Chapter 72
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Chapter 72
"You're truly beautiful, my daughter...."
But Chesa was equally startled.
It was the first time she had seen the men of House Basilian properly dressed in formal ballroom attire.
These already strikingly handsome men, now impeccably dressed, were absolutely dazzling to behold.
The formal wear combined Ishuel's commissioned design with Miya's refined taste and craftsmanship.
Kieran in an elegant yet refined ensemble, Belzeon in a neat design with subtle embellishments, Karha in a somewhat bold color choice, and the most resplendent of all—Ishuel.
Each displayed their own distinct character, yet the cohesive color palette and design gave them all a unified presence as members of House Basilian.
'Seeing them all together, they're even more handsome.'
Even Chesa, whose standards for appearance were exceptionally high, couldn't help but marvel at their magnificent appearance.
At this point, Chesa couldn't help but grow curious about her own reflection.
"Would you like to see yourself in the mirror, Chesa?"
Kieran approached with keen perception and lifted Chesa into his arms.
The moment he stood beside her in front of the mirror.
Chesa's eyes widened involuntarily, and her lips parted in astonishment.
The infant in a fluffy white dress laden with frills, crowned with a lace bonnet adorned with a black ribbon, was so adorable and beautiful that she couldn't help but gasp.
Kieran chuckled softly and tilted his head toward Chesa.
"Chesa looks cute too, doesn't she?"
Chesa nodded her head enthusiastically.
The boys gathered around, clustering around Chesa.
Gazing at all the members of House Basilian reflected in the mirror, she felt an unbidden sense of pride swell within her.
'These people are my family!'
Chesa lifted her chin with a satisfied air.
And she smiled with sinister intent.
This was more than enough.
At tonight's ball.
Chesa intended to identify exactly who had stolen Hata's hat—the one that should have belonged to House Basilian.
Of course, she had no intention of stopping at mere identification; there would be further action to follow.
After all, both kindness and enmity were meant to be remembered long and well.
Grinding her mental blade with malicious intent, Chesa thought to herself.
'First, let me get a good look at their faces.'
***
The Duchess Ibroyel's galas were renowned throughout High Society.
Each event offered distinctive spectacles that captivated the attendees.
In particular, the Ibroyel Duke Family was celebrated for their mastery of magic, and the mages sponsored by the Duchess frequently dazzled guests with breathtaking illusions woven from arcane arts.
The attending nobles were brimming with anticipation for this gathering as well.
Beyond that, the Duchess had invited the Imperial Capital's most celebrated opera singer to perform.
She had contracted entire vineyards of the precious Saseidos Mountains wine to be brought in.
Rumors circulated that the Duchess's residence had been lavishly adorned with staggering quantities of fresh flowers.
And every rumor was true.
"Ha ha!"
Selea burst into hearty laughter.
Her tall frame was accentuated by a well-tailored pantsuit, and she surveyed the Duchess's residence she had orchestrated with a satisfied gaze.
The theme of this gala was the Fairy Forest.
To commemorate the "Fairy Queen's Crown," a sacred treasure to be presented at the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony, the gala was designed around the concept of a forest where fairies dwell.
Since it represented the realm of fairies—those fantastical beings—the Duchess's residence had been transformed into an enchanted forest.
Hundreds of lanterns adorned with flowers and foliage sparkled in the night sky like scattered stars throughout the Garden, while the entrance to the Mansion was enshrouded in illusory magic to resemble a gaping hollow within an ancient tree.
The Ballroom itself was decorated with an array of flowers and plants.
The lanterns on the walls, draped with cascading flowering vines, were Selea's masterpiece.
Even the Servants attending the guests wore ethereal, flowing garments befitting the theme, giving them a fairy-like appearance.
Adorned with floral decorations, the interior of the Ballroom was suffused with the fresh, verdant fragrance of a true forest.
"This gala is truly magnificent, Your Grace!"
"It's so moving. I never thought I would witness such a gathering in my lifetime..."
Those gathered around Selea offered their praises in unison.
Selea accepted their admiration without the slightest hint of pride, as though it were merely her due.
How much wealth had she poured into this gala?
Such accolades were naturally deserved.
This was a gathering that transcended perfection itself.
Yet it remained incomplete.
The most spectacular attraction Selea had prepared had not yet arrived.
'When will they come?'
It was House Basilian.
That noble family, sequestered in the Eastern Black Forest, had never ventured into society until now.
News of their debut in High Society at the Ibroyel Duke Family's gala had set the Capital's social circles ablaze.
Part of this fervor stemmed from the recent string of intriguing scandals involving House Basilian.
But more than anything, it was Count Basilian's legendary beauty—glimpsed briefly when he visited the Capital a decade ago—that still resonated as myth throughout High Society.
Having long been celebrated for his striking appearance, everyone wished to see Count Basilian with their own eyes, driven by curiosity to verify the reality against the legend.
It had become known that Count Basilian would bring not only his sons but also his newly adopted daughter to the gala.
For anyone with interest in High Society, this was an event that could not be missed.
The Ibroyel Duke Family's galas were already extraordinarily popular.
But this time, the fervor had grown so intense it threatened to tear the heavens asunder.
Everyone was desperate to receive an invitation.
For a time, the Ibroyel Duke Family was inundated with bribes requesting invitations to the ball, and even the Imperial Court had subtly expressed its intention to attend.
Thus, this year's most spectacular gala was born.
It was precisely what Kieran had desired.
His scheme was to seize this singular opportunity to capture the attention of the Capital's nobility, establish his mark among them, and then systematically expand his influence.
He had always been a man of considerable acumen.
Once given that initial push, he would surge forward like a ship catching favorable winds.
'Eventually, he'll probably surpass me as well.'
Selea smiled, recalling the disciple who had always outpaced his master.
Just then, those beside her began whispering about House Basilian.
"Speaking of which, House Basilian hasn't arrived yet, have they?"
"No, they haven't. I wonder what's keeping them..."
"Ah, I heard our family commissioned clothing from the same Dressmaking Establishment. I caught a glimpse of them when I went to collect our garments, and well..."
The man shrugged as he spoke.
"They'll likely manage to dress appropriately, at least."
Dress appropriately—a backhanded compliment.
It was a veiled insult and a subtle challenge.
Selea laughed quietly to herself.
'As if they'd show up looking pedestrian.'
That household's third son was far too fond of adorning himself for that.
The silver-haired boy who had been diligently frequenting the Ibroyel Duke Family's residence to study magic came to mind.
He arrived with a sharp expression, yet listened to lessons more intently than anyone else, absorbing knowledge with voracious hunger.
With talent bolstered by effort, his rate of improvement was terrifyingly swift.
In mere days, he had mastered all the fundamental spells.
Originally, he was the boy who had remained indifferent even when Selea pleaded with him from beside him to learn magic.
When she asked about this sudden change of heart, Ishuel answered with characteristic pride.
"If I'm to become a Basilian, I can't very well fail to protect even one younger sibling, can I?"
Both Kieran and Ishuel seemed to have grown quite fond of their adopted sister.
This troubled Selea.
It seemed as though the Basilian family's characteristic damp obsession was beginning to creep toward the infant child.
They themselves seemed unaware, but the men of House Basilian would dig into whatever captured their interest with manic fervor.
Kieran was obsessed with the deceased Countess Basilian.
Belzeon was consumed by the honor and continuation of House Basilian.
Karha was mad for swordsmanship, and Ishuel was obsessed with clothing and appearance.
Yet now their attention had begun to turn toward the adopted child.
One could see from Kieran how tiresome and vexing it was when a Basilian became fixated on a person.
That would be truly problematic.
Because...
'I'm the one who's supposed to raise her as an Archmage!'
Selea too harbored profound interest in the Youngest Daughter of House Basilian.
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