🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 15
“Shh.”
“She’s here. Everyone, quiet down.”
The musicians played louder, and the attendants, who had been standing still against the wall, moved in unison to create a path in the center of the hall.
As the Emperor took his seat, the Empress and the Crown Prince sat on either side of him.
The nobles kept their mouths tightly shut, only coughing now and then while cautiously gauging the mood.
Thus began the party, shrouded in an atmosphere more peculiar and subdued than ever before.
There were a few who tried to approach the royals to flatter them, but the number was far fewer than usual.
It was understandable—this was a monumental occasion.
After all, the dukedom stood just below the imperial family.
That silence didn’t last long. As time passed and discontent brewed, people gradually began to speak up.
“Why hasn’t the young lady appeared yet?”
“She should’ve been here before His Majesty arrived!”
Their words hovered just on the edge of being audible to the Emperor, and the speakers were just barely identifiable.
But the Emperor simply sipped from the cup the attendant had brought and said nothing. The Empress, too, hid her face behind her fan without a word.
“D-Duke, perhaps you should say something to His Majesty.”
“No matter how noble she may be, it’s outrageous for a woman with such a history to inherit a duchy!”
Among the murmuring crowd, only the Crown Prince was gracefully dealing with the nobles who came to curry favor.
He was as elegant, composed, and beautiful as ever.
Clink—!
Suddenly, the sharp sound of something shattering rang in everyone’s ears, plunging the hall into silence.
“Oh my.”
The culprit opened his mouth.
“Are you alright?”
It was the Crown Prince who spoke.
The already tense nobles were quick to turn, eyes blazing, trying to find the cause of the commotion—but the moment they saw who it was, their anger instantly dissipated.
Instead, everyone’s eyes turned toward the source of the sound.
There knelt a trembling nobleman, his knees on the floor. In front of him lay a broken ceremonial longsword and a lacquered wooden box shattered across the marble floor.
“I-I’m terribly sorry, Your Highness. I dropped it by mistake…”
“Oh dear, you must be frightened. It’s alright—go ahead and stand up.”
Though his tone was gentle, there was a chilling edge to his words.
Under the Crown Prince’s magnanimity, the incident was brushed off as a minor mishap.
The noble, face burning red, hastily began to collect himself.
But the once-broken atmosphere didn’t recover easily—everyone was too distracted to resume conversation and could only observe.
In the midst of this, a count’s daughter who had been criticizing Lady Mertiel approached the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness, I’ve brought a gift as well. If you could spare a moment…”
People perked their ears, wondering who dared approach the Crown Prince now. But upon seeing who it was, they all nodded knowingly.
She was a noblewoman famous for having harbored a long, unrequited love for the Crown Prince since childhood.
Her family had close ties to the Emperor and the nobility, and she had even been considered a candidate for the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
“Would you take a look? It’s a pendant made from a newly imported mineral…”
Countess Henya Giselle smiled confidently as the Crown Prince looked down at her.
“Who cares about some flawed noble lady who’s never even shown her face in society?”
She was certain the Crown Prince didn’t approve of Lady Mertiel inheriting the title either.
So today, she was more confident than ever.
“Your Highness… about that, may I have the honor of your first dance tonight?”
With no other rivals vying for his attention due to the tense atmosphere, she believed this was her moment.
She had waited so long for his gaze to meet hers—since childhood.
Maybe, just maybe, she could finally capture his heart, especially now when the mood was subdued.
“The young lady must be disappointed, losing her moment to shine tonight.”
She was clever, and knew how to seize opportunities.
When the Crown Prince turned his head toward her, Henya’s face lit up with anticipation.
But that anticipation proved foolish.
“My lady, as someone who cares for you, let me give you a word of advice… It would be wise to revisit the meaning of a ‘first dance.’”
“…Pardon?”
Henya froze like a statue.
The Crown Prince leaned in and lowered his voice.
“Unfortunately, someone’s already waiting for me.”
She didn’t even have time to digest his words—
Because the true star of the evening had finally arrived.
“Lady Inerra Mertiel has arrived!”
Without even using magic to amplify his voice, the attendant at the door announced her entrance.
At that modest volume, every head in the hall turned sharply.
The atmosphere shifted—subtly, yet distinctly.
Like beasts holding their breath, ready to bare their fangs at their prey.
The doors opened. Dozens of sharp eyes roamed the room in search of their target.
But the moment they saw the petite figure stepping into the grand hall, they couldn’t help but lower their gaze.
Lady Mertiel had arrived, and no one could take their eyes off her.
“Oh my!”
Gasps echoed from all directions.
What caught the eye first was her jet-black hair—so dark and smooth it looked like it absorbed the light. No one else in the Empire had such hair.
Each step she took sent ripples through her glossy waves, drawing attention like a magnet.
“That’s… Lady Mertiel, right?”
“…”
“…”
Her flawless, porcelain-like skin contrasted starkly against her dark hair, making it seem even paler.
Though her downturned eyes gave a gentle impression, the long gray irises beneath her thick lashes were so vivid and deep they felt like they would pull you in.
With her large eyes, high nose, and red lips all arranged in perfect harmony, her delicate face seemed to leave no room for flaws.
But more captivating than her looks was her posture—her straight shoulders, upright stance, and calm gaze as she looked ahead.
She was regal.
It was the highest praise one noble could offer another.
Her gown, high heels, and fur shawl suited her air perfectly.
No one dared block her path.
How could someone so small exude such confidence and decisiveness?
Like royalty, Lady Mertiel strode through the hall toward the front.
Everyone stared in silence.
No one dared to speak.
✦ ✦ ✦
“There are so many people.”
No matter how people judged my appearance, I was still surprised by how many had gathered just to see me.
I’d never stood before so many people in my life.
I approached the Emperor and bent my knees, placing a hand over my chest as I gave a proper greeting.
“Your Majesty, Inerra Mertiel greets you.”
My clear, unembellished voice echoed through the hall.
As if seeing me for the first time, the Emperor raised his hand.
“So the daughter of House Mertiel stands before me. You may raise your head.”
At his words, I lifted my gaze.
There, seated above all, was the Emperor, looking down at me.
On either side of him were the Empress and Crown Prince—but I dared not turn my head or even move my eyes in their direction.
The prickling sensation of countless stares crawling up my back was overwhelming.
“There’s no need to waste time. Everyone here knows why we’ve gathered.”
When I looked up, the Emperor slowly stood from his seat.
“Everyone has waited long enough.”
His voice rang powerfully throughout the hall.
“I am most pleased that Lady Mertiel has joined us today.”
I lifted my eyes further.
“Come forward, my lady!”
If I had learned anything from my previous life, it was this:
Power is survival.
And I…
“Today is a day for you.”
…had spent my previous life at the bottom, treated worse than filth, simply because I lacked power.
I stepped forward toward the Emperor.
