Chapter 67 - Blinded By Beauty (1) (1/2)

The royal ball was held at Freesia Palace, which boasted the largest ballroom on the imperial grounds. Elena and Mirabelle, guided by the servant, passed a labyrinthine of splendid rooms, and already they could hear the muffled revelry of the party. Another door guard was posted at the entrance to the ballroom, and as he spotted Elena his eyes grew wide. The servant addressed him first.

“These are the two ladies of House Blaise.”

The guard was unable to take his eyes off Elena as he pulled open the door.

Kiiiig–

The doors of the ballroom, as grand as the palace gates themselves, slowly swung open to reveal the shining hall. Elena and Mirabelle glided inside, capturing the eyes of the nobles and causing them to whisper among themselves. It was the same for both men and women. Those who did not notice Elena at first were taken aback when she passed them, and the buzz grew louder.

“Who is that young lady?”

“Oh, see that necklace. It’s a red diamond!”

“Where was that dress made?”

Just as at the outside of the palace, Elena’s shining appearance drew in the excitement of the onlookers. Perhaps it was only natural. Although Elena’s dress was simple, one could not help but admire the quality of the work. From her dress to the jewelry gracing her body, everything was finely curated to highlight her beauty. While other women had splendidly attired themselves in the finest clothes for the ball, it was Elena and Mirabelle who stood out in bold relief amongst them all.

The sisters’ appearance quickly sent the ballroom fluttering with chatter. The sudden influx of attention pressed in from all sides, embarrassing Elena as she headed to the corner-most part of the room.

‘…I dressed carefully, so what’s wrong with me?’

She wondered if there was something on her face, but she trusted that Mirabelle would have told her first. She had never received so much attention in her life.

Elena settled at the edge of the ballroom, ignoring the myriad of eyes staring at her and picked up a glass of wine on a table. It was only mildly alcoholic, so she did not have to worry too much and primly took a few sips. Suddenly, she saw Mirabelle’s smiling face next to her.

“Is the ball as you expected?”

Mirabelle had been looking forward to the royal ball and seeing Carlisle all this time.

“Well, I don’t know yet, but I love that everyone’s looking at you. For some reason it makes me proud of myself!”

Mirabelle beamed in enthusiasm, and Elena smiled at how cute her sister was. If Elena was a beautiful rose, Mirabelle was delicate baby’s breath flowers. Though the two were somewhat similar, Elena immediately caught the eye, while Mirabelle had a more subtle grace. But roses weren’t the only thing that were beautiful. Mirabelle was still young, but when she matured she would surely become a very beautiful lady as well.

Elena looked tenderly at her sister.

“It’s because of you. Thank you for making me look beautiful.”

“Hehe, you might really be the Madonna of the ball.”

“I’m not really expecting it.”

“Tch, you don’t think so?”

While the two were pleasantly absorbed in their conversation, a familiar woman approached them.

“Oh, Lady Blaise. You look so radiant that I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Elena’s eyes turned to the woman approaching. It was Marissa Holland, the leading figure of southern society and the wife of the late Marquis Holland. It had been a long time since she saw her last at the tea party. Elena granted Marissa with a welcoming look.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Madame. “

“I also hastened to attend the royal ball. Many people came from the south as well.”

Elena looked around, and indeed she saw some familiar faces. When their eyes met, Elena gave a slight bow to the other noble children, who also bowed their heads in recturn. Marissa turned to Mirabelle.

“And this young lady has become more beautiful the last time I saw her. I felt it then, but I did not realize how truly beautiful the Blaises were. Let me know if you have any secrets to share.”