Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

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Chapter 19 – Blooming (2)

People at the Princess Palace have been busy since morning.

The first time is a special thing for everyone, and it is normal that someone’s first is watched with a trembling heart. However, the problem was that the person who was having the first party was lying helplessly in the bathtub.

“Sigh…”

They sprinkled a lot of rose petals in the bathtub and it smelled good, but it didn’t make her feel better.

Sienna played with the flower petals for a long time, and Anna urged her to finally get out of the bathroom.

“Oh my gosh. Your face is ripe!”

Her face, which was originally pale and white, looked like a ripe apple.

“I’m sorry, Anna.”

She barely calmed the red face and put perfume on her body and hair with balm. She sniffed, smelling the scent from her wrist.

“It smells like apples.”

‘Ah, I want to eat an apple.’

Sienna murmured, but Anna lightly ignored it.

There was no room for that.

She then immediately changed into a pale pink off-the-shoulder dress.

It was the first dress that she had chosen after some deliberation last time. The decorative maids arranged her getup so that it was all good and there were no creases.

Next was makeup.

Today’s makeup point was ‘Healthy and Lovely.’

Since Sienna was known for being sickly, they worked hard to make her look as vibrant and healthy as possible.

They carefully combed her soft hair, which they had been managing for several days. The slightly curly red hair was lovely, like a princess from a fairy tale.

“Princess! You are so beautiful!”

“Somehow, you’re starting to look more and more like Her Majesty the Queen.”

“I’m sure the princess will be the most beautiful today than any other young ladies in attendance.”

Sienna looked at herself in front of the mirror and praised it encouragingly.

‘It’s pretty.’

She was pretty even when she thought of herself in the mirror, which made it even sadder. Sienna looked at the three decorative maids who served her.

‘What do I do?’

According to the original story, today, she won’t be able to get dance requests from anyone. Today was the chapter where the love triangle between the male and female protagonists, and the sub-male protagonist, begins in earnest.

‘There must be some kind of achievement for them to feel a little bit rewarded.’

Not well-reputed and had a fiance, she wondered if anyone there would dare to apply for a dance with her.

The first dance was performed with the family, but whether it was King or Pierre, there would be no such thing. Seriously, if Pierre asks her to dance, she’ll have to kick his foot…

As she thought about it, a scorching force entered her fist.

“Princess?”

At Anna’s voice, Sienna woke up from her thoughts.

Anna pulled out the earrings from the middle of the jewelry box. She wore purple violet earrings, a symbol of royalty.

In Stern, purple violet accessories could only be owned by Royalty.

“You have to wear this today.”“…Yes. That’s right.”

Today, she was attending the debutante ball as Princess of Stern.

In the room left alone for a while after the maids retreated, Shushu, who had been paying attention, was brought into her arms.

— Shushu wants to go, too!

“No.”

— Why?

“I’m sure I’ll be teased for carrying you there.”

— Is the master embarrassed by Shushu?

“…A little?”

The clever Shushu dropped its ears as if it hurt.

“No matter how I think about it, Toto was the wrong choice.”

Because she was often mesmerized by the cute appearance.

Sienna tied a special purple ribbon to Shushu, though she couldn’t carry it herself, so she ended up having to ask Anna to do it.

“An, Anna. I’m sorry, can you take Shushu, too?”

“What? Oh, yes. I see. But, wasn’t this named Toto?”

“I changed the name.”

“Oh.”

It’s not even a rabbit, but a rabbit doll has a new name. Anna didn’t understand the slightest bit, although she didn’t show it.

“I understand.”

She just reacted like that.

And so, Shushu followed Sienna, stably held in Anna’s arms. They had to walk a long way from the secluded princess palace to the banquet hall.

As they were walking down the long hallway, Arthur asked in a slightly excited voice.

“I wonder who will ask the princess for the first dance today. Is it Lord Valencia?”

“Um, I don’t think there’s anyone who will. What should I do?

“No way. Today the princess is um, it’s pretty…”

“Am I pretty?”

“Yes. Well, it’s similar.”

“You’re not honest.”

“Let’s say it’s correct.”

The conversation continued like flowing water.

“Arthur.

“Yes, Princess.”

“How old was Arthur’s debut?”

“I went to my first ball when I was seventeen.”

“Then you must have applied for the first dance as well?”

“Of course.”

“With who?”

“Uhh… She was a year older than me, but I remember that she danced very well.”

“How is that young lady…”

“Well, she became someone’s wife.”

Saying so, Arthur’s expression turned somewhat bitter.

“Sorry…”“It’s okay.”

In the meantime, they almost arrived at the banquet hall.

Arthur hummed, clearing his voice and calling out to Siena. “If it’s okay with me, I’ll apply for a dance.”

“Arthur…”

Sienna stopped her steps and looked at Arthur vaguely. Her shoulders and the corners of her lips went up.

“You don’t have to be so impressed.”

“It’s like you’re doing that without notice.”

“…Princess!”

It was a precious pleasure to tease Arthur.

“Thank you, Arthur.”

Sienna, having regained her joy, even a little, vigorously entered the banquet hall. As they went straight up to the second floor, Pierre leaned against the railing and looked downstairs.

‘You’re a romanticist.’

He seemed to be looking for Eleanor.

“Brother.”

Sienna greeted him first.

“You look great today.”

It wasn’t a pure lie. Wearing a white robe, he looked like a prince.

“You…”

Just as Pierre was about to say something, Arden appeared.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Sienna and Pierre greeted each other with respect and courtesy.

After that, Aden patted the shoulder of his perfect-looking son today and smiled kindly. Because it was a familiar sight, Sienna stood there without thinking.

However, this time Aden turned his gaze to her.

“Sienna, you are very beautiful today.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Aren’t you nervous?”

She wondered why he suddenly approached her like they were friendly, but she answered without hesitation.

“No, thank you.”

“Yes. Seeing you reminds me of the past.”

“….”

“At that time, I was very nervous.”

Arden’s eyes instantly became moist. It was both happy and painful to see his daughter becoming more and more like his wife.

“Then, have a good time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Today’s protagonist is you, no matter what anyone says.”

‘Huh?’

She made an increasingly incomprehensible sound. Regardless, without even having time to think about the meaning, he was standing right on the stairs.

“Let’s just go down.”

At the King’s words, the knight next to him shouted loudly.

“His Majesty the King enters.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince enters.”

“Her Highness the Princess enters.”

The noisy banquet hall became quiet in an instant as the elegant chamber music melodies and the lively chatter of nobles mixed.

The musicians quickly changed the song and started playing.

It was a song for the king’s procession.

The three of them went down the stairs slowly.

At first, she saw a splendid chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, then she saw the elaborately crafted classical columns, then she saw the dress of bright colors, and they saw people bowing their heads towards the King.

It was a beautiful and luxurious banquet hall.

All the people there were also decorated brightly.

Sienna, who had only looked in front of her, strengthened her heart and turned her head to look for Dan with her eyes. But, ironically, the first thing she made eye contact with was Jad holding a wine glass while unbuttoning his robe.

The bastard Jad ruined things before she even started anything.

She glared at him, and looked for Dandelion again.

As the distance from the party decreased, her field of view narrowed.

On the other hand, the sound could be heard better, and the admiration for Pierre was exploding here and there.

“His Majesty, he looks beautiful today.”

“He has such beautiful blonde hair.”

“Didn’t he just look at this and smile?”

With dazzling blonde hair and a sculpturally gorgeous appearance, Pierre was a true prince among young ladies.

Naturally, people’s attention was drawn to Siena, who was coming down next to him. The appearance of the red-haired princess, whom they only heard from rumors, was quite an interesting story.

“Is that the princess?”

“Oh my God, she has such red hair.”

The admiration for Pierre had turned into gossip towards her.

Sienna closed her ears and searched for Dandelion with her eyes.

‘…Found you.’

Dandelion was watching her at the table in the left corner.

His gaze followed her all the way down the stairs. Sienna did not avoid it and made eye contact with him.

Before she knew it, she reached the last step.

The King’s procession was over, and Siena, Arden and Pierre were surrounded in an instant by those who wanted to make eye contact with the King.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“Oh! Duke of Pomelo. Long time no see.”

In addition, the young ladies who admired Pierre joined in, and the hall became crowded in an instant.

And, in the confusion, Sienna was looking at only one place from the beginning.

‘Dan…’

It was the moment she was about to go to him without further delay.

Breaking the softly flowing minute melody, the door opened. Pierre’s gaze, who had been receiving the young ladies’ greetings, was fixed on the open door.

All eyes turned to the entrance.

There, a woman came in in an intense dark blue dress that matched her beautiful blonde hair. It was the appearance of Eleanor Watson, the female protagonist in the novel Stern’s Bell.

Pink, yellow and white.

The debutante dress was usually in such a bright color. In that colorful flower garden, Eleanor evokes the depth, reminiscent of the deep sea.

The blue dress revealed her presence fully…

Nonetheless, what stood out the most was her face.

‘That little face with perfect eyes, nose, and mouth.’

Neither too little nor too much, perfect size and proportions as if they were created by God. She was such a gorgeous beauty, worth looking back at least once.

‘She’s the heroine, after all.’

The reality was more intense than expected.

It was almost as if there was a halo behind her back.

Sienna was sure that everyone had the same thoughts as her, and the banquet hall became quiet in an instant.

Looking around at the entrance, Eleanor smiled brightly as if she had found the one she was looking for.

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