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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Star of the Party
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Gregory placed his hand on Serapina's slender shoulder.
"You're trembling."
"...Gregor."
"How could I let someone as delicate as you face that arrogant Lalitt all alone?"
Gregory smiled magnanimously, like a gentleman showing consideration for a lady.
Serapina shot Gregory a sharp glance.
But only for a moment.
"Yes, thank you."
On the outside, she feigned genuine gratitude, her lips curling into a warm smile.
Serapina struggled to calm the fury simmering within her.
‘Ugh, he's so clueless.’
Honestly, she hated it.
At a party hosted by the County of Gusto, it was true that being with Gregory, a son of the Gusto family, was advantageous.
But was it really necessary to drag Gregory around like a shadow at a party hosted by the Viscounty of Ansi?
She would have been able to move around more freely on her own...
"Sera?"
"Ah, yes. Let's hurry."
Suppressing the irritation that rose to her throat.
Serapina accepted Gregory's escort and made her way out of the hall.
***
The music playing now was a lively waltz.
It was the most popular song in the Empire recently, and the reason was...
‘I-Isn't this too close?!’
...this waltz included many moves where the partners' bodies were pressed closely together.
‘I absolutely cannot make a mistake.’
My mouth went dry.
‘If I happen to step on the Duke's foot...’
Aaaah.
Just imagining it made my head spin.
As I nervously took my steps, I stole a glance at the Duke.
Unlike me, who was careful even with my breathing, the Duke before me seemed completely at ease.
...What should I say? To think I'd be dancing with the male lead of this world before Serapina.
It was a truly peculiar feeling.
"Thank you so much for attending our party, Your Grace."
After breaking the ice, I carefully posed a question.
"Did Her Grace the Duchess... perhaps ask you to come to our party?"
For a moment, a deep weariness flashed across the Duke's face.
"Well, I can't say that's entirely untrue."
Oh, just how much did she pester him?
I tensed my shoulders without realizing it.
But the tired expression soon vanished completely.
"Well, even so."
Beneath the chandelier light that poured down like dew, the Duke's brilliant blue eyes twinkled playfully.
Leaning his head slightly toward me, the Duke whispered softly.
"It's not something Lady Ansi needs to worry about."
"Pardon?"
Not something I need to worry about? What on earth does that mean?
"No matter how much Eva nagged, I wouldn't have attended a party I didn't wish to."
With a casual expression, the Duke added nonchalantly.
"I'm saying that I came because I wanted to."
I sucked in a breath.
Ladies as radiant as blooming flowers, and the gentlemen holding their hands.
Even amidst that splendid scenery, only the Duke stood out.
Swish.
Through the thin fabric of my dress, the Duke's long leg brushed lightly past mine.
Each time it happened, my whole body grew strangely tense.
His hand resting lightly on my waist, and his blue gaze looking straight into my eyes.
Even though I knew these were common movements when dancing.
Even though I knew full well there was no romantic meaning to it, that I didn't need to pay it any mind...
I kept...
‘...becoming conscious of the Duke.’
Just then, my body swayed violently.
"Ah!"
The hem of my dress had caught on the pointed toe of my shoe.
But fortunately, I didn't end up tumbling disgracefully to the floor.
Because...
"Whoops. Are you all right?"
...the Duke had wrapped his arm firmly around my waist.
I righted myself, leaning on the Duke for support.
It was such a skillful recovery that no one would have noticed I'd made a mistake.
"Lady Ansi?"
"...."
After a moment of daze, I hastily replied.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
As if a pebble had been tossed into a tranquil lake.
...my heart was in turmoil.
***
Serapina and Gregory entered the Viscounty of Ansi's banquet hall late.
The party was already in full swing.
Gentlemen and ladies were dancing with one another on the dance floor.
Middle-aged ladies and gentlemen chatted quietly while enjoying light drinks and refreshments.
Facing this scene, Serapina was inwardly shocked.
‘How could no one be greeting me?’
Being the center of everyone's attention.
Everyone showing her favor, standing at the heart of the crowd.
For her, this was as natural as breathing.
This was especially true back when she reigned as the queen of southern society under Gregory's protection.
But now...
‘No one is looking at me.’
Serapina gritted her teeth.
But just then.
‘Wait.’
Serapina's head snapped up.
She had spotted a familiar figure in the center of the dance floor.
Jet-black hair elegantly pinned up.
The full hem of a dress falling in a smooth curve below a slender waist.
And, an unwavering, straight posture.
‘Lalitt?!’
Serapina couldn't hide her astonishment.
"Lady Ansi is certainly playing the part of hostess well this time."
"I agree. I always thought of her as such a gloomy lady, but she's quite beautiful when she's all dressed up, isn't she?"
"I wonder why she dressed so drably all this time."
The noblewomen standing nearby whispered from behind their wide-open fans.
"I don't think I've ever seen Lady Ansi smile so brightly."
It was true.
There wasn't a shadow of gloom on Lalitt's brightly smiling face.
‘A lie.’
Serapina's pupils trembled violently.
This was... as if...
‘...as if Lalitt is the main character of this party.’
Moreover, there was someone else who truly shocked Serapina.
"But I was truly surprised."
One of the noblewomen gestured with her eyes toward the man standing opposite Lalitt.
"To think *he* would ask Lady Ansi to dance."
Serapina's gaze shifted to the man the noblewoman indicated.
The man holding Lalitt's hand.
Resplendent platinum-blond hair, as if spun from threads of platinum, and blue eyes reminiscent of a winter sea.
An appearance that strongly resembled Duchess Claudius, the most dazzling rose of high society, yet was even more handsome...
‘Duke Claudius?!’
In that instant, Serapina's eyes flew wide open.
‘How can this be?!’
Until now, Serapina had made every effort to get close to the Claudius siblings.
A friendship with Duchess Claudius, who reigned at the center of the social world.
And a dance with the Duke, whom she had so admired.
The fact that the insignificant Lalitt had so easily grasped what she could never obtain, no matter how hard she tried.
...was simply unbelievable.
‘This can't be happening.’
Her emerald-like, deep green eyes were stained with a mixture of emotions.
Among them, the most prominent emotion was.
Jealousy.
‘This is all a lie. This is...!’
Her mind was in chaos.
Serapina bit her lip until it bled.
‘There's no way someone like Lalitt could surpass me!’
Lalitt's place was beneath Serapina's feet.
It had been decided that way from the very beginning.
To stand in contrast to Serapina, so that she could shine even more beautifully.
Lalitt was always supposed to be near Serapina with a gloomy face.
Not smiling so happily under the brilliant chandelier lights!
Meanwhile, overwhelmed by her own anger and jealousy, Serapina failed to notice.
That Gregory's shocked gaze was fixed solely on Lalitt.
At this moment, Gregory... couldn't have cared less about Serapina.
"Lalitt?"
Gregory muttered in a trembling voice.
He had always thought Lalitt admired him, tried to look good for him, and would naturally be by his side.
Because it had always been that way.
Even when he chided her as easily as breathing, belittled her by comparing her to the beautiful Serapina, and subjected her to all sorts of humiliation.
She would just laugh it off foolishly.
And so, he had never doubted that one day, everything that was Lalitt's would become his...
‘Lalitt, how could you do this to me?’
Gregory clenched his fists tightly.
His eyes glinted with a sense of betrayal.
Lalitt had always been by his side.
Like the air he breathed, like the water he drank every day.
But in this moment.
...the Lalitt before him seemed impossibly far away.
