Chapter 5

"Welcome back, Lady Dianne."

The mansion is modest, but the furnishings are impressive, and the servants' manners are those of high-ranking servants who work for noble families. Lady Dianne must be the daughter or wife of a family with considerable prestige.

"Um... I really have to go home now..."

I need to return home before my parents and Lillian come back from the evening party.

"Hey, Adelle, don't you want to go to the debutante ball?"

Lady Dianne said this while peering at my anxious face.

"Let's go. To the debutante ball."

"Huh...?"

Lady Dianne smiled slyly and pushed my body towards the maid.

"Debutante! Do your best!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Huh? Huh?"

Before I knew it, the maids had taken me away, stripped me of my clothes, combed my hair, and dressed me in a dream-like white dress, even applying makeup.

"It's finished! Let's go!"

"Huh?"

"To the evening party!"

I was handed back to Lady Dianne by the maids, who were moving at a dizzying pace, and I was once again stuffed into the carriage.

"Um, Lady Dianne, this dress..."

"It suits you very well, doesn't it?"

"I can't possibly borrow it..."

I looked down at the dress I was wearing.

Like Lady Dianne's, the design is old-fashioned. However, I can tell that the highest quality fabric has been used. Most importantly, the lace used is the kind of intricate handiwork that is no longer available today. It must have belonged to Lady Dianne's grandmother or great-grandmother, something passed down with great care. I can't possibly borrow such a precious item.

But Lady Dianne only smiled at me, who was feeling embarrassed, and the carriage continued to head straight for the castle.

"Um, the servants will worry..."

"You are a noble, the daughter of the Fezandic Duke, right?"

When Lady Dianne said this clearly, I gasped.

"I've already informed your family. Don't worry."

"But, without my family, I can't enter the party."

"Oh, leave it to me. I have some influence."

With these cryptic words, Lady Dianne left me in the dark. And so, I really did enter the party venue with Lady Dianne. As I was dazzled by my first evening party, Lady Dianne pulled my arm.

"Here, let's greet His Majesty."

"Um... yes..."

Lady Dianne dragged me to the front of His Majesty. It seemed that the other young ladies had already finished their greetings, and the dancing had started.

"Your Majesty!"

"Hmm? Oh, it's you."

Lady Dianne called out affectionately, and the king narrowed his eyes in response.

Who is Lady Dianne...?

"Your Majesty, let me introduce you. This is my friend."

Pushed from behind by Lady Dianne, I hurriedly curtsied.

"I am Adelle from the Fezandic Duke's family."

"Hmm. So you are Miss Adelle. Before..."

"Big sister!?"

The voice that rang out made me want to hold my head. Interrupting His Majesty... This is not just a matter of manners.

"Why are you here!? And what about that dress!? How could you hide such a dress!?"

Shouting, Lillian marched up to His Majesty and was eventually stopped by the guards. My parents also arrived and frowned when they saw me. They must have been spreading the word that I was "too sick to come."

"Big sister! That dress..."

"I lent it to her."

Interrupting Lillian, Lady Dianne said.