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Chapter 46
“Your Highness, won’t it be too cold to wear only this dress? Even if the palace is warm with magic, it’ll be chilly if you go outside.”
Lily frowned, studying the dress.
“Hmm, but if we add anything on top, it’ll ruin the silhouette. The shape of this dress is just too perfect to cover up!”
“That’s true, Scarlet. What do you think, Bella?”
“Hehe, you ladies don’t know. His Highness actually should be dressed a bit lightly.”
“Oh my, why’s that?”
“Because if Her Highness feels cold, His Highness the Crown Prince will take off his coat and wrap it around her!”
“Oh my goodness! Lady Luminia, you really think differently! I guess being engaged makes your instincts sharp!”
“You all get it, right? The key is to make Her Highness look as delicate and cold as possible—something that stirs a man’s protective instincts!”
…What are they talking about?
Just my maids’ girl talk, of course.
Normally I’d join in and say, ‘Don’t be ridiculous. At least get me a shawl.’
But I didn’t have the energy. I just slumped into a chair, half-dead.
Why was I half-dead on the day of the ball, you ask?
Because I’d been working myself to the bone reviving the dead flowers from the Espero family.
Thankfully, they sent me rare and beautiful flowers just a day after receiving my letter.
They even added a note saying they were about to throw them away—they had withered that badly.
Of course, reviving those flowers for the ball could’ve drawn suspicion… but honestly, who would think a necromancer would waste their power reviving flowers?
And once the Empress saw them, she’d focus only on the fact that I’d teamed up with Duchess Temia—and absolutely lose her mind over it.
“Phew…”
Anyway, I didn’t just revive the flowers.
I did it carefully so I wouldn’t faint and miss the entire ball!
And so Blake wouldn’t scold me for using necromancer powers again when he specifically told me not to.
I tried to use as little power as possible, but the aftereffects still hit me hard today.
Thankfully, Blake just assumed I wasn’t feeling well.
When I asked if he was going to work even on the day of the ball, he said,
‘My lady can sleep in now, but I have to keep working until the Empire collapses.’
That pitiful line stuck in my sleepy brain all day.
He’d stared at me for a while before saying I looked tired and should sleep more—then quietly left for his office.
Damn it, why does he keep getting nicer? It makes me feel guilty for lying to him!
Sure, I did secretly use magic, but still!
“How about this, Your Highness? A pearl necklace or the one with the small sapphire—what do you prefer?”
“…This one.”
Half-laying on the sofa, I held up the magic stone necklace already around my neck.
All three maids’ faces twisted at once.
“That necklace’s gem… it’s a low-grade magic stone, Your Highness.”
“And the cord looks too rough. It’s plain. Wouldn’t you reconsider?”
“It’s my mother’s keepsake.”
“Oh, I see! Then it has a wonderful sense of age and elegance!”
“The color actually matches the blue of your dress. Since your gown’s already ornate, a simple necklace is perfect!”
Their quick recovery amused me.
Still, I appreciated it.
It had been so long since anyone treated me like a noble lady and humored me this way.
“But, Your Highness… are you feeling unwell? You look a little pale.”
“Oh my, could it be that last night with His Highness the Crown Prince…”
“No. I just couldn’t sleep well.”
Of course, they didn’t believe me.
Considering how affectionate most noble couples are—sharing the same bedroom every night—it was a suspicious excuse.
But can you believe it, dear maids?
Blake and I actually just sleep!
When we accidentally brush against each other, we both freak out!
You ask who’s the one startled?
It’s him! He’s the one who jumps, and then I jump because he jumped!
…Who in their right mind would believe that?
And yet Blake’s getting more perceptive, his tone softer, his gestures gentler.
But at night? Ha! He’s out cold in seconds!
I swear, to him I’m nothing more than a human sleeping pill.
Still—a guilty husband is a guilty husband. I’m reporting him!
“Come to think of it, will His Highness match his outfit to your dress?”
“…He knows what color I’m wearing, so he might choose some accessory that matches.”
Actually, he’d noticed right away that my dress was designed to match his eye color—and even asked me to wear it.
Wait, didn’t I prepare a brooch of the same color for him just in case?
Sure enough, Lily gave me a sly wink.
“His Highness should be off work soon. If we start getting ready now, the timing will be perfect.”
“Isn’t it a bit early? Her Highness looks unwell…”
“We have to start now! So that when His Highness comes to escort Her Highness, she’ll already be wearing the gift she prepared for him.”
“Oh my… then let’s hurry!”
“Your Highness, please come this way. We’ll help you dress.”
The two new maids were becoming more like Lily by the day.
I pretended not to notice their teasing smiles and trudged over to change into the heavy gown.
It wasn’t that I disliked the beautiful dress—I was just so tired my legs trembled as I stood.
Stockings, high heels, layer after layer of petticoats… only then could I wear the actual gown.
As a modern Korean woman, let me say—this thing is heavy.
How do noble ladies even dance in these?
I’d only barely learned some basic steps from the countess, and now, in this condition, I wasn’t sure I’d survive one dance.
What if I stepped on Blake’s foot?
Hmm…
Then again, maybe we won’t dance.
In the original story, Blake only danced with Seira at the very end, after the war was over and they’d become a loving couple.
Maybe he’ll just stand there, looking grumpy, then leave me to go talk with the pro-Crown Prince nobles.
“Today, let’s braid your hair over one shoulder. It’ll look more soft and delicate.”
“And with the earrings, it gives a graceful touch. Maybe we shouldn’t add anything flashy to your hair—what do you think?”
“…Good idea. Just do that, quickly.”
My legs were seriously shaking.
I have newfound respect for every noblewoman who’s ever danced at a ball.
They must have amazing stamina.
I, on the other hand, was a weakling who’d spent a year holed up in bed.
So I just sat quietly and let the maids do whatever they wanted.
Only one thought filled my head.
‘…I hope Blake comes soon!’
Why?
Because once he arrives, I can sit while he’s getting ready!
He’ll come in his formal attire too, and if his style doesn’t quite match mine, they’ll add more accessories to coordinate us.
After all, we’re married!
And couples attending a ball together have to match.
My desperate wish soon came true.
A knock on the door, followed by the maids’ cheerful voices: “You may enter!”
The door to the dressing room opened slowly, and Blake stepped in, looking a little startled.
He hesitated, then called my name softly as he walked closer.
“Ma’am… I mean, Ariel.”
Hmm, he looked surprised seeing me all dressed up.
What, do I look that weird? Like a pumpkin pretending to be a watermelon?
Of course, that was just my inner sarcasm. Out loud, I shot up and stretched my hands toward him.
“Your Highness! I missed you so much!”
“…What?”
Save me!
That was the feeling behind my words, but the maids squealed with excitement behind me.
Oops.
Still, it wasn’t a lie—I had missed him, in a way.
While he stared at me, clearly thinking ‘What’s gotten into her?’, I smiled brightly and lifted the hem of my gown.
“How do I look? I matched the dress to your eye color. Do you like it?”
I just needed to say that to give him the brooch and finally sit down.
That was the plan.
But instead of giving me a perfunctory nod or a polite compliment, he just stared quietly for a long moment.
Then, with a faintly bitter smile, he said—
“…You look beautiful.”
