(79) First Party (1)
Ariana was freed from her past memories, recalling the sharp, shining amethyst eyes.
'I couldn't understand what he was saying then, but now I do.'
As Andrei said, there was nothing good at the end of Ariana's path.
'But there's something the little Duke doesn't know.'
A bitter smile appeared on Ariana's lips.
'The path I've walked has never been good from the beginning.'
From the moment she was born, Ariana had to walk a path full of filth.
Now that they had returned, the East was showing Ariana a clean and beautiful path. The path unfolding before her eyes was so dazzling, she couldn't even come to her senses.
But the dirt on Ariana's feet still hadn't fallen off, and she thought she'd probably never be able to get rid of it until the day she died.
'The Duke of Hern may seem kind, but he's actually a sharp-witted person. That's why he must have figured out my plan back then. I'll have to be careful around the Duke.'
Still, she was relieved to hear that Isaac would come in person. She had faith that Isaac would be able to restore Sini's condition, something even Uriel, the attending doctor, could not do.
'He's a grateful person.'
Catherine opened the chest. Inside was a surprising number of expensive-looking items, including necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
“This was sent by Duke and Duchess Langsty White, this was sent by Count and Countess Fellowes White, this was sent by the previous Countess and Duchess, this was sent by Lord Averaster, and this was sent by Lady Isabelle.”
She didn't know that the whole family would send gifts.
Ariana blinked, examining the gleaming jewelry in the locker. There was a vast array of gems and shapes, enough to match any dress.
“I could open a jewelry store.”
Catherine smiled slightly at Ariana's words, and this time she brought a few pairs of shoes.
“These shoes were sent by His Excellency the little Lord, and the rest were sent by Lady Isabelle.”
She didn't know Geor send a gift to her. Ariana stared blankly at the shoes Geor had sent her.
The white shoes matched the night-sky dress, which transitioned from lavender to deep purple. Perhaps the low heels were a consideration for Ariana, who likely didn't wear heels often.
The front part of the shoes, covered in white silk, was densely inlaid with amethysts, and the number of amethysts decreased as they approached the ankles, giving the shoes a similar feel to the increasingly darker dress.
“I’ll take these shoes.”
“Isn’t this good? His Excellency has a surprising sense of style.”
After the maids had dried her hair, the arduous process began: painstaking makeup, a corset, petticoats, and a dress over them.
After they had finished putting on her dress, they combed her hair, and the skilled maids styled her hair in various ways.
“This style suits you well, too.”
“That style suited you well earlier, too...”
“There really isn’t a style that doesn’t suit you, Princess.”
Catherine and the maids, who were busy with her hair while lavishing compliments on it, had a hard time deciding on a style.
She braided the hair behind her ears, securing it in place at the back. Pearl hairpins were placed densely throughout the braids. It looked like white flowers blooming on her sky-blue hair.
After choosing a necklace, earrings, and a bracelet, four hours had already passed.
The maid came and announced that guests were arriving.
After smiling at Catherine, who kept exclaiming how beautiful she was, Ariana headed to the window. The breeze blowing through the open window was lukewarm, and the sun was blazing brightly.
The humid air of the West was so dry that it was hard to breathe in the summer, but the air of the East was so cool that it was not suffocating even in the heat.
The wind carried the scent of flowers from the garden.
'It's nice weather.'
Whenever Sini saw Ariana, she would always hum 'Good Weather'.
For Sini, good weather might be similar to the 'permission to live' that Ariana so desperately wanted.
You deserve to live. There is a purpose to being born. I am glad you were born.
The things Ariana wanted so badly.
She saw carriages passing through the expansive grounds of Chase Castle, stopping in front of the central garden, and servants guiding those who got off the carriages.
An endless procession of carriages, beautifully dressed nobles.
Ariana barely pushed away the memories of the past that came flooding back at the sight of them.
Catherine handed Ariana a card with a fancy design.
"Princess, these are dance cards. The maid will bring them to you before you leave, but I brought one just in case. It contains today's performance order, and on the back are the names of the gentlemen who requested a dance."
Catherine gave Ariana a dance card in advance, as she was unable to attend a proper party while at Bronte Manor.
Ariana had received this dance card many times, but she accepted it, pretending not to know anything about it.
At the entrance to the banquet hall, dance cards are hung with the names of the ladies and gentlemen attending that day. Gentlemen enter their names on the cards of the ladies they wish to dance with.
You don't have to write your name on a card to dance, nor do you have to dance with the person named on the card. However, it's customary to dance in the order in which the names appear on the card.
Ariana's dance card was never full.
Viscountess Alfreich, a low-ranking noblewoman of the West clan, attracted no one's attention. The men who occasionally wrote her name were those who approached her, preying on her family's wealth.
'There will be a lot today.'
Ariana, along with her grandmother, Carradine, was the most prestigious woman in this kingdom. There were likely many nobles who would take advantage of this day to impress Ariana.
'Can I hold out?'
Ariana looked down at her feet.
The shoes that Geor had given her were comfortable because they had soft, fluffy fabric lining the inside, but even that was too much for her delicate feet that hadn't had much experience wearing shoes.
As time passed and all the guests entered, it was time for Ariana to leave.
A servant arrived and announced that the Eastern Lord was waiting. Catherine, who was checking Ariana's attire for the last time, asked.
“Don’t you have a dance card?”
“Ah, that’s... The little Duke of White didn’t prepare a dance card for the Princess. He thought the Princess would be tired.”
“Oh my, the little Duke is very considerate.”
Catherine, perhaps worried about Ariana having to dance nonstop, was relieved to find out she didn't have a dance card. Ariana was no exception.
She thanked Averaster inwardly and followed the attendant down the hallway.
Russell was waiting for Ariana in the first-floor lobby. Russell's eyes widened at the sight of Ariana.
As Ariana stopped in front of Russell, he looked down at his daughter with a mixture of emotions, his eyes reddening. Ariana watched with amazement as her father's eyes flushed.
“You’re really... pretty, Ariana.”
“It’s thanks to my father who looked after me.”
“You're really pretty.”
Hearing his choked voice, Ariana felt like crying for no reason.
Russell turned his head to the side for a moment, his expression softening. Then he smiled at Ariana and extended his arm. Ariana gently placed her hand on her father's arm.
She felt strange.
She never dreamed of heading to a party with her father's arm. Her heart raced as something she never dreamed of became a reality.
The banquet hall was located a short distance from the main building. As they walked through the garden, there was no conversation between the couple. However, Ariana felt as if they had exchanged a great deal of words.
The servant waiting in front of the hall opened his eyes wide at Ariana. His lips parted.
“Princess, you are truly beautiful.”
Russell smiled happily at the servant's words.
The attendant opened the banquet hall door and shouted.
“His Excellency the Eastern Lord and Princess, enter!”
The music paused for a moment. Everyone in the banquet hall turned their attention to the open door.
The first thing that caught their eyes was the Eastern Lord with hair as dark as the night sky. Tall and broad-shouldered, he looked like a bear.
Then they saw Ariana.
Ariana, her hand on her giant father's arm, looked so tiny she resembled a fairy—a sky-blue fairy flying through the night sky.
The smile that filled her small face was sweet enough to make their heart flutter, and her silent steps were light and graceful like a butterfly.
The orchestra, which had been staring blankly at Ariana, suddenly came to their senses and began playing. Sweet music filled the banquet hall, as if scattering flowers at Ariana's feet.
Soon, the woman arrived at the chair set up at the opposite end of the door.
Russell's heart swelled as he saw people looking up to him, no, his daughter.
He always dreamed of a moment like this.
From the moment Ariana was born, from the moment he held her tiny body in his arms, from the moment her tiny hand grasped his finger, Russell had been yearning for this moment every single day.
Now that his wish had come true, Russell felt like he had gained the world just by having Ariana by his side.
A faint smile appeared on the lips of the Eastern Monarch, who rarely smiled.
“Thank you for coming to celebrate my daughter’s return.”
His heart was warm.
“Enjoy it.”
Ariana was freed from her past memories, recalling the sharp, shining amethyst eyes.
'I couldn't understand what he was saying then, but now I do.'
As Andrei said, there was nothing good at the end of Ariana's path.
'But there's something the little Duke doesn't know.'
A bitter smile appeared on Ariana's lips.
'The path I've walked has never been good from the beginning.'
From the moment she was born, Ariana had to walk a path full of filth.
Now that they had returned, the East was showing Ariana a clean and beautiful path. The path unfolding before her eyes was so dazzling, she couldn't even come to her senses.
But the dirt on Ariana's feet still hadn't fallen off, and she thought she'd probably never be able to get rid of it until the day she died.
'The Duke of Hern may seem kind, but he's actually a sharp-witted person. That's why he must have figured out my plan back then. I'll have to be careful around the Duke.'
Still, she was relieved to hear that Isaac would come in person. She had faith that Isaac would be able to restore Sini's condition, something even Uriel, the attending doctor, could not do.
'He's a grateful person.'
She remembered Isaac's bright smile.
'He's a bright person.'
She felt fortunate to have such a person by Cyrus' side.
As Ariana pulled the rope beside her bed, the maid came in. She asked the maid to bring her a bath and breakfast.
Lavender petals floated in the warm water in the bathtub. Not long after she soaked in the fragrant bath, Catherine came in carrying a silver platter.
There were a few dishes on the plate that could be picked up and eaten with one's hands.
“I told you to prepare a light breakfast since you have to wear a dress today.”
Catherine said, putting the tray down on the table.
“Yeah, thank you.”
Biscuits topped with chopped vegetables and ham, tossed in a refreshing sauce, nuts tossed in milk and honey, and a few pieces of fresh fruit.
After Catherine left, Ariana picked up a biscuit and put it in her mouth.
'The day will come when I can sit in a fragrant bath and have a meal.'
It was a luxury she had never enjoyed, even after marrying Ingo Alfreich and becoming a Viscountess.
After a leisurely bath, she went out and sat on the chair at the vanity. The maids who had been waiting came over and dried Ariana's wet hair.
Meanwhile, Catherine brought out several large jewelry boxes and stacked them on the dressing table.
“This is an ornament sent by His Excellency, the Lord of East.”
'He's a bright person.'
She felt fortunate to have such a person by Cyrus' side.
As Ariana pulled the rope beside her bed, the maid came in. She asked the maid to bring her a bath and breakfast.
Lavender petals floated in the warm water in the bathtub. Not long after she soaked in the fragrant bath, Catherine came in carrying a silver platter.
There were a few dishes on the plate that could be picked up and eaten with one's hands.
“I told you to prepare a light breakfast since you have to wear a dress today.”
Catherine said, putting the tray down on the table.
“Yeah, thank you.”
Biscuits topped with chopped vegetables and ham, tossed in a refreshing sauce, nuts tossed in milk and honey, and a few pieces of fresh fruit.
After Catherine left, Ariana picked up a biscuit and put it in her mouth.
'The day will come when I can sit in a fragrant bath and have a meal.'
It was a luxury she had never enjoyed, even after marrying Ingo Alfreich and becoming a Viscountess.
After a leisurely bath, she went out and sat on the chair at the vanity. The maids who had been waiting came over and dried Ariana's wet hair.
Meanwhile, Catherine brought out several large jewelry boxes and stacked them on the dressing table.
“This is an ornament sent by His Excellency, the Lord of East.”
Catherine opened the chest. Inside was a surprising number of expensive-looking items, including necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
“This was sent by Duke and Duchess Langsty White, this was sent by Count and Countess Fellowes White, this was sent by the previous Countess and Duchess, this was sent by Lord Averaster, and this was sent by Lady Isabelle.”
She didn't know that the whole family would send gifts.
Ariana blinked, examining the gleaming jewelry in the locker. There was a vast array of gems and shapes, enough to match any dress.
“I could open a jewelry store.”
Catherine smiled slightly at Ariana's words, and this time she brought a few pairs of shoes.
“These shoes were sent by His Excellency the little Lord, and the rest were sent by Lady Isabelle.”
She didn't know Geor send a gift to her. Ariana stared blankly at the shoes Geor had sent her.
The white shoes matched the night-sky dress, which transitioned from lavender to deep purple. Perhaps the low heels were a consideration for Ariana, who likely didn't wear heels often.
The front part of the shoes, covered in white silk, was densely inlaid with amethysts, and the number of amethysts decreased as they approached the ankles, giving the shoes a similar feel to the increasingly darker dress.
“I’ll take these shoes.”
“Isn’t this good? His Excellency has a surprising sense of style.”
After the maids had dried her hair, the arduous process began: painstaking makeup, a corset, petticoats, and a dress over them.
After they had finished putting on her dress, they combed her hair, and the skilled maids styled her hair in various ways.
“This style suits you well, too.”
“That style suited you well earlier, too...”
“There really isn’t a style that doesn’t suit you, Princess.”
Catherine and the maids, who were busy with her hair while lavishing compliments on it, had a hard time deciding on a style.
She braided the hair behind her ears, securing it in place at the back. Pearl hairpins were placed densely throughout the braids. It looked like white flowers blooming on her sky-blue hair.
After choosing a necklace, earrings, and a bracelet, four hours had already passed.
The maid came and announced that guests were arriving.
After smiling at Catherine, who kept exclaiming how beautiful she was, Ariana headed to the window. The breeze blowing through the open window was lukewarm, and the sun was blazing brightly.
The humid air of the West was so dry that it was hard to breathe in the summer, but the air of the East was so cool that it was not suffocating even in the heat.
The wind carried the scent of flowers from the garden.
'It's nice weather.'
Whenever Sini saw Ariana, she would always hum 'Good Weather'.
For Sini, good weather might be similar to the 'permission to live' that Ariana so desperately wanted.
You deserve to live. There is a purpose to being born. I am glad you were born.
The things Ariana wanted so badly.
She saw carriages passing through the expansive grounds of Chase Castle, stopping in front of the central garden, and servants guiding those who got off the carriages.
An endless procession of carriages, beautifully dressed nobles.
Ariana barely pushed away the memories of the past that came flooding back at the sight of them.
Catherine handed Ariana a card with a fancy design.
"Princess, these are dance cards. The maid will bring them to you before you leave, but I brought one just in case. It contains today's performance order, and on the back are the names of the gentlemen who requested a dance."
Catherine gave Ariana a dance card in advance, as she was unable to attend a proper party while at Bronte Manor.
Ariana had received this dance card many times, but she accepted it, pretending not to know anything about it.
At the entrance to the banquet hall, dance cards are hung with the names of the ladies and gentlemen attending that day. Gentlemen enter their names on the cards of the ladies they wish to dance with.
You don't have to write your name on a card to dance, nor do you have to dance with the person named on the card. However, it's customary to dance in the order in which the names appear on the card.
Ariana's dance card was never full.
Viscountess Alfreich, a low-ranking noblewoman of the West clan, attracted no one's attention. The men who occasionally wrote her name were those who approached her, preying on her family's wealth.
'There will be a lot today.'
Ariana, along with her grandmother, Carradine, was the most prestigious woman in this kingdom. There were likely many nobles who would take advantage of this day to impress Ariana.
'Can I hold out?'
Ariana looked down at her feet.
The shoes that Geor had given her were comfortable because they had soft, fluffy fabric lining the inside, but even that was too much for her delicate feet that hadn't had much experience wearing shoes.
As time passed and all the guests entered, it was time for Ariana to leave.
A servant arrived and announced that the Eastern Lord was waiting. Catherine, who was checking Ariana's attire for the last time, asked.
“Don’t you have a dance card?”
“Ah, that’s... The little Duke of White didn’t prepare a dance card for the Princess. He thought the Princess would be tired.”
“Oh my, the little Duke is very considerate.”
Catherine, perhaps worried about Ariana having to dance nonstop, was relieved to find out she didn't have a dance card. Ariana was no exception.
She thanked Averaster inwardly and followed the attendant down the hallway.
Russell was waiting for Ariana in the first-floor lobby. Russell's eyes widened at the sight of Ariana.
As Ariana stopped in front of Russell, he looked down at his daughter with a mixture of emotions, his eyes reddening. Ariana watched with amazement as her father's eyes flushed.
“You’re really... pretty, Ariana.”
“It’s thanks to my father who looked after me.”
“You're really pretty.”
Hearing his choked voice, Ariana felt like crying for no reason.
Russell turned his head to the side for a moment, his expression softening. Then he smiled at Ariana and extended his arm. Ariana gently placed her hand on her father's arm.
She felt strange.
She never dreamed of heading to a party with her father's arm. Her heart raced as something she never dreamed of became a reality.
The banquet hall was located a short distance from the main building. As they walked through the garden, there was no conversation between the couple. However, Ariana felt as if they had exchanged a great deal of words.
The servant waiting in front of the hall opened his eyes wide at Ariana. His lips parted.
“Princess, you are truly beautiful.”
Russell smiled happily at the servant's words.
The attendant opened the banquet hall door and shouted.
“His Excellency the Eastern Lord and Princess, enter!”
The music paused for a moment. Everyone in the banquet hall turned their attention to the open door.
The first thing that caught their eyes was the Eastern Lord with hair as dark as the night sky. Tall and broad-shouldered, he looked like a bear.
Then they saw Ariana.
Ariana, her hand on her giant father's arm, looked so tiny she resembled a fairy—a sky-blue fairy flying through the night sky.
The smile that filled her small face was sweet enough to make their heart flutter, and her silent steps were light and graceful like a butterfly.
The orchestra, which had been staring blankly at Ariana, suddenly came to their senses and began playing. Sweet music filled the banquet hall, as if scattering flowers at Ariana's feet.
Soon, the woman arrived at the chair set up at the opposite end of the door.
Russell's heart swelled as he saw people looking up to him, no, his daughter.
He always dreamed of a moment like this.
From the moment Ariana was born, from the moment he held her tiny body in his arms, from the moment her tiny hand grasped his finger, Russell had been yearning for this moment every single day.
Now that his wish had come true, Russell felt like he had gained the world just by having Ariana by his side.
A faint smile appeared on the lips of the Eastern Monarch, who rarely smiled.
“Thank you for coming to celebrate my daughter’s return.”
His heart was warm.
“Enjoy it.”
I will change the terms northern duke, eastern duke and western duke to northern lord, eastern lord and western lord to differentiate them from the dukes below them.
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