That Marriage, I’ll Do It in this Life - Chapter 15

The Ackroyd and Debov families were said to have been on good terms for generations.

As the heirs of their respective families, Sage and Kayan must’ve had plenty of opportunities to interact.

Still, their age difference had made it seem unlikely that they’d become this close. Yet, here they were, speaking casually without Yuri acting as a bridge between them.

Knock, knock.

“Lady Debov, it’s time for your entrance.”

Before they could even exchange proper greetings, it was time for Saena to make her debut.

Kayan stepped forward and offered his arm to Saena.

His posture and the angle of his arm were so precise and polished that it was almost excessive. With his dignified demeanor, refined manners, and handsome appearance, it was easy to see why he was popular in society.

Saena reached to place her hand on his arm, but Sage intercepted it midway.

“Saya, I think you should reconsider—”

Before Sage could finish, his hand was gently removed by another.

Kirsten had softly taken Sage’s hand off Saena and placed her own on top of his.

“Here we are. My partner.”

Sage’s eyes widened.

“E-Excuse me, Lady Ackroyd?”

“You know my name, don’t you?”

“W-What is this?”

“Since you look a bit like Saena, I’ll make an exception and allow you to be my partner.”

“Wait, could you let go of my hand so we can talk—”

“What are you doing? Escort me properly.”

Sage, looking utterly defeated, was dragged out of the waiting room by Kirsten. He disappeared in an instant, completely at her mercy.

What an incredible woman.

Saena couldn’t hold back her laughter and burst out laughing.

“Hahaha! Your sister is amazing.”

“…….”

Realizing she was the only one laughing, Saena glanced up at Kayan, feeling a bit awkward.

He was staring at her intently.

“Kayan?”

“…Let’s go. Ahem.”

Kayan turned his head, covering his mouth with his hand, and took her hand to lead her outside.

‘What’s this about?’

Something felt off, but with time running out, Saena decided to follow him for now.

Outside, a servant was waiting and began guiding them as soon as they exited.

Sage and Kirsten, who weren’t debutantes, seemed to have headed toward the hall entrance. They were already out of sight.

The debutante ball differed slightly from regular banquets.

For those who had already debuted, it wasn’t exactly an exciting event.

While there was a certain charm in watching the fresh debutantes, it was far too tame compared to masquerades or themed parties.

With young debutantes attending alongside their parents and even grandparents, the event had a wide age range, which made the socializing somewhat awkward. It wasn’t particularly fun for most attendees.

But skipping it wasn’t an option.

The debutante ball was held on the first day of the Founding Festival.

Hosted by the imperial family to ease the burden on lower-ranking nobles, it was an event where all debutantes were introduced together.

The emperor himself delivered the opening speech. Attendance was mandatory for all nobles.

The ball was a tradition dating back to the founding of the empire, meant to bless the new generation and pray for a bright future for the empire.

For Saena, however, it was just another obligation to endure.

‘Alright. Just a few more hours to get through.’

As they turned a corner, Saena spotted another couple ahead. They seemed to be heading in the same direction, likely another debutante and their partner.

The color of the dress caught her eye—it was a familiar shade of fresh, pale green.

‘Is that… Elizabeth?’

It seemed so. Saena recognized the dress from Madame Charlize’s boutique.

‘Should I say hello?’

While debating, Saena suddenly froze in place.

‘…That man.’

A chilling sensation ran down her spine.

The man escorting Elizabeth, with his dirty blonde hair… His back looked nauseatingly familiar.

“…Saena?”

Kayan, startled by Saena’s sudden pallor and trembling, called out to her.

‘It’s him.’

Seeing his profile as he entered the waiting room confirmed it.

It was the man who had ruined her life in her previous one.

He was my ex-husband.

She had anticipated that she would inevitably run into him someday after debuting in society, but she didn’t expect it to be this soon.

Just catching a glimpse of him in passing made a wave of near-repulsion rise within her.

‘Do I really have to go into that room now, face him, and exchange pleasantries?’

Just the thought of it made her feel like she was going to throw up.

“Saena. What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Kayan, holding onto Saena’s trembling, swaying waist, asked worriedly. That’s how pale Saena’s complexion was. It was as if all the blood had drained from her face, making her look like she had just seen a ghost.

“Shall we head to the infirmary? If you’re unable to proceed, I’ll notify them right away.”

Even the attendant, seeing her face, asked urgently.

“Yes, Saena. Let’s go to the infirmary. Your complexion is…”

Elizabeth’s partner.

It used to be Yuri.

Now, at this same spot, the four of them had stood together back then.

Elizabeth and Yuri, Saena and Sage.

Yuri, who had been walking ahead with Elizabeth, turned back and approached her, noticing her nervous expression.

「Our Saya, you must be nervous about your debut.」

Then, he raised his clenched fist in front of her.

The fist-bump gesture they had done since childhood.

It was a little ritual shared only between the twins, Yuri and Saena, as their own way of cheering each other on.

「Pasha!」
「–Pasha!」

Yuri would lightly tap his fist on top of Saena’s, then Saena would respond by tapping hers back on top of his.

Like magic, it would always make her tension disappear.

That scene, a vivid memory from the past, replayed itself before Saena’s eyes.

‘Yur… Yuri….’

But Yuri wasn’t here.

Why wasn’t he in this world she had returned to?

Saena blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears welling up, and struggled to take a deep breath.

“Saena. If you’re not feeling well, don’t push yourself…”

“Kayan.”

“Yes, right.”

“…Could you hold out your fist like this?”

“…My fist? Like this?”

Though Kayan found it a bit strange, he complied with Saena’s request.

Saena slowly lowered her fist onto Kayan’s outstretched fist, tapped it lightly, then moved her fist below his and tapped it back up.

“…Pasha.”

Even though Yuri wasn’t here, Saena used Kayan’s fist as a stand-in and repeated the gesture on her own, moving her fist up and down while muttering a faint “Pasha.”

Somehow, it made her feel a little better.

“Saena, just now… that…”

“…I feel a bit better now. I must have been too nervous.”

“…Are you really okay?”

“Yes. Sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize. You’re sure you’re not sick?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Despite their imminent turn, they still hadn’t entered, and the attendant, growing anxious, opened the waiting room door and stepped out.

“Are you the lady of the Debov family?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll be called shortly. Please hurry inside.”

“Oh, yes. Understood.”

Following the attendant’s urgent guidance, Saena and Kayan quickly entered the room.

Once inside, they saw another curtained entrance ahead.

“Lady Elizabeth, the third daughter of the Count Valdez family!”

It seemed it was Elizabeth’s turn, as her name was being called from beyond the curtain, and the hem of her pale green dress disappeared past it.

‘Ha….’

They had missed each other. Though it wasn’t intentional, Saena was relieved that she wouldn’t have to face George Hollander.

Clap, clap, clap. A round of applause came from outside shortly after.

It would soon be Saena’s turn.

Judging by the fact that no one else was waiting behind her, it seemed Saena was the final debutante of this Founding Festival Debutante Ball.

The order of introductions at the debutante ball was determined by the rank and influence of the family, with higher-ranking families presented later.

This arrangement allowed even those from lesser families to receive attention. Naturally, as time passed, guests’ focus would wane, so the early part of the event often drew more enthusiasm. This ensured that debutantes from lesser families could garner sufficient attention before the audience’s focus diminished. However, attendees would remain patient and stay seated, as the most prominent families’ debutantes were introduced toward the end.

Thus, the first debutante, the most beautiful debutante, or the final debutante typically garnered the most attention.

But wait. The final debutante…

‘…That’s me?!’

I hadn’t considered this.

I never wanted to stand out, so I felt a bit flustered.

In my previous life, there had been a Marquis’ daughter introduced after me. With the beautiful Elizabeth ahead of me and the prestigious Marquis’ daughter behind me, I hadn’t drawn any attention at all.

“Saena, are you really okay?”

“Ah… Yes.”

Shaking off her dazed thoughts, Saena gripped Kayan’s hand a little tighter.

“And now, the final debutante of the day. The only daughter of the Debov family, Lady Saena!”

It was her turn.

Kayan, holding Saena’s hand, guided her through the curtain that the attendant had drawn aside for them.

Beyond the curtain was a short corridor. It was somewhat dimly lit, which made the light streaming through the opposite exit stand out even more.

Before stepping into the banquet hall, Saena took a deep breath.

And then, she moved forward, beyond the light.