face that words couldn’t capture.
“Perhaps the Second Prince might even ask you to be his partner.”
“No way. We only met once.”
“Well, who can say?”
Marina gave a meaningful smile and hung the dress where it could be easily seen.
“Why not put it in the dressing room?”
“Doesn’t just looking at it make you excited about the upcoming ball? It’s like enjoying the festival’s eve in your own way.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
A noble’s party…
I had never experienced such a thing before.
Maybe that’s why I felt more curiosity than excitement so far.
“I just hope I can dance properly. I don’t want to make a fool of myself in front of everyone.”
“You’ve practiced hard. You’ll do fine.”
“Riiiight…”
That’s easy for Marina to say, since she hasn’t seen me struggling in those lessons…
I swallowed the words I couldn’t bring myself to say out loud and glanced again at the dress Marina had proudly displayed.
The Founding Festival ball—the highlight of the social season—was just five days away.
Worrying in advance wouldn’t solve anything.
‘Well, it’ll work out somehow!’
I stretched lazily, deciding to think optimistically.
Marina was right.
In response to my polite thank-you note, Prince Roaz sent another letter, this time asking if I already had a gentleman to accompany me to the Founding Festival ball.
It was a partner request.
‘Hmm, should I accept?’
I had no particular reason to refuse.
After all, the one asking was a handsome prince, even nicknamed “The Noble Lily,” admired by all.
But Baratheon and Shishe clearly thought otherwise.
“Refuse.”
Shishe spoke firmly.
Baratheon nodded beside him, sharing the same opinion.
“Why?”
“Why? Because he’s a prince.”
“And that’s a problem?”
“The emperor would be thrilled and try to tie you and him together. Can you handle that?”
Jedin had said something similar before.
That since the Ashinoff children and the imperial princes were of similar age this generation, there might be attempts to tie our families more closely than in the past.
“So it’s better not to give them any opening?”
“Exactly. If you really liked Roaz, I wouldn’t stop you. But…”
Shishe trailed off, sneaking a glance at me. Baratheon did the same.
‘Prince Roaz…’
He didn’t seem like a bad person.
Sometimes kindness can feel overwhelming, but in his case, it didn’t.
‘But if I think about things like political marriages…’
No, definitely not.
“I’ll decline his partner request.”
“Well, do as you want.”
They tried to sound nonchalant, but the relief on their faces was obvious.
Clearly, neither of them liked the idea of Ashinoff being tied to the imperial family.
“But if I refuse Roaz, who do I go with? Should I go with Hedin?”
“Eh? Me?”
Hedin, who had been quietly standing guard behind me, jumped at the sudden mention of his name.
His reaction startled me, too.
“Uh… can’t I? Hedin, aren’t you allowed at the ball?”
Any knight officially appointed had noble status and was eligible to attend imperial events.
And since Hedin already came from a noble family, of course I thought he could.
‘That’s why I figured if push came to shove, I’d just go with Hedin!’
…Was I wrong?
Seeing my confusion, Hedin shook his head quickly.
“No, no, that’s not it. I can attend the ball, but…”
“Oh, so you’ve already chosen a partner?”
“No, not that either…”
He trailed off awkwardly, glancing nervously at Baratheon and Shishe.
“Usually, unmarried noble ladies are escorted by family or relatives.”
“Yes, I know that much.”
If that was the rule, then my options were three:
The Grand Duke, Baratheon, or Shishe.
But the Grand Duke was unlikely to attend. Seven years ago, when he had come to the capital for the social season, he hadn’t shown up at any official parties.
Baratheon and Shishe were exactly the types to refuse because it was “a hassle.”
‘See? They’re sitting there sulking even now.’
I blinked at them, and Baratheon snorted and looked away.
“If you really have no one else, I’ll go as your partner!”
“What? Really? You’ll go with me, Teon?”
“Of course! If my little sister shows up partnerless and looks pathetic, I’d be embarrassed for her!”
“…Thanks, but no thanks for putting it that way.”
Couldn’t he have asked a bit more nicely if he was going to?
As I grumbled, Shishe quietly chimed in.
“You know that at the ball, you’re supposed to dance the first dance with your partner, right?”
“Yes, I’ve heard.”
“Teon is just as hopeless at dancing as you are.”
I turned to Baratheon in disbelief, but he avoided my gaze. That confirmed Shishe was right.
“If the two of you dance together, you’ll look ridiculous. Wouldn’t it be better to dance with someone who’s practiced with you for years—like me?”
“Oh. That… makes sense…”
I nodded at the reasonable point, but suddenly Baratheon shot up from his seat and shouted at Shishe.
“Hey! Why are you butting in all of a sudden? I asked first!”
“Not everything in the world is decided by who speaks first.”
“This is!”
“Who says?”
“I do, obviously!”
Baratheon and Shishe raised their voices, bickering with me stuck between them.
‘Here we go again.’
By now, I was used to their fights.
Calmly, I covered my ears and waited for it to blow over.
“Um, young masters?”
When it showed no sign of ending, Hedin carefully stepped in.
“What?”
“What is it?”
Both turned on him at once, glaring.
Hedin raised both hands in surrender and shrugged.
“Well, arguing here is pointless. After all, there’s a much stronger competitor, isn’t there?”
A stronger competitor?
I blinked in confusion, but Baratheon and Shishe seemed to understand immediately.
The tension that had been ready to explode suddenly fizzled out.
“Oh right. There’s him.”
“Yeah, we can’t beat that one.”
Both nodded grimly in agreement.
‘If Teon’s calling him “old man,” then…’
The Grand Duke?
