Chapter 73: 73
Ch . 73 Madonna At The Ball (1)
The man standing on the platform seemed very accustomed to his position, and naturally was selected to host the ceremony to select the Madonna . He opened his mouth broadly to speak, holding a sheet of paper as he pointed to a large ballot box .
“Thanks to your participation, the vote for Madonna went smoothly . ”
Elena looked at the paper in his hand in curiosity and Mirabelle quietly explained .
“While you were gone they handed out ballots to each person . I hear the lady over there is expected to be one of the candidates for Madonna . ”
“Oh, I see…”
Elena thought back to the ball in her last life . Her memory was dim, but she seemed to recall voting on such a piece of paper in the past . Elena nodded in understanding, while Margaret explained it to her further .
“Since it’s an imperial event, they change the way we elect the Madonna each time so it’s fair . Last time, I heard that you could nominated yourself and people would line up after you . ”
“…That’s amazing . ”
She didn’t know that the voting method changed each time, as she had only attended once in her last life . But no matter what the draw was, she already knew who the honor would be bestowed upon this night . Elena glanced expectantly towards that young lady .
Yulia Necrensi .
The Marquis Necrensi’s family were highly reputed as members of the nobility in the capital city . Yulia in particular was a young lady regarded as the Flower of the Capital City . It was no exaggeration to say that Yulia’s fine clothing and jewelry led the fashion among Ruford nobility . And in this ball, Yulia was the most beautiful in Elena’s eyes . She had stunning feminine charm, and was called “A beauty without a smile” because of her proud features . As she was an intense point of interest among young nobles in southern society, Elena had heard quite a lot about her .
The man on the platform spoke again .
“First, I will announce the three honored candidates!”
“Oooh–“
Many people whistled and cheered .
“The first candidate is Lady Yulia, the treasure of the Necrensi family and the Flower of Society!”
Everyone applauded and congratulated her as if they knew it was fate . However, Yulia stood up on stage with an indifferent expression .
“The second candidate is the pride of southern society . Lady Helen, the only daughter of Marquis Selby!”
“Wow!”
Sarah squealed next to Helen . Sarah was part of the scheme to give salty tea to Elena, and still appeared to be on friendly terms with Helen . Sarah’s scream drew more eyes to Helen . The latter, who had a sour look on her face, raised her head proudly and gave a satisfied smile .
“And the third and last candidate is–”
Elena looked puzzled as she listened to the host . It suddenly occurred to her that only a single Madonna candidate was announced in her last life . Come to think of it, why were there three?
“No one expected this hidden gem until today! It’s Lady Elena from House Blaise!”
Mirabelle whooped joyfully .
“Wow! I knew this would happen! Congratulations, sister!”
“Oh, congratulations Lady Blaise . ”
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Following Margaret and Mirabelle’s congratulations, Elena could not help but be amazed . She had already realized that the future wouldn’t always flow in the same way, but she didn’t expect this to happen . Many eyes turned to the shocked Elena . It seemed that yet again she attracted the attention of the nobility tonight . First for her beautiful appearance, then when she was asked the first dance by Prince Carlisle . Now she was nominated as the Madonna of the ball . Perhaps she would be the woman that was most talked about after tonight .
“Come on, you three, up to the platform!”
Yulia, Helen and Elena ascended to the platform . From her vantage point, Elena could see Mirabelle and Margaret looking at her supportively . She also caught sight of Carlisle standing some distance away . He was with Emperor Sullivan, who seemed to be deep in intimate conversation with the upper nobility . Perhaps Sullivan was using this opportunity to ingratiate Carlisle further into imperial aristocracy .
Carlisle, however, was looking towards the platform where Elena was standing . She could feel his strong gaze from this distance, and she swallowed dryly . The predatory look was in his eye again . Elena always seemed nervous in front of Carlisle for some reason .
“Ah, His Highness is looking at me…”
Elena turned her head, and she saw Helen staring agog at Carlisle . It seemed a bit strange, and Elena suddenly wondered,
‘Do they know each other?’
Helen noticed Elena looking at her, and she returned an icy gaze . She whispered in a fierce voice .
“You’re not taking anything from me from now on . ”
Elena was puzzled by the meaning of Helen’s words . She hadn’t taken anything from Helen . But before she could respond, the host began to proceed .
“Three beautiful young women in one place is enough to turn the whole room blind . Isn’t that right?”
The nobles who were watching burst into laughter, but there was truth to his words . The three different beauties seemed to glow radiantly, as if a garden bloom of ten thousand flowers .
“These were the three young ladies who had the most votes . From these three, select the one you think is the most beautiful of the night . ”
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The host pointed to a small crown .
“The one who is chosen as the Madonna will receive this tiara . ”
Many young ladies coveted the tiara not for its price, but it’s honor . While Elena was looking at it, she heard a loud voice interrupt the room .
“I would like to be the one to crown the Madonna, if that is acceptable?”
From the direction of the voice stood a handsome man, red hair blazing like a sunset . Although she had only seen him only a few times in the distance, Elena was able to recall him without difficulty .
He was Redfield, the second prince of the Ruford Empire . He was the one Carlisle mentioned in their conversation in the garden and was a possible successor to the throne, supported by the Empress and House Anita, the biggest threat to Carlisle presently .
‘Why did he suddenly…?’
It was the first time in the history of the ceremony that a prince had ever crowned the Madonna himself . The host was taken aback at first, but soon he bowed and spoke politely .
“Of course, Your Highness . It would be an even greater honor for the Madonna chosen . ”
He couldn’t refuse Redfield . There were few who could stand up to him, knowing that the Empress and the Anita’s family were behind him .
“Fantastic . So which of these three young ladies will wear the tiara?”
He gave Elena a sly smile, and she couldn’t help but feel bewildered . In the past she had not been nominated for Madonna, much less expected to be crowned one like right now . Did all of this change because of her? She felt a small panic at the thought . Too many events were upset after she saved Carlisle .
“All three ladies will turn around . Everyone else, place the rose behind the one you think is the most beautiful . She who receives the most roses will be crowned Madonna tonight!”
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“Waaa–“
Some of the nobles responded excitedly, lifting the atmosphere in anticipation . The host tilted his head in gesture of appreciation then gestured to a large mass of roses prepared by the servants .
“Please take the flowers from here!”
She saw a sea of people surge to take a rose . It was always enjoyable to participate in imperial events . She attended the same ball in her last life, and she knew better than anyone else .
“Let’s begin!”
At the host’s signal Elena, Helen and Yulia turned around . The sound of countless footsteps reached their ears . Because the guests passed each lady in order, it was impossible to tell which one had the most flowers even by the sound of their feet .
‘…Will it really be me?’
She wouldn’t refuse the honor of Madonna, but she didn’t want anything more to change from what she knew from her previous life .
“Oh! You’ve all picked someone completely unexpected . ”
Each of the three young woman wore a different expression . Yulia looked uninterested, Helen was hopeful, and Elena looked puzzled .
“Now young ladies, please turn around!”
Elena slowly turned around and looked at the roses in front of her .
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