At first, he was perplexed, but Elusiana continued with a calm face. “I want to marry someone I love. Didn’t Father understand what I meant and thats why you didn’t say anything?”
Simon, who pressed his lips down as if he were depressed, sighed heavily. “A few days ago, Eirin came to see me as an administrator.”
“Eirin?”
“Yes. She asked you to go to the New Year’s ball with her, but she said you refused.”
“Yes, I did.”
Elusiana’s brows frown naturally. Why did you tell my father that? Moreover, by going to his office?
She was already cautious that Simon might be worried about the New Year’s ball. But what is it about her going to visit her father without telling her? No matter how much Eirin wanted to go with her, this was presumptuous meddling.
“I heard that she persuaded you at first. She thought it would be good if you could help each other. But your intentions were so firm that she just gave up. So she said she was sorry.”
“…She was sorry?”
“Yes. She said it didn’t matter, but once she saw the preparations for the ball happening right next to her, her heart wouldn’t be at ease. That’s why she has been quiet lately.”
“Ah.”
She didn’t know Eirin was thinking that, because she really had no idea about the ball.
So Eirin wasn’t trying to convince my father, but to get my understanding? Sigh, really.
I guess I have a suspicious disposition. I can’t believe I would think such evil things about a friend who only cares about me.
It seems that the strange sense of distance that arose from refusing to attend the prom eventually led her to seek out Simon. Elusiana felt sorry for no reason and scratched her head.
“But when I heard that, I realized I was really indifferent.”
“What do you mean by that? Father is indifferent?”
“I thought I was ignoring things I should have done for you by saying I respect you.”
What’s this new self-discipline about? Elusiana waved her hand. “No, Father. Father respects me to the point it is overflowing.”
Simon grabbed Elusiana’s hand as she waved her hand. His daughter’s delicate, soft hands were covered in quite a few calluses. She was a daughter whom he lovingly cared for. But when did she start having such rough hands?
It’s all my fault. Simon lowered his head and spoke to her as if crying. “Just attend the New Year’s ball, I will leave the marriage matters to you.”
“Father…”
“If your thoughts don’t change after seeing the young masters who attended, I won’t urge you again. Is it really not possible?”
Elusiana looked down at his hand, clenching her hand tightly, and bit her lips as if she were embarrassed.
…It’s a big deal. This isn’t a simple problem.
* * *
The next day, Elusiana went to work at the Grand Duchy of Sestein and busily organized the papers. She was just about to organize the last of the papers and place them to the side. Then, there was a soft knocking sound. Knock, knock.
“Yes, come in.”
The door opened, and a butler with gray hair came in.
“Ah, Sir Butler. His Excellency went down to the laboratory for a moment.”
“I know. Rather, could you spare me some time?”
“Time?”
“Yes, Lady.”
When Elusiana didn’t answer right away, Louis smiled and added to his words. “I have already received permission from His Excellency. He also hinted that the lab work would take a little longer.”
“Ah, of course. Please sit here, Sir Butler. The tea—”
“It’s okay.”
Louis sat on the sofa in the center of the office. Elusiana, who moved to his opposite side, also sat down awkwardly.
“But what made you want to see me?”
“Hmm, I don’t know if it’s rude to say this.”
“You may speak at ease, Sir Butler.”
Louis asked the question quite simply while Elusiana, who was nervous, was thinking of a reasonable word for the number of cases or so.
“Are you planning to attend this New Year’s Ball?”
“Attending… this New Year’s Ball?”
Aside from her father, why Louis too? It was a question she didn’t expect to come from Louis, so Elusiana couldn’t think quickly. As she blinked her eyes in a daze, it was only later that she answered.
“Why are you suddenly asking if I’m going to attend the New Year’s ball?”
“Aren’t you debuting this year? If you’re a noble, you’ll have to attend… Ah, you’re not going to miss it, are you?”
“…”
Elusiana touched her lips. The Grand Duke is right under the Emperor. And the butler, who had the greatest power after the owner of the Grand Duchy, was now asking her. Is she planning to abandon her noble duties and not attend the New Year’s Ball?
Most nobles now considered the New Year’s Ball to be a non-essential event, but it was still a rule.
Is he planning on filing a complaint? No, no! That’s not important now! It doesn’t matter when no one is paying attention to her, but if she says she won’t attend, it could be a real problem.
What to do? If this happens, will I have no choice but to attend? She had been thinking about this issue after listening to Simon yesterday. But it didn’t make sense to prepare now for the ball, which was only ten days away.
Right now, even if it’s just a dress, shoes, and accessories— She can’t buy and wear ready-made clothes, and she doesn’t have any custom shoes or any common accessories. That’s why she thought she would be looked at with ridicule and contempt from the moment she entered.
If possible, I should just fill in the seats and leave as if I was not there.
Several nobles knew her face because she worked at her flower shop. It was the same with her work at the County of Eragost; she even visited several ladies who visited her shop a few days ago.
Among them, someone with a sharp eye might recognize my face. Especially Lady Eragost, whom she met at that time. She probably remembers me clearly.
Elusiana, for some reason, felt her cleavage tingling. If the person who brought it up wasn’t Louis, she would have answered it roughly and ignored it. However, since Louis’s words were about the ‘New Year’s Ball,’ she couldn’t pass it off quietly.
It was then. Louis’s calm voice was heard. “The Grand Duke of Sestein will help with your preparations.”
“…Help, what? D-do you mean preparing for my ball?”
“That’s right.”
“Why? Why are you trying to help me?”
Louis smiled kindly and responded to Elusiana’s sharply pointed words. “His Excellency will also attend.”
“His Excellency? But His Excellency said he wouldn’t attend…”
“That was the plan, but the schedule changed. So, he would like to attend with you.”
“So you’re telling me to become His Excellency’s partner.”
“That’s right. Would you like to do it?”
Elusiana was in agony for a moment. When she initially decided that she wouldn’t go, she had no hesitation. But it was true that she was shaken to the core when she heard Simon’s request after Eirin’s request.
It might only happen once in a lifetime, so wouldn’t it be okay to go? Nevertheless, the reason she couldn’t readily say ‘Okay!’ was because of her circumstances. As she said earlier, the cost of preparing for the ball was too much for a small family to afford. However, the enormous cost was supported by the Grand Duke. He also gave up the position of the Grand Duke’s partner.
If someone had heard this, they would have welcomed it with open arms. Perhaps the daughters of the many families were camped out in front of the Grand Duchy to occupy the spot of the Grand Duke’s partner. Although he was an illegitimate child, Grand Duke Sestein wasn’t only an archmage and the only Grand Duke in the empire but also handsome. So, there were many problems in many ways to bury her in her insignificant status.
I can’t let him get into unnecessary gossip. My presence alone would be a fatal flaw to the Grand Duke. Moreover, this was his first time attending an official ball. This meant that it was clear that more attention would be focused than ever before.
“Lady, you don’t have to think hard about it. All you have to do is stand next to His Excellency as his aide.”
“Ah…!”
So it was something like that. Elusiana lowered her head in response to her growing shame. Her worries weren’t worth hesitating from the beginning if it was an extension of her work, not as a woman of the Grand Duke. This recommendation would also be a mere facade.
What on earth did I misunderstand? Elusiana wiped her slightly flushed cheeks and took a deep breath.
With a mischievous smile, Louis drove a wedge. “If you agree, I will guide you straight to the dressing room.”
Her big, round, scarlet eyes were shaking. That means—
“Are you already preparing the dresses?”
“Yes, Lady.”
Louis’s benevolent smile appeared more radiant than ever. It was overflowing with warmth, to the point of dazzling.
At first, he was perplexed, but Elusiana continued with a calm face. “I want to marry someone I love. Didn’t Father understand what I meant and thats why you didn’t say anything?”
Simon, who pressed his lips down as if he were depressed, sighed heavily. “A few days ago, Eirin came to see me as an administrator.”
“Eirin?”
“Yes. She asked you to go to the New Year’s ball with her, but she said you refused.”
“Yes, I did.”
Elusiana’s brows frown naturally. Why did you tell my father that? Moreover, by going to his office?
She was already cautious that Simon might be worried about the New Year’s ball. But what is it about her going to visit her father without telling her? No matter how much Eirin wanted to go with her, this was presumptuous meddling.
“I heard that she persuaded you at first. She thought it would be good if you could help each other. But your intentions were so firm that she just gave up. So she said she was sorry.”
“…She was sorry?”
“Yes. She said it didn’t matter, but once she saw the preparations for the ball happening right next to her, her heart wouldn’t be at ease. That’s why she has been quiet lately.”
“Ah.”
She didn’t know Eirin was thinking that, because she really had no idea about the ball.
So Eirin wasn’t trying to convince my father, but to get my understanding? Sigh, really.
I guess I have a suspicious disposition. I can’t believe I would think such evil things about a friend who only cares about me.
It seems that the strange sense of distance that arose from refusing to attend the prom eventually led her to seek out Simon. Elusiana felt sorry for no reason and scratched her head.
“But when I heard that, I realized I was really indifferent.”
“What do you mean by that? Father is indifferent?”
“I thought I was ignoring things I should have done for you by saying I respect you.”
What’s this new self-discipline about? Elusiana waved her hand. “No, Father. Father respects me to the point it is overflowing.”
Simon grabbed Elusiana’s hand as she waved her hand. His daughter’s delicate, soft hands were covered in quite a few calluses. She was a daughter whom he lovingly cared for. But when did she start having such rough hands?
It’s all my fault. Simon lowered his head and spoke to her as if crying. “Just attend the New Year’s ball, I will leave the marriage matters to you.”
“Father…”
“If your thoughts don’t change after seeing the young masters who attended, I won’t urge you again. Is it really not possible?”
Elusiana looked down at his hand, clenching her hand tightly, and bit her lips as if she were embarrassed.
…It’s a big deal. This isn’t a simple problem.
* * *
The next day, Elusiana went to work at the Grand Duchy of Sestein and busily organized the papers. She was just about to organize the last of the papers and place them to the side. Then, there was a soft knocking sound. Knock, knock.
“Yes, come in.”
The door opened, and a butler with gray hair came in.
“Ah, Sir Butler. His Excellency went down to the laboratory for a moment.”
“I know. Rather, could you spare me some time?”
“Time?”
“Yes, Lady.”
When Elusiana didn’t answer right away, Louis smiled and added to his words. “I have already received permission from His Excellency. He also hinted that the lab work would take a little longer.”
“Ah, of course. Please sit here, Sir Butler. The tea—”
“It’s okay.”
Louis sat on the sofa in the center of the office. Elusiana, who moved to his opposite side, also sat down awkwardly.
“But what made you want to see me?”
“Hmm, I don’t know if it’s rude to say this.”
“You may speak at ease, Sir Butler.”
Louis asked the question quite simply while Elusiana, who was nervous, was thinking of a reasonable word for the number of cases or so.
“Are you planning to attend this New Year’s Ball?”
“Attending… this New Year’s Ball?”
Aside from her father, why Louis too? It was a question she didn’t expect to come from Louis, so Elusiana couldn’t think quickly. As she blinked her eyes in a daze, it was only later that she answered.
“Why are you suddenly asking if I’m going to attend the New Year’s ball?”
“Aren’t you debuting this year? If you’re a noble, you’ll have to attend… Ah, you’re not going to miss it, are you?”
“…”
Elusiana touched her lips. The Grand Duke is right under the Emperor. And the butler, who had the greatest power after the owner of the Grand Duchy, was now asking her. Is she planning to abandon her noble duties and not attend the New Year’s Ball?
Most nobles now considered the New Year’s Ball to be a non-essential event, but it was still a rule.
Is he planning on filing a complaint? No, no! That’s not important now! It doesn’t matter when no one is paying attention to her, but if she says she won’t attend, it could be a real problem.
What to do? If this happens, will I have no choice but to attend? She had been thinking about this issue after listening to Simon yesterday. But it didn’t make sense to prepare now for the ball, which was only ten days away.
Right now, even if it’s just a dress, shoes, and accessories— She can’t buy and wear ready-made clothes, and she doesn’t have any custom shoes or any common accessories. That’s why she thought she would be looked at with ridicule and contempt from the moment she entered.
If possible, I should just fill in the seats and leave as if I was not there.
Several nobles knew her face because she worked at her flower shop. It was the same with her work at the County of Eragost; she even visited several ladies who visited her shop a few days ago.
Among them, someone with a sharp eye might recognize my face. Especially Lady Eragost, whom she met at that time. She probably remembers me clearly.
Elusiana, for some reason, felt her cleavage tingling. If the person who brought it up wasn’t Louis, she would have answered it roughly and ignored it. However, since Louis’s words were about the ‘New Year’s Ball,’ she couldn’t pass it off quietly.
It was then. Louis’s calm voice was heard. “The Grand Duke of Sestein will help with your preparations.”
“…Help, what? D-do you mean preparing for my ball?”
“That’s right.”
“Why? Why are you trying to help me?”
Louis smiled kindly and responded to Elusiana’s sharply pointed words. “His Excellency will also attend.”
“His Excellency? But His Excellency said he wouldn’t attend…”
“That was the plan, but the schedule changed. So, he would like to attend with you.”
“So you’re telling me to become His Excellency’s partner.”
“That’s right. Would you like to do it?”
Elusiana was in agony for a moment. When she initially decided that she wouldn’t go, she had no hesitation. But it was true that she was shaken to the core when she heard Simon’s request after Eirin’s request.
It might only happen once in a lifetime, so wouldn’t it be okay to go? Nevertheless, the reason she couldn’t readily say ‘Okay!’ was because of her circumstances. As she said earlier, the cost of preparing for the ball was too much for a small family to afford. However, the enormous cost was supported by the Grand Duke. He also gave up the position of the Grand Duke’s partner.
If someone had heard this, they would have welcomed it with open arms. Perhaps the daughters of the many families were camped out in front of the Grand Duchy to occupy the spot of the Grand Duke’s partner. Although he was an illegitimate child, Grand Duke Sestein wasn’t only an archmage and the only Grand Duke in the empire but also handsome. So, there were many problems in many ways to bury her in her insignificant status.
I can’t let him get into unnecessary gossip. My presence alone would be a fatal flaw to the Grand Duke. Moreover, this was his first time attending an official ball. This meant that it was clear that more attention would be focused than ever before.
“Lady, you don’t have to think hard about it. All you have to do is stand next to His Excellency as his aide.”
“Ah…!”
So it was something like that. Elusiana lowered her head in response to her growing shame. Her worries weren’t worth hesitating from the beginning if it was an extension of her work, not as a woman of the Grand Duke. This recommendation would also be a mere facade.
What on earth did I misunderstand? Elusiana wiped her slightly flushed cheeks and took a deep breath.
With a mischievous smile, Louis drove a wedge. “If you agree, I will guide you straight to the dressing room.”
Her big, round, scarlet eyes were shaking. That means—
“Are you already preparing the dresses?”
“Yes, Lady.”
Louis’s benevolent smile appeared more radiant than ever. It was overflowing with warmth, to the point of dazzling.
