“Rose?”

“Yes. I’m going to plant red roses for Ancia.”

Blake smiled broadly.

In the language of flowers, red roses signified ‘love’. It was also the flower that was given to propose marriage.

Did he really want to give me a red rose?

***

The dress arrived before the ball. It was made by three of the most prominent designers in the Empire. They had put their heart and soul into crafting each dress.

All three designers were devoted to this dress, so they hadn’t accepted any other reservations.

As expected of the Empire’s best designers, all three dresses were exquisite.

The first one was a cute and lovely soft pink dress. It was very fitting for a 10-year-old girl. The next one was an achromatic dress that aimed to maximize my beauty by using high-end fabrics and jewellery. The last one was a classic dress that used traditional designs in a fresh yet elegant way.

The one that suited me the most was the pink dress, but the one I liked the most was the achromatic dress. But in the end, I chose the dress with the traditional design.

The Emperor had not been close to another woman since the Empress passed away. He had always attended every ball by himself since.

When rumours spread that he’d attend with me, some aristocrats protested, but there was nothing they could do about it.

I didn’t want to look cute or beautiful. Using this ball, I wanted to imprint the image of a dignified Crown Princess in everyone’s mind. With such an image, I’d warn everyone not to overlook or look down on Blake’s position.

I was a supporting character that would be gone soon, but I still wanted to do my best to protect him.

***

On the day of the long-awaited ball, I got up early in the morning. As soon as I got up, Blake also rubbed his eyes and got up.

“Ancia…”

“Did I wake you up?”

“No. I was already awake. Will you be going now?”

“Yes, Your Highness, I’ll be right back.”

Countess Chardin had a close relationship with the late Empress. She visited the Crown Prince’s Palace without hesitation to teach me how to dance.

But not everyone was like Countess Chardin. Most people were reluctant to enter the Palace of the Crown Prince, so I had to get ready at the Palace of Sephia, which was originally the Crown Princess’s Palace.

“Good luck.”

Blake smiled broadly and waved. These days, Blake always smiled like that. I was the one who received gifts from the Emperor, was taught etiquette, and was going to attend the ball, but he didn’t show any signs of envy, let alone anger.

Of course, I shared all the gifts with Blake except for things like dresses and shoes that he couldn’t use. I thought the Emperor sent me many gifts for that reason.

But even so, it would be different when he received the gift himself.

I stared at Blake’s crimson eyes quietly.

“Your Highness, I think the gifts the Emperor gave me are actually for you.”

“No way,…”

Blake lowered his head. He always listened to me but he’d deflect the moment I brought up the topic of his father. Blake didn’t hate his father, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be hurt. I knew the wound was inscribed deep in his heart, so I don’t intend to force them to reconcile. But today, I wanted to talk about this.

“Your Majesty loves you. That’s why he treats me so well.”

“No.”

But Blake shook his head firmly.

“His Majesty gave you presents not because you’re my wife, but because you are Ancia.”

“Your Highness…”

“I’m truly happy for you Ancia.”

“….”

Blake’s eyes glistened innocently.

I realized that Blake was not disappointed in the first place. It wasn’t that he was trying to hide his disappointment but he was purely happy that I had received so many gifts.

“Ancia, have a great time.”

Blake laughed again as if my joy was his own.

***

I arrived at Sephia Palace. Then, more than ten women began to surround me and began to prepare me for the ball.

All of the ladies were said to be the best in their fields.

After drawing up a bath with beautiful petals for me, they applied many things on my face, and carefully trimmed my nails and toenails.

It took a lot of time to get my hair done.

It was delightful yet tiring to be taken care of. The ball hadn’t even started yet, but I already felt tired.

“Your Highness, we’re done.”

I thought it was a bit too much to start dressing up at dawn, but I would have been in trouble if I started later.

I looked in the mirror. A girl with a timeless beauty was reflected back at me. Very gorgeous and elegant.

Waking up at dawn was really worth it.

“You guys have done a good job. It must’ve been tiring to prepare all of this since dawn.”

“No, it was our honour to serve Your Highness.”

“Your Highness looks so beautiful.”

“Your Highness will definitely be the main character of today’s ball.”

The women all gave many praises. However, despite the praises that kept pouring in, I felt a sense of emptiness.

What would Blake say if he was here? He would’ve been so surprised to see my transformation.

I was busy reviewing the etiquette and waltz steps, but my mind was filled with Blake’s image.

When I finished preparing and went down to the first floor, I saw Tenstheon. He smiled softly at me.

“You look very pretty.”

“Father is also very dashing today.”

Tenstheon wore traditionally styled robes to suit my dress. His overwhelming aura grew even stronger even though he had only changed his clothes.

“Really?”

“Yes, perfect! Father is perfect!”

He was perfect from the very top to bottom. He owned a perfect visage with an overwhelming aura.

The Emperor smiled lightly at my words and took my hand.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Father.”

***

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived! Her Highness the Crown Princess has arrived!”

I clasped the Emperor’s hand as I went into the ballroom. All of the ball participants bowed their heads.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, the great light of the Empire. Your Highness the Crown Princess, the blessing of the Empire.”

My gaze met with Richard’s among the countless people. There was no particular reason for it. It was just that he raised his head first.

I glared in annoyance when our eyes met for a moment. Richard looked at me and raised his lips. What was wrong with him? He had already been rejected, but he still wouldn’t stop. I was annoyed but I got goosebumps for some reason.

I quickly looked at Tenstheon. To be the main character, he should radiate at least this much aura. Or be as cute as Blake!

I couldn’t understand why the author had chosen Richard as the male lead.

“What’s wrong?”

Tenstheon asked me as if he had felt my gaze. I raised my head and whispered to him as he lowered his body.

“Father is the coolest here.”

“Haha. Silly girl.”

Tenstheon burst into laughter as soon as he heard me. At that moment, the people in the ballroom suddenly started murmuring amongst themselves. What the hell? Did I do something wrong?

I was perplexed and quietly focused on the chatter around me.

“Did you see? His Majesty bent his knees.”

“He’s also laughing, isn’t he?”

“His Majesty is laughing! How could this happen? Something must’ve gone wrong when he sealed the Door of Darkness.”

“Oh my God. I guess it’s true that he dotes on Her Highness.”

What? What kind of image did he have before?

I looked up at the Emperor. The smile had once again disappeared from his face.

When he stared at the nobles with his crimson eyes, the tumultuous atmosphere settled down in a moment.

When the Emperor and I sat down, the ball began.

The priest, nobles, knights, mages and representatives of the academy praised the Emperor for sealing the Door of Darkness safely and foreign envoys also thanked the Emperor Tenstheon for preventing the continent’s crisis.

Tenstheon credited all the glory to both the Goddess of Light and the people of the Empire.

Once the Emperor finished his speech, he’d ask me to dance. And with our dance, the ball would officially start in full swing.

I wasn’t nervous. I had improved a lot since I had been practicing with Blake. But, I just didn’t feel like dancing.

I wanted to dance with Blake for the first dance of the ball. Not just during practice.

It was a very childish wish, but I still desired it.

Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud.

Then the Emperor’s voice came to my ears.

“I was supposed to have the first dance with my lovely daughter-in-law today, but unfortunately my dancing skills have become rather rusty. Once again, I thank the Goddess of Light for this occasion and ask you all to enjoy the ball.”

Tenstheon sat down after his speech. I blinked in confusion. Then, he whispered.

“You wanted to dance with Blake, didn’t you?”