Chapter 29
#29
"Welcome."
The face that appeared as the maid opened the door was indeed Ricardo's.
"If you're ready, shall we head out now?"
"Yes, I am."
I stepped aside slightly and glanced at Maria, who was waiting. My look was full of meaning, implying that this young lady was the one he would escort tonight.
"You're...?"
Ricardo recognized Maria, even though they had only met once.
Maria blushed as she saw Ricardo recognizing her.
Perhaps the redness from earlier hadn't completely faded from her face yet.
"I didn't expect to meet you here."
"M-Me neither."
Ricardo spoke with a hint of surprise.
He must have been astonished to see Maria, who had seemed so ordinary in the market, transformed into such a magically beautiful young lady.
"I'm surprised. I didn't know you knew Bianca."
Hmm, was that what was surprising? Not Maria's beauty?
More surprising than the fact that the Marquess of Wensbury's illegitimate daughter was actually Maria, or that he had coincidentally met her again here, was that the woman from the market was acquainted with me?
"Yes. I'm receiving a lot of help from Bianca."
"I've heard about that."
"......"
"......"
And that was the end of the conversation.
Ricardo simply looked at Maria calmly, while Maria just acted shy.
"Ricardo, you should escort your lady for tonight."
That's why I had to intervene.
"How is she? Very beautiful, isn't she?"
"Indeed."
"Doesn't Maria's beautiful green eyes match the dress?"
"Indeed."
"......"
I decided it was better not to say more and just shut my mouth. No matter what I said about Maria, Ricardo just answered indifferently. He didn't even glance at Maria much.
"I'll go downstairs first. The guests are waiting."
Tonight's charity ball was being held at the Croford Family estate. The hall was already bustling with guests. As the host, I had come up briefly to check on Maria one last time.
"You two... should come out together in a little while."
With the intention of leaving them alone in the room, I said that to them. It might be a little awkward, but when a man and a woman are alone in a closed room, feelings might arise.
"Why?"
"Today is not only a charity ball but also Maria's Debutante. It would be good to have a slightly dramatic entrance. The main characters always appear late, don't they?"
That's right. The main characters of this story were Ricardo and Maria.
It was time for me to disappear.
"You two... look good together."
With a bright smile as my last remark, I left the room. I thought it was a pretty good timing, and a pretty good line.
At least, I thought it was a line that would make Maria's heart flutter and make Ricardo think about Maria and himself once more.
But the moment I stepped out of the door, I felt strange.
Something, something... was off.
I couldn't define what to call this feeling that I was experiencing for the first time in my life.
My heart was pounding, and it felt like someone was pulling on the back of my head, making me constantly look back.
Behind me was the door, and beyond that door were Ricardo and Maria.
My mouth felt dry for no reason, and I licked my lips, which might seem frivolous, but it would be okay since no one was watching.
It was similar to nervousness, but also a little different.
"It'll be alright."
I tried to push down the tingling sensation by muttering to myself, but it was no use.
From my fingertips, to the tip of my tongue, and in my throat. An unknown emotion kept prickling.
"Bianca!"
As soon as I arrived at the hall where tonight's ball was taking place, a voice called out to me.
"Greetings, Your Imperial Highness."
"Asel."
Asel, holding a champagne glass in one hand, softly pronounced his own name. As if telling me to follow along.
"Yes, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Asel."
"So meticulous."
Asel shook his head as if he had lost, and snatched a glass of champagne from a passing server.
"Alright. Then I have to play along. My dear Bianca Crofort, tonight's ball is as splendid as you are."
Extending a new champagne glass to me, Asel spoke with considerable courtesy.
"It must be because Your Highness attended, gracing the occasion with your presence. Thank you for coming in person despite your busy schedule."
Accepting the champagne glass he offered, I replied with an elegant smile.
"If it's an invitation from Bianca, I must come, of course. Besides, isn't it an event with good intentions? I am the one who should be grateful for your efforts for the children who will become future citizens of the Splendor Empire."
Raising his champagne glass slightly, Asel, with a very Crown Prince-like smile and Crown Prince-like words, seemed perfectly normal.
If he didn't say nonsense, Asel might be a pretty decent man...
"Why? Are you perhaps smitten with my serious side?"
...Scratch that. As expected, Asel was Asel.
Watching Asel put his fingers to his chin, laugh 'Hoo!' and try to act serious, I hurriedly erased the thought I had just had.
"I thank you for attending and gracing the occasion with your presence, and I hope you have an even more enjoyable time for the rest of the evening."
"Ah! Wait a minute!"
Asel urgently grabbed my arm, as if he had seen through my intention to retreat slowly with a business-like smile.
"I have something to give you."
Asel took out an envelope from his pocket.
"It's a gift."
Asel grinned as I accepted it. I could guess what it was from his smile.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"You're saying thank you without even opening it? How do you know what it is?"
"It's probably the orphanage documents, and already approved."
At my answer, Asel widened his eyes once, then chuckled.
"Indeed. I said something foolish to you, who is so clever."
I gave a slight smile, meaning that I would generously forgive his foolish remark.
I handed the documents to a passing maid, telling her to put them in my room, and turned my head, Asel was still looking at me.
"It's a real shame."
"What is?"
"You are."
It was truly a casually thrown-out remark.
Whether it was sincere or a joke, I couldn't tell.
"Let's see, as you know, I'm a very busy Crown Prince."
Asel, who had gulped down the champagne he was holding, put the empty glass on the side table and extended his empty hand towards me.
"May I have a dance with you tonight?"
Of course, dancing with him was not a difficult thing.
Today was a ball, I was the host, and Asel was a very important guest.
Even if that wasn't the case, dancing with His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, who was difficult to see, was a very honorable thing.
"The main characters haven't had their first dance yet."
But I just smiled and refused Asel's dance.
Unlike the mouth that had thrown out words that were neither sincere nor a joke, Asel's eyes were not in such an ambiguous state. His periwinkle eyes were a little different than usual.
It wasn't the usual Asel, who was smooth and always had a slight smile, so I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
His thoughts were clearly revealed through his periwinkle eyes.
That he wanted to dance with me tonight.
That he sincerely wanted it.
"Then I can at least make a reservation, right?"
"I'm..."
"I've already heard about Ricardo. He went to escort another young lady tonight, didn't he?"
"......"
"And that young lady is the Marquess of Wensbury's daughter, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere."
"You know a lot."
"Of course. I'm busy keeping an eye on what's happening to our beloved Splendor nobles."
He said it casually, but I knew very well what his words meant. It was the story that the imperial family was monitoring the nobles' every move in order to keep them in check.
Since it wasn't a new story, I just laughed it off, and Asel, as if he had expected the reaction, just laughed it off as well.
"So, you won't have a partner tonight, and I have the glorious opportunity to have the first dance with you."
"Since Your Imperial Highness is asking, I am the one who is honored."
"Does that mean the reservation has been accepted?"
I couldn't resist Asel's repeated requests for a dance any longer.
It was the moment I was about to smile slightly, thinking that I had no choice but to accept.
"Lady Maria of the Marquess of Wensbury and Ricardo of the Duke of Wincaiser."
I turned my head at the voice coming from the stairs leading to the second floor.
Indeed, they were standing on the landing of our familiar house's staircase.
Ricardo was just staring straight ahead with a calm expression.
And Maria was placing her hand on one of Ricardo's hands with a shy face.
"She's a beautiful woman."
"I agree. To be honest, I didn't expect much since she was said to be illegitimate."
I heard someone whispering from my right.
As they said, Maria was beautiful today. She was good enough to stand next to Ricardo without being overshadowed at all.
Ricardo and Maria, who had been standing there for a while while receiving people's attention, soon began to slowly descend the stairs.
"Ah!"
Maria, who had been descending well, suddenly staggered.
"Oh my!"
"Oh!"
There were still many stairs left, and gasps and exclamations flowed out from among the people, as if they thought they would see a young lady making her debut in society rolling down the stairs. Some even squeezed their eyes shut, frightened.
But fortunately, that didn't happen.
Ricardo, who was holding her hand, quickly put strength into the hand he was holding her with, preventing her from rolling down, and not only that, but he also wrapped his other hand around her, quickly enclosing her in his arms.
"Ah......"
It was a perfect embrace.
Unlike me, Maria, who was short, was snugly embraced in Ricardo's arms despite wearing high heels.
Ricardo, who was wrapping his arms around her waist as if protecting Maria, looked very reliable, and Maria, who was embraced in his arms, looked like a very small lark.
They looked very good together.
"T-Thank you."
Maria said, stepping back slightly. Ricardo responded with a slight smile as if it was nothing, and extended his hand to her again.
Maria smiled shyly and placed her hand back on his outstretched hand.
There were still stairs left.
"They look good together, don't they?"
Asel muttered next to me.
I had to say something to him. Or at least smile.
I knew that was the etiquette that a person who heard someone else's story should take.
But for some reason, I couldn't.
