I Stole the Prince's First

CHAPTER 22

Debutant Ball (1)

“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.”

Translator: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

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.
3.

Translator: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only

“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!!”

 

Note; you can read exclusive chapter upto 28 on my Pateron
link = patreon.com/Stardust944