PLTSVA 34

Knock, knock—

“Young Lady, I’m coming in.”

Garnet opened the door and carried a basin filled with water to the bed where Ria was sleeping.

Around this time, a slender wrist would usually poke out through the bed’s curtain, forming a five, followed by the sleepy mumble, “Just five more minutes…”

But today, her young mistress briskly stepped down from the bed, drawing the curtain open herself.

“You’re up early today.”

Garnet commented as she unfolded a towel.

She worried that maybe Ria had had a nightmare and woke up earlier than usual.

“Yeah, I had a scary dream.”

Just as she thought. Garnet assisted Ria with her wash.

“What kind of dream troubled you, my Lady?”

“I dreamed that Luca became unhappy. And I was just standing there, helpless, watching it happen.”

Her young mistress held deep affection for the future emperor of the empire.

Because they were close like siblings. Because they had leaned on each other in that dreadful orphanage.

There were countless reasons for their bond, but sometimes Garnet felt those reasons weren’t quite enough to explain the way they looked at each other.

That’s why, whenever she saw them interact, Garnet often found herself in awe.

“A dream is just a dream. As long as you’re by His Highness’s side, nothing like that will happen.”

Garnet smiled as she braided Raveria’s glossy hair over one shoulder.

She truly believed that.

But Raveria’s expression, reflected in the mirror, looked deadly serious, as if the hallucinations from the night before still lingered.

Life always presents turning points.

And perhaps, for Raveria, last night was one of them.

Awakening from her nightmare, drenched in cold sweat, Ria had made a vow to herself:

Even if she were fated to die a lonely death from an incurable disease as a villainess, she would save Luca from the pit of misfortune and flee to another country.

“Senia’s future happiness can’t be built on Luca’s suffering. I can’t just watch that unfold.”

The flow of this cursed novel world had already started veering down a different path.

Where that path would lead, no one yet knew.

“Lady Raveria, you’ve made remarkable progress since I last saw you.”

Miss Belly, who had previously been barely able to watch Raveria dance, now looked visibly relieved.

Once she got the feel for it, dancing didn’t seem impossible.

The dances here required fan techniques, but since she was holding a dagger instead of a fan, perhaps it felt easier.

After all, in her previous life, she had been more used to holding a sword than fanning herself in the summer heat.

Imagining herself stabbing through the openings of an imaginary opponent made her movements much smoother.

Not that her future dance partner would be thrilled to know that’s how she practiced.

Miss Loyola had come up with this temporary solution after seeing her earlier mess, and surprisingly, it worked well.

In this impromptu sword-dance display, everyone watching held their breath at the sound of her blade slicing through the air.

Miss Belly—who had apparently been her father’s fan club president in her youth—praised Raveria, saying she was truly her father’s daughter.

Time passed, and once she properly practiced with a fan, she was able to perform elegant steps.

Seeing her reflection in the giant wall mirror, Miss Belly wiped away tears of joy and relief.

Surely, she had been haunted by nightmares of her young lady tripping over her partner or stepping on his feet at her debutante ball.

Especially since Raveria, a noblewoman of common birth, was already a subject of gossip in high society.

As a retainer of House Reyes, Miss Belly could not bear to see that happen.

Clap, clap, clap—

“That was great. Let’s try that one more time, and then we’ll move on to dancing with a partner.”

“Partner?”

She hadn’t expected to go that far today.

Would Miss Belly herself be her partner?

Or maybe… Miller?

So she practiced the turn again.

She had danced so much that her breathing became ragged.

Then came another knock.

Knock, knock—

“Come in!”

Miss Belly beamed as she welcomed the visitor.

“…Drehan? Brother?!”

It was Drehan, who should’ve been busy with the Great Nobles’ Council.

She thought he had gone to meet with Crown Prince faction nobles this morning.

He looked at her sweat-drenched form and said dryly,

“You look like a drowned mouse.”

“Excuse me?!”

Mouse?! But after glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn’t really argue.

Her damp, silver hair did make her look that way.

Whereas Drehan stood there, the very image of a noble silver-haired prince.

“You’re here to be my practice partner?”

“I can’t allow the Lady of Reyes to make a fool of herself at the debutante ball.”

“I don’t know what rumors you’ve heard, but I can manage decent steps now!”

“Hmmm…”

He smiled slyly and then knelt on one knee in front of her, eyes respectfully cast down as he held out his hand.

“My, such perfect posture and gaze! Lady, when your partner takes this pose, count to three and gently place your hand on his.”

A bit flustered, she placed her hand in his.

That was all it took for Drehan to begin leading her in the dance.

It was textbook. No wonder society called him the Silver Prince.

His serious gaze gave him a chaste air, but the playful curve of his lips made her wonder if he wasn’t quite as prim as the rumors claimed.

They danced all four songs that she would need to perform at the debutante ball, timed to piano melodies.

But her unfit body could barely keep up.

Meanwhile, Drehan looked unfazed, tilting his head as if he didn’t understand her exhaustion.

“You’re weak.”

Seriously? She had been practicing way before he showed up!

“Haha… It’s great you’re here, but I don’t think I can continue…”

Just as she was about to admit defeat—

Bang!

“Ria!”

“Miller?!”

Why was he here? He never came near the house during sword training time!

“I may not be your official partner, but I’m plenty good enough to help you practice!”

Meaning…

“My apologies, Master Miller. I had heard you were busy and didn’t send a request. But if you’re willing, would you be her partner?”

Miss Belly chuckled and beckoned him inside.

Wait, what about my opinion?

Grabbing her wobbly legs, Ria flopped down onto the sofa and began munching on a cookie to replenish her sugar.

“Today… is a strike, Brother.”

Whether Miller looked desperate or Drehan smirked, she didn’t care. She needed to prepare for tomorrow’s muscle aches.

“I was just a little late! You became her official partner but can’t even let me help her practice?!”

“Practice is still important. Entrusting her to a brute who spins ladies like tops isn’t proper training.”

“What?! That only happened once!”

“The first and last dance, I imagine. No one partnered with you again after that.”

Watching Drehan stab Miller right in the pride, Ria muttered dryly,

“Whatever. Let’s practice tomorrow, Miller. At least we’re equally terrible.”

“Which will make it worse,” Drehan added, and both Ria and Miller flinched.

“Looks like she’s too tired today. Let’s end the lesson here.”

“Yes, my Lord. I’ll return at the same time tomorrow.”

Miss Belly clearly intended to visit the mansion every day until the debutante ball.

But since Ria had proven today that she wasn’t utterly hopeless, Miss Belly walked away with a hopeful spring in her step.

As the brothers inevitably turned their eyes back to her, she asked,

“The debutante ball is held in the Imperial Palace, right?”

“Yes,” Drehan replied. “At the famed William Palace—renowned as the most beautiful place on the continent.”

Ria muttered to herself,

“There must be a lot of chandeliers…”

If the ceiling was full of chandeliers, the danger was too great.

She had only seen Rachel’s death in a dream, with no solid proof to justify a warning.

Saying anything might make me look insane—or worse, suspicious.

“Do you mean the ‘Scales of Judgment’ held by the central statue in the Grand Hall?”

The Scales of Judgment? What a grand name.

“They’re symmetrical chandeliers held aloft by the palace’s signature statue. Aside from those, the hall has no other chandeliers.”

So only two chandeliers existed, both held up high by a statue.

That was… a relief.

If she just avoided the area beneath them, she’d be fine.

Wait, but Miss Belly said the dance moves in a circle around the hall, counterclockwise. What if one falls during the dance?

Holding her head in worry, the two brothers tilted theirs in confusion.

Should she tell them?

But before the thought could settle—

Knock, knock—

“Come in,” Drehan said.

The door opened, and in stepped a familiar, crisply dressed young man.

One of the imperial triplet attendants.

“I bring a letter from His Highness the Crown Prince for Lady Reyes.”

Luca?

She rose from the sofa and took the box from the attendant.

A small note lay atop it. A box?

Before opening it, she unrolled the fine parchment and read:

[Seruniveti, Raveria.]

A short message.

She’d seen it somewhere… Oh! It was the same phrase written on the debutante dress and tiara she received from the boutique yesterday.

Seems Luca and the boutique owner shared a similar taste.

She untied the golden lace ribbon around the box.

Drehan and Miller came closer, curious.

Inside were a pair of charming shoes, neatly arranged.

Shoes decorated with shimmering opals. Miller gasped in shock.

When she turned to him in confusion, the attendant spoke instead.

“His Highness wishes to escort you to the debutante ball.”

“What?!”

“In our custom, gifting shoes before a debut means an official partner request.”

Drehan added, and a sense of déjà vu washed over her.

Now that she thought of it, she never ordered the tiara that came with the dress yesterday.

It also had opals.

“But… I already agreed to go with you, Drehan.”

For someone labeled the “ugly duckling” of the debut, becoming Luca’s partner felt like too much.

“You’re free to choose. Accept or decline—it’s your decision.”

Ria glanced sideways at the glaringly white shoes flaunting their presence.

What should I do…? Does Luca really not care about my origins?

“His Highness awaits your reply.”

“Haaah…”