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05.

‌‌
"Do not exit the carriage, Advisor."
One of the knights ‌‌Cassian Artez had assigned spoke in a low voice from outside the carriage.
Of course, I had no intention of leaving anyway.
After all, these were knights assigned by Cassian Artez himself, and Imperial knights would hardly lose to ordinary thugs.
'Instead, I should focus on ensnaring the Ceremony Director.'
How dare he underestimate me and orchestrate this absurdity? I'll make excellent use of this ‌‌‌gift, Ceremony Director.
Your years of experience truly shine ‌‌‌through!
"Please apprehend them as safely as possible."
With those instructions delivered through the carriage door to the knights,
I pulled out
the work documents I always carried with me.
'I should get some overtime done.'
If I accomplish ‌‌‌something while they're subduing those fools, I can demand additional ‌‌‌compensation from Cassian Artez without a ‌‌‌shred of guilt.
"Ugh—! Hack!"
Outside, the pathetic kidnappers' voices echoed as they were subdued ‌‌‌by the Imperial guards,
while the soft scratching sound of my ‌pen
drowned out their cries from within the carriage.

*

Thanks to the kidnapping attempt,
it took merely a day for the Ceremony Director's position to crumble once his accumulated crimes were added to the charges.
As for the Ceremony Director himself,

'This is preposterous! To lose such a prestigious position so carelessly!!'

I vented my groundless grievances, but Cassian Artez paid them no mind whatsoever.
Beyond that, through the seized documents, members of the Ceremony Office were dismissed en masse.
As a result, the office was chaotic with protests for an entire week, though we'd lodged complaints more than once ‌‌or twice before.
Both Cassian and I simply ignored what needed ignoring and endured that tempestuous week.
And so, before I knew it, it was the last day of the year.
I was scheduled to be chained to my desk until six o'clock today as well.
'But I'm still happy...!'
If I could just push through today, four glorious days of rest awaited me, including the weekend.
After clocking out, I planned ‌‌to sprawl about my home for all four days without stepping outside.
On Saturday, I'd stop by the bookstore and stock up on novels to devour throughout the weekend, and I'd also buy various kinds of pie—those I'd missed eating—and consume them in place of proper meals.
I'd silence my alarm, draw the thickest curtains, and indulge in a gloriously long sleep-in.
The mere thought of it filled me with such joy that I hurried through the remaining documents.
My lips tingled with happiness.
But then.
"Roselita."
An ominous voice reached my ears.

*
‌‌
"Good heavens...."
How on earth had I ended up like this?
As I glanced down at myself below the shoulders, a wry chuckle escaped me.
How unfamiliar and awkward this formal evening gown felt.
Was this the karmic consequence of always choosing comfortable work clothes?
Besides, wearing something beautiful to ‌‌‌‌the office only made me feel melancholy.
For ‌‌‌‌that reason, I felt somewhat sad now.
The fact that I ‌‌‌had to work overtime while dressed in a gown from a renowned atelier in the Capital City.
The dress, with its soft lavender silk and delicate lace adorning the shoulders and neckline without excess, was ‌truly exquisite.
The current time: ‌7:28 PM.
Just two hours ago, I had ‌‌‌‌been blissfully anticipating clocking out and lounging about, yet I had become a slave to overtime pay once more.
Because of Cassian Artez.

'Attend the ‌‌‌Imperial Ball.'

He had blurted out this command without warning.
And moreover.

'Of course, ‌your compensation won't ‌‌‌be double—it'll be triple.'

He'd set conditions I absolutely couldn't refuse.
That smug, infuriating expression on his face!
I'd truly wanted ‌‌to see his face contort when I said no, I won't go....
But then....

'I'll prepare the gown myself. Everything you wear tonight belongs to you.'

My vexing boss was genuinely gifted at extracting affirmative answers from me.
Well.... ‌‌‌‌
'Truth be told, it wasn't purely about the money.'
The moment Cassian Artez spoke, I realized I could finally escape the specter of the debutante ball. ‌
While uncommon, it was also an occasion where noble heirs who'd missed that year's debutante ball could make their debut instead.
Of course.
'Only high-ranking noble heirs eligible to attend the year-end Imperial ball qualified for ‌‍such an opportunity.'
Regardless of the sarcasm, I could at least vanquish one phantom of the debutante ‌‌‌‌ball.
It was better to shed only the title of Marquis's daughter.
I smoothed the folds of my dress and rose from my seat.
7:30 p.m. The time Cassian Artez said he would arrive.
I couldn't keep my superior waiting.
With that thought, the moment I opened ‌‌the door, Cassian Artez, already standing nearby, ‌‌let out a low chuckle.
"Roselita, you're ‌‌truly punctual. Usually people make me wait in situations like this."
His words left me bewildered.
Why had he arrived early without even knocking?

*

"It suits ‌‌you well."
Cassian Artez muttered the ‌‌‌words as we headed toward the Grand Hall.
"Your Highness looks magnificent today as well."
I offered the compliment in return, yet for some reason, he laughed softly again.
Was it work stress? He seemed unusually delighted today.
"It's not mere courtesy—you truly ‌‌‌‌do suit it, Rose."
...I felt oddly wronged.
My own compliment hadn't been empty flattery either.
Cassian Artez, ‌‌regardless of his true nature, possessed an appearance that was genuinely exceptional. ‌‌
And now he wore the ceremonial uniform properly.
The very uniform he had dismissed countless times as lacking practicality.
In stark contrast to his criticism, the garment's aesthetic excellence only served ‌‌to ‌‌‌‌accentuate his ‌‌already formidable appearance, rendering him even more striking.
Unable to shake my bewilderment, I watched as he raised his arm, whether aware of my ‌‌expression or not.
"Extended duty it is, then."
"Yes, but is it truly sufficient to attend ‌‌merely as your partner?"
I posed the question again, one I ‌‌had asked him a couple of hours prior.
Since becoming his aide, he had rarely attended social gatherings.
When absolutely necessary, he would make only a brief appearance alone.
It was inconceivable that Cassian Artez would spend his time without purpose.
Yet.
"Yes. It's rare for you to ask the same question twice."
The same answer came back as it had at ‌‌dinner.
There was no helping it.
"Presenting His Highness Prince Cassian Artez and Miss Roselita Salice!"
I would ‌‌‌‌‌simply have to gather the necessary information for future duties ‌‌on my own.
With a mixture of embarrassment and resignation, I stepped into the Grand Hall alongside Cassian.

* ‌‌

The grand ball I witnessed for the first time was resplendent and beautiful.
And yet....
The stares felt like daggers.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Roselita Salice."
"Roselita? Does she even have the standing to attend such an event? Aren't those below the rank of count supposed to spend year-end in the warmth of their homes?"
"It seems she shamelessly pestered the First ‌‌Prince."
"Who wouldn't say so? To think she'd dare ‌‌‌‌‌make her debut at the Imperial year-end ball. And with the First Prince, no less!"
I had to steel my expression to keep from laughing bitterly.
Instead.
"Your Highness, would you mind looking over there for just a moment?"
"...Why would I?" ‌‌
"I thought your image might improve if you acknowledged those who admire you."
At my words, Cassian Artez chuckled softly and turned to gaze in that direction.
The voices of the group ‌‌‌‌that had been speaking too loudly suddenly fell silent.
"You truly are efficient."
"I learned well from Your Highness."
At my response, Cassian Artez merely smiled quietly before skillfully escorting me toward the Emperor and his consort.
The reason this year-end Imperial ball could serve as a debutante ball ‌‌‌was precisely because the Emperor and his consort always attended.
It was customary for young nobles entering society—men presenting themselves to the Emperor, women to the Empress or an equivalent Imperial lady.
So if I could pay my respects to the First Empress today, who held the Empress's position, ‌‌‌I would finally be freed from the debutante masses.
"You've come, Cassian. It feels like ‌‌‌‌an eternity since I've seen you at an occasion like this."
"I've been occupied with the duties Your Majesty entrusted to me."
"Are you lodging a complaint that I've burdened you with too much work?"
The Emperor's eyebrows twitched, displeased with Cassian Artez's response.
"Surely not, Your Majesty. Unlike my elder brother, my abilities are rather unremarkable."
As he spoke, Cassian Artez met the First Empress's gaze with a smile.
The First Empress's expression wavered slightly.
She was hardly the sort to miss that his words meant 'unlike the First Prince who idles about all day, I'm drowning in work.'
Especially when the First ‌‌‌Prince had merely greeted the Emperor upon arrival before surrounding himself with ‌‌‌‌noble ladies and loitering about.
Fearing the backlash might touch her precious son, the First Empress hastily opened her mouth.
"Your Majesty, surely we shouldn't keep the lady standing like this. Cassian, you as well. If this conversation continues much longer, won't your partner feel uncomfortable?"
A subtle air of disapproval crossed the First Empress's face, though it was quickly masked by a smile.
Part of me was even slightly grateful that Cassian Artez had deliberately provoked the Emperor with those words.
"Your Imperial Majesty, might I have permission to present myself? I am Roselita Salice of the Salice Marquis Household, His Highness's ‌aide."
My shameless superior, having turned things around, boldly presented me to ‌‌the Emperor instead of the First Empress, who had been preparing to receive my ‌‌‌‌greeting!
A crack formed in the First Empress's graceful, subtle, dignified smile.
So this was his aim!
The Male Lead had brazenly used me as a ‌‌‌pretext to outmaneuver the First Empress.

---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy ‌the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------