Chapter 02
****
The Debut Ball.
It was the day when young noble ladies and gentlemen, now over the age of sixteen, made their first official appearance in society.
I had been trembling for days.
Because there was a chance that Schloitz might attend.
Every time I managed to sleep, I would wake up from nightmares. I’d wipe my face with both hands, trying to calm down. Even with all the harsh training I went through with Lord Balock, this was almost too much to handle.
In the end, I had to drink several cups of herbal tea that helped with sleep and passed out like I was knocked out cold. As a result of not sleeping properly for days, I ended up sleeping half the day away. Ironically, my condition on the day of the ball was surprisingly good. Life really is full of contradictions.
“My lady. How do you feel? Do you like it?”
“You look absolutely lovely.”
I looked at myself in the mirror.
Wearing a soft white dress that looked more like a simple gown, I really did look cute. A flower crown, typical for debuting noble girls, sat gently on my head. It wasn’t made of real flowers but crafted from delicate faux blossoms with tiny jewels that made me look like a fairy.
Seeing my healthy reflection in the mirror helped me calm down as I headed to the ballroom.
Yeah. What are the chances I actually run into Schloitz?
Maybe just a polite nod because of our families?
He wouldn’t recognize me anyway. The last time he saw me, I was seven. My voice back then was still babyish. It sounds totally different now.
The only thing to worry about would be scent…
After returning from that dark place, I stopped using all the scented bath products I used to. Today, I used a new, subtle fragrance made by the maids. So, there shouldn’t be a problem.
Until…
“Lady Lefevre.”
I looked up at Schloitz, who was standing right in front of me, trying my best not to tremble.
****
Just that afternoon, everything had been fine.
The grand ballroom of the royal palace was as beautiful as ever. I left my family to join the group of young nobles.
They were called “young,” but really, it was all the girls and boys debuting today. I stood off to the side, deep in thought.
He won’t recognize me… right?
I nervously played with my neatly braided hair. At least it had changed color—what used to be a grayish blonde as a child had turned into a rich golden color.
Not that he would have remembered my hair color anyway.
While I was lost in thought, a royal attendant at the door announced the arrival of the King and Queen.
Whispers spread quickly.
“They brought the youngest princess?”
“…What?”
I blinked in surprise. Just as they said, the youngest princess followed behind the Queen, dressed up for the occasion.
That was odd.
Sure, the King and Queen had many children—two princes and three princesses. In the original story, they had a few years of a good marriage.
But all the royal children had their debut balls separately.
While people whispered about the princess, another wave of murmuring came from the entrance.
They say people can sense danger instinctively. I suddenly felt my throat tighten.
When I turned around and saw him, I froze.
Standing right at the border between boy and man…
With a red flower pinned to his chest—a tradition for young men debuting in society, just like how girls wore flower crowns.
He stood out, even in the large crowd.
It was Schloitz.
“That’s the head of the Procyon family.”
“Wow. I heard rumors he’d be here, but I didn’t think they were true…”
“It’s rare for a family head to attend a debut ball. Usually, they’re older.”
I wasn’t the only one frozen. Everyone’s attention was entirely on Schloitz. I tried to calm myself, flexing my stiff fingers and slowly blinking.
Surely he could see now?
He must’ve regained his sight. Even when he was blind, he fooled knights left and right. A small part of me still wondered if he was faking.
Guided to a spot by an attendant, Schoitz calmly looked around.
Everyone was sneaking glances at him, while he seemed completely unbothered.
What was I supposed to do if we made eye contact?
Like I had practiced in the mirror, I quickly looked away.
Everywhere his gaze touched, people let out little sighs. Especially the girls near me.
His height had shot up. That fierce kitten-like face from childhood was gone, but the piercing blue eyes and sharp features were still there. Honestly, he was breathtakingly handsome.
Aside from that dramatic entrance, the debut ball continued smoothly.
At least… until the dancing began.
“Lord Procyon,” said the King warmly.
“Would you care to share the first dance with Princess Is?”
Older nobles looked like they had expected this, hiding knowing smiles behind their fans.
Everyone knew why the princess had been brought to a regular debut ball. In the story too, the royal family was always desperate to marry off princesses to Schloitz. Princesses, plural.
So it’s starting already…
Later in the story, after Schloitz achieves great military success, they would try marrying him off to multiple princesses. For now, it seemed they were aiming for the youngest.
Interestingly…
In the original, he never gave a direct answer to the Queen’s proposals. Just a vague one-liner. I assumed back then it was because of his health.
But now, he is completely healthy. If he dances with the princess now…
I, on the other hand, hadn’t even thought about who I’d dance with first. Maybe someone from one of the Lefevre vassal families.
Just then, a noble interrupted.
“Your Majesty, with respect, hasn’t Princess Ever had her debut ball?”
“Hmm?”
“Since this is Lord Procyon’s debut, wouldn’t it be better if he followed tradition and danced with another debuting lady?”
The King raised an eyebrow.
It was a polite way of suggesting Schloitz dance with a noble girl, not a princess.
“Ah. Looks like Lord Aranwen is upset.”
One lady whispered behind her fan, and I finally understood.
Lord Aranwen… that must be him.
I remembered.
When the youngest princess had her debut ball, Lord Aranwen’s heir had danced the first dance with her. He had even postponed his own debut for it.
My mother once told me there were quiet talks of marriage between their families. So now, with the King offering Schloitz to the princess instead, of course Aranwen would be upset.
“Fair point,” the King said smoothly. “Then who do you think would be a suitable partner for Lord Procyon’s first dance?”
It was a trap. The King himself had suggested the princess, and now no one would dare push their own daughter forward.
Besides, the Aranwen family didn’t even have a daughter.
Suddenly, Lord Aranwen looked at me and smiled.
“How about… Lady Lefevre?”
What?! Are you crazy?
I froze. All eyes turned to me. I tried my best to look just surprised, like a shy girl caught off guard.
My hands, hidden under lace, were already cold as ice.
But Lord Aranwen smiled warmly.
“Lady Lefevre is also debuting today, is she not?”
“……..”
“What a beautiful coincidence. It almost feels romantic.”
I saw my parents’ troubled faces. My brother Enrico watched Schloitz closely.
There was no way we could decline.
Our family, Lefevre, wasn’t part of the Royalists or the Nobles. We stood alone, a neutral power like no other.
There were four main forces in this kingdom: the Royalists, the Nobles, the Military, and Lefevre.
That’s why Aranwen had chosen me—a safe, neutral option.
And then I realized… Schloitz was staring at me.
Others probably noticed even before I did.
“If Lord Procyon agrees, I think Lady Lefevre would be a fine choice,” said the Queen, taking the chance.
She spoke before he could refuse or pick someone else. Clever move.
If I looked too nervous, Schloitz might become suspicious.
So I gave a soft, awkward smile, like a flustered debutante.
No one could know how cold my hands were.
And Schloitz…
He had not said a single word since entering. But it wasn’t fear or shyness. He had never let others sway him.
If he wanted to do something, he would.
So when he walked toward me, it felt like the air around us changed. I hoped maybe he was approaching another girl near me.
But his gaze never wavered.
He stopped in front of me.
“Lady Lefevre.”
No extra words. No charming lines. Just an outstretched hand.
Even so, my heart felt like it would burst.
I steadied myself and took his hand.
He had grown.
Yet something about his eyes, the roughness of his palm, made me feel… sad.
With a shy smile, I asked, “Shall we head to the floor?”
The crowd parted like the sea.
We walked to the center of the ballroom, under the sparkling chandeliers.
We stood in the spotlight: the girl from the highest family, and the famed Procyon heir.
As music began, I curtsied. He placed a hand on his chest and bowed, so formal it made my heart flutter.
We began to dance. His expression stayed unreadable, so I couldn’t guess what he was feeling.
Then, he spoke.
“Lady Lefevre.”
His deeper voice caught me off guard.
“Did you come here alone?”
“No, I’m here with my family.”
“I meant… your vassals.”
My heart dropped.
He must be talking about one house in particular.
House Siedo.
“Three families came with us. Eleanor, Onslow, and Bohemia.”
“I see.”
He asked nothing more. If I truly didn’t know anything, I’d think he was just making polite conversation.
But he knew.
He knew House Siedo served the Lefevres.
That’s why he kept watching me earlier.
He wanted to ask me about them.
Siedo had long since retreated from social life. Years ago, there had been a rare incident involving Schloitz’s stepmother. After that, they went deep into the countryside.
He must have looked around the ballroom earlier, searching for her.
But of course, she wasn’t here. And with so many people, he wanted to double-check with me.
Conveniently, we stepped apart as part of the dance routine. I mentally thanked the past artists who designed the dance for allowing me to hide my sweaty palms.
That was about when the first song ended.
All I could think was: He must not connect me to the girl from Siedo.
If I stood frozen in fear, he might get suspicious.
“You dance beautifully,” I said.
It was true. He danced better than I expected.
“I practiced just this.”
His reply was calm and polite. Since it’s customary not to dance twice with the same partner, we bowed again and parted.
The difference between us was…
He stood leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, clearly uninterested in dancing with anyone else.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t do that. Ugh.
“Um, Lady Blandea Lefevre?”
“Oh, yes?”
One of the boys from our vassal families approached, blushing.
I smiled. “Congratulations on your debut.”
“You too…! May I have the honor of a dance?”
“Of course.”
