The Tyrant’s Beloved Doll - Chapter 35

“Princess, please wake up.”

It was Luna’s voice that gently nudged Setz from her deep sleep.

Setz blinked, groggy and disoriented as she tried to clear her foggy mind. The room was still dark, which meant the sun hadn’t risen yet. Why am I being woken up at this hour? she thought, feeling a bit bewildered.

“Come on, we have so much to do! Even if we start now, we’re already pressed for time!” Luna urged, sounding like someone with a fire lit under her.

Setz finally sat up, her eyes widening at the sight of several maids standing by the door. Among them was Mari, Lady Lize’s personal maid.

“Good morning, Princess Setz,” Mari said with a polite bow. “Lady Lize sent me to assist you today. Oh dear, it looks like your face is a bit swollen. Did you not sleep well last night?”

“I’ll fetch some tea to help reduce the swelling,” said one of the maids, rushing out of the room.

Setz was bewildered. Is it really that bad if my face is a little puffy? And why are they acting like we’re out of time? It’s still the crack of dawn; we should have plenty of time left, she thought.

But clearly, the maids had different ideas.

“Now, Princess, let’s get you to the bath,” Luna and Mari said in unison, taking her by the arms and practically guiding her to the bathroom.

Once there, Setz was all but trapped in the tub—no exaggeration. She soaked in the hot water for what felt like ages, her head spinning from the heat, and when she said she wanted to get out, both Luna and Mari firmly insisted she stay put. The water was infused with special herbs to smooth her skin, and she had to let it soak in thoroughly, they said.

At least they opened a window for her. Setz leaned back in the tub, her limbs feeling like soft noodles, and dozed off again, half-asleep in the warmth. It was only after what felt like an eternity that they finally let her out.

Just as she thought she might be done, the preparations continued. Still in nothing but a robe, Setz was laid out on a long silver chaise. The maids massaged her entire body, applying fragrant oils that dripped off her skin onto the floor. Setz’s head felt like it might split open from the overwhelming scent.

Luna returned carrying some kind of strange paste. It looked odd, smelled sour, and Setz had no desire to touch it, let alone have it slathered all over her face. But that’s exactly what they did. When she asked what it was, Luna merely said it was best if she didn’t know.

By the time they were done, it was nearly noon. Setz was starving, but they wouldn’t let her eat a full meal, saying it might ruin the lines of the dress. If Luna hadn’t secretly slipped her some dried fruit and bread when Mari wasn’t looking, Setz was sure she might have fainted from hunger.

Next, they sat her down in front of a vanity and began the intricate process of styling her hair and applying her makeup. The maids moved like a well-rehearsed team, one attending to her shoulders and another massaging her face to reduce puffiness, while Mari worked on her hair. Luna busied herself checking the dresses, jewelry, and shoes that had been prepared for the event.

Mari’s skill was impressive, far exceeding Setz’s expectations. She could understand now why Lize had specifically sent Mari instead of some other expert. As Mari commanded the other maids like a general leading an army, Setz found herself drifting in and out of sleep, utterly exhausted from the early morning chaos and the restless night before.

As she dozed off, snippets of their conversation floated into her ears. This color might be too mature. How about this shade? The princess’s fair skin would look best in a soft pink. The light brushstrokes across her face felt like someone was painting on her skin, but every time she tried to scratch the itch, Luna gently restrained her hand.

“Makeup and hair are done… What time is it? Oh no, quickly, the dress! Bring the dress!” Luna’s voice echoed urgently.

“And the shoes! Don’t forget the jewelry!” Mari added in a flurry of activity.

Setz, still half-asleep, thought to herself that this ordeal was something she never wanted to repeat. She had seriously underestimated what a production the debutante ball would be. She had assumed it would be a simple affair, just a little bit of dressing up. How wrong she had been.

“Princess, please stand up now—wait! Don’t touch your hair!” they cautioned as she wobbled to her feet.

The process of putting on the dress took more time than she expected. It wasn’t just a matter of slipping it on; Mari and Luna fussed over the way the fabric draped and how the pleats should fall for what felt like an eternity.

Just when Setz was ready to agree with Raytan that it might have been better not to attend this debutante ball at all, they finally finished her transformation.

“My goodness, Princess…” Luna’s voice trembled, her eyes glistening as if she might cry at any moment.

Why is she looking like that? Is it really that bad? Did I end up looking ridiculous after all this effort? Setz’s face tensed with anxiety.

“Come, let’s take a look,” Mari said, guiding Setz to the mirror. Please let it not be terrible. I don’t want to disappoint Lady Lize, Setz thought nervously, swallowing hard.

When she finally lifted her gaze to the mirror, her breath caught in her throat.

“You look absolutely stunning, Princess…” Luna said softly, a smile lighting up her face.

“…….”

“I always knew you’d look beautiful with a bit of proper styling, but I never imagined you could look like this,” Mari added, beaming with pride.

Setz stared at her reflection in disbelief.

The girl in the mirror looked like a different person. Her normally messy blonde hair had been elegantly styled up, highlighting the graceful curve of her neck. The delicate jewelry sparkled in the light—a tiara glimmered on her head, not too ostentatious but enough to draw the eye, with a matching necklace and earrings that added a touch of sophistication.

Her dress was a soft lavender hue adorned with tiny floral accents that seemed to dance across the fabric. The lace details flowed from the bodice to the hem, creating a look that was both elegant and subtly intricate.

But what surprised her most was her face. The power of makeup had transformed her completely. It felt a bit unfamiliar, but undeniably, she looked beautiful—so much so that even she found it hard to believe.

“Princess, Lord Raytan has arrived! He’s waiting for you outside the palace!”

As Luna’s words finally registered, Setz snapped back to reality. She glanced out the window and saw that the sky was already growing dark. It was indeed time to go—especially since Raytan was already waiting outside.

Setz took a deep breath to steady herself. Anxiety gripped her, fearing that Raytan might mock her when he saw her like this. Even though Luna and Mari had complimented her appearance and she herself thought she looked quite nice, she couldn’t shake the uncertainty. Would she really look acceptable to everyone else?

“Take careful steps, Princess… just like that,” Luna murmured as she held onto Setz’s hand, guiding her down the hallway. The heels of her shoes were much higher than she was used to, making it difficult to walk steadily. Even during her dance lessons with Madame Pauline, the heels hadn’t been this high, and she could already feel a slight ache in her feet.

But more overwhelming than the discomfort was the nervous flutter in her chest. Her heart was pounding, thumping wildly as if it might burst out at any moment. The feeling intensified when she spotted Raytan standing a few paces ahead, his back turned toward her.

“…Brother,” Setz said softly, mustering the courage to speak.

“Raytan, Brother,” she repeated, her voice louder this time.

Raytan slowly turned around to face her.

His crimson eyes flickered slightly in surprise, a brief flash of emotion that vanished almost as soon as it appeared. He didn’t say a word or make any movement, just stood there, frozen, staring at her.

Setz was also taken aback by Raytan’s appearance. It was the first time she’d seen him so formally dressed. His usually tousled hair was neatly slicked back, and he wore a crisp, elegant uniform that suited him perfectly. The transformation was astonishing; he looked more regal, more like a true prince than even Bern. He exuded an aura of dignity that left her in awe. Even the intimidating sharpness in his eyes couldn’t hide the refined grace that now surrounded him.

“You look amazing today, Brother,” Setz said earnestly.

“…….”

“You look like a completely different person. Truly!” she added with a smile, hoping to bridge the gap between them with her praise.

Raytan remained silent, his expression unreadable. Her smile faltered, and she grew a bit disheartened. Does he think I look ridiculous?

“Do I… look strange?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“…….”

“But Luna and Mari said it looked fine… and I thought it wasn’t that bad either… Or maybe I’m wrong?”

“No,” Raytan finally said in a low, steady voice.

“You don’t look strange at all. Not even a little.”

Setz released a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Relief washed over her, calming her anxious heart.

“Raytan, you really do look handsome today,” Luna said brightly, smiling at them both.

“Everyone will be amazed when they see you two together. I’m sure of it.”

Raytan turned his gaze back to Setz, murmuring almost to himself, “Yes, I suppose they will.”

“Raytan, if you don’t mind, could you please hold the princess’s hand?” Luna asked gently. “Her shoes are quite high, and I worry she might stumble. Besides, I can’t escort her all the way to the ballroom…”

Before Luna had even finished her sentence, Raytan was already moving. He approached Setz with slow, deliberate steps, and then he extended his hand toward her.

Setz’s blue eyes met the sight of Raytan’s large hand hovering above her. She couldn’t help but remember the first time he’d reached out to her, calling her name softly, just like he was now. But his hand was bigger than before, stronger, and so was he…

“Let’s go, Setz,” Raytan said in a voice that was deeper and calmer than she remembered.

Blushing slightly, Setz placed her hand in his, feeling a strange mix of shyness and comfort. Was it because they had both changed so much since then? Grown up in different ways? She could feel the warmth of his hand, the same warmth that had always been there, and it brought a sense of reassurance she hadn’t expected.

“Have a good time,” Luna called softly, her warm voice a final send-off as the two of them slowly began to walk forward.

Setz couldn’t help but reflect on how much had changed since those years ago, how much they had both grown. Yet, in that moment, as Raytan’s warm hand held hers, it felt like some things hadn’t changed at all. Her heart was still pounding, almost painfully so, from the excitement and nerves of the evening ahead. Without realizing it, she squeezed Raytan’s hand a little tighter, holding on as if it were her lifeline. He hesitated briefly, but to her relief, said nothing and simply continued walking by her side.

***

As Setz walked toward the banquet hall, her mind was filled with countless thoughts. What if Brother Bern or Sister Lilien were there? What about Lady Yuria? Or her mother? After all, this was an event where noble families gathered, so there was no reason they couldn’t be present.

Perhaps fearing that Setz’s participation in the debutante event might be prevented, Lize advised her to keep it a secret until the day itself. Even Mrs. Pauline had mentioned in passing that Lady Lize had asked everyone to keep quiet about teaching the prince and princess to dance.

Setz felt a little scared. She was terrified of being humiliated in front of everyone or becoming the object of ridicule. So, she kept clinging tightly to Raytan’s hand. Raytan, for his part, seemed unaffected. Although he was quieter than usual and oddly avoided making eye contact with Setz, he didn’t show any notable change in demeanor.

By the time they reached the banquet hall, cold sweat was trickling down Setz’s forehead.

“Brother.”

Setz called out to Raytan, stopping mid-step. Only then did Raytan look at her.

“Um…”

“What is it?”

“It’s just… I’m a bit nervous…”

“About what?”

“Now that we’re about to go in, I feel scared…”

“Scared of what?” Raytan asked, sounding puzzled. Setz thought to herself that his unflappable personality was truly something to be admired. Frankly, neither Raytan nor herself were likely to be welcomed guests. In fact, since they had come together, people might gossip even more. Yet, his calm expression remained unbothered, and she found it admirable.

“I’m afraid people might look down on me… or that they’ll think I don’t belong here… and that because of me, you’ll be treated poorly too…”

Raytan stayed silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

“I don’t care what other people think.”

Of course, that was true. If he were someone who cared about what people thought, he would have crumbled a long time ago. Setz knew that well. The problem was that her personality was entirely different from Raytan’s.

“But you wanted to come, didn’t you?”

“…What?”

“That’s enough. Just focus on your own feelings. Don’t worry about anyone else.”

“…”

“As long as you’re enjoying yourself, that’s all that matters.”

It was a completely unexpected answer. So surprising that Setz couldn’t respond, staring blankly at Raytan.

“Yes, that’s the most important thing.”

“Brother…”

“Link arms properly. We can’t walk in holding hands like children,” Raytan said, extending his arm. Setz hesitated for a moment but then followed his lead.

The banquet hall was already filled with people.

Feeling somewhat intimidated, Setz clung tightly to Raytan’s arm as she cautiously took a step forward. But for some reason, it seemed like everyone’s eyes were on her. Soon, she realized it was because of Raytan.