Chapter 21

But no response came.

That was because Flenn and the maids, as if possessed by a demon, were staring at Isabella in a trance, their faces blank and dazed. Isabella pointed directly at Flenn and called out.

“Mrs. Peterson?”

Only then did Flenn snap back to her senses, flustered in a way most unlike her usual self, and replied hurriedly.

“Ah! Yes, of course. The carriage should be waiting by now.”

Just then, Citri approached, pulling a black veil from her shadow, its surface shimmering subtly like the night sky.

“Oh dear, wait a moment, my lady! You must put on your veil!”

“But we’re indoors. And it’s nighttime. Isn’t it fine?”

“Goodness, what are you saying? Your skin is so delicate! Even the twilight isn’t good for it!”

Because Isabella had inherited Edwin’s sensitivity to sunlight, Citri fussed over her and firmly draped the black veil over her. Watching the scene, Flenn gave a hesitant suggestion with an awkward expression.

“Um, Lady Isabella, if possible, I’d recommend taking off that veil before going in…”

“Wait. That’s clearly coming from someone who doesn’t understand. Absolutely not. Even after you enter the ballroom, you must keep it on.”

“But what about the attention it’ll draw—”

“Don’t judge her by common standards!”

Citri sharply cut Flenn off and spoke with unshakable firmness. Then she leaned in to whisper discreetly, only loud enough for Isabella to hear.

“You know the reason better than anyone, don’t you, my lady?”

Isabella, fiddling with the hem of the veil that reached down to her collarbone, nodded quietly. She had worn it since childhood, so it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was just a bit disappointing to have to cover up after taking the trouble to put on makeup.

Perhaps sensing that, Citri gave her a sympathetic look before clapping her hands in a dramatic gesture and nudging Isabella forward.

“Come now! It’s your first social debut. You’ll be late at this rate! If those wretched nobles start flapping their mouths, just call for me! I’ll sew them shut with a needle!”

“Haha. Alright. I’ll be off, then.”

“Have fun, my lady!”

Waving a handkerchief, who knows where she got it, Citri saw her off cheerfully. Isabella waved back and followed Flenn down to the front entrance.

The household staff were lined up on both sides of the grand entrance where the carriage awaited. But someone she expected to see was nowhere to be found.

Looking around, Isabella quietly asked Cellios, “Has the Duke not come out yet?”

“The master was summoned by His Highness the Crown Prince and departed two hours ago.”

“Ah… I see. Then I should hurry to the Imperial Palace myself.”

She smiled and tried to act casual, but a strange sense of disappointment lingered.

He wasn’t her partner, and she had only met him a week ago. There was no real reason to expect his company. So why did she feel this way?

Puzzled by her own murky emotions, Isabella placed a hand over her heart, then climbed into the carriage with Baal.

“Hyah!”

With the coachman’s shout, the carriage swiftly departed for the palace.

As the sunset began to cast its crimson glow over the capital, it painted the city like a work of art.

“I’m glad I forced my way into coming to the capital.”

She smiled dreamily at the warmth of the view.

Tap. Tap.

Suddenly, a tapping came from the window behind them. Startled, Isabella turned around on the side where Baal was sitting, a crow was pecking at the glass with its beak.

“Huh? Numa? It’s been a while.”

It was a demonic creature with three eyes, used by Edwin as a messenger bird.

“Caw, caw!”

As Baal opened the window, Numa flew right in and flapped its wings as it landed next to Isabella, clearly delighted.

“Did Father send you with a letter?”

“Caw!”

Numa bobbed its head as if to confirm and held out its thin leg. Tied to it with red thread was a letter.

Isabella quickly untied it and began to read. Her expression immediately stiffened.

Baal asked, “Is something wrong?”

“…It seems wild monsters from the Hides Mountains went on a rampage while I was away. Father was handling it but ran out of magic on the way back, so the ghost carriage stalled. He’ll be late to the banquet.”

“Hm, they’re not dumb enough to act out just because you’re not there… What’s gotten into them?”

“Exactly. Has the food chain been disrupted? Or is there something else we don’t know about?”

“Who knows, lady. Without a king, those beasts wouldn’t normally be so bold…”

Baal trailed off, his eyes wavering as he stared at her. Noticing his anxious red gaze, Isabella gave a casual shrug.

“What? You think the king of monsters has descended or something? That’s impossible, and you know it.”

“Well… he doesn’t have a physical form, sure. But with the recent incident involving a shard of Infernus’s Tear, we should remain cautious.”

At Baal’s grave warning, her fingers clenched the letter slightly.

[“Descendant of Nezar, I curse your blood. My heart shall burrow into your depths and drag you into endless hell.”]

The sinister voice of the three-horned beast she had sealed during the first black relic ritual echoed in her ears.

“Caw?”

At that moment, Numa hopped onto her lap and looked up at her with wide, round eyes. Though it wasn’t her familiar and couldn’t understand her words, it somehow felt like it was worried about her.

Isabella quickly collected herself and gently stroked Numa’s head.

“I’m alright. No need to worry. I’m your lady, remember? No matter what happens, I won’t fall. If you cause trouble, who else is going to take responsibility?”

“Caw! Caw!”

As if responding to her playful tone, Numa flapped about excitedly inside the carriage.

Perhaps irritated by the commotion, Baal grabbed Numa’s wing and tossed it out the window, shouting, “You noisy crow! Go back to your master already!”

“Hey! Baal! What if you hurt Numa’s wing?”

“Lady, whose side are you on, exactly? Lord Edwin’s contract familiar? Or your lifelong demon servant, me?”

“Why are you taking sides? You’re both precious to me.”

“Milady, seriously, meh!”

“Oh! Look, there’s the Imperial Palace! We’re almost there!”

Unable to understand why Baal was suddenly so touchy, Isabella chose to defuse the situation rather than argue. But her exaggerated gesture of pointing out the window only seemed to agitate Baal further.

“Milady… that kindness of yours can be a deadly poison. Especially if you remain incomplete…”

Baal bit down on his lip, swallowing the rising sense of dread that bloomed in his chest.

Soon, the carriage passed through the grand gates and came to a halt in front of the palace’s main banquet hall. But Isabella didn’t rise right away. 

Instead, she asked, “Baal, are you still upset? I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. Don’t be mad, okay?”

“…Do I look like a child? I’m not upset. You should go before you’re late.”

‘Yeah, right. Should I have taken his side earlier?’

Ever since their little spat, Baal had sat sulking without meeting her gaze, which had weighed heavily on her mind the entire ride. Because of that, she had spent the whole trip anxiously stealing glances at him.

“Sigh… I’m really fine, so you can rest now. You know you wanted to see the banquet, right?”

Looking more like the servant himself, fussing over her, Baal finally let out a reluctant smile. Only then did Isabella grin and spring to her feet.

“Alright then. I’m off. Get some rest!”

“Don’t run! Remember your dignity, milady!”

“Got it!”

Even to the very end, Baal didn’t forget to nag her.

With a bright smile and a wave, Isabella turned and headed toward the grand banquet hall.

‘Wow… this is the Imperial Palace. It’s like someone moved the sun itself here.’

Like the grandest cathedral of the age, the palace was overwhelmingly majestic. Magic-stone street lamps lit the exterior, casting a warm golden glow that made the twilight seem eternal.

Gazing around in awe, she finally reached the entrance of the ballroom. Just then, a palace attendant writing names in the guest book caught her eye. Their gazes met, and for a brief second, he looked her up and down, then widened his eyes as if a memory had just clicked.

“…Forgive me, but by chance, are you from the House of Hellen?”

“Oh! How did you know? I’m Isabella Hellen. Is this the entrance to the ballroom?”

Did her dress bear the family’s crest or something?

She had never once stepped into high society, let alone the capital, and yet he had guessed correctly. She was impressed. But at her response, the attendant’s eyes widened even more, and he began to stammer uncontrollably.

“B-Because it’s m-my duty… I made sure to remember…”

Seeing him break into a cold sweat, Isabella offered a kind word to put him at ease.

“I see. You must be a very responsible person.”

But rather than comfort, her compliment seemed to make him even more nervous. He flinched and backed away slightly.

“N-Not at all. My lady, as a debutante, you must enter with the others, so I’ll lead you to the waiting room first.”

‘Did I say something wrong? I didn’t say anything odd…’

Though she hadn’t done anything inappropriate, it felt like the attendant was terrified of her, and she couldn’t understand why. Just then, he suddenly halted mid-step and bowed deeply.

At the same moment, the sharp clacking of many heels echoed from the right corridor.

Click, clack, click, clack!

As the sound grew louder, Isabella turned to look.

A group of young noblewomen, at least dozens of them, were approaching together from the hallway. Even without the attendant’s explanation, she instantly recognized them as fellow debutantes.

Dressed in gowns so extravagant with jewels and lace that even a peacock would feel overshadowed, each one seemed to declare herself the star of the night. And in that moment, a smile blossomed on Isabella’s lips, hidden beneath her veil.

‘Wow! They’re all around my age!’

That was another reason she had wanted to attend the debutante ball! The chance to make friends her own age was right in front of her, and her heart pounded with excitement.

In the end, she couldn’t hold back her rising joy and greeted them with a bright smile.

“Hello! I’m Isabella Hellen. I’ll be making my debut alongside you this season. It’s so nice to meet you!”

It was at that very moment. The color drained from everyone’s faces.

……

T/N: Aww, Baal is a little jealous of humans hahaha