Chapter 7: The Invitation to the Ball, and My Firm Refusal

That day, the usual Mr. Bear appeared as “Lord Bear.”

Three in the afternoon.

Standing before me as I prepared for tea was Claude-sama, not in his usual rumpled attire, but dressed in formal knightly wear of pure white adorned with gold embroidery.

A ceremonial sword hung at his waist.

His hair was neatly styled, and he radiated a dazzling aura.

Only the dark circles under his eyes remained unchanged.

He straightened his posture at the entrance and looked at me with a serious expression.

“…Lady Eliana.
Allow me to properly introduce myself.”

“Yes.
(I already know.)”

I left the teapot where it was and stood at attention.

At times like this, indulging the other person’s ritual is simply good manners.

“I am Claude Lutetia.
The king’s younger brother of this nation, and its chancellor.
…I apologize for keeping my status vague until now.”

“I was already aware.
Someone so well-versed in palace affairs, whom the guards snap to attention for and clear a path, could never be just a civil official.”

I replied smoothly and performed a curtsey.

A simplified one, of course.

If I bow too deeply, I get dizzy.

“So then, what business does His Highness the King’s brother have here in full formal dress.
Please don’t tell me more documents have gone missing.”

“No, not that.
Today, I came to thank you, and to make a request.”

He stepped a little closer.

A pleasant scent of perfume drifted over.

Different from his usual smell of ink and paper, it was a noble fragrance.

“Thanks to your help in the recent treaty incident, disaster was averted.
My brother, the king, is deeply grateful as well.
And so—”

He pulled an ornate envelope from his pocket.

Gold-leaf edging.
The royal crest.

I had a bad feeling.

“The day after tomorrow, a commemorative victory ball will be held to celebrate the treaty’s conclusion.
…Would you attend as my partner?”

Just as expected.

And my answer was already decided.

“I refuse.”

An instant reply.

Not a second of hesitation.

Claude-sama’s expression froze.

“…An immediate answer.
May I ask the reason?”

“There are three reasons.”

I explained while folding down my fingers.

“First.
The ball starts at seven in the evening, but my working hours end at five.
I do not want overtime.

Second.
I do not own a ball gown or heels.
Standing for hours in shoes that hurt my feet is torture.

Third.
…My former fiancé, Prince Kyle, will be there.
I see nothing in that future except trouble.”

Perfect logic.

There should be no opening to exploit.

I poured tea into my cup with a look that said, ‘Too bad for you.’

“I appreciate the sentiment.
On that day, I plan to eat stew at home and go to bed, so please invite some other lovely lady.”

Claude-sama fell silent for a moment.

A royal unused to rejection might grow angry here, or invoke authority.

But he knew exactly how to handle me.

He let out a small laugh and pulled out another sheet of paper from his pocket.

“…I thought you’d say that.”

“What is that.
A work order?”

“No.
The buffet menu for that evening.”

The menu?

I frowned.

Did he really think I would be swayed by something like—

“…‘Royal Chef’s Special Aged Roast Beef with Truffle Sauce.’”

He read it aloud.

Twitch.

My ears reacted.

“‘Cream Croquettes of Locally Caught Lobster, Rich American Sauce.’”

Gulp.

My throat moved.

“‘Seasonal Fruit Tart Tower, Mountain-High.’”

“……”

“All of these will be available in unlimited quantities in the exclusive partner lounge.
General guests must stand, but my partner will have a dedicated plush sofa.”

Plush sofa.

All-you-can-eat.

And roast beef.

Inside my head, the scales swung violently.

On the left pan: ‘Leaving work on time and peace.’

On the right pan: ‘Legendary roast beef.’

Claude-sama pressed the attack.

“Of course, I will provide the shoes.
The latest model with magical cushioning, like walking on clouds.”

“…On clouds.”

“You won’t have to dance with anyone.
Just sit beside me, eat delicious food, and smile.
If Kyle comes near, I will drive him away with full force.”

He stepped closer and whispered in a voice gentle like a devil, no, like an angel.

“…Stew at home is nice, but don’t you think a night where you can eat the finest palace cuisine, without waiting, while seated, sounds appealing too?”

He had completely seen through me.

He knew exactly how weak I was to ‘food’ and ‘comfort.’

With trembling hands, I set down my cup.

Pride?

In front of roast beef, such a thing is no more than scrap paper.

As a former villainess, wouldn’t eating all the good food be the greatest revenge?

Slowly, I lifted my face to look at him.

“…One thing.
Let me confirm this.”

“What is it?”

“Is the roast beef thick-cut?”

“I will instruct the chef to make it as thick as a steak.”

“…You win.”

I raised the white flag.

“I accept.
I will take that deal.”

Claude-sama’s face lit up instantly.

Like a large dog wagging its tail.

“Thank you!
I believed you would say that!”

“I was just tempted by bait.”

“That’s fine.
Just having you beside me gives me strength.”

He took my hand and respectfully kissed the back of it.

A practiced gesture.

But perhaps it was my imagination that his hand felt slightly warm, and a little unsteady.

“Then, I will send a carriage to fetch you on the evening of the day after tomorrow.
…I have already prepared a dress as well, so look forward to it.”

“Yes, yes.
…Ah, and my shoe size—”

“I know.
I confirmed it previously when I saw the shoes you discarded.”

“…Please do not say frightening things so casually.”

When did he check?

A capable chancellor might be only one step away from a stalker.

And so, I ended up agreeing to attend the ball.

The next day.

When I told Mina about it, she clutched her stomach and laughed.

“That’s so like you!
Food over romance, huh!”

“This is no laughing matter.
This is a battle.
How to efficiently consume calories and return without interacting with anyone.”

“Sure, sure.
But that prince sure seems to like you a lot.
You should treasure that.”

“As a convenient ‘work companion,’ you mean?”

I shrugged.

To Claude-sama, I am a convenient ‘paperwork processor’ and ‘rest companion.’

This invitation was surely because dealing with stiff noble ladies is more tiring than placing an insensitive woman like me as decoration.

(…Well, that’s fine.)

If I get to eat delicious food, I will be anything.

On the day itself.

When I opened the box that was delivered, I caught my breath for just a moment.

Inside was a midnight-blue dress, deep like the night sky.

There were no flashy decorations, but the fabric itself had a sheen, sparkling like stardust depending on the angle.

Simple, yet refined.

And above all—

“…It’s not constricting.”

Rather than crushing my organs with a corset, it used soft draping to make the figure look beautiful.

With this, I could eat as much as I wanted without my stomach hurting.

And the shoes.

They looked like delicate heels, but when I slipped my feet in, they were astonishingly soft.

So the ‘magical cushioning’ Claude-sama mentioned was real.

“…Annoying, but perfect.”

My preferences had been completely understood.

I stood before the mirror.

Reflected there was not the haggard, irritable ‘villainess Eliana.’

It was a woman who ate well, slept well, and had regained a healthy complexion.

“Alright then.
Let’s go.”

I lightly slapped my cheeks to psych myself up.

My target is a mountain of roast beef.

And a complete disregard of Kyle and the others.

I will enjoy the best night possible as a wallflower.

I hear the carriage arrive.

I head down the stairs.

I had no idea that at that ball, Claude-sama would make such a bombshell declaration.

At that moment, my head was still full of roast beef, and I could not even imagine it.