episode_0013

The reception room that had long been used only by the Beauregard family was bustling with many people after a long time.

Inside, the gathered individuals varied in age, status, hair color, and even eye color, but the topic of conversation they shared was the same.

Each of them was sharing their thoughts about the protagonist who would soon arrive.

Ethier and Olivia, who were already dressed in their gowns, along with a few maids, were filled with anticipation for the pure beauty in pristine white they would soon face again.

On the other hand, Obert Changbaek and Albrice, who didn’t even know the color of the dress Eleanor would wear, had momentarily set aside their usual banter, their hearts pounding with excitement.

Looking at the empty seat where Eleanor should be, Rorsua, fidgeting with her teacup, could only offer an enigmatic smile.

And the protagonist everyone was eagerly awaiting is here now.

“Alright, just hold on a second, Sophie. Stop pushing me!”

“Oh, goodness. Miss! How long are you going to keep doing this?”

“I get it! Hey, if you do that, I’ll fall over!”

Right next to the reception room, in front of a large pillar that covered her slender frame in one go, Eleanor was having a struggle with her personal maid for quite some time.

“Sophie, I said I got it. Just a moment. Let me prepare myself.”

“No! You look so good in this, why do you need more preparation?”

“Sophie, you wouldn’t understand. My feelings right now…”

“Of course, I wouldn’t! I never have to wear a dress like this in the first place!”

Sophie pouted, turning her freckled cheek to the left.

Honestly, the sight of the young lady trembling against the pillar was incredibly cute, but knowing that unless she did this, the young lady would likely not leave for a long time, Sophie steeled herself.

Above the wide neckline of her finely tailored dress, Eleanor’s snowy white bosom moved up and down significantly.

Leaning against the pillar, Eleanor took a deep breath, calming her racing heart that felt like it might jump out of her chest.

Yes, Eleanor. Standing here like this will only make me tired.

Let’s show them once like a man and be done with it!

Raising her small, white hand, Eleanor gently slapped her cheek.

At the sound of the soft slap echoing from her supple cheek, Sophie looked at her in surprise.

However, seeing Eleanor’s expression change so drastically, Sophie couldn’t bring herself to say anything more.

“Let’s go, Sophie. Let’s quickly finish this and throw away this wretched dress.”

#

The reception room, once noisy with anticipation for the protagonist, fell eerily quiet as the pure white Eleanor appeared.

Click clack.

Thanks to the heels of her silver enamel shoes, Eleanor’s steps were notably more feminine than usual.

The stylish dress that enveloped her slender figure swayed with each step, accentuating the curves of a woman.

The innocence emanating from Eleanor in her pure white dress overwhelmed those watching, stirring their hearts.

In the ensuing heavy silence, the first to act was her father, Obert Changbaek.

Obert abruptly stood up from his seat and exclaimed abruptly.

“No! Not that dress!”

With a flushed face, Changbaek pushed through the crowd and approached his daughter determinedly.

He swiftly removed the navy cape draped over his shoulders and placed it on Eleanor’s shoulders.

As the soft fabric settled over her bare shoulders, Eleanor delicately adjusted the navy cape around her neck.

And the owner of the cape rushed angrily towards the seamstress Olivia.

“This is what you call a dress? Huh? Where did you get this from, a tavern wench-”

“Olivert!”

Similarly, Etienne, who had risen from his seat, interjected his husband’s angry voice.

“There are things you can say in front of your daughter and things you cannot. What kind of talk is this right now!”

Slap.

Etienne’s hand, descending mercilessly on the ample back of the well-built noblewoman, was as resounding as the spreading sound.

Lady Olivia, taken aback, rose from her seat and bowed deeply.

“Excuse me, my lord. This style of dress is in vogue among the ladies of the capital these days-”

“No! Not for my daughter! Whether it’s trendy or not, I won’t have my precious youngest daughter being eyed by those men!”

Eleanor, hearing her mother’s words, subtly nodded her head, avoiding her mother’s gaze.

Hmm. Lord Byungchae also speaks sense occasionally. I had doubted him since he only spoke nonsense before.

Upon hearing her husband’s words, Etienne widened her eyes and lunged at him with a fierce voice.

“Really, when this man says ‘look,’ he means it! Please control your temper a bit! Ha, even when she was older, this person hasn’t changed.”

“No, but… you see, dear. Ellie’s dress, the neckline is too-”

“What about the neckline! It’s just beautiful! And didn’t the expert Lady Olivia say it’s decent enough!”

In the face of Etienne’s fierce attack, Olivier lowered his raised tail.

Nevertheless, Albrice, who had approached unnoticed, stood by Olivier’s side like his son.

“Mother, I’ve met quite a few ladies in the capital. However, this dress seems a bit too much.”

At Albrice’s words, Etienne swiftly turned her head and glared at her son with a fierce gaze.

“Albrice, if you’ve met ladies, why are you still alone?”

“Well, that’s… I met them for business, not pleasure…”

“On that note, why are you discussing women’s dresses?”

Albrice, too, lowered his head with a somber expression like his father.

Truly, they had a combat power to be reckoned with.

Both Lord Byungchae and Albrice.

Under their mother’s stern attack, they each lowered their tails in turn.

Watching the men muttering as they returned to their seats, Eleanor cautiously removed the cape hanging around her neck and tossed it aside.

“Miss, is there any place uncomfortable for you to move?”

Once the annoying intruders disappeared, Lady Olivia regained her usual smile and approached Eleanor.

“No, I walked a bit and didn’t feel uncomfortable or strange anywhere.”

Eleanor replied politely, turning her waist left and right.

Indeed, with her waist properly secured, moving was much more comfortable than before.

“Now I should move properly.”

And then, the previously quiet Madame Cresare began to move.

Lorsua came up close behind Eleanor and gently brushed her exposed white shoulders with the back of her hand.

Feeling the soft silk glove passing over her bare skin, Eleanor shivered and turned around.

“Ahem. Madam, it tickles!”

“Haha. Eleanor, please don’t push me away like that. I get hurt too.”

As if teasing Eleanor with a flirtatious voice, Lorsua chuckled softly and turned around to look at the dejected Albrice.

“Marquis Albriss. You’ve agreed to escort Eleanor, right?”

From that statement onwards, the brief alliance fell apart.

For a while, the once quiet Albert and Albriss, father and brother, began to argue loudly.

“What, what did you say? Why are you escorting our Ellie?”

“Ellie directly asked me to.”

“What nonsense is this! Ellie, is it true that you asked him directly, Ellie?”

Looking at her father’s contorted face, Eleanor shook her head nervously.

Standing beside her, Etienne’s expression mirrored Eleanor’s.

“Sigh. It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s Father or Brother. Whoever wants to step on my foot, come.”

In the chilly wind, the warmth of spring days could be felt gradually.

As the spring flowers bloomed on the hillsides, unfurling their delicate petals.

The social season in the capital lasted from the first week of April until the end of June, before the heat set in.

Contrary to Eleanor and Sejuha’s thoughts, the nobles in the capital didn’t hold social gatherings all year round.

The social season ended in June, and as the real heat began, the nobles departed for cool seaside resorts or mountain retreats.

When the scorching summer retreated, the autumn hunting season for men began.

During the hunting season, women socialized in tents set up at the hunting grounds.

The bountiful autumn concluded with a splendid National Foundation Day event.

As the cold set in, nobles with estates returned home to plan for the next year.

Nobles without estates spent winter in cozy mansions in the capital.

Thus, the Galatea Empire’s nobles passed the four seasons.

And today was the first Friday of April.

It was the day of the Debutante Ball, marking the beginning of the social season.

In reality, these schedules were not mandated by law or formalized; only two events were established traditions.

The National Foundation Day held at the end of October.

And the Debutante Ball on the first Friday of April, these were the only two.

The Debutante Ball was an event where young noblewomen paid respects to the imperial elders upon coming of age.

Parents informed the imperial elders and nobles that their daughters were of marriageable age.

Unmarried nobles and suitors began to gather in the capital.

Naturally, balls and various parties where men and women could easily meet followed in the capital, solidifying the concept of the social season in people’s minds.

This year, Eleanor, now an adult, was traveling with her mother in the family carriage towards the Star Palace where the Empress resided.

Despite the fierce golden lion emblem of the Beorn family, the guards stopped the carriage multiple times.

After thorough inspections, the carriage finally entered the palace.

Observing the drastically different scenery outside the window, Eleanor leaned against it, gazing outside in wonder.

The view beyond her sky-blue eyes was vastly different from the streets of the city or suburban townhouses she had seen before.

Long roads lined neatly with brick paving.

Tall gardeners beside them and various unnamed flowers blooming in a riot of colors.

And even grand buildings visible far off through the tall gardeners.

However, the more she looked, the quickly fading interest she had held.

“Even though it’s a palace… it’s not as grand as I expected, is it?”

In a voice tinged with disappointment, Etier softly replied with a smile.

“Elly, the palace isn’t small. It’s just that our townhouse, which you see every day, is so big that it makes you feel that way.”

“Is that so?”

Etier nodded gently.

“All buildings erected in the capital are regulated by law from the royal family. They must not be larger or more splendid than the palace. Only our family and the Duke of Verberitz are exempt from this law.”

The reason seemed apparent without needing to ask. Having captured a hostage, giving them a carrot was probably to prevent the hostage from causing trouble.

The carriage smoothly gliding on the paved road soon came to a stop.

The door of the halted carriage opened softly, and a well-dressed butler courteously raised his hand to welcome the mother and daughter with sky-blue eyes.

Etier descended from the carriage with the butler’s escort, while Eleanor held her mother’s hand as she stepped down from the carriage.

As Eleanor beheld the palace of the queen, reflecting a dazzling white light from the lime-coated outer walls, she felt as if she were marching towards the battlefield, seizing the village.