The Villainess Who Looks Like a Little Girl Is in the Arms of the Ice Prince (Who Is Sometimes Cute) - Chapter 15

The day of the debutante soirée had arrived.

As I was being dressed in the waiting room prepared beside the Crown Prince’s dance hall, Magot and I chatted about our recent outing to the city.

“It was such a lively town, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. I’m glad you enjoyed it too, Magot.”

Everything from the skewered meats to the sweet baked goods you could eat with your fingers was new to me, and I still felt somewhat excited about it all.

Enzo, who had accompanied us under the guise of being a guard, seemed to be enjoying himself too, saying “It’s like a festival!” (Though I don’t actually know what a festival is).

“Even though we were supposed to be incognito, His Highness the Crown Prince stood out quite a bit.”

“Hehehe.”

It wasn’t just his handsome features or his tall, well-built frame. I realized that nobility naturally seeps through in one’s mannerisms.

Compared to the commoners, the difference was even more striking, and it was amusing how everyone kept their distance, thinking “This must be someone of great importance.”

Of course, that also increased the danger but we managed to get through without any incidents, safely to the end. Since His Highness Folkhardt had told Enzo “Good work,” he might have been doing something behind the scenes for us.

“Ahh… If only everything could have been just fun.”

“Lady Ria…”

“Oh! Silly me.”

“No! Please, at least when you’re with me, feel free to be carefree! Yes!!”

“Thank you.”

“Even though you’re only four, you’re trying too hard! If you get tired, let’s return to your room right away! Okay!”

Magot was cheerful and bright. No matter how much Enzo investigated, he found no shady background or potentially disadvantageous connections.

I couldn’t help but feel ashamed of myself for not being able to let my guard down until I’d checked such things. Magot herself was always like this, encouraging me without any reservations.

“Yes, let’s do that. I’m always grateful to you, Magot.”

“W-w-what an undeserved honor!”

Why do the people of the empire accept me so readily?

If I were still Yuliana, would I have been rejected instead—

Knock knock knock.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

“It’s time~”

It was Enzo’s voice. His Highness Folkhardt must have arrived.

“Yes! Let’s go, Lady Ria!”

Urged by Magot’s response, I headed toward the door.

When the beautifully carved oak door, painted white, opened, His Highness Folkhardt stood on the blue carpet of the hallway, dressed in a tuxedo.

“You look beautiful, Ria.”

“Thank you very much.”

The light blue dress gifted by Her Majesty the Empress had plenty of panniers and lace, with silver-thread embroidery of lilies on the bustier.

Meanwhile, His Highness Folkhardt wore a black tuxedo with a light blue vest that, like mine, had silver-thread embroidery. His bangs were swept back, emphasizing his cool-looking eyes.

(What a dignified face…)

“? There’s no need to be nervous. Just carry yourself with confidence.”

I was embarrassed that he’d mistaken my admiration for nervousness.

I could feel Enzo grinning behind me. Even without looking, I could tell from his frivolous aura.

“Ria. Having the Crown Prince’s fiancée debut before her official debut is unusual, even for a royal engagement. If you get tired, withdraw immediately.”

“As long as I can show that I’ve made progress toward becoming a Chevran, that should be sufficient, right?”

“Exactly.”

Then, His Highness Folkhardt leaned down, brought his mouth close to my ear, and whispered.

“Even if it’s just an act, you’d hate calling Marcel ‘brother,’ wouldn’t you?”

“Ah!”

I couldn’t help but let out a high-pitched voice.

That’s right—right now, I’m Rianne Chevran. Which means I’m Marcel’s sister!

“I completely forgot. Aaaah.”

“Haha. I was right to mention it.”

“I’ll prepare myself mentally.”

“Yes. But just act as you see fit, Ria.”

“Hal-sama?”

“No matter what happens, I won’t accept any excuses. As the empire, I intend to thoroughly enforce sanctions against anyone who breaks our agreement.”

He was essentially saying “Don’t underestimate me.”

It seemed a blizzard was about to blow in already.

“I’ll rely on you.”

“Good.”

Until now, I’d been managing alone with just Enzo. Even so, I thought I was happy because I had a means to defy fate.

But now I have more allies. I never thought I’d feel this happy about it.

◆

The Crown Prince’s dance hall was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate dancing in the central area, even with the orchestra and refreshment tables arranged around it.

The numerous chandeliers hanging from the ceiling illuminated the entire hall as if it were midday, even at night. The walls and ceiling were painted with images of knights and their steeds galloping across the land, along with the natural gods floating in the sky.

Gods of the sea, gods of the mountains. Gods of the sun, gods of the moon. Wind, water, earth, and fire. The painting depicted these various gods believed to inhabit nature, as if encouraging the fierce knights, very fitting for an empire that had won its prosperity through military might.

As the hosts, His Highness Folkhardt and I, his fiancée, entered the hall first.

After that, the guests would enter in order of ascending rank, with Crown Prince Marcel of the Kingdom of Chevran and his fiancée, Lady Ines of the Marquisate, scheduled to come last.

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress remained in the imperial capital. This was, after all, a regional soirée focused mainly on interaction between the Crown Prince and young nobles.

That fact helped ease my tension somewhat.

After being escorted and seated in chairs on the platform, His Highness Folkhardt whispered to me.

“Don’t underestimate today’s guests just because they’re young. Many are from emerging powers or families that have gained momentum through recent successions.”

“Yes. I have the guest list memorized.”

“As expected of Ria.”

“You flatter me.”

In the office, I had read reports on tax revenues, crop yields, weather, and imports/exports together with His Highness Folkhardt.

I had particularly studied the eastern regions thoroughly, treating it as preliminary research as well.

(They treated me like a real fiancée—both His Highness and Her Majesty the Empress.)

The only thing on my mind now was my separation from Chevran.

Under the direction of the master of ceremonies, the great doors at the hall entrance began to open to both sides.