🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 13
Adeline let out a small sigh after leaving her advice with Oscar. The moment she turned around, her eyes met Olivia’s—who had clearly been looking for her.
“And here I was, trying to avoid the girls by slipping away to the terrace…”
Of course, it was hard not to be noticed when one’s dress was so extravagant. She was one of the most dazzlingly dressed people in the entire ballroom. Hoping to stay unnoticed while dressed like this was pure foolishness.
“Adeline! Where have you been? I turned around for one second and you were gone! Do you know how long Isana and I have been looking for you? We almost told His Majesty you were missing!”
“I just went out to the terrace to get some fresh air. It wasn’t that long—why are you so flustered?”
“Lady Camilla is performing the Oute Dance! Come on, we have to watch!”
Before Adeline could answer, Olivia grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the center of the hall. The Lady Camilla Olivia spoke of was the young lady of House Sandviken—the sister of Teros. Five years older than him, she had succeeded her father as the head of the Sandviken duchy after Teros became the King Consort.
In her previous life, Adeline had always found Duchess Camilla Sandviken difficult to deal with—not because she was Teros’s sister, but because she had constantly opposed Adeline’s imperial policies. Her criticisms were sharp and cutting, even when wrapped in polite words.
There was no other way to describe her—Camilla Sandviken was the viper of the noble faction.
While Grand Duke Oderon represented the nobles’ interests publicly, Camilla used her influence and private soldiers to apply political pressure and steer the empire in directions that benefited her. Remembering the vile laws she had once forced through still made Adeline’s skin crawl.
A snake—that was how Adeline thought of her. Outwardly beautiful and graceful, shrewd enough to maintain her reputation as the “flower of high society,” but underneath, she was utterly ruthless. No one realized how black her heart was. Adeline herself had once been fooled, even admired her. By the time she realized the woman’s true nature, it had been far too late.
If Teros could betray her so coldly, then his sister—the even more calculating Camilla Sandviken—must have sided with Oderon long before Adeline ever discovered the plot.
Adeline’s gaze turned icy as she looked upon Camilla, who was smiling brilliantly on the dance floor. Dressed in a violet satin gown few debutantes could ever pull off, she glowed like a spring hyacinth in full bloom.
She was the envy and the idol of young noblewomen, and the subject of every young man’s admiration. The chandeliers’ light shimmered across her flawless skin, and her sharp eyes seemed bright and intelligent. Her beauty and grace were every bit as famous as her brother’s swordsmanship. She was, without question, the destined jewel of high society.
Adeline wanted nothing more than to pour scalding water over that smug face and throw her off the terrace. No—perhaps that wouldn’t even be enough. Even blinding her and selling her off to the slums of the Eastern Continent wouldn’t quench the hatred burning inside her.
But she was only a twelve-year-old princess now—still powerless. No matter how much she longed to destroy Camilla Sandviken and her house, there was nothing she could do yet. Who would listen if she accused the young lady of treason that hadn’t even happened?
All she could do was watch—coldly, quietly.
Camilla’s Oute Dance was as graceful as it was flawless. Her elegant movements drew gasps and applause from the guests.
Adeline scoffed at the admiration that echoed through the ballroom, studying Camilla with narrowed eyes. How should I deal with her when the time comes? she wondered darkly.
Then she noticed something—Camilla’s gaze kept returning to a single person.
The young lady’s eyes, as she twirled across the floor, weren’t drifting toward the handsome noble youths but toward… the Emperor.
Adeline frowned. Why?
At first glance, it might have seemed accidental—the Emperor just happened to stand in her line of sight. But Adeline knew Camilla too well. That woman was deliberate. Calculated. She never did anything without a reason.
But what was her aim?
Then Adeline caught the look in Camilla’s eyes—and the realization hit her like lightning. Her stomach twisted violently. So that’s what this is… That performance years ago—it was all part of a plan!
In her previous life, she hadn’t understood it. But now, with all her experience as the future Empress, she could see it clearly: Camilla Sandviken was trying to seduce the Emperor. She was recreating the legendary scene in which the late Empress—Adeline’s mother—had captured the Emperor’s heart through the very same dance.
Back then, Adeline had dismissed the rumors that Camilla kept delaying her marriage because of the Emperor’s interest in her. She had assumed it was just idle gossip among bored noblewomen.
It made sense at the time. Camilla was the darling of society, adored by countless suitors, and—most importantly—Teros’s sister. How absurd to think she could harbor romantic feelings for her best friend’s father, the Emperor himself!
The age gap alone made it unthinkable. Yet now, seeing her dance, Adeline realized the rumors were true.
She remembered clearly now: at that very birthday banquet years ago, her father had watched Camilla dance with an unfamiliar expression—an expression of yearning.
Adeline’s stomach turned. She covered her mouth, disgusted. Just the sight of the woman made her want to retch. But at least one thing was reassuring: both then and now, Camilla had failed to win the Emperor’s heart.
Her father had left the position of Empress empty until his death, refusing to take another wife despite the efforts of countless noble families. That was why Adeline had been able to inherit the throne without contest.
As Adeline recalled these memories, Camilla’s Oute Dance ended to a thunder of applause. Her flushed face glowed delicately as she curtsied, smiling shyly in response to the praise.
“She’s amazing! I could never dance like that,” Olivia said in awe.
Isana, who had appeared beside them, immediately objected. “I disagree. If we practice hard enough, we could dance like Lady Sandviken too. We’ve learned the Oute Dance before, haven’t we, Adeline?”
“Yes,” Adeline replied curtly.
Isana’s eyes gleamed. It was the look of someone who had just found an opportunity.
“Adeline, you could dance just as beautifully as Lady Camilla! And now’s your chance—the floor’s already clear. Go on, Adeline! I’m sure Lady Sandviken herself would love to see the princess’s dance.”
Olivia’s eyes went wide. “Wait! What if Adeline embarrasses herself? You saw how difficult that dance was! It takes months of training—you can’t just improvise an Oute Dance! Don’t do it, Adeline.”
“That’s not true! Adeline can do it. You saw how flawlessly she danced the Bas Dance. Why are you doubting her? I believe in her—Adeline will be amazing!”
Their bickering drew attention, even from Camilla herself. The duchess approached gracefully, her steps poised and deliberate, and spoke just loud enough to silence the two girls.
“I believe so as well.”
Olivia blinked in confusion, not understanding why Lady Camilla had joined the conversation. Isana, however, caught her meaning immediately.
“Of course! You believe in Her Highness too, don’t you, my lady?”
Camilla smiled serenely. “Indeed. I believe Her Highness will dance a splendid Oute Dance. Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”
From a distance, Countess Illisy—the woman in charge of Adeline’s etiquette training—furrowed her brow. She could see the trap instantly.
A young duchess of House Sandviken, daring to suggest that the princess attempt such a demanding dance before the entire court—it was an elegant form of mockery.
The Countess had no doubt: Camilla was deliberately setting the young princess up for humiliation, using sweet words to provoke her into failure.
Yes, Adeline could perform the Oute Dance perfectly—but how would Lady Camilla know that? The duchess was clearly expecting her to stumble.
Realizing the danger, the Countess hurried toward Adeline. A single misstep could ruin the princess’s birthday celebration and make her the laughingstock of the court.
But before she could intervene, Adeline calmly replied to Camilla.
“Since you both believe in me, I suppose I must live up to your expectations.”
Isana’s face lit up. “That’s the spirit, Adeline! I can’t wait to see!”
“Wait, are you serious?” Olivia gasped. “You’re really going to do it? Adeline, please—think this through!”
Before the Countess could stop her, Adeline turned to her with a polite smile.
“You’re worried for me, I see. Thank you for your concern, madam. But look around you—doesn’t it seem like everyone is waiting for me to dance?”
And indeed, she was right. The argument had drawn every eye in the ballroom. Even the Emperor was watching now.
Seeing that there was no way to stop what had already begun, the Countess could only sigh helplessly.
Adeline gestured to the musicians, and the lively strains of the Oute Dance began once more.
The hall fell into hushed anticipation as the young princess stepped gracefully onto the center of the floor.
She glanced once at Isana, once at Camilla—and a faint, knowing smile curved her lips.
Something dangerous and brilliant flickered in her golden eyes.
