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Chapter 20
“Gone! Where on earth did it go?”
Elia cried out in despair, her face blank with shock.
While she was organizing the items she had bought from Magello, she realized her sketchbook was missing. She had already searched several times, but it was nowhere to be found.
“What do I do? I can’t lose that….”
She paced helplessly, completely flustered, when Betty rushed into the room in a panic.
“Miss!”
“Oh, Betty. Were you in the carriage?”
“It’s… it’s not in the carriage either.”
Betty’s face was pale with confusion.
“Oh no.”
Elia could not hide her distress.
What if someone saw the sketches of Prince Franz inside the notebook?
If it were just a missing notebook, it wouldn’t have been this serious. The problem was that her name, Elia Clarenne, was engraved on the leather cover.
Anyone who saw it would easily misunderstand. People might start rumors that she was secretly in love with Prince Franz.
In truth, the sketches alone were enough to suggest exactly that. No excuses would work. She was facing an inescapable situation.
Even if admitting it would make things easier, her pride wouldn’t allow it.
“What do I do now? Betty, you know too. Inside it was… ahh. Someone must not see it. What if someone sees it? What do I do?”
Elia was so flustered she couldn’t think straight. She didn’t even realize what she was saying.
“Oh! Wait, Miss! I remember now!” Betty suddenly exclaimed, eyes widening.
“What?”
“At the art supply shop! I clearly remember you still had it when we went inside Magello.”
At Betty’s words, Elia steadied herself and thought carefully. Only then did she remember placing it on the table at Magello after carrying it around all day.
“R-right! I remember! I left it on the table!”
A spark of hope returned to her exhausted face.
“I need to go.”
As Elia stood up immediately, Betty quickly stopped her.
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“It’s already this late. It’s after seven—most shops are closed. Even if you go now, it’ll be useless.”
Elia glanced at the clock on the console. It was past 6:30.
“Haah.”
She let out a deep sigh and collapsed back into the chair. At least she knew where it was—but she couldn’t relax until it was back in her hands.
“Don’t worry too much. You’ll be able to get it back tomorrow.”
“Yeah… I guess it’s a blessing in disguise.”
Her voice had no strength.
“And even if someone saw it, you haven’t done anything wrong.”
Betty tried to comfort her, but it only made Elia feel worse.
At that moment, there was a knock on the bedroom door. When Elia answered, “Yes,” the door opened.
“Miss. The madam says if you’re ready…”
The maid couldn’t finish saying “please come downstairs.” She widened her eyes in shock.
“Oh my… you’re not ready at all, Miss.”
Sandy, the maid of the Clarenne household, looked flustered and stiffened her expression. She stared as if asking what on earth was going on.
“Miss, this won’t do.”
She quickly regained her composure and spoke firmly.
“The madam gave repeated instructions this morning. If you refuse again, how do you intend to handle her anger?”
Until recently, Elia could still find excuses to avoid events, but lately it had become impossible. Her mother, who constantly pressured her to marry, would not be easily appeased now.
Elia recalled her mother’s words from the morning:
—
“Until now I’ve let you be because you refused so much, but today you absolutely must attend. Do you understand what the ball at the Moris Duke’s estate means?”
“I don’t really know.”
“You really are carefree. All the nobles in Lapland will be there. If you just show your face, it would help.”
“I’m fine. And there’s Louisa anyway.”
“Louisa is Louisa, but you should also find a good husband and marry. If you were even half as responsible as Louisa, I wouldn’t worry like this.”
“I’ll handle it myself.”
“Handle it? You’ve been handling it—and look how that turned out!”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“That’s right, Mother. What’s wrong with her? She’s pretty even without trying.”
“You have to look pretty to men! …Honestly, I should just stop talking. I don’t know if you’re just greedy or just clueless.”
—
Elia sighed as she looked over her simple dress. If Louisa hadn’t intervened, the scolding would have gone on endlessly.
“Tell her I’m sick.”
Elia smiled apologetically at Sandy, but Sandy remained firm.
“That excuse won’t work anymore. And today is the Moris Duke’s ball.”
“Sandy, even if it sounds like an excuse, it isn’t. I really can’t afford to go. I have a headache. A ball like this… honestly, it’s exhausting.”
At her complaint, she let out another sigh. The Moris family ball marked the beginning of the full social season, coinciding with the rose festival period.
Just thinking about it gave her a headache. Still, at least this year she had her younger sister Louisa—perhaps she could avoid her mother’s attention.
“A ball… honestly.”
Sandy and Betty silently sighed inwardly.
Most noble ladies would be desperate to attend, but Elia was the opposite. She only looked for ways to escape. It was incomprehensible to them.
“You’re making excuses again!”
At that moment, a sharp voice cut through the room.
Laura Clarenne, the viscountess, stood at the bedroom door with a stern face. Louisa stood beside her, looking anxious.
“Mother.”
Everyone in the room flinched, but Elia met her gaze calmly, as if she had expected this.
“I told you today you absolutely must attend!”
“Mother, I didn’t do it on purpose. I simply forgot because of unavoidable circumstances. I’m sorry.”
Her face showed no real remorse, which only angered Laura more—but there was no time to argue.
Elia had been in a simple chemise dress after returning home. Even with fast preparation, it would take considerable time to get ready.
A proper lady should marry well at the right time, but Elia, the eldest daughter, showed no interest in men or marriage. It was deeply frustrating for her mother.
“I won’t let this slide again. We’ll talk when you return.”
With a hardened expression, Laura left the room. Sandy followed her.
“It seems the madam is very angry this time. What do we do, Miss?”
Betty fidgeted nervously, looking like she might cry.
“It’s fine, Betty. I’ll try to make her understand somehow. I’ll probably just get a few hits on the hand again.”
More than her mother’s anger, Elia was still more worried about the missing sketchbook.
“Louisa, I’ll explain things to Mother properly. Don’t worry too much.”
“Thank you, Louisa. I was actually ready this time, but things got complicated.”
“Yes. But something’s wrong. You don’t look well.”
Louisa studied Elia’s pale face with concern. She had looked worse lately—much paler than before—and Louisa hesitated to leave.
“I’ll be fine. Go on.”
“Alright. I should go.”
“Don’t get in trouble because of me.”
“I’ll tell you how the ball went when I come back.”
“Okay. Have fun.”
As Louisa hurried out before their mother could shout again, Elia stood by the window with a tense expression.
Outside, the dusk sky was painted deep red, slowly swallowed by night.
* * *
Under a ceiling decorated with elaborate crystal chandeliers, the grand hall was already filled with nobles.
The capital’s aristocracy, along with regional nobles and influential figures from politics and the arts, had gathered in such numbers that the vast hall was packed.
Light from thousands of chandeliers scattered across the room, creating a dazzling atmosphere, while the ladies’ gowns shimmered brilliantly.
As the ball officially began, musicians started playing an elegant melody.
During the rose festival season, Countess Sylvia Winston often visited the capital, and Duchess Moris hosted grand balls in her honor.
Duchess Helen Moris was the younger sister of Sylvia and Hendrick, which meant she had close ties to the royal family. Because of this, nobles eager to gain royal favor attended in large numbers, making each ball exceptionally grand. It was a prestigious event that every noble family wished to attend.
The largest crowd gathered, as usual, around Countess Winston and Duchess Moris.
Among the dazzling jewelry of the noble ladies, Countess Winston’s opal brooch stood out the most. It sparkled against her deep green dress, enhancing her elegance.
The opal brooch reflected a mysterious blend of colors, while finely cut diamonds added a clear brilliance that further highlighted its beauty.
