Chapter 9:
Royal Dance Party (1)
“Miss Retina, would you like to open your eyes?”
Retina slowly lifted her eyelids, which she had kept closed for a moment. She expected that when she looked into the mirror, there would be a dazzling effect with light shining and everything sparkling around her, but unfortunately, such a fantasy effect, which might only happen in novels, did not occur.
‘Oh my… How can you be so beautiful?’
Nevertheless, Retina’s reaction of admiration as she covered her mouth with both hands was charming enough. She finally faced her reflection in the mirror.
Her natural hair color, originally with streaks of gray, was concealed under a wig, and her eyelashes and eyebrows were darkened with mascara. The ordinary brown hair that could be seen anywhere was styled up, and with makeup, her face looked quite different from the Countess Deneuve that the streets of Deneuve were familiar with.
‘I guess I resemble my mother exactly.’
Retina turned her gaze away, letting out a dry laugh. She didn’t regret inheriting her mother’s eye color and hair, but when she saw herself dressed up like this, it felt like someone else was sitting there.
Translator: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only
As Lena continued to do Retina’s makeup, she absentmindedly touched the pendant she had been holding in her hand. It was a silver pendant with a large blue diamond in the center, an heirloom from her mother.
Before leaving, her mother had disposed of all their belongings, leaving nothing behind except for this heirloom pendant. Her mother had given it to her without any explanation. Even after searching through all the books in the empire, Retina couldn’t find any information about the symbol or the family it might represent.
What could this item possibly signify? While lost in thought, Lena, who was helping her with her makeup, spoke up.
“What kind of hair accessory would you like? I’ve prepared various options, like gemstone chains, feathers, and flowers, because I wasn’t sure what you’d prefer. It’s a bit challenging.”
“Since it’s just a wig, it doesn’t really matter. Just go with something that doesn’t stand out too much.”
“I can’t just choose anything! Hm, feathers might look too elegant compared to the dress… Flowers or gemstones seem like a better fit, but I’m not sure which one would suit you best. There are also gemstone accessories in flower shapes.”
Lena rubbed her chin, pondering carefully over the hair accessories she had laid out on the vanity. Seeing Lena so deep in thought, Retina couldn’t help but let out a small laugh and decided to choose an accessory with her. After all, she had left the selection of the shoes and dress entirely to Lena, so she should at least provide some input for the hair accessory.
“Then let’s go with this for your hair… Now, all that’s left is to choose earrings, a necklace, bracelets, and a ring.”
“I don’t want the rest.”
The more jewelry one wore, the more it signaled their wealth, but Retina decided to skip that part. Instead, she showed Lena the pendant she had been holding.
“I’d like to wear this pendant as a necklace.”
Lena’s eyes, which had been disappointed as she looked at the array of jewelry spread out, suddenly sparkled with excitement. She quickly cleared away all the other accessories that had been laid out.
“Wow, how did you pick a pendant that matches your outfit so perfectly? Your taste is truly exceptional. Instead of wearing a bunch of bulky jewelry, just wear a 7-carat diamond pendant to draw attention—what a brilliant idea!”
Lena clapped her hands together in admiration as Retina, now fully adorned, stood before her. Her off-shoulder dress revealed delicate shoulder lines, and the layered lace skirt created an elegant silhouette. The jeweled dust shimmered on the blue fabric like stars in the night sky. It was a dress that Fongérian would proudly call his masterpiece. With the addition of the elegant blue diamond necklace around her somewhat bare neck, the ensemble was absolutely perfect.
Retina stood in front of the mirror, gently touching the pendant around her neck. Her own reflection, which she had seen countless times before, felt strangely unfamiliar.
She couldn’t fathom why her mother had owned such jewelry. Her mother had claimed to be a commoner until she met her father. So, when Retina received the pendant, she had tried to find information in historical records, suspecting that it might be related to the vanished noble family’s legacy. However, she couldn’t find any stories or references about the pendant’s symbol.
“Miss.”
Lena, who had been secretly wiping away tears from behind as she watched Retina prepare, handed her a pair of sky-blue gloves. A messenger had arrived with the news that the Crown prince’s carriage had arrived at the mansion at the appointed time. Retina put on the glass slippers sent by the prince and left the bedroom.
“Somehow, I ended up becoming the Crown prince’s partner, but I’m feeling a bit nervous.”
People in society were not very familiar with Retina, who rarely appeared in high-society events. Retina, too, didn’t care about being noticed due to her status as the illegitimate child of a duke. It was more convenient for her to quietly disappear from the party scene.
However, things took a turn when her brothers, who were always the center of attention, started bringing Retina to social gatherings. Now, as the prince’s partner and with an invitation to the royal ball, she couldn’t help but sigh at the thought of all the attention she would receive.
‘Even if I don’t take it to heart, they’re openly badmouthing me behind my back. It can’t be okay,’ Retina thought to herself as she tightened her grip on the dress.
In the distance, she could see the prince standing beside the carriage, talking with her brothers. Her brother, who was waiting for her, dressed in his best attire, stood just beyond Haint’s shoulder.
“You came out on time,” he said.
“Retina, you…”
“Our Reti, what’s going on? You dressed up so nicely because that scoundrel Herald invited you to the party. What if that impudent guy starts to like Retina? That can’t happen,” they lamented.
Retina found herself in the middle of her brothers, who wouldn’t let her go, as she stepped outside the mansion. It was amusing to see her brothers, who usually acted cold and aloof outside, turn into protective and caring figures whenever anything related to her was involved.
‘If the news gets out that Lord Deneuve is behaving like this at the mansion, it will surely cause a stir in high society,’ she thought.
“Indeed, I had to bring her as my partner. The thought of Retina being with Herald throughout the whole dance makes my stomach ache,” one of her brothers remarked.
“It was Haint who first mentioned Retina as Herald’s partner,” Sat chimed in.
“True, but it’s more helpful for Retina to be partnered with someone else rather than us taking her. Herald needed a noble lady who could be a suitable partner for him. Right, Sat?”
Sat, not Haint, suggested it? Retina widened her eyes and turned to Haint. It was unusual for Haint, known for his carefree and straightforward nature, to make calculated decisions like this. Haint was more like a free spirit, living a simple life, almost to the point of being muscle-headed.
‘Well, it’s said that Haint has more influence in high society. That must mean he’s good at reading nobles’ minds. I guess I’ll have to trust him,’ Retina thought to herself. Today, as always, she had a deep sense of distrust towards her brothers.
“I’ll be heading to the palace when the dance is over,” Heralde said, exasperated by the twins, who seemed unwilling to let Retina go. It seemed he shared Retina’s inner thoughts, worrying that he might not even get to attend the dance.
“Let’s go now.”
Heralde extended his hand to Retina, without looking back, and helped her onto the carriage.
“See you at the palace,” he said.
“Reti! Go ahead first!” Sat and Haint leaned in as if to make sure they didn’t miss Retina’s last moments on the carriage. Waving to her brothers from inside the carriage, Retina let out a sigh as the horses began to move.
This situation makes it feel like I’m being sold to the palace, she thought. She looked at the mansion, which was now shrinking in the distance, through the tightly-packed window where her brothers’ faces were.
“It’s quite spacious for a duke’s residence in the capital,” she mumbled.
By the time the mansion disappeared from view, Retina had relaxed into the plush seat of the carriage. It was about a 30-minute journey from the Duke’s mansion to the palace, and during that time, she would have to be in this confined space with the prince.
Retina glanced at the prince beside her, his eyes focused on the view outside the window. Seeing his face from the side emphasized his strong nose and chiseled jawline. His golden hair and azure eyes, which were the royal family’s distinguishing features, added to his allure. It was a face that never grew tiresome, no matter how often she looked at it.
‘I won’t have to deal with this kind of thing if I go back to the rural village. I’ll just see the same squid-like kids for a while longer. I should get used to it while I can.’
Retina, who was openly observing the prince’s face while resting her chin in her hand, smiled wryly. His ears seemed to be getting redder by the moment. She worried if something was wrong, but his stern expression remained unchanged.
“It’s clear that the one who made the suggestion first was Haint.”
“Yes.”
“It wasn’t me who made the first suggestion.”
“Oh, right.”
Just then, Herald, who had been staring out the window, spoke up. When Retina suddenly turned her head to look at him, their eyes met, and she quickly averted her gaze.
“I don’t expect much from you. I just needed an aristocratic partner who would be capable and not approach me during this ball.”
“Is that so?”
“Your’s brothers say you came up to the capital this time for your debutante season. Why didn’t you participate in the debutante ball before graduating from the academy?”
He’s asking such probing questions? Retina widened her eyes at the prince’s question.
“Well, it’s not a big secret, but… I don’t have any intention of entering high society, and I don’t want to marry an aristocratic husband I don’t love.”
“Surprising. Isn’t it the dream of every aristocratic young lady to marry a high-ranking and good husband and have children? As a Duke’s daughter, you could easily find a good match.”
Translator: Stardust. Read on moonlight novels only
Retina chuckled softly and responded, “I guess that’s what’s expected, but…”
“Those aristocratic young ladies who have been educated since birth to become good wives for their husbands in their family estates must indeed dream of that for their entire lives. But I’ve spent more time in the countryside than in the capital, and I can live quite well without a husband who is only a title.”
Retina’s response caused one of Herald’s eyebrows to raise sharply.
‘I can live quite well without a husband who is only a title.’ At least compared to the debutantes in high society, her answer was far from ordinary.
Herald, surrounded by the shields of the Deneuve’s men, had thought of Retina as a hothouse flower grown in a greenhouse. But now, his gaze toward her held genuine interest.
“It seems like you’re looking down on Rudenheim’s aristocracy.”
“I’m not looking down on them, but aren’t they often incapable of handling anything significant, considering they’re just aristocratic young ladies?”
“How many young ladies would dare to suggest that the empire’s aristocracy is incapable in front of the prince? Why do you think that?”
“I lived in Hedon for a long time. Hedon is a small village, but it’s a place where people from other regions often pass through on their way to the Deneuve’s domain. Some just pass through quickly to meet their tight schedules, but others stay for days before leaving. During that time, they often told stories about other territories. Travelers tend to be friendly to curious children.”
Retina chose to halt her explanation at this point. She provided hints about what she was discussing without exposing all the details. She couldn’t reveal everything, not knowing the prince’s intentions in asking her such questions. It seemed the prince, too, decided not to delve deeper into the subject as he ceased his line of questioning.
The conversation ended abruptly, leaving an awkward silence in its wake. The two of them sat in the quiet carriage, gazing in different directions. After a few moments, the silence was broken by the sound of horse hooves as the carriage approached its destination.
In the nearly silent carriage, the two passengers continued to avoid eye contact, lost in their thoughts. The end of a brief conversation often made subsequent silences feel more uncomfortable.
As the carriage pulled to a stop at their destination, the two finally turned their attention to each other. It was only then that they acknowledged each other’s presence.
“Ah, I wanted to mention this since you’ve been keeping your face hidden from high society for a while,” Prince Herald began, taking the initiative.
“If anyone asks about our relationship, please say that you’ve known through your brothers for quite some time. It’s best not to create unnecessary gossip.”
Herald exited the carriage first, leaving Retina to follow. Retina received a courteous arm from Herald as she stepped out. Her face, now devoid of any signs of unease, displayed an air of confidence.
“Shall we?” Herald said.
Retina locked her arm with his, and Herald escorted her inside. Despite having met only twice before, Herald’s demeanor was warm and friendly, much like that of a close friend’s older brother. Retina couldn’t help but smile as she looked up at him.
“Lead the way.”
