TSMT 47

Chapter 47

Taly’s Ball

“Did you hear about Lady Brien? My goodness, she’s going to appear at Taly’s Ball.”

“What? But she hasn’t even debuted in society yet!”

Inside the duke’s castle, young ladies who had already made their social debut were gathered around a card game. It was a snowy winter day, when outdoor activities were impossible, so the ladies often entertained themselves with such small amusements.

On one side of the lounge, some were drinking tea. Among them was Lady Rubian, Sarubia. She paused her teacup halfway when she overheard their conversation. Unlike the rather bleak winters of Lodbrok with no festivals, Panborough was full of interesting events. The corners of Lady Rubian’s lips lifted as she joined their talk.

“Oh my, I can’t wait to see Lady Brien participate! She must look adorable!”

Lady Rubian beamed brightly. Since Diana had not formally debuted in society, she had no close acquaintances. That left her feeling awkward whenever she entered such rooms.

“Foreigners are allowed to participate, so shouldn’t even a lady who hasn’t debuted yet be allowed as well?”

Unlike the reserved and quiet Diana, Sarubia was kind and warm in her speech. And being a foreigner, unlike Lady Brien, she had no reason to clash with others. Plus, she was pretty. Because of this, Sarubia blended easily with the group.

“Foreigners are fine.”

“But I’m not sure if it’s proper for someone who hasn’t even debuted in society to participate in Taly’s Ball, even if it is a dance competition.”

The others nodded in agreement. Even though this was a competition rather than a regular ball, Diana was still underage and not yet of debut age. Quite a few looked down on Diana, the only lady-in-waiting to the princess among the young girls.

“I’d rather you win instead.”

Someone said so, glancing at Sarubia. After all, if Duke Brien was hosting Taly’s Ball, wasn’t it obvious who the winner would be—his daughter.

“But I still haven’t properly mastered Taly’s Dance.”

“Oh, my lady? But I’ve heard plenty about the ‘Flower of Lodbrok.’ They say you take well to dancing too, don’t they?”

“You flatter me. I should be careful not to insult Panborough’s culture.”

The lady smiled. Her humble attitude of respecting another nation’s culture softened the noble girls’ expressions.

“Even a foreigner makes such efforts to show respect.”

“Exactly.”

Everyone knew what was being left unsaid. They all harbored resentment toward Diana Brien.

“Well, Lady Brien certainly is diligent.”

“Yes. She goes in and out of the palace every day, after all.”

Familiar complaints filled the air. Sarubia rolled her eyes and smiled. Poison bloomed on her beautiful face. She was the type who found delight in creating a common enemy and then watching that enemy struggle.

In this room, she wanted all the attention for herself.

“Oh right. So will you be taking that slave with you?”

At another lady’s question, Lady Rubian answered sweetly.

“Poor thing. He even tried to kill himself because he couldn’t bear to leave his master.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she recalled the look of that slave who had once gazed at her. A fine-looking man, with jet-black hair and attractively bronzed skin.

Lady Rubian remembered the duke’s words. When she asked for the suicidal slave, the duke had watched her for a long moment before speaking quietly:

“Then how about we grant him as a prize to the winner of Taly’s Ball?”

At his subtle suggestion, Lady Rubian had giggled as though she knew nothing.

“But Lady Brien will win, won’t she?”

“I do not make my daughter the winner simply because she participates.”

The duke’s answer had been firm, his expression reassuring.

If she were to take the slave, she would first bind and gag him. Then she would train him to look only at her. She wondered with anticipation what expression that lofty young lady would make when her slave was taken from her.

Truly, she couldn’t wait.

Lady Rubian smiled like a radiant poisonous flower.

Sarubia Rubian had disliked Diana Brien from the very beginning. In truth, it stemmed from the way Lodbrok Kingdom viewed Panborough.

Lodbrok was a land scarce in resources, plagued by frequent monsters, where only “strength” mattered. They longed for Panborough’s rich lands, its flourishing culture, its brilliant festivals.

Unlike Lodbrok—where dukes of royal blood repeatedly plunged the kingdom into civil wars—Panborough had been ruled continuously by a royal family of ancient lineage. It was the land of nobility itself.

When Grand Duke Blake established an academy modeled after Panborough’s capital and fostered culture, Lodbrok began imitating Panborough in earnest. To outsiders, the neighboring kingdoms might look similar. But in truth, even a single festival revealed the difference.

In Taly’s Ball, one didn’t merely dance gracefully. One became the Goddess of Winter herself, and the best dancer of the year was praised as “that year’s Taly.” Sarubia envied such traditions and had practiced Taly’s Dance diligently.

Besides, this ball allowed one to attend royal court dances afterward.

In fact, everything about her being here was intentional. During winter, Panborough’s society moved to the ducal castle, not the palace, making entry easier for foreigners.

It was a chance worth taking. She was searching for a husband. Lodbrok had only an aging prince, but here Panborough had two princes. Wouldn’t becoming a princess consort be wonderful?

That was why Diana bothered her even more. Perhaps it was the arrogance of the hosting house, but Diana had made no effort to befriend Sarubia. Everyone seemed to talk about Diana, and she was even considered a strong candidate for princess consort.

Sarubia knew well that others’ kindness to her was only because she was a “guest.”

Even Ferdinand, who usually couldn’t take his eyes off her, occasionally spoke of Diana with concern. And as for Philip, there was nothing to say—he ran to Diana whenever he could and looked only at her when she was around.

Her beauty and sociable nature meant nothing to him. Unlike Ferdinand, Philip cared nothing for those things.

Diana Brien. What was so special about a mere thirteen-year-old child? The way everyone fawned over her just because she acted a little mature was laughable.

And clearly, Diana also disliked Sarubia. Otherwise, why make such a face whenever she looked at her? They must have been destined to clash from the start.

In any case, Sarubia would prove herself at Taly’s Ball—that Panborough was nothing special. With her victory, she would have an excuse to enter the palace throughout the year. She dreamed of sweet glory as she prepared for Taly’s Ball.

The grand hall, lit by sacred blue flames, filled with people. Since this was a dance ball rather than a banquet, a raised stage was built near the flames.

‘How strange,’ Sarubia thought.

Why would these noble ladies stand on a “stage”? Weren’t stages meant for lowly actors and dancers? What was the difference? She didn’t understand. Still, she liked the idea of standing higher than others.

At last, the ball began. Sarubia turned to Duke Brien, who was giving the opening address. As always, she thought his features were handsome but gave him an eerie air. His face seemed familiar somehow. Where had she seen it? Narrowing her eyes, she realized the speech had ended.

“And here are the judges who will choose today’s Taly!”

“Oh my!”

The crowd shrieked in excitement. Sarubia looked at those Duke Brien had brought in: priests, all dressed in white robes embroidered with golden dragons. At their center was a long-haired man with glasses.

“It’s Lord Krond!”

“Lord Rob is here too.”

“Good heavens, even Lord Akra has come?”

The nobles cried out in joy. Duke Brien smiled knowingly at their reaction.

“Out of a father’s greed, I was compelled to let my daughter participate as well. But of course, the judging must be fair. So I asked these eminent priests to oversee the competition.”

The duke bowed respectfully toward the priests, who stepped forward. From his deferential treatment, Sarubia realized they were no ordinary men.

“Who are they?” Lady Rubian asked.

Philip, who had been quietly standing nearby, explained:

“They’re priests. Well, I suppose Lodbrok wouldn’t know of them.”

“You see, this kingdom borders the Holy Nation, so faith is deeply rooted here. For events like Taly’s Festival, priests are usually invited to ensure fairness. And the ones who’ve come today are all renowned for their fairness, integrity, and incorruptibility.”

“……”

“To think such men were invited—well, we can guess whose idea that was.”

Philip smiled faintly. Sarubia’s brows furrowed at the sight. Lady Rubian looked again at the priests. Lodbrok’s relations with the Holy Nation were poor, after all.

Their founding king had slain the dragon whom these priests called the ‘Messenger of God.’

“In any case…”

“Oh, and don’t worry. A difference in religion will never result in a lower score. These men are beyond such things.”

Philip reassured her. Lady Rubian turned back toward Duke Brien. He had said he would ensure fairness—and it seemed he truly meant it.