SDA 36

Chapter : 36

Siena’s heart suddenly sped up.

‘Crazy, crazy.’

Her face flushed hot, and she felt her body temperature rising rapidly.
Sweat began to form on her back.

“Ahh, it’s hot…”

Siena fanned herself with her hand, avoiding Johan’s eyes.

She clenched her teeth.

‘Johan Veloster, how dare you flirt with me so thoughtlessly….’

I hereby declare you guilty.

‘You’re really a bad guy.’

You like Violet.

‘So why are you calling me pretty…!’

And even if Johan hadn’t said that, it would have been the same.
This situation itself was making Siena embarrassed.

The fact that he was greeting her secretly, without other nobles knowing—
It felt so special, almost like they were having a secret romance.

Siena tried to cool down her rising body temperature.

“I’m cold. I’m cold…”

She even imagined that she had entered the ice room of a bathhouse.

Johan, who was dealing with the nobles, seemed unaware of what he had done.

“Marquis Veloster, which young lady will you be dancing with today?”

“Well, let me see…”

“Oh, please tell us! Everyone is curious!”

“Haha, I haven’t decided who to ask for a dance yet.”

“……”

“If there is someone so beautiful that I cannot take my eyes off her… I may consider asking.”

While answering in a polite tone, he glanced at Siena.

‘…You’re really beautiful today.’

He had always thought she was neat and pretty, but today she looked especially so.

Her soft ash-gray hair and pale skin, along with the golden dress, blended together as if they were one.

‘Like a flower soaked in morning sunlight.’

That was why he had said that earlier.

“Director, you’re beautiful.”

There was something Siena had overlooked.

Johan was an honest man who could not lie.

He wasn’t flirting thoughtlessly—he was simply speaking sincerely.

But what good did that do?

“I’ve been sitting in the ice room for 30 minutes… My hands and feet have turned purple because it’s so cold.”

Siena didn’t know that his words were true, nor that he was secretly watching her.

Suddenly, the ballroom became noisy.

“…Oh my.”

“They’ve finally arrived.”

The nobles whispered while glancing toward the entrance.

Siena, who had been staring at the innocent table, shifted her gaze.

‘…It’s Violet.’

Violet Bringer had entered the ballroom.

Realizing that everyone’s attention was focused on her, she blushed.

As the shy Violet slowly walked into the ballroom, the murmuring grew louder.

“It’s Lady Violet Bringer!”

“She’s truly beautiful. She seems to get prettier every time I see her.”

“Especially wearing a lavender dress that matches her name—it’s hard to tell if she’s a person or a flower.”

Siena had similar thoughts.

‘She really is… always beautiful.’

Violet had looked pretty when she tried on dresses in the fitting room, but today she looked even more so.

Unconsciously, Siena gripped her own dress.

‘Maybe I should’ve dressed up a little more?’

But she quickly erased the thought.

“No… what would I even dress up for?”

I’m just the center director here to help with Johan’s love life.

‘Don’t forget your role.’

She had already realized in the mirror earlier.

No matter how much makeup she wore, or how beautiful and expensive the dress was—

‘I’m just an ordinary person.’

No matter what she did, she could never become Violet.

‘What can I do about that?’

Having settled her feelings, she turned her gaze back to Johan.

Unlike before, he looked noticeably tense.

Feeling her gaze, Johan turned toward Siena.

She mouthed silently,

“Since it’s noisy now, I’ll start the operation a little later.”

Johan seemed to understand.

He curved his lips slightly.

“I’ll be waiting. I brought my handkerchief.”

Siena nodded.

Then she gave a small gesture to the staff using Doradora language.

“Everyone, focus. Lady Violet has arrived.”

Pin and Haven clenched their fists.

Isadora covered her eyes.

“Yes, confirmed.”

“Let’s wait twenty minutes before executing.”

After confirming no one was watching, the staff simultaneously gave a thumbs-up.

Siena looked back at Johan.

He was staring at Violet while reaching into his coat pocket with his right hand.

‘He brought the handkerchief.’

Realizing this made her chest ache.

‘I personally created the common thread of the handkerchief between you two…’

She was trying to detach herself from Johan.

‘So why does my heart still feel like this?’

It seemed the heart did not obey its owner’s commands so easily.

“Look. All the young nobles are watching Lady Bringer.”

“I wonder which man Lady Bringer will dance with. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The nobles were completely focused on Violet.

For some reason, Siena felt sulky.

She tore up an innocent cookie on the plate.

“Why are they acting so amazed? It’s not like Violet being beautiful is new…”

Just then—

Poo—

The gatekeepers blew their horns.

Startled, Siena widened her eyes.

“Huh…?”

As far as she knew, horns were only used when someone of very high status entered.

Then the gatekeeper announced:

“His Highness, Second Prince Edel La Peshrod Carnon, is entering!”

The hall gradually quieted.

Siena and the nobles all looked toward the entrance.

‘Second Prince…?’

He’s Castilian’s younger brother, right?

In fact, she had met Edel several times at imperial balls before.

Last year as well.

But that was before she realized she had transmigrated, so she hadn’t paid attention.

Not anymore.

‘Wow, Castilian’s brother…’

What kind of day is today?

The massive doors opened, and Edel appeared, neatly dressed in formal attire.

“We greet His Highness the Second Prince.”

“All hail.”

All the nobles placed a hand on their chest and bowed.

Though they were quite far away, Siena also bowed politely.

‘Royalty is royalty.’

This world had a class system, but the differences weren’t very extreme.

However, even in such a modest world, royalty received special treatment.

Edel waved at the nobles and reached the royal seating area.

Straightening her posture, Siena scanned him.

“Hm…”

Her reason was simple.

She wondered if looking at Edel’s appearance might remind her of Castilian’s face.

‘They’re brothers, so they must resemble each other.’

Edel had the same golden hair as Castilian.

But their eye colors were different.

While Castilian had red eyes, Edel’s were clear blue like the sky.

Their atmospheres were also completely opposite.

“Interesting. Castilian’s younger brother…”

Rather than resembling Castilian, he was just a happy cat.

His thoughts were completely readable.

‘I love the ball! I love people! I’m excited and happy today!’

And in fact, Edel truly thought that.

“Humming.”

Sitting in his chair, Edel hummed while looking at the crowd of nobles.

His secretary, “Pete,” approached him.

“Your Highness, are you not hungry?”

“Nope, I’m fine. The palace is lively after a long time, so I’m not hungry! I just want to look at people.”

“Then please remain seated. I will bring you something to eat…”

“I’ll eat later myself. Pete, rest. Sit next to me!”

“T-That would be…”

“Sit!”

With a bright smile, Edel tapped the empty chair.

Pete, sweating nervously, finally gave in and sat down cautiously.

Seeing this, Edel frowned.

“Pe—te!”

His face was not threatening at all.

“You shouldn’t sit like that! Your back will hurt. Sit properly!”

“But I cannot dare to sit next to Your Highness…”

“Sit! That’s an order from the Second Prince!”

Such ridiculous abuse of authority.

Sighing, Pete wiped the sweat from his forehead and slowly sat deeper.

When Edel saw Pete’s back touching the chair properly, he smiled brightly.

“Good, good. Relax!”

Humming again, he resumed watching the crowd.

Then his eyes widened.

“…Hm?”

Because he noticed a woman standing alone in a corner of the ballroom.

It was Siena.

Edel stared at her intensely.

‘That woman…’

Isn’t she the one His Grace Castilian mentioned?