“… So let us commence the Spring Ball! Be at ease and enjoy yourselves!”
And so the Spring Ball commenced after the king finished giving his opening statement and turned his speaking priority to the announcer. With that, the doors leading into the hall began to open.
There were actually three doors of differing sizes for different social ranks. Although the largest door was usually only for royalty and nobles of marquis rank and higher, for tonight’s Spring Ball, those making their social debut would have the opportunity to enter from there.
And as the largest door opened, the hall erupted with applause.
Normally, entrance order followed social rank, so the first entrant would usually be the daughter of a duke. However, this year was different; the first entrant was the daughter of a marquis, but her escort was the second most important man in the kingdom.
“Please welcome Lady Annemarie of House Victirium and her escort, His Highness Crown Prince Christopher von Theolas. You may enter!”
The applause grew even louder when the announcer introduced the first entrants to the hall.
From the shadows of the door appeared Crown Prince Christopher. Unlike the other male attendants who wore tailcoats, he wore royal formalwear that displayed elaborate silverwork, indicating his status as a prince.
And walking alongside the gorgeous Christopher was a lady of voluptuous beauty and striking crimson hair: Annemarie Victirium.
Her uptied hair exposed a bewitching, white nape, while her face, already naturally attractive, has utilized more mature make-up to take on a seductiveness unimaginable for a girl just turning fifteen this year.
She wore a gorgeous black dress with a jewel-studded A-line skirt that emphasized her slender waist, and lace fabric covered from her hands up the length of her arms.
And yet despite being fully-clothed, the partial visibility of her unblemished skin beneath the sheer fabric appeared far more bewitching than if it were bare. The men in the audience dry swallowed in nervousness as they looked on.
Annemarie’s beauty was so enthralling that it would be ridiculous to envy her; after all, it was on such a level that she had her own epithet:
— The Maidenly Siren
Of course, that did not mean people believed Annemarie was a literal siren that would lure the country to its downfall. On the contrary, Annemarie was actually well-known for her brilliance despite being a mere fiancée candidate to the crown prince, and many already considered her their future queen.
These two were the first pair to enter the hall, and they greeted the king and queen with graceful smiles and bows before moving along to watch the rest of the debutantes.
As they watched the many girls enter and make their debut, Christoper began a whispered conversation.
“If what you’re remembering is right, then the last person entering among those of count ranking should be Heroine-chan, right?”
“That’s how it was in the game, but since she’s not part of the student roster now, the last person will most likely be someone different.”
“Hmm, I see. But if you think about it, if this world were identical to the game, wouldn’t it be weird if Heroine-chan didn’t show up? And if she doesn’t show up, how do the game events that are supposed to happen at the Ball tonight, happen?”
“…It’s too early to tell, and we won’t know for sure until the Ball starts, so don’t let your guard down and focus up. With Heroine-chan nowhere to be found, we can’t predict what can happen.”
“Yeah, I get it.”
In the game, an event occurred during the Spring Ball, and while they were familiar with how it happened there, Christopher and Anniemarie did not know how it would unfold now, without the presence of the heroine. All they could do now was keep their perfect smiles on and continue watching over the Ball.
The introductions continued on, and the applause from the audience had calmed significantly by the time the announcer called the final name, for the daughter of a count family.
“Please welcome Lady Luciana of House Luthorburg.”
A scornful snort of laughter resounded across the hall as the introduction called out Luciana. Whispered disparagements soon followed.
“Can that house even afford proper clothes? Don’t tell me she wore some dirty, used rags to this event.”
“Ugh, I hope people don’t think my family is like hers just because we’re both count-ranked. If they had any sense of pride as a noble, they wouldn’t have come in the first place.”
“I pity the poor fool escorting her. Everyone gets to enter through the large doors for the Spring Ball, but some unfortunate sap is stuck with the Luthorburg girl.”
Due in part to a certain mansion, most nobles were aware of House Luthorburg’s financial struggles, and many older aristocrats were familiar still with the blunders of the Luthorburgs from the past two generations. To make matters worse, the rumors and gossip went unmitigated as the Luthorburg family usually stayed within their territory and rarely ventured into the royal capital.
But the announcer’s finishing statement instantly silenced the mockery and contempt.
“… and her escort, Lord Maxwell of House Lycrents. You may enter!”
Those words had caught every person’s attention, and all eyes immediately focused on the door. Thoughts and quiet murmurs of “Impossible!” and “Was there a mistake?” cycled through the hall.
Marquis Georac of House Lycrents was an influential noble who took the position of Prime Minister through his own merits rather than inheritance, and his eldest son, Maxwell, already showed talent appropriate for succeeding the same role.The
That fact alone made him an extremely eligible bachelor, and many girls of the same age yearned to become his future wife. Suffice to say, Maxwell had turned down all escort invitations for this Spring Ball, but… who could have guessed he would actually be escorting the daughter of House Luthorbroke?!
And why would he do such a thing in the first place? These kinds of questions and specultations cycled around the room, but Annemarie and Christopher had other opinions in mind.
(Lord Maxwell is escorting someone?! But he attended alone back in the game. He should be meeting Heroine-chan for the first time here and then offering to be her escort for the next ball…)
(What the, Maxwell’s escorting someone? That liar! He said there wasn’t anyone he wanted to escort! What a traitor!)
Two figures appeared from the door; one of which was undubitably Maxwell Lycrents, just as the announcer said. The other ladies could scarcely believe it; why would someone as esteemed as Maxwell choose to go with someone from the low-class House Luthorbroke?
But their feelings of envy and rage deflated just as quickly as they escalated when they laid eyes on Luciana.
— The Fairy Princess.
Nobody knew who whispered that epithet, but nobody denied it either.
The girl who entered was the very picture of a delicate, ephemeral nymph.
Her golden hair, styled in a half-updo, glowed like the sun; her vivid blue eyes were reminiscent of the deep ocean; and the faint blush of her cheeks put color on the unblemished white of her face, creating an extremely cute look.
She wore an off-shoulder dress with a beautiful aqua-to-emerald color gradient; with every step she took, her dress fluttered gently, like ripples on a peaceful lake.
Her lovely smile healed the heart of any that saw it, evoking the pure, innocent feelings from childhood.
All eyes are on Luciana, and the applause has completely stopped. Despite the silence, Luciana and Maxwell continued forward, and they bowed in greeting to the king.
(Wh-why is it so quiet all of a sudden? What happened to the applause? Wait, actually, why are they staring so hard?!)
Luciana, although confused, managed to keep a smile on her face. Maxwell, standing beside her, understood the situation and laughed internally.
And there were two others whose internal thoughts ran as wild as Luciana’s.
(Oh… oh my gosh! She’s absolutely perfect! I want to take her home so bad! Oh my gosh, great job, Lord Maxwell, you mad lad!)
(Maxwell, you wretch! You complete traitor! Argh! How did you get to escort exactly the kind of girl I like?! I won’t ever forgive you for this! …Oh, maybe I can befriend her!)
Despite their nonstop bickering, Annemarie and Christopher, with their similar preference in women, unknowingly shared a rare moment in solidarity.
Finally, after the debutante introductions have finished, the musicians began playing music for the first dance: the waltz.
It was customary for the king and queen to take the first dance at the Spring Ball, and as they started, the other pairs began dancing along.
But unsurprisingly, most of the attention has focused upon two specific couples: the Annemarie-Christopher pair and the Luciana-Maxwell pair.
Annemarie and Christopher were dancing in confident sync like a long-standing married couple, a testament to their many years together. In contrast, Luciana and Maxwell carefully moved with hesitation; it was clear they did not have much experience together as their coordination was not as refined as the other pair.
However, the two were still individually skilled, and although the audience could see their awkwardness and reservations with each other… their dance together evoked a very innocent and modest charm. It was altogether a very heartwarming sight.
The audience found themselves watching the two pairs’ dances, looping back and forth between the Annemarie-Christopher pair’s impassioned, heated waltz and the Luciana-Maxwell pair’s careful and soothing steps. Would the audience be able to handle this constant rise and fall of their blood pressure levels from watching these two completely different moods?
And members of the audience were not the only ones with a strong interest in Luciana —
(Swap places with me, Maxwell! Please let me have a turn! I’m gonna die from that moé!)
(Please swap with me, Lord Maxwell! I want to dance with her too! Oh my gosh, she’s so cute!)
Thankfully, the internal screams of the crown prince and the marquis’s daughter remain unvoiced and unheard; the two remained outwardly composed with a perfect business smile.
( ( (Let me be the next one to dance with her!) ) )
Even the nobles who disparaged Luciana and disdainfully mocked her as “the daughter of House Luthorbroke” desired her attention… they were a truly shameless lot.
But while this year’s Spring Ball has finished the first dance with complete success, it was a complete failure as a social debut event.
…Among the many debutantes at the Spring Ball, Annemarie and Luciana had clearly stolen away all the attention and would remain the only memorable part of the event. Oh, what a shame it was for the others.
Well, it was not as though the other debutantes were without blame. They, too, could focus only on the two stars of tonight’s Spring Ball.
And their inattentiveness meant a lack of concentration. This lack of concentration meant fumbles in their dance.
(Um… the dance choreography seems a little different from what I learned. Maybe that’s what’s popular in the royal capital?)
It seemed Luciana has made a optimistic misunderstanding about her peers. Those foolish maidens… they need to focus up.
“Your daughter is quite beautiful indeed, Count Luthorburg.”
“Ah, Y-your Excellency, P-prime Minister, sir.”
The Luthorburg couple had been watching Luciana’s dance when they received a visit from none other than Prime Minister Georac Lycrents, the father of Maxwell.
“My son has always come alone to parties like this, so could you imagine my surprise when he told me he would be escorting someone? And as I wondered what kind of girl caught his attention, she turned out to be quite the fairy.”
“I a-apologize for any trouble.”
“No, no, none at all; in fact, I’m actually quite relieved, Count. At first I suspected you were using your daughter to curry favor with my son, but looking at them now, it seems my fears were groundless. Well, rather, if your daughter’s expressions and gestures actually are an act, then that would be something else.”
“Uh, I… see…?”
The implicit meaning behind Georac’s words flew right over Hughes’s head. Unsurprisingly, Hughes had little experience navigating the intricacies of political subterfuge as most of his time went to putting to rest the “House Luthorbroke” epithet.
(Since they’ve handled the “House Luthorbroke” name for so long, it probably means they have neither supporters nor hanger-ons, which puts outside influence at plus-minus zero. Finances aside, as a count-ranked family, they have sufficient noble standing, and if their finances are the only trouble, they aren’t hard solve. But more importantly, their daughter is someone who has caught the attention of my son. How should I interpret this… Fufufu, it wouldn’t be an issue if it were all an act on the girl’s part. No, if anything, I would welcome a girl who could ensnare Maxwell. Any future wife of a marquis should at least be capable of this much. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be a problem if she were completely genuine either. That would mean she has the natural charm and charisma to attract others… Now then, how should I proceed…)
Georac’s mouth curved to form an excited smirk, his plans unfathomable and his goals unknown.
After the opening dance finished, the girls who just made their social debut have an opportunity to socialize, and —
“My goodness, Luciana! You will need to properly explain everything that happened tonight!”
“Please do not hide any more secrets from us, Miss Luciana. We are your closest friends, after all!”
Best friends Beatrice and Miliaria appeared… Luciana was unable to flee!
” “Please pardon our rudeness, Lord Maxwell!” “
“H-hey, wait, you two! Aah..!”
Luciana could hardly resist as her friends dragged her off to a resting area. Maxwell, suddenly finding himself alone, was frozen in place, his mouth slightly ajar from processing the suddenness of Luciana’s departure.
But Maxwell quickly pulled himself together, and he began talking with his fellow abandoned escorts: the partners of Beatrice and Miliaria.
“Your Highness, if it would please you.. would you, perhaps…”
The daughter of House Rankdol appeared… Christopher was unable to flee!
“O lovely lady, would you grant me the honor of accompanying you for the next song?”
“Yes! With pleasure!”
(What is this, a pick-up?! She’s going to make me lose this chance to talk with Luciana-chan!)
“Lady Victirium, would you grant me the honor of dancing with you for the next song?”
The firstborn son of House Rankdol appeared… Annemarie was unable to flee!
“…It would be my pleasure. I look forward to a dance most enjoyable.”
“Yes, likewise! I guarantee you will not be disappointed!”
(What is this, a pick-up?! These siblings are a real pain. I just want to go over and talk with Luciana-chan!)
Alas the two must play their parts and dutifully be the high-ranked aristocrats they were, and so they were unable to interact with Luciana.
Or rather, Luciana has so thoroughly entranced the pair that they have forgotten all else; by this point, they had even forgotten about the plot progression.
And with the finish of the opening dance, the other participants could join in on the dancing.
But the Spring Ball event was still in its early stages. As it was a fairly lengthy event, it would inevitably accommodate any late arrivals.
Which was why it was not unusual for the smallest of the participant doors to open at this time.
Headcanon TL 
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