Chapter 53
“Count Green is aligned with the Crown Prince faction, right?”
“……Yes.”
Currently, if you broadly divided the aristocratic world of the Pontrich Empire, there were two main factions: the Crown Prince faction and the Emperor faction. The Emperor faction referred to those supporting the Third Prince.
Those who wanted to elevate the Crown Prince to Emperor, and those who wished to crown the returning Third Prince, Adolf, as the new Emperor. Count Green had long been a prominent supporter of the Crown Prince faction.
He was not on good terms with Third Prince Adolf, nor with Emperor Pontrich, who favored Adolf, nor with the Whidrian Duke family, who, due to ties with the royal family, went searching for Adolf.
“When I was at the academy, Angela once casually mentioned to me that if she had attended the academy at home, she wouldn’t have been able to get close to me. She said her father didn’t like our family.”
“……Now that I think about it, the daughters of the Green family didn’t even attend your coming-of-age ball.”
It wasn’t that they didn’t come; they couldn’t. That was why the faces of influential socialites like Adela and Angela were unfamiliar to me.
“That’s right.”
Nick nodded.
“I’m certain. Angela is avoiding me because of her father.”
It made sense. I nodded in agreement.
“So, what do you plan to do now?”
“I’m honestly not sure.”
Nick sighed.
“It would be best to talk with Angela where Count Green can’t see us, but she refuses to look at me at all.”
“……”
“But I’ll figure out a way to make the opportunity happen.”
Nick spoke to me with a resolute air, as if making a promise to himself.
I watched him, then peeked my face slightly through the curtains. Far ahead, Adela Green could be seen, surrounded by young ladies.
…Adela really is popular.
She had sent me a note anyway, and I had planned to meet her today. I just needed to add Nick’s words to the situation in which I would meet Adela.
“I think I can arrange the meeting.”
“Eh?”
Nick tilted his head at my voice. I gestured slightly toward Adela beyond the curtain. Nick’s gaze followed.
“See? Adela Green.”
“……I know. She’s Angela’s older sister.”
“Yes. That girl is my friend.”
“……!”
Nick’s eyes widened.
A glance.
At that moment, Count Green’s gaze came toward us from afar. But I, cloaked in my mantle, did not see it.
Hours had already passed.
Adela had a small smile for the young ladies gathered around her. They chatted away about trivial matters, sharing every little detail.
Everything under the sun was discussed.
A gentleman at the debutante ball today was so handsome.
Adela’s younger sister, Angela, is truly beautiful.
Various hot topics in high society, like the Whidrian Duke couple and the return of the Third Prince.
News about jewelry shops and fashion houses in the capital.
Boring gossip.
I never quite adapted to the party atmosphere. No matter how prepared I came, it was always hard to endure. This year, perhaps because my lovely younger sister Angela had debuted, many people approached me.
“Shall we go dance now?”
“Miss Green, join us.”
Finally, an opportunity to escape. Adela smiled faintly.
“It’s okay. I just want a little rest. Go ahead.”
The chattering young ladies finally left.
As I lowered my smile, a twitch ran across my lips. They trembled briefly before settling.
‘I’m tired.’
Feeling the sudden fatigue, Adela set down the champagne she hadn’t even drunk. Perhaps it would have been less tedious if she were tipsy, but that wasn’t an option. She was waiting for someone.
‘Did he not come?’
She looked around.
‘Did he receive my note?’
The woman she had met at the riding grounds, whose name she didn’t know. If she had known, she would have remembered it. If she had known her father would find out she went to the riding grounds… she would have made sure to exchange names.
She didn’t want to lose this connection. Somehow, that woman had always brought Adela comfort. Since their mother had died early, there was no one to fulfill the maternal role for Adela and Angela. Even maids and nannies ultimately sided with their father.
Perhaps that was why Adela had come to rely on her. Going to the riding grounds was the only escape from this prison-like aristocratic life, a small joy in her existence.
Though she could no longer go there, she wanted to maintain that connection.
Yet, she did not appear. It was about time if she had received the note and intended to meet her. A sense of despair rose.
No matter how she looked around, there was no one resembling the woman from the riding grounds, despite her noticeable appearance.
Then, someone suddenly appeared before her.
“……!”
The mysterious figure wore a black cloak. Adela’s eyes widened.
Without a word, something was placed into Adela’s hand—a small note. The cloaked figure brushed past her and disappeared.
Could it be…?
Adela hastily opened the note. Written in neat handwriting were the words:
[See me at the fourth balcony from the right at the back of the ballroom.]
Adela’s eyes widened. Could it be…? The owner of the cloak…?
Her eyes lit up with anticipation as someone appeared before her.
Balconies were ideal for secret meetings.
I stood on the balcony where I had met Nick before. Choosing a discreet corner meant no one would likely come here.
I planned to meet Adela here. If possible, I also wanted her to meet Nick, but that could wait for another opportunity.
Today, I would reveal my identity to Adela: that I was Cassia Bennett, once the Duchess of Whidrian.
How would Adela react?
I was curious, but I smiled to myself. Adela would understand. And like Adolf, she would probably become a good friend. Maybe.
Considering our ages, it might seem unlikely—Adolf was in his mid-twenties, but Adela was probably the same age as Ken. Yet, such titles meant little. I wanted to call all positive relationships ‘friend.’
As I waited for Adela, someone drew aside the curtain and entered.
“Adela…”
I turned around. Adela was not behind me. Instead, Count Green stood there.
Count Green…?
He was cloaked. He looked at me without moving. Deep green hair, eyes that gave nothing away—a chilling presence.
Then he walked toward me.
Standing in front of me, the Count removed the hood of my cloak. In an instant, my face was revealed to him.
“……!”
“……”
His hand, having touched my head carelessly, dropped in an absurd fashion. I looked at him in surprise.
Count Green’s eyes, cold and unflinching, studied my face. He then moved outside onto the balcony.
A bad feeling settled in. I stood frozen for a moment, then pulled my hood back down and hurried after him.
The moment I stepped outside, I saw it: Count Green striking Adela across the cheek.
Smack!
A loud sound echoed through the ballroom, shattering the previously smooth, cheerful debutante atmosphere.
The sharp noise made several people scream. The music stopped. Silence fell.
Everyone stared at the two of them. Count Green spoke.
“Foolish.”
“……”
In his hand was the note Adela had held. She stood with vacant eyes, motionless.
Though all eyes were on him, Count Green didn’t seem inclined to retreat.
“Not content with sneaking around, now you toy with women like this?”
“……”
“Answer me.”
Adela remained silent, still. Then a voice rang out across the ballroom.
“What are you doing?”
Count Green turned toward the woman’s voice.
It was me. I had appeared, clearly angry.
I barely kept my composure, though from the moment Adela was struck, I had lost all patience.
“……”
Count Green didn’t answer. All eyes now turned to me.
I slowly removed my hat. The hood of my cloak fell behind me. The chandelier’s light fell on my face.
People’s eyes widened. The ballroom murmured.
“It’s Cassia, the Duchess of Whidrian.”
“That woman! That woman!”
The woman who had caused a stir in high society seven years ago, became a Duchess in place of a deceased friend, and then disappeared without a trace seven years later. Reluctantly or not, I was a topic in high society.
Again, countless eyes and whispers surrounded me.
