Though Jamie had returned with promises to bolster security, Erwel could not tear her eyes away from the direction of the bedroom.
Meanwhile, Krisina was in a flurry of activity. She commanded the maids to fill the bathtub with water, aromatic oils, flower petals, and fruit, and she even applied a soothing mask to Rishi’s face while she soaked. Once the bath was through, she dried Rishi’s hair and spent a long, meticulous time brushing it.
By then, Erwel seemed to have forgotten all about the wolves, entirely distracted by the tasks Krisina delegated to her.
It was nearly four o’clock by the time the makeup, hair, and dress were finally perfected.
“I thought we had plenty of time…”
Rishi had never dressed up this much for a party in her life.
“When a bride is preparing, there is never enough time, no matter how much you have,” Krisina remarked, her gaze locked intently on the jewelry box. “Since it’s a black dress, I think a white necklace would be best. How about this one?”
Krisina pulled out an ornate piece and held it against Rishi’s collarbone.
“I like it.”
“No, it clashes with the hairstyle. Perhaps this one would be better.”
Krisina produced another necklace.
Rishi could not tell the difference between the first and second, and judging by the blank look on Erwel’s face in the corner of the mirror, she was just as perplexed.
“Hmm, what about this one?”
“They look identical to me.”
“They are nothing of the sort. The entire atmosphere changes.”
Coming from a family of artists, Krisina clearly possessed an eye that Rishi simply lacked.
“I think this one. If I pair it with these earrings… no, wait. These earrings are too dull in color. These would be much better.”
Selecting the accessories alone took a small eternity.
As she was fastening the earrings, soft music began to drift into the room. It seemed the party had officially begun. The first pre-wedding celebration was underway in the main building’s banquet hall.
“Oh my, oh my. We’re in trouble. We haven’t even selected the hairpins.”
“Krisina, I think this hairpin is fine.”
“No, Lady Iris. This doesn’t bring out the luster of your hair. Since the earrings are white, it’s best to match the hairpin to the dress. Hmm, this one… no, this is the one.”
Only after Krisina tucked a hair ornament embedded with a black pearl into her pinned-up locks could Rishi finally draw a steady breath.
*Knock, knock.*
As she stepped into her heels, a knock sounded at the door.
“We need to head down soon.”
It seemed Kay had grown impatient. Krisina looked Rishi up and down—heels and all—and flashed a triumphant smile.
Rishi felt a wave of relief. She had been terrified that Krisina might say, ‘Not yet.’
“You look beautiful, Lady Iris.”
“That’s the truth. I’ve never seen a woman as stunning as Lady Iris in my life. Wow, she is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous…”
*Thwack!*
Krisina slapped Erwel on the side. Watching Erwel glare back, Rishi couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
“I’d like to see that beautiful woman, too,” Kay urged from the other side of the door.
Rishi walked slowly toward the entrance. Krisina pulled the door open.
Kay, who had been waiting anxiously, widened his eyes at the sight of her. He stood frozen, staring in silence for a long, heavy moment.
“Count?” Krisina called out softly.
“Ah, goodness.” Kay covered his mouth with one hand. “I couldn’t have imagined you would look like this…”
“You think she’s beautiful, don’t you?”
“Words can’t describe it, Krisina. They truly cannot.”
Krisina puffed up with pride, as if she were the one being complimented. “Today’s Countess Green will be the talk of the high society for a long time. You are the first woman to ever wear a dress like this to a pre-wedding party.”
***
Britney wore a light pink dress that might have seemed a bit plain.
At first, she had considered wearing something flashy to completely crush Rishi’s spirit, but she changed her mind the moment she heard the Crown Prince had arrived. She decided it would be wiser to play the part of a generous older sister—one who wore a modest gown for the sake of the bride—rather than competing with her.
It wasn’t truly a simple dress, however. It was crafted from high-quality fabric, and to compensate for the gown’s simplicity, she wore ostentatious, heavy jewelry and hairpins.
The necklace, embedded with dozens of diamonds, was so gaudy that it made Britney’s complexion look sallow, but no one dared mention it.
“Britney, do not do anything unnecessary at this party. Do you understand?” Duke Glovern Witlow had warned her repeatedly before entering.
“I told you I understand.”
Having already been forced to foot the entire bill for this wedding due to her previous blunders, Britney had no choice but to answer with forced obedience.
“There is no need to try too hard to impress the Crown Prince. I’ve already spoken to him about you, so he will be asking you to dance first. Until then, just act as if you don’t know anything. Understand?”
“I understand.”
Right now, Britney was more concerned with the Crown Prince than with Rishi. Since there was no way the Crown Prince would invite the bride to dance, she was certain she would be his first partner. The mere thought of the jealous stares from the young noblewomen when she stood in the center of the hall, holding his hand, made her heart swell.
It was a party hosted by Countess Nellanikus Jenner, and the venue was decorated with excessive, dazzling luxury. But none of it caught her eye.
*Iris hasn’t arrived yet. As the star of the show, she’ll probably enter later. But it doesn’t matter. No matter when she arrives, I will be the Crown Prince’s first dance partner.*
There were a few familiar faces in the crowd. Those who recognized Britney approached her to exchange pleasantries.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is entering.”
At the servant’s announcement, the hum of conversation ceased. Only the gentle melody of the orchestra drifted through the hall.
The doors swung open, and Iovet revealed himself.
Britney held her breath. She had felt it when she saw him yesterday, but he was a man of breathtaking stature. If Kay was like the moon in the darkness, Iovet was the sun on a midsummer day. With bright blond hair, porcelain skin, and blue eyes clearer than the sky, his height and broad shoulders made him look as though he were scattering light wherever he walked.
Iovet strode in with a dignified bearing and a bright smile.
“This is not a party where I am the main character, so please do not be nervous—enjoy yourselves.”
Following his lead, those who wished to curry favor with the Crown Prince circled him, eyeing one another for an opportunity to approach.
Britney wanted to continue observing him, but she remembered her father’s instructions and mingled with the other young ladies instead.
“I heard a rumor that His Highness is considering Lady Britney for the Crown Princess position. Is that true?” someone whispered.
“That is merely a rumor,” Britney said, feigning modesty.
“Since Count Green is getting married, the Crown Prince’s popularity has surged even more. They say the families who were eyeing the position of Countess Green have now turned their attention to the Crown Princess position.”
“Duke Witlow must be proud. Rumors are swirling that his second daughter has become Countess Green, and his eldest might soon become the Crown Princess.”
“Rumors are just rumors.” Britney offered an elegant smile to the young lady sending her daggers of jealousy. “Rather than gossip, today is a day to celebrate my younger sister. I am looking forward to seeing how beautiful she will be.”
“I heard that Count Green is so enchanted by his Countess that he has lost his mind.”
At that remark, irritation flared in Britney’s chest, but she forced a smile.
“Of course. Our Iris is truly beautiful.”
“I’m curious. Just how beautiful is she that the Count has lost his mind?”
There was a bitter, jagged edge to their voices whenever they spoke of Rishi. Britney hoped their expectations were high—the higher the bar, the more crushing the disappointment would be. Everyone here had arrived wearing their finest silks and jewels for the House Green party. No matter how famous a designer Rishi wore, surely she couldn’t be more beautiful than the elite gathered here.
“Count and Countess Green are entering.”
At the servant’s call, the music stopped. It was a courtesy to the host.
The Crown Prince and the nobles surrounding him shifted their gaze toward the entrance.
The moment the doors opened and the Count and Countess Green appeared:
“Ah!”
“Wow.”
“My goodness.”
“Oh!”
Exclamations erupted from every corner of the room, involuntary and sharp.
It was inevitable.
At a pre-wedding party, it was the unspoken rule that a bride wear white or a soft, innocent hue. The dress Iris wore, however, was so striking that even the sight of the formidable Kay Brant Green standing beside her seemed to fade into the background.
It was a black gown that left one shoulder bare, accentuating the elegant curve from her waist to her hips before flaring out magnificently at her calves. Gold thread was embroidered into the fabric, shimmering with restraint, making Rishi’s pale skin look even whiter—dazzling, almost ghostly, against the dark silk.
A pearl bracelet, a necklace, and earrings transformed what could have been a risqué choice into something profoundly elegant, while the black pearl hairpin tucked into her reddish-silver hair gave her a strong, commanding impression.
It was not a dress just anyone could pull off.
The noblewomen and young ladies in the room had no choice but to acknowledge that it was only because it was Iris that such a gown could be worn so perfectly.
The flower of the Witlow Duchy.
The woman everyone had been whispering about possessed a beauty that made the word “flower” seem entirely inadequate. Every feature on her small, white face was perfect, whether viewed individually or in harmony. Even the light purple of her eyes held a hue more beautiful than any gemstone.
Her plump, red lips, resting beneath a perfectly sculpted nose, were as moist and ripe as if they might spill fresh fruit juice at any moment.
As Rishi held Kay’s hand and walked across the hall, the guests held their breath, unable to look away. Even the way her dress fluttered failed to capture their attention—their eyes were fixed solely on her.
Even the musicians in the orchestra could not take their eyes off her. They were supposed to resume playing the moment the hosts entered, but they had forgotten that fact entirely.
However, no one noticed.
Iris Green.
In that moment, in that hall, she was the music itself.
“Thank you for gracing us with your presence.”
Only when Kay spoke did the orchestra snap back to reality and resume playing, and the guests were finally able to exhale the breath they had been holding. The women felt a sudden, sharp shame that they had been so thoroughly mesmerized, while the men felt a dark jealousy toward the Count for having captured such a woman.
The party resumed, but the atmosphere had shifted.
“Say what you will about the Count being a brute, but he is a man. I didn’t want to believe the rumors that he married purely because he was bewitched by a woman’s face.”
“Indeed. Still, really… wow, she’s prettier than the rumors suggested. No, not just pretty—she’s intense.”
“Still, to wear a dress like that… is she not aware she is a bride?”
“It isn’t forbidden by law. Isn’t it enough that it suits her?”
“I suppose. Well, I guess it’s fine if it suits her.”
The women glanced at Rishi, offering their guarded, critical assessments. Britney was displeased that the feedback was leaning toward the positive. However, she stood tall and straight, not revealing a hint of her turmoil.
Usually, the host opens the first dance, but since the Crown Prince was present, he was expected to initiate the proceedings. The only person who could ask the bride to dance before the wedding was the Crown Prince—a gesture that carried the implication of the Imperial family’s protection. Such a favor was not bestowed upon just anyone; even the great Countess Nellanikus Jenner had never received it.
“Ah!”
“Gasp!”
At that moment, an even louder exclamation erupted than when Rishi first entered.
The Crown Prince was walking with long, purposeful strides toward Rishi.