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Chapter 16.
When Stella saw the duke, she raised her well-groomed eyebrows and soon gave a faint, knowing smile.
Ugh, that’s the smile she makes when she’s excited.
“Oh my, a guest already?”
“I’m Stella of the Meritney family. If you came to see Roa, that’s perfectly fine. I was just about to leave anyway.”
Where are you lying now?
I signaled for her to stop, but Stella pretended not to notice.
“Thank you, Lady Meritney. Lady Levian, could you spare me a moment?”
“Of course, for you, Your Grace.”
Though she’d just said she was going home, Stella lingered by my side and added,
“Roa hasn’t been going out much these days. How about taking a walk in the back garden? The marquisate’s gardens are truly beautiful. I recommend going deeper in, not just where the tea party was held.”
“I see. Thank you for the suggestion.”
“I’ll see Stella off, so please wait a moment.”
The duke gave a polite nod, and before I could stop her, Stella dashed toward the entrance. That was very unlike her usual leisurely pace.
“See you later, friend!”
She even waved from the doorway — looking annoyingly delighted.
In the end, only the Duke of Lisiansus and I were left in the lobby.
“Shall we go then?”
The duke extended his hand toward me.
The garden filled with roses was drenched in their scent, and the sunlight and gentle breeze brightened the mood.
“I apologize for visiting without notice, my lady.”
“It must have been urgent.”
“Yes, very.”
The duke looked at me seriously, then suddenly turned his head to the side. The tips of his ears were slightly red — and my heart sank.
A bad sign.
The thought that he might have some kind of affection or interest toward me — it made my nose sting with unwanted warmth.
But in reality, I had to get rid of him as quickly as possible, so I spoke coldly.
“What brings you here, Your Grace?”
The duke didn’t speak right away, which was rare, but he kept his gaze fixed on mine.
“Would you be my partner for the upcoming Imperial Ball?”
It felt like my heart dropped.
A part of me burned with the desire to dance with him again — but I refused.
“I appreciate the offer, but I already have a prior engagement, Your Grace.”
“I… see.”
Neither my father nor the duke seemed to know about my partner — so the emperor must be keeping it secret.
Did he only tell Father that I had a partner, without revealing who?
Does he think no one would believe that my partner is the Tower Master?
Or perhaps he’s worried that if word got out, someone might try to approach him?
The emperor is kind, but politically shrewd. There may be something I can’t yet see.
“I should’ve come sooner,” the duke muttered to himself, then spoke again, more earnestly.
“Then perhaps, next time our family hosts a party, would you be my partner then?”
Why does he look at me like that — with such desperate eyes?
“If I keep partnering with you, Your Grace, people will gossip. They’ll say things like we’re courting or something of that nature.”
“I don’t mind.”
He answered far too quickly, and then his ears turned red again, as if realizing what he’d just said.
“Of course, only if you don’t mind, my lady.”
My heart pounded fast.
In my twenty-third life, I would’ve said yes without hesitation — but now, things were different.
“No. I don’t want to.”
I said it firmly, but his deep blue eyes didn’t look away.
That gaze — sharp and probing — made me turn my head aside, as if he were trying to read my heart.
“Is that all you wished to say?”
“I’ll ask for your company again next time, then.”
“I’ll refuse.”
“But, my lady, you knew I’d dislike it — yet you still invited me to dance and to your tea party.”
The duke didn’t yield an inch.
If I didn’t retreat now, he’d keep pushing — so I decided to end it quickly.
“You insisted on inviting me even after I declined, so let’s call the tea party matter even. As for the dance… fine. Next time, I’ll attend one party as your partner, Your Grace.”
At my words, the duke smiled faintly.
That rare smile he only ever showed to me.
Something stabbed sharply inside my chest. I turned my head quickly before my expression could crumble, and the duke gave a polite bow.
“I must return to the knights’ division. There’s no need to see me off.”
“Then I won’t go far.”
With a formal nod, the duke walked out of the garden in his usual disciplined stride.
Once he disappeared completely, I sat down on a nearby bench.
“You hated everything I did — the way I dressed, the perfume I wore… I did everything you disliked.”
“Then why do you keep coming to me?”
“What on earth are you thinking…?”
I covered my face with both hands.
“My lady, the necklace has arrived.”
A necklace and earrings made from the blue diamonds mined in our territory arrived just a day before the Imperial Ball.
“What do you think, Tea?”
“It’s very elegant. And above all, I think it will suit you perfectly, my lady.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“You’re not planning to sell the raw gems — you’ll refine and craft them first to raise their value, won’t you?”
“Exactly. You really are clever, Tea.”
Ted grinned.
“Shall I look for buyers then?”
“I already have someone in mind, so don’t worry.”
After all, I’ve done this before.
“More importantly, Tea — I’ll be meeting the Tower Master tomorrow. We’ll meet in front of the imperial palace, but stay alert, just in case.”
“…Understood.”
Ted frowned but kept his composure.
“Which means — you have the day off tomorrow.”
I’d be stuck at the ball all day anyway.
The next morning, I took out the parchment and pen the Tower Master had given me.
[Today at 6 p.m., in front of the Imperial Palace. Attending the Imperial Ball.]
As soon as I finished writing, the letters shimmered faintly and disappeared.
He’d said an hour’s notice was enough — so this should do.
Just as I locked the parchment and pen into the small safe in my drawer, I heard a knock.
“Come in.”
“My lady, it’s time.”
It was Cassie and the rest of the maids — all looking uncommonly solemn.
“…Haa, so it’s finally here.”
I let them drag me to the bathroom.
On the day of the Imperial Ball, my father and mother went ahead to the palace.
I rode in another carriage with Cassie, right on schedule.
“My lady, you look absolutely stunning!”
“Cassie, you’ve said that at least thirty times. Enough already.”
“But it’s true! You’re so dazzling it hurts to look!”
Cassie inspected me with hawk-like eyes, determined to send me to the palace in perfect condition.
The dress Madame Anthe had made looked entirely different from when I’d first seen it.
She’d layered sheer fabric of a sky-blue hue tinged with red, making the skirt full and flowing, then topped it with a glittering overlay.
So with every step, I shimmered — and the maids had squealed in delight at the sight.
“Wait, my lady — your makeup smudged a bit!”
By the way, how would the Tower Master make his entrance?
The imperial palace was under a magical barrier — no spells could be used inside, which was why we agreed to meet at the gate.
But even as we reached the front gates, he still hadn’t appeared.
Did the message not reach him? Or was he ignoring me?
Was I about to be caught by the Crown Prince instead?
As I rubbed my neck nervously—
“Hello, Rosia.”
At the very last moment, the Tower Master appeared beside me.
“You startled me.”
“Really? You don’t look surprised at all.”
Truth be told, I wasn’t.
“That dress suits you wonderfully, Rosia.”
“Thank you.”
“As expected — the flashier, the better.”
“…Is this— diamond dust?”
“Correct! I even enchanted it so it shines brighter. Nice, right?”
I’d been relieved the color looked subtle — but now, just as he sang praises to flashiness, my dress was spectacularly dazzling.
In contrast, the Tower Master wore nothing but a simple silver robe.
“M-M-M-Master of the Tower! He just appeared out of nowhere, my lady!”
Cassie, realizing what had happened, pointed at him in panic.
“Hey, you. How dare you point a finger at me, huh?”
The Tower Master frowned.
