Chapter 429

Words : 2244 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

The people gathered at the ballroom kept stealing glances at each other while pretending not to. It was a place filled with men and women in their prime. Moreover, given the occasion, everyone had put great effort into dressing up. It was like throwing dry straw onto embers. Men were conscious of women, and women were conscious of men. They pondered how to get closer to each other, and some gathered the courage to ask potential partners to dance. Those who received acceptance showed smiles of joy while those who were rejected shed tears of sadness. As the atmosphere in the ballroom was reaching its peak, it suddenly rippled into silence because a young girl appeared at the entrance. Ash-gray bob hair that swayed with each step that was originally short at the back, but gathered and tied up as much as possible, revealing a pure white nape. The dazzling white jewel-encrusted necklace around her neck was eye-catching and the rustling white dress was like clouds drifting in the sky. A quiet stillness descended as if time had stopped in the ballroom. The same was true for the performance that had been gently warming up the ballroom interior. The violin player who should have been looking at the sheet music couldn’t take his eyes off the girl. -Click. Click. Rene walked through that alien curtain of silence. Every time she passed by, people’s gazes followed behind her but she had no time to mind others’ reactions. The shoes she was wearing for the first time felt precarious, as if she might fall if her concentration wavered even slightly. It seemed like it would get better if she kept walking, but she didn’t have that luxury yet. So Rene was focusing all her concentration just on walking right now. “My goodness.” Erendir unconsciously let out an exclamation while looking at Rene. It’s a cliché to say that beauty captures people’s attention. However, looking at Rene now, no other words came to mind. Everyone who came to the ballroom had maximized their charm. Even those who usually looked plain had attempted complete transformations through makeup and fancy clothes, yet Rene boasted a different level of beauty. ‘Where did she get that dress from?’ Erendir’s gaze naturally turned to Freuden, suspecting that he might have forced it on Rene. She was going to say something sharp if that was the case, but looking at Freuden’s expression, it didn’t seem so. ‘He’s completely spellbound.’ Freuden’s face as he stared at Rene was completely different from his usual stern expression. As if his mask had been removed, he was captivated by Rene with a dazed look. ‘He was already head over heels for Rene, but this level of reaction... It’s interesting and strange to see this side of him. Maybe I should tease him more.’ Erendir cleared her throat once and called out to Rene. “Rene.” “Ah, Senior Erendir!” Rene also spotted Erendir and approached her slowly with a bright smile. “Did you wait long? I’m sorry. I meant to come out earlier.” “I’m fine.” “Really? Ah, Senior, your dress is pretty. It suits you well.” “R-really?” Erendir’s shoulders rose involuntarily at Rene’s compliment. She had been secretly disappointed that no one had complimented her on the dress she liked. “The same goes for you. That dress, where did it come from? I don’t think I’ve seen it before.” “Ah. I was able to receive it through a connection with the manager sister of House of Verdi. She said it was the first time anyone had worn it.” “House of Verdi? That’s the most famous place on Royal Street recently.” Erendir examined Rene’s dress carefully. She thought she could feel a slight flow of magical power from the dress. No matter how you look at it, this wasn’t an ordinary dress. Just as she was about to ask how she got such a thing, Freuden intervened between them. “Rene.” “Ah. Senior Freuden. Hello.” “...You’re beautiful.” “Ah, thank you. I think so too. The dress is really pretty, isn’t it? It feels too good for me.” “...” ‘I meant you, not the dress.’ But Freuden couldn’t say that with so many watching eyes. “...I was going to give you a dress as a gift, but it seems there’s no need. I can’t imagine anything I prepared suiting you better than that.” “You don’t need to praise me so much.” “It’s true.” Freuden said in a serious tone. His answer was so firm that Rene smiled softly saying, “Is that so?” However, Freuden wasn’t as comfortable as Rene. More accurately, it would be right to say he couldn’t be. ‘There are more watching eyes than before.’ He could feel it even while talking. The number of glancing eyes had increased significantly. While before it was mainly women’s gazes, now male students were all looking at Rene. That’s not to say the women weren’t looking at Rene either. Admiration, jealousy, envy. Freuden could clearly feel the gazes mixed with various emotions. ‘I understand.’ Freuden was the same. The moment he saw Rene entering the ballroom, he even forgot to breathe. Even his noble dignity as an aristocrat, which had become natural like daily life after thorough education since childhood, was the same. The moment he witnessed Rene’s beauty, thoughts of maintaining dignity or anything else didn’t even cross his mind. If he was like this, how much more so for others. Even now he could see male students staring blankly at Rene. Not a few incidents occurred where they got their feet stepped on or cheeks pinched by their female partners. ‘Yet Rene herself, who caused all this commotion, doesn’t seem to realize it at all.’ But that’s what made her Rene, he thought. Perhaps this natural demeanor that wasn’t bound by status was why he was drawn to her. Freuden made up his mind firmly. That this was his chance, if not now, there wouldn’t be another opportunity to convey his feelings to her. “Rene.” Freuden gazed at Rene, about to ask her for a dance. Just as he was about to receive the honor of being her first dance partner, Erendir interrupted. “You shouldn’t do that.” “...” Freuden’s gaze turned cold at Erendir’s action to interfere with him. Usually other students would be frightened when faced with such a look, but Erendir wasn’t. “You lack consideration for the lady. Look carefully.” Erendir clicked her tongue as if reproaching Freuden. “Rene isn’t used to these kinds of occasions in the first place. It’s her first time. Didn’t you see how unsteady her walking was when she came here? That’s because she’s wearing party shoes for the first time.” “...” “You’re going to ask her to dance? Well, I understand how desperate you are, but I wish you’d at least pick your timing better. Wait until she gets used to it.” Freuden recalled when Rene first entered the ballroom. Everyone was so captivated by her beauty they didn’t notice, but Rene was concentrating all her attention on walking. “...I was thoughtless.” Freuden honestly admitted his mistake. “As long as you understand.” Just then Rene approached and asked. “What are you two talking about so seriously?” “Nothing.” “Nothing at all.” -Oh. Rene let out an exclamation seeing the two speak simultaneously. “Somehow you two seem to get along well. Is it because you’re close?” “What nonsense.” “What are you saying!” They answered at the same time again, then glared strongly at each other once more. “Anyway, it’s not like that.” “Anyway, that’s not it.” “...” Rene, watching this, was about to say something but closed her mouth. * * * “Wow. Oh my goodness, look at that dress. It’s absolutely insane, insane.” Cheryl, who was looking down at the central ballroom from the second-floor terrace railing, spotted Rene and got excited. “Cheryl. Stay still.” “But Flora, how can you not think that when you see that dress? Did you not just see it? Even the performance stopped for a moment. I’ve never seen anything like that before.” “That’s...” Flora was agreeing with that part. Cheryl added: “Besides, Flora should have been the star of this occasion!” “What are you saying? I hate that kind of thing.” Flora frowned and glared at Cheryl. “I’m not interested in that sort of thing in the first place.” “For someone who says that, you’re properly wearing the dress I gave you.” “That’s...because I had to match the dress code of the ballroom...” “And?” “And what.” “Isn’t there something else? I think there’s more you want to say.” “...Fine. I get it. How could I refuse a friend’s gift?” “Thank you, Flora!” “...Hmph.” Flora’s cheeks turned slightly red. In the past, she would have never said such things. Cheryl knew this and was pleased with Flora’s change. It was good to see her becoming brighter, when she used to be dark, cold, and cynical about everything. “Still, it’s a shame. You’re dressed up so prettily, but there’s no one to appreciate it.” Cheryl looked Flora’s dress up and down and lamented sincerely. Flora looked down at her own dress. It was a pitch-black dress that matched her now black-tinged hair color. If you were to neatly cut out a piece of the night sky and wrap it around your body, it might feel like this. At least Cheryl was proud that she had picked the absolute best dress but despite that, Flora only stayed in places where there were no people, and conversely, this girl named Rene monopolized all the attention. And what’s more, that unfair dress. “I don’t really care. Cheryl, you shouldn’t care so much either.” “How can I not care? That dress in the first place...” Cheryl recalled what she had seen that day and hesitated to answer. ‘Should she tell or not.’ After contemplating, Cheryl finally made a decision. “...Professor Rudger Chelici had it made for her.” At least her friend needed to know this truth. “...Professor Rudger?” Even Flora found this unexpected and asked with raised eyebrows. -Ah. Cheryl regretted saying it, seeing that reaction but she didn’t want to hide this fact from her friend. “I saw it while walking on Royal Street. The professor coming out of House of Verdi with that Rene girl.” “House of Verdi. I’ve heard of it. The clothing store you often mention, right?” Flora glanced slightly at Rene. She looked quite natural mingling with Erendir and Freuden. A commoner mixing so naturally with the duke’s eldest son and the imperial princess was a surprising sight. “Well, she is pretty.” “Huh, huh?” Cheryl stared at Flora with wide eyes. At that reaction, Flora replied curtly. “What? Did you think I would be disappointed or angry hearing that?” “N-no. I, I didn’t think that. R-really!” “Forget it. I’m not a child anymore. I don’t feel jealous over things like that.” Of course, there was some disappointment but she wasn’t greatly swayed by it. “She’s a commoner in the first place. Unlike me, she can’t easily get dresses. Considering the difference in status, it’s not strange for Professor Rudger to help. That’s just how it is.” “Flora...” Cheryl sniffled as if moved by Flora’s changed attitude but Flora got annoyed at that expression. “Don’t make that face. If you keep doing that, I’ll get angry.” “...Okay.” Just then the ballroom became noisy. As Flora looked down wondering what was happening, Cheryl’s excited shout reached her ears. “They must be starting the contest!” “Contest?” “Don’t you remember? Miss Theon, choosing this year’s ballroom beauty! The sun is starting to set, isn’t it? Now the real contest begins.” The real Theon ball began after the sun had completely set. Flora hadn’t known because she wasn’t interested in such things last year, but Cheryl, famous as Theon’s gossip girl, was different. “This year it could definitely be Flora!” “...I told you I’m not interested in such things.” “Then you’re okay with someone else taking it?! If you’re chosen for the contest, you can pick anyone you want to dance with!” “Anyone I want...” Flora’s gaze flickered briefly to the opposite terrace on the second floor. There stood Rudger Chelici. Holding a champagne glass in one hand while quietly gazing down at the ballroom as if observing, he created an exquisite picture that made hearts flutter just by being there. Even passersby kept stealing glances. Flora suddenly imagined the scene of her being chosen as Miss Theon and asking Rudger for a dance. ‘It’s impossible in the first place.’ Even while thinking that, she found herself secretly hoping for it. Meanwhile, the contest to choose Miss Theon had begun. The qualification to participate in the contest was given equally to all women participating in this ballroom. It was a stage was specially prepared and there was even a panel of judges. Indeed, who would be chosen this time? While everyone was thinking this, the first candidate stepped onto the stage.

Chapter 429

Comments (0)