Chapter 28
The next day followed much the same routine.
With a vacant expression, Sienna mechanically chewed her food.
Her mind was completely occupied with one question: How should I confess to Dandelion?
No matter how much she thought about it, no answer came.
Even until the deep blue dawn, the room echoed with her steady sighs.
“Haa…”
In the end, without reaching any conclusion at all, the morning of the first day of the debutante ball arrived.
The people of the princess’s palace bustled about from early morning.
A first time was special for anyone, and watching someone else’s first was bound to stir nervous excitement as well.
The only problem was that the person experiencing that “first” was currently sprawled limply in the bathtub.
“Haa…”
Rose petals filled the tub, releasing a lovely fragrance, but her mood didn’t improve at all.
Sienna played with the petals for a long while before Anna finally urged her out of the bath.
“My goodness! Your face is completely flushed!”
Her normally pale, almost translucent skin now looked like a perfectly ripened apple.
“Sorry, Anna.”
After finally calming the redness, fragrant oil was applied to her body and hair.
Sniff, sniff—Sienna lifted her wrist and smelled it.
“It smells like apples.”
Ah… I want to eat an apple.
She murmured to herself, but Anna lightly ignored her.
There was no time for that.
Sienna was immediately dressed in a pale pink off-shoulder gown.
It was the first dress she had chosen after much deliberation.
Several dressing maids crowded around her, carefully smoothing every wrinkle.
Next came the makeup.
Today’s theme was “healthy and lovely.”
Since Sienna was known for being sickly, extra effort was put into making her look vibrant and full of life.
Her soft hair, tended carefully over the past few days, was brushed with meticulous care.
The slightly wavy red locks looked lovely—like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.
“Your Highness! You’re absolutely beautiful!”
“My, you’re starting to resemble Her Majesty more and more.”
“Today, you’ll surely be the most beautiful lady at the ball.”
Encouraging compliments poured over Sienna as she examined herself in the mirror.
I look pretty.
Even she had to admit it—and that made it all the more bittersweet.
Sienna looked at the three dressing maids who had attended her.
What should I do…
According to the original story, today she wouldn’t receive a single invitation to dance.
This was the chapter where the love triangle between the male lead, female lead, and second male lead truly began.
At least something should happen, so their efforts don’t feel wasted.
With her poor reputation—and a very visible fiancé—would anyone even dare ask her to dance?
The first dance was often shared with family, but neither the king nor Pierre would do such a thing.
And if—just if—Pierre were to ask her to dance, she’d stomp on his foot as hard as she could.
That thought made her clench her fist.
“Your Highness?”
Anna’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Anna took out a pair of earrings from the center of Sienna’s jewelry box.
They were violet earrings shaped like violets—the symbol of royalty.
In Stern, only members of the royal family were allowed to wear violet accessories.
“You should wear these today.”
“…Yes. I should.”
Today, she would attend the debutante ball as a princess of Stern.
After the maids withdrew, Sienna was left alone in the room for a moment.
Shushu, who had been watching carefully, suddenly leapt into her arms.
—Shushu wants to go too!
“No.”
—Why not?
“If I carried you around there, people would definitely make fun of you.”
—Don’t tell me… Mistress, are you embarrassed by Shushu?
“…A little?”
Clever Shushu drooped her ears as if deeply wounded.
If she thought that would sway Sienna, it was a grave miscalculation.
“The more I think about it, naming you Toto was a terrible choice.”
She often got fooled by that cute exterior.
Sienna tied a purple ribbon around Shushu as a special touch.
But since she couldn’t carry her personally, she had no choice but to ask Anna.
“Um, Anna. Sorry, but could you take Shushu with you?”
“Huh? Ah—yes, of course. But wasn’t her name Toto?”
“She changed it.”
“Oh.”
A rabbit—or rather, a rabbit doll—changing its name made no sense at all, but Anna didn’t show it.
“I see.”
The life of a spirit was truly blessed.
Shushu rested comfortably in Anna’s arms as they followed behind Sienna.
It was a long walk from the secluded princess’s palace to the banquet hall.
As they walked down the long corridor, Arthur spoke in a slightly excited voice.
“I wonder who will ask Your Highness for the first dance today. Perhaps Lord Valencia?”
“Hmm… I don’t think anyone will. What should I do?”
“No way. Today, Your Highness is, um… rather—”
“Pretty?”
“Yes. Something like that.”
“You’re not very honest.”
“Let’s call it precise.”
Their conversation paused, then naturally resumed.
“Arthur.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“How old were you at your debutante ball?”
“I attended my first ball at seventeen.”
“Then you must have asked someone for the first dance?”
“Of course.”
“Who was it?”
“She was a year older than me. I remember she danced very well.”
“And that young lady…?”
“Well… she became someone’s wife.”
Arthur’s expression turned oddly bitter.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s nothing.”
By then, they were nearly at the banquet hall.
Clearing his throat, Arthur spoke carefully.
“If it’s alright with you, I could ask you for a dance.”
“Arthur…”
Sienna stopped and looked at him with softened eyes.
His shoulders lifted, and the corners of his mouth curved upward.
“You don’t have to be that moved.”
“That’s something you don’t announce beforehand.”
“…Your Highness!”
Teasing Arthur was one of her small joys.
“Thank you, Arthur.”
Having regained a bit of cheer, Sienna stepped confidently into the banquet hall.
As soon as she ascended to the second floor, she spotted Pierre leaning against the railing, scanning the floor below.
Such a devoted lover.
He was clearly looking for Eleanor.
“Brother.”
To avoid giving him any excuse, Sienna greeted him first.
“You look very handsome today.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Dressed in a white ceremonial uniform, he looked every bit the prince.
“You…”
Just as Pierre was about to say something, Aden appeared.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Sienna and Pierre both bowed properly.
Aden smiled kindly, patting the shoulder of his flawless-looking son.
It was such a familiar sight that Sienna stood there absentmindedly, giving it little thought.
