Chapter 1369. An Unexpected Debut (4)

"I'm... sorry for what happened earlier, Lady Peneloti," Lady Palette said.

"I-I'm sorry," Lady Brush stuttered.

'Maybe it’s because they're still young, but they're pretty nice.'

"We judged you based only on rumors and spoke carelessly behind your back... I know it’s shameless to say this now, but could you please forgive us? I’m truly, truly sorry," Lady Palette pleaded.

"I suppose I could..." I muttered.

"We’re sorry, Lady Peneloti. We promise to make up for the pain you received today. It won’t be just material compensation. If you wish for an official apology from our families, we’ll comply," Lady Palette offered.

Even as we left the salon and waited for our turn to enter, the young ladies still looked apologetic.

'They really are pure at heart.'

"I wasn’t thinking straight," Lady Palette added.

'No, it’s fine. People badmouth even the king when he’s not around.'

Of course, the fact that I was there mattered. They hadn’t just spoken ill of me but of the Peneloti Family and the Viscount himself, so given how much they valued honor, they couldn’t ignore the possible consequences.

The Peneloti Family had fallen from grace and lost influence, but it was still a viscount’s family. These young ladies seemed especially troubled about the things they had said about me.

Perhaps because they themselves were considered troublemakers within their own families, or there was also a chance that Lady Paint’s sharp words could have earlier moved their hearts.

'Since they were talking about smashing wine bottles over heads and all that.'

If it were another noble lady, she would make the issue public and refuse to forgive them, but given Aina Peneloti’s character, forgiving them was the right thing to do here.

Having been confined in the viscount’s estate all this time, she had no friends at all, so unlike the others in the household, the young ladies who came to apologize to her actually seemed likeable.

Honestly, I wasn’t the one they had insulted, so I didn’t really care.

"It’s all right. Don’t worry about it, ladies," I said.

"Y-you must find it hard to forgive us, right?" Lady Brush asked.

"It’s fine, Lady Brush. Honestly... you weren’t entirely wrong," I answered.

"W-what...?" asked Lady Brush.

"If anything, I’m grateful that you cared enough to say something. I’m grateful that you took the time to approach me and show such honesty," I said.

"You’re... not angry?" she asked.

"You were just telling the truth.

Hehe..

" I giggled.

"L-Lady Peneloti," Lady Brush muttered.

“...”

“...”

‘They seem really touched.’

The four young ladies were staring at me as if they couldn’t believe someone so kind could exist. Honestly, I felt like there was a touch of pity mixed in their expressions.

I believed what I said about how I was grateful for their honesty had to have tugged at their hearts. I wouldn’t be surprised if their minds were spinning all sorts of stories right now.

The third daughter of a fallen viscount’s house was a cursed young lady who had been spending her days locked away like a prisoner, all alone without a single friend.

Naturally, it was only right for me to feed their imagination a little.

“More than that, aren’t you all excited? This is actually my first time coming to a place like this... and, well, the first time I’ve ever really spoken with other young ladies. E-everything feels so new and fascinating, and I just... I hope we can all get along,” I said.

“...”

“...”

At a glance, it was obvious that they were pitying me.

‘Yes. That’s it. Keep going. Keep going.’

Sure enough, Lady Pastel is the first to make a move.

“

Um

... w-would you like to... be friends?”

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

“...Pardon?” I asked.

Then Lady Brush suddenly grabbed my hand. She burst with so much energy, shouting, “Let’s be friends, Lady Peneloti!”

“

Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh?

”

‘Eeeeh?! Tomodachi[1]?!’

At times like this, one ought to act

really

flustered.

‘Not that I mind, though.’

After all, even the loneliest heroine would end up surrounded by a few dependable friends. It was practically a law of storytelling. Friends who would support you no matter what and hug you whenever things become rough were essential.

‘Though... four might be a bit much...’

Still, if they were the kind of friends who’d smash a wine bottle over someone’s head for you, then that would be for the best. There was Lady Pastel, the brash delinquent leader; Lady Palette, the gloomy and intimidating smoker; Lady Brush, the revolutionary type; and Lady Paint, a bit cold on the outside but warm inside.

Normally, a character like Lady Paint would start off clashing with me before we slowly became close.

That was basically an unwritten rule, but there was no time to build that kind of arc. They looked like a bunch of misfits worthy of being called "Suicide Squad," but somehow, I was already feeling reassured.

“F-friends? How... how do you even do that?” I asked.

‘How do you even become friends, damn it?!’

“We just hang out together, cheer each other on, and... and do everything together!” Lady Pastel answered.

“

Eh? Eh?

”

“My mother said I should get along with other ladies in the salon—No, I

had

to get along with other ladies. And since fate brought us together like this, let’s all be friends. Is that okay? Brush, Palette, Paint?” Lady Pastel asked.

“I-I just hope I won’t be a burden to you all...” I mumbled.

“Don’t mind what people say, Lady Peneloti. I know I’m not one to talk after what I said earlier, but now, I've realized just how narrow-minded I am. And Lady Pastel’s right—we’re salon friends,” Lady Brush chimed in

“Even my mother still keeps in touch with the ladies from the same salon,” Lady Paint commented.

“My mother, too,” Lady Palette said.

“My mom also said that... in the end, forget husbands and all that. The only ones who'll truly stay with you are the ladies from the same salon,” Lady Pastel said.

‘Nice. I love it when everyone’s getting along.’

“Let’s all... be friends,” Lady Pastel suggested.

“...”

Perhaps it was because they were young or because they had all been in similar situations, but they quickly bonded with each other. The young ladies quickly brought their hands together, and I caught sight of the four of them looking at me, silently urging me to join.

Naturally, I slid my hand onto theirs.

“And... let’s do our best. Even if no one comes to our salon... we’ll stick together and... turn this debutante ball into a revolutionary event,” Lady Pastel remarked.

Just then, a voice echoed. “

Um

... ladies... it’s almost time for you to enter.”

“Okay! How long can we stay?” one of them asked.

“The Black Rose Salon may remain for a total of two hours.”

“T-two hours? And it’s... such an awkward time... It’s already seven o’ clock. The prominent families will all be having dinner by now...” Lady Pastel mumbled.

“I’m sorry. The schedule can't be adjusted.”

‘As expected, we’re the unwanted ones.’

Since the number of guests allowed in the ballroom was limited, it couldn't be helped, but it was still an extremely cruel arrangement. It was like they were telling the lesser families to just entertain themselves.

‘They’re probably making us eat at nine or something.’

The hotshots had to have already finished their lunch and had enjoyed the ball for a long while. They had to have already left for dinner, but the Black Rose Salon had just gotten access to the ballroom.

Naturally, the people left were likely mediocre at best. Some would probably want to stay longer and enjoy the ball, but the ballroom was meant for salon members to socialize with each other, so those hotshots staying longer was unlikely.

‘Even if we go in now, it’ll just be a bunch of losers.’

We'd most likely see some bald, bloated men or middle-aged folks who had missed their chance at marriage. Perhaps we would end up finding the

real

troublemakers. The young ladies who had just bonded thought the same as me, and their faces turned pale.

Lady Pastel clenched her fists and said, “Maybe we should just not go in. It’s annoying...”

“N-no, we still have to go in, Lady Pastel. If we boycott this time, we might get treated even worse next time... If we make a good impression at this ball, there will definitely be positive results. And thinking about Lady Peneloti...” Lady Brush argued.

“Y-you’re right...” she said.

“Still... don’t expect too much, Lady Peneloti. You’ll probably be disappointed... And if an older noble asks you to dance first, don’t accept, no matter what excuse they give. Just refuse, and it doesn’t matter what your family says.

"Lady Peneloti, you’re important. You understand what I mean, right?” Lady Brush asked.

“

Eh? Ah

... yes. Thank you, Lady Brush,” I said.

“Ladies...”

“...”

“...”

“

Ah!

Okay, we’re going now.”

We took a few steps forward, and I saw those from the other salons waiting behind the blackout curtains. It seemed that even within this group, the Black Rose Salon held the lowest rank, as we were the last ones to enter.

“First, the White Lily Salon, please enter.”

The young ladies of the White Lily Salon took a deep breath as the blackout curtain was drawn aside. Inside, music flowed out, and the announcer’s voice echoed, naming which young lady was entering the ballroom.

“I-I’m suddenly so nervous...” Lady Brush mumbled.

“Don’t be nervous, Lady Brush. We’re here with you,” Lady Pastel reassured her.

“B-but I’m so tense I can’t even breathe,” she said.

“Take a deep breath.

Hoo... ha! Hoo... ha!

” she instructed her.

“

Hoo... ha! Hoo... ha!

”

One by one, young ladies from the other salons entered.

Soon, it was our turn.

“Finally, the Black Rose Salon, please enter.”

“I’ll go first,” Lady Pastel said.

“Okay. Good luck, Lady Pastel!”

Pastel, Brush, Palette, Paint, and finally, it was my turn.

‘Hoo...’

“From the Black Rose Salon, the third daughter of Viscount Peneloti, Lady Aina Peneloti, has arrived.”

The blackout curtain opened, and the lavish ballroom came into view. All eyes turned toward us.

I sent a brief signal to the playing orchestra. This was a short “quest” to grab their attention. It had no meaning beyond conveying my presence, but it was enough to startle them.

Screech!

An unpleasant noise interrupted the music.

‘It’s a nice touch. The orchestra looks completely stunned.’

The vast ballroom became quiet. The only sound was the click-clack of footsteps. I straightened my back, fixed my gaze forward, and walked forward, slowly and deliberately, step by step.

My purple bell-line dress was neither too extravagant nor too simple. My hair was half-tied, and I hadn’t bothered with accessories, but it didn’t matter; I didn’t need them. My outfit was ordinary, like everyone else's, but the way I carried it was anything but ordinary.

‘I am Aina Peneloti, damn it.’

'Let the aura do the work.'

Nobles would never fail to learn anything, and that included walking.

My shoulders had to remain steady; my eyes had to be fixed straight ahead, and each step had to be measured and graceful. The fabric of my clothes had to remain silent as well. Aside from the sound of my shoes hitting the floor, there was nothing but silence.

I heard someone swallow nervously, and they moved as if even breathing in was illegal.

Watching that, I had to admit that my entrance commanded attention.

Even my Black Rose Salon ladies stared at me with their mouths slightly open.

‘Look at me, damn it. Look at me.’

“...”

“...”

‘Look at me.’

“...”

‘Look at me!’

I curved my lips into a faint smile. The moment I finally came to a stop...

“...”

“

Ah...

”

The orchestra jumped and resumed playing.

‘It was unrealistic.’

In the presence of absolute elegance and dignity, a mere curse meant nothing.

Sure enough, I caught sight of the pathetic lot cautiously stepping forward.

“

Um...

Lady Peneloti?”

“Lady Peneloti, it would be an honor to dance with you...”

“Lady Peneloti.”

“Lady Peneloti... Lady Peneloti!”

The problem was... most of them were losers who wouldn’t dare speak to me under normal circumstances.

“...”

“...”

‘Wow, I made an entrance to scare off trash like them... but despite being cursed, these clueless and ignorant idiots are all crawling toward me.’

It wasn’t the dance itself that was violent.

What was violent was

these

people daring to ask someone for a dance.

‘Look at that.’

Far away, one young lady was approached, and she seemed either too proud or too humiliated by her position to hold back her tears. In the end, she broke down crying.

“...”

“...”

‘The Black Rose Salon’s level needs to go up.’

The debutante ball wasn’t a matchmaking event; it was a survival program.

1. Tomodachi means friend ☜