DBTS 16

~Chapter 16~

The King entered the hotel flanked by dozens of attendants. His hair had turned whiter, and gray streaks had appeared in his beard.

“I heard there was a fire in your quarters. I’m relieved to see you safe.”

Even if they were just formalities, the fact that he expressed concern for me—at least outwardly—was somewhat comforting.

“I greet Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern.”

I held the hem of my skirt and knelt in greeting.

Up close, I could see wrinkles around his eyes that I hadn’t noticed before. Five years apart hadn’t been a short time after all.

Joanna looked around the hotel lobby with curious eyes.

“We were delayed preparing things, so we only just arrived the day before the banquet. Will you show me your room? This building style is unfamiliar to me, and I’d love to see the interior.”

Joanna was clearly intrigued.

I guided her and our father to my hotel room. The attendants from Iote followed behind.

Joanna took a slow look around the room and then stopped in front of the coffee table by the window.

From the inside pocket of her uniform jacket, she pulled out a palm-sized leather case. From it, she retrieved a thick cigar.

“Ah, I forgot matches. Can I borrow some?”

She was planning to light the cigar indoors.

I glanced at the label—it was a floral-scented variety. Hopefully the smoke wouldn’t be too harsh. I brought over the matches I usually used for lighting candles.

Joanna placed the cigar in her mouth and casually leaned in toward me, holding out the tip. She wanted me to light it.

I hesitated, matches in hand.

Am I supposed to do this for her?

“F-Forgive me, but may I?”

Callen, who had been behind us, suddenly rushed forward, clutching her skirt. She snatched the matches from my hand and struck one before Joanna could even respond, lighting the cigar.

Joanna frowned slightly, displeased by something, and took a deep drag. A bittersweet floral scent filled the air as she exhaled smoke and walked over to the coffee table.

“Hm? Sis, what’s this dress?”

A light green silk dress was spread across the table. It had been completed by the tailor yesterday and delivered, but I had forgotten to hang it in the dressing room.

“It’s the one I’ll wear to the banquet tomorrow.”

“Ah.”

Joanna took a long drag from the cigar, her cheeks hollowing. And just as she removed the cigar from her lips—

Sss—Pop.

Something glowing red dropped from the cigar tip with a faint hiss.

A spark.

Sssshhh.

The spark landed right on the chest of my dress.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

In a matter of seconds, the tiny spark burned a hole the size of a thumbnail into the fabric. The blackened rim of the hole was steadily expanding.

“Oops. My bad. It was an accident, Sis—I didn’t mean to.”

“……”

I stared at Joanna, frozen. Was she truly sorry? Her face showed no emotion at all.

What do I do now?
I have nothing to wear to the banquet.

Callen rushed in with a bucket of water and doused the dress. The flame died, but now there was a gaping hole the size of a fist.

“Don’t worry, Sis. I brought extra dresses. Our height and build aren’t too different. What I have is way more captivating—probably suits you even better.”

Joanna gestured to one of her attendants standing outside the door and ordered them to fetch a dress.

Cold sweat broke across my back. I had no other options.

A few minutes later, one of the attendants returned carrying a dress—a vivid rose-red one, like a May rose in full bloom. It shimmered with luxurious sheen befitting a crown princess’s gown, but I wasn’t sure it would suit me.

“Hurry up and try it on. Emma, help my sister change.”

Joanna’s maids brought the red dress toward me. With no way out, I changed in the dressing room. After adjusting the ribbon at the back, I faced a major problem—

The rest fit okay, but the bodice was too tight.
The waist was constricting, and the bust spilled out, the upper part bulging like an overfilled pudding.

Joanna had a more slender frame than I did, so it was no surprise it didn’t fit right.

“Sis, are you done? Come on out.”

I shook my head and stepped out of the dressing room.

“It doesn’t suit me, Joanna. Don’t you have anything less revealing?”

“That’s the most modest one. Oh, it’s perfect on you. When I wore it, it didn’t look half as sensual.”

Joanna blinked slowly as she murmured. But her words rang hollow. It wasn’t sensual—it was flat-out vulgar.

“No, I really don’t want to wear this dre—”

“Josephine.”

Our father cut me off with a grave voice.

“Just this once, listen to Joanna. She said this is for the best—many times.”

I pressed my lips together. “Just this once” was a lie—I’d never once refused Joanna anything.

“While we’re at it—are you fulfilling your duties properly?”

“My duties…?”

“Are you serving the princes well at night?”

“……”

It was the first time he’d said it so bluntly.

The Ruby Palace might’ve burned down, but I almost forgot—

My father had abandoned me here.

And my purpose…
was to be a courtesan to the imperial princes.

I ended up wearing the red dress.

“Let’s color her lips in deep red too. We can’t let her beauty be overshadowed by the gown.”

Joanna’s maids applied makeup to my face with great care. Bold lipstick was painted on in layers, and powder was dusted over multiple times. I had never been dolled up like this before.

After placing Joanna’s ruby necklace around my neck, the maids gave their bows and left. I sat blankly at the vanity.

The reflection in the mirror felt so foreign—
whether or not I looked beautiful, it was the kind of look that seemed meant to lure someone in.

“I really do look like a princess from the Ruby Palace now.”

I thought bitterly.
Of course I looked like one—I was one.
There was nothing different between me and the others here… except that I was still a virgin.

With a heavy heart, I slipped on red shoes. Going out dressed like this was nerve-wracking. I took deep breaths to calm myself and made my way to the hotel lobby.

“…My lady, you look stunning.”

Marquis Fernandez was waiting for me. His eyes widened the moment he saw me—he clearly hadn’t expected me to appear like this.

Ignoring his puzzled gaze, I climbed into the carriage. I wanted to cover my exposed chest, but doing so would only make me look even more awkward—like a country girl out of place.

“The air is cool tonight. Would you like this?”

The marquis sat beside me and offered his jacket. The weather was not cool—it was midsummer. This was probably just pity for the ill-fitting dress.

“Thank you, Marquis.”

I accepted the jacket without refusing.

The carriage began to move. It didn’t take long to reach the banquet hall from the imperial palace gate. As it stopped, I felt like my heart stopped with it. I bit my lip, clenched my skirt, and stood up.

I grabbed the marquis’s arm and stepped out of the carriage.

One step at a time, I climbed the red carpet-covered stairs. The doors of the banquet hall opened wide before me. The chandelier’s light poured down like a shower of needles.