The Lady's Butler: I Reincarnated To Serve The Villainess-Chapter 21: Renelle Ardent [Bonus - ]

The royal palace was bustling with activity due to the upcoming royal ball, one of the biggest events for young nobles all Avera.

Servants hurried through the marble corridors carrying trays of food, polishing silverware, and adjusting drapes to ensure that every corner of the ballroom gleamed.

The scent of fresh flowers mingled with the aroma of roasted meats and sweet pastries, filling the palace was intoxicating.

But even with all the work that seemed to be going around, it seemed a selected few servants had enough time on their hands to be gossiping.

"She’s here again," one of the maids muttered as she carried a bouquet towards the ball room.

"When will she learn that the prince will never like her?" another maid that was walking by the first’s side replied, "especially with such obsessive behavior unfit for a noble lady."

"Compared to her, Lady Noelle is a lot more refined," the first said again, "I wonder why the prince wouldn’t just break off this engagement and propose to the Saintess instead, their attraction towards each other is obvious enough."

The second maid lowered her voice slightly as they approached the ballroom doors.

"Careful," she whispered. "If someone from House Ardent hears you saying that, you’ll lose more than your job."

The first maid scoffed lightly.

"Please, everyone in the palace already knows. It’s not like it’s some great secret."

They stepped aside as two footmen hurried past carrying a long table draped in velvet cloth.

Once the corridor was empty again, the first maid continued, "honestly, it’s embarrassing. A noble lady chasing after a man who clearly favors someone else."

"The Saintess," the second maid said quietly.

"The Saintess," the first maid confirmed with a nod. "Lady Noelle has grace, elegance, and the prince clearly enjoys her company. Meanwhile—"

She didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication of her words were very clear.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Both maids immediately stood straighter and lowered their heads.

A group of nobles was approaching and at the center of them walked a young woman wearing a brilliant silver gown that shimmered beneath the palace lights.

She had beautiful long white hair and a pair of icy blue eyes, features that only belonged to one breath taking noble lady,

Lady Renelle Ardent.

Several nobles greeted her politely as they passed.

"Lady Renelle."

"Good evening, my Lady."

She acknowledged them with small, refined nods, her expression calm and composed.

From the outside, she looked every bit the perfect noble lady.

But the moment she passed the two maids, they both noticed something.

Her gaze, it wasn’t wandering around the palace in admiration like most young nobles attending the ball.

It was searching, expectantly for someone, so much so that her eyes kept drifting toward the far end of the corridor, where a door that led towards the main palace was.

It was where the Crown Prince would appear from.

The first maid waited until Renelle had walked several meters away before whispering again.

"...See?"

The second maid glanced back at Renelle’s retreating figure.

"Shes’s till chasing him," the first maid muttered, "even after he made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with her."

"Lady Renelle," a voice suddenly called out from the entrance and the two maids noticed another maid was rushing towards Renelle.

She briefly stopped by the two maid before giving them a glare that sent shivers down their spines before she continued chasing after her lady.

***

It took a while, but Renelle’s handmaid finally managed to convince her to get ready for the ball before trying to search for the prince.

Right now, they both stood in front of a tall mirror inside the guest chambers prepared for House Ardent.

Renelle was now dressed in a different blue gown, designed with golden patterns all the way down to the hem of the skirt.

Behind her, her handmaid adjusted the ribbon around Renelle’s waist before frowning slightly.

"My Lady... we are missing the hair pin Lady Margaret sent earlier."

Renelle didn’t respond, her icy blue eyes simply watching her own reflection.

She didn’t really like wearing too much blue, but that was the prince’s favorite color, so she would wear it just for him.

The handmaid glanced around the table beside them before sighing.

"It must still be with the attendants outside. Please wait here for a moment, my Lady."

Renelle gave a faint nod.

The handmaid quickly curtsied before leaving the room, the door closing softly behind her.

Silence filled the chamber.

"I wonder what he’ll think, seeing me in this," she smiled as she extended her hand towards her reflection, but just before she could reach it,

She felt dizzy.

The world felt as if it had suddenly taken a very noticeable spin, forcing her to hold on to the vanity table.

The next thing to hit her was a wave of headache, one that brought about memories.

Ones that clearly belonged to her, but of a time she hadn’t experienced just yet.

Renelle didn’t know if the pain lasted for for a couple of seconds or a few minutes, but the moment it fully subsided, she slowly lifted her head to the mirror.

Her gaze that previous held only obsession was now filled with confusion as she raised a hand towards her cheeks, lightly pinching herself to check if it was real.

The pain told her that it was.

"I....I regressed?" She let out in a trembling voice, one that sounded a lot younger than she remembered.

"T-that’s right, the last thing I remember was....." She paused as she sorted out her memories.

The last thing she remembered were the prince’s eyes, full of hate as he stabbed a sword filled with holy light straight through her heart.

The same man she had loved, was the one that had ended her, how very ironic.

"So that’s how it is," Renelle muttered as a smile slowly found itself to her face, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Then let’s make sure those who wronged me pay, shall we?"