chapter 2
This year, the debutante ball was being held in the largest banquet hall of the imperial palace. The hall was already packed with people.
Of course, some were debutantes themselves, but others had different purposes.
Whenever nobles gathered like this, gossip and matchmaking were inevitable. For example, someone might want to introduce the heir of a long-favored noble family, or the beautiful daughter of a distant royal branch.
Everyone, dressed in their finest, was waiting for the ball to start, excitement in their hearts.
Everyone—except Celestine.
“……”
Celestine sat in a corner of the hall, completely blank. Unlike the others, her eyes were unfocused, staring into empty space.
…She didn’t even fully remember how she had gotten here.
“Melsi, take Celestine and get her ready. Tie her up, hit her if you have to—just make her ready as fast as possible!”
Her father’s worries had been completely unnecessary. Contrary to what he expected, Melsi had managed to bring Celestine along and get her dressed without a single problem.
Yet, even now, Celestine’s mind was far from the ridiculous debutante ball.
“Readers are leaving? What does that even mean…?”
She had read countless possession stories, but nothing like this. Why should she, a mere possessed character, be held responsible if readers stopped reading?
“Me… Celestine Winsel, disappearing forever from the story…?”
Like a background character in a drama quietly vanishing? Something like that, perhaps.
“So I have to do something crazy every time that warning pops up?”
Her face stiffened.
Villainous Celestine. The spoiled only daughter of the Winsel family, a noble house with influence in the empire.
Beautiful and talented, but twisted in personality, she couldn’t win Devaltin’s heart and grew jealous of Asha.
If she couldn’t just stay still in this situation, wouldn’t all paths lead to her being killed by Devaltin?
The thought that this possession would be easy shattered spectacularly.
“This is the first time I’ve seen so many people gathered.”
“Yes. Crown Prince Devaltin said to pay special attention because it’s Princess Asha’s debutante ball, and it seems he really did.”
Celestine perked up her ears at the sudden whispers.
“It’s a bit much, isn’t it? Even if the crown prince cares for Princess Asha, isn’t this overdoing it?”
“But they say he was even planning to make it bigger.”
Devaltin had always cared for Asha. Even before becoming emperor, she was the only comfort in his tense palace life.
“It’s amusing, isn’t it? To think he pays such attention to Princess Asha, whom no one else bothers.”
But such favoritism often had side effects. Just like now. Poor Asha was about to be bullied for the most childish reasons. And the debutante ball was likely the spark for it.
“Better stay out of this. I’ve already had enough trouble today.”
She hoped that stepping aside a little wouldn’t trigger another warning. At least she was attending, technically.
Celestine carefully moved, keeping her footsteps quiet as she tried to avoid being noticed, and began slowly slipping out of the hall.
Her steps led her to the palace garden near the entrance.
She had chosen the emptiest place possible, and the cold air helped her clear her head.
“…Phew.”
Even in the chill, all she could do was sigh. What should she do now? Celestine stared blankly ahead.
The entrance was still crowded. Nobles chattered in groups.
And there was Greg.
“Ugh.”
If that fierce man noticed her, she’d be dragged back. Celestine instinctively took a step back.
“…Huh?”
It seemed she wasn’t the only one in the garden.
“It’s an honor to meet you here.”
Turning the corner, a voice spoke unexpectedly.
“What now?”
Squinting, Celestine cautiously approached the source of the voice.
“But honestly, we were a little surprised. We expected Princess Asha to appear and attract everyone’s attention.”
“That’s right. This grand debutante ball was prepared by Crown Prince Devaltin himself, especially for her.”
“Ah… th-that’s…”
“Whatever people say, we’re fortunate to benefit from it, too. It’s an honor to be able to thank you personally.”
…Huh?
It was Asha.
Seeing Asha Bacalar in person, Celestine’s eyes widened. She was far more beautiful, more graceful, and more pure than Celestine had imagined.
Her silver hair flowed to her waist, shining like molten silver in the moonlight. Her clear teal eyes glowed with a fairy-like mystery.
Asha looked like something from a legend.
“Well, she’s the main character, she has to be stunning,” Celestine thought, still sneaking glances.
“Anyway… she’s really, really pretty…!”
Hidden, mesmerized by Asha’s beauty, Celestine accidentally stepped on a thin branch.
Snap!
The branch broke loudly. Every gaze in the garden turned sharply toward her.
Locking eyes with Asha, Celestine froze.
“Oh, Lady Celestine!”
The voice belonged to one of the girls who often annoyed Asha with a teasing tone.
“Where have you been? We were looking for you! The Winsel family sent someone, but they said you already left.”
Me?
Do you know me?
Celestine’s mind went blank at the unexpected familiarity.
“I just happened to meet Princess Asha, so I was keeping her company.”
“Ah… yes…?”
Apparently, the girl’s idea of “keeping company” differed greatly from Celestine’s.
“And Princess Asha is as beautiful as ever, isn’t she?”
One of the girls gushed.
“Truly amazing. Normally, attending a debutante ball in such modest attire wouldn’t stand out… but she shines. She must take after her mother, Lady Anel.”
Asha’s expression stiffened slightly.
On the surface, it seemed harmless—but the backstory told another tale. Asha’s mother, Anel, had been a lowborn dancer who became a concubine purely due to her beauty. She had endured insults her whole life.
“But this debutante ball could be a big opportunity for Princess Asha. We, rigid young nobles, might not gain much, but she’s different.”
“….”
“Isn’t that right, Lady Celestine?”
All eyes turned toward Celestine, as if saying, “I did well, now you do it.”
Ah… so these are her usual villainous lackeys. Celestine recognized them—they were her peers, always with her before the ball.
She should have just stayed in the hall! At least she could have gotten halfway through unnoticed! But it was too late.
“Uh… well…”
She had woken up unprepared and barely made it here, and now it felt like she was suddenly presenting in front of her superiors—a very important presentation.
If she stayed silent, another warning would appear.
“Wait a minute…”
《After possession, you’re doing nothing. Readers are starting to leave! Take proper action to bring back the readers!》
Those annoying red words flashed in her mind.
“I did nothing and readers left, but they didn’t say it was because I’m not following the original story…?”
Right. No one had told her to follow the original story.
Then all she had to do was attract attention somehow!
“Ah… yes. That’s exactly right.”
Finally realizing this, Celestine quickly parted her lips.
