The dazzling ballroom was no less impressive than the mansion’s exterior. One could immediately tell that a major aristocrat lived here. It was a far cry from the small detached house the Flozeths had in town.
A luminous chandelier hanging from the ceiling, antique furniture—and everything was decorated with roses that must have been grown in the mansion’s conservatory.
The name of the kingdom, Rosalia, came from an archaic word that meant “rose garden.” The royal coat of arms had white roses on it, and Rosalia’s national flower was the rose. It was for that reason that the kingdom had roses planted everywhere. Additionally, using conservatories to raise different varieties of roses and make them bloom all year was a status symbol for the wealthy.
From the curtains to the tablecloths to the wallpapers, to the fine decorations throughout the room—everything here was extravagant yet refined. The walls were hung with landscapes hand-painted by famous painters, and display shelves flaunted porcelain made in the vast Yang Empire, which lay far to the east. Its smooth texture and milky color couldn’t be reproduced in this part of the world, which made the empire’s porcelain highly sought-after and very expensive.
Feeling timid after seeing Rogell’s lavish mansion for the first time, Estelle gripped her brother’s arm more tightly. She thought once again about how much she disliked high society. The ladies and gentlemen passing by her were all smiling and laughing, but many of them exuded dark mana. Though she was still furious at Diana Pautrier for stealing her fiancé, she had doubts as to whether she really could strive to accomplish what she had set out to do. Estelle was beginning to grow disheartened already.
This was a den of iniquity—she saw nothing but lies and fabrications, jealousy and spite. Everybody hid their true feelings behind a mask.
Suddenly Estelle felt an awfully bright mass of mana approach from behind her.
“Estelle?! It’s you, Estelle!”
As she turned around, the one she found standing there was her good friend from school—Keira Werny.
“Keira! It’s been a while.”
“Estelle, who is this lady?”
“She’s my classmate from when I attended Adulena Academy. Keira, this is my brother, Sirius.”
“Good evening, sir. I am Keira Werny, wife to a viscount.”
“Ah, that explains it. I am Estelle’s brother, Sirius Flozeth.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Flozeth.” Keira flashed a smile and curtsied to Sirius. “Estelle, I heard what happened with your engagement. You simply mustn’t lose heart,” she said with an anxious look, grasping Estelle’s hand.
“I would be lying if I said it didn’t bother me, but I’m not disheartened. And I wouldn’t have had a chance to reunite with you if it weren’t for that!”
Estelle returned Keira’s smile and clasped her hand back.
“Keira, I apologize for interrupting,” said a gentleman from behind her—her husband, Lord Werny. “May I borrow you back for a moment?”
“Sorry, Estelle, I must be going. I was so happy to see you I left my husband all by himself. Let us have a proper talk sometime in the future!”
With that, Keira left as quickly as she had first appeared.
“That was the first time I’ve met a friend of yours.”
“She got married right after graduating,” replied Estelle with a shrug. “Plus, she was in a different faction. We’ve only kept in touch through letters.”
Relationships change after one graduates. Keira had been estranged from Estelle due to differences in factions and circumstances. Still, Estelle was glad to be able to associate with her friend again now that she’d sided with the first prince.
As Keira waved at Estelle, Estelle waved back at her.
It happened then—a disturbance that could be heard up ahead. And at the center of it was an incredibly conspicuous trio.