A Guide to Raising a Villainess-Chapter 104: Evening reception
Evening fell almost imperceptibly in the palace.
The palace corridors, which had been bustling with activity just a short time ago, were now enveloped in a calm silence.
Only from the main hall came the faint echoes of music — light chords from string instruments and the barely audible rhythm of a piano. This strange combination of silence and muffled noise created a special, almost magical atmosphere for the evening.
I stood in front of the large mirror in my room, straightening my shoulders and tilting my head slightly, adjusting the collar of my dress. The mirror reflected every detail of my appearance.
The outfit I had chosen for tonight’s reception fit perfectly — not too fancy, but impeccably refined.
The soft, cream-colored fabric flowed in gentle waves, catching the light from the crystal chandelier. A thin embroidery of golden threads ran along the hem — exquisite, but not flashy. Everything about this dress spoke of nobility and dignity without excessive ostentation, which, incidentally, I had always preferred.
I adjusted the bracelet on my wrist slightly, checked that the light cape was still draped over my shoulders, and finally exhaled with satisfaction.
In the mirror’s reflection, I caught a glimpse of my own gaze — calm but focused.
"Auntie, you look simply beautiful," I heard behind me.
Ruby stood at the doorway, her head slightly bowed, and her voice sounded genuinely admiring.
I smiled involuntarily and turned to her.
"Thank you. You look lovely too, Ruby."
Rubiella, now standing next to me, was indeed charming.
Her morning sky–colored dress set off her fair skin and the dark strands of hair styled in a light, slightly careless hairstyle. A silver flower-shaped hairpin glinted in her hair, giving her an air of purity and innocence.
She blushed slightly and shook her head.
"Do you think we’ll meet the Emperor today?" she asked.
I looked at her with a slight smile, a mixture of indulgence and understanding.
"Perhaps." I nodded slightly. "But don’t get your hopes up too high. These receptions are usually just a formality before the main event."
However, deep down, I still felt a slight excitement. Even if a meeting with the Emperor was not planned for today, the reception promised to be crowded, which meant that I would encounter many influential people.
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror once more and picked up my gloves from the table.
"Well, it seems it’s time for us to go."
Ruby nodded, and we headed for the door together. As we walked down the corridor, the sounds of the orchestra grew louder — the evening reception was beginning.
When we entered the banquet hall, the dazzling light of the chandeliers made me squint for a moment. The high ceilings, painted with delicate ornamentation, seemed to be bathed in golden light. The marble floor reflected the candlelight.
The hall was full. Everywhere there was the soft clinking of glasses, muffled voices, and light laughter. An orchestra in the far corner played something soft and unobtrusive.
The air was saturated with the aroma of wine, fresh fruit, and expensive perfumes.
I paused for a moment at the entrance, allowing my eyes to adjust to the light and assessing the situation.
Among the guests were members of the nobility, high-ranking military officers, court ladies, and young aristocrats.
The aristocrats conversed in small groups, discussing the upcoming hunt. Young ladies in luxurious dresses laughed as they stood at tables laden with refreshments. In the center of the hall, couples danced slowly to the gentle music.
Ruby, standing nearby, also looked around the hall with interest, nodding to familiar faces from time to time. I, on the other hand, preferred to keep a little distance, watching what was happening from afar.
Crowded receptions never thrilled me — too many empty smiles and words that hid calculation and hypocritical interests.
I felt a slight excitement running through me, but outwardly I remained calm. Such evenings always required composure and the ability to keep a straight face.
"Auntie, I’m going to say hello to the Marquise d’Everlen," Ruby said, bowing slightly.
"All right. Just don’t stay too long."
She nodded and headed toward the guests.
When Rubiella disappeared among the guests, I was left alone. Everything around me was still shimmering with gold and light. Servants glided deftly between people, offering drinks, and in the corner, refined music played — a violin and flute intertwined in a delicate melody, almost dissolving into the hum of conversation.
I took a glass of wine from a tray standing nearby. The thin glass pleasantly cooled my fingers. Taking a small sip, I tasted the drink — rich, with a soft tartness and subtle fruity notes. The wine was surprisingly exquisite, like everything else related to His Majesty’s court.
I moved slightly to the side, toward a column, from where I could comfortably observe the hall. The atmosphere was lively but restrained.
I bowed my head slightly as I watched Chancellor Kestler converse with two generals — his calm demeanor and unchanging cold gaze kept many at a distance. However, some, on the contrary, sought an opportunity to come closer, if only for a brief greeting.
A few guests stopped to say hello to me and exchange a few words. Everything proceeded calmly, as usual — I responded briefly but politely, without trying to keep the conversation going longer than etiquette required.
Time passed slowly at the banquet.
The music changed smoothly: a gentle piano chord and a light strumming of strings announced a new waltz. Couples glided across the hall, laughter and quiet conversations merged into a light background, creating a feeling of harmony and celebration. I allowed myself to relax a little, enjoying the twinkling lights and the atmosphere.
However, after a while, I began to feel stuffy. Perhaps it was too much wine, or maybe the cramped hall, mixed with the hum of conversation and laughter, and the large number of guests constantly flitting around, began to weigh on me.
I sighed quietly, feeling that a slight breath of fresh air could relieve me of this suffocating feeling. So I decided to go out onto the balcony to get some air.
I slowly rose from my seat, slightly adjusting the hem of my dress, and took a few steps toward the door leading to the balcony. I had almost reached for the doorknob when suddenly...
Something made me freeze.
On the opposite side of the hall, among the guests, I caught a glimpse of a tall man.
At first, I didn’t pay any attention to it — there were too many faces flashing before my eyes — but then my ears caught a calm but familiar voice.
And the moment I heard it, something inside me seemed to stop.
It was strange — the voice seemed so familiar, as if I had heard it before, but I couldn’t remember when or where.
The moment stretched into several long seconds as I watched the man’s figure, mesmerized, trying to piece together the strange feeling of recognition.
The man stood sideways to me, talking animatedly with one of the guests, but even through the casual conversation, I could sense his natural confidence and a subtle aura of authority.
Then he turned slightly, and at that moment the light from the chandeliers, reflecting off the crystal and gold, slid momentarily across his shoulder and touched his golden hair — the very shade I had seen that day on the street when the carriage nearly knocked me down.
My heart skipped a beat, as if someone invisible had squeezed it in their hands. A sharp rush of excitement mixed with surprise.
It couldn’t be...
Could it be that this was the same man I had met last time?
I slowly lowered my glass and took a step forward, trying to get a better look at him. But at that moment, one of the guests walked between us, blocking my view.
When I looked back in that direction, the man was gone.
I frowned and froze in place, as if expecting him to suddenly reappear. My gaze darted around the room, but the figure with golden hair seemed to have dissolved among all these people.
"Where did he go?" I thought involuntarily, and a voice of inner doubt quietly sounded in my head.
I stood motionless for a few seconds, feeling the slight excitement that had previously run through me gradually give way to a strange feeling of loss.
"It must have been my imagination..." I muttered under my breath, as if trying to convince myself that it was just an illusion. But I didn’t really believe myself.
The music changed. A new waltz, smooth and gentle, flowed through the hall, filling the space with a slight excitement and solemnity. I took a deep breath, trying to regain my previous calm and sense of control over the situation.
The glass in my hand swayed slightly, and I ran my fingers over its surface, focusing on simple, tangible things to dispel the strange inner premonition.
"Everything is fine. Now is not the time or place for such thoughts."
And yet, when I looked up again, for a moment it seemed as if somewhere in the distance — at the very end of the hall, behind the marble columns — someone was looking in my direction.
However, as soon as I blinked, that gaze disappeared, as if it had never been there.
