Chapter 105
Some noble ladies cast envious and jealous glances.
Among them, Princess Cade in a splendid golden dress caught my eye.
She was looking in my direction with her face hidden behind a fan, narrowing her eyes with a contemptuous gaze.
Sigh, they say a ball is a battlefield armed with flowers and smiles.
I really hate and find these useless mind games exhausting.
The chandelier lights are blinding, the corset makes it hard to breathe, and the dress is long and heavy.
I should have just attended the ball as a fluffy baby fox.
Then I wouldn’t need to worry about others, wouldn’t have to force myself to dance when I can’t, and could just enjoy watching while eating delicious food to my heart’s content.
As a homebody introvert engraved in my DNA, I couldn’t adapt to this ball full of social butterflies.
Just then, low exclamations rippled through the crowd. Olivia was making her entrance.
With her star-like sparkling blonde hair flowing down, her fair peach-colored skin and salmon-colored dress complemented each other, highlighting her pure beauty.
Young nobles were busy staring at her figure, completely entranced.
Cade and her followers whispered behind their fans, casting sidelong glances.
Yudis approached Olivia with a smile and brought her over to us.
“Lady Olivia, come this way.”
Olivia spotted me and smiled brightly like a flower.
“Oh my, Lady Shuvelia, you’re so beautiful. You look as mysterious as a snow fairy.”
She held my hand tightly and gave sincere compliments with sparkling eyes.
Being complimented by a legendary beauty, oh my, I’m so embarrassed I don’t know where to put myself.
Olivia’s gaze wandered, looking around.
“Is Grand Duke Helleide here by any chance?”
“Ah, he’s over there.”
I pointed to Karden standing among a group of young nobles.
Young nobles who admired and respected him were gathered around Karden.
They were rushing to greet him and shower him with praise.
“It’s an honor to meet Your Grace, the guardian sword of the kingdom.”
“Your military achievements will go down in history. As a citizen of the kingdom, I thank you.”
Of course, there was another group casting glares at them.
Ladies and young maidens of marriageable age were pacing around in frustration, hoping to form connections with Grand Duke Karden.
This is truly a reversal.
To think Karden would become the top celebrity of the ball.
I watched Karden in the crowd with the heart of a parent, seeing their precious child become well-behaved.
In the original story, Karden attended the ball but had to endure fearful and rejecting gazes from people.
But once it became known that Karden’s magical power had stabilized, the nobles’ attitudes changed 180 degrees.
No longer just a border guardian family in the harsh borderlands, House Helleide had now become the family with the greatest military power and prestige in the kingdom, enjoying royal favor.
Olivia’s eyes widened like a surprised rabbit.
“Oh my, he looks very busy.”
“I was worried about the Grand Duke’s first debut, but it was an unnecessary concern. He’s explosively popular.”
When I winked playfully, Olivia’s face turned slightly red.
“He’s the guardian sword of the kingdom, respected by everyone. It’s difficult to meet him in person, but he’s here attending.”
Yudis wrapped her arms around Olivia and me, smiling refreshingly.
“Tsk tsk, when men gather, they talk endlessly about chivalry and battles all day. They don’t even notice such beautiful people right beside them.”
Yudis looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“By the way, Shuvelia, have you been crying? Why are your eyes red?”
“Ah, this is……”
Oh no, I must have unconsciously shed tears, moved by precious Karden’s story.
“Well, I think I felt like a mother touched by seeing a mischievous troublemaker grow up to be kind and mature.”
“Pfft, what’s that?”
Olivia approached me and said.
“Lady Shuvelia, I’ll go greet some other people and be right back.”
“Ah, yes. Please come back soon.”
Olivia disappeared into the crowd.
Yudis was exchanging social smiles and greetings with surrounding nobles when suddenly her expression turned serious.
Contempt and hostility were clear in her eyes.
“Look over there, Duke Berdin is coming to greet my brother.”
Berdin was wearing a green frock coat with elaborate gold embroidery and a shirt with large ruffles.
Noble ladies admired his appearance, casting adoring glances.
Yudis clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“He’s made House Alred the wealthiest family in the kingdom through the pharmaceutical industry, so nobles are bound to flock around him.”
Berdin was politely greeting Karden, and Karden was calmly receiving his greeting.
All eyes in the ballroom turned to the Grand Duke and the Duke.
It was natural for everyone to be engaged in a fierce battle of wits, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation between the heads of the two families standing at the pinnacle of military and financial power in the kingdom.
I linked arms with Yudis and asked in a lowered voice.
“Will the Grand Duke be able to handle this well?”
Yudis nodded with a meaningful smile.
“He’ll do fine. We must expose that man’s dark intentions. While the ball is being held, the Royal Investigation Team and the Northern Castle Knights will search the shapeshifter shelter.”
“Since the Duke is in the royal palace, his subordinates or private soldiers won’t be able to contact him, right?”
“That’s right. Once you attend the ball, the royal guards will prevent you from leaving until it ends.”
“The royal ball serves as a good smokescreen.”
Yudis and I exchanged glances and smiled with satisfaction.
This ball was not simply a social gathering.
After the Turba incident, Karden immediately entered the palace and informed the Crown Prince of the situation.
The Crown Prince expressed concern that direct evidence would be needed to uncover House Alred’s conspiracy.
During the royal ball, the Royal Investigation Team planned to search the shapeshifter shelter to find evidence or traces of Turba.
Once you enter the royal ball, you cannot contact the outside. Attendants must wait in a separate building away from the ballroom until the ball ends.
Even if the Royal Investigation Team visited the shapeshifter shelter, Duke Alred would have no way of knowing, so they could find solid evidence.
Yudis stuck out her tongue, watching Karden converse with Berdin with a faint smile.
To observers, the two appeared to be conversing in such a comfortable atmosphere that they could be mistaken for old friends.
“My brother has changed a lot. Honestly, with Berdin, I was anxious he might challenge him to a duel. Who knew he could engage in such skillful social conversation?”
“The Grand Duke needs to hold Duke Berdin’s attention so the shapeshifter shelter search can proceed without issues.”
Originally, I had planned to converse with Duke Berdin to buy time, but Karden absolutely refused.
He proposed that he would build a friendship with Berdin instead.
Yudis keenly surveyed the surroundings with her eyes, then whispered to me.
“Shuvelia, I’m going to check on the situation at the shapeshifter shelter.”
“What? Is that possible? Once you enter the ball, you can’t contact the outside, right?”
“Have you forgotten I’m the Helleon Merchant Guild Master? Our guild is in charge of supplying the food ingredients and alcohol for the ball. My employees enter the palace kitchen to deliver alcohol. I can check the outside situation through them.”
“As expected of Lady Yudis.”
“Heh. I’m tired of compliments. By the way, will you be okay alone in the ballroom without me?”
Yudis bit her lip with worry and anxiety as she looked down at me.
“Come on, what are you worried about? I’ll stick close to the Grand Duke.”
“Good. Don’t follow anyone who offers you candy.”
“Lady Yudis, really. Am I a child?”
“In my eyes, Shushu will always be a fluffy baby. Oh, and absolutely don’t stay alone on the terrace. Understood?”
Yudis cautioned with a serious and grave expression.
I tilted my head, not understanding her meaning.
“The terrace?”
“Yes. The ballroom terrace is a private space where new lovers are created. If a man and woman are caught on the terrace, rumors might spread that they’re romantically involved. Don’t go to the terrace alone with my brother either. All men are wolves.”
Yudis insisted I promise, even linking fingers. I held back my laughter and linked fingers with her.
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Even as Yudis left the ballroom, she looked back several times, clearly worried about me.
I waved to her.
After she disappeared beyond the external door of the ballroom, I looked around, trying to find Karden.
Just then, a loud trumpet sound echoed. The chamberlain announced in a loud voice:
“His Highness Crown Prince William von Royston enters!”
As Crown Prince William entered the Grand Hall, all nobles bowed their heads respectfully and stepped back to either side.
William wore pure white royal ceremonial clothes embroidered with gold thread and a red cape. His blonde hair fluttered with each dignified step.
The Crown Prince ascended to the throne, prepared on the platform. He looked around at the nobles with a dignified attitude.
“His Majesty the King is unwell and could not join us today. But he is always watching over and protecting this country with you all. I hope you enjoy today’s celebration, praying for the peace and prosperity of the Arden Kingdom.”
After the Crown Prince’s congratulatory speech, music began playing again and the ball officially commenced.
As the Crown Prince came to the center of the stage, low exclamations from noble ladies echoed throughout.
William smiled brightly, his blonde hair fluttering. Behind him shone a halo as if hundreds of roses were blooming.
Ugh, it’s blinding. Indeed, a Crown Prince’s halo is impressive.
Everyone focused on where the Crown Prince was heading.
Eyes were expectant about who would be his first dance partner.
Noble ladies in particular were trying their hardest to catch the Crown Prince’s eye, with burning gazes.
Amidst the fierce battle of wits around him, the Crown Prince moved forward like a noble swan.
Finally, the Crown Prince stopped in front of Grand Duke Karden.
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