episode_0015

Originally, the debutante ball was a rather light-hearted event.

As newly turned adults greeted the court’s elders, exchanging light pleasantries, it was an event where such interactions took place.

Of course, when examined closely, it was one of the ways the royal family used marriage to control the nobility.

However, as time passed and the royal authority grew stronger, the significance dwindled, and consequently, the event itself became lighter.

Even nowadays, one could occasionally see young ladies grumbling about attending such events even from the prestigious seats of the city’s renowned patisseries.

However, this particular gathering was different.

In the stifling atmosphere that filled the large audience chamber, Eleonore swallowed nervously, barely able to breathe.

The Empress, Anne Rose, shot an unexpected remark at an unwelcome guest.

“Until now, the princess who rarely showed her face at the palace, what brings her here?”

“Mother, as a lady of the court, there is no reason for me not to come.”

Unlike the Empress’s tone, the princess, Dominique, exuded calmness from her manner of speech.

“Hah! You never bothered to attend these events before, and now you come here to say such things?”

“I have been neglectful until now, but I will take care from now on.”

As if delicately lifting a potion, Dominique bowed politely and continued speaking.

“However, seeing Mother react so strongly, it makes me a little disappointed. I will make sure to behave as you wish in the future.”

At the princess’s final words, the Empress, Anne Rose, widened her eyes and exhaled sharply.

The rough exhale seemed like a declaration of the Empress’s defeat.

Etienne and Eleonore, fearing any sparks flying their way, lowered their heads even further.

Standing next to the visibly agitated Empress, a man with red hair seemed entirely disinterested in the fiery exchange between the two women.

In his brown eyes, only one woman shone.

Though she was politely conversing, the platinum-haired beauty seemed to radiate light, occupying Louis’s thoughts completely.

“That woman! That woman will be Lady Edmund’s wife!”

Unknowingly, Louis swallowed hard.

Having seen many women described as beauties while engaging in social activities in the capital, he had conversed and shared affection with them.

However, the girl before him was different from the beauties he had encountered thus far.

Her meticulously arranged platinum hair.

The petite face with features so beautifully placed it was astonishing.

The lace-adorned airy blouse enhanced her innocent charm even more.

The well-shaped thighs wrapped in white stockings held something that stirred the hearts of men.

As Louis scrutinized Eleonore’s appearance, he nodded slightly to himself.

“Yes. Being the youngest daughter of Baron Beaumont should suffice to lead Edmund as the future head of the household. Hmm… Considering the troubles my aunt faced due to succession, one child resembling the wife should be enough.”

Unbeknownst to Eleonore, Louis was secretly formulating plans for their future children.

Contrary to his relaxed nephew.

The Empress, engaged in a heated argument with the considerably younger princess, eventually averted her gaze first.

The fact that she had backed down first was extremely displeasing to the Empress.

In her heart, she wanted to glare at the cunning minx forever until she lowered her eyes.

The queen couldn’t keep her guests waiting endlessly.

After staring at Dominique for a while with a stiff expression, the queen relaxed her face and looked at the mother and daughter gently caressing each other’s heads.

“I’ve kept my guests waiting with idle chatter. My apologies. Lady Etienne Beauchamp looks much lovelier than when I last saw her.”

“Thanks to your concern, we’ve been living quietly in the corner of the West without any trouble.”

Formal conversation passed between the two married women.

Both women knew that their words were mere formalities.

It was a well-known fact within the palace that the queen held disdain for the West.

Even though the nobles of the West expressed neutrality, their hearts leaned towards the princess.

The queen’s green eyes soon shifted from Etienne to the young lady with platinum hair.

“And your name is Eleanor, correct?”

As her name left the queen’s lips, Eleanor could finally raise her head.

“I am Eleanor Arène de Beauchamp.”

Eleanor slightly bent her knees and raised the edge of her skirt with her hand.

She had hastily learned etiquette from her mother and Loresha the previous afternoon.

Due to her usual grace, her movements displayed a considerable level of skill.

The queen responded to Eleanor’s greeting with a satisfied smile.

“You seem outstanding not only in appearance but also in manners, even more so than your elder sister. The saying that there’s no better sibling than an elder brother is proven wrong.”

“Thank you for seeing me favorably despite my shortcomings.”

Anne Rose thought as she gazed at the young lady before her.

Despite being her niece, it was regrettable to send Eleanor off to Louis.

It was truly disappointing.

As she watched Eleanor, who curtsied with a smile on her face, the queen and Dominique suddenly found themselves approached by a red-haired man standing beside the queen.

“Oh! Isn’t this Edmund Sohojak? What brings a man who discreetly rises from a woman’s waist every morning to this place so early in the morning?”

His bewildered gaze shifted from the platinum-haired girl to the brunette woman.

“Y-Your Highness. What a s-strange-”

“Hehe. Rumor has it you were quite rowdy in the back alleys of the Red Light District until late last night.”

“N-No, that’s nonsense. I don’t know where you heard such things, but it’s absurd-”

Flustered Louis stumbled over his words, and the queen let out a heavy sigh.

She had anticipated some degree of chaos since the princess entered.

However, her niece was more incompetent than she had imagined.

Sigh… Well, it was already well-known in the capital’s social circles that her nephew was lecherous, so the Beauchamp lady should be able to figure it out.

Regardless, charm and a silver tongue were innate qualities, so even if the first impression wasn’t great, it could be overcome.

“Oh, really? I’m sorry; perhaps I misheard.”

Dominique gave Louis a refreshing smile, then turned back to the queen, bowing her dark head slightly.

“Your Majesty, you seem uncomfortable with my presence. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable any longer, so I shall take my leave.”

And thus, Eleanor’s debutante ended quietly within the queen’s sigh.

#.

If the debutante was considered a light event, then it could be confidently stated that the ball held that evening was one of the grand events of the Galatea Empire.

Unlike other balls held during the social season, this ball was directly hosted by the royal family at the palace.

Naturally, the caliber of the invited guests was high, and the splendor surpassed that of other balls held during the social season.

Furthermore, participating in the Debutante Ball was an event that all young ladies had to attend without exception.

The freshly debuted young ladies were prime targets for the gentlemen, and as such, women also gathered at the royal palace to catch these men.

Therefore, the party hall of the royal palace where the ball was held was filled with unmarried noble men and women from the capital, all splendidly dressed.

Soon, the noisy party hall began to fill with the gentle rhythm of a slow waltz.

At the conductor’s signal, the musicians smoothly moved their bows.

In tune with the music, one by one, the debutantes of the day started entering.

Eleanor’s entrance was the very last.

Traditionally, the final entrance at any event always had to be a member of the royal family. This subtle detail showcased the royal authority and proved to be quite effective, always appearing as the main character at the end.

However, today, during the Debutante Ball, things were different.

The royal family bestowed the honor upon the newly debuted young ladies.

Among the debutantes of the day, the youngest daughter of the Beauregard family held the highest status.

Thanks to this, Eleanor ended up being the last to greet the queen, almost as if she had been the first to do so, making her the final one of the year.

In the designated waiting room, Eleanor waited for her turn with Albrice.

Through the tightly closed door of the waiting room, the elegant melody of the waltz and the loud voices announcing the names and lineages of the debutantes flowed in.

And every time she heard those sounds, Eleanor’s heart raced.

Like waiting for a group project presentation, Eleanor gently closed her eyes to calm her trembling heart.

“Elli, are you nervous?”

A rough, large hand enveloped Eleanor’s hand.

Eleanor cautiously raised her lowered gaze.

“Yes. I’m a bit nervous.”

Smiling broadly at Eleanor, Albrice, or rather her brother, understood Eleanor’s true feelings.

“Worried about stepping on your brother’s foot? Or maybe tripping him over?”

“If you keep teasing me like this, it seems you’re not as bad as I thought.”

Chuckling, Albrice replied, “Really! How much I tortured Lady Rochelle’s feet during practice.”

Furrowing her brows, Eleanor puffed up her cheeks.

Seeing her younger sister’s adorable expression, Albrice gently raised his hand to stroke Eleanor’s forehead.

“Don’t worry too much. Will I fall over because of your weight? And with your weight, even if I step on you, it won’t hurt, so don’t worry and move freely.”

Something felt off.

Resting her head in her brother’s warm hand, Eleanor thought.

Surely, Albrice was a man just like herself.

If another man had acted like this towards her before, she would have been furious.

Somehow, she didn’t mind Albrice’s hand resting on her head.

Am I going crazy, Eleanor? Have you really turned into a female?

Living surrounded by women all this time, has the female influence taken hold of you?

Contrary to her solitary thoughts, Eleanor softly raised her eyes towards Albrice.

“Brother, this heel is quite high, isn’t it? Even you might scream if you step on this heel!”

As the siblings bantered cutely,

Suddenly, someone knocked on the waiting room door from outside.

“Eleanor, it’s your turn to enter.”

At the steward’s words, Albrice stood up from his seat.

Like a knight escorting a precious lady, he extended his large hand that had rested on Ellie’s head towards her.

“Come on! Let’s go, Ellie. Even if you stumble and become a laughingstock, this brother will protect you till the end.”

Her brother’s voice sounded quite trustworthy.

Therefore, Eleonore smiled broadly and placed her small, white hand wrapped in lace on her brother’s large hand.

“Is that really true? I’ll believe only in you, dear brother!”