Chapter 13

The gift box the maids brought was even bigger than last time. Nadia looked at the magenta box with a troubled expression and untied the red ribbon.  

The King’s gift was a pale pink dress. The silk dress, with just enough frills, gave off a fresh spring vibe.  

Nadia read the card tucked into the box.

—It would be nice if you wore this at the debutante ball.

That was all it said. Nadia’s expression became strange as she read it.  

She had just been looking at documents related to the debutante ball.  

But she’d thought it was an event that had nothing to do with her.  

“Would you like to try it on? If the size doesn’t fit, we’ll need time to alter it.”  

Olga was right. Nadia, with the help of the maids, changed into the dress.  

It fit perfectly. There was no discomfort, so she could go to the banquet just like this.  

Nadia looked at herself in the mirror wearing the dress.  

It wasn’t the white dress debutantes wore, but the soft pink made her feel almost like a debutante herself.  

It was March of her nineteenth year. She wanted to show her mother, who had come home for the first time in half a year, how she looked in a debutante dress.  

But Agnesa frowned and looked displeased when she saw Nadia in a white dress.

‘What are you going to do there, Nadia?’

Nadia had long noticed that her mother’s gaze toward her was never gentle.  

She must have worried that the King, old enough to be her father, would desire her now that she was grown.  

Just thinking about it was nauseating and absurd, but her mother seemed genuinely concerned.  

At first, Nadia believed it was concern for her safety.

‘You’re not trying to catch His Majesty’s eye, are you?’

‘Mother, how could you say that?’

Her mother’s eyes were clearly those of a rival. That irrational suspicion bewildered Nadia.

‘I just want to go to the debutante ball like everyone else. I’ve never attended society, you know?’

‘What are you talking about? I brought you to court balls often when you were little.’

But even that stopped after Agnesa established herself as the King’s mistress.

‘I’m old enough to prepare for marriage now. You can’t get married without a debut in society…’

‘Don’t worry about that. I’ll find you a good match myself.’

She hadn’t realized then that her mother meant she would send her abroad.  

Nadia shook her head, clearing her thoughts, and asked Olga,  

“How does it look?”  

Olga looked at Nadia for a moment before speaking.  

“It suits you well.”  

“…Thank you.”  

Nadia smiled, hearing words she’d never gotten from her mother.

***

Finally, May arrived—the day of the debutante ball.  

For Nadia, today was also her debut in society. But as Queen, she couldn’t wear a white dress and stand alongside the other nineteen-year-old ladies.  

She regretted skipping such a special moment, but decided to be content with the pale pink dress gifted by the King.  

The A-line dress had a few frills and no other embellishments, giving it a pure and lively look.  

Olga tied Nadia’s hair with a pink ribbon and put rose-shaped earrings made of rose quartz on her.  

Except for the color, she looked so lovely that she could easily be mistaken for a debutante.  

Olga looked Nadia up and down with a satisfied smile, then quickly wiped it away.  

“Not bad.”  

“Thank you, Madame Ryabova.”  

“Your Majesty.”  

Just then, a maid entered with surprising news.  

“His Majesty has arrived.”  

Nadia was more surprised than when she heard he’d sent her a gift.  

He’d left the wedding reception with Albina. Why would he come to her right before the ball, and what about Albina?  

‘He must be just stopping by.’  

Maybe he’d come with Countess Vellevin. That made sense.  

Soon, the sound of heavy shoes approached. When Nadia saw, she bowed.  

“I greet the great sun of Arbat.”  

When she lifted her head, Nadia’s expression went blank for a moment.  

Following his endlessly long legs upward, she saw a handsome face with harmonious features.  

A sharp nose and deep green eyes, tightly pressed lips—all gave him the dignified air of an oil painting.  

His tailcoat, not too dark a green, matched the bright mood of the debutante ball and still preserved his authority.  

The fit of his clothes was perfect for the imposing man. For a moment, time seemed to stop, and Nadia couldn’t take her eyes off him.  

“Ah…”  

Realizing she’d stared too long, Nadia quickly looked away.  

Lev had stared at her so intently, he didn’t even ask, “Why are you looking at me?” Embarrassed, Nadia quickly spoke.  

“Where is Countess Vellevin…?”  

“Why are you looking for her?”  

“Didn’t you come together?”  

Nadia asked in a puzzled voice, and Lev laughed dryly.  

“She’s at Vellevin Palace.”  

“Why…?”  

“She’s not feeling well. She won’t attend the ball tonight.”  

“Oh…”  

Nadia’s eyes widened. Then, did he really come to escort her to the ball?  

It seemed impossible, but if not, why else would he come at this time?  

Nadia waited quietly for his answer instead of jumping to conclusions. Lev, watching her, finally asked,  

“Aren’t you going?”  

“Pardon?”  

“You seem ready. Do you want to be late?”  

“No…”  

Nadia finally asked in a bewildered voice,  

“Did you come to go with me?”  

“Why else would I be here?”  

“……”  

Nadia couldn’t answer for a moment. It seemed more likely he’d come to mock her with the Countess than escort her.  

This situation was just…  

As Nadia hesitated, Lev nodded toward the door. Urging her to leave, Nadia finally moved her feet.  

It was well past noon, but the sun was shining brightly outside. The sunlight was just warm enough to feel pleasant.  

It was perfect weather for the debutante ball. Looking up, Nadia saw fluffy clouds drifting across the clear sky. It was the same sky as when she first arrived here.  

If the King hadn’t sent his men for her that day, she would now be gazing out a foreign window, longing for her homeland.  

She doubted her mother would have found her a good match out of concern for her.  

“I’m grateful to you, Your Majesty.”  

Nadia immediately expressed her feelings.  

“You brought me here when I was almost sent abroad. I didn’t want to leave Arbat.”  

Lev, who had been walking silently, finally looked at Nadia.  

“That’s a random thing to say.”  

“Just… The weather made me think of that day.”  

“You don’t remember what happened right after you came here?”  

Lev frowned after saying that. He shouldn’t have brought it up. Why had he come all this way, despite his irritation?  

“Of course I remember.”  

Nadia replied calmly, as usual.  

“But it’s not something I would talk about in front of you, Your Majesty.”  

“Oh, you’re being considerate.”  

Lev laughed as if it wasn’t funny.  

“You don’t have much affection for your late mother, do you?”  

It was a question tossed offhandedly. Nadia looked at Lev with a blank face. Lev thought she was offended and gave a small smile.  

“I’m joking. Of course not. Agnesa Turik is famous for keeping her daughter locked up in the castle, cherishing her.”  

“…Your Majesty.”  

Nadia spoke quietly.  

“Do you want to keep the Countess Vellevin locked up in Vellevin Palace, so no one sees her face?”  

Lev, faced with a question from someone he disliked, thought for a while and answered honestly.  

“If everyone tries to take her, then yes.”  

Nadia didn’t respond.  

For the first time, she felt sorry for the King and his beloved Albina, but she couldn’t say it aloud.  

He misunderstood love. That wasn’t love. So her mother hadn’t really loved her either.  

Admitting that now felt easier than expected. Maybe it was because her feelings for her mother had worn down to dust.