Chapter 9 – Part 3

“What?”

“Elena, if you’re going to use an idiom, use it correctly. It’s ‘courage beyond measure,’ not ‘courage grown beyond your head.”

Kristin corrected, smirking slightly at Elena’s blunder.

“Anyway, stop dodging the issue. Fine, you didn’t bring the flowers. So, you didn’t bring any substitute gift either?”

Elena said, trying to sound assertive, but her voice betrayed her insecurity, making her look more pathetic than imposing.

“Why should I buy you a gift?” Kristin asked, genuinely puzzled.

“What?”

“Mother must have already prepared a gift for you. Just ask her sweetly, like you always do. It must be a wonderful gift. It’s obvious,”

Kristin said, now looking directly at Rose.

Rose, regaining her composure, responded with a condescending smile.

“Yes, Kristin. You seem more perceptive than I thought. Yes, there’s no gift for you, but there is one for Elena.”

Kristin scoffed, while Elena’s mood visibly lifted at her mother’s words. Kristin wondered if Elena realized she was merely a tool for her mother’s future comfort.

Probably not.

“Yes, I wasn’t expecting anything anyway, Mother,” Kristin replied nonchalantly.

At that moment, Vernon entered the room, sensing the tension among the three women.

“What’s going on? Why do you all look so angry?”

“I simply didn’t bring the flowers properly, and she got upset, even though there were clear reasons.”

Kristin explained.

“Flowers? It’s not a big deal if you can’t get them. The place is filled with flowers from the garden and the carriages outside,”

Vernon said, looking baffled as he glanced between Elena, Rose, and Kristin.

Kristin ran to her father. “Father, I have something to tell you.”

“Ah yes, Kristin. I also have something to tell you. The nobles have been continuously talking about you. I’m really curious about how you came up with such a brilliant idea!”

“Ah, are you talking about the Levi Mine?”

Rose, wearing a sour expression, interjected sarcastically. Vernon ignored her and continued, smiling at Kristin.

“The Emperor sent me a letter personally. He praised me for raising you well and expressed his desire to meet you at the upcoming debutante ball.”

‘Does the Emperor want to meet me?’ Kristin was puzzled.

She had only met him briefly in the past, and he had never liked the Edith family, especially disapproving of her engagement to Raphael.

“The Emperor wants to meet me?”

“Yes, he said he’d like you to attend the ball and commended you on becoming the owner of the Levi Mine. He said it made him think of the Ediths again.” Vernon said proudly.

Kristin was taken aback by this sudden change of events. It was astonishing that someone who once disliked her now wanted to meet her. The most shocked, however, were Rose and Elena.

“Sister is going to the debutante party? But this debutante party is my turn! Moreover, Kristin’s recent breakup with Duke Raphael has caused a scandal,”

Elena protested, clearly upset.

Vernon glanced at Elena and said sternly,

“Elena, did you not hear me? The Emperor himself wants to meet your sister! We cannot miss this opportunity. It’s also a chance to solidify our position.”

“But My Lord—” Rose began, trying to intercede.

This time Rose spoke as if appealing to Vernon.

“Still, I don’t think Kristin will go to the Debutante Ball; she went to the Debutante Ball last year against the Viscount’s wishes, and if she will go this time …”

“I will go, Father. I want to go,” Kristin said decisively.

“What? You want to go?” Rose blurted out in surprise.

An unwitting complaint escaped Rose’s lips.

“Yes, I will go. It would be rude to refuse an invitation from the Emperor. Don’t you agree, Mother?” Kristin said, turning to Rose.

Rose trembled with frustration but forced a smile.

“If that’s what you want, Kristin, then it’s fine.”

The Rose who had been glaring at Kristin just moments ago now gave her a gentle look, and Elena’s expression became even more resentful as she glared at Kristin.

—

The Day of the Debutante Ball

Finally, the long-awaited day of the debutante ball arrived.

The Edith estate was bustling from early morning. The maids responsible for styling and doing the makeup for Elena and Kristin were tirelessly preparing the two for the event.

Kristin, having decided to participate in the debutante ball once more, resolved not to back down. Some nobles might not understand why she stood up so much for the commoners working in the Levi Mine.

Moreover, they would be curious about how she, a young lady, planned to lead the business.

Regardless, it didn’t matter to Kristin.

She wanted to attend the ball to see and hear firsthand how her reputation had changed and to show everyone that she was living a more confident life.

She wanted to truly shed her past weak image. She was curious about her reputation now that she was living differently.

Kristin spoke to the maid dressing her up.

“It’s alright if you don’t overdo it. I don’t need to stand out.”

“What?”

The maid paused, surprised by Kristin’s words, but quickly resumed her work, speaking with determination.

“Lady Kristin, you must shine brighter than anyone at this debutante ball. There are so many people among us commoners who respect you. You achieved something no other noble lady has.”

“But I didn’t achieve it alone. Marquis Winston helped me a lot, and Lady Beatrice Charlotte stood by my side.”

While speaking to the maid, Kristin was also concerned about the workers rescued from the Levi Mine. The butler had informed her that the workers were still not able to move around on their own.

Kristin planned to visit them at the hospital a few days after the debutante ball. For now, she needed to ask Beatrice to withdraw some money from her account to provide them with comfort.

“You saved those people from the collapsed rubble. That alone is amazing. I heard that Marquis Zenon was also there. And that he cares deeply for you…”

“Hmm?”

Despite Kristin’s curiosity, the maid didn’t continue her sentence. Going further would be overstepping boundaries and being impolite.

Instead, the maid changed the subject.

“Anyway, thank you for thinking of us commoners. Even we servants often get mistreated by nobles and don’t receive proper employment contracts… Oh, I’m sorry for saying too much.”

“It’s alright. What you said is true.”

Kristin reassured the maid, patting her hand. It was indeed the truth and not something to deny or get angry about.

Mistreated and without proper employment contracts? This made Kristin realize that she needed to review the employment contracts of the servants working for the Edith family.

It was evident that the contracts were made to favor the nobles, leaving the illiterate commoners unaware of any misrepresentations in the terms.

Kristin decided to improve the treatment of all servants after returning from the debutante ball. She felt remorse for not having paid attention to this before.

“All done,” the maid said.

“Thank you. Could you also make Lenci look beautiful?”

“Pardon? Lenci?” The maid seemed taken aback but answered quickly.

“Of course. I’ll prepare her.”

“Come over and sit in my place, Lenci.”

“Oh, My Lady. Are you sure it’s alright for me to go with you?”

Lenci hesitated, but Kristin gently took her wrist and led her to the chair.

“Why wouldn’t it be? Other nobles bring their favored maids along. There’s no reason you can’t. You’re my cherished servant.”

Kristin’s words made the maid look at Lenci with envy. She was a maid who only came to the estate on special occasions to do makeup and hair, often mistreated or ordered around by other nobles.

Nobles would shout at her to hurry, criticize her for a strand of hair out of place, and even slap her.

But Kristin never got angry or irritated, and this was the first time the maid had encountered such a noble, causing her to furrow her brows several times.

“I’ll make you look beautiful. Please serve Lady Kristin well,” the maid said with a smile.

“Yes, thank you,” Lenci replied shyly, and the maid began to dress her up.

After about twenty minutes, Lenci’s makeover was complete.