Chapter 14 Part 2: Triumphal Banquet

On the morning of the triumphal banquet.

“Oh, it’s so pretty~!”

Madam Dotre exclaimed, looking in the mirror.

Her previous complaints had vanished. They disappeared the moment she met Rosa.

Dotre was the best tailor in the imperial capital, Delphinad.

There was no one who didn’t know Madam Dotre, or Countess Chalin.

Unusually for a noble, she had taken up the profession of tailoring and reached the pinnacle of the industry. She was filled with pride in herself.

A rather sudden request from the Second Prince had arrived just two days ago.

‘Asking me to make a dress two days before the banquet.’

But the quality of the material(?) was more than enough to forgive the rudeness, far more.

Sunlight-drenched silver hair, two red eyes like rubies. Moist, light pink lips and delicate silver eyelashes.

Her limbs were slender, and her body curved softly. An innocent yet alluring atmosphere was a bonus.

‘Is this real? It’s a scam.’

That was Dotre’s honest feeling when she first saw Rosa.

She had seen countless noble ladies, but never one as beautiful as Rosa.

So it wasn’t strange that her professional instincts kicked in.

Today, through the dress worn by the prospective Second Princess, Madam Dotre’s reputation would soar even higher.

Filled with such satisfaction, Dotre smiled and asked.

“How is it, Rosa? Do you like it?”

The sun was already setting outside the window. The tailors had come to this mansion in the morning, so they had been at it for almost half a day.

“Hmm… I think it’s okay.”

Rosa answered with an awkward smile. Dotre shook her head slightly.

“It’s more than just okay, isn’t it?”

A subtle pride was evident in her expression as she smiled.

“It would have been nice to have more time, but it’s a relief to have produced a result of this level. How is it? Pretty, right?”

Rosa mumbled and eventually nodded, her head down.

“..It is.”

It wasn’t that it wasn’t. Honestly, the problem was that she looked quite pretty even to herself.

Strangely, that point made her feel embarrassed. As if she had unintentionally put in too much effort.

‘It’s not like I have anyone to look good for.’

‘It feels like I’m not myself.’

She felt awkward and uncomfortable as if she was wearing clothes that didn’t fit at all. Of course, the actual feel of the dress was incredibly comfortable.

“Now, stand up. And can you twirl around once?”

Rosa followed Dotre’s instructions faithfully.

Swoosh-

The dress, made of a flowing material, fluttered above Rosa’s ankles. The color of the dress gradually changed in a gradation from the bottom to the top.

The very bottom was almost transparent, and from the waist to the chest, it was a light pink color. The line from the chest to the shoulders was a pure white color again.

The fabric went around her shoulders in an off-shoulder style and met again around her slender neck. The back was slightly open. On the chest, a light pink rose was decorated to match the dress code, and glitter-like material was sprinkled not too much, but just enough to be noticeable.

As Rosa, wearing such a dress, twirled around once, everyone watching applauded, as if entranced.

“..Wow.”

“..So pretty.”

She looked like a butterfly. If she had wings, she could easily be mistaken for a fairy, she was so beautiful.

Soon, the Count, who entered the dressing room, seemed momentarily speechless at Rosa’s appearance.

“Even though you’re my daughter, you’re so beautiful. Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Rosa nodded.

The carriage that came to pick them up from the Imperial Family was quite splendid. The white background with a golden trim looked extremely luxurious.

“Let’s go. The garden party is about to start.”

A servant wearing puffy pumpkin pants bowed elegantly.

The carriage carrying the Count and Rosa traveled for a long time. A huge grand square, a bustling shopping street, imposing temples, and the wide-open gates of grand mansions passed by in sequence.

The imperial capital, Delphinad, was vast. A city that was incredibly beautiful and highly developed.

Naturally, the Imperial Palace of such a city was also unimaginably large.

At the main gate, twenty guards stood in formation on each side. Several carriages passed by the raised swords of the silver-armored guards.

“It’s the carriage of the prospective Second Princess.”

“Go to the grand garden.”

The knights bowed respectfully.

The carriage started moving again. Inside, Rosa fidgeted with her fingers.

‘I’ll meet Caron again soon.’

She felt both uncomfortable and expectant about that fact.

‘Bad guy.’

What kind of reaction would Caron have? It was the first time they were meeting since that incident.

He had deceived her for years and delivered a huge blow at the end.

‘But..’

The one who provided the cause for that blow was none other than Rosa herself.

Honestly, Rosa herself had no idea how she felt. So she had to meet him first.

‘Of course, we’ll meet.’

“We’ve arrived.”

As she was about to get off the carriage, an unknown reluctance held her back.

It was her first time attending a social gathering.

Wearing this awkward dress, in front of so many unfamiliar people.

“Let’s go.”

But the moment she saw the Count’s outstretched hand. Rosa gladly accepted his escort and stepped out of the carriage.

“Thank you. Father.”

The Count replied with a soft smile.

Soon, the two began to walk. Decorated flowers and lanterns adorned the marble hallway.

On the right wall of the hallway hung portraits of past emperors. The splendid frames under the white lanterns seemed to speak of their past and present power.

Several passing nobles whispered and looked this way. Those gazes were mostly directed at Rosa.

‘Ah, I want to hide.’

Feeling Rosa shrinking back, the Count held her hand tightly. She had already realized that she wasn’t cut out for social gatherings.

But that was short-lived, as the entrance to the grand garden soon came into view.

The sound of people laughing and chatting, the soft sound of the orchestra playing in the background.

The lanterns adorning the sky, and the maids busily moving food trays.

“Welcome. To the Imperial Family’s garden party.”

A servant greeted the two with a smile. As they had already passed the security check, there were no additional procedures.

Rosa and Count Anencia passed under the beautifully decorated vines.

Soon, the vast view of the garden was revealed.

The nobles who saw the two entering the garden all stopped moving.

The men because of the beautiful lady who suddenly appeared, and the women, at first for a similar reason, and then because of the dress Rosa was wearing.

Soon, murmurs spread like a wave.

“Who is that?”

“I’ve never seen her before.”

Those whispers didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding their intentions.

The Count naturally led Rosa to an empty seat. Even as they did so, Rosa felt like hiding in a mouse hole from the pouring gazes.

The Count greeted some nobles who recognized him.

“Oh.. Long time no see, Count. I heard you rarely show your face in the capital.”

“It’s been a while. My daughter is getting married this time.”

“I see. Then this is?”

“My daughter, Rosa Anencia.”

They looked surprised as they greeted Rosa.

“You were too much, my friend. How could you only debut such a beautiful daughter to the social circle now?”

Such frivolous conversations went back and forth.

From the moment she sat down, Rosa searched for one person.

‘Where is he?’

Today’s garden party was said to be similar to a pre-celebration. Not all nobles were attending, and of course, neither the Emperor nor the Empress were present.

‘But..’

Since it was Caron who sent Madam Dotre to the mansion, there was a high possibility that he would be here.

‘Did he not come..?’

He was the protagonist of this event, after all. If he were here, she would have noticed him by now.

“Haa-“

Rosa sighed. Involuntarily, feeling disappointed.

Even though she pretended not to care, many people were still looking this way, and Rosa flinched whenever she made eye contact with them.

‘I guess I’m not cut out for the stage.’

Still, she had adapted to some extent. Although it had been quite some time, people only looked at her but didn’t approach.

She could tell the reason from the occasional sounds she heard.

Rosa had always had sensitive hearing. She could hear sounds from quite a distance.

“Is that woman the Second Prince’s bride..? What a waste.”

“Which one? The Second Prince?”

“Don’t be silly.. Of course, I mean that pretty lady is wasted on him.”

“Heh- Still, don’t approach her. You might be misunderstood. That woman is also on the Second Prince’s side now.”

The content of other voices was similar.

Mostly praising the achievements of the First Prince or, conversely, criticizing the achievements of the Second Prince.

‘Again..?’

Again, this feeling.

Feeling a rising frustration in her chest, Rosa stood up.

“I’m going to the restroom for a moment.”

Caron wasn’t here. She intended to go to a quiet place to think.

“Alright.”

The Count nodded.

Rosa passed through the garden entrance and came out to a quiet hallway.

As if it were a separate space, only silence flowed in the hallway. But at the point where the portraits of the past emperors ended, a door that had been closed earlier was slightly open.

Rosa, seized by an unknown premonition, entered the room.

“You.. What are you doing here?”

Caron was there.

It seemed to be a lounge. But the lights were off.

In the room where the moonlight faintly seeped in, Caron was leaning against the window. He stood with his arms crossed and his head down, beside the fluttering curtains.

“You.. What are you doing here?”

Hearing Rosa’s voice, Caron raised his head.

But there was no answer. As he looked at her with an unreadable gaze, Rosa slowly approached Caron.

“Why are you here? The party’s in full swing.”

Caron closed his eyes once and opened them, then said in a low voice.

“..I’m comfortable here.”

“..Why?”

Rosa couldn’t understand.

“You’re the protagonist of this banquet.”

Being the protagonist of the banquet, yet standing alone in a dark, empty room.

“Why are you hiding..?”

The words she overheard in the carriage yesterday. The words openly condemning Caron.

It was the same at this garden party. People were more concerned about the First Prince and the Empress than the protagonist, the Second Prince.

“Are you, okay?”

To Caron, who asked that, Rosa openly expressed her annoyance.

“Answer my question first.”

“I already answered. I said I’m more comfortable here.”

There was nothing more to say since he said so himself. But Rosa turned around, feeling disappointed for some unknown reason.

“Oh, alright. Then stay here. I’m going back.”

As she was about to open the door and leave, Caron suddenly grabbed her arm from the inside.

Thud-

As a result, Rosa’s body turned and leaned against the wall near the door, and Caron, holding her arm from above, looked down at her.

“Wh, what.”

Startled, Rosa struggled for a moment. But at Caron’s next question, she lost her words.

“Why are you angry? When I said I’m fine.”

‘Angry..?’

Rosa realized.

Why was she so angry?

When she asked herself that, there was only one answer.

“Because I’m your friend. It’s natural to be angry when I see you like this.”

“They’re not worth paying attention to. They’re not my people.”

Caron said in a low voice.

Right in front of him was the precious being who was angry on his behalf.

All his attention was focused on caring for Rosa.

When he saw her entering the garden earlier, Caron felt as if his breath had stopped.

She was so beautiful. So lovely.

Her height, which barely reached his chest when she wore unfitting shoes, had grown a little.

The flowing dress made her look like a fairy.

He had to resist the urge to run up and hug her when he saw her looking around for him.

It was the same now.

Rosa, who was angry for him, made Caron’s impulses boil.

“You, you’ve been crossing the line lately. Let go of my arm. If you don’t let go by the time I count to three, I’ll break free with force.”

‘With force?’

He almost laughed out of absurdity. But Caron knew from experience that if he mocked her at a time like this, Rosa would really get angry.

Instead, he drew her attention with other words.

“I asked. Why are you angry?”

“Didn’t you hear? Because I’m your frie..”

As she answered, Rosa’s eyes gradually widened as if she couldn’t believe it.

What just happened?

Before she could even think about the sensation that touched her lips, her arm, which had been held by Caron, was freed.

“Friends don’t do this.”

Leaving only those low words, Caron disappeared out the door.

‘What was that, just now.’

Rosa stood leaning against the wall, dazed, unable to move for a long time.