Chapter : 11
Just then, the curtain was drawn aside.
Instead of sitting and waiting like she had expected, Adolf was pacing around the room in circles like a restless dog that desperately needed to relieve itself.
The moment he saw her in the dress, he froze with his mouth hanging open.
“…What’s with that reaction?”
Wondering if it looked bad, Adel turned to examine herself in the mirror.
Hmm… Maybe it’s because I’ve spent my entire life wearing nothing but research robes.
She still wasn’t used to seeing herself dressed like this. She couldn’t even tell if it suited her.
At that moment, Adolf finally spoke.
“…Adel, is that really you?”
“Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Of course it was! A huge compliment. I seriously thought you were someone else.”
Judging by his expression, she had apparently passed.
Adolf’s eyes sparkled.
“Wow… Adel Catherine, who even wore rags to the academy prom…”
“That was the academy uniform.”
“And Adel Catherine, who even wore rags to official Magic Tower events…”
“Those were the research robes the Magic Tower provided.”
Elegant, extravagant dresses had always been an unaffordable luxury for her.
Official events or not, whenever her professor called, she had to come running like a loyal dog.
“You should’ve dressed like this sooner! You would’ve gotten a hundred confessions by now!”
“I don’t need confessions. I just need my business to succeed.”
“This is seriously a whole new side of Adel Catherine.”
Their academy habits hadn’t changed even after graduation.
Adolf and Adel continued talking past each other, each saying whatever they wanted, recreating their usual scene of simultaneous monologues.
At that moment, the tailor cautiously interrupted.
“Then shall we go with this dress?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
“Wait! Don’t you have anything even more gorgeous?”
As expected, they had different opinions.
Adel quickly waved her hands to stop him.
“This is enough. It’s perfect.”
“No, no. This is your first real dress. There might be something that suits you even better. Don’t worry about the cost, Adel. I can easily buy you three dresses.”
That’s not the problem… They’re just such a hassle to put on and take off.
Unfortunately, Adolf had become strangely enthusiastic and paid absolutely no attention to her desperate protests.
He seems more excited about this than when I show him my research.
And to make matters worse, the tailorāthrilled at the prospect of making a bigger saleājoined in.
“Something even fancier? Of course we have plenty!”
Thus began the endless nightmare of changing clothes.
While the tailor went to fetch more dresses, Adolf circled around Adel, showering her with compliments.
Then he suddenly asked,
“By the way, Adel.”
“Hm?”
“Have you met my brother since that day?”
Caught off guard, Adel narrowed her eyes and shook her head.
Her voice came out filled with obvious disgust.
“Why would I meet His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Seeing her reaction, Adolf let out a sigh of relief.
It was almost an excessive amount of relief.
“…That’s good. My brother normally doesn’t ask to see someone again. Then again, if you two had met, I would’ve heard about it.”
Adel merely shrugged with an indifferent expression.
Just as it seemed they were about to continue the conversation, a cheerful voice interrupted.
“All right! Sorry to keep you waiting! How about trying these dresses?”
The tailor returned, pushing in a clothing rack packed with dresses.
“Ta-da! What do you think? These are all the most popular designs of the season!”
There were dozens of dresses hanging on the rack.
At that very moment, Adolf’s eyes sparkled once again.
Oh no.
Adel suddenly felt dizzy.
At this rate, he’s really going to buy me all three.
* * *
The ball hosted by Count Glitter had attracted an unusual amount of public attention.
Not only was it held just before the start of the social season, but rumors had spread that the Second Prince would be attending.
Although his chances of inheriting the throne were slim, the Second Prince still had no fiancĆ©e, making him the object of countless noble ladies’ attention.
Perhaps because of that, an odd sense of tension filled the ballroom from the moment guests entered.
“This is my chance. I have to secure my place!”
That determination was written across the faces of many young noblewomen.
Just then, everyone’s attention suddenly shifted toward the entrance.
A wave of murmurs spread throughout the hall.
The Second Prince, Adolf, had arrived…
Escorting a woman.
“Huh? The Second Prince came with a woman?”
“Really? Where?”
She looked about the same age as the prince.
No one recognized her, yet there was something strangely captivating about her appearance.
Jet-black hair.
Pale skin.
Sharp, cat-like eyes.
“Who is that young lady?”
“Is she from a provincial noble family? Or perhaps foreign royalty?”
Seeing the two chatting together so naturally, the nobles exchanged puzzled glances.
The Second Prince had never once been involved in a romantic scandal.
So who was this woman he seemed so comfortable with?
Unable to hide their curiosity, everyone kept staring.
Just then, the woman stumbled slightly and leaned against the prince’s arm.
“Ugh… These are so uncomfortable. How do other women walk around like this all day?”
“Adel, keep your balance. Why are you walking like a drunk old man?”
“It’s because the hem is too long. Doesn’t this skirt feel even puffier than the one I tried on before?”
“…Oh. Sharp observation.”
“…Don’t tell me you secretly had it altered?”
Completely unaware that everyone was mistaking her for Adolf’s lover, Adel shot her friend an exasperated glare.
Unable to bear the discomfort any longer, she stopped to adjust the hem of her dress.
“Whew…”
Events like this were incredibly uncomfortable for Adel.
Expensive chandeliers.
Young noble ladies dressed in lace and jewels.
Well-dressed young noblemen in elegant formalwear.
Honestly…
She simply couldn’t get used to it.
It felt like being an engineering student who had spent years locked inside a laboratory, only to be suddenly dragged into the busiest shopping district.
…But why does it feel like everyone’s staring at me?
Adel looked around.
Maybe she was imagining things.
Yet she could clearly feel people’s lingering gazes, accompanied by quiet whispers.
Ah… Is it because I’m here with Adolf?
Back at the academy, whenever they showed up together at events like the prom, people had stared in surprise too.
But once everyone realized they were just friends, they quickly lost interest.
This was the first time since then that she’d been subjected to such blatant attention.
Tsk. If they knew how close we really are, those curious looks would disappear in an instant.
Thinking back on all the embarrassing moments they had witnessed from each other during their school days, Adel shook her head.
Then a deep, middle-aged voice called out from behind them.
“Your Highness Adolf Demis di Douglas, you’ve arrived!”
Adel turned around.
The first thing she noticed was a gleaming headā
No.
A man wearing a brilliantly bright smile.
Count Glitter.
One of Adolf’s closest friends, and the very man Adolf had recommended as Adel’s first potential investor.
“Thank you for the invitation, Count. Have you been well?”
Adolf smiled warmly as he extended his hand.
The count returned the greeting with an easygoing grin.
“Indeed I have. Though I certainly didn’t expect Your Highness to arrive accompanied by such a beautiful young lady.”
His gaze naturally shifted toward Adel.
She quickly bowed.
“My name is Adel Catherine. I’ve been His Highness’s longtime friend and have spent many years conducting research at the Magic Tower.”
The count’s eyes widened slightly.
“Ah… Could you be the ‘Adel’ His Highness is always talking about?”
He glanced at Adolf before bursting into hearty laughter.
“I’ve heard so much about you, but I never imagined we’d meet in person. It’s a pleasure.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
Adolf folded his arms, looking thoroughly pleased as he glanced between the two.
“I’ve told you many times, haven’t I? That I have an exceptionally brilliant friend.”
“You certainly did,” the count replied with a chuckle. “But you neglected to mention that your brilliant friend was also such a beautiful lady. To be honest, until a moment ago, I was wondering if Your Highness had finally found someone special.”
Someone special…? Him and me?
