Chapter 73 — The Imperial Ball
Chapter 73 — The Imperial Ball
Translation: Godtl
The host, Julianna, had said that all the young ladies of the capital would be in attendance.
Her words seemed to be true, as there were very many unmarried noble women dressed in beautiful attire.
Naturally, there were just as many male nobles, though looking at the numbers, it seemed not all of them were required to attend.
Prince Cedric and Prince Damian appeared to have participated for the sake of their younger sister's reputation. They could be seen happily conversing with several young ladies.
"The atmosphere is a bit strange."
Just then, Romeo, who was lightly swirling a champagne glass, spoke up.
Lelia had just exchanged glances with Princess Julianna, her maids, and Lute from afar, and was standing near the terrace with Romeo.
"What do you mean?"
When Lelia asked, Romeo gestured with his chin toward a certain direction.
Looking in that direction, a young lady was glancing around nervously, looking uncomfortable.
Looking closely, it was the red-haired young lady from before.
'Was her name Grace?'
Anyway, she was one of Julianna's maids, and Lelia remembered her because she had personally asked where Lelia had gone during the tea party.
"And look over there."
When Lelia looked at another spot Romeo pointed to, young ladies and nobles were gathered together.
Paying a bit more attention, they were pointing fingers at the young lady from earlier and openly mocking her from a distance.
"And over there."
Romeo pointed to yet another place.
Princess Julianna and her maids were visible.
They were alternately looking at the gathered young ladies and nobles, and the young lady being mocked, while talking among themselves.
"…Ah."
Lelia could immediately understand what Romeo was getting at.
Openly ostracizing someone in social circles was quite common.
She had heard many similar stories in the Superion territory as well. The behavior of young nobles and many nobles was all quite similar.
But this situation was a bit more subtle.
At first glance, it looked like the young ladies and nobles gathered there were bullying one young lady....
'It seems Julianna and her maids are the ringleaders.'
Seeing one or two people in the gathered group sending signals toward Julianna's maids confirmed it.
"While someone was fighting wild dragons on the battlefield to maintain peace, rolling through war zones.... Nobles are playing around doing things like this. Isn't it ridiculous?"
Unlike the content of his words, Romeo was smiling brightly.
Lelia too felt apologetic welling up inside, as she was someone who had eaten and slept comfortably while her friends fought hard on the battlefield.
"I need to go rest at the terrace. I'm doing my playboy act well, so come find me if you need me."
Romeo said that and then left abruptly.
"……."
Left alone, Lelia felt her breath tighten with tension.
Several nobles had already been glancing at her, making her uncomfortable.... Once Romeo left, everyone started looking at her openly.
It seemed they judged that it would be easier to approach her if she was alone.
'Can't run away either.'
Just then, her eyes met with Lute, who was looking at her from far away.
He was saying something with his mouth movements and gesturing with his chin.
Looking carefully, it seemed to mean he wanted her to hurry up and do her playboy role.
With Prince Cedric and Prince Damian present at this gathering, he apparently wanted to create a clear comparison.
The better Lelia played her playboy role, the more points Lute thought he would score.
'Annoying guy.'
Lelia couldn't agree with Lute's plan, but decided to just go along with it.
If that would make Lute feel at ease.
'If his mind is at ease, he'll confess sooner.'
Lelia cleared her throat, then started giving eye smiles to the young ladies whose eyes met hers.
Then, whether their wariness had loosened, several young ladies approached and spoke to her.
Each and every one of them gazed at Lelia's appearance with enchantment. Someone even praised her, saying she was far more beautiful than Donatelli's paintings.
Lelia hypnotized herself in her mind with 'like a playboy, like a playboy' and responded with a gentle attitude.
During that time.
A small commotion arose from one side.
Going over there together with the young lady she had been conversing with, it was the place where Grace, the young lady from earlier, had been.
"Hey there, Miss Grace, surely you're not still stalking me?"
"N, no. I never did such a thing in the first place...."
"To commit such a rude act. If you keep doing this, I can't overlook it either."
Miss Grace looked pathetic, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
And the one raising his voice in front of her was....
'It's Prince Damian?'
It was Prince Damian, with his silver hair neatly styled back.
He seemed angry about something, fuming as he glared at Miss Grace.
People surrounded them, watching the scene and whispering among themselves.
Lelia asked the young lady next to her.
"What's going on?"
"Ah... well...."
The young lady looked at Lelia and blushed, then quickly spoke.
"Actually, it's been rumored that Miss Grace not only has a crush on Prince Damian but is also stalking him. Horrible, isn't it?"
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. And apparently today she checked Prince Damian's outfit beforehand and dressed to match like a couple look. Doesn't it give you chills?"
"……."
As she said, Prince Damian was wearing formal attire mixed with navy and gold, and Miss Grace was wearing the same.
"How shameless. How can she do such a thing when she was Princess Julianna's maid?"
Lelia let the young lady's continued chatter go in one ear while looking back at the scene of the commotion.
Miss Grace had a truly wronged expression.
Prince Damian was fuming right in front of her, and she looked genuinely afraid, to the point where it was heartbreaking to watch.
However, Prince Cedric, who had been watching, stepped in, so the commotion was quickly quelled.
The nobles gathered in groups again and enjoyed the party.
But eyes were still directed toward Miss Grace, who stood alone.
Everyone was talking about her.
'They're whispering so openly.'
Miss Grace was holding back tears, but kept her shoulders straight, probably staying in that spot to stand against the rumors.
If she ran away from this place, people would accept it as the truth.
Watching that figure with pity in her heart, suddenly a good idea came to mind.
Lelia's purpose was to openly earn the dislike of Prince Cedric and Prince Damian.
That was what Lute wanted.
Lute planned to bring down 'Sir Raymond' to reveal his own superiority and reliability.
He wanted to impress Julianna's family by emphasizing that point.
What if Lelia sided with that young lady, and Lute openly opposed such Lelia?
Prince Cedric and Prince Damian would naturally accept Lute as their ally.
The same would go for Julianna.
Originally, hidden and childish disputes in social circles were more emotionally charged than large political battles.
She felt sorry for using someone, but Lelia truly felt pity for Miss Grace.
'Let's go talk to her.'
She couldn't know for sure if there was actual stalking. It was just rumors for now, wasn't it?
Besides, seeing the group of men and women who had been mocking Miss Grace, and Julianna and her maids, she became certain.
They were all enjoying themselves mocking Miss Grace who stood alone.
Their smiles were full of malicious joy.
Lelia found Julianna, who seemed to be letting all of that happen, unexpected.
'Ah. Could it be.'
Lelia suddenly recalled content that had passed by in the original work.
It was a story about how Prince Cedric and Prince Damian had scolded young ladies who were jealous of Julianna.
There weren't specific episodes, but it was a passage that showed how especially protective the two princes were.
'I don't know, anyway those princes have nothing to do with me.'
Lelia shook her head and walked toward Miss Grace who was standing alone.
Her footsteps echoed through the hall.
The musicians had not yet started playing the dance song, so silence was flowing.
Originally there were many people watching Lelia, and they had surprised expressions.
Approaching Grace who was standing alone like a laughingstock.
Grace was someone Prince Damian had openly humiliated. That meant one should absolutely not take her side.
Taking Miss Grace's side would mean ignoring Prince Damian.
It was an implicit rule of social circles.
However, in people's eyes, ' Sir Raymond 'was not a noble of Auraria anyway.
So while thinking that was why he could act like that, they seemed surprised.
"Miss Grace."
When Lelia appeared in front of her, Grace opened her mouth in surprise.
"Ah, hello. Sir Raymond."
"We met at the tea party recently."
"Yes...."
Lelia gave a small smile and handed her a champagne glass.
Miss Grace looked anxiously toward where Princess Julianna's maids were.
"Um, Sir Raymond...."
If you stay with me, you might receive unnecessary misunderstandings. She was about to say that.
The musicians started playing a slow and elegant dance song.
"Miss Grace. May I ask for the first dance?"
At Lelia's question, Miss Grace couldn't answer and hesitated.
"Is it perhaps more uncomfortable for you if I'm by your side?"
"No, that's not it... if you're by my side, even you will be criticized by people. You don't need to help me."
Grace's voice trembled like a lamb as she said that. Lelia thought for a moment and asked.
"Ah, if you're worried that Prince Damian might misunderstand...."
"No!"
When Lelia said that, wondering if she actually liked Prince Damian, Miss Grace waved her hands in denial.
"I didn't stalk him! I didn't have feelings for him in the first place. I was just wrongly accused...."
"I thought as much."
"……!"
Grace felt a lump in her throat.
She hadn't even thought that Sir Raymond, whom she had never even had a proper conversation with, would believe her.
Moreover, approaching her who was standing alone.
Even her own fiancé was over there mocking her together with other male nobles.
Tears seemed about to well up.
In truth, she desperately wanted to run away from this place, but she was holding back because she felt it would damage her family's reputation as well.
Instead of suggesting the dance again for Miss Grace, whose body was stiff with tension, Lelia started making small talk.
Very trivial conversation.
"There seem to be many birds living in the Auraria Imperial Palace. Thanks to that, no matter how late I sleep, my eyes open on their own in the morning."
At times like this, light conversation puts the mind at ease.
Lelia could understand Grace's heart.
She too, when she was younger than now, had experienced being pointed at by noble peers in the Superion territory.
Though she hadn't told her grandfather, uncle, or aunt.
"Thank you, Sir Raymond."
Thanks to Lelia's consideration, Grace gradually felt her heart becoming at ease.
With Sir Raymond approaching and standing beside her, the gazes of people no longer felt frightening like blades.
Meanwhile, the people who had been openly glaring at Miss Grace started glancing at the two and whispering.
Some nobles who had been sympathizing with Miss Grace inwardly praised Sir Raymond.
"He is a true gentleman."
Though they were in positions where they had to watch Prince Damian's mood, male nobles who valued chivalry said so.
"To have such beautiful appearance and even possess a sense of justice."
"Ah... he's so wonderful. I'm envious of Miss Grace. It's truly romantic."
Female nobles giggled while watching that figure with warm gazes.
On the other hand, some male nobles clicked their tongues seeing that sight.
"Is it acceptable for him to do that? He's a noble from another country, yet he's openly ignoring Prince Damian."
"How shameless. He looks weak and frail, but I wonder what women see in a man like that...."
"Everyone's eyes must be clouded. Anyway...."
Meanwhile, Romeo, who had said he was going to the terrace, was leaning his arms on the second-floor railing, watching Lelia.
His eyes were as sharp as blades.
Lelia conversed with Grace and heard in detail about the misunderstanding she had suffered.
After hearing the entire story, Lelia pressed her lips into a thin line and pondered.
'This is...'