At debutante balls, partners often coordinated their outfits.
If Vivian had known in advance, she would have at least worn a red accessory. Since she hadn’t, she figured she could use her hair—after all, it was in the same red color family.
But Caesar didn’t react to her words at all.
He didn’t even glance at her meticulously groomed, glossy hair, which she had spent hours perfecting.
Instead, his gaze was locked elsewhere—toward the entrance of the ballroom, where guests were coming and going.
‘What is he looking at?’
Vivian was getting irritated at being ignored and was about to speak again.
“Your Majesty, perhaps—”
‘…Huh?’
She suddenly froze mid-sentence.
For the first time, Caesar’s cold, emotionless expression softened.
The icy sharpness in his eyes melted into warmth, and a gentle smile curved his lips, like ink spreading across water.
‘What… what is he looking at?’
Vivian whipped her head around to follow his gaze—and she immediately found the answer.
It wasn’t just Caesar.
Everyone in the ballroom was looking in the same direction.
A woman was walking toward them.
Her long, silver hair shimmered under the chandelier lights, and her pure white gown was so dazzling that it made Vivian’s own carefully prepared dress feel shamefully plain in comparison.
She moved with graceful confidence—composed, poised, neither arrogant nor timid.
But the most striking detail was the necklace around her neck.
It was a ruby necklace, every bit as dazzling as the ballroom’s grand decor.
A perfect match to Caesar’s uniform.
Vivian’s body stiffened.
The woman approaching them with a serene smile—
The one Vivian had assumed had backed down and run away—
Was Evelyn Chester.
****
Rumors spread—
Evelyn Chester is especially close to the emperor.
The Chester family is using the emperor’s favor to gain power.
I had never wanted those rumors.
Not because I cared what people thought, but because they attracted annoying pests.
Some people clung to me, hoping for a share of my influence, while others desperately tried to tear my family down. Dealing with people who approached me only for their own gain was a job in itself.
A provincial noble family’s sudden rise always came with gossip and misunderstandings. I knew countless rumors would surround my family and me.
Just like how, until recently, my presence as Caesar’s debutante partner had already become an accepted fact, despite no confirmation.
But our family never wanted power. I had no desire to be in the spotlight, either.
‘But if the rumors have already spread this far… that changes things.’
If even someone like Vivian felt bold enough to provoke me, then denying the rumors and hiding wouldn’t do me any good.
So I decided to embrace them.
‘Embrace them? No, I’ll make full use of them.’
If gaining power meant gaining enemies, then I just needed more power to crush them.
I straightened my back and walked toward Caesar, ensuring that the ruby necklace around my neck was on full display.
I could feel the weight of the ballroom’s collective gaze. Some guests whispered, clearly not recognizing me at first.
And why would they?
I was wearing a gown made from the same fabric as the emperor’s attire and a necklace so expensive that it made people gasp.
It would have been more shocking not to draw attention.
Caesar was standing with Vivian. Or rather, Vivian was clinging to him.
“Your Majesty.”
As I reached him, I bent my knees in a respectful curtsy.
“Evelyn.”
Caesar, who had been staring at me in a daze, took a step forward with a smile.
Naturally, he didn’t spare Vivian even a fraction of his attention.
“You’re a little late.”
His voice held no trace of reproach.
“Tialen was being a perfectionist, kept adjusting my dress and wouldn’t let me leave.”
A lie.
Tialen was fussy, but I had intentionally delayed my arrival.
I had wanted Vivian to assume Caesar was alone and approach him.
For no special reason.
Just… a little revenge.
A minor humiliation in return for the insults she had thrown at my family.
Judging by the way Vivian’s hands trembled as she gripped her skirts, it had worked beautifully.
And yet, she still refused to leave. It was almost impressive.
Caesar, on the other hand, seemed to have already forgotten she existed.
“We have some time before the dancing starts. Would you like something to eat?”
“Hmm…”
I glanced around. The ballroom was filled with trays of finger foods and servants offering drinks.
I considered getting a glass of champagne when—
Someone suddenly grabbed my waist from behind.
“Evelyn!”
Even before I turned, I recognized the voice.
“Princess Florentia!”
Floria still had her arms wrapped around my waist.
“What brings you here?”
After a brief curtsy, I looked up at her. She turned to Caesar and grinned.
“I came to celebrate my dear brother’s debutante, of course!”
Then, leaning closer, she whispered mischievously—
“But actually, I just wanted to have fun with you!”
“I can hear you.”
Caesar clicked his tongue and pried her off me.
The once-tense relationship between the two siblings had improved significantly.
Floria, having never known the full truth behind past events, had never held any resentment toward Caesar.
“But Evelyn! You look so beautiful today! And that necklace—what is that?”
At that moment, the ballroom’s noise dulled.
Everyone was waiting for my answer.
Especially Vivian, who was still standing nearby, glaring daggers at me.
“Ah, this…?”
I gave a sheepish smile.
I had been waiting for someone to ask—but for it to be Floria? That was perfect.
“His Majesty sent it to me as a birthday gift.”
“Brother did?!”
Floria’s exclamation rang out, covering my more subdued response.
It was almost as if we had rehearsed it.
I could easily guess what people were thinking now.
“The emperor gave her a birthday gift? Are they closer than we thought?”
“Just how deep is their relationship?”
“What about the pearl earrings I sent you? Why aren’t you wearing those?”
Floria pouted.
“They’re safely stored away. I’ll wear them next time I visit the princess’s palace.”
“Promise?”
She extended her pinky, and I linked mine with hers.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Vivian’s expression.
She looked utterly shattered.
“Why is she even getting gifts from the princess?”
I smiled just for her and watched as her hands curled into fists.
‘I think that’s enough teasing. She won’t bother me anymore.’
“Your Highness, have you eaten anything? Shall we get some snacks?”
I offered, hoping to use it as an excuse to slip away.
“Mmm… No, I’m fine with food…”
Floria trailed off, then suddenly turned her head.
“Hey, you.”
“Y-yes?”
She was pointing at Vivian.
Floria’s expression remained completely innocent as she continued.
“Don’t just stand there. I’m thirsty—go fetch me a drink.”
“…Excuse me?”
I bit my lip, barely suppressing a laugh.
Floria had mistaken Vivian for a servant.
And I wasn’t the only one holding back amusement. I could hear quiet snickers from a few nearby nobles.
Vivian’s face turned bright red.
“Your Highness, she’s an attendee of the debutante ball.”
I finally spoke, though I hardly needed to.
“Oh, really? I’m so sorry!”
Floria gasped dramatically.
“You were just standing there so stiffly—I assumed!”
She blinked and added with genuine regret,
“I didn’t even notice your pretty dress. My mistake!”
Vivian hastily bowed, mumbling an “It’s fine.”
‘They say innocence is the strongest weapon sometimes.’
I trembled with the effort to contain my laughter.
Vivian, now so red that her face matched her hair, turned and fled.
****
Before long, it was time for the first dance.
Without hesitation, Caesar extended his hand toward me, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Since it was so rare for a member of the imperial family to attend a debutante ball, there were no set rules for how things should proceed.
But naturally, Caesar and I became the ones to open the dance.
With practiced ease, he led me to the center of the hall.
Grand music filled the room.
His hand settled on my waist, while mine rested on his shoulder.
‘I thought I had gotten used to physical contact since we hold hands so often…’
Had I been mistaken?
The firm hand at my waist and the solid strength beneath my palm both felt strangely unfamiliar.
I followed his lead, moving slowly in rhythm with him.
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