The Queen Who Deserves To Be Tainted - Chapter 53.1

Then, they greeted them as if they had known them all along. It was quite impressive how friendly they were to Elfreda.

“Hello.”

“Oh, hello. Your dress is lovely.”

“I had it specially made for the masquerade this year. It’s not often I get to wear something this bold, right?”

Illene had chosen a daring red dress, with a plunging back and barely covering her chest. The sides were cut in such a way that it could have exposed her legs if she wasn’t careful. It was the kind of dress that would have caused quite a stir in a more traditional social setting.

At first, Elfreda was shocked when Illene said she would wear such a dress, but when she saw it with the mask perfectly hiding her identity, it all made sense.

“You look beautiful too. With your mask, you look just like a swan.”

Caught up in the moment, Elfreda ended up borrowing Illene’s dress. Illene insisted that the dress suited the Queen more than herself, and though it was a bit forced, Elfreda put it on. The dress was a perfect mermaid cut, emphasizing Elfreda’s tall and slender figure, and it fit her flawlessly, leaving her in awe.

However, the fact that the dress clung to her body so much made her feel a little self-conscious. She had no choice but to wear it, though, since it was either this or the dress Illene was wearing now. It wasn’t as revealing as Illene’s, with a modest off-shoulder design instead.

Elfreda hesitated when the young lady who had spoken to her gave her a compliment, unsure how to respond, but finally said cautiously,

“Thank you. Lady’s dress suits you too.”

“Hmm, how do you know if I’m a young lady?”

“Actually, she could be a newlywed from yesterday.”

Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere relaxed even further.

“So, what were you all talking about?”

“Oh, until just now, we were talking about Lady Ollang.”

“Well, I heard Lady Ollang was… with the stableman in her barn…”

In reality, the gossip exchanged at a masquerade ball was not much different from that at a regular social event. However, since there was no need to maintain appearances, the topics, language, and expressions used were much more direct and uncensored.

Having no experience in the social scene of Machi and only ever dealing with inner palace affairs, Elfreda found it difficult to adjust to the atmosphere and felt a bit out of place.

Fortunately, wearing the mask made it easier to hide her expressions, and she gradually joined in the conversation with the other young ladies of Machi’s social circle. However, since she didn’t know much about the topics being discussed and wasn’t one to enjoy gossip, she mostly just listened and responded accordingly.

Guided by Illene’s hand, Elfreda engaged in conversation with several groups. Although the discussions were mainly centered around gossip, Elfreda couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotions.

This was the first time she had ever spoken at length with the nobles of Machi since becoming the Queen, and it was an overwhelming experience.

Of course, since her face was hidden, it wasn’t fair to say she had truly blended into the social scene. Still, Elfreda found this experience both enjoyable and bittersweet. Once she removed her mask, the warm looks and smiles she had received tonight would be gone forever.

Elfreda, who had never felt a sense of belonging in Makaeri, realized that attending the masquerade was the first time she had truly wanted to be part of the social activities in Machi. However…

“Hey, I wonder if that barbarian queen is here too?”

“Of course she is. She always pretends to be so dignified, right? Imagine how eager she must be.”

“I hope someone takes off her mask and gives her a good humiliation. Maybe she’ll get divorced over it.”

When Elfreda overheard these remarks, she realized her reputation was at rock bottom. She didn’t expect anyone to respect her, she just wanted to be in a position where she wasn’t as rejected as she was now.

How could she gain even a little recognition from these people and have her sincerity accepted, to be seen as part of Machi? As she spent time with Illene, these thoughts consumed her more and more.