Chapter 14
So exciting.
Marienne had no time to concern herself with the maids.
She was far too preoccupied admiring her reflection in the mirror.
Her outfit was several times more glamorous than anything she’d ever worn in her kingdom—and she was absolutely delighted with the result.
What should I do? There’s still time left…
She leaned back comfortably in her chair and glanced at the clock.
Tonight’s ball was meant to introduce her as part of the Arietta delegation.
Marienne wanted to shine brighter than anyone else—she wanted to be the star of the night.
Back home, I never got that chance… not once.
There were balls in her homeland too, but only the king and a chosen few of the royal family were permitted to take center stage.
But the Empire was different.
This event was being held just to introduce her.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
To truly dominate attention, she needed something more dramatic.
And Marienne knew exactly what that was.
I’ll enter with the Crown Prince as my escort.
Simply being by Alex’s side would make it look like she had already been selected as the next Crown Princess.
However, Alex had clearly understood the significance of that role and had refused her request to be his partner.
That said—
Having deeply considered the situation of a princess who crossed distant seas to reach a foreign empire, I have arranged a partner to escort Her Highness. I hope you will accept this small gesture of courtesy.
Alex had proposed one of his closest aides as her escort.
It gave Marienne a glimmer of hope.
The fact that he extended even this courtesy meant she wasn’t entirely out of the running.
Even if it was humiliating before…
If he had truly written her off, he wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of arranging anything.
Just like in her kingdom, it was tradition to make an entrance with one’s partner.
But she didn’t even know the man Alex had assigned to her.
Instead of trying to coordinate with a stranger, wouldn’t it be better to go in early and start making connections?
If she personally thanked those who had sent her gifts, some of them were bound to take her side.
If she could establish her presence in the social scene early, perhaps even the Crown Prince would reconsider.
After all, the Empire was a society that required collective consensus to govern.
It wasn’t for nothing that Empresses and Crown Princesses paid close attention to the court’s opinions.
And so, Marienne entered the ballroom well before the event officially began, greeting nobles as they arrived.
“You’ve come such a long way from a distant kingdom—what an honor. It must have been a tiring journey.”
It was going well.
“To think Her Highness would wear the gloves I sent—it’s my honor, truly, not yours.”
Or so she believed.
“How long will you be staying in the Empire, Your Highness? Two weeks? A month?”
People were orbiting around her with polite interest.
“I—”
But then—
“Announcing the arrival of His Imperial Highness, Crown Prince Alex Belagrian Orphacia, and his fiancée, Lady Laura Rueize!”
And just like that, Marienne’s carefully crafted plan fell apart.
Every head turned.
There he was—the man she had most desperately wanted to stand beside—and the woman she had never expected to appear tonight.
“…Why.”
Marienne bit her lip hard.
Why are you two entering together?!
There was only one reason the nobles had been showering her with flattering gifts:
Because she seemed more pliable and manageable than Laura.
Laura had a sharp tongue and an even sharper mind.
She didn’t accept half-hearted gifts. And even if she did, she never returned favors unless it could be justified legally or through clever loopholes.
That was how she had managed to stay engaged to the Crown Prince, despite numerous scandals.
To the Empire’s nobles, Laura was a pain in the neck.
Bribes were supposed to smooth things over—but Laura only complicated matters.
But this princess is different.
She had no roots in the Empire. She had to build everything from scratch.
“I’m so grateful for the lovely gifts. It’s such a relief to find kind people in the Empire.”
“They’re nothing special, but if they brought Your Highness any comfort, I’m glad.”
Her sincerity was obvious—naïvely written all over her face.
“I heard the Crown Prince of Maratan is very handsome, and seeing Your Highness today, the rumors weren’t wrong.”
“You flatter me.”
She tried to act noble, but her emotions were too transparent.
“There are quite a few rumors about Lady Rueize even in our kingdom. They say she has quite the… unique personality?”
“His Highness may treat her kindly, but I do wonder if Lady Rueize managed to find a dance partner tonight. High society can be cruel to those who stand out too much.”
Though their words were wrapped in compliments, the intent was unmistakable.
They were trying to humiliate Laura behind her back.
But that was another way Marienne was different from her.
Laura didn’t speak behind others’ backs. If she wanted to insult someone, she did it to their face.
Only those truly confident in their position could afford that kind of boldness.
People like Madam Warrington assumed Marienne was much easier to control.
Even now—
Say a few kind words, and she lights up like she’s over the moon.
People like her are simple to manipulate. Once the flattery dries up, they collapse.
Clearing her throat, Madam Warrington said:
“You must be new to the Imperial social scene. If you’re free, would you like to join our next tea party—”
But then—
She went silent.
She had sensed it.
A shift in the air—clear, heavy, and undeniable.
A giant had entered the room.
Her head turned swiftly.
And there, at the ballroom’s entrance, were the Crown Prince and Laura.
They didn’t maintain any distance.
He didn’t walk ahead with her trailing behind.
Their hands were loosely intertwined, walking together in step—relaxed, confident, natural.
“W-what…!”
“Did you see that?!”
“My goodness…”
The Crown Prince’s stride was slower than usual, clearly adjusted to match Laura’s pace.
And he kept glancing sideways at her—watching her.
“And Lady Rueize’s dress… have you ever seen anything like it?”
“Is it black? No—it’s more like…”
A deep violet, so dark it almost looked black, flowed elegantly over Laura’s form.
And the design was anything but traditional.
Unlike the usual noblewomen’s dresses that puffed out from the waist to hide the legs, Laura’s emphasized her slender waist and flowed straight down, the skirt stopping just past her knees.
With each step, the hem rippled behind her like a wave.
A delicate bolero was draped over her shoulders, softening her usual aura—transforming her into something refined, sensual, elegant, and untouchable.
And the fabric—
It matched the Crown Prince’s.
That was when everyone knew.
The Crown Prince had chosen to maintain the engagement.
Sensing something was wrong, Marienne reached out in panic.
“Um, Madam… about the tea party…”
But Madam Warrington, without so much as a glance, walked away.
She had been planning to invite Marienne to her tea party—had.
But now?
Now Marienne was nothing more than a foreign princess who had failed to earn Alex’s favor.
All the relationships she tried to build here would be meaningless.
“I feared you were unwell, Lady Rueize. I’m so glad to see you looking radiant.”
“You always astonish us. That dress—where did you have it made?”
“—!!!”
Not just Madam Warrington—everyone was turning toward Laura.
And just like that—
“Um… everyone?”
Marienne’s voice trembled.
But not a single head turned back.
