Chapter 4 (Part 2)

Seeing the necklace not change color in front of Patrick felt like being rejected twice, so she wanted to avoid such a situation.

From the entrance, the elegant music of the band, the red carpet leading to the ballroom, and the hundreds of candles lit in the gold-plated candlesticks lining the hallway….

Perhaps because it had been a while since she attended, Reina couldn’t take her eyes off the splendid scene from the entrance.

The ballroom inside was equally luxurious. The large chandelier hanging from the high circular ceiling, the spacious hall that could accommodate many people, and the nobles in their fancy dresses enjoying the dance naturally drew her gaze.

Several young men approached her, asking for a dance as she kept looking around.

“Lady Lennox, it’s been a while since you attended. Would you like to dance with me?”

“Of course.”

No matter how troublesome she was at home, she wasn’t like that outside. Although rumors spread in society about her being a weirdo training with the knights, her appearance didn’t show any of it.

Thanks to Duke Lennox’s strict education, Reina and her sisters didn’t tarnish the family’s honor.

Many felt a disconnect between the demure and graceful Reina and the troublemaker rumors, but no one showed it outwardly. Like other ladies, men continuously asked her to dance.

Reina danced with them, checking if the necklace changed color. She didn’t expect it, and indeed, none of the men made it change color.

“How is it? Did you find any young man you like?”

As she headed to a corner to rest for a while, Lady Eglinton, also taking a break, approached and asked.

“No. It seems balls don’t suit me.”

The ball she attended after a long time was tiring rather than enjoyable.

Smiling and dancing continuously was uncomfortable. Moreover, hiding her personality in this situation was just frustrating.

It would have been nice if she found a man she liked…. But it wasn’t easy.

Commander Patrick seemed taller and more solid. His movements were more elegant and refined.

No matter who she danced with, she kept thinking of Patrick. It was so severe that his silhouette kept coming to mind, making it more agonizing.

When did my feelings grow so big?

She couldn’t understand why she had these thoughts when she hadn’t been aware of him for long.

Is it because I want a man I can’t have?

Unable to understand her feelings, Reina had to leave the ballroom.

* * *

“You went to the ballroom?”

Early the next morning, Richelle visited her room. Reina, still half-asleep, greeted her in a disheveled state.

“What brings you here so early?”

“Do you know how surprised I was when you, who only went to balls if I begged you, voluntarily went?”

Richelle showed a disappointed expression.

“Why? Are you upset because you couldn’t put a tracking device on me this time?”

As soon as the unfavorable words came out, Richelle sweated nervously and quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, no. It’s not that. I was worried because your love life doesn’t seem to be going well lately. Did you go to find a new man to forget the one you liked?”

“….”

Since it wasn’t wrong, Reina couldn’t refute it. Thinking about what happened at the ball last night made her chest feel tight.

If it goes on like this, I might never be able to give up on Commander Patrick.

“So I brought a gift. It should work well for someone as clueless as you.”

Richelle’s confident voice snapped Reina out of her thoughts.

Something seemed suspicious about Richelle’s confident expression. But since it was a gift, Reina had no reason to refuse, so she took the box Richelle handed her.

“What’s with the sudden gift? You didn’t put a tracking device in it again, did you?”

Having been tricked once before, it was natural for Reina to be wary of Richelle’s gift.

“Go ahead and open it. You’ll see there’s no tracking device in it.”

Richelle’s overly relaxed demeanor was suspicious, but Reina opened the box anyway.

“Oh my goodness!”

The moment she saw inside, Reina was so shocked that she dropped the gift box she was holding. Inside was a sheer, mesh lingerie set.

Barely covering the important parts, it was provocative lingerie.

Luxurious yet vulgar, the two words that didn’t seem to fit together perfectly described the lingerie.

Especially the black base with red lace made it look seductive, completely unfitting for Reina.

It was something that women with an active s*x life might wear, not someone as naive as Reina.

Both the box and the lingerie fell to the floor.

Richelle, with a look that asked why she was making such a fuss, neatly placed the fallen lingerie back into the box and handed it to Reina again.

“Sis, is this your taste?”

Reina, having received the box again, looked inside with shocked eyes once more.

“I don’t need such things to get by. But I thought you might need it, Reina.”

“I don’t need it!”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Reina answered with a deep sigh.

Her ‘relationship’ with Commander Patrick was over, so what was the point of all this?

The gift, which seemed perfect for Lady Berkshire, felt like rubbing salt in her wounds, so she didn’t want to accept it at all.

“You don’t need it? Why? What’s going on?”

“Nothing’s going on.”

“Are you really not going to tell me anything?”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“Is that so?”

Richelle smiled slyly. It was an ominous smile, making Reina feel uneasy. Her premonition was correct as Richelle spoke words she didn’t want to hear.

“I gave you a gift, so why don’t you try it on?”

“I appreciate the thought, but take it back.”

“Are you going to keep rejecting my gift? Can’t you try it on once out of respect for the giver?”

“How can I wear something like this?”

“What? I went through all the trouble to get this gift, and you’re really going to act like this, Reina?”

Richelle’s eyes narrowed, seemingly upset by Reina’s words.

“Have you ever worn something like this?”

“Of course I have. I’m giving it to you because it’s effective.”

Reina could tell Richelle was lying by the way she stuttered. She was so bad at lying that she didn’t even realize it showed.

Clicking her tongue, Reina spoke.

“Then you wear it. I can’t wear something so outrageous.”

“What? Outrageous? You’re really going to insult my gift like that? Reina, you’re being too harsh.”

“No, seriously. Think about it. How can anyone wear something like this? It doesn’t look like you’ve ever worn it either.”

“They sell it because there are people who wear it. Are you really going to ignore my effort?”

Richelle bit her lower lip, looking disappointed.

Is she going to start again?

Richelle wasn’t the type to get angry easily. But when she was upset, she stuck to her opinion. Just like now. Reina had upset her by being stubborn instead of simply thanking her.

“I’m not leaving this room until you put on that lingerie!”

It would have been better if she got angry, but Richelle wouldn’t back down until things went her way. Though it didn’t happen often, once she got upset, it was annoying.

Reina always lost. She couldn’t win, so it was better to just appease her.

“Alright. I’ll wear it. Just for today, so keep that in mind.”

No one would see it, and wearing such ridiculous lingerie for a day wouldn’t change her life. It would just be uncomfortable and annoying.

She only needed to wear it for a short time today. And she could avoid going out during that time.

Richelle left the room only after confirming that Reina had put on the lingerie.

“She’s so stubborn.”

Left alone, Reina grumbled as she stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself. Even though no one was watching, her face turned red. It looked even more provocative when worn.

The black fabric barely covered her n*pples, and the rest was sheer mesh. 

What is this!

Moreover, the mesh panties were split in the middle. It felt ambiguous, as if she was neither wearing underwear nor not wearing it.

Just endure it for today!

There was nothing special going on these days. So, she could just stay in her room all day.