The maids had no interest in the Grand Duke. They just wished for their mistress to meet a handsome, kind man who would treat her wholeheartedly and make her forget about the Grand Duke, and find new love. This preparation was for that.

How many hours had they spent on her appearance? Unlike the energetic maids, Lysith, who had been sitting still receiving their care, looked like a withered weed by the time they finally finished and squealed with excitement.

Lysith finally got to see her face in the mirror. Professionals were truly different. Their skills are impressive.

Her hair, braided into one, was elegantly pinned up, with glitter sprinkled using a magical tool, making it shine under the lights whenever she turned her head.

Tiny pearls, no larger than a pinky nail, adorned her pinned-up hair.

The off-shoulder light purple dress, revealing her collarbones and a few inches below, was the epitome of restrained elegance rather than opulence.

Unlike the front, the back was quite daringly cut, making her feel a chill. Thankfully, it was May.

The dress hugged her upper body, accentuating her figure, and flared out from the waist down. A transparent fabric overlaying the light purple dress added a mystical touch.

Around her somewhat bare neck, she wore a necklace adorned with chrysoberyl. To her knowledge, it was one of the most expensive pieces of jewelry she owned. Eve bringing it out meant… well, it was obvious without saying.

“Oh. I almost forgot this.”

Eve handed Lysith a pair of silk lace gloves, which she put on, prompting another round of cheers from the maids.

Smiling faintly at them, Lysith left the dressing room and carefully descended to the first floor to board the prepared carriage.

Hearing the maids’ giggling laughter, Penchev, who had been standing near the carriage with his usual expressionless face to assist the mansion’s mistress, turned his head.

The Lysith he knew had little interest in dressing up. She liked reading, embroidery, and walking, being a typically introverted person.

For this reason, it was his first time seeing her properly dressed up.

Under the garden lights, the sparkling accessories and her white hair, elegantly pinned up with a few strands falling to tease her graceful shoulders, made her look different yet familiar.

Anyone with a sound mind would be naturally drawn to her, gazing at her from head to toe as if mesmerized. He found himself doing exactly that.

Standing in front of the carriage door, Lysith noticed Penchev’s unusual behavior. She had to call his name three times before he finally managed to calm his trembling hands and extend them to help her. He tightly grasped her hand as she boarded the carriage, and only then did he slowly release his grip.

Lysith, feeling the strange sensation, blinked and clenched her hand that had been held by him before waving to the remaining people in the mansion.

“I’ll be off.”

Her mansion was situated in an awkward location, so it took some time to reach the Imperial Palace, which was at the heart of the capital. Lysith, feeling bored, watched the scenery outside the carriage. Since she had no partner accompanying her, she was alone in the carriage.

According to Eve, her brother Sylvian was currently down in their territory. She wondered why he would go when their parents were already managing it, but there was no one to ask, so her curiosity remained unsatisfied.

From her memories, he was meticulous and thorough. Perhaps it was related to Lysith’s divorce, and he had something to discuss with the former Duke.

Regardless, her goal today was to confirm if the remaining male protagonists were indeed the Emperor and the Master of the Magic Tower. If neither or only one of them was, she would have to rethink everything from scratch.

The Master of the Magic Tower usually made a brief appearance after the ball started and then disappeared, so she had to catch him after he left. As for the Emperor, a mere glance would suffice as long as their eyes met…

Lost in thought, she soon realized they had arrived at the Imperial Palace. She heard the sound of the carriage stopping.

“Miss, we have arrived.”

Following the coachman’s guidance, she alighted and made her way to the grand ballroom where the ball was held.

As she walked, she suddenly remembered that an attendant would announce the names of those entering the ballroom. It was something she wasn’t keen on. She felt like sneaking in through a side door used by attendants.

She wanted to ask the attendant not to announce her, but she wasn’t sure if that would work. Deciding to give it a try since she had nothing to lose, she approached the attendant at the entrance of the hall and hinted at her request.

“Excuse me, but could I enter quietly? Is that possible?”

“What? That’s not possible… Oh, are you the Lady of Gronevelt?”

“Yes.”

“Then, I’ll let you in.”

Recognizing her, the attendant relayed her request inside, and the door was opened without any fuss. The grand door opened silently, revealing the dazzling lights inside.

‘So, even they think it’s awkward to announce my entrance…’

Thanks to the attendant’s considerate gesture, she quietly entered the ballroom and found a suitable corner to settle in. While some might recognize her, it seemed like a spot where she wouldn’t draw much attention.

Lysith had arrived before the ball started. For other balls, it might have been fine to arrive a bit late, but for the founding anniversary ball, it was customary to arrive before the Emperor, so most people were already there, filling the ballroom.

The Grand Duke could be somewhere…

“His Highness, Grand Duke Dietrich Clonair, is entering!”

As soon as she thought of him, he appeared as if he was summoned. Trying not to draw attention, Lysith moved sideways, only to lightly bump into someone.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

‘…Okay?’

Recognizing the familiar response, she turned to see who she had bumped into. The profile she saw was of an incredibly handsome man.

And at the same time, the system notification sound rang in her ears.

[The male protagonist list has been updated!]
[Male Protagonist List]
– Dietrich Clonair
– ???
– Penchev Heinz
– Ashites Dinev

‘Wait, Ashites Dinev… the Master of the Magic Tower?’

An unexpected discovery. She didn’t expect to encounter one of the male protagonists this way. Shocked, she looked at his face again and confirmed that he indeed matched Eve’s description. He had blonde hair and heterochromatic eyes.

“Uh…”

“……”

She was at a loss, not knowing how to react to such an unexpected encounter. Just then, she heard murmuring and the faint voice of the Grand Duke. Instinctively feeling the need to hide, she quickly took cover. However, the place she chose to hide was…

“Lady, is that really hiding?”

“……”

It turned out to be behind the Master of the Magic Tower. Unable to respond, she awkwardly swallowed her saliva. Given his tall stature and build, she thought she might not be seen if she hid properly. Besides, considering his reputation for his looks and personality, it meant no one approached him.

In short, it was a perfect hiding spot for Lysith.

“Why don’t you run to your beloved over there?”

“My beloved? I don’t love him!”

Reacting defensively to him calling Dietrich her beloved, Lysith retorted in a low voice and then fell silent again.

Ashites, not responding, looked down at her head, seemingly losing interest, and moved away.

He walked away so quickly that she couldn’t stop him, leaving Lysith standing there, blinking. Looking around, she was relieved to see that Dietrich had also moved away and was no longer nearby.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she quietly moved again. Thankfully, because the attendant hadn’t announced her entrance, not many people noticed her.

She wished the Emperor would enter soon… Just as she hoped, the large door on the second floor, which was reserved for the imperial family, opened, and a tall man walked in. His platinum blonde hair shone under the lights, making him stand out even from a distance.

As expected, he had the appearance befitting a male protagonist. His hair was parted 2:8, revealing half of his forehead, and his eyes were a deep red, like blood.

While Dietrich’s features felt perfectly placed, this man’s features were strikingly sharp. If not for his notorious personality since his days as the crown prince, there would likely be many young ladies vying for his attention.

He wore a long black rod-shaped earring only on his left ear. Whether it was just decoration or held some other meaning, it should have looked odd, but the Emperor pulled it off.

Climbing the red-carpeted stairs, which was reserved for the Emperor and Empress, he turned to look down at the nobles below.

“Thank you all for attending this year. The future of the empire looks bright.”

His face, expressionless when he entered, softened as he spoke. It was the kind face of a benevolent ruler, but everyone knew the truth.

How sharp his tongue could be behind that face.

“I have my birthday celebration in two months. I might be a bit disappointed if it’s less attended than this.”

Most people laughed at the Emperor’s joke. Among them, Lysith observed those who didn’t laugh.