Rachel dressed in a fiery red beaded halter neck gown on the day of the victory ball. As it is intended to be a low-cut backless dress, it appears classy and conservative from the front, but when she turns around, you can see her flawless back skin.

She instructed Corine to simply let her hair fall naturally and secure it with a straightforward diamond clip on the left side of her head. To avoid attracting the nobles' attention, Rachel just wants to keep things straightforward. She merely wants to relax and enjoy with her friends this evening.

Simon and Anne will accompany Rachel. In Rachel's living room, the siblings are waiting. The siblings are in awe of Rachel's beauty as she approaches them from down the stairs. She is so stunning in her red gown, and Simon can't stop admiring her.

"Look at the goddess of the empire. We are so blessed to have you, Rachel. You are so beautiful! Both the outfit and your hair look amazing on you! Next time, I'll ask Corine to style my hair similarly."

This is giving Anne a girl crush moment, and she almost drops her jaw.

"Thank you, Anne. Oh, my you look incredibly gorgeous. I love the black dress; you look fabulous and beautiful. Simon, you are dashing in that blue tux. It's my lucky day to be accompanied by the two of you".

Simon can't even speak. When he heard Rachel praising the way he looked, he flushed. He is so overwhelmed with joy that he is speechless.

"Simon are you alright?" Rachel asks Simon.

"Ahem my apologies for not responding right away. Tonight, you are the most beautiful woman in the north". Simon blushed when he said this and usher the ladies to go first.

He was completely taken aback to see her back when Anne and Rachel turned around. Stunning crystal white skin and a tiny red mole near the upper waist.

"Anne? What is this? Her back is exposed and too low."

Simon appeared upset that the other noble men would notice this. He wants to monopolize Rachel.

"Brother please, her dress is more conservative than the other noble ladies. She is fine and looks breathtaking".

In response, Anne dragged Rachel quickly to the carriage before his brother changed his mind and demanded that Rachel change her attire.

Simon is helpless because the two entered the carriage quickly. Later, he'll have to drape his coat over her back. When they reach the duke of Astrid palace, he swears to carry out his promise.

***

Rachel is astounded by how big and magnificent the Astrid palace is. It boast grandeur with a deep rooted family history of power and wealth.

They were welcomed by the noble families when they arrived. As Simon prepared to sling his coat over Rachel's back, her friends began to drag her away.

"His Majesty Sebastian, Duke of Astrid, is coming in." His knight makes an announcement, at which point all the nobles bow.

A crowd of noble families welcomed Sebastian as he entered the room. The Duke gave a speech in which he thanked his subjects for their support and declared the ball to be open with his blessing.

Rachel is surrounded with her friends, and they were busy chatting with the current events in the upper society of the north. While her friends are busy gossiping, several noble men came to approach Rachel to invite her for a dance, but Anne saved the day by letting them know she had a foot injury and politely declining their invitations. How to keep Rachel safe from the wolves of the north is a procedure Anne is familiar with.

Rachel didn't eat her dinner, and given the amount of food on the table, she is unable to go there by herself to eat since it is improper for nobility to consume large amounts of food while attending a ball. Drinks are readily available, but she believed that the food served only as decoration.

'Look at those mouth-watering food, it's a pity I can't eat them here'.

She is starving and it appears that nobody is eating. She made the decision to go to the kitchen to eat quietly there. As she thought back to her former life when she would sneak out in the kitchen whenever she attended the after-party fashion shows.

Bianca asks Rachel where she's going as she's about to leave her group of friends.

"Do you intend to go to the kitchen, Rachel?

"........"

Bianca was aware of Rachel's passion for food. Every time they attended the noble parties over the past year, they would sneak away together.

"B, take a look at those foods; we can't eat them here. Come on, let's head to the kitchen! "

Rachel is so eager to leave the ball that she can't wait to do so. In addition to being hungry, she is also not in the mood to dance with these obnoxious noblemen or the other nobilities who want to steal her image.

'I believed that in this life I would be free to play.'

I just started a successful business in this world, but who knew I would become so well-known that my name would be associated with it.

Similar to my world on Earth, there are paparazzi in this world as well, but they are less aggressive because of the strict laws of the empire; they cannot damage the reputation of the royals, but nobility is not exempt.

Finally, they locate the kitchen, where they request the server to prepare them some of the food from the butler's pantry. The kitchen is divided into two areas: the main kitchen area, where the food is cooked, and the adjacent butler's pantry or scullery, where it is prepared.

When Rachel and Biance arrive, there are two servers in the scullery. They were shocked to see Lady Rachel and Viscount George's daughter in the scullery, requesting food and a table at which to eat.

Never once in their entire careers as servers did a nobility of high status sneak out and eat in the butler's pantry because they couldn't eat properly in the ball.

'Knowing that these two women are from a distinguished family and that the renowned goddess of the empire appears to be eager to eat her palate, it is a very interesting behavior. Fortunately, today is not going to be like any other day. The servers smiled as they prepared to serve the ladies.'

While everyone in the ball is occupied with their own activities, the two women in the scullery appeared to be enjoying their meals and beverages while laughing heartily. After discovering they were missing and realizing how voracious they are, Anne and Samantha decided to follow the two.

***

Sebastian quietly observes Rachel when she was with her group, and she seems to be bored in the party. Several noble men approached her, but her friend Anne rejected all of them. Some of the young noble women also approached her to take an image of her dress.

He has no idea how well-liked Rachel is among the noble families. In comparison to the nobility in the south, the upper noble families of the north are more reserved and critical. He can't figure how she got their attention.

Both male and female onlookers appeared to be drawn to her red dress. Although he was aware of Rachel's beauty in the South, there is something particularly alluring about her right now.

'Is it her eyes? The predators are paying attention because of the red mole on the back of her shoulder'.

He was perplexed as to why he was upset with himself. When Sebastian realizes that Rachel and her friends have left, he is about to go over to his knights to speak with them.

"Your Majesty, the lady, and her friends went to the scullery"

As soon as Sir Alfred learns the Duke is interested in the lady, he quickly informs his master. He's not certain yet, but it's similar to how he felt when Lady Ara was the focus of the Duke's attention when they were both students at the academy.

The Duke posed a question mark on his face, and Sir Ian sputtered out a quick response.

"They were eating the food, your Majesty. It appears that the women sneak outside to eat in the pantry."

"Hm..." After humming, the Duke sent his knights off to speak with his vassals.

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*photo used not mine. Taken from pinterest, all credits and rights to the original owner.