Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

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Chapter 25 – Blooming (8)

Starting with Eric Pomelo, the dance requests continued.

Even though she took a break in the middle, after about five songs, she was completely exhausted.

She had again forgotten that Sienna’s stamina was poor. She rejected the remaining requests and returned to her room with Shushu.

“By the way, did Jad even dance a single song today?”

— Yes. He was with Shushu the entire time.

“You didn’t get caught, right?”

— Of course. He sees me as you.

What did he see?

‘Looks like a rabbit.’

Sienna lay on the bed and looked at Shushu, who looked happy. As she promised, she left the jewelry box open on the table, and this unfaithful spirit escaped without hesitation.

The scene where she pretended to be a pure baby rabbit and slipped into the jewelry box was very foreign.

She then asked with no intention of being sarcastic, really curious.

“Do you like it?”

— Not bad.

“I see.’

It can’t be honest…

Shushu looked very happy in the pile of jewels laughing haha hoho. Meanwhile, Sienna lay on her side and complained to Shushu.

“He didn’t come today.”

— Are you talking about that beautiful person?

“Yes. I said I’d see him tomorrow, but he didn’t come.”

But, thinking about it, he declined to answer. Though he didn’t break his promise.

“I’m tired.”

She got up her weary body and walked over to Shushu Sienna then took Shushu from her jewelry box, where it looked very happy, and went back to bed.

—Master?

“Shushu, let’s sleep together. I want to, today.”

—I haven’t seen all the jewels yet!

Shushu struggled with its short limbs to resist, but Sienna held it tighter.

“Hmm. It’s going to rain.”

It rained all night, as she said.

The non-stop rain stopped like magic at dawn.

“The sky is blue.”

Finally, it was the last day of this long party.

However, she had already lost interest.

Sienna sat across the window and hugged one leg. Leaning her head on her lap, she stared blankly at the garden, inhaling deeply the scent of roses, which had been soaked in the rain and thickened.

Seeing this scene, Anna shouted in absurdity.

“What are you still like this!”

“It’s just. I like the scent of flowers.”

Her mouth widened at the very romantic answer.

What the hell is that slackness?

For single men and women, the spring social season was a very significant, once-in-a-lifetime event. It was common to search for a marriage partner at the debutante ball, unless the family promised beforehand to marry each other.

Everyone dresses up and polishes themselves, learns to dance, wears expensive dresses and robes, so busy!

It was an important mission for Anna to marry the princess who had reached a marriageable age to a good partner.

Of course, Sienna had no intention of getting married as much as Shushu.

Anna grabbed her hand as she walked slowly. “Princess! This is not the time for this. His Majesty is coming this way!”

“What? His Majesty?”

Siena’s half-closed eyes flashed open.

‘Suddenly? Why is the King here?’

It was Aden, who did not visit the palace even when she was sick.

‘What is he thinking?’

Why would he suddenly come to her room and be kind to her?

…What wind is blowing now?

Sienna wore a Madame Lange dress, worrying that she could not find an answer. It was a simple white dress with yellow flower embroidery.

The news of the King’s arrival made the decorating maids even busier, and they finished dressing up Sienna faster than ever.

It was the last as she picked out her earrings.

“His Majesty is entering.”

When the door opened, everyone stopped moving and bowed their heads.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“When we’re together, call me comfortably.”

“…Yes, Father.”

“You are very pretty today.”

“Thank you.”

“A lot of people asked you to dance yesterday? Jad must have been jealous. Huh.”

“…Yes, well. It was a good time.”

Sienna was a little puzzled.

Was it just a greeting, or did someone tell him? Still, it was actually weird either way.

The King had no interest in her.

Surely it would have been that way.

“What brings you here?”

“Come to think of it, I couldn’t even give you a present. It was a special day to just debut in the social world.”

Aden looked at her ears which had nothing hanging, and he smiled a little and pulled a small box from his arms.

“I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”

Sienna took the box and opened it.

It contained pink pearl earrings.

“Do you like it?”

Aden looked at Sienna’s expression with eyes full of anticipation.

“…Yes. It’s so pretty.”

She should be smiling, but somehow it didn’t go well. Sienna barely raised the corners of her lips.

“Thank you.”

“Come on, try it. Let’s see if it suits you well.”

She wanted to wear the earrings Dan gave her, but she didn’t have the guts to turn down the words in front of the King. She appreciated the gift he had prepared for herself anyway, and she wore the pearl earring.

“It looks good. When did you grow up like this?”

Sienna responded with a faint smile to his moving voice, and she stood in front of the mirror.

As he said, the pearl earrings matched her and her outfit of the day. She picked up the white butterfly mask she had left on the dressing table.

The last day of the party was traditionally in the form of a masquerade. It was already afternoon, and now she really had to leave.

But, Aden was staring at her.

“Father?”

“I’ll take you there.”

“Yes?”

Sienna raised her voice without realizing it. She turned her head to look at Anna, but she only smiled happily, so were the others.

In an instant, warm air filled the room.

‘No, am I the only one who is embarrassed?’

When she came to her senses, she was walking down the hall with the King.

Sienna and Aden weren’t very friendly, and of course, there was nothing to talk about. Only the squeaking of footsteps was heard.

The already long hallway felt farther away.

However, Aden’s sudden move was thoroughly calculated.

The servants of the Princess Palace, the knights guarding the Places, and the nobles who entered the castle for a party were all watching this scene.

It wouldn’t take long for the rumors to spread throughout the castle.

***

“Thank you for taking me.”

“Have a good time.”

Aden really took Siena to the entrance.

As he turned, she raised her head and put on the mask she had prepared. The inside of the banquet hall was darker than yesterday. It was because the light of the chandelier was deliberately turned off.

Thanks to this, a darker and more intimate atmosphere was created.

She wore the mask to hide herself at best, though there were those who involuntarily bowed their heads towards her.

Her red hair also stood out.

Sienna slipped past them and settled in a place with a good view. She was able to dance yesterday, so she wanted to try people-watching today.

Although it was still daytime, the atmosphere was already heating up.

The costumes were a little more explicit, and there was no hesitation when dancing. They seemed to have gotten used to touching each other. It was also fun to see the different masks. Some were adorned with colorful feathers, others were gilded.

At the same time, some couples started sneaking out of the banquet hall as the sun went down.

The garden was large, complex like a maze, and there were many places to hide.

‘It’s a good time.’

She poured light sparkling wine into the glass and stood up.

Sienna had been wearing the mask all day, and she was so frustrated that she decided to find an empty break room and take a break.

But, when she opened the door, she heard a heavy breathing.

She should have stopped then, but her hands were quicker than her sense of danger.

Sienna’s vision saw a man and a woman entangled in each other. The pupils are dilated, the shoulders are half-naked, the lips are smeared…

They must have forgotten to lock the door.

It was really fleeting, but she’s seen too much.

“Uh… I’m sorry.”

Siena hastily closed the door.

“Kyaaa!”

Soon a high-pitched scream was heard from beyond the closed door.

Sienna’s cheeks flushed.

Arthur and Anna, who were standing behind her, also fanned like it was hot.

The three of them smiled at the embarrassment that came, and eventually put on their masks again.

***

The banquet hall was quieter than on the first day, thanks to the people scattered here and there in the garden and in the break room.

Dandelion attended the party a little late.

He didn’t want to come, but there was no reason not to.

…Of course, it didn’t even exist in the first place.

It was a little hot in the room, so he took off his jacket and draped it over his arms. Then, over the white silk shirt, a solid silhouette was reflected.

From the moment he entered, several young ladies were already paying attention to him. His vision was not obscured just because he wore a mask. His large stature and wide shoulders alone made him stand out.

“Who the hell is that man?”

“I’m curious about the face under the mask.”

“He might be unexpectedly ugly.”

“Who the hell will he ask for a dance to?”

“Shall I try to seduce him?”

The girls laughed and joked, and they continued to glance at Dandelion.

The sun was over, and by this time, they thought he would ask anyone to dance. However, he just sat down with an expressionless face and drank apricot juice.

It was the drink that Sienna recommended the day before yesterday, saying it was delicious.

‘Sweet.’

A faint smile flashed and then disappeared.

He came because he didn’t want to feel like avoiding her, though he didn’t know what to do. He didn’t even want to dance, and he quickly got tired of the hustle and bustle.

‘Shall we go back…?’

His troubled eyes were fixed in one place.

There was life in the indifferent eyes. She was wearing a mask, but she was instantly recognizable.

It was strange.

Yes, it feels like he can only say it was strange. Even when so many people pass by, there’s only one person in sight.

‘Is something wrong with me?’

While Dandelion was seriously thinking about it, Sienna soon found him. She smiled brightly as soon as his and her eyes met.

Though he looked away and pretended not to see her.

‘If you smile like that…’

He bit his lip without realizing it. Dandelion was kind of embarrassed because it seemed like he was always the one worried and confused.

He felt like he wanted to hide.

‘What is this relationship?

She was his friend, the princess of Stern, and the fiancee of his friend.

‘How am I supposed to treat you?’

As a friend? As a friend of your fiance? As a servant?

There were plenty of useless options.

‘To you, I…’

Dandelion raised his head.

Sienna was still looking at him on the spot earlier.

He got up with the jacket he had taken off. As he walked towards her, his steps got faster without realizing it.

He stopped within reach of her hand.

For some reason, it was hard to let his hand stand still, so he grabbed the jacket tightly. His lips were dry, but the mask that half covered his face gave strange courage.

“If you don’t mind…”

“….”

“Would you like to go outside?”

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