Chapter 16. A Story Rewritten Because of Me

The ballroom was decorated in gold and purple, creating an elegant yet sophisticated atmosphere.

Although the debutante ball was an annual event, using different colors was Grand Duke Rudfelix’s idea.

It had become a special tradition, designed so that whenever people recalled these special days, they would remember the colors.

“I extend my gratitude to all who grace us with your presence. This year, we have something even more special. For the first time in a very long time, we have a young lady celebrating her coming of age at the Grand Duke’s residence.”

Former Grand Duke Kraicher ascended the platform and introduced the debutante along with his thanks to those who attended. When he mentioned a “young lady,” the nobles who had no information perked up their ears and their eyes sparkled.

If it was a “young lady” rather than a “young gentleman,” there was a high possibility of a close connection with the Grand Duke.

Since this was just speculation, they eagerly waited for the curtain to be lifted.

“These are our protagonists who will face the world with renewed hearts. Please give them a hearty round of applause.”

As Kraicher raised his arm, the golden curtains were drawn back, and young men and women emerged in pairs. The red feathers adorning the heads of those celebrating their debutante ball fluttered gently. Applause erupted continuously for the young ladies escorted by their partners and the young gentlemen who walked out confidently alone.

“Gasp.”

Just as the end of the procession filled with cheers became visible, sounds of surprise erupted here and there.

This happened when the side profile of a man, partially hidden by the hand reaching out to draw back the curtain, was slightly revealed.

“The Grand Duke himself?”

It meant he had been in the waiting room to escort someone. People narrowed their eyes, trying to see the invisible young lady standing beside him. Some nobles even used opera glasses they had brought for their children’s debutante to scrutinize the person standing next to the Grand Duke.

Even the knights patrolling the ballroom for safety and the servants stopped what they were doing and turned to look.

“Welcome.”

“I really just received your confession yesterday, and now I’m announcing it to everyone after just one day.”

Elena groaned as she took Rudfelix’s arm.

“Yesterday you said you were my lover. Just walk out confidently like you did then.”

Rudfelix stood tall and composed despite the barrage of stares.

“Before being my lover, you’re walking out as Lady Elena Jellisto, daughter of Count Jellisto.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

It didn’t really resonate with her, but it sounded nice.

Elena turned her body forward and drew back the curtain herself. Standing on the high platform with her chin up, looking ahead, no one caught her gaze.

‘Let’s just go like this.’

Since becoming Elena, she had been living as the protagonist of her own world, so there was no need to bow her head.

‘My world should be created by me, not by the author.’

She believed that was the fate she would create here.

* * *

Only the final sequence remained—ascending the stage, receiving congratulations from everyone, and then descending. In a slightly calmer atmosphere than the dramatic entrance, Elena heard people talking about her.

“There was a reason the Grand Duke’s household sponsored her. She even entered with the Grand Duke’s escort during the annual event. It seemed suspicious from then.”

A noble who had seen her at the recent annual event was busily spreading words.

“She’s Count Jellisto’s daughter.”

“But I heard Count Jellisto sent his daughter as an aide?”

A noble who knew about Jellisto Trading Company’s affairs from earlier briefly explained what had happened then. The streams of fragmented information each person had converged to form a large lake.

“I heard she entered as an aide to seduce His Highness?”

Of course, not all the information was correct.

Don’t mind it. Lady Schmie’s lips formed those words. She tried to take care of Elena so she wouldn’t feel anxious even when not right beside her.

‘I’m fine.’

Elena also mouthed her words before giving Lady Schmie an eye greeting. Then she waited for her turn. She hoped her turn would come quickly—all she had to do was receive congratulatory words from former Grand Duke Kraicher, who stood as the representative, give a brief impression, and then descend.

‘Father.’

Elena smiled when she accidentally looked up and saw her father.

A middle-aged man wiping tears with a handkerchief by a pillar. Only his silhouette was visible as he lowered his head, but she immediately knew it was her father.

‘Why are you crying?’

She sent a silent message to her father, who had just raised his head.

‘You’ve grown so much.’

He shed tears again, saying how proud he was. Though he tried to cover his mouth with a handkerchief, his sobbing leaked out, making people around him uncomfortable and causing them to move away.

‘Stop crying.’

She worried that if he cried like this at her coming-of-age ceremony, he might wail loudly when she walked into her wedding hall later.

“Lady Elena, please come forward.”

At Kraicher’s call, Elena slightly lifted her skirt and stepped forward.

Kraicher had said various things like “the flower has fully bloomed for the young lady,” “you’ve become a complete adult now,” and “your face is radiant,” so she was a bit excited about what he would say to her.

“I’ve been surprised by your actions several times. Sir Brahms asked me to convey his gratitude to you.”

“Thank you.”

“You’ve grown up splendidly, and just seeing you makes me feel reassured.”

Rather than saying she had grown up beautifully, he praised her as splendid. Elena felt good, as if he was acknowledging her abilities as Rudfelix’s aide. When she received the bouquet and the distance between them shortened, she heard a small whisper.

“Let’s see each other for a long, long time.”

My child.

“……You heard.”

Elena hid her awkward smile behind the flowers.

Listening to people’s congratulatory words, Elena walked to the side of the stage. She was surrendering to the sense of relief that gradually came over her, thinking that as soon as she descended the stairs, she would go straight to her father.

If only a woman’s sharp voice hadn’t pierced through.

“What did the Grand Duke fall for in you?”

‘Sekreya, was it?’

Senior Quiet had told her the real name of the aide who was supposedly Sekyan.

She said she came from the Kingdom of Kristan.

Sekreya blatantly scanned Elena’s body with her eyes while lightly covering her face with a fan.

“No matter how generously I look, there’s nothing special about you anywhere.”

Whether she was sincere or not, her eyes kept moving back and forth between herself and Elena.

“Why would the Empire’s finest man choose someone as unremarkable as you?”

The meaning ‘when such a desirable beauty like me is right in front of him’ was explicitly conveyed. People watching with interest had their eyes darting busily at her comparison.

With her luscious black hair curling and flowing down to her waist, she seemed to have put great effort into her appearance. She looked even more beautiful than when Elena saw her yesterday.

Her tall stature, refreshing features, slender waist, and the excellent lines of her legs visible through her skirt were outstanding.

‘What a waste of a face.’

Elena thought it was such a pity that her personality fell short compared to such an appearance.

“What did he fall for that made you famous overnight? I wonder if it’s some kind of deal.”

It was a soliloquy clearly meant for others to hear.

“I won’t even ask for love, so let’s just trade conditions that we both want.”

As if she had actually witnessed a non-existent situation, she imitated Elena’s voice and acted it out.

Laughter erupted from various places at Sekreya’s performance. Perhaps they shared similar thoughts. Or they were trying to gain her favor because of her face.

“Haah.”

What a leech, really.

Elena hadn’t expected her to give up immediately yesterday and withdraw without lingering feelings.

But to pick a fight like pulling someone’s hair in such a crowded place……

‘If you ask if I didn’t know, that’s not true.’

She didn’t seem like the type to care about others.

Elena stood in front of Sekreya, holding her bouquet tightly against her chest.

How should she slap her to make sure the rumors spread well?

Should she slap her for using insulting language?

Should she bring Rudfelix over ostentatiously and whine in a childish lisp, “She was bullying me”?

‘She said she was an aide, right?’

Then she recalled how she first met Rudfelix.

Since Sekreya was said to be a competent aide, Elena decided to fight her on those terms.

“They say rumors are inherently unreliable,” she said calmly.

“Since one can attach their own opinions to the truth and even add false flesh if they don’t like it, how could such rumors be true?”

Sekreya fluttered her fan, trying to judge what Elena was trying to say.

“After today, your words will be inflated as if they were true. That I became the Grand Duke’s lover based on a deal. Or that rumors will spread that I became an aide to become His Highness’s lover.”

When she repeated the words that had been carefully listened to, one noble turned his head—embarrassed for having mistaken his own inflated thoughts for truth.

“In the end, what people want to hear will circulate. Preferably something stimulating and interesting.”

She sensed Rudfelix’s presence from his familiar scent approaching from the side, without needing to turn her head.

“Is that why you imitated me, pretending to have seen words you never saw?”

Elena knew that at times like this, she should never show excitement or weakness.

So she confronted Sekreya with an even more relaxed smile.

“I don’t care what rumors spread. Whatever happens, what matters is that Grand Duke Rudfelix is mine.”

Elena turned her body. As someone took the bouquet she had been holding, a large hand entered her empty embrace. Half-embraced by his arm, Elena waved her hand gently.

“Spread it widely so no one will covet him. The Grand Duke is my man. Understood?”

This was Elena’s own revenge against the woman who had targeted Rudfelix from the beginning.

Go ahead and babble about deals or whatever you want. The more you do, the stronger the rumor that Rudfelix is my man will become.

Only after seeing Sekreya’s hand grip her fan so tightly it might break could Elena turn away with a satisfied heart.

“Indeed, revenge……”

Elena spoke to Rudfelix’s smiling face.

“Tastes best when served personally.”

She decided to forgive him this time for laughing out loud and drawing others’ attention.

Having exacted all the revenge she could for today, she would enjoy the remaining time without regrets.

“How dare you insult my child?”

Lady Schmie appeared afterward and went back, busy with her excited outburst.

* * *

“The Grand Duke’s lover?”

Suharto, who had just come out of the interrogation room, responded while removing his blood-soaked gloves.

“Yes. It’s reported that he officially announced their relationship as lovers at the debutante ball.”

Viscount Tozille brought a paper received from an informant in the Grand Duchy. The impact of Elena revealing herself as the Grand Duke’s lover must have been significant, as the informant classified this as top-tier information and sent it by carrier pigeon.