Chapter 37
Before Laveria and Luca arrived, each noble faction had been busy praising debutantes—the count’s second daughter is lovely, no, your precious daughter is even prettier—all while always making sure to mention the infamous Lady of House Rayes.
“My niece said she saw her once on Lerieux Street, and she was apparently an incredibly beautiful girl. She seemed close to the Crown Prince, too…”
“I’ve heard the rumors Lady Gashiv has been spreading, but when has she ever said anything truthful?”
“They say it was actually a monster in disguise?”
“Oh dear, do you believe such gossip? No, no, I heard she had three eyes.”
None of the stories made sense, but gossip passed from mouth to mouth often blurred the line between truth and fiction.
When the Rayes family finally entered, everyone fell silent, eagerly scanning for the Lady of Rayes they expected to see alongside them.
But no matter where they looked, there were only the three famed men of House Rayes—no sign of the lady herself.
This could only mean she had entered with someone other than her family. From that moment on, nobles exchanged bewildered looks and offered their speculations.
“She must be too hideous even for the Duke of Rayes to bring her in public.”
Most agreed.
Even the prestigious Duke of Rayes was supposedly too embarrassed to be seen with his own daughter.
Those who had been excited to finally catch a glimpse of her felt the air leave their sails and changed the subject to something else.
Then came the entrance of the House of Kablos, right after the Rayes family.
All conversation halted as attention shifted to the famously different noble lady of House Kablos.
Senia Fren Kablos was, as rumors had it, the one bright star of a notorious family—a lovely girl, almost saint-like in appearance.
Her thick violet hair and bluish eyes exuded a magical allure.
“She awakened as a healing mage, didn’t she?”
“A healer, of all things! That’s rare, and so strange for the Kablos family, considering their traits are the complete opposite.”
“I don’t see Young Master Kablos here. I heard he graduated from the Academy, though.”
Senia’s partner was Esil Claire, the eldest son of House Claire.
The Duke of Claire had long maintained neutrality between the emperor’s faction and the nobles, though recently, rumors suggested he leaned more toward the emperor’s side due to frequent exchanges with the Rayes.
It was unclear whether Esil was simply entering with Senia because they were childhood friends or if this indicated a political shift toward the noble faction.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Kablos was, as expected, absent.
He rarely attended formal gatherings, possibly out of concern that his beloved daughter’s debut would be overshadowed by his presence—or perhaps to avoid past enemies.
Then came the entrance of today’s true protagonist: Princess Rachel.
After hearing of the Crown Prince’s return, she declared her intention to return from abroad, and her debutante ball was scheduled shortly after. No one doubted that this was her day.
Rachel entered the ballroom holding the hand of her knight, the young heir to Count Haeld.
Her long black hair and piercing golden eyes, symbols of royal blood, were a stark contrast to the mischievous girl remembered from two years prior.
Now, she seemed more beautiful than ever—and dangerously enchanting, like a rose hiding its thorns.
She looked around as if searching for someone.
At that moment, trumpets blared again as the herald’s voice echoed through the hall.
A grand introduction: the Crown Prince was entering.
And—alongside the infamous Lady of Rayes?
A giant question mark formed in everyone’s mind.
No one had imagined any kind of closeness between those two.
Though rumors had vaguely mentioned something like that before, they were so exaggerated no one had paid attention.
Had the Crown Prince been forced into escorting the Duke’s daughter as repayment for House Rayes’s help in his restoration?
Speculations ran wild, but the suspense didn’t last long.
The doors opened.
And the Crown Prince was—if it was even possible—more handsome than before his disappearance.
His deep crimson eyes glimmered beneath midnight-black hair, so dazzling that a single look would doom any onlooker to a week of lovesickness.
He was, in a word, absurdly good-looking.
But the one who truly shocked the crowd into silence was beside him.
Is that the Lady of Rayes…?
She looked like a living elf from legend.
Her soft, silver-gray hair was elegant, and her pale, sculpted face was adorned with perfectly balanced features. Her refreshing, summer-green eyes were so clear they seemed to reflect everyone’s flaws, making people feel self-conscious.
Wearing a red gown—the color of royalty—alongside the Crown Prince, Lady Laveria Rayes appeared more radiant, graceful, and noble than anyone else in the room.
I plopped down in a quiet corner with Luca.
We’d secured a hidden spot, away from prying eyes.
“So this is what it’s like to walk into a tiger’s den.”
I scanned the surroundings while nibbling on the soufflé Luca brought.
First, there was that massive sculpture that had caught my eye upon entering.
The hall was as wide as a sports field, and in the center stood an enormous statue.
Its raised hand held a scale, and on either side were the ballroom’s only two chandeliers—
“Huh?”
Gone. They were just… gone!
What the heck?!
Instead of chandeliers, floating magical crystals of light filled the air, illuminating the hall in dazzling color.
“Lia, is something wrong?”
“The chandeliers. They’re missing.”
Luca chuckled.
“I ordered them removed. I received a report recently that the connection joints were rusted. It seemed dangerous.”
Dangerous indeed—Rachel died in my dream crushed under one of those chandeliers.
“So, there won’t be any more chandeliers in here?”
Luca nodded, and I felt myself relaxing, freed from a worry that had been nagging me.
Right. It was just a weird dream.
Relieved, I reached for some pudding to replenish my sugar levels—
“Lia!”
A group of VIPs approached our humble corner table.
“Your Highness—uh, I mean, hello, Rachel.”
I bowed politely, then changed my greeting when I saw the playful look on her face.
“You really do look like a fairy today.”
Rachel tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and then turned to Luca.
“I was wondering what could have possibly made someone like you attend a debutante ball. Now I see—it was because you didn’t want to lose her to anyone else.”
“You’re absolutely right, sister.”
She’d said it jokingly, but Luca responded with complete sincerity. He wasn’t just anyone, clearly.
He turned his gaze toward Rachel’s partner and knight, the young heir to Count Haeld.
Rachel introduced him to me.
“Haeld was supposed to be out on a monster-hunting mission today, but the mighty Crown Prince forced him on vacation.”
“I wouldn’t call this a vacation,” Haeld added, “More like a greater burden. Now I have to babysit the unpredictable Princess… oof!”
Rachel elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
“Hohoho.”
He staggered back clutching his stomach, so different from his usual sharp and composed appearance.
“Don’t let that fool you. He’s a skilled swordsman.”
Leading the 4th knight order at his age made him nothing short of a genius.
No chandeliers. Haeld is here with Rachel.
Everything felt safer. Still, an inexplicable unease lingered.
That’s when the opening notes of the first dance began.
“It’s starting. Let’s go.”
Luca took my hand and led me to the center of the hall.
The noble ladies with their partners gathered in formation.
Luca knelt on one knee before me, eyes cast downward, hand extended—leaving the decision to me.
Following Miss Velly’s teachings, I counted exactly three seconds.
Three, two, one—
Then I laid my hand gently over his.
The orchestra began in earnest, and the couples began to spin.
I kept my eyes firmly on the floor from the start.
I couldn’t risk stepping on Luca’s polished black shoes with my snow-white heels.
The horrifying thought of Luca hopping around in pain mid-dance almost made my mind go blank, and I started fumbling the steps.
“Lia, look at me.”
Luca whispered in my ear.
“Relax. One, two. One—”
At some point, he began leading me completely.
Though I had only practiced with Drehan at the estate, Luca handled me as if we’d practiced for weeks.
He moved first, gently guiding me, and my body, trained from grueling sessions with Miss Velly, responded instinctively.
To anyone watching, we probably looked perfect.
With the rhythm, I pulled out the fan tucked at my waist.
Luca playfully popped out from behind it as it opened, making me laugh and forget my nerves.
“Looking good over there!”
Rachel whistled from nearby in her unmistakably uncle-like tone.
She was…
“You’re bad at dancing too, huh.”
…firmly stomping all over Haeld’s feet.
“My lady…”
Haeld glanced at Luca as if begging for rescue.
Luca ignored him and guided me to another direction.
I didn’t even know what I was doing anymore—I just laughed with Luca and followed along.
And so, my very first dance ended with the deep, resonant note of a cello.
As I stood there, dazed, Luca patted my head.
When did our eye levels get this close? Maybe I danced too hard.
My heart was racing.
