The Ghost at the Ball
The festivities had been thoroughly enjoyable, but suddenly, the Emperor came to mind.
By now, His Majesty must be retiring to his chambers…
A pang of guilt struck her. If not for her, there was no one else who would attend to him so closely. She must have become too swept up in the ball’s atmosphere. Ishtel rose from her seat, intending to bid the Emperor a good night.
“Duchess, be careful!”
When she staggered, Shuri quickly stepped forward and caught her.
“I’m fine. I’ll go greet His Majesty and return, so wait here a moment.”
Her mood pleasantly elevated by the wine, Ishtel left Shuri, Rose, and the Northern retainers behind and headed toward the balcony of the ballroom.
Yet the seat where the Emperor should have been was empty. Staring at the vacant chair, she asked the maids nearby.
“Where is His Majesty?”
“His Majesty retired to his chambers just a short while ago.”
“Oh dear. I wasn’t able to give him my evening greeting.”
“Please don’t worry too much. His Majesty watched the ball with great enjoyment before leaving.”
“That’s right. He saw everything, including the Duchess dancing with the Northern retainers. He was quite pleased, saying that you treated the shy Northerners with such kindness.”
The maids insisted it was fine, but her heart still felt uneasy. In this imperial palace, she was the only one who truly looked after the Emperor…
“Did His Majesty return safely to his quarters? Who escorted him?”
“It was Karina, Duchess.”
At the maid’s words, her mood plummeted. Lately, she had heard rumors that Karina and the Emperor had grown unusually close. At a time like this, she should have stayed by His Majesty’s side even more. For some reason, she felt as though Karina had stolen the lead from her.
“I see. You must all be tired as well, so return and rest before it gets too late. The cleanup for the ball can wait until tomorrow.”
Escorted by the maids’ farewells, Ishtel descended the balcony stairs and moved behind the ballroom. She had meant to rejoin her friends, but instead she turned and headed down the imperial palace corridor.
Perhaps because she had drunk more than usual, she suddenly needed to use the restroom. As she quickened her steps, the beautiful, jewel-adorned shoes produced loud clicking sounds. Even though the distance wasn’t far, the corridor felt unusually long tonight.
Then, at that moment, she saw something slip past on the opposite side of the hallway.
What was that?
Long, shimmering hair like a ghost, and the hem of a red dress that dragged along the floor. Even at a glance, it felt strangely familiar.
Am I seeing things because I’m drunk?
But that dress. It was far too familiar to dismiss as a hallucination.
She quickly retraced her steps.
The ghost was on the opposite side of the corridor where she had been. Since it had just turned the corner, if she followed quickly, she might catch a glimpse of its face.
Gathering the hem of her dress, Ishtel broke into a hurried trot. But when she rounded the end of the corridor, the ghost had already vanished without a trace.
Strange. It definitely looked like my dress.
A vivid, luxurious red dress. It was the one among the dresses Baroness Turen and Rose had brought that she had not chosen.
She moved to a high balcony that overlooked the entire hall. After receiving a telescope from a nearby maid, she began scanning the people in the banquet hall one by one.
Red stood out easily. It didn’t take long before she found the dress.
And the moment she saw the ghost wearing her dress, the hazy fog of alcohol cleared from her mind in an instant.
“Abigail!”
She called the head maid in a sharp voice. The party was over.
She looks like she’s having fun.
Thirty minutes earlier, Karina, who had been carrying a teacup toward the balcony, paused for a moment.
Her gaze had fallen on Ishtel, who was laughing brightly in the center of the banquet hall. Beside her stood her reckless maid friend and an unfamiliar woman she had never seen before.
So she’s someone who can smile like that.
Karina found Ishtel’s current appearance strangely foreign. The Ishtel she knew was always cool-headed and rarely showed emotional disturbance.
Yet seeing her with such a joyful face, chatting amiably with a complete stranger, gave Karina an extremely odd feeling.
She tore her eyes away from Ishtel and continued toward the balcony. When the maids opened the door, she saw the Emperor seated in a chair, looking down at the hall.
“Your Majesty, I have brought the tea.”
Karina smiled as she offered the tea to the Emperor. He accepted the cup and gave her a quick once-over.
“It suits you well.”
The Emperor gave Karina, dressed in the striking red gown, a brief compliment. She bowed her head politely in thanks.
Though the praise was short, the Emperor was inwardly greatly surprised by her appearance. He had never noticed while she wore a maid’s uniform, but in the lavish dress, she was beautiful enough to rival any noblewoman.
He had always thought Ishtel the most beautiful among the young women, but seeing Karina now, he realized she was every bit her equal.
“Sophie.”
The Emperor, having looked away from Karina, called the head maid standing nearby.
“Who is the woman currently dancing with Ishtel?”
“She is Shuri Telia of the Telia family. I am told she is a young lady from a Northern vassal house that accompanied His Grace the Archduke Hellion.”
“Telia… Telia… That name sounds familiar…”
“She is the young lady who was once discussed as a potential match for His Grace the Archduke Hellion.”
“Ah!” The Emperor clapped his knee as if the memory had finally returned.
“Haha. It seems Ishtel has firmly decided to use this opportunity to form a friendly alliance with the North!”
The Emperor burst into loud, satisfied laughter. However, Karina, who was looking down from the balcony, wore an expression of incomprehension.
Are those two really in a position where they can laugh and chat so freely?
It was absurd. In a way, they could have become romantic rivals over one man, yet the two of them showed no awkwardness whatsoever. They looked more like old friends. For some reason, it left a bad taste in her mouth.
Was it truly just for political reasons? Did nobles always prioritize practical gain over emotion like this? Having lived as a commoner until now, Karina found the situation utterly incomprehensible.
“Everyone Ishtel keeps close to seems to have an outgoing personality. How unexpected…”
The Emperor murmured as he watched Rose blowing wildly on the saxophone and Shuri stepping completely off-beat.
“Perhaps the Duchess’s true nature is similar to that of her friends.”
Karina said, observing the three of them.
“Living in the imperial palace may have changed her personality as well.”
“Yes, that could be.”
The Emperor’s face looked strangely bitter as he spoke. Eventually, he placed his empty cup on the silver tray Karina was holding and slowly rose from his seat.
“I don’t know who it is you’re looking for, but search carefully.”
Before leaving the balcony, the Emperor said to Karina.
“You said you absolutely must meet that person, didn’t you?”
Karina stepped into the increasingly chaotic banquet hall. The ball was gradually drawing to a close. Although most of the nobles still remained, her heart grew only more impatient.
“Oh my, who is that lady? She’s incredibly beautiful.”
“Indeed. I’ve never seen her before. But look at that dress. She must be from quite a prominent family.”
“No, with beauty like that, how is it possible that no one knows her?”
Karina felt the nobles’ gazes gradually focusing on her. She picked up a fan lying on a nearby table. She didn’t know whose it was, but she decided she should at least cover her face with it for now.
“Oh!”
Merely opening the fan drew gasps of admiration from the nobles. Those around her, both men and women alike, could not tear their eyes away from her beauty.
Her waist-length, flowing silver hair, the magnificent red dress embroidered with sparkling diamonds, and her delicate, almost painted features were more than enough to captivate their attention.
The nobles behind her whispered among themselves, wondering which family’s daughter she might be. But none of them knew her origins.
He’s not here.
Karina scanned the faces of the nobles staring at her, then quickly moved to another spot. She wandered throughout the entire hall in search of the person she sought. But his figure was nowhere to be seen.
“Damn it.”
She gripped the fan so tightly her fingertips turned white. The Founding Festival was an event where all the central nobles gathered. There was no way he wouldn’t be here. Forcing down her anxiety, Karina began moving again.
At that moment.
“Duke Regentera! Over here!”
A man’s voice stopped her in her tracks. She had only heard it once, but it was a voice she could never forget.
Karina quickly turned around, searching for the owner of the voice.
“……!”
For a moment, it felt as if her heart had dropped to the floor. At the same time, she felt as though all the blood in her body was rushing in reverse.
A handsome face with a gentle smile. And that bold, hearty laugh.
It was him. It was definitely him.
“Excuse me.”
An elegant noblewoman approached Karina, who stood frozen in place.
“I don’t believe we’ve met. May I ask which house you belong to, my lady?”
“Ah. I’m just… I don’t belong to any house. I came only because I received an invitation from His Majesty the Emperor.”
At the mention of the Emperor’s invitation, the noblewoman’s eyes sparkled. To the noblewoman, who knew nothing of Karina’s circumstances, she appeared to be a modest lady who refrained from revealing her status carelessly.
Now interested, the noblewoman drew closer to Karina. But Karina’s gaze remained fixed solely on one person.
“Ah, are you acquainted with Count Silanda?”
The noblewoman asked, following the direction of Karina’s stare. The corners of Karina’s previously cold lips finally curved upward slightly.
“Yes, I know him very well. I’ve been waiting for the day I would see him again like this.”