Chapter 05
After breakfast, Liliana was thoroughly washed from head to toe in the bath, leaving no part untouched, followed by a full-body massage.
By this point, it was already lunchtime, but there was no time to enjoy a proper meal.
Instead, light finger foods like canapés and sandwiches were prepared so she could snack during her manicure.
Once the nails were done, it was time for hair and makeup.
Servants in charge of makeup and hair, along with their assistants, gathered around Liliana, transforming her into a one-of-a-kind work of art for the ball.
Liliana herself had a very cute, youthful face.
Her fair, smooth skin needed little more than a subtle enhancement to bring out its natural beauty. For this reason, at her own request, her makeup was applied to look close to her actual age, with slightly emphasized eyeliner but nothing too flashy.
Her hair was loosely braided on the sides and styled into an updo.
Dressed in a gown the same color as the palace hall walls and adorned with a simple, elegant necklace and earrings, she was ready.
“You look absolutely lovely,”
the servants complimented her in unison. Yet, standing before the full-length mirror, Liliana herself looked… modest—perhaps too modest—for a royal palace ball.
“All right! This should clearly say, ‘I’m not aiming for any prince,’ right?”
Liliana nodded repeatedly in satisfaction and headed to her escort for the day: her older brother, Ian.
After Liliana left, the servants in the room sighed in disappointment:
“Normally, a young lady would dress to catch even a prince’s attention, and yet… our lady…”
“‘Not aiming for a prince’—who exactly is that supposed to convince?”
“Choosing palace food over a prince… honestly.”
“She might look a bit younger, but if she dressed up properly, she could have been stunning.”
“Sighhh…”
They all let out heavy sighs, though Liliana had no idea.
◇◇◇
“Ian-nii-sama!”
Liliana knocked and immediately dashed into the room without waiting for a response.
Normally, she should have waited for permission, but her older brother—far from strict, in fact utterly indulgent—showed no sign of caring.
“Lili, you’re always cute, but today they made you even cuter, huh?”
He gently stroked her head, careful not to disturb her hairstyle.
Today, Liliana was meant to be quite modestly dressed, restrained in appearance—but for this brother, that hardly mattered.
No matter how Liliana appeared, he would surely shower her with praise.
