“The commotion at the mansion seemed like a prelude, as all the events that had been postponed suddenly crashed like waves. From trying on the dress for the Debutant Ball, to seeking advice from Lady Rose whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, the days were hectic, with no time to spare.
“Among all this, perhaps the most challenging task was calming down Lady Rose, who had rushed to the capital in a hurry when she heard the news that I was going to debut. The moment she saw her tears, I was utterly flustered. After spending twenty years as her governess, the decision not to debut hit her harder than anyone else. Lady Rose was overjoyed upon hearing the news, more than anyone else. Even my father, Duke Deneuve, amid his busy schedule, eagerly anticipated my Debutant Ball.
“‘Are you ready?’
“Turning towards the voice that came from behind, I raised my head. The Grand Duchess, looking at herself in the mirror, placed her hand on my shoulder and gently guided me to sit down.
“‘This is my gift. Originally, it was meant for Cecelia.’
“Taking the necklace from the jewelry box held by the maid, the Grand Duchess personally placed it around my neck. The diamonds, perfectly suited for the pristine evening dress, sparkled brilliantly. The necklace, with rows of large and small diamonds on a silver chain, was a piece worth more than an entire mansion in terms of its value alone.
“‘It’s too much for me. I don’t deserve such a necklace…’
“It suits you very well.”
The Grand Duchess commented to the flustered me as she looked at the substantial necklace resting on my shoulders. An image reminiscent of Cecelia. Despite being later than the others, I was undoubtedly destined to become a Crystal Moon, standing out wherever I went.
“The Grand Duchess, my lady. The carriage has arrived in front of the mansion.”
Right on time, a maid announced the arrival of the carriage. Rising from her vanity, Retina clasped her gloved hands in front of her.
* * *
The air in the waiting room before the audience with the Empress was stifling, making it hard to breathe. Retina keenly felt that every year there were debutantes who fainted due to the corsets that cinched their waists and the excessive tension, and now she understood that those stories were not exaggerated.
“My dear, you’ll be fine. You’re not being dragged to the slaughterhouse.”
“I’d rather be a pig led to the slaughterhouse. Mother, I…”
The anxious debutantes filled the waiting room with their nervous chatter, and chaperons, who tried to comfort them and those who clenched their handkerchiefs in apprehension, added to the tense atmosphere. The debutantes’ expectations for the ball had long been tossed into the abyss of the Imperial Cliffs.
“I’m so nervous. What if I make a mistake in front of the Empress Mother? I haven’t even made any allies yet; what if my wig comes off?”
“Reasonable tension can help, but too much can paralyze a person. It can even prevent you from doing what you’re capable of. Being overly fearful of something that hasn’t happened yet is the same. That’s why preparing in advance is necessary.”
Retina, like the other debutantes, expressed her worries to the Grand Duchess, but unlike the other Chaperon, who offered gentle words of reassurance, the Grand Duchess provided only objective advice. It would have been helpful outside, but it was not something that resonated with Retina in her current state.
“Lady Edia Jorden of the Marques of Jorden and marchioness Jorden are here.”
As the debutantes in the previous order began to enter the audience chamber one by one, the faces of the remaining debutantes visibly paled. Retina, whose complexion was already quite pale, fiddled with her silk gloves nervously.
‘Maybe it was better to be the prince’s partner at the ball,’ she thought. Her thoughts changed every day. One day she thinks it’s better to be by the prince’s side, and the next day she doesn’t.
She felt the necklace suddenly heavier around her neck and started stretching her neck. She hoped desperately that she wouldn’t be the last to go, especially considering how all the other debutantes and Chaperons had already left the room.
“Lady Retina Cecilia of the Duke of Deneuve and Duchess of Lencia is here.”
As her name was called, Retina walked forward, taking measured steps with a proper stride. Her white silk dress fell straight from her waistline and rustled with each step.
Not too fast, not too slow. If she moved too quickly, her upper body would tilt forward, and if her upper body tilted, the feather in her hair might fall. She had to move gracefully and flawlessly, with an appropriate amount of tension, to avoid making any mistakes.
“Lady Retina Cecilia of the Duke of Deneuve and Duchess of Lencia greets Empress Mother.”
“Has it already been your fourth turn? You’re about to age, just waiting to greet me. I thought you only knew how to bow within the palace.”
The Empress, with a kind smile, spoke to Retina, who was about to kiss her hand. The voice, barely audible to Retina alone, sounded more like a malicious comment than a compliment. It might be hard to imagine that the Empress would remember every noble debutante after greeting hundreds each year, but she had remembered Retina since before her debut, long before she was born.
‘Usually, when noble debutantes meet the Empress, they hear her compliments. Did I misunderstand something?’
Retina sensed the Empress’s ill intentions but maintained her composure and smiled as if she had heard a compliment.
“Thank you for your kind words, Empress, even though I made my debut late due to illness. Thanks to your grace, I believe I can have a good time during the remaining social season.”
“Well, it seems like you’re doing better than anyone else. You’re getting close to the Crown prince, too.”
“My closeness to Crown Prince Herald is due to the friendship between our families. We don’t have private conversations, so there’s no need to worry.”
“If what you say is true, then I’m relieved. Rumors are already circulating that you and the prince are close. I don’t know how you behave, but… I hope you won’t hinder my child’s future.”
Retina responded to the Empress’s somewhat advanced concerns with a smile. Saying anything else would likely be seen as disrespecting the royal family, and she didn’t want to anger anyone. After a brief but meaningful conversation with the Empress, whom she had spent the most time with among all the debutantes, Retina returned to the ranks of those who had completed their presentation.
“This time, Retina will surely become a Crystal Moon.”
“We don’t know that for sure.”
“But considering how the prince, the king, and now even the Empress favor her…”
“In the social world, you can’t predict anything. This is just the beginning, so don’t jump to conclusions. No one knows what might happen in between.”
As they walked across the red carpet dividing the presentation hall, voices from somewhere unseen echoed chaotically. Those who hadn’t heard the exact content of the conversation between the two guessed that Retina had engaged in a deep conversation with the Empress and began gossiping.
‘They’re openly spreading rumors. Isn’t this too harsh for a newly debuted debutante?’
Retina heard the whispers but pretended not to and kept looking straight ahead. The names of the remaining noble houses were called one by one as they greeted the Empress. However, none of them had a conversation with the Empress as long as Retina’s. The more they speculated about the Empress favoring Retina, the stronger her position became.
“Good job. You’ve established your position firmly from the beginning.”
“Oh, well…”
It wasn’t something she had planned for. Retina didn’t show too much joy at the Duchess’s praise. While others might have seen her demeanor as humble, Retina herself felt more apprehensive than happy.
“But it’s still too early to relax. Remember, this is just the beginning. From now on, it’s your competition.”
With the presentation of the debutantes to the Empress completed, the role of the chaperones like the Duchess had come to an end. As the Duchess had said, the real competition was just beginning. Over the next few days, there would be banquets, tea parties, and the grand debutante ball. How many people’s attention they could capture and how many offers of partnership they would receive from eligible bachelors were the tasks for the debutantes.
“Always stay vigilant.”
With those parting words, the Duchess walked away in the opposite direction. Retina, who had to attend the Empress’s hosted dinner and tea party before the debutante ball in the evening, made her way to the bedroom assigned to the debutantes in a separate wing of the estate.
When she arrived at the wing, she was met by Lena, who appeared anxious as she waited outside her room.
“Why? Is something wrong?”
Retina asked Lena, who clearly looked like something had happened.
“Miss!!!”
Lena, looking like she was on the verge of tears, called out to Retina and rushed over.
“Why? Is something wrong?”
Retina asked Lena, who clearly looked like something had happened.
“All the dresses we brought from the estate have been ruined!!”
Chapter 23.
Debutante Masquerade (2)
Unable to avoid the commotion outside, she entered the bedroom. Even without an explanation from Lena, she could roughly understand the situation from the bag and clothes scattered on the bed.
‘Uh, what should we do? It’s all my fault. Miss, I’m so sorry.’
In the end, Lena, with tears in her eyes, apologized to Retina. It felt like she had ruined everything, the long-awaited debutante ball of their young lady.
‘When did you find out?’
‘After the carriage arrived at palace, we underwent inspection. They said they would deliver the luggage to our assigned rooms after the inspection. While the other maids went out first to explore the annex, I came into the room first to lay out the dress. But when I opened the bag, it was like this…’
Although Lena couldn’t be completely blamed for the mess with the dress, in this place, which was not the Duke’s residence, someone with malicious intent could have deliberately damaged the dress. Even if the bags were transported to the assigned rooms, three people would have handled them before they arrived, and no one knew what might have happened in between. If they said it had been tampered with during that time, there was nothing Lena could have done.
‘Lena, I’m sorry, but I have to go outside the palace.’
‘What?’
‘All we have are the custom-made dresses we brought today. We can’t wear the ready-made ones from the mansion at the debutante ball. Please go to Fongarian and ask for alterations. They said they would charge as much as we’re willing to pay. You must bring one dress back tonight before the ball.’
‘But what about your presentation, Miss? There will be breakfast with the Empress and the morning tea soon…!’
‘In this situation, you’re the only person I can trust, Lena. Anyway, the dress is the most important thing at the ball. Just choose a dress that’s in relatively good condition for breakfast and afternoon tea.’
Lena, who had hesitated to leave Retina, whose eyes had changed as she said there was no one else she could trust, had a resolute expression as she nodded vigorously.
‘Alright, Miss! Even if I have to lock up Fongarian, I’ll make sure to bring back the dress today!!’
Lena, who roared like someone entrusted with a serious mission, rushed out with the dress bag in her hands. Watching Lena disappear at a rapid pace, Retina sighed as she looked at the dress she had hung on the chair. She had promised to alter it herself, but she had no idea where to start. She had picked a dress that was in relatively good condition inside, but it was impossible to say that it was unscathed. She felt sorry for Fongarian, who had worked so hard.
“Fongarian must have made it with care. I’m sorry.”
“Fongarian’s dress, fueled by determination to create a masterpiece, looked like it had met the wrong owner and was torn to shreds.
‘Nevertheless, it’s already done, so what can I do.’
Retina, planning to wear the dress she had worn when meeting the Empress if necessary, carefully removed the torn lace. Fortunately, the inner part of the dress remained intact, as the excessive lace didn’t cut too deep.
Using her needlework skills, Retina sewed the detached lace back in place, using it to conceal any visible stitching marks. There was plenty of fabric to work with, so it could have appeared bland if not for the layers of lace, which maintained the dress’s richness.
“Phew.”
After focusing intensely on altering the dress, Retina wiped the sweat from her forehead. She concealed her fingers, which were sore from hurried sewing, with gloves, and then asked for assistance from a maid outside the bedroom to finish dressing.
“Hmm… It could have been worse.”
Retina, who checked her reflection in the full-length mirror, made a satisfied sound. It couldn’t compare to Fongarian’s craftsmanship, but it was still presentable. She had initially worried about removing all the lace from the top, but the necklace given by the Grand Duchess was so splendid that it distracted from any perceived simplicity.
“The young ladies who have finished dressing are requested to come to the dining hall.”
The maid, entering the room at the right time, conveyed the Empress’s message. Retina turned around with a smile in response.
‘Shall we try to find the culprit then?’
The “fight among yourselves” mentioned by the Grand Duchess wasn’t just a matter of adhering to etiquette and shining as a solitary jewel. It was about how the debutantes survived in the competitive palace, where they were rivals. This was just the beginning, and no one could be naïve about it. Retina clenched her aching fingers inwardly.
‘I can’t just stand still.’
As Retina walked confidently towards the dining hall, the sound of a sword being unsheathed echoed within her.
“At that moment, in Leblem’s shopping district, Retina found the Very Max Fantastic Elegance Salon. She hastily dropped her dress bag in front of Fongarian , causing his designs for Retina’s next dress to scatter across the floor.
‘Ah! My masterpiece candidates…!!’
“That’s not the issue!! Please, quickly fix these!”
Retina opened the bag to reveal the dress that had been torn to shreds. Fongarian, who had discovered the torn dress inside the bag, lifted it with a face that resembled someone stabbed by a sword.
“W-Who could have done this to my precious creations!!!”
On the other side, Lena looked like a raggedy figure through the holes in the dress. Overwhelmed by the fact that his masterpiece had turned into rags, Fongarian staggered as if he might faint.
“Her Grace was also saddened by the damage to Fongarian’s beautiful dresses. She expressed her apologies for sending it like this and said she would provide the cost as you wish and requested a quick repair.”
“No, it’s not her fault. No matter who the wicked person was who did such… such a heinous act, Her Grace is not at fault. I, Fongarian, will recreate an unprecedented masterpiece, vowing upon my name.”
Temporarily setting aside his despair, Fongarian, burning with revenge alongside Lena, clenched his fists as he followed her lead. With scissors in hand, he ruthlessly cut through the lines he had painstakingly drawn, not having enough time to create a new dress.
Lena admired the ever-changing dress, transformed by Fongarian’s hands, as if he were painting on a canvas.
Sometimes, he boldly tore apart the torn sections, revealing smooth skin whenever she moved her arms, while at other times, he made the dress look breezy, from the neckline to the chest, with lace that covered but didn’t suffocate.
Areas that needed stitching were enhanced with patterns and jewels for added glamour. The dress that had once been on a mannequin became a new party dress, showcasing its figure.
“Hehehe, this should be considered one of my masterpieces, even among my masterpieces. Hehe… I will take revenge on those who dared to do harm to my creations.”
Fongérian, who had been reborn in his own hands, laughed wickedly, covering his mouth with his hand. It seemed like a different personality emerged when he exerted intense concentration. Sensing the eerie atmosphere, Lena quickly removed the dress from the mannequin and placed it in the bag.”
“Her Grace is eagerly awaiting, so I’ll go see her right away!! Please take care of the other dresses!”
With the bag in her arms, Lena hurriedly headed for the door and shouted at Fongérian, who was still muttering to himself. For some reason, she had a strong premonition that remarkable results were about to emerge, and as expected, it would undoubtedly be a good thing for their young lady.
* * *
“As if there had been no commotion in the bedroom, Retina composed her emotions and entered the dining hall. She walked past the long central table while observing the reactions of the debutantes looking at her.
‘Five startled debutantes and about ten cautious ones? I still don’t know for sure.’
From the moment she entered palace, everyone became a competitor. It was a difficult task to distinguish friends from foes within that environment. Guided by the courtier leading her to her designated seat, Retina turned her attention to the name card on the table.
When she reached the end of the table, she found her name written right next to the Empress’s.
‘As expected.’
Retina carefully examined the debutantes seated around her. There were Charlotteon Marquis’s daughter, Buckle Duke’s daughter, and Goldner Marquis’s daughter. Their family’s social status and Chaperon’s position were apparent from here. Debutantes who couldn’t sit at the same table as the Empress had to gather at the round side tables, unable to utter a word, spending time from lunch to tea party.
There was no need to offer her seat next to the Empress. Retina cast her gaze on the Empress’s chair right in front of her and slowly took her seat. Her hastily sewn dress made her movements cautious, even small ones.
‘Finding the culprit should be easy.’
To be able to bribe someone in the palace, their family’s status and assets must be high. She had a gut feeling that among the debutantes at this table, there might be the culprit.
‘Someone is staring so conspicuously…’
Feeling the intense gaze, Retina pretended not to notice and blocked the debutante’s line of sight with a glass. Did something stain my face? The uncomfortable gaze continued until the Empress arrived.
‘I should start with that debutante.’
Marie Zenferno… Retina pretended not to notice, but when her eyes met with the debutante’s, she quickly turned her head. Retina had memorized her face and name.
