Chapter 170
Chapter 170
“Your Highness, it’s time for your hair.”
“Okay!”
Siervian sat calmly, her mind racing.
The best course of action, she decided, was to reveal the truth behind the brooch from the very beginning.
‘However, there’s no way to prove the truth I know about the brooch right now.’
If she spoke without evidence on the day of her social debut, she could easily be misunderstood.
In her previous life, Siervian had been a master of causing misunderstandings. As a result, she could easily predict the ripple effect her words would have.
‘If I suddenly say this, everyone will nod their heads in front of me, but strange rumors will spread behind my back. They’ll say I’m lying for some reason.’
This time, she absolutely could not afford such misunderstandings.
“There you go, Your Highness.”
“Oh, my princess.”
Jane finished styling Siervian’s hair and stepped back.
Ellie had been watching from behind and suddenly pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.
“Oh, I can’t help but cry.”
“Are you okay, Ellie?”
“Our princess is already having her pre-debutante ball…!”
It seemed Ellie was particularly emotional. Even Jane, though not as much as Ellie, was blushing beside her.
‘I guess everyone is proud of how much I’ve grown.’
Siervian finally put aside her worries about the red brooch and proudly straightened her back.
She was glad to note that she was growing taller every day.
[Ellie]
Thought: She’s still so small, cute, and fairy-like, even though it’s her pre-debutante ball!
Oh, I have to capture the princess’ appearance today with the highest quality image ball. She’s so small and cute that everyone else in the image ball will look like weeds.
‘But I’ve grown a lot taller!’
Even though she had grown considerably taller than before, it seemed she didn’t look that way in Ellie’s eyes.
Even Jane, who was standing next to her, denied Siervian’s expectations.
[Jane Milas]
Thought: She’s still so small and thin. Should I increase her snacks a little more?
“Ahem. Shall we go?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Jane, please take care of the basket.”
“Of course. This time, I even made a frame to hold the image ball in place.”
“Oh my!”
Strangely, the maids’ luggage seemed to increase every time Siervian went somewhere.
‘Is it okay to waste an image ball like this…?’
The sight of the maids carrying the heavy luggage in their arms couldn’t be more familiar.
“Let’s go for now!”
Siervian straightened her back with effort and walked out of the princess’ palace.
As she carefully lifted the hem of her dress, which was beautifully dyed in purple, swayed gently along with it.
‘I feel strangely excited.’
She had thought that the second time would be boring, but as she dressed in the pretty clothes, Siervian’s mood improved.
The hem of her dress reminded her of the lilac flowers in her hideout with Karmen.
“Siervy.”
“Brother!”
Damian and Karmen were waiting for her in front of the princess’ palace.
Damian wore a formal outfit made of the same color fabric as Siervian’s.
The silver thread woven into the purple fabric matched Damian’s silver hair well.
“I’m here, too.”
As she was examining Damian’s attire, a gruff voice came from beside her.
“Karmen!”
On the other hand, Karmen was wearing the clothing Siervian had given him as a gift before.
“You liked the clothes I gave you!”
“…I just came back right away that day, so I felt that my courtesy was lacking.”
[Karmen Kasselov]
Thought: Hmph, if it weren’t for Damian, I could have worn a matching outfit again.
It was just a matter of courtesy, but Karmen’s status window dripped with regret.
Even though it was the same outfit, Karmen’s atmosphere was completely different today.
His hair, which had been loosely tied down for the outing, was neatly tied up today. That alone made a big difference in his impression.
‘His handsome face looks even better.’
Unconsciously, Siervian stared blankly at Karmen’s face. Today, too, Karmen’s platinum eyelashes sparkled in the bright sun.
The moment her dazed gaze met his sharp eyes, Karmen’s head turned slightly to the side.
Thanks to that, this time she could see his ears, which were slightly red.
[Karmen Kasselov]
Favorability: +100
Thought: …When she wears it like that, she looks just like a lilac flower. Damn it, if she’s too pretty, it’s not good!
‘I had a similar thought! But why is it bad if I’m pretty?’
In any case, she was happy, so Siervian quickly approached them.
Then, she suddenly burst out laughing.
That’s because she suddenly remembered a wish she had made in her previous life.
‘Back then, I wished I had someone to greet me like this.’
In this life, two people had shown up to greet her for her pre-debutante ball.
In her previous life, Siervian had to wear a strange outfit and walk alone to the Green Hall, lonely and desolate.
The memory of her tearfully swollen eyes was smoothed over and brightened. Now she was happy.
‘I didn’t expect it, but it’s going to be a fun day.’
The three of them walked side by side through the imperial palace.
They could have taken a carriage, but Siervian strangely felt like walking.
“Karmen, you don’t like these kinds of places either, do you?”
“Of course.”
Karmen brushed his hair back, his new hairstyle feeling awkward.
On the other hand, Damian was used to such attire and naturally smiled.
‘Both of them are really good-looking,’ Siervian thought.
She couldn’t understand why she felt so proud, but she decided to think of it as a good thing and walked slowly forward.
Thanks to finishing their preparations early, they had time to spare. After all, it was customary for her, as a royal, to appear last.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Green Hall.’
The Green Hall, their destination, was the smallest of the party halls. That’s why it was often used for pre-debutantes like this.
It was also the place where a banquet for the children in the welfare foundation was held.
Outside the Green Hall, the attendants were lined up as if to guide the way.
‘Huh? Was there originally such a custom?’
Normally, it was only the attendant announcing the arrival of the nobles who stood in front of the door.
Siervian’s eyes widened in surprise, and Damian explained with a chuckle.
“Father sent them.”
“What?”
Unfortunately, this time her father couldn’t come to see her.
“It’s for Siervy’s pre-debutante, he’s too excited to say anything.”
There was an unusual custom in the pre-debutante. That was the pursuit of minimizing adult intervention.
That’s why Damian smiled, remembering his father, who had been bothering the chancellor, Hex, for several days about the matter of custom.
It seemed that this was the extent of his congratulations to Siervian.
“Ah…”
Only then did Siervian realize the situation and smiled shyly.
Behind her, the maids of the princess’ palace were already busy setting up the video ball everywhere.
“Then, shall we go?”
“Let’s go.”
Damian and Karmen, who were one step ahead, reached out their hands at the same time.
The first person to enter society could escort a relative or child of a close family who was joining society later.
As expected, these were hands that had never been extended to her in her previous life.
“Let’s go!”
Siervian took both their hands with a lively smile and walked forward.
Karmen had now perfectly learned the etiquette and guided Siervian with a similar gait to Damian’s.
As a special privilege for those who were making their pre-debutante, the attendant only announced Siervian’s name loudly.
“Her Highness Siervian Erveldotte!”
The massive doors of the Green Hall swung open, revealing the interior.
The young faces gathered in a crowd turned their gazes to Siervian.
It was a tense moment, but Siervian now had two hands to rely on.
“Hello everyone. I am Siervian Erveldotte.”
Thanks to that, Siervian was able to smile brightly with perfect etiquette as she entered the Green Hall.
* * *
“Your Highness! I wanted to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you, Lady Anton.”
“Oh my, you know me…! Please call me Lily.”
“I will.”
Everyone’s faces were much younger than she remembered, but Siervian could easily recall their names.
She thought again that it was a good thing that this was her second pre-debutante.
She hadn’t expected so many people to approach her and say they wanted to talk.
‘Why are so many people crowding around…?’
The interior of the Green Hall had several round tables.
The young ladies and young masters, holding their personal teacups, were flitting from table to table like bees searching for flowers.
It was a table-visiting event that marked the first day of the social season.
“Your Highness, I also wanted to meet you.”
At that moment, one of the young ladies who had been watching Siervian from a nearby table approached.
It was after she confirmed that Siervian was calling the names of the young ladies who came to greet her.
‘Ah… There it is! The red brooch!’
She was the lady, the owner of the red brooch.
Even without that, she had the ability to find her, but it was good that she showed up like this.
However, instead of introducing herself, she just stared at Siervian with a strange pause.
‘Is she already trying to control me?’
The lady was about two years older than Siervian.
She wondered if she was trying to assert her dominance in the pre-debutante, but a rather strange status window popped up.
[Catherine Greenwood]
Mood: Anticipation.
Thoughts: If she knew the name of a Viscountess like Anton, she must know my name, right? Then that would be really great!
Only then did Siervian realize that the lady was expecting her to know her name first.
Although she was looking down on the Viscount family quite a bit.
“…I also wanted to meet you. Lady Catherine Greenwood.”
“You know my name!”
When Siervian kindly called her name first, she was overjoyed and sat next to her.
Lady Anton had wanted to stay at Siervian’s table but was pushed out of her chair by her exaggerated behavior.
“I, I also want to be at this table….”
“Your Highness. I have heard your name. Congratulations on your pre-debutante.”
Lady Greenwood ignored Lady Anton and spoke to Siervian in a loud voice.
Lady Greenwood’s close friends slowly approached her.
Watching her behavior, Siervian smiled faintly.
‘She’s using a clichéd trick.’
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