Regressor Instruction Manual

Chapter 1377. An Unexpected Debut (12)

"Have you heard the news?"

"What news?"

"The news about the young ladies of the Black Rose Salon, of course."

"Did something happen again?"

"..."

"..."

I[1] couldn’t help but listen to such whispers as I sipped my wine.

They were talking about those who caused quite a stir at the recent debutante ball.

‘The Black Rose Salon again.’

Whether for good or bad reasons, they were always at the center of attention. Lately, wherever I went, I'd hear nothing but topics about them. Old nobles and young heirs alike boasted about how delightful their time had been with the young ladies of the Black Rose Salon.

Ridiculous stories spread, like Lady Palette recommending a tobacco blend that supposedly came from the neutral nation of Laios, or Lady Brush reading suspicious books.

“Puhahahaha! Is that true? Did someone really insult Lady Peneloti right in front of Lady Pastel?!”

“That’s right.”

“So what happened to that fool?”

“Hehehehe. Don’t be shocked.”

“Out with it.”

“Lady Pastel challenged him to a duel.”

“What... hahahaha! What did you say? You must be joking!”

“Would I joke about something like that? I was there myself! It was so satisfying to see Lady Pastel’s glove flying into that scoundrel’s face. Even now, I can still see his face.”

“Hah! That must’ve been quite a sight. So how did the duel go? Lady Pastel wouldn’t have fought personally, of course, she must have sent someone in her place...”

“Do you still not know Lady Pastel?”

“You can’t be serious...”

“Of course, she fought personally! Can you imagine that scoundrel’s face when Lady Pastel herself stepped up to fight him? He tried to get out of it somehow, unwilling to cross swords with her, but Lady Pastel wasn’t about to let him escape. She charged right in and kicked him in the face.”

“A kick? Come to think of it, wasn’t the Pastel Family a family of combatants?”

“I heard she learned fist techniques as a hobby, but it certainly didn’t look like just a hobby. The way she kicked was sharp and clean; she was barefoot, to boot. She kicked that man senseless with her naked feet. I can't help but think that Lady Pastel is better than those brats who boast about their sword training.”

“So that’s why that scoundrel didn’t show up at the ball tonight.”

“Exactly! The man claims to have graduated from the Royal Swordsmanship Academy, yet he was beaten so soundly by a young lady. He couldn’t even show his face afterward. Even after getting healed by a priest, his face is still swollen.”

“How satisfying. Truly satisfying.”

“I don’t know if it’s because of that, but several combatant families have apparently begun to show interest in Lady Pastel. Well... such is life, isn’t it?”

More absurd stories were making the rounds.

‘A young lady who just made her debut in society challenged a graduate of the Royal Swordsmanship Academy to a duel? And then, she beat him up with nothing but kicks? What kind of nonsense is that... There’s a limit to how far a joke can go.’

It was the kind of thing one wouldn’t even find in a novel, and yet such ridiculous anecdotes were actually spreading here.

‘I thought the chess incident was just another exaggerated rumor.’

If I remembered correctly, that event made the young ladies of the Black Rose Salon famous. Supposedly, one of them had played blind chess against five opponents at once. No one could believe such a thing.

Naturally, whenever rumors spread, people would assume that there had to be some trick behind it, but no one had imagined that it could actually be true.

Apparently, the truth was that the story was even downplayed. When it came to light that Marquis Jayce had taken a great interest in Lady Peneloti, the Black Rose Salon became the hottest topic of the season, upending the social scene.

Reports about the so-called “problematic young ladies” popped up nonstop, and an ever-growing number of suitors were now desperate to court them. It had practically turned into a social phenomenon—a syndrome.

Getting an invitation to visit the Black Rose Salon was no easy feat. The waiting list was extremely long, and even if one were to apply now, one wouldn’t be able to meet them until after all the balls of the season had ended.

I could confidently say that even the salons frequented by princesses weren’t this popular.

In addition, getting a seat at one of their brunches was like trying to pluck a star from the sky. People submitted applications and prayed that they would—by some miracle—be allowed to dine with them.

And that was still the easier option...

Dinner invitations were completely out of the question.

The young ladies’ friendship with one another was so strong that, unless there was a major event, they would usually dine together.

Given the situation, young noblemen were practically obsessed with catching even a glimpse of the Black Rose Salon’s ladies, and those fortunate enough to have met them couldn’t stop talking about them all day long, just like now.

“Lady Brush... I wish I could see her again...”

“At this rate, aren’t you practically love-sick?”

“I won’t deny it. Honestly, if I could see Lady Brush again, I’d give her my heart, literally. You wouldn’t understand how revolutionary her way of thinking is. If it were up to me, I’d beg her to become the lady of my house...”

“How about sending her an expensive gift?”

“That would be an insult to her! Of all things, how could you try to win her favor with such meaningless material offerings? That kind of capitalist thinking—don’t you see how deeply it has corrupted the Union of Kingdoms?! Even this debutante ball—”

“All right, all right, calm down. My mistake. You’re about to get yourself into real trouble talking like that....”

‘Here, too... and there as well....’

“How has Lady Paint been doing lately?”

“She must be quite busy, don’t you think? She’s the one managing a salon full of such unique young ladies. It can’t be easy. I imagine she has constant headaches.”

“I’m sure she does.”

“Honestly... while it’s true that every young lady of the Black Rose Salon has her own charm, when it comes to someone truly capable of running a household, I’d say Lady Paint is beyond comparison.”

“Given her skill, it’s only natural to think that way.”

“Yes... Of course, Lady Peneloti made the Black Rose Salon famous, but Lady Paint has to be the reason the entire ball feels like their ball at this point. She has received countless guests without a single misstep, and she has been keeping the salon perfect at all times. She has proven her own ability, and there is no doubting it.”

“...”

“When I see how she even looks after the other salons, I can’t help but think that she’s capable of anything.”

“Ah, are you talking about the last ball?”

“Yes. It really caught everyone off guard. At every ball, there are always salons that'll end up being excluded; it’s always been that way, and everyone just accepts it. But apparently Lady Paint didn’t see it that way.

"The moment the Black Rose Salon gained fame, she immediately organized a party with the lesser-known salons. That alone showed hr keen insight.”

“So she’s even managed to win over the other young ladies.”

“It was a great success. I hesitate to even say this, but among all the privately hosted parties this season, hers was by far the highest in quality. I'd say the quality of her parties is better than the Duke of Pinkrain’s.”

‘It’s all talk about the Black Rose Salon again.’

Among them, Aina Peneloti's name was mentioned the most. Here in the ballroom, nearly everyone was murmuring her name, young ladies and gentlemen alike. They talked about her intelligence, her beauty, and her every move.

By now, everyone knew her name. In truth, the reason so many people still hadn’t left the ballroom was simple—they were all waiting to see her. Dinner time had long since passed, yet no one moved. High-ranking nobles, famed lords, and even royalty were in attendance.

They had gathered to catch a glimpse of the rumored Aina Peneloti and the young ladies of the Black Rose Salon.

‘The Marquis of Jayce... he’s here too. I heard he proposed to Lady Peneloti and was rejected, but it seems he still hasn’t given up.’

“...”

‘Duke Pinkrain as well? Every powerful figure is here... all to see the so-called cursed third daughter.’

It was baffling. Of course, I had no right to criticize them; after all, I was here for the same reason. How long had it been since I started waiting here? I wasn’t sure anymore.

And finally, as if to reward us for our patience, a loud voice rang out throughout the ballroom...

“Lady Dolores Brush of the Black Rose Salon is entering!”

“The Black Rose Salon!”

“It’s the Black Rose Salon!”

“The Black Rose ladies are here!”

Those who had never shown even the slightest interest in others all turned their heads at once. And there, walking proudly amidst their gaze, was Dolores Brush. The first thing that caught the eye was her large, striking eyes. Her brown bobbed hair framed a face complimented by a simple dress and a charming little hat. Her appearance was modest, but she was far too beautiful to be called "plain."

She wore a few accessories that looked quite expensive, and I assumed they had to have been gifts to the salon. There had to be mountains of presents piled up in their salon, and she probably just randomly chose a few to wear.

Unlike the formal, reserved entrances of other young ladies, her steps were bright and cheerful, full of life. It felt as if she was showing the world exactly who she was.

‘Next will be Lady Pastel.’

Soon, the next lady entered. Her hair was a mix of pale pink and light lemon tones, which was unusual. Contrary to what I had expected from the stories about her striking martial arts skills, she had a surprisingly petite frame. Her wavy hair, which looked as if it were permed, bounced around as she walked in.

After hearing the earlier stories, I couldn’t help but imagine her delivering a flying kick.

Now that I thought of it, hadn’t she hit someone over the back of the head with a wine bottle? While I was imagining her swinging a wine bottle at someone as her hair billowed out around her, the next young lady stepped forward.

I couldn’t hear her voice, but she was probably Lady Palette. I knew she was very tall. Compared to Lady Pastel, she had a towering height and long hair to match. Her dress was loose and baggy, but she clearly had a slender frame. Her gaze was initially emotionless, but upon closer look, she was smiling faintly.

According to the rumors, she would soon leave to smoke some tobacco. Sure enough, a line of nobles was already waiting to offer her a cigarette instead of a dance.

“Lady Paint.”

“It’s Lady Paint.”

Afterward, Lady Paint herself stepped forward; she had taken it upon herself to act as the Black Rose Salon’s manager. She had blonde hair and was dressed magnificently.

Despite her slightly fierce appearance, everyone knew she had a warm heart. She looked around lightly as she walked, and it became clear to me why so many nobles held her in such high regard.

‘She’s a woman capable of anything.’

She was an ordinary young lady, but she seemed to radiate an aura one could expect only from a monarch. If she were born a princess or during turbulent times, she could easily become a hero. Her beauty had simply been concealing that trait of hers.

‘Most of the nobles here can't handle Lady Paint.’

I had no idea why; it was just a thought that came to me.

Just then—

“Lady Aina Peneloti of the Black Rose Salon has arrived.”

—I unknowingly stopped breathing.

“...”

“...”

‘Beautiful.’

That adjective suited her perfectly, and I wasn't talking about just her appearance; her entire being was beautiful.

“...”

“...”

I wasn’t the only one feeling that way. The sudden hush that fell over the ballroom seemed to explain exactly how everyone here regarded her. Aside from the sound of her shoes striking the floor, I could hear nothing else. Even the large diamond necklace around her neck seemed to have lost its sparkle in comparison to her.

Her walk radiated grace and dignity. It wasn’t simply a matter of being well-educated or carrying herself correctly as a noble; it felt as if grace and poise had been a part of her from birth.

What made her even more striking was her appearance. It was almost embarrassing to say this myself, but the moment I saw her face, I felt a chill running down my spine.

Yes, it was shameful to admit, but one could say that her beauty was borderline provocative. However, the aura radiating from her entire being prevented any vulgar thoughts from forming in my head.

Her steps, her movements, her attire, her smile, and her gestures... they were all so pure and noble that it seemed impossible to describe her using basic adjectives or judge her by ordinary standards.

In Lady Aina Peneloti’s eyes, there was no trace of desire—there was nothing in them but purity. It was as if I were confronting a being not entirely human but something otherworldly.

“...”

“Haa...”

Yes, it felt like I was staring at a goddess. I finally understood why no one had ever described her in a crude manner. I finally understood why no one had ever used her name in vain.

“...”

“...”

It was all because Aina Peneloti was supremely noble, flawless, and pure.

***

‘Behold and worship...’

“...”

‘I[2] am Aina Peneloti, supremely noble and pure.’

1. A Noble’s POV ☜

2. Lee Ki-Young’s POV ☜