🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 40
Time passed mercilessly, and the day of the royal ball finally arrived.
I wished I would suddenly come down with a terminal illness, but unfortunately, I was in perfect health today.
Resentful of that fact, I hoped the palace ceiling would come crashing down—but of course, no such miracle happened.
I spent half the day in a daze as the maids dressed me up. They must have thought I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep last night.
By the time the day wore on like that, evening arrived—the moment everyone except me had been looking forward to. It was truly time for the ball to begin.
“Your brother seems to have run off somewhere again.”
Despite the duke’s earlier claim that we’d be going together as a family, it was just the two of us in the carriage.
‘I wanted to run away too…’
I could understand how the duke felt, but I still felt wronged and resentful enough for tears to well up.
“I was looking forward to seeing my brother again. What a shame.”
I couldn’t exactly express my true feelings, so I just smiled sweetly and acted composed.
“Don’t worry, I ordered him to be dragged here before the ball ends.”
The duke responded confidently, as if to assure me I could count on him.
Hearing that, I felt a sense of kinship and pity for the brother I’d never met.
“That boy… running off again. I can’t imagine who he takes after.”
The duke looked genuinely displeased. It seemed this wasn’t the first time.
‘Who does he take after? Pretty sure it’s just a family trait…’
Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud and just smiled again.
‘It’s really happening.’
Through the window, I could see the palace come into view. There was no denying reality now.
“Let’s get out.”
I took the duke’s outstretched hand. We hadn’t even entered the ballroom yet, but the palace was already dazzlingly bright.
Once I stepped out of the carriage, the hem of my dress, which had been cramped in the small space, spread out beautifully. Seeing it in person was one thing, but wearing it made it feel even more impressive.
The red fabric of the dress flowed out from my waist, sparkling brilliantly as it caught golden dust in the air.
White jewels, crafted like pearls, were embedded like stars. They looked so delicate that I worried they might fall off as I walked.
A gorgeous tiara glittered atop my loosely styled hair. The silver accessories adorned with diamonds matched perfectly with the dress Lachel had sent.
‘Even the empress wouldn’t dress this extravagantly.’
The red color of the dress drew too much attention. I practically shone like the star of the ball.
‘He must’ve sent this dress thinking of all that.’
It seemed Lachel wanted to flaunt me to all the nobles.
“Lilith, make sure you behave tonight.”
“Of course. I’ve taken it to heart.”
The duke offered a word of caution, no doubt based on past experience.
But unlike the original Lilith, I had both intelligence and manners. His worry was unnecessary.
In the main hall, I saw many familiar faces. However, I couldn’t yet separate from the duke.
He introduced me to his acquaintances while exchanging pleasantries. They were all older nobles, so I just stood by and smiled politely.
After a few minutes, the soft music that filled the hall suddenly stopped.
Everyone fell silent as knights descended the grand staircase. On their arms was the insignia of the royal family.
Through the path the knights made, two familiar men and one unfamiliar elderly woman entered with slow steps.
‘Whoa…’
It was my first time seeing Lachel and Calix standing side by side.
The elderly woman beside them looked barely able to walk. But her dignity rivaled that of the princes.
‘She must be the Grand Empress Dowager.’
There were no imperial princesses or empresses in this royal family.
After two empresses died of illness in succession, the emperor never brought another woman into the palace. The only woman remaining was the Grand Empress Dowager.
She was saying something, but her voice was hoarse and cracked—barely audible.
Even while Lachel supported her, she staggered. It seemed she, like the emperor, was near the end of her days.
‘So now I’m supposed to be with Lachel?’
I had assumed my partner tonight would be Lachel. I was dressed for it, and based on our usual dynamic, it made sense.
But then, Lachel escorted the Grand Empress Dowager back up to the second floor.
‘Huh? Where are you going?!’
I wanted to stop him, but the distance was too great.
‘If you leave, I’ll be stuck with the duke the whole time!’
The duke was an uncomfortable presence for me, and the people he introduced me to were dreadful.
But that concern quickly faded. I locked eyes with the person I needed to avoid the most tonight.
As soon as our eyes met, Calix gave me a slow, sly smile.
It wasn’t a smile of joy, but the kind that said, “Got you,”—full of impudence.
I immediately turned my head away to avoid his intense gaze.
“Father, let’s look around somewhere else!”
I added a touch of cuteness to my voice as I tugged at the duke’s arm.
‘Don’t come over. Please don’t come over…’
I prayed desperately in my head… but Calix didn’t stop.
‘You’re supposed to be with Olivia, not me!’
I screamed internally, but of course, that didn’t work either.
“Duke Crescent, it has been far too long.”
Calix naturally approached my shield—the duke. He wore that disturbingly charming public smile again.
“It’s like a dream to see Your Highness again.”
They exchanged a handshake, smiling like old friends.
At first, I thought they really were pleased to see each other.
“You don’t look very pleased.”
“I wouldn’t dare feel that way.”
“Disappointed that it’s me and not Lachel?”
But that illusion quickly shattered.
“How many years has it been…? You used to visit so often when I was young. I suppose the duke no longer favors me.”
“I was merely busy with official duties. No offense was intended.”
A brief but palpable tension hung in the air. Then, as if even speaking was a waste, they fell silent.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave…”
The duke began to withdraw—while grabbing my arm.
“Deal with him for a bit, then get out.”
He gave me that instruction loud enough for Calix to hear.
Once the duke vanished, I stared at Calix with displeasure. He didn’t seem to mind at all.
I was already worried I’d have to act overly polite toward him again like last time. But it seemed the other nobles were too busy with each other to care about us.
“Looks like my father doesn’t like you.”
“That man used to grovel to me when I was a child. Look at him now.”
That duke?
I couldn’t imagine the duke being intimidated by Calix.
“You’re no different.”
He flashed a smile—clearly intentional. But it wasn’t pleasant.
“If you’re just here to pick a fight, leave.”
“How cold.”
Calix stepped closer to me.
“I came all this way just to see you.”
He reached out and tapped my earring.
“Do you know how hard it was to come here?”
That annoying, teasing smile made me want to hit him again.
The silver chain on his black uniform shimmered. It bore the same gemstone as my earrings.
His outfit looked like the night sky, dotted with stars.
While I was admiring his attire, our eyes met—his gaze piercing.
“Why are you staring?”
“I don’t want to admit it, but…”
I thought he’d say, “You were staring at me too,” but instead, he said slowly,
“It suits you.”
His crimson eyes softened, and a gentle smile spread across his lips. For the first time, those eyes looked kind.
As I gazed at that smile, I felt my face heat up.
How could it not? He looked like someone who could easily enchant people. I had only just realized that.
“Wh-what’s with you all of a sudden?”
“I give you a compliment and this is the reaction I get?”
Calix, who had briefly acted like a stranger, snapped back to his usual self with a grumble.
As the music shifted to a new piece, Calix extended a hand to me.
“May I have the honor of this dance?”
That was standard ballroom etiquette—but hearing it from Calix made it sound awkward and over-the-top. I hesitated and reached for his hand.
I tried to take his hand—but didn’t.
“Lily.”
A voice called me at the worst possible moment. Only one person called me by that nickname.
Turning my head, my eyes met Lachel’s—unmistakably him.
He didn’t come all the way over. Instead, he stood at a distance close enough for his voice to carry.
“Come here.”
His voice was gentle and warm, as always. But the feeling behind it was far from kind.
