CH 16

Time had flown by since arriving in Duan.

Standing under the yellow light of the hotel room, Natalie stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror.

The scarlet lace dress didn’t suit her. It seems as if she’d stolen someone else’s clothes.

Perhaps it was natural. This dress was meant for Dorothy.

The first thing the ladies did after arriving in Duan was to hurry to a tailor’s shop and buy some fancy dresses.

Fortunately, they were able to place an order with a relatively unpopular dressmaker, who was only able to mend a dress that had been discarded by another lady’s change of heart, but Dorothy was nevertheless delighted.

Natalie’s chagrin prompted her to choose the most expensive silk at the tailor’s and added embellishments.

Dorothy had the lightest eyes and hair colour of the four siblings, resembling the baroness. Her dress of light pink and scarlet, as bright as spring flowers, suited her lovely mood.

Dorothy would wear the light pink dress to the ball today. The scarlet dress was a spare in case she received another invitation.

Natalie borrowed the spare dress and wore it. If she didn’t want to stand out, it was wiser to wear a fashionable dress and blend in with the crowd of young ladies than to wear something more modest.

“Maybe it doesn’t suit me too well and I might stand out too much….”

Natalie then fiddled with her hair in various ways.

“Half updo is in trend, it’s giving me goosebumps.”

This season, a refined and elegant style was in fashion.

She had a tip from her dressmaker that a half bun, especially one that left the forehead exposed, was in style. Coincidentally, it was similar to a style that would work well in a courtroom.

It was as if she’d been transported back three years ago. As she scrunched up her face, there was a knock at the door.

“Mother.”

“Natalie, are you ready?”

It was the Baroness, dressed in a ball gown for the first time in a very long time. She fidgeted with her interlocked fingers, uncomfortable with the garment.

“Yes, it’s all done.”

“Your dress is very pretty, of course, and so are you.”

Natalie, knowing full well that the scarlet dress would be the last thing she would ever wear, settled for an awkward smile. There was a lull, and the Baroness dug impatiently into her handbag.

“Here, would you like to try this perfume? The dressmaker must have put it in for you to smell. Dorothy said it was fine.”

Natalie nervously accepted the small, apricot-sized glass bottle. Judging by her mother’s stare, she felt she had to be sincere in her appreciation of the scent.

She poured a few drops and applied it to her wrist. A fruity scent wafted through the air.

“…Apple. Or is it lemon?”

“It’s supposed to mimic lily of the valley. It should help you relax a bit.”

“I see.”

Then silence again.

Perhaps her mother had something she wanted to say. Natalie said,

“Say it.”

After a long pause, the Baroness finally spoke.

“Natalie, my dear, will you pay your respects to the Princess and return to the hotel when the time is right?”

It was standard etiquette at balls to go to the host and say hello.

“I know you’ve faded from people’s memories by now, but you’ve spent three social seasons at Duan. I’m sure there are people who remember your face, and I was wondering if you might be interested in meeting them….”

“Ah….”

The Baroness’s words meant that someone might recognize her, so she should just show her face to the princess and leave.

“For all you know, this might be Dorothy’s last chance.”

The Baroness’s expression and voice were as eager as ever.

“I hope you’re not too upset about it.”

“No, don’t worry. I was already thinking the same thing.”

It was really what she thought. Yet, she felt quite miserable. Natalie tried to force a smile.

“Okay.”

Another awkward silence followed the Baroness’s feeble reply.

“…The hotel is really nice. It must have cost a lot of money…”

“I’m glad you like it.”

The Baroness hurriedly brought up a new topic. Natalie, not wanting to be awkward, replied rather hastily. The Baroness pursed her lips, finally giving up on the conversation after a long time.

“…We must depart. It’s been a long time since they’ve opened the Malik House, so there’s no harm in hurrying.”

“Yes, Mother.”

The answer came out well, but it wasn’t easy to take the first step.

Thump, thump. Natalie’s heart was beating anxiously.

It was only yesterday that Natalie realized she was afraid of standing in front of people.

“Natalie?”

“…The skirt is a little long.”

At her mother’s urging, Natalie forced the corners of her mouth up. Indeed, Dorothy was a little taller, and the hem of her dress was dragging on the floor.

Natalie grabbed a handful of the hem, took a quick deep breath, and followed her mother out of the hotel room.

‘If I just say hello to the princess, stand on the wall for a while, and leave the venue, I won’t be noticed. What could happen in such a short time.’

That was three years ago, after all, and there must have been some incredible scandals since then, and no one would be interested in her.

They shouldn’t be.

But against Natalie’s wishes, as soon as she entered the venue, someone recognised her.

***

Ian was overlooking the guests from a blind spot that provided a view of the entrance to the ballroom, as directed by his aide. More specifically, he was looking down at the troubled brides Catherine had recommended.

“Your Highness, the lady who has just entered is the young lady of Viscount Linton.”

Marcus said, alternating between the list of names and the palm-sized book of portraits.

Ian, leaning obliquely against a pillar, lowered his gaze to the Lady of Linton. Clad in pink satin, Miss Linton was frantically looking around the ballroom, looking both nervous and very excited.

‘Pink again, I see.’

The prince was not familiar with the faces of the ladies, but was distinguishing them by colour. But with one pink after another, he was no longer possible to distinguish them by colour.

“Recently, Viscount Linton’s estate went bankrupt due to gambling debts. One advantage of not having any other skills besides gambling is that he won’t be too greedy for small favors.”

He couldn’t help but wonder if he was being too indifferent to the task of finding someone to be his wife.

That’s because he was thinking of a bride as a one-year indentured worker.

“Furthermore, there is a rumor that Ms Linton is a child born from the Viscountess’ infidelity, which led to the unilateral dissolution of a marriage a year ago.”

“The Duchess of Horace is doing a good job. She’s got a stellar list of brides.”

Ian mechanically smiled and answered with a soulless voice. Marcus frowned discontentedly at the prince’s habit of speaking when he was annoyed.

“Please pay attention, Your Highness. You are too uninterested.”

“Ahaha. It’s just a one-year marriage, no need to go through all that trouble.”

The prince’s joking tone finally broke Marcus’s face.

Having an unsuitable bride would be the easiest way to destroy the prince’s sterling reputation.

In addition, divorce was the most certain and peaceful way to deprive his succession right. Just like the time when Ian joked and said, ‘I can’t become a traitor,’ or something like that.

Even Marcus admits that he would rather be a divorced man than a traitor. But for someone who cares about him, all of this is heartbreaking.

So even though he knew it was pointless, he wanted to marry the best of the bride candidates Catherine had found. Marcus was about to nag the prince.

“Your Highness, shouldn’t you be more….”

“Ha….”

The prince sighed deeply.

Remembering that Ian hated it when he repeated the same thing several times, Marcus quickly closed his mouth. He glanced at Ian’s expression and it seemed that his sigh was not because of him.

Staring down at the entrance, the prince’s brow was curiously creased. It was more puzzled than annoyed.

“Why are you here…”

Ian murmured with a complex face.

It made him wonder if there was anyone as annoying as this person in his life, if he could forget about it.

Ian straightened up from his stiff lean against the pillar and began to look left and right with a nervous look on his face as he began to examine the woman in earnest.

First of all, it had been three years, but she looked the same as the last time he’d seen her.

She was as unsteady as she had been that day in the courtroom, with a face that looked younger than her age. However, as a guest of the royal dance party, she was dressed more glamorously than that day.

Except for the apparent tension, she looked okay at first glance. Ian was secretly relieved, but he didn’t realize it.

“Did she steal that dress…?”

Of course, in his opinion, having received a high-level education on aesthetics since childhood, the crimson dress did not suit her at all.

***

‘It’s better than I thought.’

Natalie leaned against the wall and thought. She seemed to blend in with the wall, but as soon as she saw someone approaching, she moved around busily as if she had some urgent business to attend to.

‘I can’t believe all those years of running away from dance requests have come in handy.’

Despite her nervousness, there was no one in sight to recognise her. Maybe she shouldn’t have worried in the first place. Princess Charlotte’s ball was completely unlike any she had ever attended.

The Malik House, said to be the most beautiful mansion in the capital, was indeed magnificent, and the guests were all rich people.

‘Though I suppose there are a few peasant girls like me invited every now and then.’

It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been to royal balls before.

The year she made her debut, she was invited to the Oberon Palace, home to the King’s official residence. But those balls were open to all young ladies who had made their debut in society, and the social circles were full of young men and women and their parents looking for a match.

On the contrary, how about this ball. Ladies and gentlemen of high status, who had only been seen in illustrations and newsletters, were alive and moving in front of her eyes.

For example, the Duchess of Horace, the so-called queen of society, was so elegant and seductive that anyone with eyes to see could not help but steal a glance.

On second thought, this was not a ball in which a mere lady from the Baron Warfield would be invited.

Natalie was lost in thought, unable to take her eyes off the Duchess like any other guest.