Two days later, the preparations for the ball were completed, just in the nick of time.
I stood on a staircase leading to the second floor, taking it all in.
I can’t believe I did it.
A surge of pride washed over me as I soaked in the magnificence of the grand hall.
It had been transformed into a marvelous, glimmering space that perfectly encapsulated the celebratory essence of the end-of-year festivities.
The non-stop hustle of the past two days, during which I had been tirelessly on the move, had paid off.
The sweet melody played by the impeccably dressed musicians as they got underway tickled my ears.
The hall was already teeming with nobility.
They were either paired off and dancing merrily to the music or gathered in small clusters and engaged in lively conversation.
The formal dance would not commence until after nightfall, and then all I had to do was make a brief appearance with Rouche.
Upon returning to my annex, I found Lady Begonia waiting for me.
“Shall I begin addressing you as Your Grace?” she asked.
“His Grace has bestowed me with this honor in order to save my life.
So you may address me in whatever manner you see fit.”
More like a slave serving His Grace’s whims…
That’s what I felt like, and that’s what I wanted to say, but imagine starting another scandal…
“More than once I have seen acts of kindness become entangled with destiny,” she said, glancing at me with a knowing grin.
Begonia’s manner was pleasant, but her gaze was shrewd as she meticulously inspected the dress hung on the mannequin.
It was the second of the two dresses that Callis had commissioned from her, this one intended for the wedding reception.
However, now that the wedding reception was no more, Begonia acted as though her reputation was at stake.
She had written to me in hopes that I would agree to one more fitting so that she could make the appropriate alterations.
“A wedding reception dress shares nothing in common with a gown meant for a grand ball,” she explained.
“The former, being an extension of the wedding ceremony, and therefore the wedding dress, ought to be demure, ceding precedence to the wedding dress itself.
But the latter must be invariably more extravagant.
If not, we cannot make satisfactory changes, and you may appear rather drab.
As the hostess, this would be most unacceptable.”
No dressmaker of any esteem would allow for one of their creations to appear in society with obvious faults.
For this dress to become fit for a ball, Begonia had to adorn it with dozens of bright, sparkling jewels.
At Begonia’s direction, her assistants hurriedly dressed me.
They braided and secured my hair and then added flair with several gem-encrusted pins.
“Lady Seria, would you mind taking a look at this?” Begonia had suddenly produced another dress from a large leather garment bag.
“What do you think?
Perfect for a spring picnic, no?”
The lovely gown of a beautiful buttercup hue took my breath away.
I gasped audibly.
“Yes… It’s truly beautiful.”
“It is wonderful,” Begonia said, admiring her own work.
“It is one of my main designs for the upcoming season.
I would like to make you an offer, my lady.
In exchange for gifting this dress to you, would you be willing to make a slight modification to our existing agreement?”
“What kind of modification?”
“I would like for the agreement to be transferred from Lord Hanneton to you directly, my lady.
It would be much more efficient, given the… well, you know.
Would that be acceptable?”
“I don’t see why not.
After all, I am the one who will be wearing the dresses.
I’ll amend it right now.
Do you have the contract?”
“Indeed, Lady Seria.” Begonia had the papers ready and handed them to me at once.
“You certainly have a refreshing straightforwardness about you.
I do admire that in a noblewoman.”
I looked over the contract that Callis had signed only a couple of months prior.
I drew a line through his name and wrote my own next to it.
“Excellent,” said Begonia.
“With this, it will all be much simpler.
You have no idea the headache this has been causing me.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the Lady Saint wishes to commission a dress.”
“Lina does?”
“She does, indeed.
Not a dress for the ball, of course.
There was not nearly enough time for that.
But she does want a dress to wear for when she makes her first appearance in the dominion of House Hanneton.”
“For House Hanneton?”
“Correct.
And, as far as I can tell, she seems to be thinking she can slide right onto Marquis Hanneton’s existing contract.
Since the contract is yet to be fulfilled, why not just add another dress to it?
Preposterous!”
So that means Lina must have still been totally unaware that Callis had requested an immediate annulment.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for her to commission a dress for her arrival at the seat of the Hannetons.
She was to proceed to the high church.
So what made Lina think she would be going to House Hanneton’s dominion?
Could a Saint dislike the High Church that much?
The Holy Land, where the High Church was located, was a beautiful and majestic region.
Granted, the food was a bit bland, but compared to all the wonderful benefits of living in such a place, such a trivial matter could hardly be considered a disadvantage.
Even Seria Sterne, before I came around, didn’t hate living there that much.
Regardless, the annulment of a Sterne marriage was a lengthy process.
Until then, Lina would, in fact, be the Marchioness of Hanneton, though given her highly prestigious title as the Saint, she would continue to be addressed as such.
That reminds me, I must return the ring of the Marchioness of Hanneton.
As was customary among high-ranking noble families who valued tradition, there was an emerald ring that had been passed down from generation to generation among the ladies of the Hanneton Marquisate.
The emerald ring that Callis had proposed to Seria with was still safely tucked away in my jewelry box.
I had been so busy that I had forgotten all about it.
A sigh from Begonia brought me drifting back from my thoughts.
“I really do not understand how the Lady Saint manages to be so fortunate in matters of status while at the same time being so clumsy with noble etiquette,” Begonia said with another bothered sigh.
“Given that the Marquis of Hanneton already had an ongoing contract, it would have been difficult to refuse a request from his wife, no matter who she is.
But just imagine the harm done to my reputation for being split right down the middle of this mess.
Forgive me for saying so, my lady…”
“So, that’s why you wanted to transfer the contract.”
Begonia nodded her head emphatically.
“Now, when the Lady Saint comes to request a dress, I can comfortably refuse.”
A maid crept in, trying to hide a rather troubled expression.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Well, you have a guest.”
“Who could it be that’s causing you to be so hesitant?”
Begonia’s assistants all gasped and mumbled at the nerve of the girl who was poking her head out from behind the maid’s back.
Then they all looked at me to read my reaction, likely expecting a dramatic show.
“Lady Begonia, I’ve been looking all over for you!” Lina exclaimed.
“My Lady Saint…”
Lina was already walking on her own.
She walked in slowly and carefully, but she was dressed elegantly.
One might think that she, too, was planning to attend the ball.
It was a sleek white dress, well-suited to her face and body, but the first thought that crossed my mind was that the nobles, especially the ladies, would be ruthless with their comments and rumors would fly.
Although it was simple, it did look like a wedding dress.
As Lina slowly approached, her face brightened visibly at the sight of the buttercup colored dress still cascading from Begonia’s hands.
“Lady Begonia, can you take my request for a dress now?
That dress you’re holding, it is pretty.
I love it.
Isn’t that dress a part of Callis’s order?
Don’t worry if it’s expensive.
I can talk to the priestess and pay you as much as it takes!”
Begonia turned red with uncontained fury.
“Lady Saint, these are Lady Seria’s chambers.
Therefore, you are expected to greet the lady of the residence before any such outburst!”
Caught off guard by the stern reprimand, Lina cowered and glanced at me.
“I apologize for my rudeness.
Seria, good afternoon.”
“And Lady Saint,” Begonia continued, her tone icy, “just a moment ago, Lady Seria was changing her dress.
Good heavens, the immodesty!
Barging into a lady’s quarters, especially when the ball is already underway!
This is behavior expected of ill-bred ruffians!
And furthermore, Lady Saint, I am not some money-grubbing artist who simply views her dresses in terms of remuneration.
So your vulgar talk of funds is an outrageous affront.”
Lina’s face had gone beet red, and she found it difficult to raise her eyes from the floor.
“But I didn’t mean—”
“A sword swung carelessly still leaves a mark in the sand.
I hope you understand that sentiment and also that I cannot oblige your request for a dress.”
“But isn’t that a part of Callis’s order anyway?
So it shouldn’t be difficult to just—”
“I am afraid that is no longer the case,” countered Begonia, cutting Lina off.
“The contract for commission has been transferred to Lady Seria.
Since the contract has been modified, it is impossible to add a dress for you, my Lady Saint.
You have no relation with Lady Seria.”
Lina seemed at a loss, as Begonia certainly intended.
Lina only stood there shuffling her feet awkwardly before she unexpectedly approached me.
She stared at me a moment and then grabbed my hand, squeezing firmly.
“If that’s the case, Lady Begonia,” Lina said, though she was still looking at me, “then it will be perfectly fine.
After all, Seria and I are good friends.”
The entire room fell under a deep, pressure-filled quiet.
Lady Begonia, all of her assistants, and all of my maids simply stared at me and Lina.
“We are not friends,” I said as I yanked my hand out from Lina’s grasp.
“Huh?
But… why?”
“How can you expect me to laugh and be friends with the woman who stole my fiancé?”
“But Callis and I are not really married!
It’s not official!
It doesn’t mean anything!
You know that, Seria.
I had to do, I had to, to save Callis’s life!”
“You had to go to the glacier, too?
Anyway, it’s none of my concern.
That’s between the two of you.”
Lina’s face turned pale, trembling.
She stared at me with wide eyes, like a child who has been denied something they greatly desire.
“Please leave.
Now, Lina.
And do not dare to barge in like this again, or there will be consequences.”
“Seria!” She grabbed my arms in desperation, nearly collapsing under her own weight.
“Please, Seria!
I know we can be the best of friends!
I know it!
I heard all about you from my tutor.
He’s told me everything!
Like how your mother was an actress, just a commoner!”
Lina was only blurting out whatever came to her mind, seeking any kind of affirmation.
But she had no idea what she’d just done.