BVWG 30

chapter 30

The Count of Kairus, with his mysterious smile and fairy-like beauty, seemed to sense my confusion completely.

“Let’s put this topic aside for now.”

His tone was firm, as if he couldn’t say more to me.

Because Count Kairus had always been more generous to me than even my father, the Duke, his sudden restraint stung me a little.

Still, I was too proud to show him that. So, as he wished, I shifted the subject—toward something that would still be useful to me.

“Teacher… then could you explain the difference between higher-ranked Incubi and lower-ranked ones?”

The Count of Kairus gave me a curious look.

“I heard it from Captain Judizium. He said higher Incubi wear human faces and emit black mist.”

Count Kairus, seated across the tea table, clasped his hands and rested his chin on them.

He looked like a perfect painting, but the words that followed were anything but beautiful.

“That’s correct. To be precise, they burrow inside a human, devour the soul, and then wear the shell around like a disguise.”

I fell silent for a moment at his gruesome description.

“Also, unlike lower Incubi, higher ones retain a degree of intelligence. They act strategically.”

“Then it must be hard to tell them apart from real people?”

“Yes. Which is why they usually go unnoticed until some dreadful incident occurs.”

“Can’t they be detected earlier by the black mist? The knights seemed able to see it, after all.”

“The White Dragon Division undergoes a ritual when they enlist. They’re exposed to demonic energy in a controlled way, which allows them to see the black mist. But even they can’t see it as clearly as you or His Majesty.”

So it was a power born of directly confronting a demon, then?

I nodded.

“Then that means His Majesty and I can find them the fastest?”

“Yes. Which is why higher Incubi, by instinct, will try to attack you first—they’ll want to eliminate the one most likely to expose them.”

That echoed what Beret had once said to me on the street.

‘If a higher Incubus is nearby, you’ll be the one in greatest danger, my lady.’

“Wouldn’t they also try to attack His Majesty?”

“His Majesty is far too strong for them to even attempt.”

So in the end, I was their number one target.

As I sank into thought, Count Kairus reached out his hand gently.

“I had planned to teach you economics today, but it seems your mind is elsewhere.”

He smiled faintly, as though he could see straight through me.

“You’ll manage just fine, my lady. After all, you are a being close to the light.”

There it was again—his favorite way of encouraging me.

Even though he spoke so calmly, despite knowing his student might become prey for Incubi, I pouted at him.

Still… I placed my hand in his.

“My lady, shall we enjoy the flowers in the greenhouse for a while?”

And so we began a stroll. Just that simple, leisurely act was enough to soothe my heart somewhat.

The flowers in the greenhouse were just past their peak, beginning to wither. But Count Kairus’s warm gaze upon me never wavered.

* * *

Time passed quickly as preparations for the Founding Day Ball went underway.

There were delightful parts—fittings for dresses, choosing shoes and jewelry, enjoying skincare treatments.

And there were the less delightful parts—memorizing the long list of society names, endlessly practicing graceful movements, and wearing out my feet with dance rehearsals.

Every morning, I also received reports from Merci.

“Young lady, here’s today’s news. Apparently, Viscount Devos…”

These were delivered each morning along with the newspaper, passed on by a boy who sold papers along Solbonne Street.

The tidbits of news were messy, surprisingly entertaining, and often utterly useless.

Still, I memorized most of them. They said society was a battlefield where sharp tongues replaced swords. Who knew when such knowledge would prove useful?

And so the day of the ball arrived.

From the morning, my nurse and the maids—including Merci—were busily attending to me.

“Young lady, please sit still. Otherwise, your makeup won’t turn out right.”

“How can I sit still when you’re tugging my hair so hard while brushing it?”

In the past, I would have lashed out with my hands. Now I grumbled but let it pass.

I was trying to break my bad habit of taking my frustrations out on others. Because of that, my relationships with the servants had become warmer.

“I’ll try to be gentler, my lady,” the maid said with an apologetic smile.

I closed my eyes, trying to catch up on missed sleep while they worked.

Dahlia, still too young and in training to become my personal maid, simply watched in wonder.

She stared at me as though watching magic as I transformed.

Before long, she exclaimed, “Sister, you look like a fairy from a storybook!”

Finally, I checked my reflection in the full-length mirror.

I was already known as one of the empire’s greatest beauties. But today, Drien’s dress added to that effect.

The sheer, fluttering layers of pale pink fabric shimmered, giving me an aura of mystery.

When Merci clasped a pink diamond necklace around my neck, the maids squealed in delight.

“At this ball, no one will be able to take their eyes off our lady.”

“Exactly. She’s so beautiful no matter what she wears, it’s always worth dressing her up.”

“…”

Well, at least they seemed happy about this face of mine.

Even I couldn’t deny it was beautiful. But Han Cho-ah—my former self—had also been more than averagely pretty. That only drew Kim Young-woong’s attention, leading to his abuse.

For a disabled girl, beauty had been a curse. That trauma still made me uncomfortable with this appearance.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

“Young lady, it’s time. We must depart,” the butler said.

When I descended to the entrance, my father, the Duke, stood waiting in full formal attire. He looked at me lovingly for a moment.

“My daughter is truly beautiful.”

“And Father, you look very handsome too.”

I smiled. Like father, like daughter—my looks came entirely from him.

He held out his hand, and I accepted it without hesitation. Together, father and daughter, both radiant, we climbed into the carriage.

* * *

One by one, people streamed into the Imperial Palace’s grand ballroom, modeled after the white dragon itself.

The women, decked out and escorted by gentlemen, looked like a thousand blossoms riding a spring breeze.

The Duke and I, however, waited by the main doors on the second floor. Because of my debut, I would enter later.

All the debutantes and young heirs of the year would make their entrance last, after all the other guests, in order to command the spotlight.

Finally, the doorman signaled us. As the highest-ranking debutante this year, I stood at the front.

The Duke squeezed my hand gently, smiling. I returned his smile and took my step forward.

“Lady Asha Esperanza, escorted by Duke Esperanza!”

With a trumpet fanfare, the doorman announced our entrance. Bathed in dazzling light, we descended the staircase with grace.

Each step sent ripples through my dress, its sheer fabric scattering light like glitter.

The hall met us in silence.

Once we reached the floor, I executed a flawless bow.

Then, the silence broke—thunderous applause rang out.

Already, people were moving toward us. But my father whisked me to a banquet table, away from the crowd.

On the table were tea cakes so exquisite they looked too pretty to eat.

The Duke handed me a glass of non-alcoholic champagne.

“Asha, congratulations on your debut into society.”

His eyes shimmered with emotion.

“Thank you, Father.”

I clinked my glass gently against his.

By then, the few remaining young ladies had finished their entrances, and it was time for the young men to enter. Unlike the ladies, they traditionally walked in alone.

“Cleptra Desdemota, only son of Duke Desdemota.”

At that unexpected name, I looked up toward the staircase.

So he was also debuting this year!

With glossy dark green hair and brilliant golden eyes, he bowed to the crowd.

I could see women clutching their hearts, swooning.

He was a man whose looks rivaled even the most glamorous of women.

Men in the empire often adorned themselves with jewels, but he wore more than anyone I had ever seen. As heir to diamond mines, his ears and chest gleamed with gemstones.

Whispers spread quickly among the young ladies.

“Isn’t Lord Desdemota simply stunning?”

“Yes! I only passed him once by chance, but my heart wouldn’t stop racing.”

So this is the last candidate of the game.

His sharp yet balanced features, paired with a lavish outfit, reminded me of a swift leopard. His golden eyes glimmered with confidence—bordering on arrogance.

I wondered how best to approach him for the main mission—what strategy might actually lead to a proposal.

Meanwhile, the remaining young men made their entrances.

Finally, it was time for the Empire’s heart to appear.

“His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor!”

At the herald’s cry, every thought of Cleptra vanished. My once-steady heart now pounded wildly, so loud I thought I could hear it echo in my ears.

Why did my body always react like this whenever I thought of the Emperor?

I blushed at other handsome men, yes, but before the Emperor… it was always worse.

I tried to calm myself, scolding my foolish heart.

Around me, everyone bowed their heads toward the still-empty throne.

Hurriedly, I followed suit, hoping no one noticed my late movement.

The Emperor strode to his throne faster than I expected. Looking down at the crowd with a detached gaze, he finally spoke.

“On this Founding Day, I congratulate the seventeen-year-olds entering society this year.”

His eyes swept leisurely over us—the debutantes and heirs.

“May you all grow into fine talents who will contribute to the prosperity of the Deuscornu Empire.”

Following tradition, we newly-debuted heirs and ladies recited in chorus:

“We shall not forget the grace of the White Dragon, and we shall repay it faithfully.”

The Emperor continued, “May all citizens celebrate the Founding Day of Deuscornu and enjoy themselves tonight. Raise your heads.”

At his declaration, the orchestra began to play a delicate melody. The ball had officially begun.