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Chapter 61
Time passed, and the day of the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet arrived.
Looking at Maybel, who had finished getting ready, Ella let out a deep sigh.
“My laaady~ are you really planning to go dressed like that~?”
“Yes!”
Maybel answered brightly.
Anyone who saw her standing in front of the mirror would cry out just like Ella.
Putting aside the fact that her hair was simply tied up high without any proper styling—
What Maybel was wearing wasn’t a dress.
It was shorts.
Shorts that stopped just above her knees.
They certainly made her look even cuter, but still!
The long sailor-style collar and the ruffles decorating the hem of the shorts were undeniably adorable, but still!
‘But today is the day my lady is attending her very first banquet in the capital~!’
All the other children would surely be dressed in dazzling gowns.
And among them, only Maybel would be wearing shorts.
But regardless—
“The Lord said it was fine!”
Maybel was simply delighted that Zigmunt had taken her side.
In fact, he had been the one to suggest wearing trousers in the first place.
—
“If we’re going to mess things up anyway, we might as well start by ruining their public image.”
—
If the Empress had prepared a public narrative, its content was obvious.
She would praise Maybel as an outstanding young lady and claim she was a perfect match for the Crown Prince.
Then, when the two stood side by side, she would make a “surprise” announcement of their engagement in front of everyone.
Since the situation at the banquet was so predictable—and impossible to overturn—
Zigmunt had decided they should at least interfere with it.
“But still~ hmm……”
Even with Zigmunt’s approval, Ella remained worried.
It wasn’t uncommon for young girls to wear trousers for safety or practicality.
But today’s banquet was the Crown Prince’s birthday.
“Is this really going to be alright~?”
What if it was seen as disrespecting or insulting the imperial family?
“It’ll be fine.”
Zigmunt, who had entered the room at some point, joined the conversation.
At his voice, Maybel—who had been checking herself from every angle in front of the mirror—turned around with a bright smile.
“My lord!”
She ran over to him, and Zigmunt easily picked her up in his arms.
He reassured Ella calmly.
Today, he was dressed far more formally than usual.
His bangs were neatly parted, and his slightly long hair had been trimmed cleanly.
The formal attire he had prepared was dark blue, perfectly complementing his silver hair.
Over it, he wore a light blue dolman coat reaching his knees, embroidered with silver thread—refined and elegant.
It matched Maybel’s outfit perfectly.
“At last year’s banquet, a few young ladies wore trousers too. It’s not that unusual.”
Of course, those girls had only changed because they spilled drinks on their dresses—
But technically, they had celebrated the Crown Prince’s birthday in trousers.
Zigmunt conveniently left that part out.
“Then that’s a relief~”
Unaware of the full story, Ella finally looked reassured.
“But aren’t you a little disappointed~? It’s your first banquet~”
“Not at all! My brothers can’t even attend, so I didn’t want to dress up alone anyway.”
At Maybel’s firm reply, both Ella and Zigmunt’s expressions softened slightly.
Aselt and Kellic, being beastkin, were not invited to the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.
Thus, only Zigmunt and Maybel had come to the capital’s townhouse.
“…Very well then~ You can show your most beautiful self at a banquet where the young masters can attend together~”
With a gentle smile, Ella stepped back.
She had never once won an argument against Maybel—
And this time, she was completely defeated.
With a reason like that, how could she keep insisting?
‘Our lady is truly too kind~’
Though regretful, she decided to save the adorable dresses she had secretly prepared for another occasion.
A short while later, Maybel and Zigmunt boarded the carriage that had been waiting.
“Please travel safely, my lady!”
Since someone else was accompanying them today, Dain had to remain at the townhouse.
“The medicine?”
“Here it is.”
Standing outside the carriage, Dain handed a small vial to Zigmunt.
Because of his severe cat allergy, Zigmunt always had to take medicine before going to the imperial palace—
Due to the Empress Consort, who was a white lion beastkin.
While Zigmunt took the medicine, Maybel leaned out the carriage window and waved.
“Then we’re off!”
Her bright smile was adorable—
But the maids could only hold back tears.
They had been so excited upon hearing that the young lady of the Grand Ducal estate would be coming to the capital.
They had prepared so much—
‘I even attended a hair styling class just for today!’
‘I bought a brand-new dress rack!’
‘Still… she’s cute!’
Though they couldn’t show off their skills this time, there would be another opportunity.
The servants waved until the carriage carrying Zigmunt and Maybel disappeared from sight—
Even if they felt a little regretful.
“His Grace Grand Duke Zigmunt Esclide and Lady Maybel Ashilonia have arrived!”
At the knight’s booming announcement, all eyes in the banquet hall turned toward them.
Under the sudden weight of countless gazes, Maybel froze.
“That young lady is…”
“She really is the one with the Grand Duke…”
The murmurs sounded similar to those she had heard in the courtroom—
But the emotions behind the stares were completely different.
Back then, people had looked at her with curiosity, as if she were something entertaining.
But now—
Their gazes were sharp, as though trying to dissect every strand of her hair and every lash.
Was it because they understood the meaning behind the Empress’s chosen dress code?
Everyone seemed to be calculating how they could benefit from Maybel.
It was her first time being exposed to such blatant evaluation.
A cold sweat trickled down her back.
“Don’t worry, Maybel.”
Zigmunt’s gentle voice reached her, and his hand rested on her shoulder.
“Ah…”
As she stiffly looked up, he met her with a warm gaze.
“I’ll stay by your side the entire time.”
As if promising to protect her from predators stalking their prey—
Telling her there was nothing to fear.
The warmth from his hand reached even her frozen heart.
‘That’s right… the people I should be wary of today aren’t them.’
In that moment, the fear in Maybel’s eyes turned into resolve.
She nodded, and the two of them entered the banquet hall hand in hand.
Step by step—
Their synchronized footsteps echoed across the hall.
Wherever they walked, eyes followed.
The stares digging into her back grew more persistent—
But Maybel paid them no mind.
She had Zigmunt beside her.
Zigmunt headed straight toward the guest of honor.
“Your Highness, I sincerely congratulate you on your birthday. On our way here, Lady Ashilonia’s dress was damaged, so please forgive her appearance.”
“I apologize, Your Highness. And I sincerely congratulate you on your birthday as well.”
Following their prearranged plan, Maybel greeted him perfectly.
Her etiquette was flawless—enough to make people forget the nickname “ghost lady.”
But the Crown Prince looked displeased.
‘Her dress was damaged? That’s a lie—her hairstyle doesn’t match a dress at all!’
Crown Prince Ian shot a glare at Francesca beside him.
‘Mother! What is the meaning of this?!’
He was already furious about being forced into an engagement with a girl he had never even met—
And that the announcement would happen at his once-a-year birthday banquet—
But now, the girl herself was acting so insolently!
‘I absolutely refuse to let this slide!’
Ian’s eyes burned with indignation.
Francesca, too, was displeased by Maybel’s appearance.
No matter what fancy titles she had, she was still just the so-called “ghost lady”—
And yet she had to give her precious son to someone like that?
It already left a bitter taste in her mouth.
And now this childish defiance?
She wanted to reprimand her immediately—
But too much had been invested in this plan.
The money repaid to Kesare.
The light blue dress code assigned to everyone.
She couldn’t let it all collapse over such trivial resistance.
‘A worm may wriggle, but it remains a worm.’
Suppressing her anger, Francesca spoke gently to Ian,
“Crown Prince, they have traveled far for today. You should accept their greeting.”
At this point, she was determined to make the engagement happen no matter what.
But Ian, feeling unsupported, grew even more sullen.
‘I’m the Crown Prince… why do I have to endure this…’
Yet he didn’t have the courage to defy her.
In the end, he reluctantly spoke,
“Even in… such attire, thank you very much… for your congratulations.”
His expression twisted as if he had swallowed a bug.
Seeing that, both Zigmunt and Maybel felt a small but satisfying sense of victory.
