Chapter 9
***
Lynette knew that from the start.
In her previous life, the dangers of the motion sickness drug creotra had become a major social issue.
'It's not enough to just put a face to the name.’
It would be nice to make a strong impression at the ball, but she needed more than that.
A way to keep Finberg at Hilt.
A reason to get a little closer to him.
That was what she came up with: motion sickness pills.
She knew she could die, that she might never wake up.
She wasn't afraid of death. She was just concerned that she would have to leave everything to Finberg after she took the pill.
"If he realizes I'm unconscious, he'll definitely come after me.’
She had no choice but to believe that.
On the carriage ride back from Bordeaux, Lynette took a motion sickness pill and left the rest to Finberg.
She had almost regained consciousness when Angelman entered the room halfway through.
"I think she’s lost the fever."
Lynette heard Riley's voice in her sleep.
She wanted to sit up, her consciousness growing clearer.
"Lynette, are you awake?"
The moment Finberg's voice, tinged with concern, touched her cheek, she decided to lie down a little longer.
****
"Would you like to dance with me?"
Someone held out a hand, but Kanna shook her head.
It was an ungracious refusal.
But he put his hand to his heart and was overcome with emotion.
"Will there be another chance?"
But Kanna wiped away the man's regret.
"No."
Despite her cold response, the man walked away without taking his eyes off Kanna.
Kanna loosened her tight lips and leaned against the pillar.
"This sucks."
She wrapped her arms around herself.
Then, as her fingertips touched the rustic, stiff sleeves of her dress, she felt a sudden rush of anger.
‘I deserve better than this.’
What Kanna wore was a plain, unadorned dress, given to her by a maid when she first came to Hilt.
It was naturally loose and unadorned, but the straps cinched the waist and deepened the neckline.
There was no lace, so it would have looked like a maid's dress otherwise.
‘It's not about the clothes, it's about me.’
The more she watched the people in the ballroom, the more convinced she became of herself.
‘They're all dressed up in beautiful clothes and makeup, but they can't keep up with my toes.’
Kanna didn't need a special perfume; her beauty, like a scent, enchanted those around her.
‘I wonder where he is, anyway.’
Kanna leaned against a pillar in the ballroom.
‘Baron.’
Hyperion was nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps it was the crowds, or perhaps he was off somewhere entertaining an honored guest.
'Of course he's with the Crown Prince, the Baron is a special man.’
No need to be impatient.
He must be somewhere in this manor, and he would remember her.
Kanna took a deep breath, her face sinking.
Then she remembered what had happened before she came to the manor.
<What? Where are you going?>
<There's a ball at Hilt's mansion tonight.>
<So?>
<The Princes are coming. I heard it's a special banquet, open to all, regardless of status. The Crown Prince will be there. I'd love to go.>
<It's the Princes, and it has nothing to do with you. Stop thinking about it and go make yourself useful.>
<Madam, it's not every day you get a chance like this, maybe once in a lifetime->
<What's so rare about it? Is it so important to you to see the prince's face that you can't see the mountain of work in front of you?>
<I'll go and do it all, and I'll do my share.>
<You.>
<...>
<Do you think you can get in there dressed like that?>
<I have the clothes the Baron gave me, the ones I wore when I first came here, and I've kept them clean.
I'll wear it, with your permission, madam.>
<I should never have let you come here.>
"Do you like to waltz?"
Then, again, someone held out a hand to Kanna.
He was dressed neatly, his hair slicked back with flaxseed oil, and at first glance, it was clear he was no commoner.
Kanna shook her head again.
She had worked so hard to get here.
She couldn't dance with just anyone.
"No."
The man's brow narrowed at the short answer.
"No?"
"No."
The man chuckled, then turned back to Kanna.
"Do you hate waltz, or do you hate me?"
"Both."
The man's face darkened at her cold answer.
Kanna continued, not even looking at where he stood.
"And I'm waiting for my partner, if you'll excuse me?"
"Partner?"
The man looked Kanna up and down, then gave a humorless laugh.
"Funny, partner."
Kanna turned her head at the mocking tone in his voice.
The face of the gentleman who had asked her to dance had changed slightly.
"No matter how down to earth they are, opening up the mansion to courtesans is a bit much, don't you think?"
"...?"
"How much is it? How much are you?"
Kanna glared at the man.
"Apologize."
"For what?"
"Apologize right now or I'll make you regret it."
Blood rushed to Kanna's eyes as she glared at the man. For a moment, he thought she might be insane.
"Ai, I've been looking for you, there you are!"
Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind and spun her around, a young man who looked to be about her age.
"Oops, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you alone, but you're fast."
He yanked her away before she could protest. They walked for a while, weaving through the crowds, before Kanna yelped and threw her hands up in frustration.
"Let go of me!"
"Whoa, okay, I let go."
The man held up both hands and smirked.
"I won't even ask for a thank you."
"...."
"I take it Madam Margeda has given you permission?"
He was Pisco, the son of a rock merchant who lived in the same district as Kanna.
"Gee, you look like a lady from here, or should I say, a young lady."
Pisco was a pretty good-looking man, to say the least. He had blondish-brown hair, was very tall, and her body was firm and toned from years of labor.
"Come on, aren't you going to say thank you?"
Pisco smirked, but Kanna just swatted his hand away with all her might.
"Get out of here, if you don't want to look like a bad person.”
"Wow, I get turned on when you're like this."
Pisco grabbed her wrist as Kanna tried to walkt away without a word.
"Crazy bastard."
“More, more. Hmm?"
He reached out and grabbed a few strands of Kanna's long, beautiful hair and sniffed.
"Your hair smells like ankalgine."
Kanna held back the urge to spit in Pisco's smirking face.
"You shouldn't have danced with that man earlier, look at you bouncing around."
"..."
"Or were you waiting for someone, oh, me?"
Pisco didn't seem inclined to leave. Kanna pressed her temple once, and shot him a look.
"It's not you, so mind your own business."
Just like that, the room suddenly fell silent.
‘What?’
But she didn't have to ask anyone to realize why.
People had appeared on the railing of the second floor.
Pisco, who had been chattering on and on, shut up.
The music slowly died down. Kanna finally spotted Hyperion in the crowd, but his gaze was elsewhere.
Kanna's gaze landed on a boy with hair as black as ebony.
His carefully crafted features were perfect, but his untucked shirt and jacket clutched haphazardly in one hand gave him an air of strangeness.
"Thank you. I really appreciate it, Your Highness."
Hyperion bowed his head in gratitude.
"No, I don't think there's anything wrong with the young lady, but it would be a good idea to monitor her condition for a few days.”
Argos stifled a laugh at Finberg's words and muttered,
"Who's going to do that, that stutterer?"
Only Angelman, who had followed, clutching his medical bag, flinched.
"I-I'm trying to......."
Finberg cut him off with a calm look.
"I don't have any special plans, so if it's all right with the Baron, I'll stay a few more days."
"Are you sure about that?"
Hyperion breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
And Kanna, watching them from a distance, smiled a similar smile to Hyperion's.
‘That's him.’
****
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