WLYV 08

Chapter 8

 Preparing for the Monster’s Debutante Ball
February 8, 2024

Anne could not conceal her resentment. Ilina felt the same.
She was already unhappy that Lorencia had been officially registered as a member of the Pol Heredian family.
But Brandt had told her to endure it for the sake of their greater ambitions.
So she had swallowed her anger for years.

“But now they’re telling me to prepare that monster’s debutante ball!”

Anne slammed her palm on the table, her voice rising.
After years of suppressing her fury, this was her “reward”? To host a debutante ball for a monster? Her anger could not be contained.

“That monster said something strange to Prince Luance, and now I can’t even have a date with him, Mother.”

When Ilina’s date with Luance was canceled the previous day, she had stormed to Lorencia’s room to confront her — throwing things in a rage. But Lorencia didn’t even blink. She merely smirked, which only fueled Ilina’s fury.

“To think Prince Luance would ask me to prepare that monster’s debutante ball — when she deserves to be torn to pieces and thrown out to feed the beasts outside! He’s gone too far.”

The “bombshell” Luance had dropped earlier was too much for Anne and Ilina to process.

“There’s a reason I need to host a debutante ball for that monster, Lady Anne.”
“A debutante ball for the monster…?”
“I’ll take care of the chaperone. You and Lady Ilina needn’t concern yourselves.”
“No, Your Highness. Even if she’s an illegitimate child, she’s still a daughter of Count Pol Heredian. I will act as her chaperone and personally prepare her debutante ball.”
“If you insist, I’ll leave it to you, Lady Anne.”
“May I ask, if I had not taken on this task, who would you have entrusted the monster’s debut to?”
“Ah, I was going to ask the Marchioness of Montbellion.”
“Did you say… the Marchioness of Montbellion?”
“Yes. Unlike you, her daughter doesn’t argue or act out. You must’ve heard the rumors — they’re true. The young lady of Montbellion is quite… devoted to me.”

Luance had looked Ilina directly in the eyes as he said that.
Her face flushed with shame.
Of course she knew he was weighing Montbellion and Heredian against each other — but to have him say it so plainly was humiliating.

“I’ll make sure the monster’s debutante ball goes well, Your Highness. Thank you for giving me the opportunity.”

Anne had forced herself to speak politely, even as rage simmered under her calm.

“Then I’ll trust you with it.”

Anne’s long fingers tapped slowly on the armrest of her sofa.
She needed to think of a way to vent the storm of irritation boiling inside her.

“Mother, we don’t have to put much effort into the monster’s debut, do we?”
“You’re right, Ilina. She should have a debut fitting for an illegitimate child.”

Preparing the bastard’s debutante ball with her own hands felt utterly degrading.
Her teeth clenched involuntarily — memories of twenty years ago came flooding back.

Back then, Brandt had been away on a long trip to the Polloid Empire.
When he returned, he brought with him a woman — pregnant.

“Who is she, dear? Don’t tell me you’ve taken a mistress.”

The beautiful woman, with red hair and deep blue eyes, hid her swollen belly as she followed behind Brandt.

“She’s carrying my child.”
“If she’s pregnant with a bastard, you didn’t have to bring her here.”
“Even if it’s a bastard, I’ll take responsibility for the child.”
“You could’ve just bought a courtesan instead. Why bring in such a filthy half-breed?”
“Quiet, Anne.”

The shock had been immense.
The emotional wound was beyond words.
The only consolation was what came after:

“It’s just a bastard. I’ll lock her away in the tower — she’ll never take a single step outside.”

And when Brandt later told her the “truth,” it had been amusing — though amusement didn’t erase the betrayal or the pain.

The mistress who caused her humiliation was long dead.
But the living proof of that affair — Lorencia — remained.

So Anne decided:

“Yes. The monster’s first dance partner shall be the young Baron Lorryrolls.”
“Mother, that’s perfect. He chases after any woman he sees — maybe he’ll even see Lorencia as a woman, despite her plainness.”
“It’s a shame to waste him on a bastard, but Lorryrolls will probably accept eagerly.”
“I hope that monster ends up disgraced with him — and that Prince Luance will despise her for it.”
“Ilina, the Prince isn’t interested in her. Only in you.”
“But he keeps looking for Lorencia!”
“He said it himself — once she’s served her purpose, he’ll discard her. Until then, endure it.”
“I hope Lorryrolls does filthy, degrading things to her. That’ll be a fun show to watch.”
“Oh, it will be, my dear.”
“Mother, I’ll write to Lorryrolls myself.”
“Do that.”

Ilina’s letter was soon sent to Baron Lorryrolls of the Stopuga family — unaware of the trouble it would bring.

Baron Lorryrolls of Stopuga was a man unworthy even of being called trash.
A man who lost his mind at the sight of a woman.
That was Lorryrolls.

People avoided him not just because he chased women, but because he didn’t bother to hide it — always exuding a sleazy, unsettling air.

“A letter? For me?”

He relished being shunned by society, so when his servant told him he’d received a letter, he thought he’d misheard.
The hangover vanished instantly.

“From where? You’re sure it’s for me? Really?”
“It’s from Count Pol Heredian’s estate.”

A letter from a wealthy noble family to someone like him, exiled from society, could mean only one thing.

“They must want to use me for something.”

Lorryrolls gave a crooked grin.

“Hand it over.”

He took the white envelope and, like a dog, sniffed it.
The scent was familiar — refined yet laced with temptation.
Like an aging courtesan wearing too much perfume.

“Ah… that cloying perfume. It’s been a while. Sent by Pol Heredian, no less.”

His lips curled slightly.
The servant brought a knife to open the envelope, but Lorryrolls tore it open with his fingers and read.

“They want me to be her partner for the debutante’s first dance? What? They didn’t even send a portrait? How rude!”

As he muttered, his eyes narrowed at the word ‘bastard’ in the middle of the letter.
Though banished from society, he still heard every kind of gossip from his drinking companions.
And the rumor of a bastard locked away in the Pol Heredian mansion was well-known.

“Right. I heard the bastard was officially recognized as a noble daughter.”

He burst out laughing.

“Ha ha ha! So that’s what this is. Hilarious.”

There are three essentials for a debutante ball:
the color of the dress, the jewels worn, and the partner for the first dance.

“So they think trash like me is the perfect match for an illegitimate girl’s first dance?”

The letter was politely worded, but the meaning stung.
Still, the “fee” offered by Count Pol Heredian was tempting.
Accepting right away would make him look too cheap, though — so he decided to play it cool.

“Lorencia Pol Heredian…”

He wondered what kind of girl she was — probably pure and naive, never having even held a man’s hand after being locked away so long.
He began to imagine her — an innocent beauty who might even suit him. Maybe she could be his bride.

After all, no woman would marry him now.

If the Pol Heredian family had personally requested him, maybe they were already considering marriage.
Why else would they ask him, of all people?

“If they want to get rid of her quickly, maybe they’ll even offer a big dowry.”

He exhaled contentedly and shouted for his servant to bring him wine and writing paper.

While Lorencia was away bathing, Julie, following Ilina’s orders, struggled with the maids to feed her black kitten, Leo.

But unlike a normal kitten, Leo bared his teeth and hissed fiercely.

Grrrr…

He was nothing like the affectionate kitten who purred in Lorencia’s arms — now he looked like a small, black panther radiating killing intent.

“Why won’t he eat?”
“How should I know! Just catch him already so we can feed him!”

HISSSSS!

Leo’s cries grew louder, wilder — as if he might pounce and bite them any moment.

“How can a cat be so vicious? Look — his fur’s standing on end!”
“That can’t be a kitten! It’s terrifying!”

One maid hid behind Julie, trembling. Julie could only watch in cold sweat. She had seen many cats, but never one this aggressive.

The air between them was tense — a standoff between the cat and the maids.

“Miss Lorencia will be done with her bath soon…”
“What do we do, Head Maid Julie? We haven’t fed the cat!”
“We have to feed him. I can’t let Miss Ilina down.”

Then suddenly—
Leo’s hissing stopped. His tail swayed gently.

“Why? If Leo doesn’t eat, will it ruin Ilina’s plan or something?”

“Of course it— eek! Miss Lorencia! You’re done with your bath?”

Julie and the maids froze when Lorencia appeared silently behind them.

Meow!

The same feral Leo immediately turned soft and sweet, rubbing his head against Lorencia’s dress and circling her affectionately.

“Leo.”

Lorencia knelt, arms open, and gently stroked his head.

“Do you want me to hold you?”
Meow…

He closed his eyes and trembled slightly, basking in the warmth of her touch. Smiling, Lorencia picked him up, and Leo gazed at her adoringly.

“Miss Ilina instructed us to feed him fish porridge made from bonito flakes.”
“So you came to feed Leo.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“So that’s what his meal is today.”

Lorencia pointed at the bowl of fish porridge on the floor.