Chapter 21.
As soon as we arrived at the ballroom, we went to greet the imperial couple.
“May the endless glory of Stade be with the sun and the moon. I greet Your Majesties.”
“This is the last ball you’ll attend as an unmarried woman, Princess. I can’t believe this day has come.”
Emperor Otto nodded with misty eyes, then glanced at Friedrich beside me and muttered.
“…He certainly has exceptional looks.”
“I can see why the princess was in such a hurry to get married. Duke Rommel is handsome too, but compared to the prince…”
Empress Gisela chimed in with an amused voice.
“Oh, have you heard? The duke is apparently lovesick.”
“Yes. But it’s not something I need to concern myself with, is it?”
When I replied indifferently, the empress made a face as if she herself had been hurt.
“Oh my, how cold… Though I suppose you’re right.”
“In any case, congratulations on your marriage, Princess. Since this is your last ball before the wedding, enjoy it to the fullest without any regrets.”
It was just as Emperor Otto shook his head in a way that said ‘That’s so like Rene’ and changed the subject.
“You don’t need to worry about that, Your Majesty. Earlier, I overheard the princess’s admirers talking, and they seemed very determined.”
Empress Gisela laughed with a ‘hoho’ sound, as if recalling it brought her joy again.
Wondering what that cryptic remark meant, I was about to ask when a crowd of nobles surged forward to greet the imperial couple, forcing us to step back.
“Shall we dance, Friedrich?”
It was time to make up for the waltz we missed last time!
“Just one dance, then we’ll head back.”
Friedrich nodded. As we moved toward the floor together, a group of young ladies suddenly approached and surrounded me.
They all stared at me with flushed expressions, and in their clear eyes, there seemed to be a strange hint of madness…
“Goodness, Your Highness. Tonight, you shine like the Milky Way in the night sky!”
“Your radiance is so blinding, it’s hard to look at you properly. I feel like my eyesight might suffer, eek!”
…Hearing those embarrassingly cheesy compliments jogged my memory.
‘It’d be fair to call them Rene’s fans.’
They were a group that adored Rene’s immense power, arrogant personality, and outstanding beauty.
Even Rene, who scoffed at people who flattered her, liked these ones.
She said they liked her in the purest way.
So Rene always gave them at least a brief bit of fan service.
When I subtly opened my arms, they all rushed in as if they’d been waiting.
“What an honor, Your Highness. I’ll have to pass this dress I’m wearing tonight down as a family heirloom for generations!”
“Shaking hands with Your Highness… I swear I won’t wash my right hand for the whole week.”
It’s not like I gave them jewels; just a hug or a handshake, and they’re this thrilled.
I can see why Rene liked these people.
‘That should be enough.’
Thinking I’d made Friedrich wait too long, I turned my head, only to find him quietly staring at the women who’d received my fan service.
‘What? Does he like one of them or something?’
Let’s test the waters.
“See anyone you like?”
“…Pardon?”
“You keep looking over there.”
“Ah…!”
At that, Friedrich shook his head quickly with a flustered expression.
“N-no, it’s not that.”
“If there is, you can tell me honestly. I won’t mind.”
Friedrich frowned slightly and repeated.
“It’s really not.”
“Then why were you staring so intently?”
“…”
Friedrich couldn’t answer, just bit his lip tightly and lowered his head.
It really seems like there’s someone he likes, but he can’t say it in front of me.
“Your Highness, would you please grant me the honor of toasting with you?”
“Me too, me too!”
“Please accept my glass as well, Your Highness!”
Suddenly, glasses were thrust at me from all sides.
I froze in surprise for a moment, unable to move, when Friedrich whispered from beside me.
“If it’s troublesome, I’ll decline for you.”
But Rene doesn’t get drunk easily thanks to her magic. Refusing here would obviously raise suspicions.
‘Besides, I can’t turn down drinks from my fans.’
I smiled at Friedrich to show it was fine, then accepted and drank every glass offered. I could feel the buzz starting to set in…
‘Hold it together!’
If I showed even a hint of intoxication, suspicion would follow in an instant. Rallying every bit of willpower I had, I finished off all the glasses…
“Now you must be feeling a bit better. We’ve prepared something to give Your Highness even greater pleasure.”
“Just trust us and follow. You’ll definitely be satisfied.”
This isn’t the end? Before I knew it, I was being dragged away by the admirers’ hands. Friedrich grabbed me with a panicked look.
“Wait a minute. Where exactly are you taking Her Highness…”
“Oh, the future consort doesn’t need to worry. Tonight is solely for Her Highness.”
“It’s also the day we fulfill our long-standing promise with Her Highness. We’ve been looking forward to this for so long!”
Was there such a thing? As I made a dubious face, one of the young ladies giggled.
“You don’t remember well? That’s okay, Your Highness. We remember.”
“Exactly. We never forget anything Your Highness says. Not even the smallest thing.”
With them saying that, I couldn’t not go. They don’t seem like they’d harm me.
‘It’ll be fine. I’ll be back soon.’
In the end, I signaled Friedrich with my eyes to reassure him, then followed the admirers.
They led me out of the ballroom and into some room.
“Here it is. We’ve compiled everything that suits Your Highness’s tastes from what we’ve collected over time.”
“Then, Your Royal Highness, please enjoy boundless pleasure.”
With those words, the doors swung open on both sides, and I, assuming it would be something like a dazzling array of jewel gifts, found my jaw dropping.
‘…What is all this?’
Men with their shirts off were kneeling on either side of a massive bed.
“Do you like it?”
As the admirers asked with sparkling eyes, it hit me—what Rene used to say to them like a habit!
“This last ball I’ll attend as a single woman, I’m going to make it absolutely epic, totally awesome.”
They’d interpreted ‘epic’ and ‘awesome’ according to Rene’s usual tastes. Their sense was on par with Elsa’s.
“Uh, listen. I appreciate the thought, but…”
I smiled awkwardly and quietly closed the door first.
At the same time, the admirers looked shocked.
“D-does it not please you? If I may be so bold, what part do you find lacking?”
“Of course, their looks don’t even reach the toes of your future consort, but still, we thought…”
“That’s exactly it!”
Thanks to someone handing me the perfect excuse on a platter, I found a way to escape this crisis without racking my brain further.
“After meeting Prince Friedrich, my standards have risen so high that I just can’t play with just anyone. So I’ll just accept your thoughtful intentions.”
At that, the admirers looked shocked for a moment but soon nodded as if convinced.
“Well, even I’d rather have multiple slices of one delicious cake than various mediocre ones.”
“We mere mortals can’t fully grasp Your Highness’s wisdom in choosing a husband based on looks alone.”
“We’re worried that our prepared gift didn’t suit Your Highness’s tastes and instead offended you.”
To one of the fidgeting admirers, I said with a smile.
“It’s fine, really, don’t worry about it. I’ll just go back to Prince Friedrich…”
-Ding, ding, ding
Suddenly, bells rang out of nowhere. A foreboding feeling hit me, and I asked.
“…What is that sound right now?”
They all looked puzzled by my question for a moment. Then one answered brightly.
“It’s the bell announcing midnight, Your Highness.”
