In the ballroom, many young women who had come of age this year lined up one after the other.

According to the Empire’s laws, young women who had not yet undergone the adulthood ceremony were all invited to the Imperial Palace to check if they had the qualities of a butterfly.

For commoners, it was the only day in their lives when they could enter the Imperial Palace, regardless of status.

But somehow, the atmosphere of the ballroom was chaotic.

The women around were whispering to each other as they looked at someone standing in the center.

At this event called the “Flower’s Feast,” it was customary to wear dazzling dresses that usually reminded one of flowers.

However, Asha was wearing a turquoise dress that darkened towards the bottom, with her long blonde hair braided to one side, stretching down to her waist.

At a time when everyone was dressed in their most dazzling dresses and adorned with flowers, she entered the ballroom in a dull dress, barefoot.

Among the nobles, there were those who sent jeers, thinking she was a commoner who did not know even the basic court etiquette, unaware that she was a butterfly.

But one way or another, Asha was just staring intently at the Imperial throne.

There, more gorgeously dressed than ever, sat Karaf.

Perhaps because it was such an important occasion that occurred only once a year, he was not dressed in his usual casual attire but was wearing a dazzling uniform.

In the black uniform, symbolizing the black rose, numerous gold pieces decorated the collar and sleeves brilliantly, and even the crimson cloak draped over his shoulders had a large golden rose embroidered on it.

Moreover, today, he even paid attention to his appearance, neatly sweeping back the black fringe that usually fell on his forehead, even putting makeup on his face.

In the Flower Empire of Etsuheim, both men and women wore makeup made from extracted flower products for important occasions.

His already dazzling appearance, combined with makeup, was so bright that it almost hurt the eyes, yet it gave off an intimidating feel like a rose with thorns.

There were not a few women around who lost themselves, gazing at him.

But then, for a brief moment, his red eyes locked onto her.

His eyes slightly widened, then one eyebrow furrowed.

It was the reaction he expected.

He too had dressed up with such care to welcome the butterfly, not thinking that the butterfly would appear like this.

His slightly disappointed face looked as though he regretted not personally choosing the dress for her.

But he too did not know. The hidden secret of this dress…

Soon the music played, and the “Butterfly Dance” began.

The Flower’s Feast started with the dance of the butterfly candidates.

Everyone began to demonstrate the traditional dance of the Empire, polished and honed for this day.

But the women who had blatantly ignored Asha soon realized they were completely wrong.

As soon as the dance began, everyone’s eyes were drawn to Asha, standing in the center.

Asha danced passionately in the center of the ballroom, barefoot and without reservation.

Her dark figure among the bright and dazzling dresses stood out intensely.

Asha danced with a somewhat indifferent look, gently lowering her eyelids, exuding a captivating charm.

Her slender arms elegantly drew curves through the air, and the elegance emanating from her snowwhite skin, red lips, and cold expression was like seeing a camellia that bloomed in winter.

The nobles gathered in the ballroom were all entranced by her, as if bewitched.

Asha danced the butterfly dance, looking only at the emperor.

After all, she had deliberately taken a place in the center of the ballroom to catch his eye.

As expected, Karaf’s gaze never left her.

His eyes widened, and his slightly open lips looked genuinely astonished.

As she turned around in her place, it seemed as if flower petals were fluttering around her.
Moving her bare feet so lightly that they barely touched the floor, it seemed as though she was a freespirited butterfly, fluttering effortlessly above the flowers in a garden.

But then, as the tempo of the music quickened, the dance was reaching its climax.

The eyes of all who were watching Asha widened simultaneously.

Suddenly, a whirlwind blew around her dress, a layer peeled from her shoulders, and a new red top appeared.

The peeled top split into five petals, gently flipping over the jadecolored skirt, and the red lining became visible, decorating the skirt.

In an instant, the green of the dress turned to red as if a flower had bloomed, looking incredibly natural as if the dress had always been that way.

It was a magic only a butterfly could perform, a symbol of the wind spirit held in her chest, a symbol.

As the butterfly dances, a flower blooms.

Her red dress symbolized both a rose and, simultaneously, a camellia.

It meant both the blossoming of the emperor and her own rebirth.

A true ‘butterfly dance,’ like a butterfly spectacularly emerging from its chrysalis.