CH 71

The room stagnated in silence. 

Occasionally, the only sound heard was that of the cosmetic brushes colliding loudly on the dressing table. 

The woman's face was full of satisfaction as she straightened her bowed waist and looked at the finished face before her as a whole.

"I am done. What do you think, miss?"

The newly styled woman took a step back so she could check her reflection in the mirror.

Her make-up was perfect, to the point where anyone would immediately exclaim in wonder.

Her skin wasn't very fair, but the makeup colors she had carefully chosen harmonized and made each of her small features stand out.

This was more fun than helping apply the Mistress' make-up.

Just looking at the young woman's exquisite makeup made her shoulders twitch as her nose rose into the air in pride. 

The woman waited patiently for the young lady to exclaim in joy at her work of art. However, contrary to the woman's expectations, the other person did not react much.

"Maybe I... Do you not like it, Young Miss?"

The woman knew that the guest was said to be a distant relative of the Countess of West, the hostess, so it was only natural that the woman should serve the guest with dignity.

And yet, the woman couldn't help but exclaim silently at the features possessed by the guest. 

The guest, who had been expressionless like a doll and did not budge, slowly turned toward the woman.

"I look very pretty, thank you."

"No, no, I'm happy that the makeup session went well. Mistress said you were invited to a coming-of-age celebration today, yes? Congratulations on becoming an adult, Young Miss."

"Yes."

The guest gave a brief answer before falling into silence.

A suffocating silence that haunted the woman.

Just a moment ago, the woman was brimming with joy, and now suddenly, all she wanted to do was pack up her cosmetics, grab her things, and run away from the suffocating room.

Let's hold on until the Mistress returns.

It was as though heaven had heard her prayers. The woman's face lit up at the sound of the knock on the door. 

"Coming!"

Opening the door, the woman came face-to-face with Countess West, who'd been waiting outside. 

"My Lady, please come in; I've been waiting for you."

"Have you finished the makeup?"

"Yes, My Lady. I've put my heart and soul into my art piece!"

"Then I'll look forward to it. I'll go in, and you go back and do as you wish."

With Countess West's confirmation, the woman immediately ran away, saying that she would come back and clean up the dressing table at a later time.

The Countess' wife stared blankly at the woman's back as she walked away and entered the room, stopping by the dressing room table.

The Countess approached the back of the red-haired woman, who sat motionless with her back straight.

"They said they were ready, Nina."

At the words of the Countess, Nina rose from her seat and slowly turned around to face her.

Nina's appearance was as beautiful as the woman had claimed, showcasing how the woman before had put her heart and soul into Nina's appearance.

Her appearance, which was close to normal, shone through proper makeup.

"You are beautiful. If you leave now, you won't be late for the Imperial banquet. It's a place to celebrate coming of age, yes, so, shall we go?"

"Yes, I suppose so."

"Oh, and I found out more about your request. There are whispers stating that Lady Rose Honeywell was found on the list for the coming-of-age celebrations."

"Rose Honeywell is coming too. Hmm, thank you."

"Of course, let's go. The carriage is waiting."

Countess West took the lead and walked through the door.

She led the way, turning her head to check if Nina followed behind.

...I hadn't heard that Duke Proud had a younger cousin sister who had just become an adult.

Countess West remembered the day she first met Nina.

It was just a week ago.

Countess West, who had loose lips and was quick to gossip, had a special relationship with Elliot.

She had once been close to Elliot's mother, the late Duchess of Proud, and had watched over Elliot as he grew into the man he was today. So to her, Elliot was like a nephew.

And now, when Elliot asked her to meet him, she readily made an appointment, and Elliot personally came to the Count West mansion.

Countess West welcomed Elliot with open arms. However, Elliot did not come to her mansion alone.

He was accompanied by a young girl with red hair and green eyes, though the girl's condition was somehow strange.

Like a person who has gone crazy, her reactions and behavior were strangely slow.

Elliot spoke to Countess West when he noticed her stare at the red-haired girl she had never seen before.

"Countess, this friend is Nina, a very distant relative of the Proud family. She was left alone because of certain circumstances, so I brought her to the Countess' mansion."

He'd even added an extra word on the side for the girl. 

"This friend of mine has become an adult this year, but she has not celebrated this achievement yet. If you don't mind, please allow Nina to attend the Imperial banquet under your name."

It was such a rare occasion for Elliot to request a favor.

The discovery of a mysterious girl standing side by side with Duke Elliot Proud, the same man who was about to be engaged to Honeywell's rose... Well, Countess West was very curious about their relationship with one another.

Nonetheless, she gave Nina her last name temporarily and helped her attend the coming-of-age banquet held at the Imperial Palace.

...But from the way Nina speaks, she seems to know Lady Rose Honeywell.

Before dressing up in preparation for the coming-of-age ceremony, Nina asked Countess West for a favor.

She asked her to find out if Rose Honeywell would attend the banquet held in the Imperial Palace.

Countess West complied, as news about Rose was easy enough to find out.

As Rose was such a famous person, even if she attended as cannon fodder rather than the main character, the aftermath of her appearance was quite large.

The main characters of today's banquet are said to be the new adults, but when Rose Honeywell appears, the lights will shine on her without fail.

It's a pity Elliot left for Rosenberg. I wondered what kind of relationship the three of them had.

Even as she climbed into the carriage, Countess West did not hide her regret as she waited for Nina to sit across from her.

Countess West tidied up her skirt and examined Nina's complexion.

Somewhere along the way today, her expression became blank as her actions grew slower.

"Nina, are you sick or uncomfortable?"

In any case, she is the child Elliot had entrusted to me, and as the Countess, I have a duty to take care of Nina.

Slowly, Nina shook her head.

"I am neither in pain nor in discomfort. I am just a little drowsy."

"I'm glad then. I was a little worried. After the coming-of-age celebrations, I should tell the butler to prepare a healthy meal for you to recover your strength."

"I am well. When I go to the Imperial Palace today, I'll be more than fine."

Nina answered back a little vaguely. 

Watching Nina close her green eyes and fall asleep, Countess West took care not to make another sound in case she woke Nina until she reached the Imperial Palace.

Rose arrived at the Imperial Palace with Wells.

Holding his hand, she descended off the carriage and arrived at the Imperial Palace's door, all the while feeling the gaze of many a person trained on her.

One in particular, she'd felt before at the year-end banquet. It still made her feel uncomfortable, and subconsciously, Rose put strength into Wells' arm.

"Remain calm, My Rose. We are not the main characters today, so let's avoid the crowd and go up to the second floor."

"Ah, yes."

Wells, noticing Rose's discomfort, walked away from the crowd, into a less crowded area.

There was a staircase leading to the second floor of the banquet hall.

It led to a loft, which was not wide enough for dancing, but had a clear view of everyone downstairs.

It wasn't the location for the main character of the banquet to stay, so it was a good place to talk , hidden away, while watching people dance.

"Can I not listen to His Majesty's speech?"

Rose questioned herself as she headed upstairs with Wells.

Wells smiled and nodded.

"You don't have to listen from below. There are a lot of people downstairs, so His Majesty will understand why we are not with them. And from here, we can see His Majesty's location clearly."

Wells stopped as Rose realized that they had reached a certain railing on the second floor.

Rose, who had never been to the Imperial Palace's banquet hall on the second floor before, looked around curiously.

Rose watched the celebration with her hands on the railing, and was stopped by gazes from downstairs.

"His Majesty Russell Whittle van Tristan enters!"

A booming voice echoed through the large banquet hall.

Rose, standing slightly away from the railing, raised her head to the front.

The place where Russell appeared was much higher than the second floor.

It was on a podium where the Emperor sat comfortably and enjoyed the banquet, and it was also the place where Russell had been in her previous life's banquet.

After taking a quick look around at the people watching him from the first and second floors, Russell commanded their attention.

"We had come together for another coming-of-age banquet this year. I sincerely congratulate the children who have reached the age of majority, and I hope that you will continue to develop yourself and enjoy the glory of your family, while diligently becoming the future of the Tristan Empire."

His words were short and to the point. As soon as he finished speaking, Russell turned around, and a red curtain was drawn over where he rested.

At the same time, the music from the band downstairs began.

The sons of nobles who had reached the age of majority danced to the music, each accompanied by a partner.

Rose enjoyed the view of the banquet with Wells on the second floor.

Perhaps because Wells deliberately didn't give them a chance to approach, there were several nobles around them, but none of them spoke out easily.

If Rose felt burdened by the lingering nobles around her, Wells would move and cut them off from reaching Rose, until Rose's small body disappeared as if it were wrapped in Wells' arms.

"Because I am being protected by my older brother, I feel like a child."

"In my eyes, My Rose, you are still a child."

"I am twenty."

Rose rubbed her eyes stubbornly as Wells dotingly tapped Rose's cheek lightly with his finger.

"Alright, of course I know. My Rose is all grown up."

"Chit."

As Rose and Wells chatted lightly, the music changed.

The dance to announce the start of the banquet for those who have reached adulthood had come to an end.

Some returned to their places, but others stayed and waited for the next song to begin.

From now on, it was time for not only the main characters of the banquet but also those who attended to celebrate with them, to dance.

"Would you like to keep your promise to me, sister?"

Wells held out his hand to Rose.

At Wells' request to go downstairs and dance with him, Rose took his hand without hesitation.

"Of course, brother."

Escorted by Wells, Rose was able to gracefully walk downstairs and prepare to dance.

The sound of music reached their ears as they stood in the middle of the banquet's ballroom, receiving countless gazes.

It was time for the female partner to step forward with the sweet melody of the violin and start off the dance. Rose moved to the sound of the music.

Wells' hand wrapped around Rose's waist as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

The two of them started to spin and glide around to the music.

"You dance well."

"It's because my older brother leads me well."

Do I feel more confident because I am with Wells, who is my strongest supporter?

Those dancing around them.

Those watching her as they danced.

Rose could forget everything as long as her brother stood by her side.

The song, which felt like it would last a lifetime, ended all too quickly.

Rose, who was about three paces away from Wells, bowed to him while holding the hem of her dress with both hands.

Wells, too, bowed to his sister in a gentlemanly manner once the dance concluded, as did the rest of the dancers.

Rose straightened her bowed back and walked straight to Wells, who then wrapped his arms around Rose's shoulder and gently ran his fingers through her soft hair in a comforting gesture.

"I can't believe you are dancing here with such a happy face. I am very proud of your bravery, Rose."

"It's all thanks to my older brother."

Her mood skyrocketed, perhaps because of the sense of accomplishment of completing a song perfectly in front of an audience.

Rose, who headed up the staircase to be alone again with Wells, felt an especially sharp gaze among the countless stares that were still showering her from afar.