Chapter 05
A soft, warm breeze slipped in through the open balcony doors, as if announcing the arrival of spring that had suddenly drawn near.
Freed from the furs she had been forced to wear all winter—because of the nagging of those around her, especially her mother’s stubborn insistence—her body felt light.
Standing before the mirror in the toilette room, Astrid awkwardly turned around, examining herself in the splendid dress she was wearing. After a moment, she raised her head and asked the maid beside her.
“It’s a really beautiful dress, but isn’t it too flashy for me?”
“That’s not true, Your Highness. It suits you very well.”
Astrid looked at the mirror and spun around once.
Her heart filled with excitement, but at the same time she felt a lack of confidence.
After all, she had a complex about her appearance. With her plain black hair and pale sky-blue eyes, she believed she lacked distinctive charm.
Of course, she often received compliments about being beautiful and had lived her entire life in a position where no one would dare criticize her looks. Still, as a woman of the imperial family making her debut, she could not help but worry about her appearance.
“I’m so nervous.”
As Astrid finished dressing and stepped out of the room, she murmured those words with a hand placed on her chest. The maid laughed softly and tried to comfort her.
“I’m sure the young nobles will line up to ask for the Imperial Princess’s first dance.”
“That’s not necessary. The person I want to dance with is already decided.”
As she said that, Astrid’s cheeks turned red.
“Ah, I see. You’re talking about Duke Haimenwar, right?”
The maid smiled at the blushing Astrid.
Astrid neither confirmed nor denied it, but she answered by lowering her gaze shyly.
The person she had long wished to meet was Duke Lindenel Haimenwar.
Before she could dream of romantic things like dancing or receiving the attention of handsome gentlemen, as a girl her age might, Astrid carried many burdens on her shoulders as an Imperial Princess.
Today was her debutante, but it could also be said that this was the first day Astrid would stand at an official event as an Imperial Princess.
The entire nation had long awaited this day.
And the closer the day came, the more nervous she became.
Most of that nervousness came from the fact that she would finally meet Duke Haimenwar again, who had recently returned to the capital.
Her heart had been so restless that she even had a nightmare the previous night.
She could not clearly remember the contents of the nightmare, but it had been a very long dream—one that was painful, lonely, and even agonizing.
When Astrid finally woke from it, she felt cold sweat soaking her back and a chilling shiver that seemed to reach her bones.
Her body ached as if she had crashed violently into something, a kind of phantom pain lingering through her limbs.
But the strangest thing of all was the tears that had burst out without her even realizing it.
What on earth had made her so sad?
Her chest had simply felt like it was being torn apart, and she had been filled with fear, like someone being chased.
‘It’s because I’m standing at my first official event as the heir, and I’m meeting Duke Haimenwar again after such a long time. That’s why I’m so nervous.’
Trying to calm her tension and shake off the uneasiness, Astrid let out a sigh and left the toilette room a little later than scheduled.
She then walked through the beautiful corridor of the Palace of Paddaldin, which had been built to celebrate her birth on the day she was born. The corridor was decorated with climbing vines.
Passing rows of colorless marble statues of baby angels carved from stone, she stepped outside the building and saw her carriage waiting.
The footman opened the carriage door and carefully offered his hand.
Taking it, Astrid climbed inside and sat down. Resting her chin on the window, she gazed at the scenery passing by outside.
“……”
The streets were filled with pedestrians dressed in colorful clothing for the spring, each of them smiling happily.
It was a peaceful moment in the imperial capital, Hiboe—a symbol of wealth and safety.
Yet beneath the warm spring sunlight, Astrid’s heart felt as if it were frozen cold.
A dull ache lingered in her chest, and she could not calm the fear rising within her.
When the carriage stopped and Astrid stepped outside, her expression did not look very good.
The maid asked cautiously.
“Your Highness, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“No. I’m fine.”
Before Astrid stretched the splendid interior of Luygren Palace, lavishly gilded with gold on all four sides.
Although her complexion was pale, her steps toward the ballroom did not hesitate.
“The Imperial Princess has arrived.”
At the maid’s announcement, the servant guarding the entrance to the ballroom bowed deeply.
“Her Imperial Highness, Princess Astrid Raquin, enters.”
With those words, the nobles standing near the entrance began to bow one by one in greeting.
Gradually, the crowd started to notice the arrival of the Imperial Princess.
“I’ve never seen the Princess before.”
“That’s understandable. She’s very frail.”
“Oh my.”
Their whispered voices could be faintly heard as they covered their mouths with their hands.
“Today is her debutante, so she couldn’t possibly miss it.”
“She looks so delicate. It must be difficult for her to stay healthy.”
The appearance of the Princess—who rarely showed herself in public—caused the banquet hall to stir.
With a somewhat stiff expression, Astrid walked through the parted crowd.
Then she suddenly realized something.
The people greeting her seemed distracted, as if their attention was elsewhere.
Following their gaze, she saw a man.
His sharply lifted eyes softened into a gentle curve when he smiled. His tall nose bridge, the soft line of his lips, and the prominent Adam’s apple that moved occasionally as he spoke—
He was a man with a sculpted appearance rarely seen.
Astrid found herself unable to take her eyes off him.
The maid beside her whispered softly into her ear.
“Your Highness. Duke Haimenwar is over there!”
At those words, Astrid slowly nodded.
No one could resist the charm of the young man who answered the barrage of questions about culture, education, politics, and art with ease, constantly offering cheerful smiles.
Astrid too, like the many young ladies hovering around him, waited with a trembling heart for his gaze to reach her.
Soon the music would change, and it would be time to dance.
At that point, everyone would have no choice but to find a partner.
Lindenel would be no different.
‘Since today is my debutante, perhaps I’ll be given the chance to personally choose my partner?’
Even the thought of receiving a dance invitation made her feel shy. Thinking about asking someone herself made her lips feel dry.
First, she needed to deal with the maid beside her who was excitedly reciting the backgrounds of every person they passed.
Harper, the daughter of Count Voldein’s family and the maid assigned to serve Astrid, must have been looking forward to this party for a long time.
Astrid lightly grabbed Harper’s arm and said,
“Harper. It’s alright now, so go and take care of your own business.”
“What? What do you mean, my own business? I’m going to stay right beside Your Highness.”
Harper replied stubbornly with a troubled expression.
Astrid smiled as if she found her adorable and flicked the bridge of Harper’s nose with her finger.
“I know how long you spent getting ready to come here. I won’t go far, so go enjoy your time freely with your friends.”
“Your Highness…”
At that, Harper reluctantly left, repeatedly glancing back before finally heading toward the place where her acquaintances were gathered.
Now that she had sent Harper away, Astrid needed somewhere she could quietly stay unnoticed until the dance music began.
At that moment, she spotted a familiar face she had seen a few times before.
The man was tall and strongly built, with flawless white skin, dazzling platinum-blond hair, and clear green eyes.
He wore a neatly arranged military uniform that looked strangely out of place in the ballroom.
Astrid knew that man.
He was Bartholomew Henesy, the eldest son of the Count Henesy family—one of the most prominent military families of the Yuzraeni Empire.
He was a promising figure in the army and famous as the future Margrave Henesy who would soon inherit the family.
Even Astrid, who had little interest in worldly affairs, knew of him because he was so well known.
However, his gaze was fixed somewhere.
It did not seem like he was simply staring into the distance.
With a puzzled expression, Astrid followed the direction of his gaze.
“Honestly, you’re so mischievous.”
