“Alright, Deli, just stick close to me! I’ll chase off all the bad guys for you.”
As if the ballroom were some den of thieves.
I quickly snatched the hat from my brother and handed it to May.
May, with no hesitation, tossed it into the trash.
Luckily, Adrian’s attention had already shifted away from the hat.
“Deli, tonight, you’ll be the most beautiful woman in the world. I guarantee it.”
The imperial palace’s ballroom, opened after a long hiatus, was brimming with young ladies buzzing with excitement for the debutante ball.
As befitting the social season, it was a gathering of the finest young men and women.
‘The day of reckoning has finally arrived.’
Rodellia, who had meticulously provoked Ainluk for this very moment, braced herself as if she were a general marching into battle.
Word had it that Ainluk had been storming through shopping districts, shrieking, “Another Ferris?!” at every turn.
Everything was going according to plan.
By now, she was probably itching to confront Rodellia at the debutante ball.
‘Perfect. Today, I’ll expose that villainess’s true nature once and for all.’
As she steeled herself with this resolve, the herald announced the arrival of the Ferris siblings.
“Lord Adrian Ferris, heir to the dukedom, and Lady Rodellia Ferris!”
At that moment, every eye in the room turned toward the entrance.
“Goodness, Lord Ferris himself is escorting his sister? How sweet of him.”
Adrian, ever popular among the young ladies, was the first to spark conversation.
With the jet-black hair emblematic of the Ferris family and teal eyes reminiscent of a lush forest, he always exuded an unapproachable aura—except when it came to his sister, where his smiles never ceased.
Unlike Alferen, who treated women like mere objects, Adrian was reputed to be quite the gentleman, and the ladies in attendance gazed at him with eager anticipation.
Meanwhile, the young ladies’ escorts also took notice of the Ferris siblings.
“Was Lady Ferris always that beautiful?”
Rodellia usually shunned ostentatious attire, preferring simplicity, but in truth, she was strikingly lovely.
And now, having dressed to provoke the villainess, her beauty was impossible to ignore.
Her meticulously styled pink hair flowed like silk.
Her delicate, fairy-like features, though slightly stiffened with tension, only added to her enchanting allure.
Even adorned with extravagant accessories, she carried them with such grace that they never felt excessive—a testament to her natural beauty.
Feeling the weight of everyone’s stares, Rodellia instinctively moved to hide behind Adrian’s back.
Just then, Adrian’s smile faded, and he murmured in a low voice, “Deli, just trust me.”
Something was off. Why did his smile make her feel so uneasy?
That chilling grin, as if he were about to take someone down, sent a shiver through Rodellia.
Anyone would think they were stepping into a lion’s den.
‘Honestly, you’re the least trustworthy person here, brother.’
At that moment, someone approached Rodellia, undeterred by Adrian’s menacing aura.
“Good evening, Lady Ferris. I am Green Basili of the Basili family. Might I have the honor of claiming the first dance on your card—”
Before the man could finish, Adrian cut him off.
“Shut up.”
His low, venomous curse echoed through the ballroom.
The orchestra had paused to prepare for the next piece, and that silence was my undoing—his voice carried far too clearly. In the suddenly chilly air of the hall, Green Basilie blinked in confusion and stammered,
“…I’m sorry? Did I hear that wrong?”
“Didn’t you hear me tell you to shut up? Who do you think you are, daring to mention her name? The first dance is mine. Of course, the second dance is mine too. And the third? Obviously mine as well. Got it?”
With every word Adrian spoke, Green Basilie’s face drained to an ashen hue. From the mouth of the young Duke Peris, hailed as a gentleman, poured a stream of venomous words. Unable to withstand the pressure, Basilie bent at a perfect ninety-degree angle, bowing in apology.
“I-I-I’m so sorry!”
Rodellia watched Basilie flee as if his life depended on it, letting out a soft sigh. At this rate, she’d go down in debutante history as the first lady to dance only with her brother. The young lords who had started approaching her were already turning away, coughing awkwardly to cover their retreat. It was unmistakable.
“Did I do good, Delly?”
Oblivious to her worries, Adrian grinned, fishing for praise.
Yes, that’s right.
My brother is a full-blown siscon.
And a bit too much of one.
Maybe it’d be better to hand this brother of mine over to the novel’s heroine. At this rate, I’ll never marry because of the obstacle that is my brother, and I’ll end up living as a spinster.
A sudden wave of anxiety about her future washed over Rodellia, and she shook her head.
A prison ending? No thanks. But a spinster ending? Absolutely not!
To be born this pretty and die without ever experiencing love? Unacceptable!
Determined that this couldn’t go on, Rodellia cleared her throat.
“Listen, brother. Are you trying to make me the unpopular, charm-less lady of the season?”
“No way! Is there anyone in the world as charming as my Delly?”
Adrian practically leapt in denial, but Rodellia pressed on firmly.
“If, like you say, my dance card ends up filled with only your name, that’s proof I’m lacking charm.”
“I’d rather you not dance with those good-for-nothing idiots—”
“I won’t even dance with you. I’d rather be a wallflower.”
Rodellia huffed, turning toward the wall, and Adrian scrambled after her, flustered.
“I’m sorry, Delly. Are you mad? I can’t just let you dance with anyone, you know. If I see someone decent, I’ll allow it.”
“Sure, and you’ll just say they’re all unworthy.”
For a moment, Adrian’s face betrayed that she’d hit the nail on the head, and he gave an awkward laugh.
Just then, the herald announced another arrival.
“Her Highness Nanael Barnard and Duke Alferen Ainluk!”
At that, Rodellia’s gaze snapped to the door as if she’d been waiting for this moment.
The arrival of Alferen and Nanael cast a different kind of hush over the room. I stared at the pair, my face taut with tension.
This is the first time I’ve seen them enter a formal event together.
Making their debut as partners, the two looked noticeably stiff.
Alferen’s expression, in particular, was a masterpiece.
Oh, that’s the face of an employee dragged out by their boss against their will.
To others, it might just seem like a blank stare, but I could see it.
I could see how desperately he wanted to go home.
And seeing his usually smiling face so expressionless gave off an almost unapproachable chill.
Well, that’s the kind of character he is, isn’t it?
Having known him since we were kids, I’d forgotten that Alferen was the guarded, iron-walled type. But once he considered you one of his own, he was endlessly kind.
As his friend’s little sister, I’d reaped the benefits of that kindness plenty.
The original Delly ruined her life by foolishly stalking him, but not me. Nope.
I kept my distance, watching them and biding my time, when my eyes met Alferen’s.
He froze mid-step, staring at me blankly.
Nanael seemed to say something, but Alferen didn’t react, looking somewhat dazed.
Then he furrowed his brow and deliberately looked away.
It feels like he avoided my gaze on purpose…
His cold reaction, so unlike him, left a sour taste in my mouth.
It didn’t help that I was already self-conscious about my outfit, which wasn’t my usual style.
Hmm. Do I look that bad?
My confidence plummeted, and I fidgeted with my dress, embarrassed.
This is more Nanael’s style than mine.
The accessories I’d splurged on to provoke the villainess were flashy, extravagant, reeking of money.
I already felt awkward, like I was wearing someone else’s clothes.
Do I look like a kid who stole her mom’s lipstick?
If so, that’d be pretty humiliating…
The confidence I’d felt under the admiring gazes earlier shriveled up.
I must’ve gotten cocky from all the doting my family showered on me.
This is why overprotection is dangerous.
Just then, I noticed Nanael whispering something to Alferen before they started heading my way.
