DTSML 05

Chapter 05

“That’s right, Deli. Just stick close to your big brother! I’ll chase away every last scoundrel who dares come near you.”
Does he think the ballroom is some kind of bandits’ den?
I quickly snatched the hat from my brother and handed it to May.
May took it in a flash and tossed it straight into the trash without a moment’s hesitation.
Fortunately, Adrian’s attention had already shifted away from the hat.
“Deli, you’ll be the prettiest girl in the world tonight. I guarantee it.”

The ballroom at the imperial palace had opened its doors for the first time in ages, and it was packed with young ladies buzzing with excitement over their debut.
As befitting the social season, all the eligible young men and women had gathered in one place.
At last, the day of reckoning has arrived.
Rodelia had spent a great deal of effort provoking Nanael in preparation for this day, and now she was as tense as a general marching onto the battlefield.
Rumor had it that Nanael had been throwing tantrums at every shopping mall she visited, going around shrieking, “Not another Ferris!”
Everything was going according to plan.
By now, Nanael was probably itching to confront her the moment they met at the debutante ball.
Perfect. Today, I’ll expose that villainess’s true nature once and for all.
As Rodelia reaffirmed her resolve, the doorman announced the arrival of the Ferris siblings.
“Lord Adrian Ferris, the young duke, and Lady Rodelia Ferris!”
At once, everyone’s attention turned toward the entrance.
“My goodness, did Lord Ferris personally agree to be his sister’s partner? How sweet of him!”
Adrian, who was immensely popular among the young ladies, immediately became the center of attention.
His jet-black hair, the hallmark of House Ferris, and his teal eyes, reminiscent of a lush forest, were striking features.
He usually exuded an aura that made him seem untouchable, but whenever he was around his younger sister, a smile never left his face.
Unlike Duke Alferen, who was notorious for treating women like rocks, Adrian had a reputation for being quite the gentleman. Naturally, the ladies watched him with eager anticipation.
Meanwhile, the young gentlemen accompanying the ladies also turned their attention to the Ferris siblings.
“Was the Ferris young lady always this beautiful?”
Rodelia had always been pretty. She simply disliked fussy outfits and had never bothered much with dressing up.
But today, she had gone all out specifically to provoke the villainess. There was no way her beauty could go unnoticed.
Her carefully styled pink hair was as smooth as silk.
Her fair, delicate face was as intricately lovely as a fairy’s. Although it was somewhat stiff with nervousness, that only lent her an alluring air.
She was wearing an array of dazzling accessories, yet somehow, none of them looked excessive. That was undoubtedly thanks to her face.
Just as Rodelia began to feel everyone’s eyes on her and tried to hide behind Adrian’s back, he wiped the smile from his face and murmured in a low voice,
“Deli, just trust your big brother.”
Something’s wrong. Why does he look so threatening when he’s smiling?
His chilling smile was so murderous that Rodelia couldn’t help shuddering.
Anyone would think they had just walked into enemy territory.
Honestly, my brother is the last person I can trust here.
Just then, someone approached me, completely unfazed by Adrian’s menacing aura.
“Good evening, Lady Ferris. My name is Green Basili, of House Basili. Might I have the honor of being the first gentleman to write his name on your dance card—”
He didn’t even get to finish his sentence.
“Shut up.”
Adrian’s quiet curse rang out across the ballroom.
As luck would have it, the orchestra had paused to prepare for the next piece, so his words carried far too clearly.
In the suddenly frigid atmosphere, Green Basili blinked in confusion.
“…Pardon? Did I hear you correctly?”
“Do I need to repeat myself? Shut up. Who do you think you are, presuming to write your name on her card? The first dance is mine. And so is the second. The third one, too, obviously. Understood?”
With every word Adrian uttered, Green Basili’s face grew paler.
The young duke of House Ferris, a man renowned for his gentlemanly conduct, was now spewing one nasty remark after another.
Eventually, unable to withstand the pressure, Green bent at the waist in a nearly ninety-degree bow.
“I-I’m terribly sorry!”
Rodelia watched as young Lord Basili fled as though the devil himself were chasing him, then let out a quiet sigh.
At this rate, she was going to become the first young lady in debutante history to dance exclusively with her older brother.
The other young gentlemen who had been approaching her were already turning away and clearing their throats awkwardly. That pretty much confirmed it.
Oblivious to her worries, Adrian beamed at her, clearly expecting praise.
“Did I do a good job, Deli?”
That’s right.
My brother was a siscon.
And a seriously over-the-top one at that.
Maybe I should just let my brother end up with the original female lead. At this rate, I’ll never get married because of the obstacle that is my own brother, and I’ll end up living alone for the rest of my life.
Suddenly worried about her future, Rodelia shook her head.
I don’t want a prison ending, but I don’t want a lifelong-single ending either!
I was born this pretty. There’s no way I’m going to die without ever experiencing romance!
Realizing that something had to change, Rodelia composed herself and spoke up.
“Hey, Brother. Do you seriously want to make me look like some unpopular, unattractive young lady?”
“Of course not! Where in the world could you find a lady more charming than you, Deli?”
Adrian vehemently denied it, practically leaping to his feet.
Rodelia, however, remained firm.
“If you keep insisting that only your name should fill up my dance card, that’ll be proof that I’m unattractive.”
“Well, I’d rather you dance only with me than with a bunch of good-for-nothing playboys like them…”
“Then I won’t dance with you either. I’d rather be a wallflower.”
With a disdainful snort, Rodelia headed toward the wall.
Adrian immediately followed, looking thoroughly distressed.
“I’m sorry, Deli. Are you angry? But I can’t just let you dance with anyone who asks. If I see someone decent, I’ll give you my permission.”
“You’ll just say they’re all unsuitable anyway.”
Adrian wore an expression that suggested she’d hit the nail on the head, then gave an awkward laugh.
Just then, the doorman announced the arrival of another pair of guests.
“Her Imperial Highness, Princess Nanael Barnard, and His Grace, Duke Alferen Einruck!”
At that very moment, Rodelia turned toward the entrance as though she’d been waiting for this announcement all along.

The arrival of Alferen and Nanael cast a different kind of hush over the crowd.
I watched the two of them with a tense expression.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen them arrive together at an official function before.
The two had come together as dance partners for the first time, yet anyone could see how awkward they were around each other.
Alferen’s expression was particularly remarkable.
Oh, wow. He looks exactly like an employee who’s been dragged out by his boss against his will.
To everyone else, he probably just looked expressionless. But I could see it.
I could see just how badly he wanted to go home.
Besides, I was so used to seeing him smile that his impassive expression now seemed unusually cold and intimidating.
Well, I suppose that’s what he’s really like.
We’d been on such friendly terms since childhood that I’d almost forgotten Alferen was the type to keep everyone at arm’s length.
Still, once he considered someone one of his own, he could be endlessly kind to them.
As the younger sister of his friend, I’d certainly benefited from that kindness.
Unlike the original Deli, who ruined her life by stalking him for no good reason. I’m not going to make the same mistake. That’s right.
I watched the two of them from a distance, waiting for my moment. Then Alferen’s eyes met mine.
He stopped walking abruptly and stared at me, seemingly in a daze.
Nanael appeared to say something to him, but Alferen didn’t react at all. He looked almost completely absent-minded.
Then he even furrowed his brows before turning his gaze away.
Did he deliberately avoid looking at me…?
His unexpectedly cold reaction left me feeling rather unpleasant.
Especially since I’d already been feeling self-conscious about wearing an outfit so different from my usual style.
Hmm. Does he really think I look that bad?
My confidence plummeted, and I awkwardly began fussing with my clothes.
Well, this isn’t my style. It’s Nanael’s.
The accessories I’d bought in bulk to provoke the villainess were so flashy and extravagant that they practically reeked of money.
I’d already felt awkward in an outfit that made me look as though I’d borrowed someone else’s clothes.
Do I look like a little girl who’s stolen her mother’s lipstick?
That would be downright embarrassing…
Under his scorching gaze, my confidence gradually shriveled away.
It seemed I’d become a little too full of myself without realizing it, thanks to my family’s endless doting.
This was why overprotective families were so dangerous.
Just then, Nanael seemed to whisper something to Alferen before starting to walk toward me.