Bates not existing to begin with? Then who is Bates?

Before I could ask more, Bates stopped in his tracks.

“I will guard the door for a bit longer. Please, rest now.”

“Ah, okay…”

Confused, I didn’t manage to inquire further and entered my room.

‘…What exactly is going on?’

Unfortunately, I turned off the broadcast when coming out of the coffee house, so I couldn’t even ask the viewers. The situation felt perplexing.

After pondering for a moment, I gave up out of annoyance. ‘I’ll just ask later,’ I thought and lay down on the bed.

* * *

The day of the ball arrived.

Selena had been dressing up elaborately since morning.

I sat on a chair next to her, watching her get ready.

‘She’s so beautiful…’

It was like watching water or fire and losing myself in tranquility. Just looking at Selena getting ready was healing.

When I kept staring, Selena eventually spoke up.

“Is it okay for you not to get ready, Sister?”

“I’ll do it slowly, no worries.”

“But there’s not much time left…”

“It’s fine.”

After all, Selena was the main character of this ball. I could just get ready quickly in the remaining time.

Once Selena finished her preparation, she seemed to truly shine.

How can she be so beautiful? Not just her appearance, but the whole aura around her was stunning.

Selena had been so obedient to me, it seemed I naturally grew fond of her.

Selena, perhaps anxious from earlier, hadn’t even thought to look at her own dressed-up reflection and dragged me to sit on a chair.

“Come on, Sister, get ready quickly!”

The maids supposed to prepare me were waiting in my room. But it seemed Selena, needing to see it with her own eyes to be at ease, intended to get me ready right here.

“I said it’s okay to take it slow. I can just get ready simply.”

“I want to see it! You in your ball gown!”

It seemed Selena was pushing because of her own desires. When did she start liking me this much? It was flattering but also overwhelming at times.

Eventually, I called the maid waiting in my room, and finished getting ready in front of Selena. She watched the whole process, just like I had watched her.

The dress had a different color scheme than Selena’s. It seemed the maids had prepared it intentionally.

With Anais and Selena’s impressions being completely different, standing side by side, we felt like opposites.

‘Opposites indeed.’

The heroine and the villainess. Normally, we would never have become friends.

Was it good for Selena? That I didn’t act like in the original, but apologized and approached her.

Thanks to that, the original plot twisted a lot, but my relationship with Selena improved.

‘Isn’t that enough?’

That’s just what I thought.

[PleaseShakeACarrot donated 1,000 points!]

– Nuna, you’re so beautifulㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[Isaac donated 700 points!]

[OnlyFinley donated 1,000 points!]

– Heo Jiha is the best, as always! ㅠㅠ

[Poppopo: I really want to see Jiha all dressed up like that.]

[OnlyFinley: Wow, next time we come, let’s take him to a clothing store!!!]

[PleaseShakeACarrot: So it’s confirmed that sister is going to die again? ㅋㅋ]

[Stress: Hey, stop talking about things only you guys knowㅡㅡ]

[Gold2:  If you have a complaint, attend the fan meeting then ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

Those three were already excited about the thought of taking me out for fun.

I had fun when we hung out before. The memory made me smile spontaneously.

“It’s good to see you’re as happy as me.”

Selena, who was beside me, said with a giggle. She seemed to have interpreted my smile differently.

She’s glad I am as happy as her. What a lovely thought.

“Selena, are you happy?”

“Very!”

“The ball hasn’t even started yet.”

“I’m already having fun. Getting to experience this, and seeing you dressed up beautifully.”

Saying that, Selena firmly held my hand. I smiled back at her.

“My lady, the head of the household has arrived.”

A maid standing by the door informed us. It seemed Finley had arrived.

With our permission, the door opened, and there was Finley.

Finley, too, seemed to have dressed up carefully for Selena’s debut, showing he cared.

“……”

Finley hesitated when he saw Selena. Soon, his face turned bright red. Looks like I’m not even in his thoughts.

“Finley!”

Selena called him with a bright voice, beaming like sunshine.

Sure enough, after that day’s date, the two seemed to have gotten closer. I was glad it was effective.

Selena twirled in place and then giggled at Finley.

“How do I look?”

“…Beautiful.”

Instead of his usual grumbling, Finley replied with a smile. It seemed Selena’s appearance today had finally broken his shell.

‘My partner, where is he?’

I liked what Selena did just now, twirling around and asking ‘How do I look?’ I should use that too. Being the female lead, Selena has an unconscious knack for doing pretty things. That’s something I needed to learn.

“I’m going to look for Sir Bates. See you in a bit.”

“Okay!”

Receiving Selena’s farewell, I left the room.

Seriously, if you’re an escort knight and a partner, you should at least escort properly. The manners were absolutely the worst.

As I was grumbling to myself, someone grabbed my shoulder from behind.

“…Sir Bates?”

Behind me was Bates, not in his knight uniform but in a semi-formal attire.

I almost didn’t recognize him at first. The bangs that usually covered his forehead were half swept up, showing a different side than usual.

Bates, adjusting his tie, said,

“I’m sorry for being late. I was just going to leave, but when they said I was attending as your partner, the maids took it upon themselves to…”

“That’s nice.”

“Huh?”

This guy Bates, he’s really handsome. I couldn’t take my eyes off Bates.

It was worth being late. I decided to be merciful.

* * *

We decided not to announce our entrance.

[PleaseShakeACarrot: Why?]

When asked why,

“Just because.”

It was bothersome. Attracting attention, hearing whispers. That’s why I had deliberately called a wizard to cast a spell to reduce my presence.

Why announce the entrance in the first place? For identity verification? They do that at the entrance anyway, right?

[Isaac: It’s a romance fantasy novel, isn’t it?]

[Something: There must be some reason.]

[Stress: I know, but I can’t be bothered to tell.]

“…What have you been muttering about since a while ago?”

Bates asked beside me. It seems he heard me communicating in a very low voice.

“Talking to myself is a habit.”

“Ah, okay.”

It was always a convenient excuse.

The ballroom was noisy enough that our entrance didn’t attract attention. A few glanced at us curiously, but that was it. It seemed the spell was working.

The ballroom’s scenery, which I saw for the first time, was merely intriguing. I looked around.

‘Huh?’

There was a familiar face.

Even from a distance, it was unmistakable. That incredibly curly hair was not common.

“Sir Bates, would it be okay if we moved over there for a moment?”

Bates nodded.

Together with Bates, I approached the place.

“Hello, Davi.”

At my words, Davi, who was chatting with the ladies, was startled.

Davi slowly turned his head to look at me.

“…Why is the lady here?”

It was a surprisingly naive question. Why would the lady of the Erpeso ducal family be at a ball hosted by the Erpeso family? It was as absurd as going to someone else’s house and asking why they were there.

“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s a ball hosted by our family.”

“But today’s ball is for Lady Selena!”

“That’s why I entered quietly.”

“…….”

Davi, at a loss for words, clamped his mouth shut.

Why does he dislike me? As much as I think about it, I don’t recall doing anything terribly wrong to Davi.

Despite his unfounded dislike, it didn’t bother me much. He was just a child, and it was rather cute.

“Sorry for interrupting your fun with friends. Have a good time.”

“…….”

Davi remained silent, his lips sealed. It was cute.

“You’re being hated.”

“Isn’t it cute?”

“Yes.”

Bates seemed to agree.

With Davi’s appearance, the chatroom was once again in turmoil.

[asdf: Don’t mess with Davi.]

[OnlyFinley: Mister, please go away.]

[PleaseShakeACarrot: Manager; deal with asdf please;]

[Isaac: More intense than OnlyFinley.]

[OnlyFinley: Don’t compare me to him.]

It was indeed a spectacle.

“Ladies and gentlemen, entering now are Lady Selena Erpeso and Lord Finley Erpeso!”

The knight stationed at the door announced loudly.

Simultaneously, Finley and Selena made their appearance.

Exclamations of admiration were heard around. Truly, they were a pair of exceptional beauty.

[OnlyFinley has donated 1,000 points.]

– Finley looks so handsome!!!

[Isaac: Where did the person who said not to compare with asdf go?]

[OnlyFinley: Those who have spent all their points should keep quiet^^]

[Gold2: Sigh… I have to work overtime today and save up points.]

Thanks to Finley’s good looks, I was earning points. I should make sure he dresses up like this more often.

Selena seemed a bit awkward, fidgeting with her hands. Even that looked incredibly beautiful.

Just as I was about to quietly pick some desserts, having seen Selena enter safely,

Selena’s gaze turned towards me.

“Sister!”

Her face lit up as if she hadn’t been nervous at all.

Then, realizing that her outburst was a breach of etiquette, she quickly covered her mouth.

“……?”

The attention of those around us shifted to me.

I saw Finley whisper something to Selena at her side.

Selena, with a lingering gaze full of reluctance, looked away from me. It seemed Finley had probably advised her not to acknowledge me too openly.

It was a wise decision. It would stir quite the rumors if a newly presented lady and one seemingly ousted from her own family appeared too close.

“Is that really the lady…?”

“I didn’t notice her presence at all.”

People began to murmur amongst themselves. No matter how much magic was used, now that the focus was on me, it was impossible to remain unnoticed.