“Hey, at every ball, there are over 20 men lining up just to offer lemonade to that lady. No wonder they say she’s never danced with the same person twice.”
Among those who had danced with her twice was Ezkhiel, who instinctively glanced around, while another aide chimed in.
“I attended the same ball once, and I understood why the men acted that way. Even with the extravagant dresses, jewelry, and all the adornments, her face stood out. I’ve never seen such beauty in my life.”
“Right? Honestly, when I first saw her, I couldn’t help but exclaim, ‘Wow!’ Dancing the waltz with someone like that even once would be a memory of a lifetime.”
“Now that the visiting season has started, the Sharon Count will probably be swamped with visitors. Who do you think someone like that would marry?”
“In my opinion, at least could be a Count, or maybe even a Duke. She’s a debutante mentioned as a candidate for the Crown Princess.”
“More than that, I just hope His Highness the Crown Prince visits a lady from some noble family tomorrow. Then I could take a day off and finally get some rest.”
The conversation ended with talk about vacations.
Among the aides who returned to their battle with piles of paperwork, Ezkhiel silently fiddled with the pendant of the bolo tie Letticia had chosen for him.
***
The next morning, Letticia took out her most flamboyant pink dress, the fanciest among her home wardrobe, and had her maid wrap jewelry chains around it.
After receiving Ezkhiel’s reply last night, promising he would definitely take a half-day off to visit, she was entirely motivated.
“Wrap amethyst and rose quartz chains here, and pink spinel chains around my elbows. Can you change the ribbon to a darker color?”
“It’s a bit difficult to do that right now, Miss.”
“Then just use this color for now. Also, bring me my necklace and earrings.”
Kenneth wisely stayed silent, observing Letticia being more meticulous than usual, but Lenard, her older brother, couldn’t resist commenting.
“You’re putting in so much effort, so much.”
“If you’re not helping, then leave, Brother.”
Letticia, holding up the green sapphire necklace and earrings to her dress, retorted sharply, causing Lenard to shake his head as he headed out for work.
While the maid prepared the dress, Letticia finished her breakfast and completed her preparations. When she descended to the reception room, her mother Camilla, seated on the sofa, smirked upon seeing her daughter.
“Those visitors from yesterday might complain about the discrimination. Why didn’t you dress up this much then?”
“I was too preoccupied with Lucinella yesterday. And during the visiting season, isn’t this level of dressing up normal?”
“That’s true, but I only mentioned it because it feels like you put in extra effort for personal reasons this time.”
It was common for Letticia to receive criticism for being overly dressed when meeting male guests. However, during the visiting season, it was preferable to wear somewhat extravagant outfits to greet visitors.
Still, compared to today, she hadn’t gone as far as adding jewelry chains to her attire yesterday. Camilla found her daughter’s intentions amusingly transparent.
“Even so, you shouldn’t treat Lord Bright differently from other guests. You must show proper etiquette to all visitors.”
“Debutantes always follow etiquette. Picking a son-in-law is the mothers’ job.”
Letticia’s playful response made Camilla laugh and nod in agreement.
“That’s right. You need some sort of amusement. It’s fun when it’s someone else’s business, but exhausting when it’s your own.”
“Exactly.”
Having interviewed over ten visitors in just one hour the previous day, the mother and daughter leaned back on the sofa, laughing heartily. After Kenneth joined them and the clock struck eleven, the butler entered to announce another visitor.
Thus began the second day of the visiting season.
***
Sadly, today there were even more suitors than yesterday, and their repertoire was identical.
Once again, Letticia endured original poems, recited verses, musical performances, songs, and self-promotion about their educational backgrounds, all while anxiously waiting for Ezkhiel.
Finally, just past 11:45, the butler entered and announced a name that filled her with joy, nearly causing her to jump to her feet.
“Lord Jarvis, Count Selburne, and Sir Bright have arrived.”
Among the three men escorted in by the butler, Letticia only noticed Ezkhiel at the very back.
Letticia wanted to greet him with a radiant smile, but she was shocked by his pale complexion, sunken cheeks, and dark circles under his eyes.
‘He looks like a skeleton! Was he really that busy?’
Though he had seemed tired at the imperial ball, it was nothing compared to how he looked now.
His face showed evident signs of sleep deprivation and exhaustion, and Letticia wanted to tell him to go rest immediately. However, she couldn’t do so because of the visitors approaching her with flowers.
“It’s such a shame that I can only express the honor of visiting you with a mere bouquet. These roses I prepared for you are like mere handmaidens before the queen that is you. Still, if they can brighten your mood, I would gladly fulfill that role.”
The first to present flowers was Lord Jarvis, heir to the Marquess of Jarvis in the northeast hot spring region. Even Letticia recognized him as a promising suitor in social circles.
He was exceptionally handsome by anyone’s standards, even Letticia’s, who had seen the original story’s male leads. With brilliant orange-gold hair and striking orange eyes, his good looks were matched by his eloquent speech.
“Thank you, Lord Jarvis. The colors are lovely.”
“Not at all. I tried to find a shade that matched your radiant hair, but no roses anywhere could match the elegance of the queen of flowers herself, you. However, I’ve brought a small gift—an antique music box—to convey the depth of my heart.”
Letticia held the small gift box for a few seconds before handing it to a maid.
‘He really laid it on thick.’
That was her only impression of his words, which she had never encountered from characters in the original story. While other women might have blushed and been touched by a handsome man’s gift, Letticia didn’t find it particularly romantic.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Sharon. I am Austin Selburne. I was an academy classmate of Kenneth.”
The next visitor was Count Selburne, a tall and handsome man with a friendly demeanor. Upon hearing his name, Kenneth made a peculiar expression as he mentioned their shared school days. Letticia, too, had heard his name mentioned among her friends a few times.
He was known for being well-mannered, sociable, and popular, but since Letticia had never even exchanged greetings with him, she had no idea why he was visiting her.
After receiving his flowers and sheet music and handing them to a maid, Letticia emptied her hands to accept Ezkhiel’s gift. Hesitating slightly, Ezkhiel carefully handed her the bouquet he had been holding close to his chest.
“…This is a bouquet of lisianthus flowers that reminded me of you, Lady.”
Letticia initially thought they were roses, but upon hearing they were lisianthus, she looked at the flowers again and smiled brightly.
“These are the first flowers other than roses I’ve received. Thank you so much, my lord.”
“I’m glad you like them.”
With a faint smile, Ezkhiel also handed her a small gift and whispered softly.
“I thought you might be tired of roses by now… These are the tea leaves you mentioned liking before. Do they please you?”
“They absolutely do!”
Letticia stroked the packaging with delight, eager to open it herself. However, remembering Camilla’s advice about fairness, she reluctantly handed it to a maid.
Once all the gifts were presented, it was time for the suitors to showcase their talents. To Letticia’s relief, none of the three visitors read their own poetry.
“Did I ever mention that I enjoy recitals?”
Lord Jarvis performed a famous classical play solo, almost like a one-man act. His voice projection and acting were so impressive that it felt like watching a professional actor, making his recital a delight to listen to.
Count Selburne presented Letticia with a painting. It depicted a star-filled night sky, with intricate details that made the landscape breathtaking.
“This is a painting of the night sky from my estate. I wanted to gift it to you, Lady.”
“What a magnificent painting. Did you paint this yourself, Count?”
“It’s a hobby I enjoy occasionally. If it pleases you, it’s an honor.”
The Count handed over the painting and stepped back promptly. Letticia found his modest demeanor slightly puzzling, but as soon as Ezkhiel’s turn came, she forgot all about the Count.
“…I may lack skill, but I’d like to play the violin for you, if that’s alright?”
“Of course! I’m really looking forward to hearing you play.”
Though it wasn’t outright favoritism, Letticia’s response was noticeably warmer compared to the other two. Lord Jarvis raised a slight eyebrow, while Count Selburne alternated glances between the two, his expression filled with intrigue.
🍓; Flower from Ezkhiel, the lisianthus flower (Eustoma) symbolizes gratitude, appreciation, and charisma. It is often associated with meaningful sentiments like elegance, grace, and lifelong bonds, making it a popular choice for expressing heartfelt emotions in various situations. Because of its delicate, rose-like appearance, the lisianthus is also linked to messages of romantic admiration, peacefulness, and charm.
