Chapter 29. The Lady of Cherry Blossom and the Lady of Black Rose
2022.11.22.
‘There was another word in front of me.’
By the time Shiana remembered that fact, it was already too late. The man who was cursed out of nowhere laughed awkwardly.
How can you go away with such a pure and calm face? Because it seems like I can’t even get angry.
So, there was more to come.
The man was the son of an aristocratic family, a corpse except for his pride. Of course, I had no intention of resigning from such an absurd misunderstanding.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding, lady.”
The man who somehow raised his hands to the side of his head to prove himself as a gentleman laughed awkwardly.
However, the angelic beautiful girl and her people were not off guard.
“this. You really are a very careful person. All right. I won’t ask for time, so could you at least tell me your name?”
Siana pondered for a moment.
‘Should I just give the name and send it?’
But he was reluctant to even give out his name. As the scuffle dragged on, I could feel the people in the cafe glancing at them.
‘What should I do?’
It was just when Cyana was in trouble.
“There is nothing so useless as a favor done to an unwanted person.”
Someone’s voice came through Siana’s ears clearly. Shiana turned her head and widened her eyes.
The first thing that came in was plain brown hair. After a while, I looked away and when my eyes met hers, I was in awe.
‘Elegant green eyes.’
Those eyes were looking at you. Siana wasn’t the only one observing such a woman.
“…omg!”
The man who recognized her face took a few steps away with a tired face in an instant. The woman looked down at the man again and opened her mouth in a blunt tone.
“Then go on your way.”
“Kuhmm…!”
The man who was coughing for no reason quickly disappeared. To think that a man who had been flirting so much withdrew so meekly.
As Sianna and her two companions stood bewildered, the green-eyed woman took a step back.
“Then be at peace.”
Slightly bowing her head, she turned around and walked away at a brisk pace.
“There…!”
Ciana, who came to her senses belatedly, stretched out her hand, but she had already disappeared.
“I didn’t even ask for your name…”
she murmured in a voice full of regret. Again, the image of the woman resolutely cutting the man’s words came to mind.
‘It was cool.’
Are all the ladies in the capital so cool?
“I want to see you again…”
Siana covered her rosy cheeks.
***
Upon returning to the mansion, Siana was immediately seized by the Marquis of Gardenia and had to listen to worrying nagging all day long.
“I heard there was a commotion on Ricabelli Street.”
“I wouldn’t call that level of commotion, Father.”
“What are you talking about? Didn’t you almost get into trouble? Didn’t my older sister tell me that? One escort is not enough. After all, I didn’t send you alone. We should have gone together.”
The Marquis of Gardenia’s eyes shone viciously, with the momentum to tear the man to pieces if he was right in front of him.
She objected to her father’s overprotectiveness, saying that it was not Siana, but to no avail.
“One escort is enough.”
“I don’t know. I can’t. Please refrain from going out until the ball.”
“but-.”
“baby. Listen to this father.”
“Yes…”
In the end, Siana was banned from going out even to the debutant ball. Siana’s mild eyes drooped.
‘I wanted to go back and meet him.’
I don’t know if I’ll be able to meet you, but if I hang around, I might be able to meet you.
Siana, who had planned to go to the cafe where she met the woman all day starting tomorrow, quickly became sullen.
However, the Marquis of Gardenia never lifted the curfew.
The ban on going out started like that.
Siana’s daily routine was filled with preparations for the debutante ball. The day went by busily, trying on the dress she had already ordered and choosing accessories for the prom.
But even in the meantime, Shiana continued to be sullen.
The nanny who had been styling her hair floated as if she had just remembered it.
“You know what, lady? It is said that His Highness the Crown Prince is also attending this ball.”
Then the other maid took it as if it were interesting.
“oh. He must have returned from the war.”
“They say you won this war as well.”
“There are rumors going around that you are looking for a bride for this ball.”
Crown Prince Esteban Nice Hermano.
Siana, who lived only in the Gardenia estate, had heard about him.
Having been extraordinary since birth, he is known to have a very beautiful appearance as the only legitimate eldest son of the Hyunjae system, but has a ruthless personality.
There were countless women who adored him, but the prince was the murderer on the battlefield who did not pay attention and only went to the battlefield to make a major.
Ciana paused as she listened to their stories, fiddling with the trinkets on the dressing table.
The story about the crown prince continued.
“This time, he cut the arm of Prince Devlin.”
“oh. be scared.”
“But now the Devlins won’t invade recklessly, right?”
“The crown prince’s condition must be critical…”
The perception of the people of the Ermano Empire against the Devlin Empire, which crossed the border every day, was not good.
The prince who stopped Devlin’s aggression every time was feared and awe-inspired.
Esteban, the future emperor and the hero of Ermano.
The maid who was fixing Siana’s hair asked insinuatingly.
“If you go to the ball, you might be able to meet His Highness the Crown Prince, lady. Aren’t you excited?”
“Nothing. take no interest.”
Shiana replied indifferently.
It was clear that he was a scary person because he had such a nickname as a battlefield killer.
‘Let’s never get involved.’
That was the end of Siana’s feelings toward the crown prince.
“My lady is really not interested in men.”
“I just don’t know how to treat you.”
Due to the overprotectiveness of the Marquis of Gardenia, Shiana had no interaction with other aristocratic peers since she was a child.
At least, if the gender they were talking to was male, it was about the mansion’s attendant or the family’s knight in charge of escort.
“Anyway, Master will be more concerned.”
If her beloved daughter had no interest in men, wouldn’t the Marquis of Gardenia be the one who would be more than happy?
Then the nanny smiled and replied.
“well. Master, if it’s a lady’s business, you’ll worry about it.”
“Ah….”
The love of the daughter of the Marquis of Gardenia.
Everyone in the room acknowledged it.
***
The day has come to see the debut show.
The Marquis of Gardenia opened her mouth when she saw Sianna, who had grown splendidly from head to toe for the ball.
‘Isn’t this too much.’
My daughter’s beauty was too much!
He breathed in surprise and turned to Sianna’s nanny.
“ma’am. Didn’t I tell you not to decorate me too beautifully?”
The nanny, who was already immune to the Marquis of Gardenia’s outrageous behavior, replied deftly.
“I only used 2% of the power of the servant I saw.”
“Next time, just use 1%.”
“I will keep that in mind, Master.”
The Marquis of Gardenia looked down at Cyana with a disapproving expression.
“Hey, Shiana.”
“yes?”
“If someone is walking around-.”
Today, just as the request of the Marquis of Gardenia was about to begin, a guest arrived.
“It’s still your filthy address.”
It was Countess Deverill, who served as Cyana’s chaperone.
It was unusual that she, who was known as the Marquis of Gardenia’s enmity, readily agreed to take on the role of his daughter-in-law.
The Marquis also did not want to leave his daughter in the care of Madame Deverill, but given her reputation in society, she could not help it.
I don’t want to admit it, but it’s because Mrs. Deverill was the best chaperone that the parents of the girls at the debutante ball chose.
‘Shiana should always be given only the best.’
Whether it’s a chaperone or whatever.
Even if the opponent was his nemesis, he could bend it for the sake of his daughter.
The Marquis of Gardenia coughed and looked away.
“I didn’t know you would really take care of Siana.”
Then Mrs. Deverill answered, shaking her fan.
“Where are opportunities like this common? There’s nothing wrong with getting rid of your debt because you always have something to write about.”
The Marquis of Gardenia, who suddenly had a debt, waved her hands while holding onto her pounding hair.
Mrs. Deverill looked back at Cianna, who had been quietly observing the conversation between the two adults.
“Lady Gardenia. Shall we hurry then?”
“yes.”
Unlike her father, Mrs. Deverill, who responded calmly and liked Ciana who followed her, laughed while covering her mouth with a fan.
‘You’re different from my father. thank god.’
My appearance and personality don’t resemble my father.
***
This prom was more crowded because it was an event where the ladies who made their debut in the social scene this year gathered together.
Ladies of marriageable age naturally want to stand out more than anyone else, so they entered the hall full of anticipation.
However, their expectations were short-lived, and they quickly realized that they were just one of many ladies and were disappointed.
Among those people, there was one who definitely caught people’s attention…
“Lady Sianna of the Gardenia Marquess is entering Gardenia!”
With a loud shout, all eyes in the hall were directed toward the entrance.
At that moment, the protagonist of this year’s debutante ball was decided.
“Didn’t you say ugly?”
“You ugly. Rather… isn’t it lovely?”
“Such pretty pink hair. Just looking at it is sweet!”
“oh my god. The chaperone really is Mrs. Devellel!”
People couldn’t stop admiring it.
The identity of the only daughter of the Marquis of Gardenia, who had been shrouded in a veil, was finally revealed.
The light pink hair that fell below her waist was coveted, and her white skin glowed lively under the light of the chandelier, making one question whether it had even been exposed to sunlight.
The sparkling amber eyes under the long eyelashes were the same color as her father, the Marquis of Gardenia, but the feeling was completely different.
The daughter of the Marquis of Gardenia, who hadn’t completely shed her girly clothes yet, looked around the unfamiliar hall fearfully.
However, even in the midst of fear, it was a sight that did not completely erase curiosity.
“Oh my goodness. What a lovely lady.”
“It’s not a waste to even call it an angel or a fairy.”
That’s why everyone thought that the Marquis of Gardenia was so precious, cheap, and worthy of stones.
“Lady Gardenia?”
“Your wife.”
When Mrs. Deverill’s name was called, Ciana was surprised inside and answered quickly.
“From now on, many people will come to say hello. to be nervous.”
“Yeah I know-.”
It wasn’t until Shiana’s answer was finished.
“ma’am. Long time no see. I should have visited, but I couldn’t because I was busy at home.”
In an instant, noble ladies with fans covering their mouths gathered around Mrs. Cianna and Deverill.
Mrs. Deverill nodded her head in a dignified greeting.
“Long time no see.”
After the formal greeting, the eyes of the wives immediately moved to Siana, who was standing next to them.
“There’s a lady next to you that you haven’t seen before.”
“I heard that she is the daughter of the Marquis of Gardenia.”
“You said that you were only living in the estate because you were weak, but is that true?”
“oh. Isn’t that the accessory set that boasted the highest price at the last royal auction?”
Questions about Shiana flooded in. She frantically answered each of the wives’ questions.
Unlike the cool-headed and merciless Marquis of Gardenia, her daughter, Cyanna, was at a loss but answered all the questions.
It was a fresh shock to socialites that ‘that’ the daughter of the Marquis of Gardenia was such a gentle girl.
“Lady Gardenia. I’ll be talking over there for a minute. You should also meet and talk with your peers.”
“Your wife.”
While Mrs. Deverill was away for a moment, Cianna quickly caught her breath behind a pillar near the wall. It was much better because it was a place where people didn’t see much.
‘I’m tired.’
I never thought my first prom would be so tiring. It was just then that Siana let out a light sigh.
“His Highness, Crown Prince Esteban Nice Ermano, eats it!”
A cry was heard from the entrance of the hall announcing the prince’s position.
People’s eyes all turned to it. I could hear people talking around me.
“Really, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”
“How. I am really dedicated to you today.”
Shiana also looked towards the entrance of the hall. It seemed that he could see the prince from afar, but it was too far away to see him well.
Shiana, who lost interest, quickly turned her head away.
As she did that, someone’s figure came into Sianna’s eyes.
“That person…”
It was definitely him. The person who freed the man who was flirting with him at the cafe on Recavelli Street.
Beside the woman who was standing with a glass indifferently, a sad man with black hair tied back was talking nonstop.
“Hello Lady!”
At Siana’s energetic greeting, the people around her sent eyes full of astonishment.
‘Speaking to the daughter of Duke Donovan!’
But what was surprising was Pacifica’s behavior in accepting the greeting with a nod.
“I saw it then…”
“Yes. Thanks for your help, I went home safely. I wanted to say thank you, but I’m so happy to meet you here!”
Pasifika silently looked down at the way she greeted them with her hands clasped close to her chest and her eyes shining brightly.
“sister. Who is this beautiful lady?”
“Go and do your thing, Lit.”
“Introduction-.”
Pasifika ignored her persistent brother and pointed to the balcony with a wink.
“There are a lot of eyes on you, so why don’t you move your seat?”
“Yes, I like it.”
Cyana smiled broadly and followed Pacifica.
The daughter of the Marquis of Gardenia and the daughter of Duke Donovan.
Both of them were hot topics, so there were a lot of eyes watching them.
“A pair that doesn’t match like that is like cherry blossoms and black roses.”
People chimed in at someone’s words.
“The Cherry Blossom Lady and the Black Rose Lady. It’s fun.”
Who would have predicted
Those words thrown inadvertently will become nicknames for the two of them from now on.
From that day on, Cyana and Pacifica were called the Lady of the Cherry Blossom and the Lady of the Black Rose.
.
.
.
Esteban sat cross-legged in the seat of honor, gazing boredly at the audience.
At least once, she was forced to attend a ball at the request of her father to appear at public events.
The gaze of people staring at him was infinitely annoying.
Esteban’s gaze, which was somewhat annoyed as he drank from the glass, stopped in one place.
It was the curtains on the balcony blowing in the wind. To be precise, the hair of someone entering the balcony.
‘It’s a rare hair color.’
I only saw her pale pink hair for a moment, but I couldn’t see her face.
The appreciation ended with that. Esteban started to enjoy the boring ball again.
Sometime on a lush summer day.
His meeting with her was a story a little further in the future.
