Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Sky Blue Dress and Noble Onslaught
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Dad's golden eyes gleamed coldly.
Dietrich's face, meeting that gaze head-on, was etched with a stubborn resolve that showed no sign of breaking.
The two of them glared at each other with sharp expressions and opened their mouths simultaneously.
"Sky blue."
"Pink."
"My daughter looks especially pretty with her bright blue eyes, so she has to wear a sky-blue dress."
"No, her fluffy hair is even cuter. To bring that out, it has to be a pink dress, no question."
"I prepared the blue diamond set just for today, so step back, Dietrich."
"The pearl set I prepared is no slouch either, Father. This time, you yield."
This showdown happened every time we called in a dress designer from the city, and by now, I was too worn out to even react.
I watched Dad and Dietrich bickering with half-lidded eyes before walking over and standing by the sky-blue dress draped on the mannequin.
Dad's face lit up with delight, while Dietrich shot to his feet, his expression screaming refusal.
"No way!"
"As expected of my daughter's impeccable taste. Then for the ballroom entrance this year, naturally it'll be with Daddy..."
"I'm doing it with Erich. I picked the sky-blue dress to match Erich's eyes."
This time, Dad looked like the world had come crashing down around him.
The sight of the two men slumping side by side onto the sofa had become all too familiar.
I ignored them and gave the designer a few more instructions.
"Could you make a golden dress as well?"
"Will it be for Lady Rommel?"
"No, it's a gift for my cousin. She's turning sixteen this year, and she has the most beautiful golden eyes."
Uncle and Aunt wouldn't bother with Monica's party dress, so it was up to me.
Once the order was placed, I waved the designer off.
Then I looked at the two men, still slumped in disappointment, and let out a deep sigh.
This year, of course, we have to match with Erich.
The whole schedule back home was planned around Erich's coming-of-age celebration!
Erich Kalenberg.
My once-frail big brother was turning eighteen this year.
It was the day he crossed the threshold of adulthood that so many—including Uncle—had thought he'd never reach, far beyond the twelve or thirteen when they'd all expected him to die.
Erich worked so hard for this.
He hadn't skimped on time training his body to regain his health by any means necessary.
Born without Divine Grace and destined to a lifetime of frailty, he'd survived against all odds.
With Erich's coming-of-age party approaching, I felt a swell of special emotions.
Apparently, I was the only one feeling that way.
Dietrich, sprawled on the sofa, suddenly perked up.
"Then I should wear sky-blue formal wear too!"
"Rejected."
Dietrich, now fifteen, had already grown tall enough to rival most adults.
His Divine Grace skills improved by the day, and against Dad, he'd racked up a respectable record: 89 spars, 7 wins, 82 losses.
Of course, while his body had matured, his mental age seemed stuck at the seven-year-old who used to bicker endlessly with me.
Dietrich buried his face in the sofa again, only to snap his head back up once more.
These days, I dreaded what he'd say whenever he did that.
"Father."
"What?"
"What if Grandpa tells you to leave Mariella behind again?"
"I've got countermeasures ready."
"Even if he brings a cute baby snow fox to tempt Mariella like last time?"
Dad ground his teeth so hard I could hear it.
"That old fox. But this time, I'm fully prepared, so don't worry, Dietrich. Baby snow leopards, foxes, whatever he brings..."
I sighed heavily as I listened to Dad and Dietrich's conversation.
What a ordeal just to visit the main house.
I could already feel the fatigue setting in.
Our family arrived at the main estate a full week before the party.
Even that early, the Northern Duke's household was buzzing with unfamiliar nobles.
The moment our carriage, bearing the Rommel County banner, pulled up, they swarmed like piranhas spotting prey.
"It's been too long, Lord Rommel!"
"We met at Your Excellency's birthday banquet last time—do you remember? I'm from one of the venerable houses in the East..."
"Out of the way! My little sister is the real beauty, with her ebony-black hair and blue eyes. If young Master Erich hasn't chosen a partner yet, they'd match like a painting...!"
Ah.
Erich was coming of age this year, but he still had no fiancée set.
No wonder nobles with daughters or sisters were circling like sharks.
The Duke treasured him deeply; he'd been handling key ducal duties even before adulthood, graduating top of his class from the main family's education program.
The firstborn son of the war hero Rommel Count, whose star was rising ever higher—the most legitimate heir to the dukedom.
And it wasn't just his pedigree.
As his sickly pallor faded, Erich's beauty began to bloom.
He's Dad's son, after all. Of course.
Now, he exuded the air of a noble, aloof beauty—cool and haughty.
His personality was polite and composed, nothing to complain about...
With all those accolades and no betrothal in sight, the nobles were practically salivating.
"Long time no see, Ella."
Erich pushed through the nobles, who were desperately trying to force meetings between him and their daughters or sisters, and appeared.
He pulled me away from the nobles crowding me and gently stroked my hair.
Half a year since I'd seen him, and he'd grown even taller.
"Erich bro! What about me? Me?"
"Yeah, it's been a while for you too."
"...So that's who the baby takes after with that icy attitude—total Erich clone."
Dietrich, who'd rushed over to glom onto Erich, drooped his shoulders with a sulky look.
Dietrich watched him, and we both burst out laughing at the same time.
With the aloof Erich unavailable, Dad finally shook off the nobles and came over to ruffle Dietrich's hair wildly.
I could feel the nobles we'd left behind exchanging glances as they watched our harmonious family.
Then one particularly persistent one sidled up alongside us.
His eyes weren't on Erich—they flicked toward Dietrich.
"My niece just turned fourteen, you see. She saw young Master Dietrich's performance at the friendly matches a few years back and still talks about it nonstop."
Good lord.
Now they were sounding out marriage prospects for fifteen-year-old Dietrich?
Well, Dietrich, the spitting image of Dad, was in the full bloom of his youthful charm.
His beast-like golden eyes were inherited from Dad and Grandpa.
But unlike their aristocratic haughtiness, Dietrich's face still held a boyish playfulness that had plenty of appeal.
The young ladies sent courtship letters nonstop.
As another noble watched the brazen intruder squeezing into our family circle, he rushed over, rubbing his hands with a grin.
"Come to think of it, my older sister was widowed about five years ago, and from afar, seeing Lord Rommel..."
Well, Dad got endless proposals anyway.
If he wanted, he could remarry tomorrow. The problem was he wanted no part of it.
Mom's still his reverse scale.
I could see Dad's expression hardening.
But nobles raised in luxury lacked any sense.
Another one sidled up to us.
This goat-mustachioed noble uncle's gaze wasn't on Dad or my brothers—it fixed on me.
"Speaking of which, my son adores Lady Mariella's pink hair so much..."
I'm only eleven.
"What?"
"What did you say?"
"Say that again. What about the baby?"
The clueless noble, oblivious even to the three men's faces freezing over, grinned and continued.
"The boy's turning nineteen this year. An eight-year gap is perfect, isn't it? We could get engaged for now and marry in a few years..."
"Knight corps—!"
A thunderous roar exploded from behind us, startling everyone into turning toward the source.
There stood Grandpa, his face flushed beet red, wearing a look like he could kill.