5. Founding Festival (2)

There was a burst of light in an instant.

Saena slightly closed her eyes and then reopened them at the suddenly overwhelming brightness.

The first thing that caught her eye was the dazzling chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

And then, the gazes.

Feeling the sudden attention directed at her, Saena slowly scanned the hall. When she debuted for the first time, those gazes had felt so suffocating. She couldn’t even remember how she had made her entrance or how she had acted that day.

However, perhaps because this was her second time, she didn’t fall into a panic like before.

Though the numerous stares were burdensome, they weren’t frightening. Perhaps it was because they held no meaning for her, so she didn’t particularly care.

Saena looked down at the people from the podium with indifferent eyes, but suddenly, a chill ran down her spine. She instinctively turned her gaze toward the source of the eerie sensation, as if something had grabbed her nape and pulled her attention.

“……!”

There was something strange.

No, she saw something strange.

Constantine Kramer, the Duke of Kramer.

Their eyes met directly. Her pupils dilated.

Kiiing—

Suddenly, Saena’s vision distorted, and the space where he stood seemed to warp as if it belonged to another world. Despite the brightness of the banquet hall, only the area around him seemed shrouded in darkness.

The Duke of Kramer was dressed in formal attire similar to what he wore during the parade. A knight’s uniform in white, adorned with gold sashes and buttons. Compared to the other men dressed in dark-toned suits, his attire was undeniably bright.

But strangely enough—

His clothes were white, his hair was bright, too.

He was a man with snow-white hair that seemed untouched by shadow and eyes as clear and cold as a frozen lake.

‘Why does he look so dark?’

It was as if… a massive darkness was flapping its wings behind him.

Ziiing—

A sudden headache made Saena shut her eyes tightly.

As her body wavered without her realizing it, Kayan supported her and whispered softly.

“Saena? Are you okay?”

She steadied herself and looked at the Duke of Kramer again.

“……”

He was gone.

She searched again, but the strange sensation from earlier was no longer emanating from the Duke.

Just like during the parade earlier in the day… What on earth is this?

Her gaze, shaken by confusion, searched further around him, but the Duke only looked at her with a face as cold and unyielding as snow on a frozen mountain.

“Saena.”

Flinch.

The firm grip of Kayan’s hand brought Saena back to reality.

“You need to bow.”

His softly whispered voice carried a hint of urgency. Having entered the banquet hall, she was supposed to introduce herself and bow before descending, but she had been momentarily lost in thought.

She now realized the stares of people wondering, ‘What’s wrong with her?’

‘Ah, what a blunder….’

Saena collected herself and straightened her posture.

Letting go of Kayan’s hand, she stepped forward.

“I was momentarily frozen due to nerves.”

Then, she grasped the sides of her skirt and curtsied gracefully as per etiquette.

“I ask for your understanding… I am Saena of the Debov family. Greetings to you all.”

The crowd nodded and applauded. She could faintly hear whispers of, ‘That can happen.’

“Isn’t her partner the young master of the Ackroyd family?”

“She’s adorable. I heard they’re the same age. Could it be they’re engaged or something?”

“Hm. The Ackroyd and Debov families are both top picks in the marriage market, aren’t they?”

As Saena and Kayan held hands again and descended from the podium, snippets of murmured conversations reached her ears.

As expected of the heir to a marquisate, Kayan attracted significant attention.

“By the way, the dress worn by the young lady of Debov is stunning—so pure and beautiful.”

“It’s a white dress, and since there are so many colorful dresses this year, it stands out even more. I wonder if she anticipated this.”

“It’s not just the color; the design is lovely, too, isn’t it? A lace cape that’s both cute and slightly seductive with its sheer fabric…”

“Indeed. I heard she’s obsessed with Arlesian and doesn’t care about dressing up, but that’s clearly not true.”

“Exactly. She seems oddly mature for her age, too…”

Although Saena hadn’t considered it, the attention on her was also considerable.

In her previous life, the lady who received the most attention was Elizabeth. Her beauty had drawn more eyes than even the marquis’ daughter.

Saena, who had entered right after Elizabeth and wearing a similar light green dress, must have appeared relatively plain in comparison. Thinking back, perhaps their similar outfits and consecutive entrances had made her seem even more ordinary.

This time, the debutantes and their partners were all gathered in the center of the ballroom on the dance floor.

As Saena and Kayan descended to join them, she made eye contact with Elizabeth, who was already there.

When she recalled who Elizabeth’s partner was, her desire to approach her waned, but she still thought she should at least exchange a greeting. She raised her gaze, only to be startled.

‘…Elizabeth?’

Her expression was shockingly cold.

Having always seen her smiling sweetly, Saena found this unfamiliar expression so unsettling it made her feel slightly intimidated.

Of course, Elizabeth wasn’t always smiling. At times, she would pout or get annoyed.

But this face—so cold it seemed to radiate frost—was a first. It made Saena wonder, ‘Did I do something wrong?’

However, that frigid expression disappeared in an instant.

Elizabeth quickly smiled brightly and greeted her. She even gave a small wave in Saena’s direction.

‘…Was I imagining things?’

Ba-bam!

“Her Majesty the Empress is entering!”

“His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Hebeta are entering!”

Before Saena could gather her thoughts, she straightened her posture.

The royal family’s entrance marked the official start of the Founding Festival banquet. This year, it seemed the Empress would deliver the opening speech instead of the Emperor.

“……Under His Majesty the Emperor’s benevolent rule, this year has passed peacefully. Although the overflow of demonic beasts from last year continues, it remains under control thanks to the efforts of the four dukes. Let us take a moment to acknowledge their contributions…”

While listening to the Empress’s speech, Saena suddenly recalled her past life.

The imperial family was also a lineage of Guardian Spirit successors, and next year, a major event would occur: the passing of the current Emperor. Considering that the Empress was delivering the opening speech instead of the Emperor and piecing together the flow of events, Saena could roughly infer that the Emperor’s health was in poor condition.

‘Then… how will the imperial family’s Guardian Spirit be passed on?’

Saena tried to recall how the imperial succession had unfolded in her previous life.

But she couldn’t remember clearly.

“…Congratulations to the debutantes who will lead the next generation.”

In the meantime, the Empress had finished her speech and was now looking over the debutantes standing on the dance floor.

“May the blessings of the Covenant be with you.”

True to an empire that revered the power of Guardian Spirits, her final words were a blessing related to them.

A wish passed down through the ages.

“May the great protection follow the noble bloodline eternally.”

The attendees bowed their heads in response, returning the blessing. It was a prayer for the eternal presence of the imperial family’s Guardian Spirit and the peace of the empire.

“Commence the first dance.”

With the Empress’s declaration, music began to play.

The general attendees stepped back, creating more space on the dance floor.

The debutantes took their partners’ hands, positioned themselves on the floor, and prepared for the first dance.

Saena placed one hand on Kayan’s, the other on his arm, and looked at him. Kayan lightly placed his right hand on her waist.

“Saena.”

“Hmm?”

They began to move in step with the music.

“You look… beautiful today.”

Saena looked up at him, surprised by the sudden compliment. His serious expression betrayed a hint of awkwardness.

She stared at him for a moment before letting out a small laugh and replying.

“Thank you. You look handsome today, too.”

In her previous life, Saena had never been told she was ‘beautiful’ by anyone other than her family. The only people who had ever called her beautiful were her family, her nanny, and the maids of the Debov household.

So while Kayan’s words made her a little shy, she also thought to herself:

‘He’s probably just being polite since we’re partners.’

Saena’s final appearance before her death had left a deep impression on her. Her emaciated frame, rough complexion, and ghastly appearance had been horrifying, even to herself.

‘Youth’ in itself can often be equated with beauty.

Adults often said this to young people:

“At that age, you’re beautiful even without makeup.”

“You look better without it at all…”