Chapter 1 – Pressure (Part 5)

Fresh from her coming-of-age ceremony, Elysia attended the Spring Ball with her parents for the first time. Even for someone who found such events bothersome, the scenery of the palace, the high-ranking nobles rarely seen, and the royal family were fascinating.

For once, Elysia set aside her usual cynicism and indulged in observing her surroundings. Of course, she still tried to avoid dancing whenever possible.

The ball was also the first court event hosted by the young King Clois after succeeding the throne following the sudden passing of the previous King, who had fallen ill grieving the unexpected death of his beloved wife.

The young King and Queen were dazzling, and Princess Karinsa, the King’s sister, lived up to her reputation as the kingdom’s most beautiful woman. While many handsome and beautiful nobles attended, when Cassius appeared with the late Duke Grendel, everyone else seemed to pale in comparison.

‘Can a person really look like that?’

Even Elysia’s indifferent nature was shattered by his mesmerizing appearance.

Elysia stared at Cassius, mouth agape, as if spellbound, only realizing her foolish expression when she noticed others. But she soon felt relieved. Most people in the ballroom wore the same dumbfounded look, all eyes on Cassius.

“Oh my… the young Duke of Grendel is so handsome. He’s even more stunning than in his portrait.”

At her mother Lillian’s exclamation, Elysia could only nod in agreement.

It was said that Cassius’s attendance at the Spring Ball was a first. Until then, he had frequented the palace as a companion and study partner to Crown Prince Clois, later becoming his closest aide after completing his studies at the academy. His status further elevated when the Crown Prince ascended the throne.

The presence of Duke Grendel and his son at the young King’s first court ball likely aimed to support Clois’s reign.

Naturally, every eligible lady and noble family flocked to Cassius like moths to a flame. After greeting the late Duke Grendel, the attending nobles hovered, trying to have their daughters dance with Cassius.

Elysia, thinking she had no place among them and no desire to join, simply watched the spectacle.

‘It’s best to admire such an extraordinary person from afar, like viewing a work of art. If you get too close, you’ll just get jostled and won’t see anything. You can’t win in that crowd anyway.’

While enjoying her leisure, Lillian suddenly gripped Elysia’s shoulders tightly and spoke.

“Elysia, there’s a saying that fortune favors the bold. Don’t just stand here; go ask the young Duke for a dance.”

“What? Mother, are you serious? How can I possibly dance with the young Duke after pushing through that crowd? To those incredible nobles, I must look no different from a commoner!”

“The simplicity and unexpectedness of a family like ours might appeal to him. I’m not saying this just because he’s from a ducal family. Imagine having someone who looks like that as our son-in-law… Besides, seeing Duke Grendel, I believe the young Duke will only grow more handsome with age.”

“Ahem… Lillian, can we really choose Elysia’s husband based solely on looks? To me, the young Duke seems too cold. Duke Grendel’s cold demeanor is well-known, and I dislike such an atmosphere.”

Elysia was well aware of her mother Lillian’s fondness for handsome men. In fact, her father Tobias was quite a looker himself, which probably explained why Lillian had fallen for him in her youth. However, Tobias couldn’t bring himself to like the Duke Grendel and his son. From the moment Lillian entered the ballroom and began admiring the looks of King Clois and other men, Tobias’s jealousy simmered, and he was particularly vexed when she praised the Grendel men.

‘This is ridiculous; they’re getting excited over something that’s never going to happen. And Mother is being oblivious. Father’s been glaring at any remotely handsome man since we arrived…’

Lillian, realizing Tobias’s sulky tone, quickly tried to smooth things over.

“Well, family traditions are important. If you feel that way…”

Despite her words, Lillian continued to glance longingly at the Grendel men. Tobias, unable to take it anymore, pulled Lillian onto the dance floor. This allowed Elysia to observe Cassius and the crowd surrounding him more freely.

Cassius maintained a calm expression, unaffected by the attention of so many people. Elysia thought it was impressive, as she would have found such attention overwhelming and her expression would have changed.

As the music began, young couples, including Elysia, moved to the center of the ballroom. However, few paid attention to their dance partners. The focus of everyone, regardless of age or gender, was entirely on the young Duke of Grendel.

Cassius danced with quite a few women, or rather, moths drawn to a flame. The reason for the late Duke Grendel’s attendance at the ball was clear. Despite not needing to build connections with other nobles or royals at social events, the Duke was there to find a bride for his 23-year-old son and solidify his status.

The young ladies of noble families knew this, and those whom Cassius invited to dance or accepted their invitation were visibly excited and proud as they took his hand and headed to the center of the ballroom.

Others watched the young ladies dancing with Cassius with envious eyes, biting their lips. However, Elysia, who was observing Cassius as if admiring a piece of art, noticed something unusual about his partners.

‘They seem so delighted at the start of the dance, but by the end, their expressions are a mess.’

Upon closer observation, Elysia realized the reason. Cassius’s dancing was flawless and elegant, yet he showed no interest in his partners. He didn’t look at them properly or speak a word. Even when his partner looked up at him with a hopeful smile, it made no difference. Cassius maintained his perfectly sculpted, expressionless face, unaffected by any smile.

Even when the ladies initiated conversation, Cassius’s responses were brief. His demeanor shattered any hope they might have had of capturing his heart through the dance, leaving them with disappointed expressions.

It was unlikely that the parents of these eligible young ladies, returning with rejected expressions, would be pleased. Some even seemed to complain subtly to the late Duke Grendel, but his reaction surprised Elysia.

‘He doesn’t seem to scold his son’s behavior; rather, he looks satisfied?’

Perhaps none of the families who approached were to his liking. Or maybe, as a father, he realized his son had no interest in any of the young ladies. Elysia thought they would soon leave, but they didn’t.

At her first Spring Ball, Elysia neither found a husband nor particularly enjoyed herself. The only takeaway was her observations of Duke Grendel and his son.

***

Standing in the same place, Elysia reflected on the unresolved questions from four years ago.

‘He didn’t seem to want anything from the ball, yet he stayed and danced. …Watching him, the young Duke back then seemed like a puppet moving on his father’s orders, showing no emotion. Compared to that, now he doesn’t dance but shows his displeasure, so maybe that’s an improvement?’

Thinking this, Elysia sighed.

‘Compared to him, my situation has only worsened. I’ve endured so much, so why is this trial happening now!’

Elysia’s lament was interrupted by Lillian’s voice, having spotted her next dance partner.

“Elysia, two o’clock direction. Earl Pierce’s nephew, 25 years old. He doesn’t hold a title yet, but there’s a rumor he’ll soon be adopted as an heir since the Earl’s family lacks one. His face and height may not be impressive, but he’s a promising talent.”

Pushed by her mother, Elysia had to go out and dance once more.

***

Clois de Brunchia. A king who inherited the throne at a young age and, over the years, overcame countless suspicions and adversities to usher in an era of unprecedented prosperity and peace.

However, at this moment, he felt the greatest sense of frustration in his life, experiencing a storm of regret like never before.

This should have been an exciting exploration. Watching young noble men and women dressed to the nines search for prospective brides and grooms, predicting which couples would form, and foreseeing which new power might rise to become a rival should have been enjoyable.

But everything was ruined by one man who seemed to carry the northern frost with him, refusing to cooperate even slightly.

“This is my fault. I foolishly orchestrated this and ruined the ball, which only happens once a year.”

The king lamented.

“Your Majesty, how can this be your fault? Didn’t you act with good intentions? Although, given the Duke’s personality, perhaps this was not entirely unexpected.”

Queen Agnes offered words that were ambiguous as to whether they were comforting or not.

“Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re comforting me or mocking me. No, even if you’re mocking me, this is clearly my mistake.”

The king confessed solemnly to the queen, then turned to Cassius, who pretended not to hear their conversation. With a dignified expression, the king commanded,

“Duke Grendel. Your protest against my poor decision is enough, so please dance with someone and save my face.”

“Even if I do not dance, Your Majesty’s reputation and honor will remain untarnished.”

“If you continue this way, I’ll order you to dance with my sister Karinsa, who’s been anxious since earlier! You know she’s infatuated with you, don’t you?”

The king shouted in exasperation.