Chapter 9: The Lady Dances
I was certain we would hold the contest in the dance studio we had been using, but apparently I was mistaken.
“Hey, where are you taking us?”
Clearly, Shizuku had been under the same impression, as she had asked the same question no less than three times since the car that had been sent for us arrived, without once receiving a satisfactory answer.
“Well, Mitsuru was the one who chose the place,” Shimozuru replied. “Just hold on a little longer.”
“Come on, if you know where we’re going, just say so.”
Shimozuru merely smiled wearily. He had none of his usual cheer. Shinmyou also hadn’t said a word all morning.
“First of all, we can’t even see outside with these,” Shizuku said, rapping on the thick curtains covering the windows. The car Mochizuki had sent for us was a long black limousine. It was the first time I’d ever ridden in such a glamorous car, and I could hardly contain my excitement.
Everyone else seemed so used to it, which made me realize how different the world they inhabited was from my own.
Shimozuru trying to calm Shizuku served as the background music as our car rolled along.
After about an hour and a half, the car finally stopped.
“Looks like we’re here,” Shimozuru said just as the door was opened softly from the outside. I expected the August heat to fill the car but was pleasantly surprised when it didn’t. I stepped out and realized we were atop a verdant hill.
Right in front of us stood a building with a classic design that reminded me of a grand hotel.
“Whoa... Is this...?”
“Do you know this place, Shizuku?”
“Yeah. There was a CG that featured a place like this in the game... I think it’s one of the Prince’s family’s properties,” she whispered in my ear. My eyes were fixed on the building.
As I remained entranced, a middle-aged man in a dark-gray suit arrived to escort us.
“Welcome, Master Shinmyou, Master Shimozuru. It would be my pleasure to show you and your lady guests inside.”
“Please do.”
“Thank you, Mr. Yamanashi.”
We had never seen him before, but the other two seemed to know him well. We greeted him and followed along.
“Thank you for having us today,” I said with a curtsy. Something flashed in Mr. Yamanashi’s eyes. I tilted my head, a bit intrigued, but his expression quickly returned to its stoic state.
“This way, please,” he said.
We were led over a well-polished floor that was bordered on either side by doors that seemed to lead to anterooms.
“Ladies, you will be here in the White Rose Room. We have your dresses, as well as hair, makeup, and wardrobe stylists, awaiting you. Masters Shinmyou and Shimozuru, we have prepared the Royal Lotus Room for both of you, so please follow me.”
“White Rose Room?”
“That is where I was instructed to take them,” Mr. Yamanashi said.
With such polite words, Shinmyou’s question was essentially evaded. The door to the White Rose Room was opened for us, and we were ushered inside.
“Everything in here seems insanely expensive,” Shizuku whispered to me.
“It does. Everything from the entrance hall looked expensive enough, but this is a whole other level.”
“I’m so freaked out, I’m afraid to move.”
Even Shizuku appeared to be out of her element.
With the aide of the hair, makeup, and wardrobe stylists, we were able to clean up well, so it seemed a waste for us to be wearing such long faces.
All our helpers departed, leaving us alone, so I sat down in the chair in front of Shizuku to chat and lighten the mood.
“You look lovely today. I’m sure Shimozuru will appreciate it.”
“Hwh...whaa!? ...I mean, appreciate what?!” Shizuku sputtered. But it was true.
Rather than her trademark pigtails, her side bangs were braided and her hair in the back was left down. It was refreshing and cute.
“Let’s enjoy ourselves today,” I said to cheer her up.
“Yeah,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Urara, you seem so comfortable in this place. I suppose it must be because you used to be nobility.”
“Could be...”
I thought back on those days. When I was about to make my societal debut, I was just as tense as Shizuku was now. However, back then, there was someone who tried to make me laugh and calm my nerves.
Back then, I really...
“Hehehe.”
“Hmm?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s just, I was remembering that when I was a debutante, I was even more nervous.”
“I see. Well then, let me correct you on one thing,” she said, standing up. “Don’t say ‘You look lovely today.’ It’s supposed to be ‘You’re as lovely as ever today.’”
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” I apologized. Our eyes met and we both burst into laughter.
With our nerves finally calmed, we were finally relaxing when a knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
“Pardon me,” the man from earlier, Mr. Yamanashi, said as he opened the door, then entered with Shinmyou and Shimozuru in tow.
Both of the boys had their hair smoothed and styled and were in full evening dress. Their eyes fixated on us in shock.
“Wow...those dresses look great! You’re both so cute, really beautiful!”
Shizuku didn’t react to Shimozuru’s enthusiastic praise the way I would have expected her to.
“Thanks. Oboro, you look really cool, too, you know?”
Her tone was as arrogant as ever, but still, Shimozuru seemed happy, so I suppose it didn’t matter.
He offered her his arm and she accepted. Our transformation was now complete.
“You are also very…”
“I’m sorry, did you say something?” I asked Shinmyou when I didn’t catch what he mumbled.
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
My partner, Shinmyou, offered me his arm as well. As I accepted, I squeezed my eyes shut.
“I’m counting on you,” I said with a deep breath, and we made our way to the place where the competition would be held.
On the other side of a stately door, we found a massive hall. Countless large, grand chandeliers hung from the ceiling. They were unlit, as it wasn’t quite noon yet. Instead, the sunlight from the windows reflected off the chandeliers, causing them to glisten.
While this place wasn’t as grand as the royal palace of Lacrofine, it was a reception hall fit for the richest of nobles.
While I was admiring the skillful construction of the room, the door at the head of the room opened smoothly and without a sound. In stepped Mochizuki, Izayoi, and Mikazuki.
“Mochizuki...what’s with the getup?”
“Oh no, I can’t even, I can’t even... Oh no, he’s too precious. My nose is gonna start bleeding!”
Mochizuki stood before us, his hair slicked back and in impeccable full evening dress. Izayoi and Mikazuki trailed behind him.
Shinmyou and Shimozuru also seemed to be taken aback and unable to find words. Fortunately, Shizuku had enough to say for everyone. Well, I couldn’t blame her. After all, Mochizuki was her favorite character in the otome game.
As it was just before noon, perhaps a morning coat would have been more appropriate, but he was wearing a tailcoat and evening dress, just like the other four boys.
No wonder Shizuku called him “the Prince.” The other four looked phenomenal as well, but clearly Mochizuki was the next level of refinement. Even the cuffs he wore suited him nicely.
Mochizuki gave us a glance and made his way in gallant strides over to us. He stopped before Shizuku and extended his hand.