🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 32
“Ah… yes.”
Aaron gave Cayenne a curious look.
‘What’s this? I’ve never seen my master act like that before…’
Something about it smelled very suspicious.
But for now, dealing with Miss Violette’s issue came first.
“Still, just in case… wouldn’t it be best to ask Miss Violette’s opinion first?”
“Fine. Do that.”
Given permission, Aaron quickly picked up the magic device.
It was an artifact that allowed communication within the Mage Tower.
Currently, Frisia was helping out in the document management department. After a moment, the connection to her was established.
“Uh, Miss Violette.”
Yes,senior!Yes, senior!
“About the partner for the ball earlier… I really wanted to help, but unfortunately, I have work that day…”
Ah,it’sfine!Don’tworryaboutit.Ah, it’s fine! Don’t worry about it.
“But, hypothetically speaking, how would you feel if my master offered to go as your partner?”
What?!TheDuke?What?! The Duke?
Frisia’s voice rose in surprise from the other end of the line.
‘Of course, she’s shocked.’
Miss Violette had always seemed humble and the type who disliked attention.
Aaron chuckled awkwardly.
“Right? It’d be too much pressure—”
I’dlovethat!I’d love that!
“…What?”
Ifsomethinglikethathappened,I’dbethrilled!Ofcourse,abusymanliketheDukewouldneveraccompanymetosomethinglikethat,though.If something like that happened, I’d be thrilled! Of course, a busy man like the Duke would never accompany me to something like that, though.
“Uh, well…”
Aaron stammered, glancing toward his master.
Cayenne was smiling in satisfaction.
As if he had expected that answer all along, the corners of his lips lifted with quiet confidence.
“New recruit.”
Huh?Oh—YourGrace?Huh? Oh— Your Grace?
“You’re going to the ball with me.”
Pardon?Pardon?
“So stop wasting time looking for backup options, and focus on your work.”
Beep, beep, beep.
The connection was cut.
I just sat there, holding the magic device, blankly staring ahead.
‘What did I just hear?’
Did the Duke just… ask me to escort him?
“…Holy crap.”
I muttered under my breath.
This was incredible!
‘Even if I’d taken Senior Aaron as my partner like I first thought, people would’ve gossiped anyway.’
“So she brought another man—guess things didn’t work out with the Duke after all. Figures.”
Even if I said there was nothing romantic between Cayenne and me, no one would’ve believed it.
But if Cayenne himself attended the ball as my partner?
‘Frisia, you came alone again, huh—EEK, THE DUKE?! Frisia, how are you with the Duke?!’
‘Frisia! You got dumped and then moved on to a luxury ride like that? Have you no shame?!’
Just imagining it filled me with euphoria.
The old me might have refused out of fear of standing out. No, I definitely would’ve.
But the me now, who was sharpening her blade of revenge, was different.
If I was scared of a little attention, how could I ever get revenge?
‘Besides, I’ve learned a lot from watching the Duke.’
Cayenne walked with unshakable poise, even as countless eyes followed his every step.
Watching him, I slowly realized something.
People whispering about me only mattered if I let it. If I simply decided not to care—then it really was nothing.
Sure, getting involved with someone like Cayenne might complicate my reputation, but… I planned to dedicate my life to the Mage Tower anyway, so who cared?
‘Still, the Duke really must want me to focus solely on work.’
He disliked me wasting time finding a partner so much that he stepped in himself.
‘That means… he truly—’
Recognizes me.
That feeling—of someone needing me—was strange but deeply fulfilling.
‘Alright.’
I’ll work even harder from now on, and keep improving myself—
So I can live up to the Duke’s expectations!
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace.
“Your Majesty, the Empress.”
Head maid Margaret carefully handed something to Empress Erzea.
“It’s the attendance list for the upcoming Academy Graduation Ball.”
“Hmm?”
Erzea raised an eyebrow mid-sip of tea.
‘Why show this to me?’
Of course, the graduation ball was important—it marked the debut of future nobles into society.
But as Empress, she didn’t usually bother with such trivial matters.
“Well, the thing is…”
Margaret lowered her voice politely.
“What?!”
Erzea forgot herself for a moment and gasped.
“The Duke of Kreuz is on the guest list? Is that true?”
“Yes, without a doubt.”
“Well, well…”
Her eyes widened.
Contrary to the rumors circulating in society, Frisia wasn’t in any romantic relationship with Cayenne.
He had, admittedly, taken her on as his secretary for the first time in two years—so she wasn’t ordinary—but there had been nothing romantic.
At their last meeting, Frisia’s eyes had sparkled purely with admiration and respect for her superior.
Or so Erzea had thought.
‘Could something have changed between them?’
Cayenne, who never showed his face at social events, was now attending the graduation ball.
As Frisia Violet’s partner, no less.
‘This is serious.’
Another wave of scandal was about to sweep the capital.
Cayenne and Frisia…
There was an enormous gap in status between the two.
The women once mentioned as potential duchesses were all exceptional—stunningly beautiful, from prestigious families, and well-established in high society.
Compared to them, Frisia Violet lacked in every way.
And yet—curiously—Erzea didn’t find her distasteful.
No, not at all.
In fact, she wanted to speak to her again—
…to hear, in more depth, about Cayenne’s good qualities.
‘Of course, His Grace is brilliant in both scholarship and magical ability—but I especially admire his character.’
‘To me, the Duke is truly a role model.’
That girl—who didn’t fear Cayenne like everyone else, but instead understood his true nature.
“What do you think?”
Setting down her teacup, Erzea asked Margaret quietly.
“Do you believe their relationship will become… something more?”
“If I may, Your Majesty, I’d say it’s quite certain that the Duke already considers Miss Violet his person.”
“You think so too, do you?”
A small, pleased smile tugged at Erzea’s lips as she raised her teacup again.
‘The capital will be in an uproar on the day of the ball… Wait.’
Her hand froze.
‘Surely she won’t attend the ball looking the same way she did when we met?’
That wild, lion’s mane of unkempt hair.
Those glasses thick enough to make her eyes look like pinholes.
And that fashion—like she’d raided her grandmother’s closet.
The Frisia she had met had been a walking sigh.
If she’d looked like that to meet the Empress herself, she doubted a ball would be much different.
‘No. That won’t do!’
Frisia was Cayenne’s first secretary in years.
As the aide to such a man, she would inevitably attend many official events by his side.
She didn’t need to be beautiful—but at least presentable. Enough not to embarrass the Duke.
After a moment of thought, Erzea’s expression hardened with resolve.
“Contact Headmistress Hestia.”
