Chapter 124
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124
It was a spectacle far too intriguing to simply dismiss as someone else’s business.
James seemed utterly captivated by the radiant beauty of the woman he had once discarded. Beside him, Bella feigned ignorance of her fiancé’s wandering eyes, desperately pretending not to notice his fixation. As for Daphne, she appeared to have shed every ounce of her past sentiment. There wasn't a flicker of lingering regret in her eyes.
Her shoulders were squared, her head held high, and the laughter she shared with her acquaintances was effortless and bright.
As Edgar had noticed while dancing with her at the Laurel family’s party not long ago, Daphne possessed a hidden strength that belied her delicate appearance.
Just then, the orchestra, which had been taking a brief intermission, began to play a new piece.
"Hmm. I wonder who will ask Daphne Laurel to dance now?"
As Edgar watched with interest, James and Bella stepped into the center of the hall to waltz, making a show of their union for all to see. A group of women, likely Bella’s friends, offered light applause and showered the couple with praise.
Despite the spectacle, no other man approached Daphne.
"Unless you’re a madman like yourself, asking Daphne Laurel to dance in this climate would be a daunting task," Cedric remarked. "You’d be inviting a mountain of scrutiny."
"Oh dear. Then I suppose this madman will have to step up once more."
With those words, Edgar swiftly rose from his seat.
Cedric, no longer surprised by his friend’s eccentricities, casually plucked a grape from a nearby table and popped it into his mouth.
"Oh my, it’s Young Master Edgar Dawson again!"
"Are they actually courting?"
Whispers rippled through the crowd as all eyes fell on Edgar and Daphne.
Cedric chuckled, raising his champagne glass to his lips, but he paused when he caught sight of Edgar’s expression as he led Daphne onto the floor.
‘Hmm?’
Something was different.
The 'madman' Edgar Dawson he knew was always charming to women, but he never actually fell for them. He was the embodiment of narcissism, a man who truly only cared for himself. Yet, the expression on Edgar’s face now... it was hard to believe, but he looked almost bashful. Perhaps 'shy' was a more fitting word, though Cedric loathed to associate such a delicate term with a man like Edgar.
‘Has he truly lost his mind?’
Cedric was so dumbfounded he forgot to drink his champagne. He wasn't the only one; the reactions around the room were much the same.
"Lady Bella is lovely, but today feels like Lady Daphne’s victory. She is stunning."
"Young Master Dawson is certainly no lesser a match than Young Master Cheslow. Considering his family’s prestige and wealth—and the fact that he’s a close friend of the Duke of Kailas..."
"I’ve never heard rumors of them dating. Could their families be discussing a marriage alliance?"
The guests' attention began to drift away from James and Bella, gravitating instead toward Edgar and Daphne.
"Hmm."
Cedric averted his eyes from his friend’s embarrassing display and tilted his glass. As he turned his gaze, he saw someone new entering the ballroom.
The rest of the crowd was too engrossed in the waltz to notice her arrival, but Cedric couldn't tear his eyes away.
‘Harriet.’
It was her.
His lovely business partner, the woman recently slandered as a greedy swindler. Knowing the sheer courage it must have taken for her to show her face today, Cedric tightened his jaw. Despite his worry, Harriet looked more breathtaking than anyone else in the room.
‘I didn't think green could suit anyone so perfectly.’
She wore an off-the-shoulder, pale green muslin dress paired with a simple diamond necklace. Her attire wasn't overly extravagant, but to Cedric’s eyes, it was flawless—neither too much nor too little. It was exactly right for the occasion.
‘She should have arrived a bit later. The stinging glares will be harsh for a while.’
He couldn't help but worry. No matter how bold and spirited Harriet was, enduring a torrent of accusations and dismissive stares was no easy feat. Cedric wished the music would play on forever, hoping the guests would remain distracted by the dance.
However, contrary to his wish for her to remain inconspicuous, Harriet walked slowly through the crowd toward the center of the ballroom, acting as if she were completely unaware of the scandal surrounding her name.
Inevitably, people began to recognize her.
"Wait, isn't that Harriet Listerwell?"
"Goodness! She actually showed up?"
"She certainly has some nerve. I suppose that’s how she managed to deceive everyone in the first place, isn't it?"
Just then, the waltz came to an end.
Amidst cheers of "Bravo!" and polite applause, the dancers exchanged greetings and caught their breath. It was in this lull that Bella spotted Harriet.
"Oh?"
A surprised gasp escaped her lips. Those who had been watching Bella followed her gaze, and soon the entire room realized Harriet had arrived.
While the expressions of the other guests turned sour or awkward, Bella looked as delighted as if she had just received an unexpected gift.
‘What a surprise. This is the first time I’ve ever been glad to see her.’
The atmosphere of the party had been grating on Bella’s nerves. Daphne, who she expected to hide in shame, was acting with bold indifference. Edgar Dawson had snubbed the social hierarchy to dance with her again, and the other men were paying more attention to Daphne than to Bella herself.
Harriet’s arrival was a godsend. The spotlight would shift from Daphne to Harriet, and then, in the form of pity and mockery, it would crush her.
Most of all, Bella looked forward to seeing the arrogant Harriet sink. Imagining that face darkening under pointing fingers and accusatory stares sent a shiver of excitement down her spine.
However, one thing bothered her: Harriet’s expression was far too composed. She undoubtedly knew about the scandal.
‘She must have grown a thicker skin. She thinks being brazen is her only option, doesn't she?’
That was fine, too. A fool who didn't know her place was simply easier to trample. In fact, Bella didn't even need to intervene herself.
"Does she have no fear of divine retribution? To exploit the name of God like that..."
"Indeed. I heard she even took advantage of the monks at the monastery. What a terrifying young woman."
The attacks had already begun.
Bella linked her arm through James’s, secretly savoring the spectacle. The voices of condemnation were loud enough for Harriet to hear clearly. Yet, without a flicker of emotion, Harriet simply picked up a drink and quenched her thirst.
Then, Daphne approached her.
"Lady Harriet!"
"Lady Daphne! I’m a bit late, aren't I? If only I’d arrived sooner, I could have seen more of your wonderful waltz."
Edgar, who had been trailing behind Daphne like a loyal shadow, nodded vigorously.
"Dancing with Lady Daphne is like dancing with a fairy, I tell you. Even butterflies couldn't move with such grace. By the way, my apologies for the late greeting, Lady Harriet. You look exquisite today. Truly, the two of you are so dazzling I fear I’m going blind."
At the exaggerated compliments, Daphne and Harriet exchanged embarrassed smiles.
Their natural, friendly demeanor created a protective barrier. While Harriet Listerwell was someone the crowd felt they could slander, Daphne Laurel and Edgar Dawson were not to be trifled with. Openly criticizing Harriet while she was under their wing was tantamount to insulting the judgment of the Laurel and Dawson families.
‘I can understand Daphne Laurel befriending her just to spite me because of James, but why is Edgar Dawson getting involved?’
Bella secretly bit her lip.
Suddenly, the orchestra ceased their playing. After a brief moment of rearrangement, they struck up a magnificent, regal fanfare.
"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has arrived!"
At the attendant’s cry, the nobles filling the hall straightened their postures and turned toward the entrance in unison.
The heavy doors swung open. The Emperor entered, followed by the Empress, the Crown Prince and Princess, and the two unmarried Imperial Princes. As the procession moved into the hall, the guests paid their respects with deep bows and curtsies.
"I see many familiar faces I haven't encountered in some time. Thank you all for attending."
Nodding with a practiced, friendly air, the Emperor ascended to the place of honor and delivered a short congratulatory speech. It was a conventional address, wishing for the health of the nobility and the continued prosperity of the Empire, yet it was delivered flawlessly.
With that, the banquet officially resumed.
As the guests sipped their drinks and whispered behind their fans, mindful of the Imperial presence, Countess Sheldon approached Anastasia and spoke in a voice that carried across the room.