Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 154

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 154
The former Count Renkelus came to a stop directly in front of me.
But his gaze lingered on me only briefly.
When his eyes left mine, the sharp intensity they’d held moments before had softened considerably.
The former Count Renkelus turned to speak to my Aunt.
“While it’s important to serve as an excellent chaperone to the Saint, surely you mustn’t neglect your niece either.”
The former Count Renkelus’s voice was clear and loud enough for everyone in the Ballroom to hear.
People belatedly recalled his second daughter and the scandal of my mother’s marriage between unequal social ranks.
The silence was brief; whispers rippled through the crowd as eyes darted busily about.
Having said his piece, the former Count Renkelus turned and left the Ballroom without another word.
As though his purpose in coming had been fulfilled.
My Aunt watched his retreating figure for a moment before turning to me with gentle warmth in her voice.
“Father must be growing old—now he worries over his grown granddaughter.”
Her tone was just as clear and distinct as before, loud enough for all present to hear.
Though my Aunt and I had remained distant until now, her manner of speaking was unexpectedly familiar.
As if the Renkelus household and I had been in frequent contact all along.
The noble maidens who had kept their distance from me began, one by one, to approach again.
Their manner far more favorable than before.
Even the noble ladies and gentlemen who had shown me scant regard earlier now turned their attention my way.
Aware of their gaze, my Aunt linked her arm casually through mine in a way that suggested she had something to say, and guided me toward the quieter window side.
The approaching noble maidens dispersed, deferring their inquiries for later.
Once sufficiently removed from the crowd’s eyes, my Aunt explained the situation to me in a low voice.
“Father saw you coming out of that shabby Jewelry Shop.”
After declining Ed’s gift, I had only then realized that while my dress was prepared, I had no proper accessories to match it.
The Attendant maidens had readily offered to lend me theirs, but nothing suited my dress.
‘So I hastily sought out the Jewelry Shop.’
This was a large-scale ball held abruptly near the end of the social season.
The popular Jewelry Shops among noble women were all busy fulfilling orders they’d already received.
I’d gone through the famous shops on Commercial Street, but I couldn’t find anything suitable.
‘Borrowing from the Attendant maidens would have been better, even.’
In the end, I purchased accessories from a small shop on the outskirts of Commercial Street.
The shop’s owner was a young woman in her early twenties who had recently left her master to work independently.
Unable to afford the expensive rent of Commercial Street proper, the shop was small with minimal interior decoration.
As a result, she hadn’t sold a single piece of jewelry throughout the entire social season.
‘She was novice enough in her approach to overlook that appearance matters greatly when catering to nobility—but her craftsmanship was genuinely excellent.’
The moment I described the design of my dress, she retrieved a set that matched perfectly, a collection featuring purple sapphires as the centerpiece.
I chose it not for lack of alternatives, but because I genuinely loved the piece.
I could, however, guess what misunderstanding the former Count Renkelus had formed.
‘The appearance was shabby, that’s all.’
Now, including the accessories I wore, my appearance was entirely befitting the Saint’s Debutante Ball.
While sapphires of clearer blue are considered more valuable, sapphire itself is a gem favored even by nobility, and purple sapphires in particular possess a certain rarity.
The stones were of superior quality—flawless, highly transparent sapphires crafted with exceptional skill, and the ornamental design was both current in fashion and infused with the designer’s individuality.
And most importantly, there was no bond of affection between the former Count Renkelus and me that would move him to worry about my being shamed at a ball.
Seeing my expression grow increasingly reluctant, my Aunt hastily added:
“Now you understand it was needless concern—but Father truly worries for you and came deliberately to bolster your confidence. In the Social Circle, dress and accessories are weapons, after all.”
It was indeed needless concern, as my Aunt said.
But there was no need to voice that fact in her presence.
I simply offered a polite smile.
My Aunt, sensing the boundary I’d drawn, met my eyes in silence for a moment before speaking quietly.
“To me, you, Ibeta, and Father are all family. And Father feels the same, I’m certain.”
My Aunt smiled with a trace of bitterness.
I understood their intention in so openly displaying their connection to me.
Even if commoners were fortunate enough to enter the Social Circle, establishing oneself was far from easy.
They either faced open disdain or received condescending attention from nobles wishing to show off their own generosity.
To outsiders ignorant of my connection to Ed, I would simply be a commoner who had luckily entered society—and without the Renkelus household’s endorsement, I’d fall back to that.
‘They were helping me so I wouldn’t be looked down upon.’
I was no longer as extreme in my nature as I had been in childhood.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
I offered my gratitude with a gentle smile, and my Aunt’s expression grew even more wistful.
“There’s nothing to thank me for—I’ve kept you far too long. My companions must be waiting.”
My Aunt quickly composed herself and softly concluded our conversation.
“You’re right. The Saint will be making her entrance soon.”
There was nothing more for either of us to say.
As if by agreement, my Aunt and I drifted in opposite directions.
She returned to the two Attendant maidens who had been waiting nearby for our conversation to end.
“Lina, aren’t you thirsty?”
“We paid special attention to the wine list. Would you like to try some?”
The two of them met me with composure and ease, offering me a glass of wine.
They’d been holding it for quite some time—the stem was warm with body heat.
“The bouquet is lovely.”
I accepted it and moistened my lips with the wine before speaking; Legia smiled with grace.
“It’s a Rosé Wine I selected.”
“Lina, try this one too.”
It seemed it was now time to taste the wine Rosina had chosen.
As we sipped wine and chatted, I heard a servant’s voice announcing Ibeta’s entrance.
All eyes in the Ballroom turned toward the entrance.
Ibeta entered, slightly nervous, on Kyle’s arm.
My Aunt, her Chaperone, approached Ibeta.
Simultaneously, noble ladies acquainted with my Aunt or Kyle drew near to Ibeta under the pretense of greeting them.
The crowd around Ibeta swelled rapidly.
Ibeta’s modest frame was soon entirely obscured behind the wall of people.
I made a subtle gesture to Legia and Rosina.
It was a sign for them to go to Ibeta.
It was Ibeta who needed their help now, not me.
Ibeta had been a diligent student of etiquette under my Aunt’s instruction, but she remained less practiced than the nobility who had learned propriety from childhood.
While my Aunt and Kyle were present, the more help available, the better.
‘And I’m at a similar level, so I’d be little help anyway.’
The two maidens, though reluctant to leave my side, turned their attention toward Ibeta.
I smiled and withdrew to a corner of the Ballroom.
Most of the crowd had surged toward Ibeta in the center, leaving only servants and attendants in this area.
Even they were too busy with their duties to approach me near the pillar…….
‘No, wait, someone is.’
A Knight with impressively muscular bearing approached me.
But her face was familiar.
As if I’d seen it just an hour or two before.
‘Isn’t she the Knight who helped me into the carriage earlier?’
The Knight—who I’d recognized—whispered to me:
“They’re waiting for you in the Inner Rest Room.”
The subject was omitted, but I knew whom she meant.
‘This person really…’
I apologized formally, hoping my sincerity would reach her.
“You’ve gone to such trouble. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Fortunately, the Knight smiled at me.
“It’s far better for me to change clothes once than for him to come directly.”
‘Ah, so he was going to come himself…….’
I felt even more embarrassed than before.

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