“Ugh… this is endless,” I muttered. The peas kept coming, an endless stream. These were the peas I had brought from the contract farm.
For a moment, I wondered why I had gotten myself into this mess, but then I thought of Prince Zeta’s encouraging face and mustered up the strength to continue.
“Vivi, is it still not done?”
It seemed like Sasha and Armin had just arrived. By the time they came, I was double-checking the last dish to send up to the ballroom.
“Sasha! Armin!”
I rushed over to them. They looked exhausted, as though they had come in a hurry.
“We finished late. We wanted to come help earlier, but…”
“It’s fine. It’s almost done,” I said casually, trying to downplay my own exhaustion.
“By the way, Vivi, why is your dress…”
I hadn’t had time to change clothes after dealing with the beans. My bright green dress looked good on me, but it didn’t match Armin’s at all. Our clothes were completely different in texture and color, which bothered me a little.
If only I had more time, I could have changed, even if the dress wasn’t fully dry. I hadn’t expected it to take this long.
But if I showed any sign of frustration, I was sure Armin would find out what had happened to me. So, I forced a neutral expression.
“Oh, I spilled some water while preparing…”
“Water? How did that happen?”
“It’s not important! Oh no, look at the time! Let’s hurry and go!”
As soon as Sasha, my twin, noticed that my tone was off and was about to ask more, I quickly linked arms with both of them and rushed into the ballroom.
With our arrival, the ballroom door closed behind us. The music that had been gently filling the hall came to a sudden stop.
Prince Zeta entered the ballroom, escorting the Empress and Emperor. Even with the Empress’s grand entrance, the whispers around the room didn’t die down. It seemed the buzz was all about the mysterious black-haired prince.
His hair, unlike the Emperor or Empress, was enough to spark people’s curiosity and murmurs.
I locked eyes with Prince Zeta as he stood there, escorting the Empress. I couldn’t help but smile.
‘It’s okay!’
And, discreetly, I gave him a thumbs-up.
Was it my imagination, or did he smile back at me?
As our eyes met, I saw him smile softly.
“It is a relief that we are able to hold the royal ball safely this year,” the Empress said, and the murmurs in the room quieted instantly. She grasped the Prince’s hand even more firmly as she stood by his side.
“This year is special as Prince Zeta has come of age. In celebration of his adulthood, we have chosen green as the color of this year’s ball, and it is wonderful to see it complement everyone so well,” the Empress continued, her gaze sweeping from left to right.
The young ladies, eager to catch the Empress’s attention, hurriedly adjusted their postures and attire.
“I believe everyone is aware of the additional entertainment we’ve added this year—the Green Lady Selection Contest. Each lady will showcase her talents and compete for the honor of being named the best,” the Empress announced.
A maid standing just behind her opened a jewelry box, revealing its contents to the noblewomen.
“The prize will be a necklace made of the finest pink diamonds and the honor of being Prince Zeta’s first dance partner at the ball. So, please, do your best.”
At the Empress’s gentle smile and soft voice, everyone eagerly nodded in agreement.
Indeed, the curtains had finally risen. The Green Lady Selection Contest had begun.
* * *
The Green Lady Selection Contest was a collaboration between the Empress and me. To quickly eliminate the rumors surrounding Prince Zeta, I suggested the idea of the contest, and the Empress devised the plan.
To be chosen as the Green Lady, the young ladies attending the ball must showcase their talents. The one who displays the most outstanding talent would be crowned the Green Lady.
I, of course, had no desire to be chosen as the Green Lady. What I truly needed was…
‘A stage where I can make my presentation.’
For that reason, I needed as many pea pods as there were noblewomen, and I had to prepare in advance to ensure everything went smoothly.
As the Green Lady Selection Contest began, the young ladies started showcasing their talents. Some sang, while others recited poems they had written.
The one who received the most applause was Lady Rose. Not only did she have the most powerful supporters, but her piano performance was truly extraordinary, and I couldn’t help but admire it as well.
“Aren’t you and that lady on bad terms?”
Sasha, who was applauding beside me, asked with an expression of disbelief.
“Her piano skills are truly impressive, though.”
Unfortunately for the next young lady after Lady Rose, she had chosen the same talent—piano playing.
Several young ladies took the stage, performed, and left. Finally, it was my turn.
“Next, Vivian Roha. Lady Roha, please come up to the stage.”
I stepped forward, my heart pounding with nervousness. I had to do well, as I had practiced, but the crowd’s eyes on me were different from when I practiced alone. Could I perform well in front of everyone?
Coincidentally, the group of Lady Rose was sitting in the most visible spot. They looked utterly shocked to see that I, who had once looked like a drenched rat, now appeared much cleaner and more elegant.
Ugh. Seeing those people made me even more nervous. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.
“I am…”
In my nervousness, my voice cracked. The sight of Lady Rose’s group sneering made it even more apparent.
That reaction, however, worked in my favor. My anger fueled me. The thought that I could not lose to them calmed my mind. I cleared my throat twice and opened my mouth again.
“My talent today is reading.”
“Reading?”
“That’s right. The reason I received an imperial medal from His Majesty the Emperor was all thanks to my passion for reading, which has been my hobby and specialty since childhood.”
“Ah! So you’re the one…!”
At first, some people looked at me with confusion, wondering what reading had to do with showcasing a talent, but soon they nodded in understanding.
“I’ve come here today to share something I’ve recently learned with all of you.”
Once I started speaking, the words flowed effortlessly. The lines I had practiced over and over again came out naturally, and I could have easily been mistaken for a smooth-talking peddler.
‘Alright. I can do this.’
As I continued speaking, I could feel the atmosphere growing more intense. The noblewomen were starting to hang on every word I said, so I strategically paused to draw their attention even more.
“Now, I’m going to give you all something. It’s a pea pod.”
“A pea pod? Do you mean the kind you eat, Lady?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Hah? A pea pod?”
I signaled to the maids behind me, and they began moving down from the podium, offering the pea pods to the nobles.
An odd scene unfolded, where everyone was standing with a pea pod in hand. I spoke seriously and solemnly.
“Now, please open your pea pods.”
The nobles, almost hypnotized, began to open their pods.
“We’re going to check the peas inside. Is there anyone who only has round peas in theirs?”
A few hands went up around the room.
“I have wrinkled peas. Is there anyone who only has wrinkled peas?”
Again, a similar number of people raised their hands.
“Is anyone’s pod mixed with both round and wrinkled peas?”
This time, many hands shot up.
I took a deep breath. A proper silence settled in, focusing everyone’s attention on me.
“A few months ago, I read a book in a dream. An angel gave it to me as a gift.”
“What? In a dream?”
I nodded nonchalantly, as if it were the most natural thing. Initially, I thought of making up some foreign book, but I decided against it. If someone decided to investigate, I would be caught. Instead, I chose to weave in a religious explanation.
“Most people forget what happens in their dreams.”
“Most people?”
“Well, since my hobby and specialty has always been reading, I can remember every detail of that book clearly.”
In truth, the content of that book was something I could never forget, especially as someone who had received a higher education in South Korea.
“Now, these peas come from the very field I personally contracted. I was really curious to see if the contents of the book were true.”
I paused, giving the crowd some suspense. One impatient nobleman couldn’t hold it in any longer and asked loudly.
“So, what’s the content of the book that’s taking so much of our time, Lady?”
“Ah, you all probably think so, don’t you?”
“No, but what—”
“It’s like the saying goes: ‘What you sow is what you reap.’”
The room fell silent. I gently lifted my hair with my hand.
“My father and mother both have brown hair. So do I, and so does my older brother, Alessandro. My eyes are exactly the same as my mother’s.”
“Well, of course children resemble their parents!”
Someone yelled out as if they thought I was stating the obvious.
“But here’s the thing.”
I knew how much tension the phrase “But here’s the thing” could cause, having listened to many years of the famous actor’s performances. That line always suggested a twist, and the room fell silent once more.
“I planted only one kind of seed in this field.”
I held up a round pea from the pod and continued.
“It was these round peas.”
“What? Round peas?”
As people murmured, confused by my words, those who understood started to show expressions of alarm. The twist had landed.
