Chapter 62
Lydia’s ordered dresses arrived the next day.
“They’re my gift.”
There were two dresses Lydia had chosen and paid for herself, without Leopold or anyone else’s involvement. When Eleanor tried to give her money, Lydia turned her down with a bright smile.
“My sister’s little sister is rich.”
She said it proudly, shoulders straight, and Eleanor couldn’t help but laugh. Every time Lydia was this lovable, it became clear once more why she was the story’s heroine.
One was a white dress trimmed with lace along the bodice, and the other a crimson dress with a V-neckline that draped over the shoulders.
The two were displayed next to the dresses made by Migelon.
Once clothes, jewelry, and every other detail were prepared, the three-day ball to welcome the delegation from the Kingdom of Lyraphil began.
The ball was a battlefield for noble ladies.
Even the preparation time before attending was a long, grueling battle. They rose at dawn to prepare for a party that began at dusk.
If that wasn’t war, what was?
Although Eleanor had gone to bed early the night before, waking at such an hour was torture. She especially suffered, being fond of sleeping in. Back in Oklama, duty had woken her; here in Bayern, having to rise for a ball from the very first day made her want to die.
“Young Lady, don’t frown.”
Lisa gasped when she saw Eleanor’s furrowed brow. At a time when even a smile had to be measured, a scowl was unthinkable!
Scolded by her maid, Eleanor forced her facial muscles into a semblance of composure.
She spent three hours bathing, having rose oil rubbed into her skin until it was soft and fragrant, and having her hair brushed for an hour until it flowed smooth as silk.
Food in the meantime?
A thin soup, a small piece of white bread, and a glass of wine.
‘This is basically a prisoner’s diet.’
Perhaps because it was a party hosted specially by the Imperial Family to welcome the Lyraphil Crown Prince, preparation was harsher than usual.
Only Eleanor, rising at dawn to be groomed all day, felt like she was dying.
No—her maids were, too. They couldn’t even eat, being busy tending to their lady’s appearance.
Since her dress mustn’t be creased before she even arrived, her hair was arranged first.
Her hair was pinned up to match her off-shoulder gown, which emphasized her neckline, collarbone, and shoulders.
A pearl-studded flower pin was set in place, stray hairs were smoothed, and a few strands were left to fall naturally.
Her broad, white forehead was carefully framed without looking stifled.
“Allow me to help you change into your dress.”
After sitting still for so long, Eleanor’s muscles screamed. She bit back the urge to groan and moved to the dressing room.
The maids carefully removed Migelon’s gown from its mannequin and dressed her in it.
The waistline had already been generous, but after eating so little, it hung loose.
“Migelon sent fresh flowers for decoration.”
Blue and white blossoms, tastefully arranged, were fastened at her waist, making her figure look even more radiant.
Lisa straightened the veil at the sleeves and the hemline with care before leading Eleanor back to the vanity.
Piece by piece, she put on the topaz jewelry set she had received for her eighteenth birthday. The colors matched the blue-green shades of her gown.
Thin gold rings adorned her left index, and her right ring and pinky fingers.
“You’re so beautiful, My Lady.”
Lisa’s praise was heartfelt. Eleanor gave her a weary smile, exhausted even before the ball had begun.
“Thank you.”
“You mustn’t look tired once you’re there. You know that, right?”
Even if she wanted to, there were far too many eyes watching her.
“I’m already exhausted.”
“No excuses—it’s time to leave.”
Though she’d suffered as much as Eleanor, Lisa seemed lively, pride in her handiwork giving her strength.
What a remarkable maid.
With her maids’ dedication in mind, Eleanor straightened her back and held her posture. She would endure three hours as if dead, then come back.
“Take my hand, My Lady.”
Lisa reached out, ready to guide her to the carriage waiting on the first floor. With such a cumbersome dress, Eleanor couldn’t move easily on her own.
She took Lisa’s hand and descended the stairs, other maids lifting her train to keep it from brushing the floor.
“Sister!”
Lydia greeted her, lovely as a living pink daisy.
Unlike Eleanor, Lydia wore the emerald bracelet Ernst had gifted her.
“You look so beautiful today!”
“Thank you. You’re prettier.”
Eleanor returned the compliment with a soft smile.
And truly, Lydia’s small white face gleamed brighter than ever today.
Seeing her glow like a polished egg, Eleanor suddenly worried.
What if the Lyraphil Crown Prince fell for Lydia and caused trouble?
The male leads would handle it, of course, but with a face like that, she feared advances even if Lydia already had a partner.
Eleanor looked at Ernst, Lydia’s partner for the evening.
“Ernst.”
“Yes, Sister.”
“You must protect Lydia.”
“Don’t worry.”
He gave a reassuring smile. Somehow, through fierce competition, Ernst had been chosen as Lydia’s escort.
Compared to volatile Vincent, overly eye-catching Leopold, or Sinclair, Ernst was the best choice.
‘Lucky break.’
If Ernst was with her, even if the Crown Prince tried to flirt, there would be no flying spells or clashing swords. Ernst would cut him down with cold, logical words.
“Let’s go.”
As Eleanor moved toward the carriage waiting outside, Ernst’s gaze flicked to her wrist and stilled.
It was a topaz bracelet—but not the one he’d given her. He had chosen a simple yet distinctive design with her tastes in mind, but what she wore was only plain.
“…That’s not the one I gave you.”
He hesitated, noticing the bracelet’s round silver links set with clustered topaz.
Eleanor had already felt guilty, sensing his gaze. It was rude to replace a gift with something similar.
“This is an important event. I thought it best to wear what my parents gave me.”
By invoking her parents, she made her excuse irrefutable. It wasn’t even a lie.
“I see.”
Ernst smiled again, hiding his disappointment. That was just like him—among the male leads, he was the most restrained with his emotions.
At the carriage, they parted ways. Lydia entered with Ernst, while Eleanor rode alone.
Two Stikoff family carriages set off toward the Imperial Palace.
The closer the palace loomed, the more tense Eleanor became. After her broken engagement, she had left society, then gone down to Oklama, only to return after two months.
No wonder she was nervous at her first ball in so long.
Her carriage stopped at the arched palace gate. Eleanor stepped out first, before Lydia and Ernst.
She approached the steward verifying guests’ identities.
Upon confirming hers, he cried out:
“Lady Eleanor Stikoff of House Stikoff enters!”
The golden-engraved doors swung wide. Eleanor stepped gracefully forward, her long train trailing behind.
Inside the hall, filled with nobles, a lively melody played.
As she entered, conversations paused, glances flickering toward her. Accustomed to such stares, she ignored them and looked around.
She spotted wavy violet hair and moved quickly toward it.
Stella, who had also noticed her, approached with a grin.
“Oh, Eleanor.”
She looked her friend up and down, taking in her dressed-up figure.
“That gown suits you so well—you look like you could slip into the sky and disappear.”
Eleanor chuckled softly. Stella, in her puff-sleeved dark violet gown, looked equally stunning.
It suited her petite frame and sharp, catlike features, giving her both cuteness and bite.
“Thanks. Your dress is perfect today.”
“I scoured every atelier in Bayern just to attend this silly ball.”
Stella muttered for Eleanor’s ears only.
“All so we’ll look nice for some foreign prince.”
“Think positively. We’re here to look nice for the Emperor and Empress.”
Neither of them had the slightest desire to catch the Crown Prince’s eye. They’d rather be “wallflowers.”
The term “wallflower” described noble ladies pushed aside, left at the edges of a party, barely mingling. A pretty word for someone standing against the wall, excluded.
Eleanor and Stella always chose that role willingly. Eleanor lost initiative at any ball where Lydia was the star, and Stella never liked crowded places.
Thus, they were regular wallflowers.
“Lord Ernst Lerner and Lady Lydia Stikoff of House Stikoff enter!”
As Eleanor and Stella chatted, Ernst and Lydia appeared.
Holding Ernst’s hand, Lydia drew every gaze, captivating the hall at once. Eleanor felt anew the heroine’s presence.
‘Lydia really is Lydia.’
Her very entrance stirred the room, whether people liked it or not.
“…Did you tell your sister about the Crown Prince?”
Watching Lydia with her shy smile beside Ernst, Stella asked suddenly.
“Yes. The Crown Prince himself unofficially confirmed it.”
Eleanor had warned her not to draw attention, lest she be chosen as Lyraphil’s bride. But when Lydia could steal hearts just by breathing… was it possible?
If the Crown Prince had eyes, he would lose his soul to her.
‘Though with those men guarding her, not a chance.’
Eleanor shrugged as she saw Vincent approach Lydia, shirt collar open despite his formalwear. He would snatch her hand from Ernst and growl like the red-haired beast he was before anyone else could even speak to her.
“Want to head over there? Daniel’s there too.”
Stella took a cocktail from a passing tray and nodded. Indeed, Daniel was already standing against the wall like a wallflower.
“Sure, let’s go.”
Eleanor went with her friend to greet Daniel, Stella’s fiancé and Eleanor’s academy classmate.
“Hello, Daniel.”
“Long time, Eleanor.”
With long light-brown hair falling to his shoulders and pale green eyes, Daniel had a gentle, fragile air.
Eleanor had to admit his nickname, “beanpole,” made sense—he was tall and lanky.
His complexion was so pale and delicate that even blue veins showed, likely from his indoor work as an imperial secretary.
“How have you been?”
“Good. And you? I heard about Oklama from Stella.”
Since they met weekly as an engaged couple, Daniel kept up with his fiancée’s best friend’s news.
“I’ve been very well.”
“And your injury? Are you okay?”
“Of course. It’s already been a month.”
“Good. Stella worried a lot.”
His gaze softened toward Stella, who sipped her cocktail with feigned indifference.
“I wanted to go down then, but he stopped me.”
“If you’d gone suddenly, Eleanor would have been shocked.”
“Well done, Daniel.”
If Stella had rushed down for a minor injury, Eleanor would have been mortified. She was grateful for Daniel’s thoughtfulness.
“You’re Stella’s friend… and we were all classmates at the academy.”
Perhaps worried she’d feel excluded, Daniel mentioned that too.
He suddenly paled at how quickly Stella was downing her drink.
“Stella, don’t gulp it so fast—even if it’s just a cocktail.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
She pouted. Eleanor smiled fondly at the pair.
A fiery little kitten and a wobbly stork—they actually fit quite well.
If only Daniel weren’t so far from her usual type, and if they weren’t both so busy, they could marry soon. Still, for an arranged engagement, they seemed genuinely happy, with good prospects for a peaceful marriage.
For a strong-willed woman like Stella, a gentle, affectionate man like Daniel was a stroke of luck.
Stella herself admitted that if she’d met someone exactly like her, they’d have fallen apart already.
“I’m not a child.”
“Of course not. Stella may be small, but she’s an adult.”
“…Eleanor, are you betraying me right now?”
“Haha.”
They laughed and chatted until the last noble guest had arrived. Then came the time for the royals’ entrance. The orchestra stopped playing, the signal.
The steward’s voice boomed louder than ever.
“His Imperial Majesty, Her Imperial Majesty, and His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince enter!”
The cry filled the hall. Nobles split along the red carpet, bowed their heads, and straightened their postures.
Emperor Gifrein of the Tritan Empire and Empress Cecilia walked side by side, Crown Prince Leopold following behind.
Gifrein, wearing his crown and carrying his scepter, stepped with majesty. Cecilia, wearing her tiara, held her head gracefully.
Leopold crossed the hall with equal authority.
“Raise your heads.”
Gifrein spoke softly, but all heard him clearly. Nobles lifted their heads but kept their eyes lowered.
“It has been thirty years since my sister Gianna became Queen of Lyraphil, forging relations between our nations.”
His amethyst gaze, so like Leopold’s, swept slowly across the hall, commanding all.
His voice carried the charisma of one who had ruled for decades.
“To mark thirty years of ties, this year’s delegation includes a special guest.”
Not a single arrogant noble dared miss a word.
“None other than Crown Prince Ilya of the Kingdom of Lyraphil.”
Though his voice was low, the weight of his words was suffocating.
“I thank all the nobles of Bayern for attending tonight, to honor Crown Prince Ilya.”
Eleanor recalled, for a fleeting moment, that the real purpose was to find him a bride. But she wisely kept that thought to herself.
“Enjoy the welcome ball, which shall last three days. Steward, admit the Lyraphil delegation!”
At the Emperor’s command, the steward hurried to open the doors.
“Crown Prince Ilya of the Kingdom of Lyraphil and his delegation enter!”
Through the wide-open doors, the Lyraphil Crown Prince Ilya and his retinue appeared.
