“I received a request for a dance partner from Edmund Gloucester.”
“…”
Raretis’ eyes showed no signs of distress.
“Congratulations.”
“Even though you know exactly what the Marchioness wants?”
“No one can make you, Lady Elodie, do anything. You can do whatever you want.”
Yes, his words were complimentary.
But when she looked back, she wondered if it was a misunderstanding that he didn’t appear to care what Elodie chose.
Was that genuine kindness?
“So, I rejected him.”
“…”
The man appeared to be as strong as a walnut, impenetrable by any label.
Yes, she believed he was that type of man.
As a result, she didn’t find it unusual.
If she hadn’t seen the man involved with ‘Emilia,’ she would have been easily duped.
There was no need to compare him to Edmund Gloucester, who had burning eyes for Elodie. Elodie was well aware of the Marchioness Windrose’s desires.
She desired vicarious pleasure.
She wanted to see what her dead daughter would have seen if she had been alive.
She brought the clothes her dead daughter couldn’t wear, the gorgeous opera she couldn’t attend, and all the delights she couldn’t consume.
And the final destination was only around the corner.
“Are you really okay with becoming my cavalier?”
“…Why are you asking me that?”
Because I observed your fissures.
Elodie kept silent rather than saying anything.
She couldn’t pass judgment on something she didn’t fully comprehend, no matter who she was. She only had an intuition about him, who was the one who had driven her away the most decisively of all the people she had seen.
Emilia.
Emily.
The individual who pretended to be a commoner in order to remove herself from Elodie. Ophelia’s friend before she died.
The individual who caused Edmund Gloucester to overreact.
And possibly the individual sponsored by the Brahamdorff family.
Did the man in front of her know all of this information?
Why would he strive to keep her from learning about her?
The public’s reaction to ‘Emilia’ was not positive.
This was evident in the reactions of individuals who approached her.
They babbled as if there was some deep link between the deceased Ophelia and them, then casually uttered Emilia’s name a few times for good measure.
Those who claimed to be her lone friend stood by the side of the striking Ophelia.
Those who accused her of being a parasite clinging on to the Marquis’s family for power.
Those who warned Elodie not to forget their teachings or be duped by that girl…
Even those who stated it wasn’t worth worrying about because they didn’t know where she was or what she was doing now.
Elodie grew more intrigued with each repetition of these phrases.
A piqued interest arose.
The Emilia she saw was completely unconcerned.
Nothing appeared to catch her off guard.
Black eyes that are hard and frigid.
A serene expression.
Lips pressed together.
Her mood was the same whether she was clothed in shabby clothes or seated as a guest in a dressing room.
A stately and controlled demeanor.
She appeared oblivious to the world’s gaze.
Elodie became aware of something.
‘Why do you bother asking me?’ The man never said things like, ‘it’s an honor that transcends my share,’ or ‘of course.’
If the man, who usually gave faultless written replies, stated his viewpoint was unimportant…
Elodie couldn’t stop laughing.
Didn’t that imply he didn’t want it?
But, in the end, she was unable to inquire more.
She was a wimp.
Knowing that someone else saw her as a replacement.
But if it brings someone comfort.
If it could make someone happy.
She was a coward who thought it would be a good idea.
A coward who questioned whether she could stand in this position if she entirely abandoned the deceased’s shadow.
Knowing this, she applauded the other party for taking decisive action to save a kid in front of the carriage.
Emilia struck her as a pleasant individual.
She hadn’t anticipated finding out in this manner…
Elodie delicately licked her lips.
Was that a divine punishment in the dream?
Is it a punishment for enjoying everything while carrying the deceased’s shadow and pretending not to know?
She felt a cool sensation when she put her cheek on the glass window.
His demeanor was unusual for a man carrying a lady in the carriage opposite him, but Elodie didn’t mind.
Her dream from the night before was a terrifying nightmare.
Her spine tingled just thinking about it.
She was rushing away in her dream, wandering in filthy back alleys.
She could hear dogs barking all around her.
For some reason, no one replied no matter how desperately she screamed for aid.
Everything was peaceful except for her pursuers.
‘…So capture her with care.’
Yes. That’s exactly what was said.
She rushed, spitting out breaths like if she was about to puke.
Even when her limbs ripped and she fell and rolled, she got back up and ran.
‘It’s unjust.’
She was running and thinking.
‘Why just me?’
Her eardrums were pierced by an all-too-familiar scream.
‘I, too, I’m sure….’
The dream was brief, but her feelings were tremendous.
Simple.
She didn’t want to die that way.
The conclusion was too obvious.
The world appeared to be a little rectangle carved out of black paper.
And she was a sinner imprisoned in that frame, as if in an endless torment.
Even if she fled away, she sensed in the dream that there would be no end.
Please, please, please. Please save me…. Allow me to flee.
Creak, creak, creak.
Something twisting may be heard.
In an alley, the sound of something being dragged.
Blood.
Stains.
Screams.
Death.
[Bad Ending Achieved: 2/??]
And repeat.
* * *
Time passed more quickly than planned.
The day of the May ball had already arrived.
I looked dramatically different than before, whether it was because I had eaten properly, slept well, and had been well-cared for.
Even I was surprised to see myself, having dressed up since dawn on Lady McGinty’s instructions.
“Miss, you look stunning!”
I just smiled sheepishly.
“Thanks, Kitty.”
“You’ll be the prettiest one there!”
“…”
Even with empty words, I couldn’t agree, so I just smiled again.
The debutantes in this town traditionally wore white gowns.
My clothing was comparable.
I used very light purple and pink ribbons and ornaments on white fabric.
It had a little bell-like puff on the short upper part of the shoulders and a ribbon around the bust in the Empire style.
In the design, the white hem expanded out as it approached my feet, yet it wasn’t too extravagant to interfere with dancing.
Half of my hair was also braided and twisted, with fresh flowers and crystals adorning it.
Of fact, the Brahamdorff family might have added a flower made entirely of cut jewels if they so desired.
Everyone agreed, however, that garnering too much attention at a debutante ball attended by princesses would be counterproductive.
The makeup was just enough to give my white face a rosy glow and make it look active, but it was an inconceivable effort in comparison to the norm.
Cassio Brahamdorff was also dressed more carefully as usual.
He was dressed in a three-piece black suit with a boutonniere of pink and purple fresh flowers on his chest.
His blond hair, which was always bright, had been meticulously managed, and it was dazzling thanks to the assistance of a skilled maid.
Cassio Brahamdorff glanced at me and fell silent for a brief period.
I put on gloves and returned his stare with Kitty’s assistance.
What could it possibly be?
Is he going to scoff at me, like a pearl necklace on a pig, even now?
“…You look stunning.”
It was a straightforward statement, devoid of all flattery.
After a long pause, the world-renowned Cassio Brahamdorff uttered it, and I found myself chuckling unconsciously.
After all, today was the day we were getting closer to the end goal he had dragged me out of the café for.
I swirled around the room lightly, lifting the hem of my dress.
Countess McGinty had stated that luxury was not about wearing large, noticeable gems and strutting around like a rich person, but about things like the fabric of a dress… especially since all debutantes who are making their debut at the ball will choose a modest design, she had repeatedly emphasized the need to invest in the fabric.
As a social novice, I simply followed her advice.
After all, it was the Brahamdorffs who were footing the cost.
Anyway, owing to her, my hem was of such high quality that it could compete with the goddess’ silk gown, which was a purchased item in the game.
The white fabric was silky and opaque like lace, layered multiple times to resemble dragonfly wings.
“You also look great today.”
The man’s face lit up with a smile.
“Shall we go, my lady?”
Even though the palace was just across the block, we had to factor in traffic congestion because most people would travel by carriage.
I put my hand on the man’s palm who was reaching out to me.
“Please lead the way, my cavalier.”
The man, who was typically elegant and haughty, led me in an unusually courteous manner.
I took a deep breath and looked at Lady McGinty and the carriage waiting behind the door.
It was only the beginning.
* * *
The debutante ball at the royal court followed a straightforward format.
Everyone in the waiting area waited until a specially chosen pair came out and danced.
Then each pair was introduced to everyone, and they all danced in the ballroom together.
They introduced themselves after the dance and had a good time.
The myth went that no matter how much of a country girl a girl was, she would have the opportunity to be formally introduced to a partner in front of everyone.
Most debutantes waited in the waiting area with their chaperones before meeting their partners and entering the ballroom.
I heard Countess McGinty grumbling even though no one recognized me.
The Countess, who was dressed in a respectable dark brown gown with white accents, didn’t even laugh.
“Are you feeling nervous?”
“It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous.”
“The eyes don’t deceive. Even if you’re scared, you won’t flee.”
I flashed a dazzling smile.
“I’ve always been a nuisance to you. It would have been lovely if I could have offered you even a little joy.”
Countess McGinty rubbed her eyes lightly, looking displeased, but I knew that was simply her typical demeanor.
There were no bothersome people gathering around us from the start, thanks to the Countess, who stood by me like a bodyguard.
I could see the vista of the hall via the wide-open doors.
Surprisingly, the first dance was led by Princess Alosia and Prince Alexis, whom I had only heard about.
The image of two siblings, separated by more than ten years, holding hands and dancing together was as unbalanced as it was amazing.
Princess Alosia delicately brushed her curling chestnut hair and looked around the hall fearfully. Her grip on her layered hemline, which barely supported her half-height smaller brother, appeared perilous.
“I received a request for a dance partner from Edmund Gloucester.”
“…”
Raretis’ eyes showed no signs of distress.
“Congratulations.”
“Even though you know exactly what the Marchioness wants?”
“No one can make you, Lady Elodie, do anything. You can do whatever you want.”
Yes, his words were complimentary.
But when she looked back, she wondered if it was a misunderstanding that he didn’t appear to care what Elodie chose.
Was that genuine kindness?
“So, I rejected him.”
“…”
The man appeared to be as strong as a walnut, impenetrable by any label.
Yes, she believed he was that type of man.
As a result, she didn’t find it unusual.
If she hadn’t seen the man involved with ‘Emilia,’ she would have been easily duped.
There was no need to compare him to Edmund Gloucester, who had burning eyes for Elodie. Elodie was well aware of the Marchioness Windrose’s desires.
She desired vicarious pleasure.
She wanted to see what her dead daughter would have seen if she had been alive.
She brought the clothes her dead daughter couldn’t wear, the gorgeous opera she couldn’t attend, and all the delights she couldn’t consume.
And the final destination was only around the corner.
“Are you really okay with becoming my cavalier?”
“…Why are you asking me that?”
Because I observed your fissures.
Elodie kept silent rather than saying anything.
She couldn’t pass judgment on something she didn’t fully comprehend, no matter who she was. She only had an intuition about him, who was the one who had driven her away the most decisively of all the people she had seen.
Emilia.
Emily.
The individual who pretended to be a commoner in order to remove herself from Elodie. Ophelia’s friend before she died.
The individual who caused Edmund Gloucester to overreact.
And possibly the individual sponsored by the Brahamdorff family.
Did the man in front of her know all of this information?
Why would he strive to keep her from learning about her?
The public’s reaction to ‘Emilia’ was not positive.
This was evident in the reactions of individuals who approached her.
They babbled as if there was some deep link between the deceased Ophelia and them, then casually uttered Emilia’s name a few times for good measure.
Those who claimed to be her lone friend stood by the side of the striking Ophelia.
Those who accused her of being a parasite clinging on to the Marquis’s family for power.
Those who warned Elodie not to forget their teachings or be duped by that girl…
Even those who stated it wasn’t worth worrying about because they didn’t know where she was or what she was doing now.
Elodie grew more intrigued with each repetition of these phrases.
A piqued interest arose.
The Emilia she saw was completely unconcerned.
Nothing appeared to catch her off guard.
Black eyes that are hard and frigid.
A serene expression.
Lips pressed together.
Her mood was the same whether she was clothed in shabby clothes or seated as a guest in a dressing room.
A stately and controlled demeanor.
She appeared oblivious to the world’s gaze.
Elodie became aware of something.
‘Why do you bother asking me?’ The man never said things like, ‘it’s an honor that transcends my share,’ or ‘of course.’
If the man, who usually gave faultless written replies, stated his viewpoint was unimportant…
Elodie couldn’t stop laughing.
Didn’t that imply he didn’t want it?
But, in the end, she was unable to inquire more.
She was a wimp.
Knowing that someone else saw her as a replacement.
But if it brings someone comfort.
If it could make someone happy.
She was a coward who thought it would be a good idea.
A coward who questioned whether she could stand in this position if she entirely abandoned the deceased’s shadow.
Knowing this, she applauded the other party for taking decisive action to save a kid in front of the carriage.
Emilia struck her as a pleasant individual.
She hadn’t anticipated finding out in this manner…
Elodie delicately licked her lips.
Was that a divine punishment in the dream?
Is it a punishment for enjoying everything while carrying the deceased’s shadow and pretending not to know?
She felt a cool sensation when she put her cheek on the glass window.
His demeanor was unusual for a man carrying a lady in the carriage opposite him, but Elodie didn’t mind.
Her dream from the night before was a terrifying nightmare.
Her spine tingled just thinking about it.
She was rushing away in her dream, wandering in filthy back alleys.
She could hear dogs barking all around her.
For some reason, no one replied no matter how desperately she screamed for aid.
Everything was peaceful except for her pursuers.
‘…So capture her with care.’
Yes. That’s exactly what was said.
She rushed, spitting out breaths like if she was about to puke.
Even when her limbs ripped and she fell and rolled, she got back up and ran.
‘It’s unjust.’
She was running and thinking.
‘Why just me?’
Her eardrums were pierced by an all-too-familiar scream.
‘I, too, I’m sure….’
The dream was brief, but her feelings were tremendous.
Simple.
She didn’t want to die that way.
The conclusion was too obvious.
The world appeared to be a little rectangle carved out of black paper.
And she was a sinner imprisoned in that frame, as if in an endless torment.
Even if she fled away, she sensed in the dream that there would be no end.
Please, please, please. Please save me…. Allow me to flee.
Creak, creak, creak.
Something twisting may be heard.
In an alley, the sound of something being dragged.
Blood.
Stains.
Screams.
Death.
[Bad Ending Achieved: 2/??]
And repeat.
* * *
Time passed more quickly than planned.
The day of the May ball had already arrived.
I looked dramatically different than before, whether it was because I had eaten properly, slept well, and had been well-cared for.
Even I was surprised to see myself, having dressed up since dawn on Lady McGinty’s instructions.
“Miss, you look stunning!”
I just smiled sheepishly.
“Thanks, Kitty.”
“You’ll be the prettiest one there!”
“…”
Even with empty words, I couldn’t agree, so I just smiled again.
The debutantes in this town traditionally wore white gowns.
My clothing was comparable.
I used very light purple and pink ribbons and ornaments on white fabric.
It had a little bell-like puff on the short upper part of the shoulders and a ribbon around the bust in the Empire style.
In the design, the white hem expanded out as it approached my feet, yet it wasn’t too extravagant to interfere with dancing.
Half of my hair was also braided and twisted, with fresh flowers and crystals adorning it.
Of fact, the Brahamdorff family might have added a flower made entirely of cut jewels if they so desired.
Everyone agreed, however, that garnering too much attention at a debutante ball attended by princesses would be counterproductive.
The makeup was just enough to give my white face a rosy glow and make it look active, but it was an inconceivable effort in comparison to the norm.
Cassio Brahamdorff was also dressed more carefully as usual.
He was dressed in a three-piece black suit with a boutonniere of pink and purple fresh flowers on his chest.
His blond hair, which was always bright, had been meticulously managed, and it was dazzling thanks to the assistance of a skilled maid.
Cassio Brahamdorff glanced at me and fell silent for a brief period.
I put on gloves and returned his stare with Kitty’s assistance.
What could it possibly be?
Is he going to scoff at me, like a pearl necklace on a pig, even now?
“…You look stunning.”
It was a straightforward statement, devoid of all flattery.
After a long pause, the world-renowned Cassio Brahamdorff uttered it, and I found myself chuckling unconsciously.
After all, today was the day we were getting closer to the end goal he had dragged me out of the café for.
I swirled around the room lightly, lifting the hem of my dress.
Countess McGinty had stated that luxury was not about wearing large, noticeable gems and strutting around like a rich person, but about things like the fabric of a dress… especially since all debutantes who are making their debut at the ball will choose a modest design, she had repeatedly emphasized the need to invest in the fabric.
As a social novice, I simply followed her advice.
After all, it was the Brahamdorffs who were footing the cost.
Anyway, owing to her, my hem was of such high quality that it could compete with the goddess’ silk gown, which was a purchased item in the game.
The white fabric was silky and opaque like lace, layered multiple times to resemble dragonfly wings.
“You also look great today.”
The man’s face lit up with a smile.
“Shall we go, my lady?”
Even though the palace was just across the block, we had to factor in traffic congestion because most people would travel by carriage.
I put my hand on the man’s palm who was reaching out to me.
“Please lead the way, my cavalier.”
The man, who was typically elegant and haughty, led me in an unusually courteous manner.
I took a deep breath and looked at Lady McGinty and the carriage waiting behind the door.
It was only the beginning.
* * *
The debutante ball at the royal court followed a straightforward format.
Everyone in the waiting area waited until a specially chosen pair came out and danced.
Then each pair was introduced to everyone, and they all danced in the ballroom together.
They introduced themselves after the dance and had a good time.
The myth went that no matter how much of a country girl a girl was, she would have the opportunity to be formally introduced to a partner in front of everyone.
Most debutantes waited in the waiting area with their chaperones before meeting their partners and entering the ballroom.
I heard Countess McGinty grumbling even though no one recognized me.
The Countess, who was dressed in a respectable dark brown gown with white accents, didn’t even laugh.
“Are you feeling nervous?”
“It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous.”
“The eyes don’t deceive. Even if you’re scared, you won’t flee.”
I flashed a dazzling smile.
“I’ve always been a nuisance to you. It would have been lovely if I could have offered you even a little joy.”
Countess McGinty rubbed her eyes lightly, looking displeased, but I knew that was simply her typical demeanor.
There were no bothersome people gathering around us from the start, thanks to the Countess, who stood by me like a bodyguard.
I could see the vista of the hall via the wide-open doors.
Surprisingly, the first dance was led by Princess Alosia and Prince Alexis, whom I had only heard about.
The image of two siblings, separated by more than ten years, holding hands and dancing together was as unbalanced as it was amazing.
Princess Alosia delicately brushed her curling chestnut hair and looked around the hall fearfully. Her grip on her layered hemline, which barely supported her half-height smaller brother, appeared perilous.
