As If I've Never Loved - Chapter 25

There had not been a ball at Fairmont House for decades.

The fact that this first ball was a party completely open not only to Longfield but also to Mayberry residents was unbelievable.

The servants, who had to prepare for the grand ball using the newly refurbished grand garden and the entire central hall, had to scurry about like beans on a hot pan.

This was especially true given that the wedding was less than a week away.

People were naturally filled with anticipation. After all, Mrs. Fullum’s occasional balls were practically the only entertainment in this area.

And now there was to be a party without invitations at Fairmont House, which they had always wanted to see!

Given the situation, it was only natural that the happy screams of women worrying about what to wear continued until the morning of the ball.

“Oh my, look at this fountain! I’d believe it if you said it was stolen from heaven.”

Sure enough, even before the ball began, people gathered in groups of three or five at the earl’s residence, engrossed in admiring the splendid garden.

Their open mouths showed no signs of closing.

“Oh! It’s too early to be surprised, madam. They say there’s even a waterfall further inside.”

“He must be really happy about his grandson’s marriage. Who would have thought a ball would be held here?”

People wondered how the old earl, who was known to be so rigid and stubborn that he hardly interacted with his surroundings, came to host this party.

Neither his aloof grandson nor the eldest daughter of the Bailey family seemed like the type to insist on such an occasion.

Although it remained unknown to everyone until the end, this ball was held solely because of a letter from Bianca Talbot.

Bianca had sent a polite letter to the Earl of Longfield, whom she had last greeted at the royal palace years ago.

Starting with warm greetings, she mentioned in the letter that she had heard about Ansel’s marriage and asked if it was true that he had decided to bring his grandson’s wife into the mansion.

The Talbot Marquess family was a renowned political family, acknowledged even by the Earl of Huntington.

It was clear that Viscount Monmouth, who valued honor, had been eyeing the marquess’s daughter as a match for Ansel, and she too had not hidden her desire for Ansel for a long time.

Bianca had never been shy about boldly expressing her wishes since she was a young girl.

It was an attitude befitting the only daughter of a family that had been a strong supporter of the Wellington royal family for many years with its unique strategy and boldness.

The old earl had long recognized that this small woman with dewdrop-like eyes and an innocent smile was actually bolder and more intelligent than anyone else.

Of course, the reason he didn’t put up any particular walls against this young lady was also because she appeared sufficiently lovable even to the eyes of the pessimistic earl.

“I understand what you’re suspecting, but I don’t oppose that marriage.”

The earl, who immediately grasped what the marquess’s daughter was suspicious of, sent a reply at once.

He added that although it was unfortunate for Bianca, he only hoped for happiness since it was the woman his grandson had chosen for himself.

Surprisingly, the marquess’s messenger returned to Longfield the very next night.

The reply, which was expected to contain gratitude for the response and some cute complaints, actually read as follows:

“I heard that the wedding will be held intimately, inviting only the families of both sides.

I hear that the villagers love this engaged couple very much. Ansel told me that people are disappointed that they can’t see the wedding.

He probably couldn’t express such inner thoughts to you because he respects but also finds you difficult to approach, Grandfather.

So, Earl, if you wish for your grandson’s couple to be happy for a long time, how about holding a ball to celebrate their marriage? I hear you even skipped the engagement party out of consideration for the other family, so this could be in place of that.

It seems like a fantastic idea to me, but what do you think, Earl? If you thought I might be jealous of the woman who will become Ansel’s wife, I might be a little hurt.

Of course, if you do this, I’d be delighted to attend. I’m already looking forward to the day when I can see you after such a long time.”

Of course, the claim that Ansel had spoken his true feelings was entirely made up.

Bianca’s messenger, who had gone to Longfield to send the first letter, had called a maid from the mansion to hear the details, and Bianca had simply woven that information beautifully into her second letter.

Of course, if it hadn’t been for the report that “this woman named Sarah is so passive and from such a humble family that it would be difficult to arrange a separate meeting,” there would have been no need to go this far.

As it happened, the earl had no reason to reject Bianca’s proposal.

Although a noisy ball open to everyone was truly uncomfortable, he didn’t want his grandson, who would eventually inherit this mansion, to also inherit such an isolated life.

Secretly, he wanted to celebrate his grandson’s marriage in some way.

However, it was not the earl’s style to propose first, and Ansel was not likely to ask for anything beyond the minimum.

Therefore, Bianca’s proposal was a timely and convenient option to reluctantly accept.

“I was worried I might have been too forceful…”

Sitting across from the mansion’s owner in the quiet study, Bianca smiled, her dewdrop-like eyes curving.

“You are indeed kind, Earl.”

It was a satisfied smile of one who had achieved her goal of seeing Ansel’s fiancée before the wedding.

“The time has come, why don’t we go out?”

“Ansel hasn’t arrived yet. I thought I’d hide a little longer and surprise him when he comes.”

Bianca answered like an innocent mischief-maker.

Although it was clear that Ansel would not welcome her, if he frowned and asked what she was doing here, she could simply reply that she had come at the earl’s invitation.

‘You will never confirm the facts with the earl or question the reason.’

Above all, if she greeted Ansel directly, there was a possibility that he might try to hide the woman out of wariness towards her.

In the worst case, he might even make her leave. It was a plausible inference, given that she was a being he had kept secret for so long.

“He’ll arrive on time, so he should be here soon.”

“Is that so? Hmm.”

With a perfect smile, Bianca thought.

Would it be better to go ahead and scrutinize that woman from the moment she enters? Maybe she could learn a little about what’s so special about this country village by observing the people gathered here.

Having finished her thought, she smiled brightly.

“Well then, shall we slowly go out as you suggested?”

“Have a comfortable stay.”

Unfortunately, Bianca couldn’t hide her disappointment.

Even though she hadn’t come with particular expectations, the state of the men was simply unspeakable.

‘How can there be such a lack of decent men?’

Even if they had dressed up neatly, it might have been understandable, but the majority of the men were in terrible attire with their hair not even properly groomed.

No matter how rural it was, to think they would come to a ball looking like this. If this was their idea of making an effort, it was tragic in its own way.

The marquess’s daughter, who shone the brightest here despite coming in a thoroughly modest appearance, shook her head slightly.

‘The women here must have been desperately waiting for summer to come every year.’

At that moment, there was a slight commotion as the entrance to the central hall became busy.

As the band, which had been playing soft music, stopped their bows, everyone’s gaze simultaneously fixed on the couple who had just appeared.

‘…So that’s her.’

Even from a distance, a woman was entering the hall on the arm of the dazzling Ansel Blaine, impossible to ignore.

The woman, who had lowered her head slightly, was slender and graceful.

Her pale blonde hair, as if woven from sunlight, was elegantly pinned up, fully revealing her delicate neckline.

Though modestly adorned with only a ring that appeared to be from Ansel as her sole piece of jewelry, she looked quite pleasant.

The middle-aged couple following behind seemed to be her parents, and for commoners without significant wealth, they didn’t look as shabby as one might expect.

They must have made a special effort given the occasion.

By the way, she was said to have two daughters, but there was no sign of the younger sister anywhere.

‘Did they have a quarrel? Well, it doesn’t matter if I don’t see the sister.’

As Ansel and Sarah drew closer, Bianca quickly hid behind a lady standing next to her.

She intended to observe a bit more, not having had enough time yet.

Unfortunately, this lady happened to be the most eye-catching of all those gathered, adorned with an ostentatious dress and dangling jewels. Bianca felt a belated regret, but there was no helping it as this lady was the only one nearby with a build substantial enough to hide behind.

Soon, at the urging of the excited crowd, the band prepared to play a dance tune.

This caused a commotion as young men and women hurriedly tried to form lines.

Ansel stood at the center of the glamorous hall. His height, a head taller than those around him, and his handsome features made his dazzling presence even more prominent.

‘I once stood in that place too.’

As Bianca was lost in such thoughts, the dance began, and Ansel led his partner smoothly, like a swan on water.

The woman, seemingly unaccustomed to such occasions, followed him with her head still slightly bowed. Though her movements were a bit clumsy, she was quite beautiful.

Bianca narrowed her eyes, focusing on Ansel’s fiancée.

Just as she was thinking, ‘Not bad, but below expectations,’ the woman finally raised her head.

‘Ah, I see… A pretty face.’

She didn’t know this faint atmosphere was to his taste, but it wasn’t incomprehensible that he might have fallen for her suddenly one day. It was an honest assessment.

‘He did say he liked blue eyes.’

Ever since that night when Ansel had whispered that he liked her blue eyes, Bianca had desperately wished, countless times, that she was the only blue-eyed woman in the world.

So it was inevitable that her heart ached at the fact that Ansel’s fiancée had the same blue eyes as her.

However, as Bianca silently watched the couple, she soon felt a strange sense of dissonance.

‘…Huh?’