3. How to Grab a Rotten Rope

「Father, first I will hold my debutante ball this year. Please announce to the public that I will hold my debutante ball next year.」

Without giving the duke time to organize his thoughts about the sudden marriage talk, Arthe unilaterally announced her plan.

It was one month before the debutante ball.

Returning to her room, Arthe had been lost in thought for several hours already, skipping even lunch.

A political marriage with Prince Cardi.

Though she had made bold declarations to her father, in fact there was one critically major problem with that plan.

‘Have I ever properly spoken even a single word to a man, let alone romance……?’

After pondering for a long time over her complete lack of romantic experience, Arthe finally opened her mouth to Mel after much hesitation.

“Mel, you…… do you know something about romance?”

“What? Miss, don’t tell me you have someone you like?”

“No, well, rather than that…… I just want to get some advice from an expert in that field.”

“Oh my, oh my, Miss! I’m exactly that expert right here!”

To help Arthe who had even skipped lunch, Mel quickly made a fuss.

However, in fact, Mel, who had lived with Arthe since childhood, also had no romantic experience, just like her.

Mel, who was wondering how to help Arthe, remembered a book she had seen while browsing her family’s study recently.

“I happen to have just the right book.”

What Mel brought out after hurriedly pulling Arthe’s hand and running to her own room was an old book that had turned yellow with age.

Since no one had touched this old book until Mel read it, quite a bit of dust was still accumulated on the book’s cover.

The book’s title was [Practical Guide! The Art of Capturing His Heart!].

It was a book with an impressive cover that was gaudy rather than fancy and colorful illustrations.

And for about a month from that day until the debutante ball.

Unlike other noble families’ young ladies who prepared dresses for their debutante balls, Arthe read [Practical Guide! The Art of Capturing His Heart!] countless times.

Countless memorizations and practice, thorough planning and image training, even cheat sheets prepared just in case.

Now only one thing remained for her—execution.

***

“Lady Arthe von Frey! Lady Arthe is the only daughter of the Frey ducal house……”

Along with the attendant’s introduction, enthusiastic applause poured out.

Imperial year 299, her second debutante ball in her entire life.

“So you are Lady Arthe. Congratulations on your social debut.”

Emperor Antu II’s complexion still didn’t look good, but he seemed much healthier than in her past memories.

Arthe, who had curtsied in greeting, slowly shifted her gaze to the empress.

“Nice to meet you. Lady Arthe.”

The moment she saw Empress Mariposa’s face wearing a gentle smile, nausea surged up, but Arthe showed no sign of it and mechanically raised the corners of her mouth.

Empress Mariposa, who had been staring at Arthe intently, opened her mouth in a kind voice.

“When I received the list of young ladies making their debut in advance, I remember your name wasn’t on it…… Was there some change of heart?”

“Yes, that’s right. Due to internal circumstances in the family, I suddenly came to make my debut.”

Duke Frey, who had coordinated their words in advance, answered curtly to leave no room for further questions.

“Is that so? Given the duke’s position, Lady Arthe should lead this year’s dance stage. How is your partner situation?”

In the ‘Dance of the Year,’ the biggest event of the empire’s founding anniversary banquet, all young ladies making their social debut that year and their escorting partners are decided in advance.

However, Arthe, who had suddenly decided to debut this year, had no partner.

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about me. Thank you for your consideration.”

However, instead of giving a specific answer, Arthe curtsied and gave a brief greeting.

The empress looked at Arthe expressionlessly for a moment, then soon showed her a bright smile.

***

Unlike the rumors about holding the debutante ball at the 300th anniversary banquet, the nobles who were flustered by the sudden appearance of the lady soon came to their senses and tried to build even a little friendship with the ducal house’s only heir.

“Lady Arthe, let’s talk about the dress you’re wearing today. There’s talk that it’s Madam Cerneiz’s work……”

“Oh my, didn’t she only supply to the imperial family?”

The nobles continuously changed topics and continued conversations centered around Arthe.

It was not much different from her previous life.

Arthe, who had been appropriately entertaining the nobles, escaped at the right timing and headed toward her father.

“Father.”

On one side of the banquet hall, the duke was alone, lost in worry. When Arthe approached, the duke looked at her intently and opened his mouth.

“Arthe.”

“What thoughts are you so lost in by yourself?”

Instead of answering Arthe’s words, the duke opened his mouth with a worried expression.

“Arthe, what exactly are you planning to do from now on? I did advance the debutante ball as you said, but……”

“To catch a tiger, one must go to the tiger’s den, mustn’t one? Once the debutante ball ends, I’ll immediately enroll in the academy where Prince Cardi is.”

Arthe smiled and reassured the duke.

“……Not only marriage but suddenly the academy too. I don’t understand what you’re thinking these days at all. I really can’t figure it out.”

Duke Frey sighed while looking at Arthe.

At the duke’s sigh that seemed to make the ground cave in, Arthe knelt and firmly grasped her father’s hands with her own.

Then, looking at her father with unwavering eyes, she opened her mouth quietly.

“Father, I’m not a child anymore either. Please trust me once for the ducal house’s sake.”

At that answer, the duke, who had been staring at his daughter intently, opened his mouth again in a worried voice.

“More than that, what do you plan to do about this year’s dance? Are you planning to partner with this father?”

At the duke’s question, the smile that had been forming on Arthe’s lips slightly disappeared.

This year’s dance… Though she had avoided answering Empress Mariposa’s question as if it were nothing, in fact Arthe was also worried about this year’s dance.

Before her regression, Prince Cardi, who couldn’t attend the banquet because he failed to complete the academy’s curriculum, was scheduled to be absent from this year’s banquet for the same reason.

For Arthe, who had planned to approach Cardi and somehow become his partner if she saw him at the banquet, this was undeniably disappointing.

‘Indeed, to meet him I’ll first have to enroll in the academy.’

It was just as Arthe was looking at her father who was seriously worried and making her resolution.

“Oh no, you mustn’t do this!”

Suddenly, a commotion was heard from the central exit of the banquet hall.

‘Don’t tell me, is Empress Mariposa again this time…?’

At that commotion, Arthe’s heart sank with a thud, wondering if the same thing as her previous life was being repeated, and she looked back at the banquet hall’s entrance.

“St-stop him!”

Outside the entrance, five or six soldiers were sweating profusely in apparent panic, hurriedly blocking someone.

“Y-you must return!”

“If Her Majesty the Empress finds out, she’ll be shocked!”

Though her view was blocked so she couldn’t know exactly what was happening, the soldiers seemed unable to rashly lay hands on him, as if the one being blocked was quite a high-ranking noble.

Wondering if the empress had pulled some trick again, Arthe, who was startled, moved to confirm the truth of the commotion.

“Father, I’ll go check and return.”

And just as she, who had hurriedly moved her steps, approached near the door…

Bang!

The banquet hall’s entrance opened forcefully with a loud sound, and the flustered soldiers hesitated and stepped back.

“Oh my, what’s happening……”

“Hmm? What’s this commotion about?”

At that sound, the nobles in the banquet hall also looked toward the hall’s door all at once.

In front of the central exit of the hall that had opened with a loud sound, a man stood tall.

Swaying black hair, cool red eyes.

The door he had entered through was very large and splendid, befitting the gorgeous imperial banquet hall.

And in front of it hung a dazzlingly sparkling chandelier, so that no matter how splendidly dressed a noble was, they would inevitably be overwhelmed by the empire’s imposing presence the moment they entered the hall.

This was intentionally designed to break the spirit of high-ranking nobles entering the imperial palace.

However, the moment he entered,

The splendid background became meaningless, and nothing else could be seen except him.

He slowly moved his steps and walked on the red carpet.

Even the other soldiers in the banquet hall who had hurriedly moved to stop him couldn’t take a step, their gazes fixed on him as he walked over.

Overwhelmingly stunning beauty.

The firm-looking body and tall height under his fitted uniform were excellent, but above all, his appearance was not human.

He was just walking over. Arthe momentarily felt as if time had stopped.

It wasn’t only Arthe who felt this way—all the nobles in the banquet hall were watching him enter, forgetting even the commotion.

The banquet hall, where silence had flowed for a long time, finally found breathing room when he, who had been walking, stopped and looked at the nobles.

At that gaze, several nobles who recognized who he was hurriedly bowed their heads and greeted him.

“P-Prince Cardi, we greet Your Highness!”

“We greet Your Highness!”

‘……Cardi?’

Cardi de Sable. It was the appearance of the Sable Empire’s prince, famous for being a fool.

When other nobles who had come to their senses also hurriedly followed other nobles in greeting, he received their greetings with perfect manners and walked again toward the center of the banquet hall.

Arthe couldn’t take her eyes off the prince and slowly moved her steps following him.

‘……That’s the rumored fool?’

His appearance seen up close was beyond what she had imagined.

The black hair passed down through generations of imperial emperors and somewhat sharp yet neat features, white skin contrasting with red lips and a mysteriously masculine atmosphere, even the cool red eyes that perfectly resembled his mother.

From him wearing the black uniform embroidered with imperial golden thread, even restrained beauty emanated.

Upright posture, beautiful but seemingly strong-willed lips, sharply shining eyes.

‘Surely Empress Mariposa must have used some trick. Otherwise……’

What fool? Rather, he had an impression that seemed like he’s not easy to deal with.