Chapter 6 – Ball at Hotel Canova

What happened was that last year, as I frequently went out for the embroidery workshop business, I noticed how tiring it was for my mother-in-law to put on and take off uncomfortable dresses every day. So, drawing on memories from my past life, I made her an indoor dress by refashioning one she already had.

Honestly, I didn’t expect her to actually wear it. I just wanted to show my dedication as a daughter-in-law, but my mother-in-law found it so comfortable that she had me make several more and wore them whenever she went to the workshop.

Because of that, the employees at the embroidery workshop wanted to wear them too, so the workshop made several more, and everyone started wearing them. Thus, corset-free dresses began spreading among working women.

It started trending among the lower classes first, but when my mother-in-law wore them to obligatory upper-class social events, it began trending among the upper classes as well. It’s only natural, given that my mother-in-law was the model. I guarantee that when the social season officially starts this year, everyone will be wearing corset-free dresses.

“At first, I was embarrassed to go out wearing an indoor dress, so I draped a cloak over it… How did you come up with such an idea?”

Thanks to my memories from my past life… but I can’t say that.

“I used to wear indoor dresses to work too.”

It took an hour to walk from the rural cabin we lived in to the town. With no horse or carriage, it was exhausting to lace up a corset and put on a dress every morning just to walk to town. So, I slightly modified an indoor dress I had and wore that. All just fond memories now.

My mother-in-law didn’t respond. She was probably focused on the opera. In fact, my mother-in-law is really quite reserved, so even having a private conversation like this is rare. To avoid interrupting her, I quietly closed my mouth. After the opera ended and the actors took their bows, she asked me,

“I should be heading back now. Are you going backstage?”

“No, I’ll go back with you, Mother.”

“But then, someone else will invite the lead actor.”

She pointed to the women already making their way backstage.

“It’s alright. I intend to invite someone else.”

Most artists introduced to the upper class are usually the brightest stars in their field. More nobles want to flaunt their talents as their prized possessions rather than purely loving art and wanting to discover and refine raw talent.

So this time too, the noblewomen were after the lead actor, while I had my eyes on the villain of this opera. As soon as I arrived back at the mansion, I wrote a letter to him. Jane, my maid, who checked the recipient’s name, spoke in a hesitant voice.

“Your Grace, isn’t he the villain?”

Jane knew who he was since she watched the opera from the same box as my mother-in-law and me.

“Yes. But I was truly moved by his singing.”

“Which part?”

I cleared my throat.

~What is love that can taint the good with evil and make the wicked repent? What is love that it approaches with the face of a demon and disappears with the back of an angel?~

After singing, I glanced at Jane, who was clapping with a surprised look on her face.

“Wow, Your Grace. You sing so well… Why have you never sung before? Did you learn opera singing?”

“A little when I was young. This isn’t that good.”

“I think being too modest isn’t good either… By the way, that song is what Count Grich sang when he committed suicide.”

“Yes. Count Grich’s suicide annulled his engagement to the heroine. In the end, Count Grich wanted the heroine to find her love.”

“Maybe he just despaired, realizing there was no way left after the heroine abandoned him?”

“That could be it.”

But even in this clichéd opera, my second lead syndrome kicked in. There’s something about this villain character that screams ‘second lead’. Unlike the other songs showcasing grand vocal prowess, the villain’s final song was weak and pitiful, almost like a lullaby, and honestly, I preferred it. I handed Jane the letter inviting him to the ball and said,

“Then please send the letter and include some flowers.”

Sigh

“I’ll do as you say, Your Grace… but even if you sent it to the lead actor, he’d ignore all other invites and choose you…”

“But I like Count Grich more.”

“Understood.”

Jane left to deliver the letter without another word. A few hours later, Jane returned with a reply in hand. The ball inviting Count Grich was to be held at the largest hotel in the capital, Hotel Canova. Hosted by the hotel, it was a ball attended by people from all walks of life, making it an ideal place to make various acquaintances.

Originally, it started as an event for nobles without townhouses in the capital who booked the hotel in advance and attended the ball to entertain themselves before the social season began.

However, palace balls were restricted to titled nobles, and family gatherings required prior approval to bring non-noble partners, making them exclusive. In contrast, Hotel Canova’s ball was accessible to VIP customers and guests, satisfying the desires of those eager to enter high society.

With people from all walks of life gathering and new trends being introduced there first, even high-ranking nobles couldn’t ignore it. Although the official social season started with the New Year’s Ball at the palace, it’s no exaggeration to say the unofficial social season began with Canova’s night ball.

“I never thought I would be invited to such a place… Thank you again, Lady Keppel.”

“Don’t be so nervous, Walter.”

“I’m afraid I might tarnish your honor, my lady.”

“That won’t happen.”

Walter, without the fake beard he wore as Count Grich, looked more innocent than I expected. While not strikingly handsome like Ian, his strong, reliable features were quite pleasant.

It wasn’t the most popular style these days, but I thought the opera troupe’s director lacked vision for covering such a face with a pirate-like beard and giving him a menacing look.

However, Walter seemed shy despite his build, looking nervous to the point of pity. When I introduced him to people, he could barely speak, let alone promote himself. Though I brought him because I didn’t have a suitable partner, I hoped he could network as an opera actor. Then again, not everyone is good at that.

I glanced at a baron’s wife who brought the male lead from ‘My Love’. They were clinging to each other, acting like lovers, almost making me cringe. An older woman flirting openly with a young, handsome man was quite a sight. Surely, I didn’t look like that, right?

Suddenly worried, I looked across at Walter, but he was so tense, sitting with clenched fists on his knees like a soldier at attention. No one would misunderstand.

“You don’t have to worry anymore. We’ve finished meeting the important people.”

I tried to reassure Walter. Before the first dance, we greet close acquaintances. It was natural for Walter to be this nervous, having just met high-ranking people he’d never get close to otherwise. But after the first dance, the atmosphere would relax, and I planned to make new social connections. Even better if someone invited me to dance.

“I’m sorry, Lady Keppel. I can’t dance…”

“It’s alright.”

Unfortunately, Walter said it was his first time attending a ball and he didn’t know how to dance. Though he practiced after receiving my invitation, he was too nervous to dance after meeting all those high-ranking people today.

I understood. Though I was supposed to be in the center of the hall due to my status, sitting at a corner table drew some curious looks. I was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable when I saw my close friends approaching.

“Liv!”

I stood up, overjoyed.

“Sophia, Dale!”

I hugged my friends and held their hands.

“Long time no see. Have you seen Lily and Joy?”

“Lily just gave birth recently…”

“Oh, I thought there was more time.”

“It was premature, so she didn’t tell many people. With many visitors, it could be dangerous, so she has to be careful.”

I understood Sophia’s explanation but felt a bit sad. Sophia and Dale seemed to know about Lily’s childbirth because they received her contact, but I was disappointed that Lily hadn’t informed me. I tried hard not to show it and smiled brightly.

“What about Joy? Hasn’t she come yet?”

“Joy hasn’t been well lately…”

“Oh dear, is she sick? I should visit…”

“Oh, no. She gets sick often, you know.”

Sophia quickly waved her hand. Dale, standing beside her, laughed and agreed.

“Yes, it’s not something the prime minister’s wife should visit for.”

“If you did, Baroness Molly might faint.”

Sophia and Dale laughed out loud, but I could only manage a bitter smile. Baroness Molly was Joy’s mother-in-law. The reality that visiting a close friend’s house could be seen as a nuisance felt somewhat stifling. However, I quickly brightened up and introduced Walter.

“Guys, this is my partner, Walter. He played Count Grich in the opera ‘My Love.'”

“Hello, Count Grich.”

“Oh, hello, ladies.”

“We enjoyed the opera. Your performance was excellent.”

“But where are your partners?”

“They went to get drinks.”

“Here they come.”

Just then, I saw two men approaching us. They were Sophia’s and Dale’s husbands. It seemed they had also become close, as they approached us, chatting amicably. Upon seeing me, they suddenly straightened their postures.

“Duchess Keppel, good evening.”

It was a very polite and formal greeting. It felt as though there was an invisible wall between them and me.