Nevertheless
Following that, several invited singers and musicians showcased excellent songs and performances, and the atmosphere of the salon grew warm and lively. The Empress seemed more vibrant than usual, seemingly in high spirits, and the incidents the guests had worried about did not come to pass.
Princess Roella did not seem likely to pull any other stunts today, either. Judging by the way she glared at Laila with reddened eyes, she appeared furious at the failure of her plans, but it seemed she could not find a way to forcibly pick a fight with someone who was behaving so impeccably.
Most of the gathered guests were music enthusiasts, so they were extremely satisfied with today's performance. In particular, Marquis Zallier was so excited that his face had turned beet red, and he seemed unable to let Luna go. She was, without a doubt, the most outstanding talent of the day.
As for Zion, most of those interested in him were women. He received handkerchiefs or flowers from almost every woman present. Among them were even handkerchiefs embroidered with names and addresses.
However, the person who left a stronger impression than anyone else was Laila. She had been mingling among those offering their appreciation to the musician who had played the harp last, and her presence was so commanding that even those discussing other matters would glance at her from time to time.
Ferdinand, the young Count Zeppelin, who had been leaning against the refreshment table nursing a drink without joining any conversation, heard the voices of a few women nearby.
"Who could have made that dress?"
"It must have been made as a stage costume, right? Otherwise, how could she wear black when it isn't even mourning attire?"
"Black or not, it's beautiful regardless. Wait here. I'll go ask."
Ferdinand smiled. It was true that the outfit Lady Laila was wearing was a style he had never seen before, yet it stood out as remarkably beautiful even amidst all the flashy evening gowns in the salon.
That dress, and that wide-brimmed hat, would likely become a trend soon. Even knowing that Princess Roella was hostile toward her, people approached her as if drawn to her. It was easy to see why she was causing such a sensation in high society.
'I just hope the Princess doesn't cause any more trouble...'
The chances of that seemed low.
That woman was simply too eye-catching. It wasn't just a matter of her being a beauty. She possessed presence and grace. One might even call it the weight of a person.
Take today's opera, for instance. The final staging was truly magnificent, but if it hadn't been Lady Laila who appeared from behind that curtain, it wouldn't have achieved the same effect.
Well, Ezekiel Schwaben would likely keep her in check to a reasonable degree.
Thinking this, Ferdinand cast his gaze around the salon, suddenly looking for Ezekiel. However, he realized that he was already gone.
It was unexpected. While he wasn't particularly interested in social gatherings, once he attended one, he usually spent a sufficient amount of time there. Moreover, to leave before the Empress had even departed.
Princess Roella was nowhere to be seen either. It seemed she had left with Ezekiel.
'Hmm.'
There was a reason the Princess had been so quiet.
Ferdinand thought to himself, casting an indifferent gaze here and there, until he accidentally made eye contact with a young lady.
As he met her gentle green eyes, her face flushed with shyness. Ferdinand thought he had made a mistake, but he offered a polite, faint smile nonetheless.
And as he turned his head, he realized Lady Laila had approached him at some point.
"Greetings, Count Zeppelin."
"Greetings, Lady Laila. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Ferdinand bowed to her courteously. Laila smiled and said,
"Were you surprised that I approached you so suddenly? The color of the cocktail you are holding is so lovely that I wanted to ask what it was."
"Ah."
Looking at the red drink he was holding, Ferdinand let out a short exclamation. This glass would surely look beautiful in the hands of Laila, who was dressed in black from head to toe.
He wondered if she had approached him with that very thought in mind.
"I am afraid I do not know the name. Please, wait just a moment."
He gladly called over a servant for the lady, asked for the name of the cocktail, and requested another glass. Then, he looked at Laila.
Up close, her features were even more beautiful. At the same time, Ferdinand felt a slight sense of déjà vu. A woman of such beauty was very rare; if he had seen someone who resembled her, he wouldn't have forgotten, yet he couldn't recall.
The two chatted for a while about today's performance. It didn't take long for the servant to return with the cocktail.
Ferdinand expected Laila to take the glass and leave. But she did not.
"Is there perhaps something you wish to say to me?"
"There must be plenty of women interested in Count Zeppelin, so why do you look so surprised?"
Laila said that with a casual laugh. Ferdinand shook his head lightly.
"Well. There aren't many people who are genuinely interested in the son of a declining house."
"The Zeppelin house is declining? What are you talking about?"
"It is a story of the future. It is rare for a branch family to survive when the main house falls. You wouldn't know, Lady, as you haven't been back from Lanier for very long."
Ferdinand said with a wry smile. If someone else said it, it would be an insult, but when spoken by the person himself, it could be a joke.
However, Laila did not panic and maintained her smiling expression as she said,
"I may not know much about the noble houses of Sirach, but as a troupe leader, I had no choice but to take an interest in the owner of the Lih Theater."
Ferdinand looked at Laila with a surprised face. That was a fact that wasn't widely known. While the Lih Theater was a fairly dignified venue, it wasn't a source of great wealth, and it hadn't been long since he had inherited it.
"I am not involved in the theater's operations. Besides, looking at today, if it's the Marell Troupe, I imagine any repertoire you bring would be welcomed, wouldn't it?"
"Are you saying you have no intention of meeting with me?"
Ferdinand cleared his throat. That wasn't what he meant. He was a man who could separate beauty from the person, but even so, there was no way he wouldn't be drawn to this woman.
She smiled brightly and said,
"I should give you my calling card, but since this is the Imperial Palace, I couldn't bring a maid, and this dress has no pockets, so I couldn't bring one. Would it be alright if I sent a letter to your residence later?"
"I shall come to pay my respects instead."
"I would be even more grateful if you did."
Laila said softly.
Then, she scanned the salon once more. Zion caught her eye and winked. She couldn't help but chuckle, realizing he was there.
It was a grand success.
The carriage of the Schwaben Duchy was filled with silence.
Ezekiel kept his mouth shut as if he were angry at something, and Roella watched him warily.
He had left the moment the performance ended and the banquet began. Roella had hurriedly followed him out. However, Ezekiel hadn't even looked at her.
And it had been like this ever since. He hadn't even stopped Roella from getting into the carriage. This was strange. If it were the usual Ezekiel, even if he had business and left early, he would have told Roella not to do the same. She felt that something was wrong.
But Ezekiel, even while knowing she was watching him, could not bring himself to care.
'In anger, in mockery.'
The lyrics of the song the male actor had sung played back in his mind. Why was he this angry?
That woman was beautiful. Ezekiel admitted that fact. Along with the illusion of a spark catching fire, his groin felt tight in an instant.
It was a trivial matter. He was not a man who didn't know lust. If he liked a woman, he could simply go, talk to her, and suggest she become his mistress. A mistress who was a noble was a bit troublesome to deal with, but he had the ability to pay a sufficient price to both her and her family.
Roella would be annoying about it again, but she would have to understand having a mistress or two. Just as she had done until now.
If he were rejected, that would be the end of it.
And yet, an inexplicably intense rage was welling up inside him. He couldn't even understand what he was angry about himself.