35

Debutante ball.

It’s an event where young ladies make their first appearance in high society.

Typically, the royal family hosts a debutante ball once a year during the spring social season.

Ladies attend the party to enter society, but truly prestigious families sometimes hold their debutante balls independently.

And I am twenty years old this year.

Usually, noble young ladies finish their debutante balls at the legal age of eighteen and begin looking for potential marriage partners.

By the time they turn twenty, they often engage in formal arrangements for marriage.

In other words, I’m already quite late to have a debutante ball, and as for engagement…

“…”

I involuntarily sneered.

It reminded me of my parents.

During my youth, when I was as young and pretty as possible, they hastily matched me with various men to get a good bride price.

Suddenly, someone called me.

“Dear.”

I snapped back to attention.

Red eyes were staring at me intently.

“What are you thinking?”

Ah.

I smoothly smiled, concealing my expression.

Regardless of what emotions I may be feeling, showing them to him would be nothing but a hassle.

“Just some old memories that briefly crossed my mind.”

“Old memories?”

“Yes, from before I met My lord.”

“I see.”

Dante, who had been reminiscing for a moment, suddenly widened his eyes.

“When I picked you up?”

It was as if recalling picking up a puppy on the street.

After all, for him, whether it’s picking up an animal or bringing me along, it probably doesn’t feel that different.

“Anyway, since I haven’t had a debutante ball yet, it doesn’t seem appropriate for me to stand as my lord’s partner.”

I expressed my refusal tactfully.

“Especially in gatherings where society’s elites, like the Diorlunce Club, come together.”

It was true.

A lady who hasn’t had a debutante ball is treated as if she has some flaw.

Well, I’m practically abandoned by my family.

I do have a flaw, but…

But Dante seemed to interpret my words in a different way.

“If that’s the case, I’ll host the debutante ball, just for us.”

Dante gently lifted my chin.

Perhaps due to tension, my shoulders stiffened.

His red eyes stared at me intensely.

“Aren’t you going to refuse me anymore?”

“…”

For a moment, I felt a chill down my spine, as if I had stepped on a landmine.

‘I thought it was a reasonable reason to refuse.’

I expected Dante to back off by now, but this response was unexpected.

Usually, Dante didn’t try to take me to formal events.

More precisely, he didn’t bring any of his past lovers to such events.

That was because all the lovers Dante had encountered so far were just toys.

They weren’t equal partners.

Forming a serious relationship with a toy seemed absurd.

The only exception to that for Dante was the female protagonist of the original work.

But now, he wants to host a debutante ball for me?

‘…Even accepting to be publicly associated as “lovers”?’

Honestly, I wasn’t pleased at all.

Instead, I felt uneasy about why Dante was behaving this way.

‘But.’

I swallowed my dry saliva.

‘If Dante comes out like this, I can’t refuse more.’

I forced a smile and pulled my lips.

“Refuse? No, that’s a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“Of course. How could I refuse Hujak-nim?”

I removed Dante’s hand, which was gripping my chin.

Leaning against that large hand, I continued my speech, imitating a woman deeply in love.

“You know how much I love Hujak-nim.”

Then, I raised my eyes slightly and looked at Dante.

“But the social season is already over… Is that okay with you?”

After all, debutante balls are conventionally held during the social season. It was already late May, and the social season usually took place between March and May.

However,

“Why is that?”

Dante, with a cute look, looked down at me and asked.

“Do we really need to conform to others? If we want to have a debutante ball, we can do it whenever we want.”

“…”

It was a terribly arrogant statement.

But, that arrogance suited Dante very well, and he looked at me from top to bottom with narrow eyes.

“Leaving that aside, did I torment you quite a bit?”

“What?”

“In the past, you would have happily hugged me, saying you’re delighted. Isn’t this a bit hurtful?”

Oh.

I chewed on the soft flesh inside my mouth.

Then, with a casual expression, I spoke.

“Of course, I’m happy. It’s just that from now on, I want to maintain the dignity befitting my lord’s lover.”

“Dignity?”

“Yes. It seems childish to throw a tantrum just because I’m happy, don’t you think?”

“…”

Dante, as if trying to penetrate my soul, stared at me for a long time.

I pretended not to know anything and smiled subtly.

After a while,

“Anyway, think about how we’ll host the debutante ball.”

Dante chuckled and stood up.

“Whether it’s decorating the venue, dresses, or jewelry… I’ll provide whatever you want.”

“Really? Can I still do that?”

“Of course. It’s my lover’s debut in high society, after all.”

Dante asked, shrugging his shoulders.

“At least it should be a lavish party that will be talked about for a hundred years, right?”

“Well, I’m just happy that My Lord is hosting a debutante ball for me.”

I replied as if it was the answer I had been waiting for.

Dante’s smile deepened.

‘What’s going on?’

Feeling something odd, I unknowingly became a bit tense.

“After the debutante ball, we can also go to the Diorlunce Club together.”

But instead of expressing displeasure directly, Dante smoothly changed the subject.

Feeling relieved, I asked a question in my mind.

“When is the club opening this time?”

“June 25th.”

I was momentarily taken aback.

“So… you mean we have to host the debutante ball within a month?”

“Correct.”

Dante’s eyes curved into a slight smile.

As innocent as that smile looked, it reminded me of a pure boy.

I wondered if the original Elze might have loved such a smile…

…My stomach felt uncomfortable, as if I had swallowed a blade.

* * *

Dante, who had walked into the office, sank into a chair.

Then, he lifted his gaze briefly to look at his executive secretary.

“Liam.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Liam, who had been in the office, raised his head with curiosity.

“We’re going to host a debutante ball for My dear.”

“Yes?”

For a moment, Liam looked puzzled.

“So, whether it’s drinks, food, or party decorations… prepare everything in the finest quality. Understand?”

Dante reiterated his instructions.

‘Hasn’t he always abhorred forming special relationships with lovers?’

‘Moreover, Elze’s debutante ball is already way overdue, so why now?’

Numerous questions swirled in my mind, but Liam quietly nodded.

“Understood.”

Well, Dante’s whims are like natural disasters. Questioning them only leads to losses.

Dante raised the corners of his mouth and smiled gently.

“Besides, it’s an opportunity to mess with the nobles’ feelings for a change, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Since it’s our dear’s debutante ball, we should pay attention to the guests. Invite all the dignitaries from the empire this time.”

Leaning back in his chair, Dante laughed heartily.

“Those people may grumble, but they’ll eventually attend, right?”

Probably, unable to refuse this invitation, they would reluctantly show up.

They would do whatever it takes to attach themselves to Dante and throw in a word.

Imagining that pathetic scene, Dante, who had been chuckling, suddenly hardened his face and asked a question.

“Duke Kalleid?”

“Understood.”

“Manage it well. He’s the top water source of our boarding school.”

Lucian von Kalleid.

Thinking of him, my stomach twisted strangely.

Probably because of…

[“You know how much I love My lord.”]

“…If we host the debutante ball.”

Dante opened his mouth casually.

“Would my dear be pleased?”

“Wouldn’t she? It’s a fact that Miss Elze loves My lord passionately.”

Liam answered sincerely, though looking perplexed.

In the past, I wouldn’t have doubted those words.

To the extent that even Liam would say that, there must have been an obsessive corner in Elze’s affection for Dante.

But now…

“This is annoying.”

Dante flashed me a teasing smile.