For the Debutante

Four years since I fell in the church. I am now eleven.

After that, my parents grew ever more protective. Especially when going to the church, my Mother would always accompany me, even when I was merely visiting for Mass or charitable events—events that were entirely safe. My earlier collapse and return had left a profound trauma in the family, despite their assurances that nothing dangerous would occur.

Still, I managed to persuade them. Permission was granted, though only once a year, to return to our estate.

Entry into the church remained forbidden, but Grandmother reprimanded my father and granted permission under her supervision. “To treat a noble who holds the proper heart for her duties unjustly goes against tradition,” she said.

She remains stern whenever we meet, and though she does not permit me to call her grandmother, she now occasionally oversees my ladyship education in person. It is a rigorous process, yet...

Upon returning to the estate, I host tea gatherings with the daughters of vassal families, but each time, her scrutiny is relentless.

It is expected without question that I account for every detail—the specialty products and recent affairs of each invited lady’s domain, her personal tastes and health, the proper blending and selection of tea, the choice of teaware and venue that harmonizes tradition with current fashion, the selection and procurement of confections, even the design of invitations and the specified theme. Naturally, her inspection extends to attire on the day, the content of conversation, and every gesture.

I have not yet achieved a passing score in a single session, but lately, I have managed to meet the minimum standard consistently.

Thanks to that, lately I am said to be the foremost lady among the debutantes still awaiting their presentation, and my elder brothers seem unusually proud of it.

I continue correspondence with Jose as promised, and whenever I return to the estate, we share tea together. Once, she said, “I do not have the confidence to follow Grandmother’s guidance… I truly respect my elder sister.”

Grandmother’s instruction is indeed strict, yet she never speaks falsely, and above all, I strive with the single-minded desire to earn Grandmother’s approval.

Cain Elder Brother has become increasingly occupied with his research, and his visits home have grown far less frequent. Since his paper four years ago brought significant achievement and earned him adulthood, he now holds a research laboratory at the academy and guides students. Father remains active still, and he says he intends to continue his work into his teenage years.

Alex Elder has now reached the point where he cannot live without his spectacles, his illness having progressed far. The increasing demand for holy water has made securing the portion he requires increasingly difficult—this, I believe, is partly my fault, and the thought pains me deeply. After Cain Elder’s paper was presented, it became common practice among noble houses to produce and offer Sacred Stones. Among lower-ranking noble families with weak spiritual strength, some attempt to create Sacred Stones while consuming holy water, and in the imperial capital’s church, this has led to a shortage of holy water. Priority in distribution now favors those with life-threatening conditions first, followed by Sacred Stone production, while treatment for non-life-threatening ailments such as the Moneza disease has been relegated to a lower priority.

“There is nothing to fret over, Spica. Had the discovery been delayed further, my sight would have been entirely dark by now. I can still see light, and I can still see your face. I can still witness your Debutante ceremony. More than that, knowing that the Elder Brother lives and may serve for many years has brought great joy to all, and they have all agreed to lend their support. Your concern, your care for me—how deeply I value that. Please do not cry.” Since hearing those words, I have concealed my guilt, striving to maintain my usual composure, and have made it my duty to assist the Elder Brother when he appears troubled.

Fret Elder has entered the academy and now lives in the dormitory. As his department is the knightly arts, the discipline is said to be stricter than in other faculties. Overnight stays outside the academy are permitted only with prior approval, and he returns home extremely rarely.

The mansion feels wider than ever, though its size remains unchanged, now that Elder Brother is not here.

Yet when he does return, he spends time with us.

Father and Mother continue as before.

But lately, Mother has been unwell more often. Each time, we brew the tea for health and balance, passed down directly from Grandmother, and hold a tea gathering. Most likely, Mother’s ill health stems from stress. Elder Brothers are reaching marriageable age, and proposals come in countless numbers, yet the ones concerned seem to be fleeing them. Marriages among nobles involve intricate family schemes, and that can be difficult indeed. Today, I shall bring a gentle herbal tea, soothing to the stomach and calming to the spirit.

Father has begun to show white streaks in his hair, yet he remains in robust health. It seems he has advanced in his duties, and so his return home has grown later, with days passing when I do not see his face. Still, whenever he finds the time, he calls for both Mother and me, and we share tea together.

As for myself, I am approaching the entrance examination for the academy next year, and my days pass swiftly in preparation.

I intend to enroll in the Liberal Arts division. Most young noblewomen enter this department, it seems. Rarely do some choose the Knightly or Clerical divisions, though those who do are often from lower noble families aiming for advancement.

One day, I was summoned to Father’s study.

Upon entering, I found Mother already there. The atmosphere was not one of tea. Rather, it felt more like anticipation—Mother seemed restless, as if something momentous were about to unfold.

Guided by the gesture, I settled onto the sofa. Father then began to speak.

"I have decided to hold Spica’s debutante event before her enrollment at the academy. Begin preparations with Mother," she informed us.

At last, I am to make my debut into society.

Though imperial adulthood is reached at eighteen, it is customary to debut in one’s early teens.

Cain Elder debuted at ten, while Alex Elder and Fret Elder did so at eleven.

"Understood. Has the date and location been decided?"

There are various forms of debutante events. Some are hosted at one’s own home, others at a patron’s society gathering, and rarely, a debut held at the household of a fiancé’s family.

The nature of the debut is determined by one’s family standing and whether a fiancé exists.

“It is already decided! It is the imperial-sponsored ball next summer. The invitation was delivered to Father only recently.” Mother answered, her voice tinged with excitement.

The imperial-sponsored event is the most prestigious occasion for a debutante. One cannot simply attend merely by wishing to; participation is granted only through direct invitation from the imperial court. Being selected for this gathering is a great honor bestowed by the royal family. If no eligible candidates are deemed suitable, the event itself does not take place.

Even Elder Brothers have not made their debut at this event.

Though, Cain Elder Brother was once selected, he declined due to accelerating his studies and advancing a grade early, choosing to postpone his debut.

Perhaps because of this, Mother appears more animated than ever before. Father watches her with a quiet, resigned expression, as if to say, “Well, here we go again.”

The Debutante event is still ten months away. It is customary to prepare for over a year, yet the remaining time feels somewhat brief. Still, Mother, who had anticipated the topic of the Debutante sooner, seems to have begun preparations ahead of schedule.

There are several rules governing the Debutante event.

For both genders, the attire must be formal dress of the highest order. Men wear tailcoats, adorned with medals, titles, or honors earned through service. Women wear pure white robes with décolleté, wearing the family’s jewels. For knights, men wear military uniforms of formal ceremony, while women may choose either style.

No headwear is permitted. This signifies purity, innocence, and integrity—unranked, uncoronated, untainted by title or rank.

Upon receiving congratulations from the host during the ceremony, one is acknowledged as having made their debut when granted a laurel wreath in unison.

After the greeting, if the debutant is betrothed, and either both are making their debut or one has already done so, they perform the unveiling dance together. If the betrothed partner has not yet debuted, or if there is no betrothal, the debutant must perform the unveiling dance accompanied by a member of the opposite sex—either a relative or a cavalier provided by the host. It is, of course, forbidden to dance with the same person twice; there are intricate rules governing the performance, and the elders observe closely, judging the future of each young nobleman or noblewoman by their conduct.

And the imperial-sponsored debut, at which I shall make my entrance, is governed by rules so intricate that they are recorded in the imperial statutes themselves. The greeting is an audience before the Emperor, and the weight of receiving a crown directly from His Majesty’s hand is a measure of favor. There is, therefore, a special privilege as well. It is permitted to incorporate embroidery in the shape of one’s family crest into formal attire. This is not allowed for ordinary debutantes, but is granted exclusively to those debuting at this event.

Thus, in high society, it is said that one may discern the Emperor’s favor by whether a formal court gown bears embroidery or not. This applies to men.

For women, the meaning differs slightly. Though a court gown may be worn more than once, it is considered a breach of etiquette to don a dress once worn unless it has been altered. Thus, alteration is mandatory. However, the embroidered court gown worn at this gathering is permitted to be worn again—because it is allowed at betrothal ceremonies. This tradition persists from an era when nobles were few and fabric was scarce.

Moreover, embroidering wedding attire is regarded as one of the refined habits of noblewomen, and the quality of the embroidery determines one’s future. Naturally, I must embroider parts of my own gown as well. I am not averse to it, though my hands are not swift. I shall exert myself.

And the reason this gathering is held in such high regard is that it influences the marriages of the imperial family.

Generally, it is said that the partners chosen by the prince or the bridegrooms for the princesses are introduced here, at this evening’s gathering.

At this gathering, those without betrothals or those whose betrothals are yet to be announced are paired with a Kabariet selected by the imperial family rather than by kin or亲属. It is considered a kind of declaration, and for a betrothal to be formally established through a Kabariet chosen here is not uncommon.

The current emperor has five children, yet none have married. The crown prince, twenty-one years of age, is engaged, but as he is still a minor, his marriage will not take place until after his betrothed reaches adulthood.

The second prince, sixteen this year, the third prince, fourteen, and the first princess, twelve, are all of marriageable age, yet no betrothals have been announced for any of them.

Given that this year’s event has been canceled, it seems likely that next year’s gathering will see the first princess debut alongside others who have not yet done so.

In this case, it also carries the implication that she has been selected as a potential friend among the princesses.

Noble thinking is complicated, with so many layers of calculation that it is difficult to keep pace.

Thus, whenever time permits, Mother and I spend our days in the sunroom, stitching embroidery.

Choosing the dress design from those Mother carefully selected, selecting the fabric, taking measurements, planning the embroidery patterns and placement, and even deciding on the lace weave—each task was a mountain of work.

The main fabric was decided to be a satin with a subtle sheen close to ivory, while the lining would use textiles from the Eastern Provinces.

Mother says that the true test of taste lies in introducing new trends within tradition and formality.

The style will be a simple off-the-shoulder A-line, with soft lace gathered at the chest, and a ribbon lace shaped like roses planned for the waistline's seam.

The embroidery flows across the front of the dress like water, with the family crest centered. At the chest, two kelpies face each other in intricate threadwork. I cannot bring myself to finish it. Had Mother not gathered the seamstresses and weavers in advance, such a detailed design would have been impossible.

And it is the family’s jewel. I have long admired a custom-made pearl necklace I received four years ago, and so I asked if this would be suitable. A round pearl with vivid rainbow hues at its center, flanked by feather-shaped white pearls, and small pearls woven into floral patterns. It is my first piece of jewelry design, and I struggled to find a pearl of the right form—only now, this year, has it finally reached my hands.

“You are using a family pearl, but one that is misshapen, and you are not using a large bead—so use this for everyday wear. This occasion is especially special; we shall have something new made. Earrings and a ring will be needed as well. I must arrange for a jeweler at once!” Mother dismissed me with a single word. Indeed, pearls must be round, or they appear beneath one’s station…

I felt a slight pang of disappointment.

Yet this time, too, I was able to design something new through custom work, discussing it with the designer. Grandmother approved, and both the dress and the jewelry received her seal of approval.

The pearls were gathered over several years at Mother’s careful instruction, selected with precision, and of the finest quality. Thanks to that, the creation required little time.

With less than half a year until the Debutante ceremony, the palace will soon summon me.

The Debutante ceremony will be accompanied by an introduction to fellow Debutantes and instruction in etiquette. It is said that the presentation of the cavaliers and dance lessons are also included, requiring regular attendance at the palace.

With the school term approaching, I am left no time to rest, consumed instead by the myriad preparations.