Mother's gaze turned icy, as though she were staring at the world's biggest fool.
"Dory, did you even hear what I just said? What did I say this party is for?"
"…"
"Don't worry about His Highness. As the daughter of the host, it's not wrong for you to warmly welcome the guests."
"But you're not just expecting me to play the host, are you?"
"Of course not."
Mother gripped my shoulder firmly and declared, "This is your last chance to change your life! Even if rumors spread about you being involved with someone else, no one will blame you. Haven't you seen how His Highness has acted all these years?"
At that moment, Natalie interjected.
"That's a bit overly optimistic."
"Natalie!"
"But it's true. If Dory manages to snag the young duke, the respectable people will call her out for abandoning her fiancé, and the women vying for him will have all the justification to cause an uproar."
"…"
"Of course, if she decides to abandon everything and retreat to Frosthill, then none of it will matter."
Though my sister's words were laced with sarcasm, my mother seemed to take them literally. Her face lit up.
"Yes, exactly! You wouldn't have to deal with the social scene you hate so much at Frosthill! Or maybe you could live in the Blue Atrium instead! Oh, where would be better?"
The countess's eyes sparkled as though she were already envisioning her daughter and son-in-law shuttling between two estates. Meanwhile, my mind was a sea of worries.
Arthur's unwavering love for Maria meant he wouldn't waver for me. But what about the salon betting?
And…
The dress.
It's just a dress.
Yet somehow, the thought of wearing Tristan's gift for the first time at a place where he wouldn't even be present made me hesitate.
Preparations for the party moved at lightning speed. Half of the people my parents invited seemed to decline due to the short notice.
Please let Arthur be one of them!
…But no.
"The young duke said he'd come! Oh, how wonderful! He must have feelings for you!"
Why?! Maria isn't even here!
Could he really just be coming to talk about his love life?
As Mother bustled with excitement, she spoke with a more serious tone.
"Other distinguished families' sons will also attend. Make sure you conduct yourself in a way that won't embarrass us."
"Yes, ma'am. Still, this turnout is better than I expected."
"Of course, with the hunting competition coming up, everyone's trying to find the best partner. I've also invited several ladies to keep appearances balanced, so make sure you stand out among them."
Right. There's no way she could only invite men to the party.
So basically, think of this as a rushed romantic reality show being held at the count's residence.
Something like "I Am O" or "O Days of Love."
I've never watched those before, though.
Honestly, I just want to sit on the sidelines and watch…
While Mother obsessed over every detail of the party's arrangements, I directed my attention elsewhere—the finalized list of participants for the hunting competition.
As Father trained his basset hound with excitement, I studied the table in his office, searching for information to pass along to Rick Rey.
Specifically, about the scoundrel who would bother Maria during the hunt.
'Got it. A noble with an insufferable air.'
Alex, the marquess's second son.
In the original story, this guy caught a rabbit and slipped it into the Meyer family tent. The injured rabbit caused a scene, startling Maria. Under the guise of helping her, Alex entered the tent, intending to take advantage of the situation.
But then Rick grabbed him by the collar and sent him tumbling down a hill.
'Even if Rick would have handled it anyway, it feels a bit strange that I'm the one tipping him off now.'
Still, a little credit where it's due, right?
As Saturday approached, one lingering question refused to leave my mind.
'Tristan, why did you send the dress?'
My parents had their theory: that with Blue Atrium at risk, he suddenly realized he couldn't bear to lose his fiancée.
'Ridiculous.'
Blinded by their dreams of me marrying into wealth, my parents seemed to have lost all objectivity. But I knew my worth in the marriage market. I was not someone anyone would miss.
The only thing I could claim was the loyalty I had shown by waiting five years for my fiancé.
Better to stick with Tristan than ruin my reputation chasing after Arthur and end up with nothing.
…And that's why I don't want to wear Tristan's dress to this party. It's really just that simple.
Finally, Saturday arrived.
Mother was bustling with excitement, directing the decorations for the hall. I sat in front of my vanity as the maids worked tirelessly to transform me. It felt less like makeup and more like being entirely reshaped.
"Makeup is done! Miss, would you like pearls or green quartz for your hairpin?"
"Anything's fine."
"Anything won't do! The madam said to make sure everything is perfect."
"Then the green one over there."
Under the maids' focused touch, my reflection in the mirror gradually transformed into something straight out of a romance novel cover.
Am I… kind of pretty?
My previously stiff expression softened without me realizing it. A maid beamed as she brought out the dress.
"Time to put on your dress!"
She held up the dress sent by Tristan. As two maids unfurled it, its elegance struck me—it looked as though it captured the serene beauty of a lake on a rainy day.
…But wait, was this an off-shoulder design?
'Tristaaaan! You know I don't wear things like this!'
"This dress reveals quite a bit off the shoulder, doesn't it? Not as much as my sister's dresses, but still…"
"Our grandmother wears this much at parties, you know," one maid said firmly, with the other nodding in agreement.
"Don't worry, it'll suit you perfectly! Now, let's get this dress on."
"You'll get used to it in no time. Stretch your arms out… Oh my, this is exciting! I bet at least six men will fall for you tonight!"
"If only this were a grander ball instead of a small party. I want to brag about how gorgeous our lady looks!"
I tried to dismiss their comments as flattery, but their genuine excitement lifted my spirits.
'Will I really look good to others?'
I hoped so.
…But why does my fiancé have to be absent on a day like this?
I wanted to see that grumpy man flustered for once.
And since he sent the dress, he should have been the first to see me wear it—
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, I couldn't breathe.
The maid helping me into the dress panicked.
"Oh no! Miss, can we tighten the corset a little more?"
"If you do, I won't be able to eat!"
Another maid tugged at the dress, frowning.
"I don't think tightening the corset will help. Miss, where did His Highness have this made?"
"Designer Aston? I think that was the name… Mother mentioned they made my debutante dress too."
"They must've used your measurements from then. Pardon my saying so, but… it seems you've gained a little weight since your debut."
"…"
Everyone here knew the main culprit behind my weight gain—my love for carbs and fats had gone into overdrive.
Oh, what to do~?
"Oh dear, what a shame! Not being able to wear this beautiful dress is such a loss!"
"Are you really upset about it, Miss?"
"Of course I am! What now? I guess I'll just have to wear one of my usual dresses."
I cheerfully and carefully slipped out of the blue dress, but the maids weren't about to give up easily.
"Miss, look at yourself in the mirror again. Do you really want to hide such beauty with your usual dresses?"
"I agree! Oh, how about one of the dresses Lady Natalie gave you?"
Oh no, they knew about those dresses.
"Those are far too revealing…"
"We'll cover any exposed areas with accessories! Please, stop looking at dresses that even my grandmother would think came from a convent!"
"Don't you think that's going a bit far?"
"Apologies! I misspoke! But I had to say it at least once before I get fired!"
"You're not getting fired for that!"
Maybe it was the dopamine rush from the party preparations, but I ended up laughing and chatting with the maids like I was back in high school with friends. Eventually, I chose one of my sister's dresses, one I hadn't worn to the Sacred Salon.
"Wow… It's done. Miss Dory, you look stunning!"
It wasn't just flattery. Even I had to agree as I looked in the mirror.
Could I claim to be a romance novel heroine like this?
As I was entertaining that silly thought, Natalie entered the room.
"Are you ready?"
I could only manage one sentence.
"Sister… you look breathtaking."
She didn't even bother to respond, as though it were a given. With a tilt of her chin, she dismissed the maids.
"The guests are starting to arrive. The main dish, the young duke, will predictably show up at exactly seven. Better prepare yourself."
"…"
"Not looking so thrilled, are you?"
"Sister."
"And you're not wearing the dress His Highness sent. Is it because you wanted the person who gifted it to be the first to see you in it? How sweet."
That mischievous glint was back in her eyes, just like when I first met her. I spoke the truth.
"The dress didn't fit."
"…"
Her teasing expression faltered for a moment before she burst into laughter.
"Ahaha! I thought you were sulking or something! Well, I have to admit, the dress I chose for you looks fantastic."
"Thanks. You seem to be in a good mood."
"Mother put so much effort into this party—it's bound to be entertaining. We've got two orchestras and two circus troupes! I'm curious how many dance requests I'll get this time."
Natalie loved parties. The lively music, extravagant decorations, and the many admiring gazes drawn to her beauty.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself…"
"You look exhausted already, Dory. Do you dislike the young duke that much?"
"It's not him as a person. It's the noise, the dances, the gossip about my love life. That's what I hate most."
"…I see why you cling to the snacks at parties. That's all there is to enjoy for you, isn't it?"
"Pretty much…"
"Haa… already looking defeated." Natalie gave me a once-over before smirking.
"You look so beautiful today—it's such a waste. So, if you had to choose between attending the party or sneaking away for some alone time, which would it be?"
"The latter, obviously!"
"Shall I help?"
"Pardon?"
"If you don't want to stand out tonight, just say the word. I'll make sure you can leave without anyone noticing."
Her confident smile made her offer all the more tempting.