Surviving as a Terminally Ill Heiress - Chapter 77

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 77

People were curious about the details.
Of course they were—a girl who looked identical to Prince Ambrose and had passed verification, only to be exposed as a fake.
‘It’ll come out eventually, but now isn’t the time.’
We hadn’t even completed the initial investigation into the Helmut Religion.
Both Pandium and the Grand Temple judged it better to bury their mistakes and move on.
Until then, our Ambrose would have to weather the gossip. Well, this isn’t exactly a novel occurrence.
At least Terion would be hidden and protected in the Temple, which was a mercy.
“Oh, my!”
The ballroom doors opened, and Matilda and Juliet gasped in unison.
I was a little startled myself.
After seeing so many beautiful things throughout my life, my eye had grown dull—but even so, the Imperial Palace ballroom was undeniably vast and magnificent.
As I said, the first order of the Debutante Ball was to pay respects to His Majesty.
And naturally, it fell to someone to break the ice.
“The Lady Ambrose, please step forward.”
I left Matilda and Juliet behind and walked ahead.
Then, at the foot of the steps where the imperial family sat, I knelt on the crimson carpet lined with gold thread.
“Rise.”
As I slowly stood and looked at the man before me, I nearly laughed.
Jeremiah came to mind. I’d expected as much, but he truly did favor his father more than his mother.
And his eyes…
‘Why must they look at me so tenderly?’
Both of them gazed at me with such affection.
The Emperor, whom I was seeing for the first time, and the Empress, whom I hadn’t seen in ages, both regarded me warmly and wished me a pleasant evening.
Grateful as I was, I was beginning to wonder what the reason behind all this might be.
As I returned with a lukewarm expression, Juliet took her turn next.
I noticed Matilda’s hands trembling slightly—she would be next.
“Matilda, nervous?”
“Mm-hmm. You weren’t shaking at all.”
Matilda, who had been taking deep breaths, laughed as if my question were unnecessary.
I replied flatly.
“Just think of him as the neighbor across the street.”
“You can’t say such irreverent things!”
But that woman was actually the friendly neighbor I knew well.
In any case, thanks to the shock, I’d managed to ease Matilda’s tension, and it was just as I sent her forward—
I noticed a familiar face and went to greet her.
“Clara.”
“Ugh, how tiresome.”
Such a wish the moment she saw my face. I’m happy to see you too.
Clara hid her displeasure behind her fan and studied me with a smile.
The young ladies making their debut wore white gowns.
I was no exception.
“Hmm… well.”
“You’re thinking ‘she looks presentable,’ but really you think I look angelic, don’t you? I know. Thank you.”
Clara was at a loss for words. Yet she couldn’t quite deny it.
By now, reading her heart had become second nature to me.

* * *

Glittering chandeliers, beautiful music, elegant atmosphere and laughter.
It’s lovely. Everywhere I look is beautiful, and it’s all so fine.
‘Though perhaps a touch… tedious?’
Oh, I really did sound like a spoiled heiress just then. My appetite for all this was sated.
Caught in a moment of ennui in this place reeking of wealth, I was lost in thought—
“I was wondering if…”
“No.”
The man who had addressed me blinked several times.
I, in turn, replied matter-of-factly.
“You were asking to be my dance partner, weren’t you.”
“Eh? Yes, yes…”
“So the answer is no. I appreciate the offer, but no. Do move along.”
As I waved him away and spoke quickly, the man was swept off like a leaf in the wind.
After that, I sent roughly four more away in the same manner.
Then Clara approached and whispered kindly over her fan.
“Have you lost your mind?”
Her face and tone were gentle.
Not so the content. When I looked at her blankly as if to ask why, Clara lowered her voice.
“Won’t you dance at all? Are you going to be a wallflower at the Debutante Ball?”
“Perhaps so.”
“Why!”
Clara raised her voice before she could stop herself.
Feeling the eyes of those around us, she laughed it off as though it were nothing, and everyone tilted their heads in confusion, as if they’d misheard.
Once the attention had passed, Clara began to glare at me.
Anyway, you have to appreciate affectation—it’s the only way to be called the flower of society.
I laughed softly and shot back.
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
Clara bared her teeth and lowered her voice to a hiss.
“Yes, there is. Plenty of reasons. If you don’t dance at your own Debutante Ball, people will whisper behind your back that you’re a bore!”
“I’m already a walking scandal. There’s no more reputation to ruin.”
Clara wore an expression that said, ‘Well, that’s true’—but then she snapped back to attention.
“Look, just… close your eyes and dance once. It’s not that difficult.”
“It is.”
“What is? Dancing? Did you not practice? Then an easy Waltz—”
“Having to stand close to an ugly man and stare at his face for several minutes is simply too much.”
Clara, who had been about to say ‘well, that’s fair,’ snapped her fan shut entirely.
It seemed she’d decided she couldn’t keep arguing with me like this.
“Be quiet and just follow me. I’ll introduce you to a partner.”
“I’d rather not…”
“I’ll find someone handsome for you, at the very least—”
Clara was about to forcibly drag the sulking me away when—
“Princess Clara!”
Someone called out to Clara.
Both Clara and I turned at once.
It was the Marquise Spencer. I’d seen her a few times in passing.
And standing beside her was her son, the heir of the Spencer Marquis House, which was likely why the Marquise Spencer was looking for Clara now.
‘Well, with that level of looks and as the heir to the Spencer house, he’s perfectly acceptable.’
Clara seemed to think the same.
One moment she’d been shooting me a glare, and the next she’d transformed into a proper princess—the change was instantaneous.
I quickly slipped free from Clara’s grasp.
“Go ahead.”
“…We’ll talk when I get back.”
Time to make my escape.
I smiled vaguely, and Clara narrowed her brows.
Just as I could read her heart, it seemed she had begun to know mine as well.
She sighed and offered one final warning.
“Dance at least once. Do you understand?”
“Mm…”
“I mean it!”
Finally, Clara left me behind.
I’d made it.
I took a breath and sipped my drink.
In the center of the ballroom, the dancing was in full swing.
Matilda had been dancing with the same partner since earlier.
Hmm. Matilda’s partner. I studied him with a discerning eye.
Kind and gentle, with features that resembled Matilda’s—he seemed quite suitable.
Watching them dance multiple times, they seemed to be getting along well.
Meanwhile, Juliet was dancing with various partners, executing elegant steps.
True to her family’s position as a well-connected house in the capital’s social circles, she clearly already knew many people, and her own bright, sociable nature drew admiration effortlessly.
In any case, both of them seem happy. That’s enough.
I smiled contentedly and continued sipping my drink.
“Good evening, Lady Ambrose.”
A soft voice came from behind me.
I turned to see two young ladies standing there.
I’d never seen them before.
From their white gowns, they appeared to be making their debut as well, but which house were they from?
I smiled anyway.
“Good evening.”
“I’m Siena of the Lanian County House, from the Eastern Region.”
“And I’m Kate of the Hampton Viscount House, also from the East.”
Somehow, they weren’t from the capital.
Wealthy young ladies from the Eastern Region who had come to the capital for the Debutante Ball season, it seemed.
‘Many do that.’
That woman from some time ago was in exactly the same situation.
An unpleasant memory threatened to surface, but I pushed it away deliberately.
“It’s lovely to meet you. Are you having a pleasant evening?”
Though do be careful not to get your head turned. I say this because I genuinely worry.
I offered a brief greeting, hiding my pedantic concern.
“Yes, very much so. I never thought I’d see your Debutante Ball in person.”
Siena smiled brightly.
“We weren’t certain you’d be able to attend the balls this year.”
The words were not as bright as her smile.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————