Kill the Author, Then to Hell - Chapter 14.2

‘Wow, she’s a bombshell…’

A pure admiration spontaneously escaped me.

Her golden-brown hair, braided and pinned up, was perfectly elegant, and her posture, sitting upright, was impeccable.

‘But… why is she alone?’

If you scan this ballroom, you might think the nobles decked out like peacocks were the main characters, but that wasn’t quite true.

Regardless of their high status, women couldn’t even attend a party without a male escort.

Fragile women incapable of magic were considered in danger if alone?

Thus, debutantes who hadn’t yet entered society and naturally didn’t have partners yet typically attended their first ball with a brother, younger brother, or even a male cousin.

‘Hmm, I heard Delia has no brothers and her younger brother is still too young, so is her cousin supposed to be late?’

It seemed I wasn’t the only one curious.

Low murmurs and furtive glances could be felt around us.

There wasn’t much time to ponder. Before I could figure out how to approach her, Delia initiated the conversation.

“Ah, pleased to meet you. You are Miss Edith Dayton, right? I am Delia of the Aimesworth family, extending my condolences for your recent loss of your mother.”

Her etiquette was textbook perfect.

Charles Levelle, who wrote <Lady’s Conduct>, would have applauded from his grave if not for Jane.

But Delia’s patience ended there.

“Thank you for your kind words. I am Edith, a humble daughter of the Dayton family…”

I couldn’t even finish responding.

“Oh dear, it’s my first time meeting Miss Edith, and I worry there might be misunderstandings.”

Delia suddenly started spewing unsolicited stories, seemingly getting to the main point she wanted to discuss with me.

“Um…?”

“I was concerned that the empty seat next to me might be interpreted as a lack of etiquette on my part, or as a lack of consideration from my partner.”

“No, I wouldn’t think that…”

“Hoho, absolutely, not at all, not even a little bit. Actually, my partner is just slightly delayed due to the heavy official duties bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor.”

‘What’s with her…?’

I found myself dumbfounded, left with no choice but to spit out what must have been the expected response.

“Oh my, I wonder who that fortunate partner is.”

“If anyone is fortunate, it’s me. It’s highly honorable that the person who personally asked to escort me is none other than….”

Delia hesitated for a moment and blushed.

I became genuinely curious about who made her so happy.

But I couldn’t hear what followed.

Dong—dudong—

With the deep and profound sound of drums, Her Majesty the Empress Andrea who organized today’s ball, made her appearance.

“I thank everyone for gathering here today.”

The first impression of the person who would be my mother-in-law if I were to marry Crown Prince Marcel was…

Young.

No, I had heard she was young, but she was excessively so.

‘Isn’t that age gap criminal?’

The previous Empress, mother of the Crown Prince, had died 5 years ago, and the Emperor remarried soon after. Yet, the woman before me seemed barely 10 years older than me at most.

Moreover, she looked tired and frail, as if life had been drained out of her.

“We celebrate an imperial birthday.”

It was clear the Empress held little power. She delivered a few words of congratulation and then withdrew, with somewhat deflated congratulatory remarks echoing from various quarters.

As everyone knew, the Empress’s birthday was just a pretext, and the real ball was just beginning.

As the orchestra started playing a lively waltz and everyone was searching for a partner for the first dance,

Bang—

The doors of the ballroom were flung open.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is not proper…”

“Step aside. Immediately.”

Voices of agitated attendants were heard,

And someone was striding from the dusky evening outside into the bright lights inside.

“Oh, he arrived!”

As the hall gradually became quiet as if doused with cold water,

The person who jumped up from her seat faster than anyone else was none other than Delia Aimesworth next to me.

The bustling hall parted like the Red Sea, and soon, even the orchestra ceased to play.

“Announcing the arrival of His Highness, the Crown Prince!”

Trying to break the eerie silence, an attendant shouted, but…

Everyone had already sensed the unusual atmosphere.