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Chapter 34
I wasn’t the only one surprised; servants who had come to watch gasped from all around, “Eek!”
“Yes. I was ordered to prepare Miss Violet for the upcoming graduation ball. I came for a preliminary assessment—may I take a closer look at your appearance now?”
“Uh… sure.”
No sooner had I said that, Director Hestia began peeling away my precious defenses, layer by layer.
“This is the most severe case of stubborn curls I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“Ahhh!”
She swept my tangled hair aside.
“Where did you get these glasses? Let me try them on.”
With that, she yanked my glasses off.
“My glasses! They’re like part of me!”
With my bare face fully exposed, I shivered as if stripped naked.
So humiliating!
Hestia continued for quite a while, dabbing paint onto my face and cutting my hair.
After a long while, she studied my face with a serious expression and declared:
“The assessment is complete. Good work. I’ll remove the makeup for you.”
“No! I’ll do it myself!”
It was makeup done by the Empire’s top designer. I hadn’t even seen it in the mirror yet—it felt too precious to wipe away.
“Very well. I shall return at dawn on the day of the ball.”
After seeing Hestia off, I thought:
‘What has become of my face? Has it been transformed beyond recognition?’
My heart pounding, I looked in the mirror.
“Ahhh!”
What—what is this?!
My eyelids were streaked with every color imaginable, and my cheeks were painted in full rainbow hues—it looked like clown makeup!
‘This is a disaster!’
Looking closely, it wasn’t even actual makeup; it seemed like she had used my face as a palette, testing which colors suited me.
Seeing my multicolored reflection, I felt ashamed for imagining my face would look beautiful.
Well, even a professional couldn’t work magic. Maybe I expected too much.
I begrudgingly scrubbed off the makeup.
For the next few days, I worked from home.
Kaien had gone on a long business trip.
It was fortunate for me.
A few days earlier, Hestia had said…
“Your hair is too damaged; nothing below this point can be saved. We’ll have to remove it.”
And with that, she cut my hair off at the shoulder line.
My hair, already like a lion’s mane, now looked even worse. Every time I saw myself in the mirror, I swallowed back tears.
“Pfft. What a mess! The designer sent by Her Majesty the Empress did this?”
“Did she get scammed?”
“Well, it’s not like our lady has any real connection with the Empress.”
The servants’ whispers became unusually obvious.
“See, nothing special about her friendship with the Duke either.”
“She hasn’t even been coming to work lately. Maybe it was cut while she was away.”
I’m working from home, you know?!
I clenched my frustration. They were all replaceable. Flushable, like toilet water. No need to explain myself or draw my uncle’s attention.
“Miss, don’t worry. I’ll do my best to fix your hair before you go out. I’m confident in my styling skills!”
Still, Sally tried to comfort me.
Well… nothing I could do. Being insulted for being ugly wasn’t a first.
In between my work-from-home duties, I had to complete Hestia’s assignments.
Ten times a day, I practiced walking with eggs balanced on my head while wearing the clothes she assigned, without dropping them.
Dozens of eggs cracked each day.
[Master! The shoulder angle is tilted 10 degrees to the right!]
Even under the strict guidance of the “chick” disciplinarian.
Days passed as I endured this grueling schedule.
Finally, the day of the ball arrived.
“Miss! Miss! Hestia has arrived!”
“What? Haaah… already?”
Before the moon had set, Hestia came to see me again, dragging a suitcase large enough to look like she was moving house, accompanied by ten assistants.
With her perfect composure still intact, Hestia declared solemnly:
“Time to begin the operation.”
Operation?
“From now, we commence work. Everyone, move!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Hestia’s ten assistants swarmed me.
After that… I endured an ordeal.
My hair was yanked from every direction, my face beaten with huge cotton pads.
Eyebrows were plucked, my face covered in wax—an experience so terrifying I felt like dough.
When Hestia finally let me go, she said:
“Thank you for your patience. The operation was successfully completed.”
“Th-thank you…”
I muttered my gratitude automatically. My body felt cramped from tensing up.
Trembling, I stepped down from the chair and looked back.
My eyes met Sally’s stunned face.
“Gah! My goodness! Miss—hic!”
Sally started hiccuping, covering her mouth with both hands.
Hestia stood behind me, chuckling softly. For the first time, a bright smile appeared on her usually expressionless face.
It was the proud smile of an artist who had completed a masterpiece—or a grandmother seeing her grown granddaughter succeed.
“Now, dear client, you must tell everyone the name of this salon—Hestia—if they ask.”
She placed a mirror in front of me.
“Do you like it?”
Still dazed, I looked at my reflection reflexively.
“…Huh?”
My eyes widened.
“Oh my, how lovely. As delicate as a rose!”
Bell, the owner of <Beauty Salon Bell>, praised her client repeatedly.
Having such a beautiful client styled at her salon would bring enormous publicity.
“The most beautiful lady at tonight’s ball will surely be this client.”
Naturally.
Lorena smiled like an angel at her reflection.
There she was—a woman like a blooming lily.
Her hair, a soft light brown, almost platinum in tone.
Clear, smooth skin and pink, glowing lips; a slim, fairy-like figure.
She truly looked like a single blossom.
Getting off the chair, Lorena gracefully walked toward Felix, who had been waiting.
“How do I look? This is my first time being styled like this… Is it strange?”
Felix’s chest swelled with pride as he looked at her.
“Not at all. My goddess, my fairy.”
A naturally beautiful woman, now receiving expensive care, looked even more stunning. All the money spent reserving the salon was worth it.
Being able to show off such a woman as mine!
Deciding to make Lorena my wife was definitely the right choice. Beauty is paramount.
‘Freesia… even though she hasn’t signed the engagement papers yet…’
Today, I would obtain her, by force if necessary.
I’m about to join one of the four great knight orders.
And I’ve claimed the most beautiful woman! I feel like the alpha male.
‘All the men will be jealous, and women will want me too.’
Felix’s pride and sense of superiority swelled mightily.
As he stepped out of the carriage upon arriving at the banquet hall:
“Wow, what is this?”
“Insane. So beautiful…”
Exclamations rang out around them.
‘Yes! Praise my woman more!’
It made me proud too!
Felix’s shoulders rose with satisfaction at the expected reactions.
Escorting Lorena from the carriage, Felix suddenly felt awkward.
Lorena’s face was frozen in a frighteningly stern expression.
“What’s wrong? My goddess. Smile, it will make you even more beautiful.”
Did she see something strange?
Puzzled, Felix turned and saw the same expression on her partner’s face.
At the crowded entrance of the banquet hall, everyone passing by was turning their backs on them.
“What? What family’s daughter is that?”
“I’ve never seen a face like that… Did she come from abroad?”
