Chapter 75
I really hadn’t planned on going to the ball.
On Sunday, I even tried to leave the palace grounds with an outing permit—but the gate guards refused to let me through. So I just turned right back to the detached palace.
I thought that if I hid away there quietly, I’d be fine, but even Nancy seemed determined to send me to that ball this afternoon. She’d been bustling about since early morning.
“Lady Shanael, you said you’d be wearing the pink dress, correct?”
“Can’t I just… not go?”
“The head maid ordered everyone to finish preparing for the ball, my lady. I don’t have much choice either…”
“Well, people like us don’t really have power, do we? If they tell us to jump, we jump.”
Nancy, who was in the same powerless position as I was, simply followed orders.
So, with no further protest, I let her dress me up obediently.
“Please loosen the corset a little.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure you can fit at least two fingers in comfortably.”
“But I’m worried. Even though I learned the basics of dancing, I’m still clumsy. What if His Highness or someone else asks me to dance? I get so nervous—I’m hopelessly introverted!”
“Don’t worry, my lady. The lady is allowed to refuse a dance invitation.”
“Ah! Really?”
“Yes! When I worked at the tearoom, I often caught glimpses of the royal balls. I once saw a very popular noblewoman politely decline every single invitation. In the end, she didn’t dance with anyone and went home.”
“Then I can do the same! If someone asks me, I’ll just say no. I’ll just sit the whole time!”
“Exactly, so don’t worry so much.”
At that, my gloomy mood brightened instantly, and Nancy, looking relieved, happily helped me into the dress.
Then, a court beautician entered to do my hair for the occasion.
When I first put on the dress, I thought that no matter how much makeup or jewelry I wore, a commoner like me would still look awkward. But once my brown hair was waved to fall softly and swept up over one shoulder, with a delicate tiara glimmering on my head, I actually looked quite like one of the noble ladies attending the ball.
The beautician soon left with her assistant to attend to other guests.
“Oh my, Lady Shanael—you look absolutely lovely.”
“This is embarrassing.”
Nancy gently took my drooping shoulders and turned me toward the mirror, meeting my eyes through the reflection.
“Just think of yourself as a princess tonight, and enjoy it. Someday, it’ll all be a sweet memory.”
“You’re right… it’ll be a memory.”
Her gentle words lightened my heart.
The royal palace ball had felt like an enormous burden, but now, it didn’t seem so terrifying.
I’m just a spectator, I told myself, I’ll sit quietly, watch, and come back.
Knock, knock.
“Lady Shanael, I will escort you to the grand ballroom.”
While I was resting after finishing my preparations, a knight of the Crown Prince’s personal guard arrived.
I thought I’d go alone, but apparently, His Highness was determined to make sure I attended—even sending an escort.
“I’ll be going now,” I told Nancy, and followed the knight out.
As we walked, he went ahead to check for obstacles, opened doors for me, and generally treated me with great care.
On the way to the ballroom, I saw other nobles heading the same way—some escorted by knights like me, others chatting cheerfully with their sisters or friends.
When we reached the grand entrance, servants were checking names against a list. I was about to present mine, but the knight extended his arm and led me straight in.
“Lady Shanael does not require invitation confirmation. Please, this way.”
As the knight escorted me through the entrance, I noticed several people whispering, “Which family is she from?”
They weren’t gossiping maliciously—it was simply that the ball was meant for mingling among noble families, so unfamiliar faces drew attention.
I ignored their curious stares and quietly followed my escort.
When I stepped into the ballroom, I couldn’t help exclaiming, “Waaah!”—and immediately felt countless eyes on me.
“Ahem, Lady Shanael,” the knight murmured gently, hinting that I should keep my voice down.
I quickly closed my mouth and tried to behave more demurely.
But truly, the sight was breathtaking.
Even though I’d been living in a lavish detached palace, this was on a completely different level—so beautiful that I wondered if heaven itself could look like this.
The hall was pure white, yet every inch of it shimmered with intricate artistry.
The domed ceiling was painted with vivid scenes from ancient myths, and the white marble pillars were carved with graceful angels.
The marble floor sparkled as though inlaid with diamonds, and the chandelier—enormous as the sun—glowed with a brilliance that scattered tiny rainbows through the air.
And the people! Everyone glittered like jewels under the light. My tiara looked like a simple hairpin compared to the glittering gems adorning their hair, necks, and arms.
From afar, the crowd must have looked like a sea of living gemstones—a festival of light.
When I once wrote about a ball scene, the critique that came back in that sky-blue envelope said, “This is sloppier than a village gathering.”
Now, I understood exactly why.
The knight led me to one of the circular tables set along the edge of the ballroom and pulled out a chair for me.
“Please, have a seat here.”
“Thank you.”
It was apparently a reserved seat—my nameplate stood neatly on the table.
He helped me sit and explained courteously,
“Lady Shanael, if you have any issues with your dress or hair, there is a powder room to the left of the entrance. If you wish to leave early, I’ll be waiting in the lounge to the right.”
“I’ll handle my return myself, so you may go.”
“As you wish. Enjoy the evening, my lady.”
He bowed and departed.
Only then did I realize the problem—my seat was right next to the head table where the Emperor and Crown Prince would sit.
Great. No chance of slipping out unnoticed now.
Still, maybe I could sneak away later.
I glanced at the nameplates—mine simply said Shanael Weber, while the one beside it read Young Lord Millian of House Memerus.
Memerus… isn’t that the family with the stag emblem?
As I recalled my conversation with Berin from yesterday, I was about to look closer when someone suddenly sat down beside me.
The man had strikingly dark hair with a bluish sheen—an uncommon color in the Empire.
I thought he was from Zenova for a second.
He resembled the “Northern Grand Duke” from a stage play I’d once seen, though unlike the other men in elegant suits, he wore a black military uniform.
Golden cords hung from one shoulder, and an anchor-shaped insignia gleamed on the other.
A soldier? A naval officer, maybe?
He must’ve felt my gaze, because he looked at me, then at the nameplate, and back at me again—his deep blue eyes assessing, almost dissecting.
“…A commoner?”
It was so quiet I couldn’t tell if he was speaking to me or to himself.
When I looked up, he was staring right at me, so I answered,
“Yes.”
“Hmm, I see. Then why would they seat you at my table…?”
His tone wasn’t rude—more curious than anything—and he soon looked away.
Most nobles would recognize my name immediately, but from his words and expression, it seemed he truly had no idea who I was.
Good. Let’s keep it that way.
Once this ball ended, we’d likely never meet again. I just wanted to stay quiet until then.
But it was starting to feel uncomfortably awkward—like being stuck on an unwanted blind date.
“His Imperial Majesty enters!”
Everyone rose as the Emperor and Crown Prince appeared at the head table. I stood too, and as I glanced up, I accidentally locked eyes with the Crown Prince.
He smiled faintly at me—just for a moment—then returned to his composed expression and swept his gaze over the hall.
The murmur among the guests grew louder as they noticed that His Highness, instead of his usual formal uniform, was wearing a sky-blue evening suit.
“Oh my, His Highness must be planning to ask someone to dance tonight.”
“My daughter’s debut is today—what incredible luck!”
Just his outfit alone sent waves of excitement through the tables—well, all except mine.
The man beside me and I sipped our tea in silence, as though we’d come here for an afternoon chat, not a grand ball.
The orchestra began to play, announcing the official start of the event.
As the elegant music filled the room, the young ladies making their debut entered one by one, bowing gracefully to the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince clapped politely but without emotion, while the Emperor beamed warmly at each girl.
The last time I’d seen the Emperor’s face was during my trial—his eyes had been filled with contempt then.
So now, watching him smile so kindly at others… felt strangely unfamiliar, almost surreal.
