Chapter 71: Opportunity
—ARIA—
The walk back toward the ballroom should have felt awkward.
After all, only a few minutes earlier I had slapped Cynthia, been nearly attacked from behind, and sohow ended up surrounded by four n who looked prepared to declare war on anyone who so much as glanced at incorrectly.
Yet strangely enough, I felt calr with every step.
Perhaps it was because sothing inside had finally settled.
For a long ti, I had been trying to convince myself that things could be different between Cynthia and . I had repeatedly reminded myself that she had suffered. I had tried to be patient whenever she acted withdrawn towards .
Even after discovering that she was not quite the gentle heroine I rembered from the original story, I continued giving her chances.
I just don’t wanna die tragically.
Tonight finally ended that uncertainty.
There was no misunderstanding left to clear.
No conversation left to have.
No sisterly relationship left to salvage.
Cynthia had already decided who I was in her mind.
Every success would beco arrogance.
Every kindness would beco manipulation.
Every achievent would beco theft.
It no longer mattered what I actually did because she would always find a way to interpret it through resentnt.
Oddly enough, realizing that truth felt liberating.
I no longer needed to keep trying.
I no longer needed to feel guilty.
Most importantly, I no longer needed to carry responsibility for emotions that did not belong to .
The ballroom doors ca into view as soon as I stepped in.
Warm light spilled into my ears and I found myself looking forward to tonight.
Sebastian walked slightly ahead, his expression still dark from what had happened in the garden.
Matthias maintained his usual composed deanor, though his gaze occasionally swept across our surroundings as if evaluating potential threats.
Ezekiel looked calm on the surface, but every so often I caught a dangerous glint in his eyes that reminded he had not actually forgiven Cynthia.
And Ren...
Well.
Ren looked polite.
Which was infinitely more terrifying.
I had known him long enough to recognize the signs.
In cases like this, the calr he appeared, the angrier he actually was.
The mont we entered the ballroom, conversations visibly faltered.
I nearly sighed.
Apparently, the sight of one noblewoman returning with three influential n surrounding her was enough to attract attention all over again.
Several heads turned imdiately.
A few noblewon exchanged curious glances.
More than one nobleman looked openly bewildered.
I pretended not to notice.
At this point, surviving the evening with my dignity mostly intact felt like a victory already.
The musicians continued playing, and the dancers resud moving across the polished marble floor, but I could still feel eyes following us.
Fortunately, that attention shifted direction surprisingly fast.
A young noblewoman I vaguely recognized from earlier approached first.
Her eyes widened the mont she reached .
"Lady Valen, I hope you do not find this rude, but I absolutely must ask where you purchased your gown."
I blinked in surprise.
Then another noblewoman approached.
"And your cape."
A third joined her.
"The embroidery is stunning."
A fourth appeared monts later.
"The crystals catch the light beautifully."
Within less than a minute, I found myself surrounded.
The transition happened so quickly that even I was caught off guard.
One mont I was returning from an emotionally exhausting confrontation. The next, I was standing in the middle of an enthusiastic crowd discussing fashion.
The contrast nearly made laugh in excitent.
Because this...
This was exactly why I ca!
Not for dancing.
Not for social politics.
Not even for networking.
I ca because I needed people to see the dress.
And judging from the growing crowd around , the dress had succeeded beyond my expectations.
A noblewoman dressed in lavender touched her fan against her lips thoughtfully.
"I have never seen a gown constructed this way before," she admitted. "The silhouette feels elegant, but it also looks comfortable."
Several won imdiately agreed.
"That was my first thought as well."
"It moves beautifully."
"The fabric seems so much lighter than traditional formal gowns."
"I cannot stop staring at the cape."
I smiled despite myself.
Every observation felt like confirmation that my efforts had been worth it.
All of my efforts suddenly felt worthwhile.
One of the won tilted her head curiously.
"Which seamstress created it?"
For a mont, I simply looked at her.
Then I smiled.
"I did."
Silence followed and everyone looked at each other in surprise.
Several won stared at .
One visibly blinked twice.
"You designed it yourself?"
"I did."
The reaction was imdiate.
Interest transford into fascination.
Questions began arriving from every direction.
"You truly designed the entire gown?"
"Even the cape?"
"What inspired the silhouette?"
"Will you create more designs?"
"Can other colors be commissioned?"
"Will there be matching accessories?"
I laughed softly.
The energy surrounding felt entirely different from the exhausting attention I had received earlier.
This attention was directed toward my work.
Toward sothing I had created.
And that distinction mattered more than most people would understand.
"I am currently preparing to establish a fashion house," I explained.
The effect was imdiate.
Several noblewon exchanged excited looks.
One countess’s daughter practically leaned forward.
"A fashion house?"
"In the capital?"
"When?"
"Soon," I replied honestly. "Everything is still being organized."
The questions intensified after that.
Instead of discussing my appearance, they began discussing fabrics, tailoring, embroidery, accessories, and future trends.
The conversation beca so engaging that I almost forgot everything that had happened in the garden.
Ren, Sebastian, Ezekiel, and Matthias have gradually stepped back, allowing space while remaining close enough to intervene if necessary.
From a distance, they observed the growing gathering around .
Sebastian watched with a curious expression. In fact, he looked strangely thoughtful.
Perhaps because this was the first ti he had seen completely absorbed in sothing unrelated to him.
Matthias appeared equally attentive.
His gaze occasionally shifted toward the noblewon surrounding .
Ezekiel looked thoroughly entertained.
anwhile, Ren stood quietly nearby.
Unlike the others, his attention never strayed far from .
Every so often, he glanced toward the ballroom entrance.
Toward nearby corridors.
Toward potential disturbances.
Then his gaze would return.
One of the older noblewon suddenly stepped forward.
"Lady Aria."
I turned toward her.
"If your fashion house opens, I would like to place an order."
The statent imdiately triggered another reaction.
"So would I."
"And I."
"I am interested as well."
Several voices joined together.
I stared at them for a mont.
Then I chuckled victoriously in my head.
This is wonderful!
Absolutely wonderful.
Earlier tonight, I had entered the ballroom hoping people might notice the dress.
Now I was being asked for future commissions before my business even officially existed.
The realization filled with satisfaction.
My future is up and about!
As conversations continued around and noblewon eagerly discussed designs, fabrics, and custom orders, I finally allowed myself to relax.
Tonight had not been about noble society.
It had not been about romance.
And it certainly had not been about Cynthia.
Tonight was the beginning of my future.
And I knew that my future looked bright, as long as I do not go back to the original plot.
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