Translated by d6y (ko-fi)

Chapter 26

Lancer. Lancer was the problem.

He must have received an invitation to the imperial ball.

His mother is one of the Empress's closest confidants. So naturally every member of the Duchess Soli's family would be invited to the ball.

Lancer may not know, but the first dance partner at a ball has an important meaning.

At balls, the first dance often meant liking the other person. And because of that, the first dance partner is usually chosen before the ball begins.

I've received several letters over the years asking me to be their dance partner. Of course, I flatly refused every request.

I already have a suitor.

My first dance partner at this imperial ball will be the Crown Prince.

Even Lancer can't change that.

So I said this to Lancer instead, "I probably won't be dancing."

"Why?"

"Because I think my feet will hurt from having to wear high heels after a long time."

"Aha."

Lancer nodded in understanding. He was well aware that I usually only wore flat shoes, not heels.

"Will you dance with me without high heels?"

"Well, I don't know. I think there's going to be a lot of people at this ball, and I want to stay as still as I can."

"Then I'll use my magic to put people to sleep. Then there won't be so many people coming to the ball."

"Please, please don't do that."

I sat down at the desk in my office.

In front of me was a report from Austin, it seems like my plan was working better than I thought.

I sent someone to purchase all the remaining dresses in a boutique.

Then, in the early morning, just before people woke up, I boxed up the dresses and dropped them off at their doorsteps.

My mother was worried that the commoners would sell the dresses without wearing them, but that didn't happen as much as she thought.

The dresses I gave away for free to the commoners were probably the finest they could ever wear.

Of course, selling the dress would bring in a bit of money, but many female commoners had spent a lifetime longing for dresses that only nobles could wear.

For them, the dress of their dreams would suddenly become a reality.

Furthermore, in this empire, there was a belief that selling your clothes would bring evil spirits, so if someone tried to sell them, not many people would want them.

As a result, just like how I predicted, on the day before the imperial ball, many female commoners were striding on the streets in their gorgeous threaded dresses.

Money doesn't betray results.

In the morning, I left for a quick inspection of the streets.

Sure enough, there were plenty of people in dresses, working in shops or pushing shopping carts.

The effect of throwing money was definitely there.

I apologise to the other nobles, but it's time to reform the way we dress.

The dresses are certainly pretty. Dotted with jewels, lined with silver and trimmed with silk. They were certainly a feast for the eyes, but they were also too much.

They had already been reduced as a luxury item, not a garment.

Rumour has it that the dress the current Empress wore to her national wedding was as heavy as a sack full of stones.

"Keep it simple," I had said, "lift the skirt hem that was drawn to the floor above the knees, take off the jewellery around the waist, and get rid of anything unnecessary on the shoulders."

I will be the star of this imperial ball.

The noble ladies have become sensitive to seeing commoners dressed like them. I wonder what would happen if I dared to wear a simple dress and dance with the Crown Prince?

Even if I go out on the balcony in my dress, accidentally step on my skirt, and fall into the lake below, I wouldn't have to worry about sinking because my dress is too heavy.

For the record, this actually happened last year.

Luckily, the young lord, who was having an intimate moment with the lady on the balcony, jumped in and saved her, and if it wasn't for him, she might have lost her life.

I'm doing this definitely not because I can't be bothered to dress up.

Trying to ignore my cognitive dissonance, I turned to face Lancer, who stood beside my desk in my office.

"I told you I wasn't going to dance with you at this ball, do you have anything else to say?"

"How can I get you to dance with me?"

Lancer asked bluntly, to which I couldn't help but frown slightly.

"I thought you said you weren't going to dance."

"But I still want to dance with you, Skyla..."

"Why?"

"Because I don't have anyone else to dance with but you."

I couldn't help but snort at that.

"Why not? Lancer, I don't think you realise how much the ladies like you, do you?"

"No, I don't."

Lancer stared at me. His eyes were like glowing blue gems.

"I don't need to know that, and I'm not dancing unless it's with you."

"You really don't realise how popular you are."

I clicked my tongue.

Yeah, let's take this opportunity to nail the fact that there are other people in this world besides me onto him.

"Listen, Lancer, you're from the prestigious Soli Duchy and you're a powerful archmage. That's why the young ladies love you. Do you understand now?"

"What about you, Skyla?"

"Huh?"

"Do you like me as everyone else does?"

Lancer asked in a hushed voice as he stood before me, looking down at me.

Lancer was standing with his back to the window that let in the light, so the backlight made it difficult for me to read his face.

I wondered what I should say here now.

If I said I didn't like him, I would be lying.

It was an indelible history that I once had a crush on him, but I don't dare to tell him the truth.

I didn't want to see him hurt, I didn't want to accidentally break his heart. I was scared I'd hurt his feelings. I was afraid that when that happens, it will cause a rift between him and me.

So I decided not to like him anymore, I had to keep it that way in order to stay by Lancer's side.

"...I don't know."

It was irresponsible of me to give such a vague answer.

"What can I do to make you like me?"

"Stop asking useless questions."

I shouldn't have raised my voice in response to his endless questions.

"Anything else? I have to get back to work, so go back to your house."

"Is it a useless question to ask if you like me?" He didn't stop there. "I like you, Skyla, and I want you to like me back."

"I'm busy."

"Then can't you like me when you're not busy?"

"I'm going to be busy until the day I die."

"Okay... that's 321 losses."

"How long are you going to count that?"

I tugged on the rope behind my work desk to summon Phoebe.

"Tomorrow, I'll probably be busy getting ready for the ball all day, so I'll see you at the ball."

"Okay. I'm probably going to the palace early tomorrow with my parents, so I'll be waiting for you."

"Okay, okay. I'll see you tomorrow, now go back to your house."

Despite my order, Lancer didn't have any intention of returning to his home.

So, like always, I asked Phoebe for help, and only then did he leave our mansion, looking as sullen as a dog with its tail between its legs.

That was what happened yesterday.

Now, I'm entering the bathroom with my mothers' maids to get ready for the ball.

'It's been a long time since I've had people bathe me.'

The maids' unfamiliar hands peeled my clothes off me, one by one.

Usually, I washed myself alone without Phoebe's help.

I saw no reason to ask the maids to bathe me when I could do it on my own.

But my mother insisted that I leave it to the professionals for today, "Leave everything to the maids. You just need to stay still."

Today is a special day, so I'm going to be quiet and listen to my mother.

Upon entering the bathroom, I was first put in a tub filled with all sorts of precious plants and minerals rumoured to be good for the skin.

Am I going to be steamed first? 

The thought popped into my head. Somehow, I felt like an ingredient in the pot.

The entire time I was in the bathtub, the maids massaged my stiff muscles.

"I hope you're not feeling sore anymore."

"Not at all."

My mother was right, a professional's touch was certainly different.

I almost dozed off to sleep in the bath as their fingers loosened my tense muscles with just the right amount of force.

"My lady, we're going to dry you now."

"Ah, yes."

I scrambled to my feet, still sleepy from the massage.

As I stepped out of the bath, the maids dried me off and began to anoint me with oil.

An unnamed fragrant oil soaked into my body, leaving my skin silky and soft.

They steam me and then marinate me in oil…

After the oil massage, they dried my hair and body completely, and the maids led me to the dressing room.

I donned the dress I had chosen in advance and headed to my mother's chambers.

My face was reflected in the colourful bejewelled dressing table, maybe because I'd just stepped out of a hot bath, so my skin looked flawless. As expected of a professionals’ work.

As I was paying my respects to the maids in my heart, another one appeared with a small box of powder in her hand.

The maids then proceeded to glam my face with dexterity.

The order of cooking is a bit strange, marinating with oil and then kneading with flour?

A few moments later, the makeover was complete.

When I opened my eyes, I saw my mother and father side by side in the mirror.

Sh*t, that scared me a little.

"My goodness, Skyla, you are so beautiful, even though you are my daughter!"

"Your beauty is a national treasure, Skyla!"

My parents clapped their hands in unison and lavished praise on me.

You're not gaining anything from doing that, stop it.

I calmed down and stared at my reflection in the mirror, stunned.

My mother's maids had worked tirelessly to groom me. The result of their labour was seen in the mirror.

'You are beautiful enough to make a dead man rise.'

'Looks like God only invested in the face when He made our lady.'

I've heard their compliments, yet why do I feel so weird?

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