Is this a dream, or reality?
She had not merely been escorted at the Imperial Palace—she had come all the way here herself. Even as a duchess, it was enough to make one gasp.
Crown Prince Silas wore a dark formal suit, following the debutante ball’s custom of letting every noble daughter shine as the evening’s star.
Dot stood beside her chair in a dazzling snow-white gown, wearing a shy expression.
“My lady, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”
“I trust you have been well, Your Grace.”
“Oh, pay me no mind. Please take good care of our daughter.”
Silas offered the same gentle, immaculate smile he always wore before that fateful day three years ago.
“Understood.”
Throughout the carriage ride with the Crown Prince, Dot felt like the happiest woman in the world.
The main residence they had just left. The title of lady she had clawed her way to after countless invisible battles inside the Klein ducal house.
With that title as her foundation, her grand dream of becoming crown princess—and eventually empress—now felt within reach.
She knew how desperately the Klein Duke had worked to secure the Crown Prince’s escort for this debutante ball.
How much lobbying must he have done for the prince to personally arrive with his carriage?
Yet she felt no guilt.
‘Heh, this is all an investment in the future, so don’t think of it as hardship. After all, once I become empress, the Klein ducal house will become imperial in-laws and enjoy boundless wealth and glory, won’t they?’
Dot paid no attention to how enormous a dowry would be required for a lady to marry the empire’s crown prince.
Intoxicated by the magnificent thought of the Crown Prince escorting her, she stepped into Acadia Hall.
Ah, she refused to remember the days when she had been too depressed to even enter. It was only natural—someone like Morgana could never reach her feet!
“Presenting His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Klein of the Klein Duchy!”
The imperial attendant’s resounding announcement.
Yes, she liked this too. Everything about it was wonderful. This was the life she had always dreamed of. Today would mark her glorious beginning.
Wearing an endlessly contented smile, Dot leaned against Silas’s arm and took her seat.
Even two knights from the Klein household had come to stand behind her, making her feel endlessly secure.
I won.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. Lady Klein, I congratulate you on making your debut this spring.”
Silas praised the lady’s new beginning in his flawless, courteous tone, then moved to stand beside the emperor a short distance away.
Dot savored the moment inwardly.
Heh-heh-heh.
Before the music began, the Crown Prince would open the first dance, as was customary. When he returned and asked, “Would you do me the honor of this dance?” the partner would, of course, be her!
And after the dance, he would be so smitten he would stay by her side, wouldn’t he?
Dot was beside herself with excitement.
Perfect… This is perfect. Everything is going exactly as planned!
Although she had not yet been introduced, many eyes in the hall kept glancing her way. Of course they did—she was a noble lady.
Dot sat quietly with clear, lovely eyes, waiting for the introductions to begin. Since more guests were still arriving, she had no choice but to wait.
It was at the moment she wore her most benevolent, empress-like smile while gazing upon the world.
“…Presenting His Highness Prince Astain and Lady Morgana!”
“Hah.”
A soft sound escaped Dot’s lips as she dramatically widened her eyes, the pretty makeup around them now on full display.
I must have misheard. Lady Morgana? There couldn’t possibly be another person with that name. Why…?
Though her mind rejected the idea, curiosity proved impossible to suppress.
Restless, the lady rose slightly and turned her head toward the entrance—only to see them.
Prince Astain with his neatly trimmed silver hair, and the woman linked arm-in-arm with him. The foolish Morgana she never wanted to see again, the one she had tried so hard to eliminate!
The sight of that pink hair fluttering behind her shoulders filled Dot with irritation.
‘Damn it! She’s nothing but one of his countless subordinates, yet she came all the way here just to ruin my mood? Why? Why do you keep trying to drag me down at every turn!’
To attend this event, Morgana would have needed an official invitation from the imperial family.
In other words, it had been impossible without the Crown Prince’s permission.
Dot, who cared nothing for such details, turned her head naturally to hide her anger.
People were still watching. If she showed agitation when everyone knew they came from the same monastery, it would be disastrous.
If Dotricia Caris had been the hot-tempered sort who acted without restraint, she never could have reached this place.
Despite her demanding nature, she knew all too well the minimum lines she had to maintain in public.
Yet the unpleasant voices kept reaching her ears, and her fury was impossible to contain.
“So Prince Astain has come as well?”
“Yes. It seems His Highness the Crown Prince finally decided to end his seclusion and rejoin society. He used to stay only by Lady Ranya’s side, but now with the Drakan… haha.”
“Oh my! You’re right. Hohoho.”
“He escorted Lady Morgana so respectfully. I can still picture him as a child, but he’s all grown up now.”
“Once His Highness the Crown Prince’s marriage is decided again, something will surely be arranged for the prince as well.”
“I suppose so?”
‘Hmph!’
Dot let the chatter of people eager to pair up any handsome man and beautiful woman wash over her.
‘Go ahead, Morgana. No matter how much you flaunt yourself and hover around my Silas, it’s pointless. Even that half-baked foreign prince beside you is far too good for someone like you.’
Dot sneered and mocked her inwardly.
‘Well… If the two of you marry and leave far, far away, I might consider sparing your life.’
Of course, she could never allow that.
Every source of anxiety had to be eliminated before she could feel at ease.
Outwardly showing nothing, she harbored venomous thoughts.
‘Hmph. It would be amusing if the Crown Prince you trust so much were the one to personally take your life. I’m clever, capable, and can do anything—unlike you! Just wait. Your end won’t be some pathetic death on the ground like before. It’ll be on a grand execution platform. At least that’s a slight improvement over your previous dog’s death, isn’t it?’
“Hmm…”
The head attendant spoke to the attendant carefully reviewing the guest list.
“Let’s begin. Almost everyone has arrived, and we’re running out of time.”
“Yes.”
As Dot had expected, her first dance partner was Crown Prince Silas.
For a moment, she forgot about the insolent girl who had come to a place she never should have under the name Lady Morgana.
She gazed at the Crown Prince’s handsome face again and again, stepping lightly through the dance, executing every movement flawlessly without breaking a sweat, and trying to seduce him with soft sighs.
Even so, she never lost her modest demeanor or her girlish, shy smile.
‘This is it. I’ve succeeded.’
At this point, it would be perfectly fine if the empire’s crown prince fell completely for her.
It would even be acceptable if he lost control and pressed a light kiss to her forehead… Ah…
But throughout the entire dance, Silas showed no personal signals beyond his attentive care for Lady Klein.
“You’ve worked hard, my lady.”
The first dance ended far too quickly. The moment the musicians lowered their bows and instruments was truly regrettable.
Still, she couldn’t afford to show herself being helplessly swept away by a man’s charm.
She would behave like a proper lady.
“Not at all. It is an honor to dance with Your Highness. I only hope my inexperience did not cause you any discomfort.”
“You were splendid.”
A polite smile touched Silas’s lips.
Dot felt like she might die of joy, yet she responded with a bashful smile of her own. Even without further physical contact, this much meant the process was going smoothly.
If word of this spread, her tutors, her mother, and her father would all praise her. The servants of the ducal house would be no different.
They were all beneath her now. It was only right that they spend their lives watching her every move!
‘Ah, Your Highness. Please give me your next promise soon.’
Dot waited subtly for him to suggest future meetings.
“……”
“Then you must be tired. Please rest comfortably.”
The Crown Prince maintained his kind consideration to the very end, escorting her back to her chair before returning to the emperor’s side.
“Y-yes…”
Her feelings were complicated. It was good, but something felt lacking.
Why hadn’t he asked for a second dance? Did he think she was already exhausted?
She could rest during the second set and dance again during the third!
Even when she looked up in confusion, the Crown Prince’s back was already heading straight toward the emperor, showing not the slightest sign of lingering attachment.
The Klein Duchess hurried over to the abandoned Dot.
“You did wonderfully, Tiana! My lovely daughter, my treasure.”
“Ah… yes…”
“Everyone saw His Highness the Crown Prince come all the way to the ducal residence to personally escort you. Your dance was perfect. Well done. Rest a little, then accept congratulations as the returning lady.”
“Yes, but…”
“Drink some water first. Do you need a fan? Hurry and cool Lady Tiana down, and check her feet!”
What about the Crown Prince? Mother, this can’t be the end, can it? If there was any promise about when he would return, please tell me quickly.
Dot desperately wanted to speak, but with so many eyes watching, she had no choice but to swallow her words.
Accepting the cup of water, Dot tried to follow Silas with her eyes, but the wall of approaching people blocked her view.
He had come to the ducal residence to escort her and danced the first dance with her, but if this was truly the end, it felt far too empty… She was a lady—the empire’s only lady! Surely there should be more…?
Dot’s greed knew no bounds.
Once she finished the water, the duchess sent the servants away and began introducing each arriving guest one by one.
“Hoho, greet them. You already know them, don’t you? Lady Klein—our lovely Tiana. Now then…”
“Hello. I am Tiana Marietta Klein. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Forcing a smile, Dot had to listen to endless praise about how she was the most beautiful lady and offer the same ceremonial greetings in return.
After two rounds of introductions, she was already exhausted.
How tedious. Even the sweetest song grows tiresome after a few repetitions, yet these people repeat the same words like parrots. They have no creativity at all!
The people gathered nearby offered their predictable compliments and greetings, then broke into small groups to chat among themselves.
“I’m deeply moved that His Highness the Crown Prince has finally appeared at a ball. Simply sharing the same space with him is happiness enough for any citizen of the empire.”