The day of the ball had finally arrived.
The old woman paused, staring at me before standing up as she said, "You no longer dance like a chicken but a blind chick with a little rhythm, so I suppose you've improved."
I wasn't fully sure if that was an improvement or a downgrade, but I just decided to take it as a win.
I smiled. It was the nicest thing the old crow had ever said to me. I got overly excited as I ran towards her to hug her.
She raised her cane, hitting me on the head as she said, "A noble does not hug."
I rubbed my head, pouting as I said, "Yeah, yeah. You'll be at the party, right?"
"... I suppose I can make some time to attend and see you dance at the ball." The old woman replied.
"Great! I bet the only thing missing is an amazing dress, and you'll see I dance better than a blind chick with a little rhythm." I replied, grinning.
"Have you already forgotten everything I taught you?" she replied, glaring at me, her grip on her cane slightly tightening.
I got trauma flashbacks as I moved out of her reach, saying, "Of course not, a good noble must always mask their true emotions, always keep your emotions under control, right?"
"...Yes, it seems you're not a lost cause. I've told you all you need to know, you might make a proper noble one day, Lady Deacon," she replied, walking away.
I noticed a small smile on her face, and I couldn't help but smile. I guess the old crow's heart wasn't as dark as she made it seem.
After that, I spent three hours getting ready for the ball, and as soon as the maids left looking proud, I sat down, returning to the book I had recently become obsessed with.
It was a friends-to-lovers, miscommunication trope, and he had just found out after she went to get married to the prince of another kingdom that this whole time, she actually liked him.
She thought he liked another girl, but he was just trying to forget her cause he thought her life would be better with the prince.
After convincing her family that he was deeply in love with her, they took him with them to the other kingdom where she was getting married, posing as their servant.
The chapter I was reading right now was when he finally got the chance to see her again after so long! Just a few days before the wedding.
Trixie soon came snatching the book as she said, "Your ball is ongoing, and you're spending your time reading a book?"
"It's a good book, just let me finish it and I'll go," I replied.
"There are about 20 chapters left."
"Technically 19, which just makes the book even more interesting because what would possibly happen when it feels like the book is coming to an end."
"Read it after."
"Yeah, I prefer the drama in the book to the drama that ball is going to have, I can just feel it in my bones, there's going to be a lot."
"Ball. Now."
So I gave up and reluctantly put my mask on, getting ready to go to the ball when Trixie sat down and started reading!
She didn't even wait for me to leave! Like, seriously, Trixie, I get it, I would have done the same, but still, come on.
I attended the ball and had my first dance of the night with Eugene, and if I do say so myself, which I do, I killed it!
After slaying on the dance floor, I greeted a bunch of guests, and the night was actually going well.
When, of course, Hera and the prince arrived.
It was this big entrance where their names were announced, you know, basically defeating the purpose of the night, of no one knowing the identity of anyone other than me unless they tell you during the night.
Immediately spotting me, Hera ran up to me, saying with a smile, "Lady Selelina, happy birthday," wearing the most attention-grabbing silver dress.
I just smiled back, saying, "Thank you, Tara."
"I hope it's ok, I came, Stephen insisted I be his date. But if it does disturb you… I can… I can leave," she said, tears on the brink of falling.
"Of course I wouldn't want you to leave, please enjoy the ball," I replied, lying as best as I could.
Not only did seeing her face ruin my night, but it wasn't the worst part. She dragged me around the whole night, 'excited' that it was her first ball.
The prince, her actual date, couldn't get away as he was talking to some other nobles. I stood back as I drank a glass of orange juice, hoping the night would just end.
Hera told a joke as one of the men there with silver hair laughed softly.
A wide smile appeared on her face as she said, "You smiled, seeing you smile is the highlight of my night, you really are handsome, Theodore," while holding his hand.
'Theodore' blushed, turning the other way, which was in my direction, as he noticed my disgusted look as we locked eyes.
I turned the other way, avoiding any trouble, when Hera suddenly grabbed his hand, leading him to the dance floor.
I'll admit I do appreciate when good-looking people are appreciated, but even I wouldn't flirt with someone when I brought a date.
I would've talked to Eugene, but he was busy with some nobles discussing important things, so I just stood there, trying not to die of boredom. Or from Hera."
As she was dancing, she somehow slipped, bumping into a waiter, who had a tray of cake and another of wine.
And guess who all of it landed on, obviously it all landed on me, who was minding her own business!
THAT WASN'T EVEN THE WORST PART!
I was happy it fell on me since it meant I could leave early. But then Hera ran towards me, grabbing a napkin as she tried to clean the food off me while apologizing again and again.
"It's fine, you can stop," I told her, hoping she would stop drawing more and more attention.
I could see tears on the brink of falling from her face as I reached to hold her hand and calm her down, about to say, "Please don't cry."
But before I could, she fell backwards. I kid you not, this girl somehow fell backwards as though I had pushed her when I reached to grab her hands.
She fell to the ground as she started crying, whimpering, "I'm sorry, Lady Selelina, I didn't mean to anger you. I deserve you pushing me after all, I ruined your beautiful dress."
I stood there frozen in shock as I thought, "Wait, did she just say I pushed her?"
The guests started whispering, and the prince broke through the crowd, and I could see the shock and anger as he approached Hera, helping her up as she cried in his arms.
He glared at me, but just walked away, leaving me in the middle of the crowd that was whispering and glaring at me.