Please Bully Me, Miss Villainess!

Chapter 236 : The Ball 1

"Where could she be..."

At times like this, when unable to stay by her side, anxiety began to take root and sprout in her heart.

After leaving the changing room, Elsa lost her way.

Because this place was simply too vast!

To avoid stepping on the long hem of her dress while moving, she could only carefully lift the edge of her skirt, unable to walk very fast.

Brand new carpets, magnificent crystal chandeliers, seasonal fresh flowers cultivated in early spring, intricately patterned drapes... and the noblewomen and gentlemen engaged in pleasant conversation.

Everything felt so out of place with herself,

Emerging from the layered, maze-like corridors, these overly ornate decorations made Elsa feel as if she had stumbled into another unknown world.

This was the main hall of Greenwoam Castle in the royal capital, also the venue for the climax of the festival—the ball.

Usually the residence of the royal family, it was only on this day that it would be open to the public like this.

When they arrived by flower car, the walls of the castle were already lined with dragon carriages decorated with noble family crests, and the coming and going of transport vehicles was endless,

If these visiting dragon carriages were lined up in a queue, they could probably circle the outer wall twice.

The people moving about in the great hall were all gentlemen and ladies dressed in expensive-looking evening gowns,

This ball was specially prepared for those dignitaries and celebrities, and those in attendance were either nobles or young ladies from wealthy families.

Young nobles also sought to find wonderful encounters here.

Like that one over there.

Although she finally found the person she was looking for, upon seeing the scene before her, Elsa felt her temples start to throb uncontrollably.

Here we go again?

"Beautiful lady."

Wearing a mask adorned with floral decorations, a well-mannered gentleman who was clearly from the upper class extended his hand to the blonde Young Lady before him.

"May I have the honor of dancing with you?"

"...I'm honored that you would invite me among so many ladies."

Receiving the invitation, she politely smiled as she gently set down her glass of juice, lifted her gown, and curtsied to him.

"But I'm very sorry, I already have a reserved dance partner."

Having a rare opportunity to hide her identity, Yvonne didn't want to draw attention to herself, but while waiting for her lover to change into her gown, just quietly drinking juice in the corner had already resulted in several men coming forward to invite her to dance.

"I don't see any other male companion by your side."

However, this young nobleman didn't want to give up,

"If you're just saying this to reject me, I hope you could reconsider..."

As he spoke, he pulled out the bouquet from his chest and offered it to the blonde Young Lady before him,

This was already considered a gesture of expressing affection.

"To me, you are the most dazzling star of tonight—"

From the moment he entered, he was deeply attracted by this Young Lady with an extraordinary aura.

That silky beautiful golden hair... graceful figure... and the beauty hidden behind the mask, all of which outshone the surrounding women.

This...

This is truly troublesome...

Hearing such words from someone other than Elsa, Yvonne felt goosebumps forming on her arms.

Realizing that the other party seemed to have no intention of giving up, she could only step back again with an awkward but polite smile,

Normally, saying 'I have a reserved dance partner' would be enough to dissuade most people, but for some reason this person was just so persistent.

Just as Yvonne was considering how to politely express a further refusal,

Like a pure white flower blooming under the night sky, a flaxen-haired Young Lady in a white gown stepped in front of her,

"Being inconsiderate will only make people dislike you, sir—"

The Young Lady raised her head, staring straight at the man, her expression as if facing a formidable enemy.

Although this demeanor didn't quite conform to noble etiquette, its directness was not unpleasant.

"Young Lady, I think you've misunderstood."

The young nobleman smiled and explained, bowing again.

"I merely wanted to invite her to dance together, absolutely no other intentions."

"I'm sorry, but as I said, I already have a reserved dance partner."

She drew the petite and lovely Young Lady before her into her embrace,

"Right here."

"...A-A girl??"

The young nobleman's mouth gaped open,

Although he had considered the possibility of being rejected in various ways, this outcome was completely unexpected.

"There's no rule saying women can't dance with women, is there?"

She smiled gently,

"Well, that's true?"

But seeing her eyes subtly change upon meeting this woman, he finally understood something.

He had hoped to form part of tonight's scenery with her, but now it seemed he was the one spoiling the view.

"I wish you both a wonderful evening."

With a deep bow, the man turned and left with a hint of regret.

Fortunately, he wasn't an unreasonable person. Yvonne finally breathed a sigh of relief, then extended both hands to embrace her lover before her.

"You're so late~"

Nuzzling her face against her hair, Yvonne complained softly in her ear,

"Because the gown was really difficult to put on..."

Actually, she had also gotten lost in the middle, which delayed her a bit, but it was too embarrassing to admit, so Elsa didn't want to say it.

"As for you..."

Elsa turned around, narrowing her eyes.

"Tell me honestly, how many is this tonight?"

After the nobleman left, she asked with a hint of jealousy,

"The fifth... no, I think it's the sixth?"

Yvonne picked up her glass of juice again, took a small sip to moisten her throat, and displayed a troubled expression,

"Ah~ Maybe I should just hang a sign on myself saying 'Has a dance partner, please do not disturb'?"

"Pfft... What's that supposed to be."

Amused by her serious joke, Elsa burst out laughing.

"But, come to think of it..."

She turned her gaze back to Yvonne, starting to examine her carefully.

"...What is it?"

"This gown... really suits you."

An evening gown with white plain weave, paired with light blue ribbons, appearing both elegant and cute, with delicate handmade lace trim decorating the collar and hem.

The flaxen hair usually naturally draped over her shoulders was now braided and pinned up, adorned with a string of lily of the valley flowers, a masterpiece by Linda.

It wasn't in vain that she had spent so much effort, making time to visit so many tailors.

"You look beautiful tonight."

Being gazed at like this, Elsa was too shy to speak,

"Not as beautiful as you..."

Although a reincarnated person, she had received over a decade of noble education before this. Now, Yvonne Smollett was undoubtedly a genuine noble Young Lady.

As long as her fierce gaze was concealed, from any angle, this villainess was an undeniable beauty.

The elegance emanating from her every move, and the composure she maintained when facing worldly affairs... these were all things that she, as a mere commoner, could not possess.

If she were a man, she would surely invite her like this too.

Could someone like herself... really match up well with her?

Before this, Elsa had fallen into such worries,

"So... beautiful lady, may I invite you to dance with me?"

Even among this blooming flower garden, she was definitely the most eye-catching blossom.

But no matter how eye-catching she was, this gentle expression of hers would only be reserved for the person she loved most.

She extended her hand solemnly, as if it were a matter of course, inviting her.

"If you don't mind that I might step on your feet..."

"How could I?"

Perhaps there were no magnificent jewels to match, but her beauty was irreplaceable in her eyes.

The crowd in the hall began to move towards the dance floor, the noble ladies and gentlemen preparing to dance were holding hands, moving towards the center in pairs.

"Don't be so tense, relax a little."

Noticing her shoulders were a bit stiff, Yvonne gently comforted her.

...How could she not be nervous.

Elsa felt her face was about to freeze.

Even after being by Yvonne's side for so long, she was still not good at handling such grand occasions,

Although she had practiced dance steps and noble etiquette many times before this, it was after all last-minute cramming, far from comparable to the noble girls who had been learning these since childhood.

If she were to actually dance, her true nature would surely be exposed.

Those in the ballroom were all swans gracefully preening their feathers, only she was the bewildered duck.

"It's alright, just follow my lead."

This hall was like a garden blooming with countless flowers. Every woman present was radiant, only she, a commoner, had somehow mixed in, giving Elsa a constant feeling of being out of place.

Listening to the music growing closer, anxiety began to subtly grow in Elsa's heart.

"Evie... maybe we should forget it?"

She held onto Yvonne's hand, stopping in place.

"What's wrong?"

Yvonne asked, puzzled,

They had already come this far, why suddenly stop now?

"...I'd better not dance."

After carefully concealing for so long, cautiously making it to today, if something went wrong at the ball...

Recently, this feeling of unease had been growing stronger.

Moreover, taking a step back, she was also afraid that her mistakes might embarrass Yvonne,

"Really? You really don't want to dance with me?"

Yvonne sighed, taking her hands again,

"Even though you practiced alone for so long?"

"What..."

Mercilessly exposed, Elsa's face instantly turned red,

"...When did you see?!"

"I noticed when you started secretly practicing a month ago."

It would have been better if they had practiced together, but she had been secretly practicing alone, probably to give her a surprise at a time like this.

"I don't want your efforts to be in vain, for anything."

Saying this, she gently lifted Elsa's hand and placed it on her own.

"But... if... what if... I embarrass you..."

With their hands overlapping like this, the posture of embracing the waist with their arms was the preparatory stance before the dance steps began,

But compared to others, Elsa noticed, she was standing especially close,

This distance allowed her to feel at ease.

"How could that be?"

As the music started, she pulled Elsa's body close, and they took the first dance steps together.

"You are always my pride, at any time."