Bella, contemplating her evening ball attire, decided to wear a dress in the old style.

She chose one with minimal décolletage and even draped a thin lace shawl over her shoulders. She wore a choker around her neck and let her hair fall down to ensure as little skin as possible was exposed.

With a corset and pannier under the heavy bell-shaped dress that spread wide, it felt like she was wearing armor.

It was stifling and heavy, but now she would be safe from the explicit gazes of that bastard and that madman.

Clutching her shawl tightly with both hands, she arrived at the ballroom to find she was the only one wearing such an old-fashioned dress. Every lady was dressed in light, flowing Empire style.

‘I expected that much, but why on earth?’

Bella looked around with an incredulous expression. Quite a number of women were wearing dresses that appeared slightly wet.

As it turned out, the catalyst was when Bella had previously gotten soaked at the fountain and her body was visible through her clothes. People thought wearing wet dresses made one look pitiful and fragile, and above all, the way the skin seemed almost visible was considered sensual.

The wet skin also looked dewy, and it was refreshingly cool—perfect for early summer. That’s how it had become a trend in such a short time.

‘They have no idea what happened to me!’

Bella squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, trying not to recall the memory of that day.

In the end, unable to accept the new fashion, she retreated to the waiting room. She thought she would sit in a quiet place for a moment to calm herself.

But as soon as she opened the waiting room door, she realized it had been the wrong decision.

“Oh my, you should only sprinkle a little bit. You’ll catch a cold!”

“It dries right away after dancing a few times. Sprinkle some more on the shoulders. And on the thighs too.”

Ladies about to enter the ballroom were creating a commotion in the waiting room, sprinkling water on their dresses.

Bella pressed her forehead with one hand and returned to the ballroom. And immediately ran into Blake.

‘Oh no…’

“Good evening, Miss Carta.”

As she tried to turn her head naturally, pretending not to see him, Blake greeted her first.

Bella ignored him and moved her steps. Then he suddenly approached and took her hand.

“Ah.”

Blake smiled leisurely as he met Bella’s gaze. Then, maintaining eye contact, he slightly bowed and brought her hand to his lips. Hot lips pressed firmly, and something soft and moist briefly licked the back of her hand.

Like an electric current, heat rose from the back of her hand up her arm and through her body. Bella was startled and yanked her hand from his grasp.

Blake surprisingly released her hand without resistance. A gentle smile hung on his lips. He didn’t look like a man who had just blatantly made advances while pretending to kiss her hand.

“I heard you were in pain. How are you feeling now?”

How could he be so shameless? Bella glared at him with a flushed face. She wanted to curse at him, but there were too many watching eyes around

‘…Wait. Watching eyes…’

What must people have thought when they saw Blake carrying the soaking wet Bella away from the fountain that day? Only now did this occur to Bella.

At the time, she was too flustered, and afterward, she was too overwhelmed by everything that happened to worry about other people’s perceptions.

When Blake lifted her from the fountain, she thought it was just a chivalrous act, and assumed people would just laugh it off.

But now she realized her wet appearance had attracted enough attention to become a fashion trend.

Everyone must have noticed when Blake, who said he would take her to her room, carried her away in his arms and didn’t return to the garden tea party for quite some time.

She felt a chill. Bella rolled her eyes to look around. Then she met the eyes of others who were glancing at her.

‘Surely not.’

People were looking at her. Not just looking, but some were whispering something behind their fans.

‘Surely they don’t know I slept with Blake, and it’s become gossip…’

She felt like she couldn’t breathe. If Natalie were to find out about this…

‘No, that can’t be. Everyone said they all fool around behind closed doors. So I wouldn’t be singled out as special gossip. If people are talking, it’s not because of me but because of…’

Bella looked at the man in front of her. The red-haired man, who was like a hero of the nation, the god of war. Perhaps who this man slept with would be worthy of discussion.

“Miss Carta. Are you alright?”

When Bella only hardened her expression without answering, Blake asked again.

“I hope you’re not still feeling unwell. Shall I escort you to the lounge?”

“No! No!”

When he extended his hand, Bella hastily shook her head and stepped back a couple of paces. She was afraid of being dragged into a private room and left alone with him again.

Fortunately, at that moment, two women approached and addressed Blake.

“Lord Rowell!”

“Hello, Lord Rowell.”

“Lady Hogman, daughter of Count Hogman. Lady Underwood, daughter of Viscount Underwood.”

Blake smiled ceremoniously at them and gestured to Bella.

“This is Miss Bella Carta, one of Her Highness’s ladies-in-waiting.”

“Oh, of course, we know her. Hello, Miss Carta.”

“At the first party, you were the only one besides Her Highness wearing a new dress. But today… You’re wearing an old style.”

The two pretty ladies greeted Bella and addressed her.

“Ah… Yes. Somehow it happened…”

As Bella answered vaguely, one of them smiled sweetly and said.

“You stood out on the first day too, but today you stand out in the opposite way.”

“…Ah.”

Only upon hearing those words did Bella realize. People kept looking at her simply because she was the only one wearing a bell-shaped dress with a puffed skirt today.

‘I was just needlessly anxious, worrying over nothing.’

The two ladies weren’t particularly interested in Bella’s response. They each took one of Blake’s arms and began chattering.

Bella mentally thanked them as she made an excuse about getting something to drink and quickly left.

And only then did she notice that Everitt had been watching her.

Unlike Blake, he didn’t immediately approach to make conversation. Instead, he stood at a distance with a cold expression, and once their eyes met, he didn’t look away.

When she met those sharp red eyes, she felt a chill in her heart.

‘So what if he’s looking at me.’

But perhaps this was better. She could simply ignore his gaze.

As she turned her head away from him, she felt a burning sensation on the back of her head. She deliberately tried to think of something else.

‘Florian isn’t at the stage to attend balls yet. When will he be able to attend? Probably next week.’

Just then, the servant standing at the door announced loudly.

“Her Highness the Princess!”

As people looked toward the door, Natalie entered. A smile finally appeared on Bella’s face. Seeing Natalie beautifully adorned felt like it cleansed her eyes and purified her heart.

Natalie moved gracefully, smiling at the people gathered in the hall. Soon, her gaze reached Bella as well.

Seeing Bella, Natalie’s eyes widened. For a moment, the smile on Natalie’s face seemed to freeze slightly.

‘…Huh?’

In the blink of an eye, the frozen expression disappeared.

Natalie was again smiling naturally and greeting people. Bella tilted her head.

‘Did I see wrong?’

As the protagonist of the ball appeared, the band began to play music. People paired up and headed to the dance floor.

Natalie’s first dance partner was Blake.

Just moments ago he had kissed Bella’s hand, but as soon as Natalie appeared, he must have hurried over to request a dance.