An Incomplete Divorce - Chapter 17

Olivia stared at the mirror for a long time.

The deep green satin dress, reminiscent of fresh leaves rather than rose petals, looked modest when still but became daring when in motion.

The design, which would evoke a beach robe if only palm trees were drawn on it, had a neckline that plunged deeply between the breasts, and with every step, the dress fluttered, revealing long legs beneath the opening.

“I think it might be better to cover this part a bit.”

Olivia gently covered her chest with her hand and expressed her opinion to Eve, who was adjusting her outfit.

“But it’s so pretty. Why? All the gentlemen at the ball will only look at you.”

Elaine opened her eyes wide, as if unable to understand.

“I don’t want to dress for men’s pleasure.”

“Miss Blanchet.”

Eve Lauren, who had been examining Olivia from a step away to see if there was anything else to adjust, put her hands on her waist and intervened between the two.

“I believe that the most beautiful form of a human is their primal form. Just as God created in the beginning. I am someone who makes that sublimity stand out, not someone who satisfies the eyes of rakes. I hope you realize that your statement has insulted me.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you. I’m just not used to clothes like this…”

Flustered, Olivia trailed off.

“Stand tall with your shoulders back. The same when walking. Whether you walk timidly or elegantly, your charming legs will be revealed anyway. Wouldn’t it be better if they were revealed spectacularly?”

The woman removed Olivia’s hands from her chest. She went behind her and used both hands to straighten her hunched shoulders. Then she whispered in Olivia’s ear.

“Your attitude is who you are.”

Eve slowly turned Olivia’s gently held shoulders.

“Now, look. See how beautiful you are.”

“!”

Eve’s words, like sweet temptation, were not lies. The Olivia in the mirror looked like a sensual spirit of fresh greenery in love with the blazing sun.

“Tonight, you will be the most radiant rose.”

Eve keenly noticed something slowly awakening within Olivia.

Her cheeks, once red with shame, were now flushed with unprecedented confidence, and her eyes, which had been hiding in confusion, now emitted a clear radiance.

Now it was time to put the finishing touch on her masterpiece. Eve nodded to a staff member standing nearby, who stepped forward and opened the lid of the box he had been carefully holding.

“No way. It’s the Julbert collection!”

Fragments of light reflected from inside the box shimmered brilliantly over Elaine’s face as she exclaimed in admiration with her mouth open.

The necklace was intense.

And as intense as the necklace was, Olivia’s face was full of concern. As Eve was about to take out the necklace, she stopped her.

“The necklace is fine.”

“Don’t you like it?”

Madame Lauren’s face seemed to say, ‘Surely not, I hope,’ as she asked out of courtesy.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then why?”

“It seems too much.”

Such an expensive luxury item wasn’t necessary for just a one-night party. The dress and shoes she would never wear again were already enough.

“It seems a bit excessive to purchase. Besides, I’m not one to enjoy accessories usually.”

Olivia, not wanting to add a lavish image, calmly told Eve.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. This is a jewel that our boutique lends out. Anne Julbert is the pride of Eve Lauren.”

Eve carefully lifted the necklace with her white-gloved hands. It seemed as if light powder was flowing down with her movement.

“Won’t it be too eye-catching?”

“I think so too.”

Elaine, who had been watching silently, chimed in.

The necklace, adorned with diamonds and rubies, was the one Princess Anblyn had worn at last year’s ball.

Until she contacted Edgar about Olivia’s outfit issue, she never imagined he would mobilize Madame Lauren, Britain’s top designer. Let alone the necklace.

What on earth is this man up to?

By this point, she was inclined to think that the man’s intentions were not benevolent. Otherwise, there was no reason to make Olivia a target for women.

“It’s true that the neck looks bare, but that seems too flashy. Moreover, that necklace-”

“You seem to have forgotten the dress code, but this necklace completes the style.”

Elaine, cut off mid-sentence, closed her mouth at Eve’s glare.

Olivia closed her eyes and opened them again at the cold touch on her nape. The red gemstone falling just above her cleavage looked like a freshly bloomed rose.

At last, she was ready to enter the ball.

If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.

Tonight, Olivia decided to savor this moment without being conscious of the piercing gazes around her. As she thought this, her heart began to race.

As the sun set, cheerful music began to flow through the Lancelot Hotel.

When she went downstairs with Elaine, the hotel staff lined up in the grand hall guided them to the terrace connecting to the ballroom.

No matter how much she had mentally prepared herself, Olivia couldn’t help but feel tense about the fluttering dress hem with every step in her uncomfortable attire.

She focused all her attention on taking elegant steps while regulating her breathing as Eve had taught her.

The laughter of people and the scent of roses grew stronger. As they passed the Doric columns supporting the terrace ceiling, a rose garden lit with colored glass lamps unfolded magnificently before their eyes.

“How is it? Amazing, right?”

“It sure is.”

The flower fragrance was especially sweet tonight.

All the glass doors of the hotel were opened wide, pouring out light, and the candles in the colored glass lamps danced in the ripe spring night breeze, dyeing thousands of roses.

“Well, shall we go?”

Elaine winked briefly at Olivia.

Nodding, Olivia lightly placed her hand on the arm Elaine offered and descended the low steps.

As the spring breeze gently blew, the skirt hem rippled softly, revealing her long legs wrapped in silk stockings fantastically through the deep slit.

At that moment, the boisterous laughter and genteel voices engaged in conversation stopped. Only the melody of beautiful string instruments spread through the vast garden.

Carol, who had come to greet Princess Anblyn, widened her eyes.

How could she associate with a mere illegitimate child, no matter what.

“It seems the harlot of Rondos has made quite the preparation today.”

Carol, annoyed at seeing Elaine, whom she had weeded out from her group, descending the stairs with Olivia Blanchet, casually threw out a comment.

“She was wagging her tail at Count Lancelot in Grand Blue.”

As Carol clicked her tongue, her friends chimed in.

“This is why breeding is important. How dare she dress like that when it hasn’t been long since her divorce.”

“Does that apply to me as well?”

At the princess’s cold voice, the woman turned pale and bowed her head, fidgeting.

“I, I misspoke. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

Princess Anblyn of the Kingdom of Brit had returned to her country three years ago after ending a brief marriage with a prince of the Kingdom of Ajent.

As their marriage, a political union between nations, had been quiet, the sudden divorce scandal covered the front pages of newspapers in both countries for a while, arousing public curiosity.

People gossiped wildly for a time about the undisclosed reasons for the divorce.

The royal family’s payment of astronomical alimony only led to speculation that the prince was at fault, but no detailed circumstances were revealed.

What were you thinking, touching on the princess’s sore spot?

Carol inwardly clicked her tongue and glared at the foolish woman with half-closed eyes before looking towards the stairs.

Elaine would have been perfect for this role.

She was trying to take control of the group, and lately she had become too arrogant, so Carol had planned to accept her if she showed some humility.

But instead of swallowing her pride, Elaine chose the divorced illegitimate child.

As Olivia, who had been walking down with the hotel’s dazzling lights at her back, entered the ballroom, pathetic men began to flock around her, puffing up their chests.

Really pathetic.

To Carol, Olivia had nothing special about her.

It was just that, being an illegitimate child who became the wife of the supposedly great Duke Leopold, she was overvalued and attracted men’s attention like a magnet.

The fact that her own husband was among them gave Carol justification for hating Olivia.

“Oh my! That necklace. It’s Anne Julbert.”

At Carol’s voice, surprised as if in disbelief, Princess Anblyn’s gaze finally turned to Olivia. A crack appeared in the princess’s composed brow.

The woman’s neck, gracefully extended below her elegantly styled hair, was like that of a deer.

The brilliance of diamonds flowing along her collarbone ended in an intense red, making her skin appear even whiter. Even without the necklace, she would have been captivating.

“My goodness. Didn’t anyone try to stop her? To let her come out wearing that.”

The princess’s ladies-in-waiting were aghast.

“Divorcées’ Choice, Anne Julbert.”

Wouldn’t this be the kind of bait gossip magazines targeting female readers would love?

They would evaluate who wore it better, who it suited more, fueling women’s vanity and competitiveness.

Women attending social events had to be especially careful about this.

There was nothing to gain from being unnecessarily compared to ladies of higher status. Particularly, situations where a newcomer suited it better and incurred ill will had to be avoided.

Interestingly, this was exactly such a case.

Tomorrow’s tabloid headlines would probably be something like this:

“Anblyn Grace Brita VS Olivia Blanchet, Same Necklace Different Feel. Who’s the Winner?”

The winner, to anyone’s eyes, was Olivia Blanchet.

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.