ITIEUPCML 41

~Chapter 41~

Havel, sitting at the head table, smiled.

“The lady is so beautiful that I couldn’t look away. I can’t believe it’s already your debutante…”

“I greet His Highness, the Crown Prince of the Aphrodiole Empire.”

Astia gracefully held her dress and made a proper bow. Havel’s eyes widened in surprise.

“When did you become so perfect? I’m truly impressed.”

“That’s too much praise.”

“Haha. Damian cherishes you so much that it’s hard for me to even meet you separately.”

“My brother is a bit like that…”

“If you don’t mind, maybe we could have tea time and talk about our younger sisters…”

Just then, Damian stepped in front of Havel.

“What are you scheming? Shut up.”

“Oh… Damian. Can’t you even greet me? You won’t even let us become friends… Ah, I see, you really won’t.”

Havel shook his head at Damian’s frown.

“Lady, come visit the duke’s mansion next time. Since Damian is so jealous, I think it would be fine if he joins us.”

“Ahaha. Of course, Your Highness. I’ll look forward to it.”

Astia calmed Damian down, said her goodbye, and left. Damian glared at Havel, then spoke to Astia with worry.

“Atty. Even if he’s the Crown Prince, you need to be careful. Understand?”

“Uh… okay.”

“Be careful of men.”

Astia nodded at Damian’s words. She didn’t really see a problem with Havel—after all, they’d met often since childhood. Damian just worried too much.

After that, strangely, no nobles tried to approach Astia at all. From the moment she entered the hall, she could feel many eyes on her. Most were filled with curiosity, but whenever Damian swept his gaze over the crowd, everyone looked away.

‘The debutante hasn’t even started yet…’

She thought she should go greet Sylvia, whom she became friendly with at the tea party. But Cecilia hadn’t arrived yet. Astia knew Cecilia was busy with her duties at the main temple and would come late, so she wasn’t worried.

From the very beginning, Astia felt something was wrong about the ballroom. It didn’t take her long to realize this was only the tip of the iceberg.

It all started with the entrance of Duke Diego Selion.

“Duke Diego Selion is entering!”

At the servant’s announcement, Diego appeared for the first time. The nobles grew quiet as Diego slowly walked in. He wore a black tailcoat made from the finest fabric, decorated with golden embroidery. His figure stood out in the fitted suit. His black hair was like the night sky, and his red eyes shone like rubies. When he smiled, people around the hall gasped.

‘Duke Diego?’

Astia tilted her head. She thought she was finally seeing the male lead from the original story in person. But then she realized—she had already met him before, at Bluea Boutique, when he helped her. The man who used the name ‘Ruby.’ She knew he was a noble, but to think he was Diego!

As Astia was lost in thought, Diego was looking around the room for someone. Then, his eyes met Astia’s, and he stared at her as if in a trance before quickly turning away. For a moment, Astia thought his eyes were just as clear and beautiful as the missing ruby.

‘…What am I thinking?’

Her mind was too confused to think straight.

As Diego entered the hall, many nobles tried to greet him. Watching Diego interact with others, Damian’s expression turned sour.

“Atty. I think it’s better if you stay away from Duke Selion.”

“…Why, brother? Did something happen with the Duke?”

“I just don’t like him.”

Astia tilted her head at Damian’s vague answer.

“I’ve never met him, but I’m sure he’s a jerk.”

Astia wondered if Damian’s judgment was right. Diego, who had helped her at Bluea Boutique, didn’t seem bad at all.

Just then, after finishing his greetings with Havel, Diego walked straight toward Astia. His red eyes gazed at her, and his lips moved slowly.

“We meet again, my lady.”

So many thoughts were in Astia’s head, but she couldn’t speak a word.

At that moment, Damian stepped in, grabbed Diego’s shoulder, and spoke in a threatening tone.

“Duke Selion. I didn’t know you were so rude. Maybe you act this way because you only just inherited your title after family troubles, but I don’t like your behavior at all.”

“I’m just standing where I should be. And, where do you think you’re putting your hand?”

“How dare you try to pull something on my little sister?”

“What did you say, Duke Rovellito?”

As Damian spoke with a sneer, Diego’s eyes sparkled with anger. Sparks seemed to fly between the two men, and the nobles quickly backed away from their tense standoff.

“Brother!”

Astia raised her voice without thinking. If Damian kept fighting with Duke Selion, things could get worse.

“Duke Rovellito, what are you doing in front of the Crown Prince? Don’t you realize how awkward you’re making Lady Rovellito feel?”

Diego shook Damian’s arm off his shoulder. Damian raised an eyebrow.

“What is this…”

“Brother, stop. Duke Selion, I apologize for my brother.”

Astia stepped between them, and both men fell silent. Finally, they realized everyone was watching.

Damian looked embarrassed and apologized.

“Atty. We were just having an important talk… Sorry for causing a scene.”

But he really had gone straight at Diego. Luckily, with Astia’s intervention, their faces relaxed.

Then—

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

At the servant’s loud announcement, Emperor Kaiten entered the ballroom. The soft music stopped, and all the nobles bowed. The emperor, dressed in his best, took the seat of honor, looking old and tired. Somehow, Prince Calix had also taken a seat nearby.

Emperor Kaiten, looking around with a blank face, finally spoke:

“Tonight, I hope everyone enjoys the debutante ball to the fullest.”

At the emperor’s signal, the band started playing again. Astia gazed at the emperor from afar. With his long white beard and bored expression, he didn’t seem interested in anything. In the original story, Emperor Kaiten de Aphrodiole never stood out much. When his eyes met Havel’s, he nodded slightly, then looked elsewhere.

Astia knew Emperor Kaiten only saw the princes as tools to become emperor.

‘He’s an emperor who’s indifferent to the fight for the throne.’

She didn’t know how the power struggle would end, but she knew Havel and Prince Calix were fierce rivals.

Emperor Kaiten exchanged brief greetings with the nobles, especially showing interest in Diego.

“Duke Selion. Congratulations on inheriting your title. This must be your first time showing yourself in the ballroom since taking over as duke.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I heard your family’s succession was delayed because of some trouble.”

“It wasn’t any trouble—just internal matters. It was a rightful succession, Your Majesty.”

The emperor smiled, his eyes full of wrinkles.

“…We’ll see if you are worthy.”

Astia, standing near Diego, overheard everything. She watched as Diego’s face changed, clearly uncomfortable. Just then, Havel approached and held onto the emperor.

“Your Majesty, there are many new faces tonight. Shall we go greet them?”

“I’m not feeling well. I’ll leave early. Crown Prince, you finish the event.”

“Yes, I will. Let me help you…”

As Havel tried to help the emperor out, Calix suddenly appeared and smiled.

“I’ll go.”

With those words, Calix supported the emperor and left the ballroom. Havel sighed.

“What is he plotting…”

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Now that the ball has started, please enjoy yourself, my lady.”

Havel acted like nothing was wrong and returned to his seat. The ball began, with Havel leading in place of the emperor. The nobles seemed confused, but soon joined in the lively atmosphere.

The young ladies attending their first ball were the main characters tonight. Among them, Astia stood out the most. From the start, she caught everyone’s attention—with her elegant manners, stunning looks, and the famous Countess Helen as her sponsor. No one could compare. All eyes were filled with envy and awe as they looked at Astia.