“Yes. I’ve heard about it briefly……”

There was no one in this capital who didn’t know that Litania was a despised princess. Though the emperor had adopted her as his daughter, it was also a well-known fact that she was actually an illegitimate child.

The ashy princess who had been locked away in a cold palace in a corner of the imperial palace until she came of age. The only times she had shown her face were at last year’s spring ball, hunting festival, and rain prayer ceremony.

Even then, she left early from the ball, and went missing during the hunting festival, so while rumors were rampant, very few people had actually seen her face.

“I heard she wasn’t properly taught imperial etiquette, so I wonder if such a person can fulfill the role of lady of the Aeternitas estate well.”

“Even though the Aeternitas estate is special, it’s still an estate. I don’t know if there will even be a proper mansion.”

“Hehe.”

Given the rumors that the two would be attending the spring ball together, it probably wasn’t really an extreme region with thunderbolts and hail as rumored. But would the divine dragon really have a proper noble’s estate and mansion like other humans? How do they live?

Various speculations were exchanged, as if imagining a mysterious animal hidden behind a veil.

“The Duke and Duchess of Aeternitas have arrived!”

At the attendant’s loud announcement at the entrance, the chatter in the ballroom instantly died down. They all stopped their conversations and turned to look at the entrance.

As the large red doors on the west side of the second floor opened, two radiant figures entered, heralding the start of spring.

“Orbis, I’m nervous. What if I fall?”

“I’ll hold you, so don’t worry.”

“Wow, that makes me even more anxious.”

Litania descended the stairs leading to the banquet hall with her arm linked with Orbis’. A grand sight of brilliant lights and numerous ball attendees unfolded before her eyes.

“Oh my.”

“Goodness.”

The dress Litania wore was an elaborate ballroom gown made of shimmering blue silk.

The color of the dress was a vivid sapphire blue, very naturally mimicking the blue eyes of Orbis standing beside her.

The top part of the dress clung tightly to her body, following the curves of her upper body, and split widely from just below the collarbone to the shoulders, boldly revealing her neckline.

The sleeves of the dress were layered with thin lace embroidered with golden spring flower patterns, covering her shoulders softly yet lightly.

“It’s a dress I’ve never seen before. Which atelier made it?”

“I’ve never seen anyone design like that.”

It was understandable since it wasn’t designed by a person, but no one there knew that fact, so they speculated that the duchess must have commissioned the dress from a foreign designer.

“It’s not a color suitable for spring, but that makes it even more unique.”

“Right. It’s bold.”

The bodice and waist of the dress were fitted to follow the body’s silhouette, and from the hips, the blue silk skirt flared out widely in a crown shape.

The movement of the skirt, with thick silk lining the inside at the top and thin, almost see-through silk layered at the bottom, was elegant and mysterious, like waves rippling.

Like the sleeves, the blue skirt was also embroidered with gold thread, with elaborate flowers and butterflies intertwined in a way that evoked the image of a garden on water.

Litania herself didn’t know that to make that golden embroidery stand out against the vivid blue, Raven and the other crow workshop assistants had worked through the night, cawing as they stitched.

“Orbis, people are looking at us.”

“Do you dislike being the center of attention?”

“That’s not it… Should we do something? Should we greet them?”

“If you want to speak to them, go ahead.”

Unless they were members of the imperial family, no one could speak to Orbis and Litania first. Everyone wanted to get close to the two but couldn’t approach, only looking on with interested faces.

‘It feels like… we’ve become a spectacle.’

Orbis the divine dragon, showing himself after a year. Litania, who no one cared about when she was the ashy princess, but became the talk of the town after becoming the divine dragon’s wife.

Because they don’t know much about them, their gazes can’t help but be observant. It was an unpleasant attention, but they had expected this much by attending the ball.

‘If they want a spectacle, let’s give them one.’

Litania unlinked her arm.

“Orbis, let’s dance.”

“Oh my.”

Orbis made a somewhat troubled expression.

Why is he acting like this? He can’t be a bad dancer. I saw him dance like a swan gliding on water before.

As Litania blinked in confusion, Orbis smiled a bit sheepishly.

“I guess I’m nervous too. To think you’d ask me to dance first.”

Taking a step back, he bowed politely towards her and held out his hand.

“May I have this dance, my… bride?”

Not as friends or lovers, but as a married couple.

They attended this ball today as husband and wife.

So this formal process of requesting and accepting a dance wasn’t necessary, but she could understand Orbis’ intention.

Since the memory of dancing together at their first ball didn’t end pleasantly.

This time, he was doing this to cover that past memory with a new one.

“I’d be honored, my groom.”

The two joined hands and began to dance to the melody of the ball. Some people who had expected Litania to naturally introduce herself and greet others were surprised by her bold action, while others admired it.

“Shouldn’t she introduce herself first when it’s her first time here? It’s only polite.”

“But royalty doesn’t have such obligations.”

“She’s not really royal……”

The noblewoman who had been subtly looking down on her as a fake princess trailed off without finishing her sentence. No matter how public the fact might be, it’s not something to be said in a place like this.

“I actually think it looks good.”

“Right. It’s what I was most curious about.”

The thing people speculating about the ducal couple were most curious about: What kind of people are they?

Litania and Orbis aren’t the main characters of the spring ball, so they don’t need to give a speech like the crown prince.

They’re not mere nobles, so they don’t need to go around greeting people. But if they stand aside and only talk to those they’re close with or those who approach them first, it would be difficult for others to get close.

Rather, by boldly starting to dance in the center like this, people could get a sense of what kind of people they are.

The beautiful and noble divine dragon, and his wife of royal birth.

They don’t fear people’s gazes, they skillfully perceive what people want, and they don’t hesitate to show it.

“Beautiful……”

Someone murmured in admiration.

The nobles who had dismissed Litania as a fake princess with a commoner mother vaguely realized one thing. That they could no longer ignore her.

That beauty and nobility cannot be pulled down. Then let’s accept what they show.

The people in the ballroom focused their attention on the dancing ducal couple.

“Litania, are you still bothered by people’s gazes?”

“No.”

“But there are even more eyes on us now.”

“That’s true, but I’m with you, Orbis.”

When those gazes were staring at her observantly, it felt uncomfortable, as if they were judging whether she was qualified to be a duchess or a princess.

But now, dancing with Orbis like this, that discomfort vanished as if washed away.

She was his wife. She was the bride of the empire’s only guardian deity, and this was officially recognized by the emperor.

Who could question her qualifications, and who could disparage that the two were ill-matched?

“Orbis, you look handsome today.”

“You’re always beautiful, Litania.”

“What do you think of my dress?”

The blue dress matched to Orbis’ blue eyes. Raven had immediately understood her intention when Litania mentioned the color.

Does Orbis know her heart?

“It looks like it has swallowed your entire body.”

His face, with his bangs neatly brushed aside, came close. A sweet breath brushed by very closely.

Litania felt her ears getting hot, but she didn’t push him away.

Orbis lifted Litania’s body and spun around. Swish. The wide skirt spread out, enveloping the two like a large wave rising.

“Wow……”

Admiration for their radiant appearance continued here and there. The crows who love shiny things indeed knew well how to make people shine.

“There was a reason the emperor allowed their marriage.”

“Oh my, isn’t that a hasty judgment? Based on just one look.”

“It’s about first impressions.”

That was true. As time passes and relationships deepen, evaluations can always change.

But in most shallow relationships, first impressions actually account for most of it.

If they had a deep conversation, they would realize that Litania hadn’t received proper imperial education, but at this moment, such trivial things don’t matter.

‘The first strike is always the best!’

Litania smiled with a satisfied expression.