“Are you an idiot?! Do you know who the star is today?!”

Yes, it’s you… Your Majesty the Queen.

I wanted to reply like a mirror in a certain fairy tale, but I restrained myself.

Even I understood that we didn’t have much time. The queen, who was furious, scoured her closet while scolding me.

“Geez, how could you lose the dress you were wearing?!”

Yes, I’d returned to the queen in my underdress.

I replied with a smile, “Well, Your Majesty, the statue looked so cold, I couldn’t help but lend it my dress. I’m sure my kindness will be repaid!”

“You sometimes say things that don’t make sense.”

“It is my honor and a greatest pleasure to entertain you, Your Majesty. Oh, that one would be nice!”

“What?”

The queen was surprised, but pulled out a pitch-black dress.

The queen made it a long time ago because of her hobby. Covered in black feathers, it looked like a witch’s garment rather than a teenage girl’s dress.

In her mid-twenties, the queen wore it at a masquerade ball, and many were terrified by her beauty. It was a story that was well known even among my generation.

She also wore it in defiance of my mother…

I innocently asked, “Can I wear this?”

The queen raised her chin and looked down at me.

“You… you have really good taste.”

“I’m honored by your compliment.”

“What about accessories?”

“They are unnecessary.”

In response to my quick reply, the queen covered her mouth with a fan.

“Good answer.”

“Fufu, it’s all thanks to your guidance.”

“Even if you heap praises on me, you’re mistaken to think that I won’t scold you.”

“Oh?”

In the end, I couldn’t escape. The queen nagged on from beside me as I was getting dressed.

Just before I finished getting ready…

“You won’t mind being teased about it being second hand, yes?”

“Of course. It’s my honor to receive something the queen once wore. I’ll wear it with utmost pride!”

“Very well, enjoy your evening!”

The queen hit me on the back with her fan and I straightened up.

The party was about to begin.

Naturally, my escort would be my fiancé, Crown Prince Sazanjill Lukino Lapisenta.

Right before we entered, he said, “I heard about your situation.”

No wonder he wore a black feather headdress on his breast pocket. He must’ve heard about the situation and quickly arranged it for me.

Hehe, I wonder if His Highness will be angry with me too?

Sazanjill sized me up before asking, “Is that my mother’s dress?”

“Indeed. Maybe the design is too mature for me, after all?”

I deliberately held my chest.

It was embarrassing, but the chest area was loose. I was much taller than the queen, so wearing high-heels solved it. Nevertheless, at 14, I still had a long way to go to catch up with the voluptuous queen. I managed to avoid embarrassing myself with some padding and hastily placed pieces, but it still looked shabby.

I thought he was a disappointed, but he immediately denied it.

“No, it suits you very well. It’s the same dress, but it looks completely different depending on who’s wearing it. For a moment, I didn’t realize my mother had worn it before.”

“Is that so?”

As I chuckled, the door opened.

I gently placed my hand on the prince’s outstretched hand.

We appeared before the venue, where a chandelier sparkled from the ceiling. Down below, all the noble guests—each dressed to the nines—looked up at us. They all murmured. Of course. A young, black-haired girl had come wearing a jet-black, heavy-looking dress…

I couldn’t bring myself to frown, because down below was Lala, who seemed more surprised than anyone else. There was also a lovely guest from overseas, wearing a luxurious golden dress. There was also Zafield who looked at me with shock. The queen was also smiling provocatively.

There was no way I was going to make a fool of myself.

“Lelouch.”

“Yes.”

Before I went down the stairs, I had to say something as the protagonist of the day.

I gave a curtsey.

Then, as the surroundings fell silent, I spoke just loud enough to maintain my elegance.

“Thank you all for gathering to celebrate my birthday. As some of you may have noticed… I borrowed this black feathery dress from the queen. It was a rather forceful request on my part.”

“How indecent.”

“That child is pushing it.”

A small, snorting sound could be heard.

Father, you don’t have to clear your throat so loudly.

Don’t worry about anything and just smile as you burn your daughter’s brave figure into your memory—like mother over there.

I’d expected all of this, I had to struggle not to laugh.

“As you can see… I’m still too young to be worthy of any jewelry, but please remember this appearance. In the not-too-distant future, when I’ve become a fine lady, I intend to wear the lavish ornaments from Her Majesty. I’d be grateful if you’d continue to watch over me.”

Finally, I once again expressed my gratitude to everyone who’d come to my birthday celebration.

I curtseyed once again, and a certain brother and sister gave me a big round of applause.

Under the applause I received from Zafield, my happy parents, and the shrugging queen, I took Sazanjill’s hand. He praised me for my splendid speech and we descended the stairs.

Afterward, as he and I were dancing our first dance together, he spoke to me, which was unusual for him.

“I have to become a better man, too.”

“Where is this coming from?”

“…Well, happy birthday, Lelouche.”

“Thank you.”

The ball continued without any trouble. Sazanjill seemed to have been called by the minister, and so he excused himself, saying he’d be away for a bit. I was about to go round and great everyone by myself when a well-built man spoke to me.

“Lady Elcage.”

…Who?

I turned toward at the unexpected title I was given and saw that it was an older boy with short, green hair.

Zeldo Isaac. The second son of a count family who had served as the king’s guard for generations in the neighboring country. His outfit had a gallant design, resembling a military uniform. Behind him, a round head of the same color popped out. The golden dress seemed to fit her perfectly, which was great. The girl fidgeted, embarrassed.

After being prompted by her brother, she hurriedly bowed her head.

“Thank you so much for earlier!”

“I’d like to thank you as well. You took such good care of my sister. I’ll definitely repay you someday.”

I narrowed my eyes at the siblings as they bowed their heads.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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