The Villainess is Tired of Everything

Chapter 36

Before I knew it, the day of the ball had arrived.

Since this was an event where all the nobles of the country were expected to attend, even the marquess was busy preparing to make an appearance. I, too, was preoccupied with getting ready, though not just because I was going to the palace—this was Darcy’s celebration, and I wanted to look perfect for it.

After elegantly styling my wavy hair into an updo, I adorned it with pins. I wasn’t used to exposing my neck like this since I usually let my hair hang loose at home. Around my neck, I wore a pearl necklace that contrasted beautifully with my dark hair. My dress was a warm beige with hints of yellow, and I loved the way it softly flared out at the bottom. The maids fretted that it wasn’t extravagant enough, but I wasn’t the star of the event, so I didn’t see the need to overdo it.

More importantly, I felt good about how I looked.

Even though it didn’t quite follow the current trends of the social scene, I didn’t mind.

I was properly dressed to show respect for Darcy!

I even prepared a gift to commemorate the occasion—a large box filled with magic stones. Although we were no longer bound by a contract, magic stones were valuable materials he could use for his creations.@@novelbin@@

He might come up with something new, or use them for his inventions.

There was another reason I chose to give him this gift. As Marceau Etvar, I had interacted with various people, but I rarely gave away magic stones. They were among my most prized possessions and a symbol of the Etvar Marquessate.

While I might give expensive gifts to others to maintain a favorable relationship, I was reluctant to part with magic stones.

I wanted my connections to be based on genuine human interaction, not material gain.

I believed that if I wanted to change the reputation of Marceau Etvar, I needed to build relationships based on true feelings.

So, the fact that I was giving magic stones as a gift had two significant meanings.