Chapter 1.1 – The Day She Became an Adult

The social scene of the Adlen Kingdom is largely divided into the spring and autumn seasons. This is because the royal debutante ball is held in March when spring buds and in September when autumn colors bloom. Currently, with the September debutante ongoing, noble young ladies of marriageable age are both nervous and excited.

However, Wendy, the youngest daughter of the Earl Rosewood’s Household, was a bit different.

“Wendy. Please, I beg you, can you listen calmly?”

Just before entering the ballroom, the Countess of Rosewood held Wendy back and ended up saying something. Despite having given her daughter countless instructions on the way to the palace, it seemed to have gone in one ear and out the other. Yet her hands were busy tidying Wendy’s dress and hair.

“You’ve been talking about it all the way here.”

“It seemed like you weren’t listening at all.”

“I heard everything.”

Walk gracefully and elegantly, always wear a gentle smile but don’t appear frivolous. Answer questions politely and when greeting, bend your knees appropriately. There were many other instructions that sounded like they came straight from an etiquette textbook, so Wendy half-listened.

But Wendy nodded quietly. Otherwise, her mother seemed unlikely to let her go.

“Just do as you’ve been taught. I won’t ask for anything more.”

Half giving up, half hopeful, the Countess of Rosewood adjusted Wendy’s appearance.

As the daughter of the Earl Rosewood’s Household, famous for its rosewood and rose garden, Wendy wore a very light green dress adorned with freshly blooming roses. Her black hair, waved like ripples, was braided to the side and also decorated with small roses.

“I wanted to wear pretty jewels like Karen’s.”

“This suits you better, Wendy.”

The Countess lightly tapped the rose pinned in Wendy’s hair and smiled. She wanted Wendy to look fresh and lovely, as befitting a newly debuted young lady. The result was that Wendy stood out more than the ostentatiously dressed young ladies, and the fragrant, subtle scent of fresh flowers added to her youthful charm.

Though the Countess found the sight thoroughly pleasing, her youngest daughter clearly did not understand her feelings. Wendy, still dissatisfied, lightly tapped the roses decorating her dress.

As the Countess furrowed her brow, Wendy clung to her mother’s arm and pleaded brightly.

“Let’s go in quickly, Mother.”

“Aren’t you nervous at all?”

“Our Wendy doesn’t need to be. She’s this pretty just standing still.”

The Earl of Rosewood sided with Wendy from the side.

With a significant age gap between her and her elder siblings, Karen and Jayden, Wendy was the cherished youngest daughter. The Earl knew that debuting meant being thrown into the marriage market, and he felt a pang of sadness seeing Wendy suddenly grown up. Moreover…

“Do you think Lucas is here?”

As soon as they entered the ballroom, Wendy’s behavior of looking around for another man made the Earl even more disappointed.

“Are you looking for him more than your father?”

“Father, you’re right here beside me.”

As Wendy playfully clung to her father’s arm, the Earl’s furrowed face quickly relaxed. The Earl, who cherished his youngest daughter immensely, had never scolded Wendy. Of course, Wendy was naturally gentle, so there was never much to reprimand.

However, because of this, Wendy tended to act like a child in front of the Earl, which worried the Countess. After today, Wendy would need to be cautious in all aspects, including behavior and speech, as a lady of marriageable age. Acting immaturely and appearing unsuitable as a marriage partner would be problematic.

“Honestly, I can’t see him. Did brother take him away?”

Ignoring her father’s disappointment and her mother’s concerns, Wendy was preoccupied with finding Lucas.

The Earl lightly patted his daughter’s arm to soothe her.

“Don’t worry. Surely Jayden wouldn’t run away on your debut day? If he did, he’d be dead by my hand.”

Wendy had been infatuated with Lucas since childhood. Moreover, she had made a promise to dance the first dance with him years ago, and she hadn’t stopped talking about it excitedly until just yesterday.

Thus, the Earl of Rosewood planned to let Wendy have her way today, a significant first step in her life. He was even prepared to give Lucas a piece of his mind if he forgot their promise.

“Honestly, even if brother is here, he won’t be much help. He’s more of a nuisance.”

Though her brother was five years older, Jayden was more of a prankster than reliable, which was just annoying. If it weren’t for him being Lucas’s friend, he would be of no use to Wendy.

Seeing Wendy’s stern expression at the mention of Jayden, the Countess shook her head. It didn’t matter if the siblings acted as usual within the mansion, but she didn’t want such behavior to be visible to others today.

“Please, respect each other outside, Wendy.”

“Tell that to brother, not me, Mother.”

Even while grumbling, Wendy’s eyes were busy searching for Lucas.

The palace ballroom was vast. The debutante ball was one of the biggest events in the social scene and was hosted by the Queen, making it grand and large in scale. Unless there was a major issue, nobles with children of marriageable age attended as families, so the attendees were numerous.

A young lady attending the ball for the first time might be wide-eyed at the scale and splendor, but Wendy wasn’t interested at all.

“I don’t think he’s here…”

“Is now the time to be looking for Lucas? Focus more on your debut. Don’t act like a country mouse seeing such a place for the first time.”

Karen, her sister, turned Wendy’s wandering head to face forward. Eight years older than Wendy, Karen had married in her debut year and moved to the southern estate with her husband.

Her husband, Count Enjet, owned large farms and fields. Despite the busy autumn harvest season, he took care of all his wife’s affairs so she could come up to the capital early.

“But…”

“Don’t whine. Didn’t you say you’re not a child anymore?”

At Karen’s scolding, Wendy pouted. Karen quickly covered her sulking sister’s mouth with a fan.

“Put your lips away. You don’t want to look like a child to Lucas, do you?”

Wendy immediately corrected her expression and posture. Indeed, Lucas was the best way to handle Wendy.

However, despite her mother and sister’s words, Wendy couldn’t resist clutching her dress hem.

“I can’t. I’m going to find Lucas.”

“Does she really have no pride?”

Karen quickly grabbed Wendy from behind as she tried to dash off.

“Get a grip, Wendy. Today is the day you’re presenting yourself to society. You can’t act like you used to.”

“But what if someone else takes Lucas away?”

“Half the world is men. It’s not just Lucas.”

Unlike the Earl, who was soft on Wendy, or the Countess, who was strict but ultimately gave in, Karen was much more firm.

“For me, there’s only Lucas.”

“You’re speaking nonsense. Broaden your horizons. There are plenty of men better than Lucas.”

“But Lucas is the best.”

“…Yes, he is quite outstanding.”

Lucas was the head of the Devon Ducal household, a prestigious family with deep ties to the royal family, and owned extensive lands and various properties. He had risen to the rank of deputy commander in the army at a young age purely by his own ability, and he didn’t neglect his duties and responsibilities as the Duke of Devon. His innate elegance and graceful demeanor were the epitome of nobility, and his handsome face and impressive physique were bonuses.

Even though Lucas was recognized as the best groom and husband by everyone, Karen couldn’t easily say if he was the best for Wendy too.

‘It’s just the beginning. She’ll realize things as she experiences more.’

The social scene, the various relationships within it, romance, and marriage. As a child, she dreamed of a rosy future, only to be shocked, disappointed, and frustrated by reality. How to overcome, give up, and compromise on that gap—these are things one must experience and realize on their own, just as she did.

“Oh, really. Wendy. Wait. Can’t you stay still?”

But Wendy, excited like a foal about to run across the meadow, was just innocent. Even with her debut imminent, it was clear Wendy still saw the process of romance and marriage as a live-action romance novel, which was worrying. Karen regretted not speaking up to protect young Wendy’s expectations.

So now, Karen was sweating to hold Wendy back, who seemed ready to dash off to find Lucas at any moment.