Chapter 32 Reunion After A Long Time
"Halesia! It's been a while!"
Halesia, who had arrived first and was waiting at the entrance, smiled and waved as Rhiannon gracefully stepped down from the carriage and ran over with a joyful expression. Nobles were gathering at the royal palace's guesthouse. Today was the day of a party hosted by the royal family.
The season had already turned to autumn, and the social calendar was nearing its end. Rhiannon took Halesia's hand, beaming with joy at seeing her after such a long time.
"I've been wanting to see you for so long, Halesia! I have so much to tell you!"
"Please, go ahead and talk! Meanwhile, I'll be admiring Lady Rhiannon's lovely face. You look beautiful today, as always... Seeing you again makes me feel so emotional I could cry. For now, let me pay my respects."
"Paying respects won't get you anywhere..."
As Halesia clasped her hands together and began murmuring, "Oh, God..." Rhiannon forced a smile. Today, Halesia seemed particularly high-spirited.
After finally reuniting with her beloved Rhiannon, Halesia was completely overwhelmed with emotion.
(Well, I guess that's understandable. After all, we used to see each other almost every day, and then suddenly, we lost contact.)
It had been about a month since Rhiannon and Halesia had last seen each other. Rhiannon glanced toward the party venue.
"The party hall isn't crowded yet. Since we're here, let's head inside early."
"That makes sense."
They accepted glasses of fruit water from an attendant and made their way from the entrance hall to the party venue. As they walked, the two drew the attention of several onlookers. Many gentlemen turned their heads to admire them as they passed.
Rhiannon smiled at Halesia, who walked beside her. "Halesia, you look different today. Your outfit is stunning. You're so beautiful—you should always style your bangs like that."
"That's not okay! This outfit stands out too much. If I draw too much attention, I won't be able to quietly enjoy watching handsome men and beautiful women."
Halesia pouted, her usually concealed purple eyes glinting as she frowned. She looked completely different from her usual self.
Today, she wore an elegant purple dress that hugged her slim figure perfectly. Her bangs were neatly styled, and her glossy black hair was swept into a half-updo. Even her casual movements radiated a kind of elegance that distinguished her from the other noble ladies present.
Normally, Halesia dressed modestly, hiding her striking eyes behind heavy bangs, but her parents and maids had persuaded her to dress more formally for the royal event.
"Let's talk about Lady Rhiannon instead! You look quite different today, don't you?"
"Thank you! It's all thanks to Ms. Alice and the others."
"Ah, Alice truly is a genius when it comes to makeup... But while Lady Rhiannon looks beautiful today, there's something... different about her!"
Halesia waved her hands in frustration, biting her lip. Today, Rhiannon had been polished to perfection at the royal salon, just as always. Her milk tea-colored hair was styled into a soft half-updo, the curls framing her face giving her a gentle, refined look.
While Halesia's half-updo gave her an elegant sharpness, Rhiannon's soft curls gave off a warm and approachable vibe. Her dress, a soft pearl blue, complemented her beige shawl draped over her shoulders to combat the autumn chill.
"Don't you like this outfit, Halesia?"
Rhiannon asked, tilting her head at Halesia's uncharacteristic hesitation.
"Ugh, I do like cute Lady Rhiannon, but personally, I prefer an elegant look that exudes authority and makes me want to grovel. This outfit is... how should I put it... a bit of a misinterpretation!"
"Ah, the usual..."
Rhiannon chuckled wryly.
If she wasn't careful, she often ended up resembling a villainous noblewoman straight out of a novel, but it seemed that was exactly the look Halesia preferred. Incidentally, Halesia had once created an outfit for her that was the epitome of the "villainess" aesthetic.
Today, however, Rhiannon had gone for a more delicate image, her makeup softening her sharp features. Even her eyeliner and lipstick worked together to create a more approachable, almost enchanting look.
"It took a lot of effort to tone down my usual style this much. The makeup alone took two hours!"
"Two hours? Lady Rhiannon, you're already beautiful as you are! Just look at the glow on your cheeks!"
"But image strategy is still important, you know? If I dress as I usually do, rumors start flying about how I'm 'seducing men' or 'slandering other noble ladies.' Ever since I changed my look, those rumors have completely disappeared."
"Ugh, that's true, but..."
"Don't make such a disappointed face. More importantly, let me tell you about something recent! I finally made my debut at a ball! And I went all by myself!"
"Wow, that's amazing!"
Halesia clapped her hands with a big smile. Rhiannon puffed out her chest proudly, a smug expression on her face.
"I can do it if I try. And it seems everyone's opinion of me is quite high."
"Of course, Lady Rhiannon! Everyone has finally realized how wonderful you are!"
Rhiannon basked in Halesia's praise, smiling like a child who had just accomplished a difficult task for the first time.
What Rhiannon didn't know was that Halesia had been quietly manipulating information behind the scenes to ensure her reputation improved. For Halesia, Rhiannon's happiness was the only thing that mattered.
Rhiannon happily started chatting away about this and that.
After all, her life had finally transformed from just going back and forth between her part-time job and the townhouse to something glamorous, fitting for a noble lady.
It seemed she had a lot to talk about.
However, a young nobleman suddenly interrupted Rhiannon's conversation.
"Lady Halesia, Lady Rhiannon. Good evening."
Halesia turned to the well-built gentleman with a cold expression.
"Good evening. We're in the middle of an important conversation, so if you have something to say, could it wait until later?"
"You both are so beautiful that I couldn't help but approach you. Shall we enjoy this lovely evening together?"
"Yes, it's a beautiful evening. But the only person I wish to speak with is Lady Rhiannon."
"Oh, how unwelcoming. They say beautiful flowers have thorns, and Lady Halesia is truly like a rare and exquisite bloom..."
Hearing the man's theatrical comment, Rhiannon burst out laughing.
Halesia looked at her in confusion. Rhiannon opened her fan, covering her mouth as she chuckled softly.
"Kaine, stop teasing Halesia so much."
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