LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 35
“Lady Laveria, you’ve made remarkable progress since I last saw you.”
Miss Belly remarked, regaining her composure after witnessing development far beyond what she could have anticipated from my previous unsatisfactory performance.
Once I grasped the fundamentals, dancing proved feasible after all.
This world’s dances incorporated many techniques utilizing fans, but I currently held a short sword instead of a fan, which might have contributed to my improved perception.
Recalling my previous life, I was more accustomed to wielding a sword than the fans typically used in the summer.
Imagining a hypothetical opponent and gracefully lunging through their openings, my movements became noticeably smoother.
If my future dance partner witnessed me practicing in such a manner, they would likely be appalled.
This temporary countermeasure Miss Belly had devised after observing my previous ineptitude proved quite effective.
For some reason, it transformed into sword dancing, captivating all onlookers with my rhythmic breathing and the whispers of the swinging blade.
Revealing she had once been the president of Dad’s fan club, Miss Belly mentioned a war portrait of him in her home, remarking that I was truly befitting of the Rayes lineage.
As time passed and I properly learned using the fan, I became capable of executing reasonably proficient steps.
Observing my reflection in the wall-length mirror, Miss Belly blinked back tears of pride and relief.
She must have envisioned nightmarish scenarios every night, of her painstakingly raised lady stumbling over her partner’s feet or falling flat on her own during the dream-like debutante ball.
And I was the commoner-born Princess Rayes, the subject of incessant capital gossip.
As a vassal family of the Rayes, Miss Belly couldn’t bear to witness such a spectacle.
Hence, my current progress filled her with double the gratification.
Clap-clap-clap-
“Excellent, maintain that flow. Let’s practice those steps one more time, then attempt them with a partner next.”
“A partner?”
I hadn’t expected to progress that far today.
Would Miss Belly be my practice partner?
Or perhaps Miller?
I rehearsed the turning sequence once more.
The extensive practice left me quite breathless.
It was then that a knock sounded at the door.
Knock-knock-
“Please come in!”
The person Miss Belly greeted with a beaming smile was…
“Brother… Drehan?”
Drehan, who should have been occupied with the upcoming Grand Nobles’ Council.
I had assumed he would be meeting with nobles from the Crown Prince’s faction from the morning…
Regarding my sweat-drenched state, he remarked curtly:
“You look like a mouse.”
“Huh?!”
A mouse? Yet upon seeing my reflection, I could only reluctantly agree.
My dampened silver tresses did give off such an impression.
In contrast, he exuded the dignified grace of a silver-haired noble.
“Would you be my practice partner?”
“I cannot allow Princess Rayes to embarrass herself at the debutante ball.”
“Regardless of whatever rumors you may have heard, I can now execute the steps reasonably well.”
“Hmm…”
Drehan smiled wryly before kneeling before me, his gaze lowered as he extended his hand.
“Oh my! That angle, line of sight, all perfection itself! Laveria, if your partner assumes this stance, count to three and gently place your hand in his.”
I hesitantly accepted the proffered hand. It was at that moment that Drehan began leading me into the dance.
One could say it was by the book – here lay the reason he was renowned in high society as the Silver Prince.
His solemn gaze appeared somewhat ascetic, yet the faint playful curve of his lips hinted at a personality contrary to the rumors.
After flawlessly performing all four dances to be showcased at the debutante ball, set to piano accompaniment, my already lacking stamina could endure no further.
In contrast, the impeccably poised Drehan tilted his head quizzically, unable to comprehend my breathless panting.
“How frail.”
Hey, I’ve been practicing intensively, that’s why…!
“Haha, my apologies for being unable to continue, despite Brother’s rare offer to partner with me…”
I was about to admit defeat when –
Bang!
“Ria!”
“Brother Miller?!”
Why are you here, someone who never shows up during his sword training sessions?
“While I can’t be your official partner, I am certainly qualified as a practice partner!”
In other words…
“Oh my, how discourteous of me. I didn’t extend a separate invitation to young master Miller, assuming you would be preoccupied. But if it’s acceptable, would you serve as the young miss’s partner?”
Miss Belly chuckled, gesturing for Miller to enter.
But my opinion was…
I grasped my wobbling legs and plopped down on the nearby sofa.
Munching on cookies from the side table to replenish my energy, I declared:
“I’m… on strike today, Brothers.”
Regardless of Miller’s crestfallen look or Drehan’s amused smirk before me, I had to prioritize the inevitable muscle soreness that would come tomorrow.
“Just because I’m a bit late… you’re willing to partner with Brother officially but can’t even practice with me?!”
“Practice is as good as the real thing. Could you call it proper practice if I entrusted her to a reckless brute who twirls ladies around like spinning tops?”
“What?! That only happened once, at the very beginning!”
“And it was the first and likely last dance for you. No one has agreed to be your partner since that day.”
Watching Drehan mercilessly prod at Miller’s sore spot, I remarked dryly:
“Since we’re both equally inept dancers, I’ll practice with Brother Miller tomorrow. Perhaps practicing together as fellow lost causes…”
“Only leads to further deficiencies.”
Flinching at Drehan’s brutal honesty, Miller and I averted our gazes.
“It seems the young miss is quite fatigued today, so it would be best if we conclude the lesson here.”
“Yes, Young Lord. I shall return at the same time tomorrow.”
It seemed Miss Belly intended to visit the estate daily until the debutante ball.
Yet today, having confirmed I wasn’t hopelessly uncoordinated, she appeared significantly more buoyant as she took her leave, a hint of newfound hope in her steps.
Seeing the two brothers’ lingering gazes, I asked:
“The debutante ball will be held in the palace ballroom, correct?”
“Indeed. It will take place in the William Palace, renowned as the most magnificent on the continent.”
Muttering at Drehan’s words, I asked:
“There will be many chandeliers, I presume…?”
If the ceiling was filled with chandeliers, the potential hazards would be too numerous.
It was difficult to voice a credible warning about Rachel’s death from a mere dream I couldn’t even confirm.
‘I’ll be fortunate if I’m not dismissed as insane instead of being suspected myself.’
“When you speak of chandeliers, are you referring to the ‘Scales of Judgment’ held aloft by the massive central sculpture?”
The Scales of Judgment? What a grandiose name.
“The symmetrical chandeliers are symbolic of the William Palace itself. Apart from those two, there are no other chandeliers in the ballroom.”
So in other words, the only chandeliers were the massive, balanced ones held high by a grand sculpture.
That was a relatively reassuring fact.
I would simply need to avoid that vicinity.
Wait, but Miss Belly had mentioned we would dance counter-clockwise around the hall. If a chandelier were to fall during that, would it not be unavoidable?
Observing me clutching my head in anguish, the two brothers exchanged quizzical looks.
Should I inform them as well?
My momentary contemplation dissipated when someone knocked at the door.
“Enter.”
At Drehan’s words, the door opened to reveal a familiar stern-faced youth – one of the triplet attendants I had encountered at the palace.
“I have a letter from His Imperial Highness Crown Prince for Princess Rayes.”
From Luka? I rose from the sofa and accepted the box the attendant handed me.
The letter was a small piece of paper atop the box. But what was this box?
Before opening it, I unfolded the rolled-up parchment to read its contents first.
[Serunibeti, Laveria.]
An extremely brief message.
I had seen it somewhere before… Ah, the same happiness incantation had been inscribed on the debutante ball dress and tiara that arrived yesterday from the shop.
Sharing a similar sense with the shop owner, it seemed. I undid the golden lace ribbon decorating the box.
Drehan and Miller had already approached, curious about the contents.
Upon opening the box, a pair of adorable shoes lay neatly inside.
Adorned with shimmering opals radiating a spectrum of colors, Miller let out a gasp of astonishment at the sight.
As I turned towards him with a quizzical look, the attendant provided the answer instead.
“The Crown Prince has requested to escort the Lady.”
“Huh?!”
“Gifting shoes before the debutante ball carries the implication of a partner request.”
At Drehan’s words, a sense of trepidation washed over me.
Come to think of it, the tiara that had accompanied yesterday’s dress was something I hadn’t ordered.
That tiara had also been adorned with the same opals.
“B-But I had already agreed to attend with Brother Drehan.”
The prospect of being Luka’s partner at the debutante ball, where I was essentially fated to be the ugly duckling, filled me with unease.
“Naturally, the choice is yours to accept or decline, as you see fit. There is no obligation either way.”
I fretted, glancing sideways at the blindingly brilliant white shoes that seemed to flaunt their very presence.
‘What should I do…? Does Luka truly not mind my commoner origins?’
“His Highness awaits your reply.”
“Haah…”
* * *
[I’m delighted, Ria.]
“Honestly… Even for a surprise gift, there are limits. The tiara was from you too, wasn’t it?”
A small chuckle echoed from beyond the communication crystal.
The attendant had provided this communication crystal along with the gift before departing.
Developed by the Magic Tower, these long-range communication crystals were still at an experimental stage unsuitable for extended use.
Originally a magical tool solely for transmitting short voice messages akin to wireless radio, this seemed to be the first prototype capable of prolonged conversations.
As the Magic Tower relied on Imperial support for its continued existence, they likely presented such new inventions to the palace first.
“If I recall correctly, my flamboyant footwork was once mercilessly trampled in the past. Have you forgotten?”
[Of course not. I still have nightmares about that day sometimes.]
Luka’s voice added that he wished to be my first partner, prompting me to stroke the crystal pensively as I tilted my head.
“In any case… it’s best you brace yourself. While I have been practicing diligently, my feet refuse to obey my will.”
Rather than that, I cautiously posed the question that had been weighing on my mind to Luka, hoping for a positive response.
“How did things go with the Empress?”
The ensuing silence seemed to linger for an eternity.
Gulp-
[Both my mother and I are immensely grateful to you, Ria.]
In other words…
[My mother wishes to see you again. Could you visit the Imperial Palace next time and meet with her?]
“Of course…!”
I bowed my head deeply, my expression slightly relieved.
‘Thank goodness.’
One year later, in that fleeting yet simultaneously interminable moment.
Someone could have closed their eyes, unable to absolve their regrets towards their children. And the ones left behind might have shed tears of remorse.
If such an unimaginable tragedy were to befall my precious ones, I too would have suffered immensely.
“I’m so glad.”
After that brief conversation with Luka, I rose and compared the notes on the card that had accompanied the tiara to the golden ink message Luka had sent today.
“Unmistakably Luka’s handwriting, regardless.”
A happiness incantation, out of countless possible messages.
Perhaps Luka shared my wish for his happiness, just as fervently as I desired it.
Thinking thus, I couldn’t bring myself to reject the extended hand of someone claiming allegiance to me, and accepted his partner request.
Drehan stated he would respect my decision.
Even so, he added that he would continue serving as my practice partner, seeming slightly disappointed.
It appeared he had formally prepared dance shoes as well, in keeping with the familial tradition.
The amethyst satin slippers resting on the crimson cushion before me were likely his intended gift.
Whether Drehan, Luka, or myself, all were well aware of my lack of dancing prowess, evident from the shoes’ negligible heels that might as well have been flats.
Trying them on, they felt as comfortable as sneakers – both had clearly commissioned footwear prioritizing support over all else to preserve my ankles.
Imagining their thought process, I couldn’t help but let out an amused chuckle.
Before I knew it, the morning of the debutante ball had arrived.