CH 19

Madame Fablery held scissors in both hands. The midnight-colored hair that had wrapped around my entire face was cut away with a crisp sound. Rosewater and soft sheep’s milk cream were applied to my face.

Seamstresses darted around tirelessly!

Even maids assisted with the makeup!

Time flew by in a whirlwind.

In the midst of dozing off, Ford, with his arms crossed, suddenly spoke with a serious expression.

“Ishael, shall we make a bet?”

“A bet?”

“Yes, let’s make a bet with a prize at stake.”

With a sense of foreboding, I asked, “What kind of bet and what’s the prize?”

Ford whispered softly in my ear.

* * *

The Irel Hall within the palace, where the palace ball was being held, was buzzing with excitement.

Dylan stood in the outdoor garden, waiting for Ishael.

The partner request had been accepted.

Ishael nodded as if it were natural.

“Well then, please go to the ballroom first!”

“Do you not need an escort?”

“I have preparations to make in the salon. And what about you?”

“I have a formal suit. I just need to change quickly.”

“Then, please wait for me at the outdoor garden fountain!”

Recalling the conversation with Ishael, Dylan silently stood in front of the fountain.

Gentlemen who had not yet found a partner to escort them, just like Dylan, were scattered around.

The ladies also wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of the outdoor garden.

Dylan tried to blend in with the tranquil surroundings.

However, to his disappointment, he spotted an unpleasant man.

“Ishael’s ex-boyfriend, Pedro.”

Whether he had already been drinking or not, his face had become ruggedly sullen.

Pedro incessantly badgered his partner, his face contorted.

“Hahaha! I must say, I’m quite good-looking!”

“Yes, you are truly handsome like a wild horse.”

“Hahaha!”

“Ha, more importantly, once I receive a noble title, I will become a rare commodity, so to speak.”

“A rare commodity?”

“Yes, oh ho ho, to a charming lady.”

“With whom? Is it the person you were dating back then?”

Dylan’s expressionless face hardened even more.

“Oh, no? Ha, I was just joking around. Hahaha!”

Pedro brought a gust of wind to his emotionless world.

Perhaps it was anger.

When Dylan took a step towards Pedro, who was chattering away with all his might, he heard the distant sound of people murmuring.

“Who is that person?”

“There was such a beautiful lady?”

“Whose partner is that bureaucrat?”

“She seems like a noble, but she doesn’t have a partner…”

A beautiful lady, to Dylan, was just a stone.

He paid no attention to such things and continued to glare at Pedro.

As Dylan quietly fixed his gaze and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, at that moment, the crowd began to part as if it were a miracle of Moses.

Even Dylan, who paid no attention to the surrounding situation, felt a sense of curiosity. And finally, a familiar voice brushed against his ear.

“Dylan?”

Dylan slowly turned his head towards the direction of the voice.

And there stood a woman so beautifully crafted, as if by a god. She was an incredibly stunning beauty, fixating her gaze on Dylan.

At that moment, a gentle breeze blew.

As if tickled, she adorned a delicate smile on her lips.

The buzzing atmosphere instantly turned quiet. Everyone in that place, including Dylan, was enchanted, fixated on her.

Her slightly long, soft, chestnut hair danced in the wind. Her pristine white dress, gently covering her ankles, evoked the image of a graceful bird.

It triggered the protective instincts of people, regardless of age or gender. Everyone watched the beautiful woman in awe, holding their breath.

She deepened her smile on her lips.

Suddenly, as if frozen, the previously quiet atmosphere transformed.

“I haven’t seen her before.”

“Is she Lady Garnet, the flower of high society?”

“Doesn’t seem like the kind of lady to attend the administrative ball.”

“She just called Dylan’s name. What’s their relationship?”

“Could it be… lovers? A perfect match.”

She shyly adjusted the ornate bonnet on her head.