Chapter 77

Astelle exchanged curious glances with Hannah.

What the maid said were the things Astelle had brought when she was about to get married.

When she divorced and left the Imperial Palace in a hurry, the dresses and furniture she had brought were left behind in the Crown Princess Palace.

Astelle thought Kaizen would throw them away.

‘Do you want to give them back even now?’

Even so, why did my things have to be moved to the Empress Palace?

“Lady Astelle, what should we do?”

Hannah looked a little worried.

Hannah noticed that this obvious ploy was absurd.

She also had similar thoughts as Astelle.

No matter how you look at it, it seemed like an evil plan to send Astelle to the Empress Palace.

“Let’s go. Since my things are there, I will go there for a while to change my dress.”

Astelle looked down the stairs and said, “However, there must be no misunderstanding, so I have to get permission from His Majesty in advance.”

She could not enter the Empress Palace without permission. Even if she could go in, it would be better to go with someone else for now.

That way he’ll be a witness no matter what happens later.

Astelle ordered Hannah, “Hannah, please find Sir Lyndon, explain the circumstances, and ask him to ask His Majesty if I may go to the Empress Palace to get a dress to change. If he allows it, ask him to send an attendant to accompany me.”

I don’t know what this evil plan is aiming for, but if I ask the Emperor’s permission and bring an attendant worthy of a witness, I won’t have any problems.

“Yes, Lady Astelle. Please wait a minute.”

Kaizen of course allowed it.

Instead of an attendant, he sent a knight.

Astelle headed to the Empress Palace guided by him.

***

Astelle looked around.

It was a dazzlingly gorgeous bedroom.

Gold decorations covering the walls and ceilings added a luxurious feel.

The more she looked back at the luxurious bedroom, the more strange she felt.

This is because the furniture and decorations in the bedroom resembled the chamber of the Crown Princess palace that Astelle remembered six years ago.

Bed, armchair, and table were all brought by Astelle when she got married.

The closet and dressing table in the dressing room were also Astelle’s.

‘It was moved to the Empress Palace and arranged in the same way.’

Why did you do this?

Astelle was confused.

Hannah brought two dresses from the wardrobe and two pairs of shoes.

“Lady Astelle, these are the only prom dresses.”

One was a light blue velvet, and the other was soft silvery silk.

Astelle didn’t prepare a lot of dresses because she thought she would be able to purchase new ones whenever she needed them even after becoming the Empress.

“I’m going to wear the silver one.”

Hannah carefully examined Astelle’s dress and shoes.

She touched the fabric thoroughly and put her finger deep inside the shoe to make sure there were no abnormalities.

She even hit the heel a few times on the floor.

“There seems to be no special abnormality.”

“Really?”

Seeing that she dragged me all the way here, I thought she would have prepared something.

Was she trying to hide something and accusing me of stealing it after I was here?

It’s such crude and childish way, but Marchioness Croychen seemed to like it.

To avoid such a trap, I even brought a knight, but it must have been in vain.

“Then I’ll change my dress.”

Astelle changed into her old dress with the help of Hannah.

“It fits perfectly.”

Fortunately, even after six years have passed, the dress she made at that time fit her body. The shoes were the same.

“Let’s go back now.”

***

Astelle went back down to the ballroom in her new dress and shoes.

Since she wasted a lot of time changing clothes, there wasn’t much time left until the ball started.

As she entered the ballroom, people’s eyes were on her again as before.

Apparently, Astelle arrived late, so everyone was chatting and waiting.

The Marchioness Croychen stood next to Florin with an annoyed look on her face.

I don’t think you’ve been waiting that long.

Kaizen sitting on the throne ordered, “The main character has arrived, so let’s get started.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a beautiful Minuet melody flowed calmly.

It was the beginning of the ball.

Since it was a ball held by the Reston family, of course, the family members had to do the first dance.

Fritz politely held out his hand.

Astelle took his hand.

“You changed your dress.”

“Yes, it got dirty.”

Fritz seemed to want to ask what had happened, but Astelle gave no further details.

Astelle took Fritz’s hand and went out into the center of the ballroom.

‘The first dance at the ball must be the Minuet.’

She was walking slowly on the smooth marble floor.

Suddenly her shoe that touched the floor tilted on its own.

“Ugh…!”

The moment she was about to fall, Fritz, who was standing right next to her, quickly grabbed her arm.

“Are you okay?”

Astelle leaned on his arm.

Everyone’s eyes were on her.

“Oh my……what’s going on?”

People who saw Astelle staggering murmured.

She hurriedly tried to head towards the center of the ballroom, but as soon as she took another step, she fell down helplessly.

Astelle clasped Fritz’s arms firmly with both hands, supporting her staggering body.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

She tried moving her shoes carefully.

As soon as the high heels of the shoes hit the floor, they leaned sideways helplessly.

‘The heels……’

The heels of the shoes were broken.

***

“What’s wrong?”

Fritz asked Astelle worriedly as he supported her.

Astelle answered as she moved the broken heel from side to side.

“My heels broke.”

“Your heel broke?”

“Both are broken.”

It didn’t break naturally, but the part connected to the sole fell out and seemed to be tattered.

I’m glad the thick skirt was dragged all the way to the floor.

Or I’d almost show everyone my tattered heels.

Because the skirt was long and heavy, it had the advantage of covering the feet, but there was also a disadvantage.

It’s hard to move because of the skirt, but now it’s much more difficult to keep my balance and control my body.

“Can you change your shoes as soon as possible?”

“Well, there are several other pairs of shoes in the Empress Palace, but I can’t say for sure if they are in good condition.”

Obviously, these shoes also had decent heels when they were first worn.

It seems that the part connected to the heels of the shoes has been loosened at some point.

After walking a few times, the heels broke.

It was such a clear malicious intent.

Astelle glanced at Florin and her mother by the window.

While Florin still had calm eyes, there was a triumphant smile on the Marchioness’ face.

‘Well, I don’t think I need to find the culprit.’

Maybe she was planning on making my heels break when I dance.

It was fortunate that Hannah had hit the heels a few times while examining the shoes.

That’s why the heels broke a little earlier.

Otherwise, I would have fallen to the floor while dancing.

That would have been a huge disgrace.

Astelle stood still, and Kaizen stood up from his seat with a worried look on his face.

“Why? Did you hurt your ankle?”

As he showed a kind interest in Astelle, the people’s gazes became focused again.

Astelle stood up with her heels raised and bowed her head to him.

“I’m fine, Your Majesty.”

Seeing that the Marchioness put so much effort into it, there seemed no way the other shoes in the Empress Palace would be okay.

Astelle spoke in a low voice only Fritz could hear,

“Minuet is too much.”

The Minuet was a dance as complex and elegant as a sweet melody.

Until the long song is over, you have to take turns moving and changing positions, and stepping carefully.

To dance in these tattered shoes, she’ll fall about ten times before she even starts.

‘What should I do?’

Well, there are old shoes I used to wear in the mansion, so I can just ask Hannah to bring them.

But they were not prom shoes.

Prom shoes were different from ordinary shoes.

This is because prom shoes are specially made to order so that you can step on a smooth floor without slipping.

Most of all, I couldn’t keep the people here waiting while I ordered Hannah to get the shoes.

‘I already started it late, I can’t delay it again.’

I’d rather just say that I’m not feeling well and go back.

Or should I wait for Hannah to bring my new shoes?

I was thinking about it for a while, and the noise around me gradually grew louder.

“What’s wrong with her? Is it because she can’t dance?”

“Since she lived in the countryside for a long time……did she forget the steps?”

For a moment, Fritz’s eyes lit up with anger.

Suddenly he beckoned to the servant on the other side.

He was a servant in charge of conducting the banquet.

“Young Duke, is there a problem?”

“I had a brief discussion with my sister.”

As the servant drew near, Fritz naturally lied,

“Actually, in our family, the first dance at the charity ball is not a Minuet.”

“Then what kind of dance……?”

Fritz turned to Kaizen and said politely,

“My late mother liked waltz, so the first dance of the charity ball was always waltz. If you allow, I’d like to do the waltz for the first dance this time as well, Your Majesty.”