Debut Ball (2)
Dante had gone out of his way to introduce her to the princess, but Sara couldn't even manage a proper word with her.
"Oh, you're fourteen? Same age as me?"
The princess smiled with her eyes and extended her hand.
"Let's be friends."
"Y-Your Highness! It's an honor!"
The princess tried to keep the conversation going, but Sara just trembled, unable to respond properly to anything.
Dante shook his head.
She's frozen stiff. Sara, from what I see, you're the picture of a countess's daughter. A golden chance to forge ties with the imperial family... but looks like it's not meant to be for you.
"Princess. Shall we get started?"
"Yes, Mother."
The stars of the debutante ball were all the girls gathered here.
But one girl stood out just a little more than the rest.
The empire's princess, Princess Esilia.
"To all who have joined us today, I offer my heartfelt thanks."
The ball's host announced.
"Let the party begin!"
The debutante ball's format was incredibly straightforward.
Part 1: The dance.
Part 2: Free time and recreation.
Part 3: Closing ceremony.
End.
"Oppa! Let's go dance too!"
"Yeah, yeah."
During Part 1, the dance, everyone danced freely. The only exception was during special performances by the invited professional dancers, when dancing was paused to build the mood.
In principle, it was "free" dancing... but of course, there was an unspoken order.
By rank.
The first dance went to the princess and the daughters of the empire's dukes.
Next, the marquesses' daughters and their friends.
Then the countesses' daughters.
Then the viscountesses...
Once the baronesses' daughters finished their finale, that's when the real free-for-all began.
"Wait a sec—!"
"?"
Just as Sara was about to dash onto the floor, Charlotte held her back.
"You can't go up now!"
"Huh...? Isn't it the western countesses' turn?"
Participating in the ball meant memorizing all the noble houses—that was a given. She could tell at a glance. The daughters of the western counts were lining up to dance.
So naturally, Sara figured it was her cue too.
But Charlotte shook her head.
"Look. That girl with the blue hair—see her?"
"Uh... who was that again?"
"Lady Talain Raquelra of Count Raquelra."
Ah, the Raquelra house. Sara nodded. She knew of them. Sort of.
"Since she went first, we go next."
"...?"
Sara tilted her head. They were both western countesses—couldn't they just dance together?
Charlotte explained kindly.
"Look at her dress."
"... Ah."
Only then did Sara catch on.
The Raquelra count family was a naval house based on the western coast. Their young lady wore a stunning gown of deep blue and pristine white, evoking crashing ocean waves.
Sara glanced at her own dress. The Aision family was also a maritime trade house rooted in the west, focused on routes between the new and old continents... and by sheer coincidence, Sara's dress matched almost perfectly in color!
Lady Raquelra's was primarily blue and white.
Sara's was a darker blue, but with her silver hair, it blended into a blue-and-white harmony.
Yes. The two girls' outfits were... too similar.
"If you go up now, Sara, you'll definitely get compared," Dante said flatly.
"What's wrong with that? Sara's prettier anyway."
Sara flushed red and whipped her head away.
Charlotte smiled awkwardly and explained.
"It's not about winning or losing. Just sharing the stage could look like you're picking a fight."
"Hmm... yeah, I guess that makes sense."
"No need to stir up trouble. Sara, wait for the next round."
"Got it! Thanks for the heads-up, Charlotte!"
"Hee hee! Looking out for friends is a noble lady's duty, of course~!"
As Charlotte advised, Sara took the next stage.
"Remember your steps?"
"You focus on yours, oppa!"
And as expected, Sara danced beautifully.
"Oh...?"
"That girl in the blue dress—she's got real skill."
"Heh. Must've practiced a lot. A diligent one."
The watching fathers and relatives of the other girls took notice, eyes fixed on Sara's performance.
Why? When everyone else is average, the one who stands out draws the gaze. It was only natural that eyes converged on Sara, who outshone the other young ladies.
Yes. Sara was the center of attention right now.
"...!"
From the waiting area, the girl in blue stared piercingly at the sight.
At Sara, dancing so gracefully.
After her first dance, Sara's excitement shot through the roof.
"This is so fun~!"
"You were amazing, Sara!"
"Charlotte! After the baronesses, let's dance together!"
"Of course~!"
Dante munched on tuna biscuits, pondering.
She looks thrilled. She was always good, but with the other girls just going through motions, Sara really shone. MVP of the western countesses? Nah—MVP of the whole ball.
"Ah... I wanna go home..."
"Yeah! You're not needed anymore, so go!"
"..."
I've served my purpose, huh? Dante vowed not to leave until the end. Food, snacks—he'd devour it all...!
That was when.
"Lady Sara Aision."
"?"
A group of unfamiliar girls approached.
"During this break... could we talk for a moment?"
"Talk?"
Dante eyed them, but they ignored him completely, focused only on Sara. This was the girls' event, after all.
"It's about the western countesses' gathering."
"!"
Sara jumped, shooting Dante a look. Her eyes sparkled.
Am I finally debuting in high society?! Pure girlish glee.
"Can I come too?" Charlotte stood, but one girl blocked her.
"It's a western countesses' meeting. Lady Charlotte Petaconia is from a northern count house, isn't she?"
"..."
Charlotte sat back down. It wasn't wrong.
"Go ahead."
"Okay! Be right back!"
Dante waved. Sara bounced off after the girls.
"..."
"What's up?"
But Charlotte kept glancing Sara's way, like she had something to say.
"Nothing, just..."
A while later, Charlotte suddenly stood.
"Brother Dante, I'll go check on Sara."
"??? Uh, sure. Go ahead."
Now Charlotte was gone too.
"..."
Alone, Dante watched the empty seats.
Maybe overthinking it—but Charlotte leaving too felt off. She read the room better than Sara ever could.
For the first time in ages, Dante summoned a bug.
"Cockroach Teacher."
A pitch-black bug poked its head from Dante's clothes.
A flat, 5cm black roach from the forest.
Using his symbiotic bugs, Dante granted it intelligence.
"Follow Charlotte. If the vibe's weird, scare the girls and come back."
Twitch twitch.
Cockroach Teacher wiggled its long antennae—refined enough for its title.
Flutter!
Forest roaches flew well too. Wings spread, it vanished into the shadows.
Dante sat alone, sipping his drink.
Sara followed the girls, buzzing with excitement.
Thump thump. The debutante ball was finally sinking in...!
A western countesses' gathering! Would she make tons of friends now?
...Huh?
But something felt off.
Outside the hall, in the maze-like garden. Dense bushes hid the interior from view—perfect for private chats.
But...
It's kinda hot out here.
Outdoors wasn't ideal for girls in dresses. No other girls lingered.
They could've picked somewhere shaded... As Sara thought that—
Girls emerged one by one from beyond the garden.
"...?"
Five girls surrounded her.
Sara felt a chill of fear.
Clack, clack...
Heels clicked against stone.
Seeing who it was, Sara froze.
"Lady Raquelra."
The girl in an identical blue dress. Lady Talain Raquelra of Count Raquelra.
A western countesses' meeting... so her presence made sense.
But Sara's instincts screamed: She didn't call me here with good intentions.
And her gut was right.
"Lady Sara Aision."
By etiquette, she should lift her dress hem and curtsy gracefully—completing the "hello."
But Lady Raquelra didn't even nod.
Which meant: Hey, you. Bitch.
"Lady Sara Aision."
[Hey. You. Bitch.]
"First time meeting like this, right?"
[Strangers, huh?]
"You knew about the western countesses' gatherings."
[You knew we had meetings—why skip?]
"You never showed... it's put us in a bind."
[Get it? Not my fault. You're the bad bitch.]
"..."
Sara was a countess's daughter too. She got the subtext.
Stammering, she replied, "I... wasn't invited. So I didn't come."
"Oh? We definitely sent one. How strange."
"..."
Lady Raquelra was lying, of course. She'd never invited Sara to the junior western countesses' group.
But... what could Sara do if she insisted?
"...I never got it."
"So you're saying I messed up?"
"..."
The surrounding girls chimed in.
"I saw it myself~ We invited you, but no reply~"
"We thought you were ignoring us~"
"The Aisions are so mighty (lol). Figured we weren't good enough~"
"..."
Sara clenched her fists.
What...? Why are they doing this all of a sudden...?
Her body trembled.
...She was scared of this.
Lady Raquelra's face hardened. "Did you deliberately choose blue for your dress?"
"...Pardon?"
"You know our Raquelra house is an ancient naval family. We often use crashing waves as our symbol."
"..."
"If you had any common sense, wouldn't you avoid blue?"
Her eyes screamed: You don't even know that much?
Sara's voice shook. "O-Our Aision family is sea-based too! Blues can overlap by coincidence!"
"Then—!" Lady Raquelra shouted.
"You should've gotten my permission first!"
"!"
Sara went rigid. Outraged.
"Permission...?"
"At the very least! If you planned blue, you'd know I'd want it too! A proper noble lady would've written ahead to avoid clashes—common courtesy, no?"
"..."
"Ignoring our invites, wearing blue without asking! So uncultured and rude! Lady Sara Aision!"
Barrage after barrage—Sara squeezed her eyes shut.
Stay calm... Sara. Calm... Find something to say. They're nitpicking. Counter... like oppa. Logically.
Don't cry.
Please.
Her eyes stung.
She was fourteen.
...Not strong enough for this mobbing.
That was when.
"From what I hear, it's all nonsense from one to ten—!"
"...?"
A blonde girl entered the garden. In a red dress—Lady Charlotte.
"Cha-Charlotte...?"
Charlotte strode up and linked arms with Sara.
"Don't nitpick like that! You mean girls!"
"M-Mean girls?!"
Lady Raquelra reeled. Mean girls?! How dare she!
"I'll explain exactly what kind of nitpicking this is!"
...!
As Charlotte raised her voice, a pitch-black cockroach took notice of the girls' spot.
Twitching its long antennae.