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Chapter 26
“Let’s get out first.”
Cartan got off the carriage first, then escorted Lillian into the banquet hall. Instantly, all eyes in the room were drawn to them.
Feeling embarrassed, Lillian tightened her grip on his arm. She had braced herself for something like this ever since she knew she’d be attending the banquet with His Grace the Grand Duke.
Just then, a strict-looking elderly gentleman approached them.
“Your Grace, His Majesty the Emperor is waiting for you.”
Not knowing who he was, Lillian looked puzzled until Cartan explained for her.
“He’s the Chief Chamberlain. I should step out for a bit.”
Lillian nodded readily. But he glanced around as if uneasy and asked again,
“Are you sure you’ll be all right alone?”
“Yes, please take your time.”
Soon, he left with the chamberlain. Only then did Lillian realize why he had asked twice.
Standing alone in an unfamiliar place while all those unfamiliar gazes were fixed on her was far more overwhelming than she had imagined.
Trying to shake it off, she took a sip of champagne and silently wished the banquet would start quickly. Then, her eyes drifted toward the large glass windows.
“Wow…”
She let out a small exclamation without meaning to. Outside, she could see the garden where she worked, spread out beautifully beneath her.
‘Right. Enjoy it. When will I ever get to experience something like this again?’
Feeling like she had somehow become a high noble herself, Lillian lifted her glass toward the garden in a little toast.
Just then, she heard someone snicker behind her. She turned around, but with so many people, it was impossible to tell who it was.
‘Did I imagine that?’
Feeling slightly uneasy, she turned back to the window.
A little while later, the banquet finally began. But to her disappointment, it was exactly as the Grand Duke had warned.
The empire’s department ministers went up to the stage one by one, explaining how much progress the empire had made that year. After that, a children’s choir appeared and sang praises to the founding emperor.
As patriotic songs continued endlessly, Lillian, unable to endure the boredom, turned her head away—just in time to notice a young lady with bright red hair.
The teardrop diamond necklace around her neck matched perfectly with her clear, pale skin.
‘Wow… to think someone that beautiful actually exists…!’
Perhaps naturally, she was surrounded entirely by men.
At that moment, a teenage noble boy behind Lillian spoke.
“That is Lady Bella. Whatever she wears becomes the next trend of the social world, and with just one word, she makes countless men lose sleep in excitement. She is beauty itself, and beauty is her. She is the heroine of every poem that sings of love.”
‘What on earth…?’
Seeing Lillian blink in confusion, the young noble continued proudly,
“That was a line from a poem praising Lady Bella. I just composed it, by the way. Impressive, right?”
“Ah… I see…”
He was certainly an odd one. As she struggled to figure out how to respond, he grinned and continued.
“But you’re just as beautiful as Lady Bella, young lady. You’re Miss Lillian Dante, correct?”
She flinched, startled that a stranger knew her name—but quickly remembered that she was currently the center of a scandal shaking the capital. It made unfortunate sense.
Still wary, she only nodded slightly. But that caused a strange misunderstanding.
“Oh dear… So you can’t speak? How rude of me.”
“N-no, that’s not—”
“Oh! So you CAN speak!”
The boy exclaimed in amazement, scanning her up and down as if looking at some curious creature.
“The, uh… Grand Duke has always treated women like stones, so I wondered if he perhaps had… unusual tastes. What a relief! You’re far more normal than I expected! It’s truly an honor to meet you!”
“Um… right. But you are…?”
“Ah! I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m—”
Then suddenly, he looked somewhere behind her and his face stiffened.
“Ah, I just remembered I have urgent business. I’ll greet you properly next time.”
“What?”
“Well then, goodbye!”
And before she could say anything, he vanished in a flash.
‘Who was that?’
From beginning to end, he was nothing but a whirlwind of confusion, leaving her completely drained.
“Sigh…”
Shaking her head, Lillian looked toward the doors.
‘Come to think of it, His Grace left a long time ago… why isn’t he back yet? Did something happen?’
Now that she was paying attention, there seemed to be more imperial guards around than earlier. Something definitely seemed busy.
“Hello, Miss Lillian Dante.”
While she was idly sipping champagne, the breathtaking beauty from earlier approached her.
‘Lady Bella, wasn’t it? She looks like a goddess up close…’
“Ah, hello.”
Bella scanned the nervous Lillian and smiled gently.
“This must be your first banquet like this, right?”
Standing before such radiance, Lillian couldn’t help but feel small. She gave an awkward smile.
“Y-yes…”
Bella’s face brightened.
“Then let me show you around.”
“Huh?”
The sudden offer startled her. Seeing the crowd of nobles behind Bella only made it feel more overwhelming.
“N-no, that’s all right…”
At that moment, one of the noble ladies fluttering a fan nearby gasped.
“Surely… you’re not refusing Lady Bella’s kindness, are you?”
Other ladies quickly joined in, glaring at her as if she’d committed a grave offense.
“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”
“Then let’s go, my lady,”
Bella said, looping her arm through Lillian’s as if she had heard nothing. It felt so natural that Lillian couldn’t even protest.
‘But I definitely refused, didn’t I…?’
If she left the spot now, the Grand Duke would have trouble finding her.
“I’m really sorry. But His Grace the Grand Duke should be back soon.”
She thought she’d declined politely, but Bella’s eyes suddenly went cold. Clearly, she was offended.
At once, another noble lady jumped in.
“How could you! How incredibly rude! Can’t you see how embarrassed Lady Bella must be?”
“……”
Lillian didn’t know what to say. Even if it was kindness, forcing it onto someone who wasn’t comfortable felt wrong.
Bella gave a small laugh and gently soothed the angry lady.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry so much.”
“But still—!”
It was strange. Why was that lady getting so angry when Bella herself said she was fine?
High-society nobles were truly difficult. In the blink of an eye, Lillian had somehow become a heartless villain who rejected the kindness of the sweet, angelic Lady Bella.
Biting her lip under the sharp gazes around her, she bowed slightly.
“I… this is my first time at such an event. If I was rude in any way, please forgive me.”
Hearing her apology, Bella’s lips curled upward. Lillian felt a strange chill.
“Lady Lillian has apologized, so let’s leave it at that. Truly, I’m fine.”
The other ladies immediately began praising Bella’s kindness and patience as if she were a saint. Watching them, Lillian felt as if she were looking at some kind of devoted cult, and it frightened her.
“T-then, I’ll be going now…”
Just as she tried to slip away, Bella grabbed her arm. The unexpected strength shocked her.
“Am I making you uncomfortable, my lady? I only wanted to become closer to you…”
“N-no. I’d like to be on good terms with you too.”
“Heh.”
This time, there was clear mockery in someone’s laugh.
‘What do they want from me!?’
Flustered and upset, she didn’t know what to do. All she wanted now was to escape as soon as possible.
Then Bella continued,
“Come to think of it, my lady…!”
