69

The Noble Asset Registration Act passed its trial period to thunderous support and was formally enacted as law. With the sudden influx of work to process, officials of the Hidden Department and mages of the Magic Tower were busier than ever.

“Secretary Cornelia, aren’t you leaving for the day?”

Diplomat Simon looked at me with wide eyes as if surprised. I let out a small laugh.

“There’s a lot to do. I have to finish everything before I go.”

I found myself glancing at the Supreme Justice, who silently worked through papers. Mentioning leaving seemed to have made him aware.

“It’s reassuring to have a secretary like you.”

“You’re flattering me. Let’s finish quickly and end this tiresome overtime!”

“Agreed!”

Everyone steeled themselves and returned to work. Since the project had succeeded, even overtime felt bearable. Lukan, who had stepped out briefly, opened the door and came in.

“We’re holding a banquet to celebrate the enactment of the Noble Asset Registration Act!”

At that, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked confused. A ball without a known organizing department? All eyes turned to the Supreme Justice, who spoke matter-of-factly.

“His Majesty said he wanted to hold one, and it seems he has decided to go ahead.”

He seemed largely uninterested. At that moment I remembered the passage Pinea had shown me in ‘Gossip Young Lady’ saying that the Duke rarely appears in society.

‘That’s why the illustration was only a silhouette.’

As for me, I was very curious. A ball in this world—experiencing one firsthand must be different from reading about it in a novel. Hearing it was scheduled in two weeks, I felt a small thrill, uncharacteristic for an office worker.

It was a holiday after a long time. A day with no work and no side jobs.

Marcella went to the academy to practice swordsmanship, and Julie and Rio went out to visit friends.

“It’s nice and quiet.”

As if that phrase were a signal, no sooner had I finished speaking than someone started pounding on the door.

“Coco, it’s Pinea. Open the door!”

“She should rest on weekends, but she came over to hang out again.”

I grumbled about my interrupted rest and opened the door to find people I hadn’t seen before barging in carrying armfuls of things.

“Ugh!”

Startled, I took a step back and almost fell. Behind Pinea I saw a familiar face.

“Hello, Coco.”

“Hello, Cornelia.”

It was Kiara and designer Laurent.

“Perfect timing—no one else is here. We can do it in the parlor.”

Having visited several times, she gave orders to the servants as if it were her own home. I snapped out of my daze and voiced the grievance of a worker whose holiday had been interrupted.

“My lady, what are you doing here without contacting me?”

“This isn’t the time to be relaxing.”

“Huh?”

“There are only two weeks left until the ball!”

“And so… ?”

“You have to get a dress and practice dancing in that time. Ah, I should’ve mastered you before you went to the royal court—it’s my fault.”

“My lady, two weeks should be enough.”

“Is that so? Pinea, then let’s do our best. Start quickly.”

Laurent, who had been smoothing dozens of dresses hung on a rack, approached with a professional smile and a measuring tape.

“This is your first ball dress, isn’t it? Excuse me just a moment.”

I first tried to calm the two people displaying this frantic drive.

“Wait! Wait! Hold on.”

“Coco, we really don’t have time. Choosing a dress alone takes a long time.”

“That’s why—just a moment. I heard about it and have been preparing too!”

Kiara seemed to have forgotten that I had prepared the Marquess’s residence launch party, checking off the list item by item. I’m not someone who plays without a plan—that tendency was a habit I developed from turbulent office life.

“Look here.”

I showed a simply drawn dress design and explained it point by point.

“A pastel blue, off-the-shoulder dress with three-dimensional floral embroidery. The length will flare to my ankles for a lively feel, and my hair will be cut short with a slight, natural wave.”

At my description, the three of them gradually lost their words.

“…Well done.”

“I think it will suit you well, Coco.”

“It’s a new design, but it perfectly fits Cornelia’s age and is the right level of innovation to be acceptable.”

Kiara, looking for something to ask, blurted out a question.

“So, where will you have the dress made?”

“Ah, that would be at a ready-made dress shop I noticed around town…”

“Nooooo!!!”

My ears felt like they were being split. Kiara reacted as if I had said something absurd.

“You’re attending a royal ball and you’re going to have a shop with no experience and unknown materials make your dress? Laurent!”

“Yes, My lady.”

“Have the dress made to this design. You can do it, right?”

“Of course! I was disappointed thinking another shop would make it, but I’ll execute it perfectly. Don’t worry.”

“Good. Coco, what about shoes and accessories?”

“I’m about to choose those now…”

Only then did enthusiasm return to Kiara and Pinea’s faces.

“I brought them, so choose from these. I only brought my favorites. Ready to start?”

“My lady, I’m ready!”

Thus I was held down and tormented for a long time choosing jewelry and shoes.

“No, what will people say if a mere Chancellery staff member goes wearing such expensive things? Think about what Laurent the designer’s fee alone would imply… People will misunderstand.”

Kiara snorted.

“I told you again and again to show who’s backing you.”

“You said you’d be friends with me.”

I pointed out the contradiction, but it was pointless.

“I’ll be your backer until your rank equals mine. What’s difficult about that? If anyone causes trouble, just say, ‘If you mess with her, Kiara, the Marquess’s young lady, won’t let it pass.’”

“Haha…”

Saying that felt like it would cause a huge problem, so I absolutely wouldn’t. Pinea, who had sorted the chosen accessories and shoes separately after some thought, asked.

“Have you decided on a partner for the ball?”

Kiara tilted her chin in a mother-in-law-like expression that left no room for displeasure, as if urging me to speak.

“I could go alone… but I won’t, right? A colleague from the same department applied to be my partner, but my brother absolutely refused, so it was dismissed. I’ll probably go with my brother.”

“Where on earth is Aidan? He’s nowhere to be used.”

I felt a little ashamed about that part too.

“Aidan exhausted too much mana on the certification magic for the Noble Asset Registration Act… He’s convalescing at the Magic Tower.”

But she was merciless even to her own blood sibling.

“Tsk, he should’ve taken care of his stamina. Then we’ll have your brother’s formal wear made too. I’ll tell Laurent so you can go get it tailored. He’ll take care of it.”

All the same, I was touched at how much they fussed over me. Who fusses over a former subordinate like this?

“Thank you, My lady. I’ll repay you if it goes well.”

“Go and proudly show who you are. That’s how you repay me.”

She put her hands on her hips and lifted her chin haughtily. Finding it cute, I copied her pose and Pinea and Kiara giggled.

In the remaining time we trained hard under the dance instructor Kiara had sent. My partner Marcella was no exception. Luckily we weren’t hopeless at dancing, so by the day of the ball we managed to bring our skill up to a level that wouldn’t become the subject of gossip.

“A royal ball.”

Marcella, dressed in the tailored formal wear Laurent made, said nervously. Julie and Rio beside him were making a fuss about how cool he looked. With his build and recent sword training, he was honestly somewhat impressive.

“We’re not the main characters anyway, so think of it as casually going to watch.”

“Alright then. Julie, keep an eye on your brother.”

Julie and Rio nodded without protest.

“You two look like a princess and prince today! You have to go find your destined lovers!”

“What?”

“D-destined lover?”

What on earth do they learn at the academy? It’s like the girls are reading romance novels. I considered telling them about the gap between reality and fantasy, but decided to preserve their innocence.

“Fine, this brother will go find his destiny.”

There was someone who raised it a notch further.

Knock knock.

“Sounds like the carriage has arrived.”

I put on my earrings last and opened the door. It wasn’t a carriage but a runner. He handed me a small note and disappeared.

‘What is this.’

Feeling suspicious, I immediately opened the note.

[Cornelia, I will send you a partner who suits your performance. See you at the banquet hall.]

“What does this mean?”

At that moment, a carriage pulled into the yard. But it was clearly not the carriage I had reserved.

‘That emblem is…’

The carriage door opened and a long leg descended, hitting the ground heavily.

“…!”

A man who reminded me of an enraged wolf approached with a slow, composed gait. He extended a hand clad in a pure white glove toward me.

“Cornelia, will you grant me the honor of being your partner today?”

I involuntarily covered my mouth with my hand.