The World Has Become Kinder to Her

The grandeur of the imperial palace, which Lotus hadn’t visited in a long time, was still awe-inspiring. She followed behind the Marquis and Marchioness with a composure that made it seem as if this wasn’t her first time stepping into the palace.  

Before the ball began, a brief ceremony was held. The people of the continent of Armenia worshipped various gods, and the most important of them were known as the Twelve Gods.  

Ceres, the goddess of earth and agriculture, was one of the Twelve Gods, and she was revered not only in the Bahamur Empire but also in many other nations.  

Agriculture, after all, was the foundation of a country’s sustenance.  

“Glory to Ceres, the goddess of the earth, who has blessed the Empire with abundance once again this year!”  

On the carefully prepared altar, wheat from the four corners of the empire and a lamb born this autumn were offered. The first drop of the lamb’s blood was turned into holy water.  

The ceremony concluded when the emperor drank from the cup of holy water.  

As in her previous life, the Harvest Festival ball was held in the Emerald Hall of the imperial palace. The hall was connected to the outdoor area where the ceremony had just taken place.  

The ballroom was decorated as beautifully as she remembered—lavish chandeliers, dazzling lights, and nobles dressed in their finest.  

At first glance, it looked like a paradise on earth, but Lotus knew that this place was more of a battlefield than any other. Here, appearances, outfits, words, and actions were all scrutinized. Every word spoken could be the sharpest weapon or the strongest shield.  

Having returned to the past, Lotus was once again stepping onto this terrifying battlefield.  

“Hoo…”  

Seeing her take a deep breath, the Marquis asked in a concerned voice, “Are you nervous?”  

“I’m fine.”  

Unless one was a direct descendant of the four dukes who supported the imperial family, their names would not be announced when entering the hall.  

However, as a member of the distinguished Marquis Estelle family, Lotus drew the attention of many nobles when she entered the hall escorted by the Marquis.  

— *She does resemble the Marquis, but she doesn’t exactly have an aristocratic air.*  

— *Her father and brother are alive, yet she enters with one of the family’s knights?*  

— *Oh my, just look at that plain outfit.*  

Hearing echoes of the insults she had endured from these nobles in the past, Lotus unconsciously bit her lip.  

Stay calm. The comments tonight would be a bit different. This time, she was dressed splendidly, and she had entered with the Marquis as her escort.  

No matter what Lotus personally thought of him, the Marquis of Estelle was a noble with considerable influence.  

The Marchioness also had a wide network of connections. As nobles came to greet the Marquis couple, Lotus naturally joined in the conversations.  

“How fortunate the Marquis of Estelle has such a beautiful flower in his family. No wonder you’ve kept her hidden away for so long, Your Excellency.”  

“…My daughter has been somewhat ill and has mostly stayed at the estate. You’ll be seeing more of her from now on, so I ask that you look kindly upon her.”  

“Count Ailson, you flatter us. We’re grateful for your kind words.”  

“What a beautiful and demure young lady. She’ll surely be the new star of the social scene soon.”  

“Oh no, Viscountess Semillon, she still has much to learn and isn’t yet well-versed in etiquette. I’d be honored if a graceful lady like yourself would guide her.”  

The exchange of pleasantries and compliments was almost mechanical.  

Everyone knew Lotus’ background and how she had been treated by the Marquis family, but not a word of that was mentioned here.  

They all treated her as if she were a beloved daughter of a noble family, and Lotus responded as if she had indeed grown up receiving such affection.  

This was a place where lies and deceit ruled. Yet one thing was clear:  

By escorting Lotus and formally introducing her to other nobles, the Marquis was signaling that, at least in public, he would treat her as a legitimate child of the family.  

Lotus and the other nobles all understood this unspoken message.  

‘Well, isn’t this something…’

It was amusing. A dream she had once longed for, yet could never achieve.  

Now, after returning to the past, having lost all motivation and let go of everything, the things she once desired were being handed to her, as if someone were making charitable offerings.  

Lotus felt a strange turmoil in her heart.  

While she exchanged pleasantries with old nobles and noblewomen for nearly twenty minutes, a small stir arose in the ballroom. It was caused by the arrival of new guests.  

“Oh my, the Knight of Ice! What brings him here? I heard he dislikes crowded places.”  

“Well, this is one of the Empire’s four major balls. Even Lord Zahard couldn’t avoid attending. And look, the Iron Knight, Lord Estelle, has arrived as well. What a feast for the eyes!”  

“If I could dance with Lord Zahard or Lord Estelle tonight, it would be a dream come true.”  

“A romance with a dashing knight, you mean?”  

“Oh, my!”  

A man with deep navy hair and sapphire-blue eyes entered the hall—Kenneth Zahard, the knight among knights. When Lotus spotted him, her lips trembled slightly.  

‘…!’  

For a brief moment, their eyes seemed to meet, and Lotus quickly turned her head away.  

‘It must be my imagination. It has to be. It *better* be.’  

She had been so preoccupied worrying about her reunion with Rikheus that she hadn’t considered other problems. In the past, she had made a name for herself as the Queen of the Night, having met many men during that time.  

Kenneth, the man who had taken her virginity, along with other noblemen she had once dated and shared intimate moments with, were now scattered across this very ballroom. Lotus’ face grew hot with embarrassment.  

‘Ha… I really want to cry right now…’  

This was no time to be standing around. She needed to slip away, somewhere where neither Kenneth nor any other young lords would notice her.  

Men like Kenneth, and a few others, wouldn’t approach unless she made the first move, given their personalities.  

And some of them were of lower status than the Marquis’s daughter, so she could refuse them or escape without issue. But there were two or three men who didn’t fit into either category. She would need to be extra cautious when dealing with them.  

“Lotus.”  

However, her plan was thwarted by Hession, who had approached her. Dressed in a black formal tailcoat, Hession was a man handsome enough to turn any woman’s head.  

“You’re the most beautiful one here tonight,” he said, lightly kissing the back of her hand.  

His overly affectionate demeanor made Lotus want to cringe, but she skillfully masked her discomfort with the calmness and patience she had developed after returning to the past.  

“Thank you for the compliment, brother,” she replied.  

It had been a long time since she had called him ‘brother.’ Hession’s heart raced at the sound of it. Seeing the emerald jewelry adorning her neck and ears only lifted his mood further.  

A faint smile, almost imperceptible, tugged at his normally expressionless lips, and the young noblewomen watching him gasped in surprise.  

“I’ve never seen Lord Estelle smile like that before.”  

“He must truly dote on his sister.”  

“Lady Estelle is so lucky, getting to see that face every day.”  

Hearing the whispered comments of the young noblewomen, Lotus was reminded once more of how her position had changed.  

Thanks to the Marquis and Marchioness formally introducing her to the other nobles, and Hession’s affectionate display, Lotus had gained an image of being a cherished daughter of the Marquis’s family. As a result, no one dared to speak ill of her.  

In fact, some of the noblewomen looked at her with envy—a situation that would have been impossible in her previous life.  

‘…None of this matters. I’m tired of it all. I just want to escape from this exhausting situation.’  

Lotus, her expression betraying her weariness, spoke softly.  

“My legs hurt from moving around so much after such a long time.”  

“Oh dear. Shall I take you to the lounge, Lotus?” Hession asked, concern evident in his expression.

Of course, Lotus would have preferred to hide away in the lounge, but she decided it would be better to rest at a table in a quiet corner of the ballroom rather than attract unnecessary attention by leaving and returning later.  

If she stayed quietly in one corner, she wouldn’t have to run into any young lords or ladies of Count rank or higher. As for lower-ranked nobles who might approach her with unwanted thoughts, she could simply dismiss them with the excuse of needing rest.  

“It’s not that bad. I just want to sit for a while,” she said.  

Annoyingly, Hession followed her all the way to the table.  

However, as the vice-commander of the 6th Knights and the future head of the Estelle family, many young lords and ladies wanted to talk to him.  

Surrounded by nobles, Hession had no choice but to leave, making sure not to disturb Lotus’s rest.  

From then on, Lotus sat at the table, sipping a sweet drink and letting time pass.  

‘How long has it been since I entered the ballroom? Still far from an hour, I bet. Just a little more, and I’ll be able to leave, as the “sickly” young lady can make her exit. Just hold on until then.’  

The Marquis and Marchioness of Estelle kept casting concerned glances at her, probably wondering why she hadn’t danced or mingled with other nobles.  

Lotus ignored their worried looks completely. She had no intention of dancing with any man tonight.  

Even if it resulted in a half-finished debut, she didn’t care. She had already given up on fitting into this wretched noble society.  

Her heart was now filled with nothing but resignation.  

She would live quietly, unnoticed, until the Marquis arranged a political marriage for her. Then she would simply follow along.  

— *At least she knows her place, not stepping out of line.*  

— *Of course. Unless the young lord is exceedingly polite and kind, he’d likely be rejected if he asked her to dance.*  

In the past, noblewomen and ladies would have gossiped eagerly about her withdrawn behavior. Now, however, they remained silent, merely watching her with curious eyes. Their stares irritated her.  

More time passed.  

‘Hmm, I think it’s time. I can leave now, right?’  

Just as Lotus was about to stand, she noticed men approaching her—no, not just one man, but two. She felt a surge of panic.  

‘Why are they coming this way? No, it’s just my imagination. It must be because the entrance is behind me. They’re just heading for the exit, and I’m overreacting.’  

Unfortunately, both men stopped right in front of her, attracting the attention of the entire ballroom.  

“Lady Estelle,” one said.  

“Lady Lotus,” the other followed.  

As if they had rehearsed it, both men spoke her name at almost the exact same moment.  

Lotus maintained a neutral expression as she looked at the two men. After briefly glancing at each other, they turned their gazes back to her.  

“May I have the honor of your first dance?”  

“Would you grant me the honor of your first dance?”  

Lotus imagined the God of Misfortune smiling down on her from somewhere behind them.  

Their words had been spoken nearly in unison, with only slight differences, and it was far from what she wanted to hear.