The story that the emperor gave Eustaf Laban de Lazia access to the court, and that he would soon appear at the palace ball, quickly spread through the social world.
Those who went to the palace ball wondered when Eustaf would come out, and the empress also asked Ran when he would come out.
Thus, the day Eustaf decided to go to the ball was the perfect day for an outdoor ball.
As soon as word circulated that Eustaf would attend the ball in the palace garden, people were eager to get an invitation somehow.
The Empress fell short of her usual attendance.
She ordered a full order of new magic items on the top of Golden Rose and bought a large quantity of ice crystals.
The outdoor ballroom decorated like that was fantastic.
Shining balls of light floated around, lighting up the ballroom, and the sound of the orchestra's music softly resonated.
Foods, too, were preserved cold and hot by magic objects.
I didn't have to worry about the bugs flying like other ballrooms. On the installed floor, a four-stage giant chandelier floating in the air was shining brightly.
The chandelier said the light would drive out the bugs. Everyone looked at the lighting with admiration.
When the lights went down about a third, the bell rang out to announce the Duke of Lazia's position.
All eyes turned to the entrance in unison.
A large arch was erected at the entrance, and the arch was decorated with all kinds of flowers and fireflies-like lights.
There, stood Ran and Eustaf, like a perfect pair of decorative dolls. A small sigh flowed unknowingly, but the embarrassing silence that came from everyone's sighs was slightly felt.
Fortunately, however, orchestra music filled the silence, and the two slid into the ballroom.
"People are staring at us."
When Ran whispered, Eustaf answered casually.
"They must be curious."
"Not so."
Ran covered her mouth with a fan and sighed. Then the empress approached with an elegant smile.
"Sir Eustaf, Duchess of Lazia."
"I'm meeting the Empress."
Ran grabbed the hem of her skirt greeted and Eustaf with his hands on his chest and bowed his waist.
The empress laughed and held Ran's hand.
"We don't need such a greeting between us."
"It's an honor. Your Majesty, this is my brother, Eustaf Laban de Lazia."
The empress held out her hand to Eustaf with her eyes sparkling.
"I've heard a lot about you, Sir Eustaf."
The empress used the title "Sir" to him because Eustaf only had a knighthood
Eustaf lightly kissed the queen's hand and raised his head.
"It's an honor to meet you."
The queen's cheeks turned red. She grinned.
"Enjoy yourselves. There are many young ladies who want to dance with you today."
Eustaf looked down again and the empress told Ran.
"You should enjoy yourself. Olivia's here, too."
Hyuk.
Ran flinched without realizing it. But she answered quickly.
"Thank you for your consideration. Your Majesty"
The empress stood there for a while, weighing the joy and annoyance of introducing Eustaf to other nobles, and putting more weight on the annoyance.
"Then have a good time."
When the empress said so and stepped down, Ran sighed.
'There's Olivia?'
Suddenly, tension gathered and she looked at Eustaf. Eustaf, who dressed up for today, was new to her eyes.
To be honest, I can't even see it.
The smooth black hair glowed subtly under the light, and the blue eyes looked more clearly contrasted. On top of that, the wide shoulders, slender body, and stretched limbs were in perfect proportions as if they were illustrated.
He has great wealth in his next maneuver, and even single.
It was strange that people didn't stick. There were plenty of people who wanted to marry Eustaf somehow.
'What should I do? What if Olivia falls in love with Eus now?'
"Noonim?"
'Even the voice is good!'
Without responding to his call, he frowned slightly at Ran.
'You're handsome even when you squint!''
"Noonim."
He called her with more strength, so Ran came to her senses.
"Uh, huh?"
"Would you like to dance for a song?"
Ran grinned and raised her hand and whispered.
"I still can't dance."
"I know."
Eustaf said so and led her to the floor lightly. Several pairs of people were already seen dancing on the hypothetical floor made in the middle of an outdoor painting.
Eustaf, who skillfully entered between them, pulled her slightly.
'Wow-'
Ran swallowed her breath in surprise. It was different from the New Year's party. He has much bigger hands and he has a shoulder...
'What? Did Eustaf dance this well?''
No matter how much Doublet relies on a man's lead, I never imagined that there would be this much difference.
Somehow, his feet were light, so the steps didn't get tangled, and her body seemed to float whenever she turned her lightly.
"Eus"
"Yes."
"I guess you had a talent for Doublet."
Eustaf smirked at her muttering.
"That's a relief."
"No, you're a good dancer."
"Because you already know."
With a relaxed smile, Ran somehow felt lost and smeared her mouth.
"When did you start dancing so well?"
"Noonim dancing won't improve at all, so I have to train myself."
"...?"
When he saw her curious face, Eustaf smiled again. The ladies who chatted around the floor clenched their fans or blushed.
It was the moment when anyone could tell that the next Duke of Lazia was changing to a dazzling crown. Of course, there have been rumors since then. However, rumors are completely different from what they actually see.
'It's just rumors-you might actually look ugly.'
'But a murderer, isn't that too barbaric?'
The same story was going to disappear completely from today.
Furthermore, it was well known that the Duke of Lazia was attracting wealth.
Honor, money, power.
Even the next young and handsome duke.
It was a situation where fire couldn't help but come out of their eyes. Ran felt a little uneasy and said without realizing it.
"Eus"
"Yes."
"Wait for your destiny."
Eustaf blinked his blue eyes at the unexpected words. Ran's face got a little puffy.
"Well, one day, true love- oh, it's embarrassing to say it. Anyway, the future Duchess needs my permission."
You have to wait for Sina. Sinah!
It is said by Ran, stamping her feet inside. Lady's eyes were glistening every time she circled the floor.
'What if he falls for the wrong girl?'
Ran said because of such concern, but after doing it, I was really embarrassed.
When I peeked into Eustaf's eyes, his expression remained unchanged. Ran shrugged her shoulders and added, just because the blue eyes were staring at her.
"No, of course, it's up to Eus. But..."
As she muttered, he said after-lightly spitting out whether it was a breath or something.
"I'll take care of that."
"Of course you do..."
Looking down at Ran, who was wiggling again, Eustaf sighed again. It was a deeper sigh than before.
Ran woke up with the sigh and said.
"I don't mean to put pressure on Eus."
"I don't want to get married for a while. Like Noonim does."
"Yes, that's right. It's too early to think about getting married."
Ran replied with a big smile. Eustaf frowned and breathed out again, erasing Ran's laughter.
'Oh, I was like a sister-in-law who hated.'
Ran sighed as he became pathetic.
"Eus"
"Yes."
"Just forget everything I said."
But I'm just hoping that Sina and you will be happy.
"...."
Eustaf lightly pulled her waist close. Unexpectedly pulled more closer, Ran opened her eyes wide and looked up at him.
"If you look at me like that, they'll think we fought."
Ran quickly smiled at the words. At the end of the performance, Eustaf led her off the floor and asked.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Huh? No- Oh, Liz."
Marchioness Cyrus obviously know her, so Ran quickly opened up her fan and greeted her. Elise approached with a smile and said hello.
"I didn't expect to see you in a place like this, Lord Eustaf."
"Long time no see, Marchioness."
Elise grinned as he greeted her politely.
"What about the Marquis?"
When Ran asked, Elise tapped her mouth with a fan.
"He didn't come today because he was bothered. Seriously, it's been a long time since you made your debut."
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't take care of it." Eustaf murmured, Elise said, "Oh?" and laughed. "Is that so?"
"Yes."
Shortly after Eustaf answered, some acquaintances approached Marchioness Cyrus. They were unmarried girls or ladies with daughters about to get married.
The Marchioness Cyrus, who introduced him in the middle with her eyes sparkling, was a little behind.
'Wow, that's awesome.'
Ran threw her tongue out of her mind in her mind. You know, Eustaf's cool, but...
As she slowly stepped back, wondering if she would get away from the ladies who began to surround and push her away, Eustaf reached out his arm and grabbed her wrist.
"Where are you going?"
Ran mumbled in embarrassment at his question.
"No, I'm just going to get some drinks."
When Eustaf said, "I...", Ran shook her head as she could see the girls' eyes thinning in an instant.
"No, I can get it."
Eustaf slowly let go, and Ran quickly left the spot. It was a spectacle to take a step back and look at.
'Amazing.'
Even though he was surrounded by women, Eustaf could be seen at a glance. It was also because he was taller than women.
Ran poured a glass of lemonade that was freezing.
'It's delicious.'
The moderately sweet and sour lemonade was very cold and was suitable for the Passover night.
"The Duchess of Lazia."
I looked back, wondering who had spoken to me, and there was a really unexpected person.
"Your Highness?"
It was Label.
Label smirked and said.
"It's okay not to look so surprised."
"No, I-I never thought you'd come to a party like this."
"Of course, I do, but there's a rumor that the Duchess of Lazia is coming out. If I'm not going, I'm here to ask for an invitation."
Ran burst into laughter at the words of Label.
"I could have given you an invitation and just come."
"But I don't want to."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
When Ran made a serious face, Label said with a serious face to face.
"It's too much for you to rely on your boss' authority."
"In the private sector. But if you don't have that kind of fun, what kind of fun would you live for?"
Label was a little surprised at Lan's words and then smiled, "I see."
"So, all the green arches are in uniform? It was an interesting idea. It's common to offer uniforms to the Knights, but uniforms to all maids."
"Everyone liked it."
"Of course, they do. And you said it's a high-end cloth? I can't imagine how rich Lazia's wealth would have been."
"I thought you weren't interested."
In politics.
Ran laughed bitterly at her words.
"Because there shouldn't be."
At the words, the smile of making fun of Ran's face disappeared. When he saw her expression getting serious, Label laughed.
"You don't look like the skillful duke of Lazia in the rumor."
"That's the same with you. How can you see us talking so affectionately like this?"
The amber eyes of Label were warm in her words.
"Well, how does it look?"
The two were facing each other for a while, and a familiar voice intervened.
"I didn't know you two were on good terms."
Label and Ran looked back at each other almost at the same time.
"Brother."
"Greeting to the Crown Princess."
Ran grabbed the skirt and bent her knee deeply. Olivia grinned. She was dressed in a diamond decoration and an elegant silver evening dress after carefully laying down her white silver hair.
Purple eyes may have a smile on their face, but their heads may be spinning fast.
Label with a smile and said.
"I was invited to the Green Arch Garden."
"Oh? I've never received an invitation."
At this moment when Olivia opened her eyes round, she hesitated to answer, but Label answered first.
"I asked her to see the garden."
"I didn't know you were interested in it."
"When you look at the description in the book, you wonder what it looks like."
When Label replied, Olivia grinned, "I see."
"Sir Eustaf is popular."
"I was surprised, too."
"I have a brother who doesn't have that kind of blood, so Ran must be excited."
Ran smiled broadly, barely holding back her face from being hardened without realizing it. Her laughter caught Olivia off guard.
He once said, "The Duke of Lazia must be hard to get married."
I broke Label and burst into a big laugh at the words and said.
"I did."
Olivia also opened her fan and laughed as if she had heard a funny joke. In the eyes of others, he looked so friendly.
Label quickly reached out his hand to Ran and said before he finished laughing.
"Would you like to dance a song?"
Ran quickly said, not having her hand on it.
"I'm willing."
Moving away from Olivia, Label whispered.
"I'm afraid I'll get stabbed."
Ran wanted to say, "Me, too," but the two are still related. Swallowing back, she said her practical concerns instead.
"I'm not good at dancing."
Label smirked.
"Let's test it."