Elegant music drifted through the grand ballroom.
The ladies, dressed in dazzling gowns, were as lovely as flowers blooming in full splendor.
Yet among them, one lady shone especially brightly.
"Lady Lopes is as beautiful as ever tonight."
"You'll save the next dance for me as well, won't you?"
Surrounded by gentlemen, the young lady blushed delicately and offered them a shy smile.
"Oh my... you'll embarrass me if you keep saying such things."
Her name was Seraphina Lopes.
Alongside Lady Claudius, she was praised as one of the greatest beauties in high society.
Her soft, light-green hair and deep emerald eyes resembled the freshness of spring foliage.
Combined with the mermaid-line gown that hugged her graceful figure, she looked almost like a real mermaid.
"Embarrass you? Not at all. I only speak the truth."
"There isn't another lady in the Empire as beautiful as Lady Lopes."
As the gentlemen continued showering Seraphina with compliments, another lady entered the ballroom.
At once, the crowd erupted into murmurs.
"Who is that lady?"
The newcomer stood tall and straight, showing not the slightest hint of discomfort despite the countless eyes fixed upon her.
Instead, she responded with a calm, confident smile.
A moment later, those who recognized her widened their eyes in shock.
"W-Wait... could that possibly be Lady Ansi?!"
Laritte Ansi.
The closest friend of Seraphina, known throughout society as the Lily of the Ballroom.
Yet behind her back, another nickname circulated in whispers.
Seraphina's footstool.
With her gloomy appearance, dull demeanor, unfashionable dresses, and habit of hunching her shoulders, Laritte had always looked painfully insignificant.
And because Laritte stood beside her, Seraphina seemed to shine even brighter.
But today, Laritte was completely different.
"This can't be..."
"That's Lady Ansi? The gloomy, dull Lady Ansi?"
The gentlemen who had been competing for Seraphina's attention found their gazes drifting away without realizing it.
Her raven-black hair had been woven into a thick braid adorned with exquisitely crafted diamond ornaments that sparkled like stars.
And the silvery gown she wore shimmered with an ethereal beauty, like mist beneath moonlight.
Gone were the ghostly curtains of hair that once concealed her face and the ill-fitting dresses that awkwardly ended above her ankles.
Today's Laritte looked utterly flawless.
The ladies of society, with their sharp eyes for fashion, instantly recognized every item she wore.
"Isn't that a gown from Madame Soverno?"
"And those diamond hair ornaments! They're the newest release from the Chelsiani brand!"
From head to toe, Laritte was dressed in nothing but the finest luxury products in the Empire.
The shock lasted only a moment.
Then Seraphina's eyes turned cold as ice.
"..."
Maintaining her radiant smile, she approached Laritte.
"Lari, you must have been really looking forward to tonight's ball. You put in so much effort."
Despite her friendly tone, the way she looked Laritte up and down was filled with pity.
"But what should I do? I don't think those jewels and that dress really suit you."
"..."
Laritte met Seraphina's gaze expressionlessly.
Seraphina deliberately lowered her brows in concern.
"To be honest, your features are a little plain, aren't they? Doesn't such a glamorous outfit feel... somewhat out of place on you?"
"..."
"If you were going to spend this much money, you could've talked to me first. I would've helped you choose something that actually suited you—"
At that moment—
"Was that comment meant for me to hear?"
Click. Click.
The sharp sound of heels echoed across the marble floor.
A pair of sapphire-blue eyes stared down at Seraphina with unmistakable arrogance.
"L-Lady Claudius?"
Evangeline Claudius.
If Seraphina was the Lily of high society, then Evangeline was its most dazzling rose.
The only daughter of the Empire's sole ducal house.
Golden honey-blonde hair.
Eyes as brilliant as sapphires.
Beauty, status, wealth—there was nothing she lacked.
She was one of the most noble and illustrious ladies in the Empire.
And now she fixed Seraphina with a cold stare.
"Everything Lari is wearing tonight was chosen by me personally."
"W-What?"
Seraphina's face drained of color.
Ignoring her reaction, Evangeline continued sharply.
"And yet, in front of everyone, you're saying her dress doesn't suit her and criticizing her appearance..."
"L-Lady Claudius!"
"What? Are you indirectly insulting my taste?"
"T-That's not what I meant! I was only—"
Seraphina hurriedly tried to explain herself.
But Evangeline had already lost interest in her.
"Hm. Personally, I think Lari looks absolutely beautiful."
She turned toward the nobles who had been nervously watching the exchange.
A graceful smile appeared on her lips.
"What does everyone else think?"
"Of course! Lady Claudius is absolutely right!"
"I had no idea Lady Ansi was this beautiful!"
"Lady Claudius truly has impeccable taste!"
The crowd immediately agreed.
Not only because Laritte genuinely looked stunning—
But also because none of them wanted to be on the receiving end of Evangeline's terrifying glare.
"Honestly..."
Evangeline's smile deepened.
"In my eyes, Lari is far more beautiful than Lady Lopes."
"..."
"..."
A heavy silence fell.
Everyone quickly exchanged glances.
She hadn't called her Lady Ansi.
She had called her Lari.
A nickname.
Which meant—
Evangeline considered Laritte someone close.
After all, Evangeline Claudius had never used a nickname for anyone before.
After a long pause, Seraphina bit her lip before speaking, her voice trembling.
"Lari... that's so cruel."
Her emerald eyes glistened with tears as she gazed pitifully at Laritte.
"How can you do this to a friend? I was only trying to help you. But now that you've become acquainted with Lady Claudius, you're treating me like I don't matter..."
Unable to challenge Evangeline directly, she redirected her attack toward the easier target.
However—
"Lady Lopes, isn't that an incredibly childish way of thinking?"
"Lady Claudius!"
"You've been an adult since your debutante ball. How long do you plan on dividing people into my friends and your friends?"
Clicking her tongue, Evangeline shot Seraphina a disdainful look.
"How immature."
"...!"
Seraphina's face burned red with humiliation.
After staring at her with open contempt, Evangeline glanced toward Laritte.
"I see no value in continuing this conversation. Come, Lari."
"Yes, Lady Claudius."
Smiling brightly, Laritte moved to Evangeline's side.
The crowd stood frozen, silently watching the two ladies walk away together.
A short while later.
The pair stopped in a quiet garden far from the crowd.
Evangeline spoke first, her tone unusually stiff.
"About the dress... don't misunderstand. It's not because I particularly wanted to give it to you."
She glared at the dark garden for no apparent reason while gripping Laritte's hand tightly.
"If someone standing beside me looks too shabby, it reflects badly on me. That's all."
"..."
"So don't wander off somewhere else. Stay by my side. Understood?"
Laritte looked down at the hand holding hers.
Then she broke into a radiant smile.
"Of course."
Her voice was warm and sincere.
"You're all I have, Eva."
Really.
Our villainess is the absolute best. ♡