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“The mansion is about to collapse! Everyone, be careful!”
The construction supervisor’s shout rang out, followed by a countdown.
“10, 9, 8…”
Calix stepped aside and looked around the mansion one more time.
“5, 4, 3…”
That’s when he saw him.
A little boy, around four or five years old, was walking close to the mansion.
Without any guardian.
“…!”
Most of the workers and supervisors were on the other side, so they didn’t notice the boy.
“No!”
Calix instantly leapt forward.
KWAANG!
With a massive explosion, the mansion crumbled.
A shattered wall was falling toward the boy.
“Master! Master!”
Dust filled the air.
Josh came running in, panicked and breathless.
“Master! Where are you?!”
Moments later, Calix emerged from the dust, holding the boy in his arms.
His arm was bleeding heavily from shielding the child from the falling wall.
“Master! Are you alright?!”
“I’m fine. Take care of the child.”
“Waaaah!”
Only then did the frightened child burst into tears.
“And you, sir?”
“It’s nothing. I was a bit far away. Just caught some flying debris.”
From a distance, a woman—presumably the child’s mother—came running toward them.
She looked so ragged it seemed her skin clung to bone.
She had an infant strapped to her back.
“Sweetheart!”
“Mom!”
The woman rushed over and grabbed the child.
“I told you to stay close to Mommy!”
She smacked the child lightly on the back.
The child cried even louder.
“I-I just wanted to pick something up that fell… Waaaah!”
“Who told you to worry about that!”
“I’m sorry, sob sob.”
As she scolded the child, her tension broke and she hugged him tightly.
“Sir, thank you so mu—”
She looked up to thank Calix—
Gasp!
But the moment she saw who it was, the woman shut her mouth.
She instantly realized who he was.
Even among commoners, the man in the black mask—the Destroyer of Cliff Castle—was infamous.
“S-sir! I-I’m so sorry. My child was just—”
She began trembling all over.
Perhaps she was afraid Calix would draw his sword in anger.
She even seemed to forget that this man had just saved her son.
“P-please forgive us! We weren’t trying to steal anything! We were just looking…!”
“……”
Calix didn’t listen to her entire excuse. He simply turned his back.
“Let’s go.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Josh followed him.
The woman and her children quickly ran off in the opposite direction.
“You need to treat that wound first.”
“I’m fine. I’ll take care of it at the castle. More importantly, did you see the state of the mother and child?”
“Yes. I’ll make arrangements for them. Now, this way please…”
Josh guided Calix toward the mansion’s ruins.
His master always insisted on spending time alone among the wreckage after demolishing a building.
It was part of the reason the rumors around him were so grim, but no amount of persuasion had changed his habit.
It felt almost like a ritual.
“Huh?”
But today, Calix headed in the opposite direction.
“You’re not inspecting the demolition site today?”
“Hm. Hey, bring me my horse.”
One of the workers brought Calix’s horse.
“Master…? Where are you going?”
“…To the Weatherwood estate.”
“What? To the ball? You’re going, sir?”
“Yes. I’ve already invested—I can’t let the money go to waste. Think of it as supervision.”
Calix said calmly as he mounted his horse.
“Oh, I see. Yes, and there’s the dress issue too…”
“Dress?”
“The Count’s daughter is bankrupt. I was doubtful she could dress appropriately for the ball.”
“……”
“Besides, she’s not even debuted in society yet. She probably knows nothing about these events. I just hope she doesn’t end up a laughingstock.”
“……”
Calix’s face turned grim.
Josh wondered if he had said something wrong.
“…You’re coming too.”
“Huh? Why me… sir?”
Josh looked genuinely confused.
—
Meanwhile…
“Miss, how’s this dress? I picked it with the money you gave me.”
Mildred walked into Marie’s office holding a beige dress.
“Oh, you’re back. Took you long enough.”
Since she had to attend the ball, she needed a proper dress.
But Marianne Whitehouse didn’t own any formal party dresses.
She had never needed one—only simple indoor wear filled her wardrobe.
And in her past life as well, she had no experience with high society or such events.
“I visited every dress shop in town.”
Mildred said curtly.
But her forehead was drenched in sweat.
It had taken five hours—clearly, she had tried hard to save money.
Truthfully, Marie wasn’t the type to care much about clothes.
She had been too busy working on her business plans and didn’t have time to commission a custom dress.
So she sent Mildred to pick out a ready-made one.
Mildred would be better at this than I am. Both the old Marianne and I know nothing about fashion.
“You did well. Should I try it on right away?”
“…Here?”
“Yeah, this is the only room with a mirror. And Dwayne’s out working in the field.”
The rest of Whitehouse was still completely empty aside from Marie’s office.
Even her bedroom had only a refurbished bed.
“That’s why I said we should at least furnish your room.”
“No. There’s no guarantee I’ll be staying here long. I can’t afford to waste money on that.”
Even if Calix sent the investment, all funds had to go toward the interior design studio.
The most important thing now was saving money quickly.
To protect the Whitehouse name and the estate.
“We need to cut back on everything except what’s directly needed for the business.”
“Sigh… you’re right.”
The dress Mildred picked was a pale open robe with white lace.
“I’ll fasten the corset for you.”
Marie normally refused help, but this time she let Mildred assist.
“I also brought a crinoline for the ball.”
She put on the bodice and petticoat, then the beige open robe over them.
Though not made of silk, the fabric was smooth and pleasant.
“I made this boutonnière from daisies in the garden.”
Mildred pinned a small arrangement of white flowers and ribbon to her bodice.
“What do you think?”
It was clear Mildred had put real effort into it.
Marie had thought her blunt and cold.
“I love it. Thank you.”
Marie didn’t know much about dresses, and it was her first time wearing something so fancy, so she was excited.
The corset was a bit uncomfortable, but the way it made her waist look almost unreal, she felt like a princess.
Only, with the low neckline, her long neck felt a little bare.
“You look truly beautiful, miss. Um…”
Mildred hesitated and pulled out a small pouch.
“What’s this?”
Inside was a simple necklace.
A teardrop-shaped blue gem hung at its center.
“Sapphire? Where did you get this? The money I gave wouldn’t have covered it.”
“Oh, it’s not a real gem.”
Mildred avoided her gaze as she fastened it around Marie’s neck.
“But it was my mother’s. So it’s not cheap either. I’ll just lend it to you.”
“Your mother’s keepsake? Is it okay to lend that?”
“…Of course. This ball is really important for our business.”
‘Our’ business?
Marie didn’t miss Mildred saying “our.”
She had said she’d quit once her contract ended…
“…Thank you. The necklace really completes the look.”
“Glad you like it. Now I’ll fix your hair.”
Mildred’s cheeks were slightly flushed.
—
A few hours later.
As soon as Marie stepped into the Weatherwood estate, she froze in awe.
From the lobby to the grand hall, the place was packed with people.
Far bigger than she had expected.
“There are so many people… It’s like every noble in the kingdom is here.”
Elegant music flowed from the ballroom.
The lobby sparkled with chandeliers and cheerful conversations.
“Welcome, Madam Viscountess! It’s been so long!”
“Lovely to see you. Oh my, where did you order that hairpin? The ruby setting is exquisite!”
The ballroom interior was more dazzling than anything she’d seen in films.
Every visible space was adorned with paintings, sculptures, flowers, and food.
You could call it refined, or—on the flip side—unrealistically extravagant.
“How much do nobles spend just for one ball?”
The moment she entered, it was obvious—there were levels to dresses.
Among such extravagant gowns, hers wasn’t just simple—it looked poor.
“Everyone’s outfits are far more luxurious than mine…”
In hindsight, it was obvious.
She’d left it to Mildred because she was busy and didn’t know better.
But she had overlooked that Mildred also had no experience with balls.
“At this rate, I won’t promote the business—I’ll just become a joke.”
The Whitehouse family was already gossip fodder due to Henry’s death and bankruptcy.
Her appearance would only fuel the fire.
She had hoped to use this ball to promot
e her business, but she hadn’t done her homework.
“I’ll just quietly observe the atmosphere and leave early.”
But just as she approached the main hall—
The attendant at the entrance began announcing each guest by name.
“Oh no, they’re announcing arrivals one by one?!”
