RYL Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Curious and envious gazes poured in from all directions.

Feeling overwhelmed by the attention, I quickly changed the subject.

“How did you recognize me?”

Mikael smiled.

“My heart told me.”

Cough!

I wasn’t even eating anything, but I still choked on nothing.

What did I just hear?!

At that moment, I suddenly felt my cheek heat up. Instinctively, I turned my head to the side.

There, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, was Mathieu, glaring at me.

Why is he standing there looking all creepy now…?

***

Ignoring the two men following me, I headed underground to find Lady Simona.

When she saw me, she pouted.

“I thought you had fallen into the toilet and drowned. But what’s that behind you?”

She glanced curiously at the two men trailing behind me like ducklings.

None other than Mikael and Mathieu.

I sighed and glanced at Mathieu.

Mikael, fine. But why are you following me?

When our eyes met, Mathieu quickly looked away and pretended to be interested in something else.

Did he really think that would work? He’s too big to go unnoticed.

“Perfect timing. It looks like dance time is about to start. Isn’t it fun to have a ballroom dance in such a dark place?”

That’s when I remembered the event I had planned for tonight.

For the first day, I had arranged a ballroom dance—something familiar to nobles.

The dance would take place on the central stage, the only spot in the underground hall illuminated brightly.

As per my instructions, the lights dimmed around the room, while the central stage lit up. The orchestra began playing a dance tune.

No one stepped forward yet, perhaps because they were unfamiliar with the setting.

Then, Mikael extended his hand toward me, inviting me to dance like a true gentleman.

I froze in surprise.

Suddenly, Mathieu, who had been acting indifferent, also held out his hand.

What now?!

“Oh my, Claire, you sure are popular.”

Simona grinned as if she was enjoying the scene.

I sighed and looked between the two men in front of me.

One was a hopeless romantic who fell in love too easily, and the other was my trash of an ex-fiancé.

What kind of impossible balancing game is this…?

Then, someone else stepped out of the shadows and reached for my hand.

I turned my head in confusion—only to find Sabrina, wearing a black butterfly mask.

“My lady, may I have this dance?”

I stared at her in shock.

Sabrina smiled meaningfully.

To me, it was the smile of a savior.

Without hesitation, I grinned and took her hand.

Mikael, Mathieu, and even Simona looked completely dumbfounded.

A woman dancing with another woman at a ballroom event?

Unthinkable in any traditional noble gathering.

But this was Clina Salon, where anything was possible.

Dressed in black, Sabrina, and I, in red, stepped onto the brightly lit dance floor.

All eyes turned to us.

As we danced the traditional couple’s waltz, we giggled together.

The thought of everyone’s shock made it even more satisfying. But beyond that, dancing with Sabrina was genuinely fun.

Soon, it was time to switch partners.

I glanced around and saw Lilianne in a golden dress, waiting with a smile.

“You’ll dance with me too, right?”

She smiled elegantly.

I returned her smile and took her hand.

As we bowed to greet each other, movement caught my eye.

From the seating area, one by one, women started stepping forward.

Sabrina, Lilianne, and I watched in surprise.

In this era, women could only dance if a man invited them.

Those not chosen remained as “wallflowers,” blending into the background.

But now, these women were stepping forward on their own.

Hesitant at first, they reached out to close friends or unfamiliar noble ladies they wanted to know better.

One by one, the dance floor began to fill with women.

“The situation is getting interesting,” Sabrina said, amused.

“I feel like crying…” Lilianne whispered, her voice trembling.

Sabrina looked puzzled, but I understood how she felt.

Seeing women, who had always been passive under men’s choices, take charge for once—it was strangely moving.

On stage, they bowed to each other.

Then, in beautiful gowns, they began to dance.

The stage, once dominated by men leading women, was now a dazzling display of women dancing together—like flower petals swirling in the wind.

As I twirled with Lilianne, I took in the sight.

Yellow, red, blue—like a field of blooming flowers under the bright lights.

The spectators, initially stunned, soon started clapping to the rhythm.

Even those who hadn’t stepped onto the dance floor—women and men alike—couldn’t hold back their admiration for the stunning scene unfolding before them.

Lilianne and I smiled at the cheering crowd.

From a distance, Simona gave me a thumbs-up.

Sabrina stood with her arms crossed, looking pleased.

Even Mikael, who had seemed utterly shocked at first, now smiled as he watched.

And then…

Mathieu, too, was smiling at me.

It wasn’t the usual sarcastic smile I had always seen from Mathieu.

This was different—like the warm smile of an older brother watching his mischievous little sister…

Caught off guard by his unfamiliar expression, I found myself staring blankly.

Then, Lilianne spoke to me.

“Thank you for giving me such a wonderful memory, Claire.”

Her eyes shimmered with emotion as she smiled brightly.

I smiled back.

“What are you talking about? I didn’t create this memory—we all did.”

Hearing my words, Lilianne’s smile grew even wider.

That night’s ballroom dance later became known in high society as The Ball of Flowers.

***

At a tea party she had attended for years, Sophia couldn’t hide her displeased expression.

Everyone was talking non-stop about Clina Salon.

“Did the Crown Prince really show up at Clina Salon?” one young lady asked excitedly.

Lady Selverine, who had become the center of attention at today’s gathering, lifted her chin proudly.

“Yes, he arrived in a royal carriage. Even though he was wearing a mask, he looked so incredibly handsome.”

“Oh my! Was Lady Simona and Lady Sinclair there as well?”

“Well, everyone was wearing masks, so I couldn’t be sure, but I’m certain they were there. It felt like every major figure in high society had attended.”

“I’m so jealous! I heard there’s a special VIP area, is that true?”

“It is! My uncle has a VIP card, so I was lucky enough to go with him. It was absolutely incredible.”

Hearing this, all the ladies at the tea party leaned in, eager to hear more.

They were practically hanging onto every word Lady Selverine said.

Sophia, however, pouted and glared at them.

‘If only it weren’t for my mother, I could have gone too.’

She recalled the night she had spent sulking in her room despite having an invitation in hand.

It was all her mother’s fault.

“Sophia, listen to me. That fox Claire must have had some hidden motive for giving you an invitation. You mustn’t go to that salon—stay home instead.”

Her mother, Ophelia, had held her hands tightly, pleading with her.

In the end, Sophia had no choice but to give up.

But now, she realized how foolish that decision had been.

Claire, who was always focused on work, probably had no interest in social gatherings.

She had likely given Sophia the invitation simply because she had no use for it herself.

Yet, because of her mother’s unnecessary worries, Sophia had missed out on an amazing opportunity.