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Chapter 10
Lady LeVine and Lady LeVine
“If you care about your own reputation, you should have refrained from speaking carelessly in someone’s absence in the first place.”
It was Lilliane LeVine—every word she spoke was correct.
When she was present, she stole all the young gentlemen’s attention.
If someone said something wrong, she would calmly refute them, point by point, using difficult words.
And now, the lady at the center of the issue was her sister.
The young ladies thought they could never truly like Lilliane. Isla Braise, who had begun to feel a stubborn competitiveness, gathered her courage once more.
“Then instead of talking behind your back, I’ll ask directly. Is it a rumor or a fact that you rejected His Highness the Crown Prince’s proposal?”
Isla trembled as she looked up at Lilliane, who was a head taller than her. But behind Isla, the other young ladies supported her, adding their own words.
“If you delay any longer at that age, even the House of LeVine might not find someone willing to accept you. Why refuse? Are you hiding another man somewhere?”
“Perhaps you plan to date in secret?”
At those words, Lilliane’s eyebrows shot up.
“For ladies who claim arranged marriage is an outdated relic of the past, that is quite a vulgar expression. And since the topic of romance has come up, I am curious—
Is there anyone here secretly in a relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince? Anyone our family should apologize to because of such a romance?”
Subtle gazes turned toward Cecilia.
“I mean a mutual relationship, not a one-sided crush.”
A one-sided crush.
No one looked at her directly, but it was clear Cecilia’s face had turned red.
Every noble in Ivelia knew that the Crown Prince, Aigen, and Cecilia’s older brother Federico had once moved as if they were one. When Federico died in an unexpected accident, Cecilia naturally filled his place. No one questioned it.
People believed she would eventually become the wife of one of those two men—and many hoped it would be the Crown Prince.
Those who called themselves Cecilia’s close friends had expected she would naturally be chosen as Crown Princess after her debut. That was why they felt even greater resentment toward the Imperial marriage article.
Even though no one from the Imperial family had ever encouraged such expectations.
‘Is she someone who likes the Crown Prince?’
Minuet quietly looked down at Cecilia, who was red-faced and unable to speak. Despite her small frame, her firm expression made her look cute.
‘If there is such a cute girl, why would he want to marry me?’
Cecilia bit her lip and lifted her head stiffly. Even her serious face looked undeniably cute to Minuet.
“We certainly behaved without dignity. I apologize.”
“No… it’s alright.”
Cecilia’s voice was calm and dignified despite her small body. It carried the pride of being the only ducal daughter in the Visk Empire.
“Tch. Why pretend to be so noble?”
Watching Cecilia lead the young ladies away, Lilliane looked baffled.
“She said sorry. I’m fine.”
“Oh, honestly! You’re so frustrating. That’s why the newspapers keep tearing into you like you’re nothing but entertaining prey.”
Even Minuet nodded naturally.
She was right. I don’t know why everyone keeps doing this either.
“I don’t care whether you find someone to date or marry His Highness. Just stop giving those foxes something to gossip about. I don’t want to waste any more time on your problems.”
Hearing Lilliane’s sharp words, Minuet simply nodded obediently. Lilliane stared at her in shock and shook her head.
With a cold voice, she left those final words behind, lifted her narrow crystal glass, and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Her steps were confident—as if she already knew she was today’s main character.
After several waltzes, it became obvious who would be crowned this year’s Queen of the Debutante.
Traditionally, a queen or empress chose the Queen of the Debutante. But in the Visk Empire, where the Empress’s seat had been vacant for decades, that right had been handed over to all the nobles. Now, powerful newspapers competed to announce the queen the day after the ball.
Reporters, now high enough in status to attend even this noble-only event, stood throughout the ballroom, observing each debuting lady with sharp eyes.
Because so many newspapers announced their own “queen,” the honor was no longer limited to just one person. Noble families humbly accepted this new culture, hoping their daughters might also be named.
But this year, the honor seemed destined for only one person.
Even the young ladies dancing the waltz admitted it unwillingly when they saw Lilliane’s performance.
Thousands of transparent jewels decorating her white dress shimmered with the music, making her face shine even brighter.
Minuet felt her shoulders lift with pride.
That’s my sister.
For a moment, she even thought perhaps someone like Lilliane should become Crown Princess instead. But she quickly shook her head.
Compared to Lilliane, the Crown Prince in the portrait still looked like a rather young boy.
“This year’s Queen of the Debutante will surely be the second daughter of the House of LeVine.”
“How can she be so beautiful?”
Ladies covered their faces with fans as they admired Lilliane’s dance.
Hearing them, Minuet’s shoulders rose proudly again.
“Countess LeVine must feel full without even eating.”
“The eldest daughter is also in talks with the Imperial family, isn’t she?”
“But… I heard she rejected the proposal. Is that true?”
The back of Minuet’s neck turned cold.
She had read every newspaper sold in Ivelia. She had expected this level of whispering. But hearing it directly—from adult noblewomen—was frightening.
“I heard she was bedridden for so long that she never received proper education. How can someone like that reject an Imperial proposal? What family would she even marry into?”
“I wonder if she can even properly play an instrument.”
“You’d better keep your sons under control. If they fall for that pretty face and marry her, you might have to hire not only a tutor for your grandchildren—but one for your daughter-in-law too.”
Their mocking laughter grew.
No lady in history had ever had her qualifications examined so thoroughly at a ball she hadn’t even come to debut at. And Minuet was certain no one ever would again.
Not wanting them to see her, she walked stiffly forward.
Young gentlemen who met her eyes pretended not to see her and turned away. Those who had witnessed the earlier fight between Griff and Onyx believed it was jealousy, and avoided her even more.
Even adding her beauty, her bright blonde hair, and the powerful House of LeVine—no gentleman who remembered Onyx from his days as the “mad Grand Duke” wanted to be involved in a scandal connected to the Crown Prince.
Unless he was completely dazzled by her looks.
She thought she had prepared herself by reading the newspapers. But reality was different.
Words on paper were easier to bear. The cold eyes of living people were not.
Before she knew it, she had finished her strawberry wine. She even took the entire tray from a passing attendant and drank one glass after another as she walked toward the terrace railing.
Min Yuae had once proudly claimed she could hold her liquor.
But Minuet felt both injustice and drunkenness mix together after only a few glasses.
Hic.
At work, the only thing she had improved was her alcohol tolerance…
She stared blankly at the strawberry wine in her hand.
A brilliant ball suited to the season.
Young men and women exploring each other.
The sweet scent of strawberries from her glass.
A lonely breeze brushed through her hair.
“It’s really nice. It’s nice for everyone except me.”
She let out a small sigh.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your Highness! Where are you?”
The Crown Prince?
With all the attention she had received today, she had almost forgotten about him. Besides, it was already late for such a young Crown Prince to attend.
Startled, her glass hit the railing with a clear sound, and she suddenly became alert.
It wasn’t because of that woman.
The whiskey just tasted especially bitter tonight.
Standing alone on the terrace, Onyx clenched and unclenched his aching fist.
Thanks to Aigen arriving at the right moment, the small disturbance earlier had ended well. Aigen had even dragged him out, telling him to get some air.
He hadn’t cared about the ball anyway.
Though he had thrown the punch boldly, he was worried about the aftermath. He no longer wanted to become newspaper material like in his “mad dog of Ivelia” days as Grand Duke.
He looked at the scenery outside while holding his whiskey glass.
It was a good day.
The sight of young couples laughing below the terrace wasn’t unpleasant.
It was that kind of season.
He had gained his father’s approval for importing magic stones. The nobles’ investment funds were also looking promising. The Kingdom of Briata had presented strict conditions, but nothing serious.
Everything was going well this spring.
Then why did he feel so irritated?
“Your Highness!”
Cecilia’s voice approached and faded in the cold wind. Onyx hid at the edge of the terrace, still holding his whiskey.
‘When the moon passes over my head, I’ll return to the ballroom, give a congratulatory speech, and leave.’
That was today’s plan.
He had no desire to dance a waltz or entertain Cecilia’s clinginess and create useless rumors.
He had already exchanged greetings with the future pillars of the Empire. His prepared speech was ready.
Hiding behind a pillar, drinking whiskey, he felt peace for the first time in a while.
He lifted the glass and tried to trap the falling petals inside it.
Watching the petals fall blankly felt like a rare moment of rest. The distant waltz music and the warmth of the whiskey made everything around him quiet.
Feeling the warm night breeze brush past his nose, he sensed the clear change of seasons and raised the glass to his lips again.
That was when it happened.
A young lady stepped backward—
—and shattered Onyx’s brief moment of peace.
