OIAR - Chapter 14

Eli lightly pushed Shioana's back forward, causing her to have to brace herself to keep from falling.

Shioana felt dazed by the gazes directed at her. None of the wonderful greetings she'd practiced so many times came to mind.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Shioana. Yes. Welcome."

She felt her back stiffen at the sigh of Eli standing behind her, but thanks to the band starting to play, she was able to escape the awkward situation.

Because the guests were busy moving their feet to dance.

Shioana let out a short sigh and lowered her head.

"You're such an idiot who can't even say hello properly."

Eli, who was dancing the first song together with her, couldn't hide his discomfort as soon as he held her hand.

"Sorry, I'm sorry. I was just nervous."

She wasn't usually like this, but she started making these mistakes in front of her brother and father. Eli spoke coldly, not even glancing at her.

"Shioana. Lift your head. Today is a very important day."

"... Yes."

Shioana whispered softly and then tightened her back.

But no matter how hard she tried, everything around her was bothering her.

Her heels were sore from the tightness of her new shoes, and the pain got worse. It felt like her skin was peeling off.

"Ah..."

The wound rubbed against her shoes, and she could barely contain the groans that erupted with every movement. Furthermore, the tight corset made it difficult to breathe.

Thanks to practicing dancing with Etienne, Shioana barely managed to avoid stepping on her brother's foot.

As the song was about to end, Shioana carefully opened her mouth to breathe.

"Can I take a break for a moment?"

Eli frowned as he looked at the pale, exhausted Shioana.

"I'll give you ten minutes, so go fix your makeup and come back."

He also added that there are ten more people who can dance with Shioana.

"Remember that the honor of the Evgenia family is at stake."

"All right."

***

Shioana, who had said she was going to the powder room, hid herself in the end room that had not been cleaned up. She sat down in the corner and kept gasping for breath.

She didn't even have the energy to lift a finger, so she couldn't even wipe the sweat from her forehead.

"...What is all this?”

In the past, she used to wish for Regbel to be crowded with people.

“It’s not fun at all.”

It was difficult to greet strangers or even dance. Perhaps, as Eli had said, she was truly useless.

It was the time when the sweat that had flowed down her cheek was about to drip down my chin.

"Ugh..."

There was a noise, and two or three men entered the room.

It would have been embarrassing if Eli had found out about this.

As she hid under the desk and covered her mouth with her hand, someone laughed frivolously.

"Look here, maybe a ghost will come out?"

"Eli, you little punk, you must have been hungry."

"I heard you have a huge debt, so that's probably why."

"Is it a debutante or a marriage business..."

"Enough with the boring talk, let's taste this."

Soon, she thought she smelled cigarette smoke, and the room began to fill with smoke.

"This is something I brought from Pasa, so it's definitely effective."

"Well, the taste is different even from the first sip."

The long shadows of anticipation for the event led to a long discussion about cigarettes.

However. Shioana was pondering the story of her brother, which was briefly mentioned earlier. Then they said something she couldn't understand again.

"Did you see that girl today?"

"She was shivering, I don't know if it was just acting."

"Just as Eli said, her face is quite pretty."

"Whether it's like that or not, it's none of our business, so go back and deal with that beautiful lady."

The men who had been chatting about trivial things while smoking cigarettes soon left the room.

"..."

Shioana was alone again.

She emerged from under the desk, coughing in the acrid smoke. Shioana, holding onto the wall, quickly opened the door.

As the fresh breeze came in, breathing became a little better.

“...It’s a marriage business.”

She was confused when she accidentally overheard someone's conversation.

'This is clearly a story related to her brother Eli.'

The expressions were all strange and creepy.

A woman with a rather sallow face, trembling.

She knew who it was, but she couldn't admit it.

'No, there's no way my brother would do that.'

Because Eli is her family.

Shioana, who was unfolding her crumpled dress, shook her head vigorously.

"I have to go back quickly."

It would be embarrassing if her brother got angry again because she was late.

As she hurriedly left the room, a cloud of dust rose up behind her.

***

The usually quiet Regbel was noisy all day.

The desolate Regbel didn't have many corners he liked, but the desolateness suited his taste.

This was no different from where he lived.

'...Furthermore.'

He wiped his forehead, recalling the sight of Shioana he had briefly seen before the ball began.

She always wore dresses that seemed a little short, and her hair was either loose or tied back. He had never seen her wear makeup or put on any makeup.

Today, Shioana, who was like that, was wearing a pure white dress and pearl decorations.

Her bare shoulders were clearly visible, and the slender neckline was exquisitely beautiful. His heart sank at the sight.

Etienne was a man who stuck to his resolutions, no matter how difficult they were. With a strong will, he gave up everything he had and chose a life of slavery.

But this time, he felt like he had failed.

'...Shioana Evgenia.'

He tried not to get attached to Regbel, but at some point, she infiltrated his life.

Shioana crossed the line he had drawn too easily.

Without any notice or warning.

The image of Shioana smiling brightly after saving him from being bitten by a snake was etched in his mind.

'...What if you smile so brightly?'

After his brother died, Etienne thought he would never have anything to laugh about or anyone to laugh at him.

'I knew it.'

But before he knew it, Shioana had entered Etienne's parched chest. He tried to ignore her several times, but failed.

A resigned Etienne decided to stay in Regbel until she could leave.

'Yes, because I owe her my life, just like she said.'

Even though it wasn't what he wanted.

It would be our duty to repay the favor we have received.

At that moment, the boisterous laughter coming from the main building brought him out of his deep thoughts.

'She's probably in there too.'

But somehow, he didn't like the idea of Shioana wearing a pretty dress at the ball.

'What does that have to do with me?'

Nothing changed even though he failed to escape her smile. Here, Etienne was just a slave, and she was a noblewoman.

The days when these two different people can be together here are numbered.

"Our young lady will soon meet a wonderful gentleman and get married."

He heard news he didn't want to know before through Martha, who occasionally stops by here.

Eli is giving it his all for this debutante, and there's already a gentleman proposing to her. Shioana will probably leave Regbel soon.

'I can't do this.'

Etienne jumped up and headed straight for the backyard, pulling his hat down.

"The young master ordered us not to go near the main building today."

As he recalled Joseph's words, he didn't even glance at the main building visible in the distance. Etienne's face hardened coldly as he moved further away from the lively music.

***

Back at the ballroom, Shioana made no major mistakes. Furthermore, the gentlemen she danced with were all kind. They overlooked her minor mistakes and offered only kind words.

'I'm so glad.'

Whenever she made eye contact with Eli, who was standing there holding a glass of champagne, he would give her a faint smile.

Her fear of ruining her debutante by making a series of mistakes has gradually calmed down.

‘What are you doing right now?'

As she paced the ballroom, she thought of Etienne, who was no longer there. If he dressed up like the gentleman before her, he'd probably be the most striking figure at the ball.

As she thought about him, the song ended, and Shioana danced to several songs in a row.

And the next gate was waiting for her.

"They say treating ladies is just as important as treating gentlemen."

Her brother told her she needed to show herself as the mistress of the Evgenia household. As Shioana took a deep breath and entered the lounge where the ladies were resting, a crowd quickly gathered around her.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Evgenia."

"The Count kept you hidden so well that I'm only seeing yiu now."

"Hello. It's nice to meet you like this."

Shioana bit her lip as she greeted her as politely as possible.

'What do I do next?'

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