Today is the day of Erencia's debutante ball.
She learned that clothing should be worn according to the place, time, and situation where you are going out.
It is a phrase that Agnes has heard until she was sick of hearing it ever since she started serving Erencia.
"It’s quite unconventional. As you know, heavily puffed-up skirts are the trend these days."
Erencia knows, too.
She knows this dress is way out of fashion and overly sexy.
A normal debutante would never have worn it, but Erencia's goal was to ruin the debutante.
People were surprised to see her, and the daughter of the Novellita family was pointed at for not knowing the dress code; to make matters worse, inappropriate for the situation, rumors circulated that Novellita's daughter was the heir to the family...
The Novellita family's reputation will plummet vertically.
Furthermore, if the banquet is ruined because of Erencia, she will also incur the resentment of the young ladies holding their debutante balls on the same day.
That their one and only debutante ball was ruined because of Erencia.
"I'm worried about what Sir Euclid would say if he saw this."
“He’ll be surprised, right?”
And that too in a very negative way.
Agnes nodded slowly. Her face was full of worry.
Erencia, filled with anticipation, smiled broadly.
'I've completely lost all affection for you, so I'm telling you to kick me out, Sir Euclid.'
I will show you the end of obsession and lingering attachment.
This is the golden opportunity to turn most of the Empire's daughters into enemies!
'If he sees it today, he'll probably get sick of it.'
He already saw her choosing clothes at Andre's dress shop, but he never imagined she would actually wear them.
She felt good at the thought of him running away in surprise.
Erencia giggled.
"Miss, your smile is strange."
"Really? I seemed like a villain?"
"Very much."
Annes whispered softly.
This laugh is nice. I should use it later.
Erencia happily finished grooming, picturing Euclid being surprised and flustered.
***
"E, Erencia?"
The first person to be surprised upon seeing Erencia was Duke Novellita.
He gaped at his daughter's unconventional dress.
“Why, father?”
"Why don't you change your clothes?"
Erencia's dress was an outfit that would not be welcomed in an empire where women who look pure and cute are considered the best.
"Right, Erencia. I think a pink or yellow dress would be better than that, too."
A bright red dress.
Elbers shook his head.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
Erencia spun around once in front of her family.
Duke Novellita and his family did not answer and kept their mouths tightly shut like clams.
Because honestly, it was beautiful.
As everyone avoided eye contact and did not answer, Erencia let out a sigh.
"I'm a Novellita. I don't want to wear a dress with a similar design to the other young ladies."
Erencia spoke with an arrogant expression.
"I'm the main character today, aren't I?"
If she wore it with the intention of attracting attention, she had overachieved her goal.
She captivated their attention so much that they couldn't take their eyes off her.
"That's right. Kids these days wear dresses with identical designs, completely lacking in individuality. It wasn't like that back in my day."
Erencia's reinforcements appeared.
It was Duchess Novellita, whose eyes were as cold as ice and looked exactly like Erencia's.
She elegantly came down the stairs and placed her hand on Erencia's hump-like back.
It was spring, but it was still chilly at night.
Erencia's skin was cold.
"I guess I'll enjoy it a little."
However, Duchess Novellita did not wrap her shawl around Erencia.
"You're so charming, especially your back view. You really are my daughter."
Once Duchess Novellita stepped forward to take Erencia's side, no one spoke of Erencia's attire anymore.
Duke and Duchess Novellita's relationship deteriorated rapidly starting a year ago. Since then, the couple has not spoken a word to each other.
She doesn't know what happened before that, but as far as Erencia knows, that is how it was.
Whenever a clash occurred, Duke Novellita completely avoided it.
It was the same today.
Duke Novellita did not like Erencia's dress, but he closed his eyes because he did not want to speak to Duchess Novellita.
"Who is your partner today, Erencia?"
Duchess Novellita asked Erencia whether Duke Novellita ignored her or not.
Erencia turned around.
"Gredelu..."
"The carriage from the House of Gredelus has arrived, young lady."
They say even a tiger appears when you speak of it, but this person comes before she even finishes speaking.
Erencia looked at Duchess Novellita with a look that seemed to say, "You heard that, right?"
***
"Greetings, Duke Novellita."
As she opened the door to the Novellita mansion, Euclid, splendidly dressed in a black robe, greeted her.
"Sir Gredelus, no."
Although Euclid had not yet formally succeeded to the ducal title, he was acting as the Duke, so Duke Novellita addressed him as ‘Sir Gredelus’ and did not treat him with disrespect.
"You're our Erencia's partner today? That's going to be a bit tough."
It was a tone that mocked Euclid. It was a joke that felt a bit vulgar.
Euclid could not answer immediately because he could not grasp Duke Novellita's intentions.
However, with the appearance of Erencia, he immediately realized what Duke Novellita was trying to say.
"Hello, Sir Euclid. Is that the carriage I am going to have?"
"Ah..."
He ended up stupidly letting out an exclamation without even realizing it.
Erencia stopped and looked at Euclid. His expression was peculiar.
"Sir Euclid?"
Erencia called out to him, but Euclid reached out his hand instead of answering.
“Let’s get in.”
***
"The carriage looks nice. Is it white buffalo hide? This is good too, but I personally prefer dragon hide."
Erencia chattered away.
Everything from start to finish was nitpicking disguised as praise.
Euclid was listening to Erencia without any particular restrictions.
In the end, Erencia let out a long sigh.
"Am I that bad today?"
Euclid's left eyebrow twitched.
Did you look in the mirror before coming out?
She must not have seen it. If she had looked in the mirror, she wouldn't ask such a question.
He didn't know if he should say this, but she was incredibly beautiful today.
The moment Euclid saw her, he felt an intense sensation as if someone had struck the back of his head.
So Euclid reached out his hand to Erencia without even being able to say a single word of praise that he, as a noble's son, should have.
'Looking back, I was really stupid.'
Euclid replied after blaming himself for his stupidity.
"Great."
It was a very hard voice.
"I don't feel a single bit of sincerity."
Erencia grumbled.
It was entirely predictable that today's attire would not please Euclid.
Because he is an upright and rigid person.
The dress was neat in the front, but the back was deeply cut, and the shoulders were fully exposed.
On top of that, it was not a dress that flared out widely in a bell shape, but one that flowed softly along the curves of the body. It even had a long slit down the side to make it easier to walk in.
It is a dress that ordinary men wouldn't understand.
"Even if you don't like it, there is nothing I can do. Not only do I not have a dress to change into, but I also don't have the time, and above all, I don't want to wear the same thing."
Euclid stared intently at Erencia.
“Do whatever you want.”
Why are you explaining that to me?
Euclid faced Erencia. Erencia never averted her gaze first.
The longer they sat facing each other, the more stifling the inside of the carriage felt.
“Let me open the door.”
Eventually, Euclid was the first to turn his gaze and open the window.
Erencia's stray hairs fluttered in the wind.
Erencia hunched her shoulders, perhaps because the sudden wind was cold, and repeatedly stroked her forearm.
Euclid's gaze followed her hand.
'Damn it. I tied the cravat too tight.'
Euclid loosened his cravat with one hand, vowing that he would give Frederick a piece of his mind once he got off.
And took off his jacket.
Thud. His jacket fell onto Erencia's knees.
"What is it?"
"You can't close the window."
“Who says what?
Erencia snapped back.
He could just speak to and act kindly like he does with other people, but he can't do that with Erencia.
His cynical nature pops out without him even realizing it.
He was flustered whenever his twisted nature, which he had suppressed and hidden with reason, burst out.
Euclid sighed again, sat down beside Erencia, and picked up his jacket to drape it over her shoulders.
Euclid spoke to Erencia, who had widened her eyes, asking what he was doing.
"I absolutely hate spreading colds."
"Are you worried that I might be cold?"
"I'm worried I might catch a cold."
Erencia let out a faint chuckle.
"If you're worried, say you're worried."
Anyway, Euclid was a twisted person too.
It would be easier for that man to make enemies than for her.
Erencia took her eyes off Euclid and looked out the window.
The tips of the ears of the two people who had turned their heads to opposite sides were dyed the same color.
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