Crown Prince, I hate you!

How much time had passed since I entrusted Meisha with my makeover?

When I finally stood before the mirror after completing the preparations under her guidance, I instantly understood the source of her earlier confidence.

“Wow…”

Without even realizing it, a soft gasp escaped my lips as I scanned my reflection in the mirror.

My light brown hair, which might have otherwise seemed plain, glowed beautifully against the blue dress that matched the color of my eyes. The pearl hair accessory accentuated my fair complexion, and the light makeup brought a soft blush to my cheeks. If I were to exaggerate a little, I looked like the best version of myself in my entire life.

It was such a stark contrast to the imitation of Helen I had been portraying until now. The outfit suited me so well that I almost felt sorry for the clothes I had worn before. I stood there, frozen, staring at myself—dazed and a bit awkward.

“Oh my goodness… You look stunning, my lady.”

Breaking my silent reverie was none other than Meisha, who had her hands clasped over her mouth in astonishment.

Even though she was the one who dressed me, she seemed genuinely surprised as she spun me around in front of the mirror repeatedly.

But she had done such a perfect job that all I could do was shower her with compliments.

“It’s all thanks to you. Who knew you had such talent?”

My voice carried a note of surprise as I marveled at her skill, something I hadn’t noticed even after years together.

“I never realized you had a knack for this.”

“Oh, you flatter me.”

Despite waving off the praise, she confessed that she used to feel a little disappointed whenever I chose plain dresses. Her words made me chuckle, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“You should’ve told me sooner. I might’ve worn them a few times!”

“How could I, my lady?”

Even as she spoke, she smoothed out the hem of my dress with a satisfied expression.

“Well, you’ll be busy from now on. You might need to prepare more beautiful outfits like this one regularly.”

“Sorry? From now on?”

My softly murmured words made Meisha widen her eyes in surprise, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

‘Before today, I’d avoided social gatherings, hadn’t I?’

It was only natural—no friends and a constant stream of embarrassing mistakes made such events unbearable for me.

“Yes, from now on.”

Perhaps she understood my meaning as she smiled with her eyes, a bashful grin lighting up her face. Looking at her, I couldn’t help but return a contented smile of my own.

As Meisha finished tidying up my outfit, the moment was interrupted.

“My lady, it’s time to depart,” announced the escort waiting outside the room.

“Alright, let’s go.”

I stepped out, holding my dress in one hand and the escort’s hand in the other, before climbing into the carriage for the first time in a long while. With a slight jolt, the carriage began its journey toward the palace.

The dazzling facade of the imperial palace

Golden and crimson banners hung high, while jewels and lights adorned the paths that the nobles would tread.

As the faint sounds of music from the palace entrance reached my ears, I caught sight of a long line stretching from the gates.

It was the queue of noble carriages, all waiting to gain entry to the event.

To enter the royal palace, numerous verification steps were required, resulting in an agonizingly long wait. The extended delay was enough to bore even the most patient nobles. Those accustomed to the procedure eventually stepped out of their carriages and began strolling around the area.

Amid the scattered conversations of those gathered, one particular carriage drew their attention.

A white carriage, exuding an air of elegance and subtle gravity.

“Whose family does that carriage belong to?”

“I’m not sure. It doesn’t look familiar, and I don’t recall seeing that crest recently… but it does feel vaguely recognizable.”

As curiosity spread, one noblewoman finally named the family.

“Isn’t that the Clody family?”

“The Clody family?”

In an instant, the eyes of the gathered noblewomen sparkled with intrigue.

It was a name that nearly everyone recognized.

A family that, until a few years ago, had lived an enviable life.

A family that had withstood countless challenges without faltering, only to collapse after a series of scandals. Once looked up to, they now found themselves beneath those who had once admired them.

For years, they had stayed out of sight, perhaps out of shame. But today, at the crown prince’s coming-of-age ceremony, they had chosen to reemerge, breaking their long absence.

Despite their declining status, what confidence emboldened them to enter so brazenly?

But such questions hardly mattered.

What truly mattered was:

“Today’s social scene is going to be far more entertaining.”

Some smiled slyly, while others furrowed their brows in concern. The onlookers naturally split into two groups, like predators and prey.

“How predictable.”

Watching the scene from within the carriage, I felt no desire to continue observing such a distasteful spectacle. With a sharp motion, I drew the curtains closed.

Annoyed by the predictable behavior of the crowd, I pressed my index finger against my furrowed brow, attempting to ease the tension.

“Are you all right?”

Ilra, my guard, gently knocked on the opposite window—the one facing away from the nobles—and asked.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

After all, these people hadn’t changed their attitudes because of my position.

They were simply families that had envied ours from the start, now giddy with excitement at the “runaway” reappearing.

In social circles, such behavior was relatively mild.

At least these people hadn’t betrayed those they once considered friends.

“The real problem was always the people around me.”

For some reason, the same types of people always ended up gathering near me.

More precisely, people with the same underlying intentions.

“Ah, aren’t you Lady Clody?”
“It’s been so long, my lady. How have you been?”
“Oh, you’ve come alone today. How is the Count doing?”
“Oh, it’s nothing serious. Our family is starting a new business, and I thought—”

Even the mere memory of those encounters left a bitter taste in my mouth. How strange it was that none of them felt worth cherishing.

“And yet, back then, I thought I was happy.”

Perhaps I’d been so naive that I failed to realize they wanted my family’s name, not me.

Ha. With a self-deprecating smile, I let the chatter from outside pass in one ear and out the other.

They say listening only to pleasant sounds is good for your health.

How many minutes had passed like that? As I absentmindedly traced the geometric patterns inside the carriage, the chatter outside gradually subsided.

The moment I noticed, the carriage gave a lurch—it had finally begun to move.

Previously inching forward at no more than two meters at a time, it now picked up speed after passing through the entrance.

Our destination was the Western Wing, reputed to be the most beautiful building within the palace.

“Does His Highness favor the Western Wing?”

“He does visit here often.”

…Unpleasant memories.

The sudden thought caused me to stop in my tracks and shake my head vigorously, as though I could physically expel it.

“My lady?”

Ilra, standing nearby, looked at me with a concerned expression. I hesitated, unwilling to explain the turmoil in my mind.

“Hm, go ahead inside, Ilra. I’ll take a moment to get some fresh air before joining you.”

Since personal guards were not permitted inside the palace, Ilra would need to wait in the designated lounge. After a brief pause, he hummed in acknowledgment and headed to his assigned area. Left alone, I took a deep breath to steady myself before stepping into the central hall.

Passing through the sparsely occupied first floor, I ascended to the second. Perhaps because I had arrived late, the corridor was entirely empty.

The sound of my heels echoed sharply in the silence.

“I never thought I’d find myself here again.”

As I walked through these familiar surroundings, fragments of memories stirred, surfacing like unwelcome guests. Unsurprisingly, there was little warmth in them.

The swirl of thoughts threatened to overwhelm me, the dissonance in my mind growing louder and more chaotic.

“Enough. Just for today—only today.”

With that thought, I pushed forward, stepping resolutely into the dazzling light.

The grand ballroom, illuminated by an opulent chandelier, was more radiant than ever.

Shimmering reflections danced across the polished floor, like blue diamonds scattered under the sunlight. One corner of the room hosted an orchestra, their melody weaving through the air, while another displayed an array of fine food and drink.

Yet despite the grandeur, the energy in the room buzzed with an excitement that far outshone the decor.

Perhaps it was the long-awaited first public appearance of the crown prince.

The ballroom thrummed with chatter, the hum of conversation like a vibrant melody of its own.

“Did you hear? The Clody family is attending today.”

Amid the crowd, a group of noblewomen—those who had earlier spotted the Clody family’s carriage—exchanged gossip with hushed enthusiasm.

“The Clody family… as in that family?”

The mention of the name sparked curiosity in one noblewoman’s eyes.

“Yes, that family.”

Catching on, the others eagerly joined the conversation.

“What could they possibly be thinking, coming back now?”

“Well, the crown prince’s coming-of-age ceremony is a mandatory event. That’s probably why they’re here.”

“I thought we’d never see them at another social gathering.”

What began as idle gossip quickly snowballed into a topic of fascination. The group, now doubled in size, formed a tight circle, their focus entirely on the Clody family.

Some women discreetly raised their fans to hide their faces, but the faint smiles tugging at their lips were unmistakable.

“It’s been far too long, hasn’t it? How… worrisome.”

“Do you think they’ve forgotten proper decorum after all this time?”

“Oh, surely not.”

Their laughter, polite yet heavy with hidden meaning, came to an abrupt halt as a distinct sound echoed through the room.

Clack.

The door opened, followed by the deliberate click of heels on the marble floor.

Instinctively, everyone turned toward the source of the sound.

“!”

In an instant, all eyes in the room fixed on a single figure. Though the emotions behind those gazes varied, the reason for their focus was clear.

A woman with chestnut-brown hair entered from the far end of the ballroom.

She wore a gown as vivid as the ocean, its lace-trimmed hem swaying gracefully with each step. The off-shoulder design accentuated her elegance, while ribbons and pearl embellishments glittered under the chandelier’s light.

Her movements were unhurried, her posture exuding an aura of authority so commanding it was almost impossible to replicate.

“Lady Clody?”

“Is that… her?”

Despite the sheer weight of the stares directed at her, the woman remained utterly composed. Her stride was steady, her presence unshaken.

She approached a group at the far end of the ballroom—a group that, perhaps by fate or coincidence, had just been gossiping about her.

As she neared, her gaze swept over each of them, locking eyes with every individual in the group. Then, she broke into a radiant smile.

It was a smile so breathtaking that, for a moment, everyone around her forgot to speak, caught in the spell of her presence.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m Berian Clody.”