Chapter Text
I, Katarina Claes, have been invited to the royal ball.
I was still in a sweet sleep when I received the news, and the table in front of me was filled with fancy desserts. On one hand, I held a cream puff baked cake with a crispy crust, and in the other, I stuffed a sweet and creamy cream puff cake into my mouth.
"Wow, it's worthy of royalty! This is a delicious dessert that ordinary nobles will never be able to eat!"
With this in mind, I took another bite of the new ricotta tart that the maid brought. The egg crust was crispy and crunchy, and the cheese melted in the mouth with a rich, creamy flavor.
"It's great to be able to participate in the royal ball."
At that moment, I was woken up from my sweet dreams by Anne's voice.
"Katarina-sama! please wake up Prince Gerald has been waiting in the main hall for a long time! If you don't get up and go down, it'll be extremely rude!"
I unconsciously grunted and languidly rolled over, but I didn't want to open my eyes. It was hard enough to wait until the ministry of magic's vacation, a while ago, I was so busy that I was looking up information every day, running between offices and meeting rooms, now I must sleep a little.
"Annne...let me sleep a little longer, I'm at the royal ball, and the desserts prepared for the ball are just too good for my taste..."
I said, pulling the blanket down over my body and trying to fall back into a dream surrounded by dessert.
But Anne didn't give me the chance to keep dreaming-
"Lady Katarina!"
I felt light as if I was burning, and then I felt a chill.
I sat up in bed in a flash and Anne lifted my blanket! This is too much! I'm just about to eat my favorite strawberry mousse, it looks so smooth and soft and full of temptation...
Really, I'm super eager to eat it. I whispered a few words of complaints and pouted.
Anne didn't take that, so I stopped complaining and stretched my back after yawning. Mother always said that as a lady - especially the daughter of the Duke's family, you must be careful of your image, do not make such drastic movements, it is very impolite, others will see it and laugh at it, and at the end, it will bring shame to the family.
But for someone who has the memories of a lazy easy-going past life, it's really hard for me to be bound by such rules and manners, and I can't even stretch my legs or eat my favorite food.
That's right, I was reincarnated. After hitting my forehead at the age of 8, I was accidentally reminded of my past life as a 17-year-old geeky high school student who died in a car accident after becoming addicted to the Otome-girls games. When I woke up again, I had been reincarnated into my current identity, which was Katarina Claes - the vicious villainess supporting character in the game "Fortune Lover".
The Prince Gerald Stuart, that Anne was talking about, who had been waiting in the main hall for a long time, was one of the targets in this game, the third prince of the Sorcier Kingdom, and the fiancé who was engaged to me.
Well...because of that little accident when I was 8 years old, I was banged on the forehead, leaving a thin wound. Although I tried to explain that he had nothing to do with it, Gerald felt very sorry and took responsibility for it - and contracted me to be married to him.
Even though I thought that the scar on my forehead had healed and disappeared, Gerald told me repeatedly that it had not completely disappeared.
Well, he's such a serious prince, isn't he?
I rubbed my eyes, my vision clearing up. Anne was standing off to the side, clothes ready in her hands, waiting for me to get up and change my clothes to dress me.
It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining brightly outside, spilling through the latticed windows onto the velvet carpeted floor, warmed by the golden light that was cutting through, and I took a deep breath, smiling and cheering myself up inwardly.
"Now that the destruction flags have been broken long time ago, let's face another good day, Katarina!"
However, I was still full of regret that I hadn't had strawberry mousse. I dressed up and pushed the front door opens to the main hall.
When I walked in, Gerald, who was sitting on the couch drinking tea, raised his head and smiled brightly and clearly at me.
"Good morning, Katarina."
Ahhh, worthy of being the male protagonist of the otome game, I looked at his angelic handsome and beautiful type of smile and heard him greeting me good morning with a gentle voice, those aqua blue pupils rippled with a bright smile, indeed he's such a beautiful fairytale prince...
But I knew very well that this prince, who was gentlemanly, noble and generous, and who exuded elegance in all his gestures, was, in reality, a black-hearted Prince.
So, I quickly adjusted my attitude, and also greeted him with a smile, "Good morning, prince Gerald."
We've known each other for ten years, we're considered childhood friends, we're very close, and we've studied together at the Magic Academy for three years, so we have a lot more chances to see each other, and we don't have to go through all that troublesome etiquette. Gerald didn't bow to me to greet me, and I no longer lifted my skirt to bow to him.
"Katarina is very energetic today, you seem to have had a good night's sleep."
Gerald said, still smiling at me, and asked me to sit down.
But I felt... there was something behind his smile. He probably said that because he was impatient from waiting too long. I hope he doesn't exile me in a fit of rage, I thought to myself.
"Yes, it's been a long time since I had a good dream. I'm really sorry to keep you waiting, but I've been a bit busy with work in the ministry of magic lately, so I slept a bit longer today..."
I opened my mouth somewhat apologetically and took the cup of tea he handed me.
"Yeah, I heard that you've been busy with work lately, it's been really hard on you Katarina."
"Well, it's fine, it's all small jobs like looking up files and delivering them, it's been a lot easier for me compared to Maria and Rafael. They have to deal with complicated documents, and I'm just doing some manual work."
I waved my hand carelessly, then sipped my tea.
It's true, they're all smart and have exceptional abilities, compared to me, I'm not very clever and my magic is weak, so my tasks aren't as complicated and numerous as theirs.
"No, Katarina's work is also very important. You're always full of energy, but you're trying to do all these boring and tedious things well. My beloved fiancée is doing really good."
Is it a prince's duty to comfort me over such a trivial matter when he is so perfect at all times?
But is the description of full of energy really a compliment?
"By the way, what do you need me to help you with Gerald-sama?"
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"Ball!?"
I stopped drinking my tea and raised my head incredulously.
"That's right, it's a royal ball, and as my fiancée, you will have to accompany me to the event."
"The royal ball? Will there be many royals attending?"
I asked curiously.
"Well, the entire royal family will be attending, as well as some of the noble officials who are trusted and relied upon by the royal family and this country."
Gerald patiently explained to me.
The entire royal family...then!
"Will His Majesty, the King, attend?"
"Of course," Gerald laughed out softly, "the royal ball is something that Father personally plans"
I was so surprised that I didn't know what to say... The royal ball... it sounded so noble and serious, and the king and all... it's too much pressure!
Although I had already attended a gathering of the royalty and nobility of a neighboring country, for different reasons, I always went back to my room first midway and wasn't able to attend in full.
In other words - I've never officially attended a royal ball of this size before!
My father had gone to the countryside to inspect some business and Keith had accompanied him. Mother was supposed to go to the house of the Marquise de Ferité, and with the recent trend among the nobility to wear fragrance sachets, she often went to Madame de Ferité's to meet with the noble ladies and discuss the newest fragrances on the market.
I'm the only one left in Claes mansion.
That is to say... I can't discuss with my parents whether I should agree to this invitation to the ball or not.
As Gerald's fiancée, I have to attend this event. But as Katarina... I'm really very socially exhausted. You know, in my previous life, I was a well qualified and well geek at home!
Although, it doesn't seem like it's something to be proud of...
And this time, Gerald's parents, the King and Queen, will be attending as well.
I've met the king a few times, and as a newcomer to the ministry of magic, he has the same silver hair as Alan and similar features to Gerald. Looking at his face, he doesn't look like a father with a twenty years old child, with that boldness and majesty, as the king of the Sorcier Kingdom, his aura is fully powerful.
That said, I've never met His Majesty as the fiancée of the Third Prince Gerald.
That's a pretty hard decision to make.
"What's the matter with you, Katarina?"
At some point, while my thoughts were cluttering up, Gerald had walked across the table to my side. He leaned down closer and stared at me without moving, his eyes seemingly worried.
It's a damn beautiful face, and looking at his face close to me, my confused and tangled mind couldn't help but stare at the handsome target of the Otome Game.
"Ah, it's nothing"
I laughed awkwardly, but Gerald didn't let it go.
"Katarina, you are not allowed to lie or hide anything from your fiancé"
He smiled the standard prince's smile again, but I felt the smile chill down my back, he was the third prince! Katarina, while Flag has long since been successfully broken, don't be fooled by this angelic smile, Gerald is like a devil!
I looked at his smiling face and couldn't help but think as above.
He is still leaning over. It's so tiring to be a prince, isn't your back sore when you have to stand for so long in such positions in order to stay elegant and handsome?
"Actually...I'm a little worried"
I confessed honestly.
"Worried?"
Gerald blinked.
Maybe it was because he was so close, but his aqua blue pupils were so clear that I could clearly see my face flushed with embarrassment.
"Well..."
His own face in the pupils of his eyes was too red for me to be nervous, and then I looked away.
I was really embarrassed by this.
"I've never been to a royal ball before, and I messed up the last one too, and..."
I swallowed and replied, my eyes couldn't help but glance at Gerald.
"And what?"
He looked at me with a face full of laughter and continued to pursue the question.
As expected of a black prince, he wanted to see me embarrassed so badly, and his eyes were bent with laughter at my embarrassed look.
"I've never officially met His Majesty before, so of course I'm a little nervous."
I simply told him.
"eh? but you should have met him when you joined the Ministry of Magic, right?"
Hearing me say that, Gerald was a little confused.
But I think he thought I was slow that I forgot about the meeting with the king in the ministry of magic and deliberately mocked me with this confused expression.
Even if I don't get the context sometimes, he often called me slow, but I was not slow at all, and this time I felt too smart.
So, I looked at him confidently, then turned my head and said:
"Of course I remember that meeting at the ministry of magic, but that was as a staff member working there. This time, I'm attending the ball as Gerald-sama's fiancée, right?"
I guess he didn't expect me to be so clever and intelligent, so he was overwhelmed by my intelligence.
Gerald was very obviously surprised, his expression was funny.
Hmph - I'm secretly pleased with myself, this is the consequence of you underestimating me, this time you can't say I'm slow and laugh at me. I smiled with confidence and continued.
"-That means, I did not formally pay my respects to His Majesty the King as Katarina claes, the fiancée of Gerald-sama."
I feel so clever and amazing! To say such plausible things so calmly and confidently should make Gerald and our friends ashamed of underestimating me.
I looked to him-
He lowered his head, his shoulders shaking a little.
Soft blonde hair blocked his delicate face, the tops of his hair shining in the sunlight as the waves of his eyes used to flow. From the tips of his hair came a nice aroma, as if it were the smell of shampoo or something he already smelled like. It was faint, elegant, and reassuring.
His ears were red and the light outlined his ears.
Hahahaha, as expected, Gerald must have been particularly ashamed at this point. He must have had wanted to laugh at me, but he didn't expect me to be able to resolve the matter with ease.
Gerald lowered his head, his shoulders shook for some time. do you need to be ashamed for such a long time!
After a long moment, he leaned forward again with a smile, resting his chin gently on my left shoulder and leaning close to my ear.
"Don't worry, Katarina."
His blond hair sweeps over my neck, tickling a little. He whispered softly.
"I'll stay with you."
I felt my ears heat up as his exhaled breath puffed against my ears.
"I will accompany you to meet my father as my fiancée."
I nodded subconsciously, was he apologizing and making it up to me because he thought he'd just gone too far?
I told you, I've always been smart.
! Wait, I seem to have accidentally agreed to this whole royal ball thing!
Speaking of which! If it's to a royal ball!
"Gerald-sama, there will be very delicious desserts at the royal ball, right?"
I perked up suddenly.
"I had a great dream last night where I ate a cream puff tart with cheese and cream puffs at the royal ball! The taste is just so - awesome! Ah too bad Anne woke me up before I could eat my favorite strawberry mousse.."
That taste was so sweet, but when I thought about the strawberry mousse, I got remorseful and unconsciously sad, and couldn't help whining.
"You came over so early in the morning, and I didn't even have time to take a bite before I woke up to see you. The more I thought about it, the sadder I got, that strawberry mousse was even freshly made"
He smiled brightly in front of me, about ten centimeters away, his eyes glowing like sunshine pouring down a river.
"It's my fault then, my beloved fiancée."
He said softly.
In my mind, I agreed, it's definitely your fault! If you're a little late, just a little! I'll be able to taste it!
"I'll do my best to make it up to you, so please be ready."
What do you mean? - "I'll do my best to make it up to you." Does that mean you're going to buy me a strawberry mousse? Ahhh you are really such a good friend!