Christ’s efficiency far exceeded Helos’s expectations.
Almost the very next day, while she was still feeling her scalp tingle over the upcoming “hongmen feast,” the steward of the Imperial Capital residence personally arrived at the estate, bringing with him several tailors and a mountain of top-tier fabrics and jewelry catalogs.
Christ had already arranged everything for her, even granting Helos special permission to “suspend classes” for the days leading up to the banquet, allowing her to focus solely on “preparations” at the residence.
Thus, Helos’s bedroom in the estate was instantly transformed into a temporary workshop for high-end custom gowns.
“Miss Helos, please stand straight and don’t move.”
“Miss, please raise your arms. We need to measure your arm circumference.”
“Miss, do you have a preference for the texture of silk? Or do you prefer the feel of velvet?”
Helos felt like a soul-less doll, allowing the tailors to measure and fuss over her, while also being forced to hold a thick jewelry catalog.
She felt like she was back under the terror of being controlled by her teacher Lilith, perhaps even worse.
“Sister… is all this really necessary?”
Helos cast a weak, pleading glance towards Eleanor, who was enthusiastically selecting lace trimmings nearby.
“Of course it’s necessary!”
Eleanor’s reply was resolute, her sapphire-blue eyes sparkling with unprecedented excitement.
“This is your first formal debut in the social circles of the Imperial Capital! You represent the face of our Olivias Family! We absolutely cannot afford to be the slightest bit careless!”
Helos closed her eyes in despair.
To prepare for the banquet, she not only had to endure this torturous process of taking measurements and fittings, but she also had to dust off the court etiquette she had long since thrown to the winds.
She gave herself a crash course in court etiquette. After all, she never used this stuff normally.
Though Teacher Lilith was no longer by her side to “supervise,” the “muscle memory” she had instilled remained.
Helos could only practice her curtsy, how to lift her skirt hem, and how to make her skirt flare out in the most elegant arc when turning, over and over again in her room.
Gavi acted as the most loyal audience, standing quietly in the corner, the light points in her eye sockets flickering in time with her master’s movements.
After completing her thirtieth curtsy, Helos finally collapsed exhausted onto the sofa, not wanting to move a single finger.
“Ugh…”
She felt like she was about to split in two.
On one hand, she was filled with resistance towards this banquet.
On the other hand, she hadn’t forgotten her ultimate goal—she needed to figure out the matter of “will guidance” to advance her research.
Her research had hit a bottleneck. Professor Graham had provided a direction, but the concept of “will” was far too abstract.
During her training, Lilith’s words once again jumped into her mind.
“When you can condense that unique ‘charm’ of yours to its peak, you will become the ‘stage’ itself.”
“All things will ‘activate’ for you of their own accord because of your presence.”
Helos irritably ruffled her smooth silver hair.
But how was she supposed to turn “charm” into “will”?
She walked barefoot to the large full-length mirror in her room and looked at her reflection.
The girl in the mirror was undoubtedly beautiful.
She had inherited the Olivias family’s fine bloodline. At fourteen, her figure was beginning to show the curves of a young woman.
Her silver hair cascaded down like moonlight, her skin fairer than snow.
Those pale purple eyes were clear and transparent, still holding a trace of un-faded cunning and stubbornness.
She was indeed a standard beauty in the making.
But Helos had to admit, this face was still too plain.
She was still young, after all. Though her features were delicate, many aspects still held the innocence of a girl.
She wasn’t like Eleanor, who was long accustomed to shining under the spotlight, nor was she like Teacher Lilith, whose every smile and frown exuded the allure of a mature woman.
The self in the mirror was more like an uncut piece of jade—possessing the quality, but lacking the “charm” that could captivate at a single glance.
“It seems this face alone isn’t enough.”
Helos touched her chin, murmuring to herself.
Since she couldn’t grasp the inner “will” in a short time, then she could only start with the most superficial “charm”—namely, her attire and appearance.
Though she was very reluctant, she had to make herself the center of attention at that banquet.
At its peak, could it truly stir that incredible power, as Lilith had said?
Once this thought took root, it burned in her heart like a flame.
Helos hesitated no longer. She turned sharply, pulled open her door, crossed the courtyard, and rushed straight towards the main building and Eleanor’s bedroom.
“Sister! I need your help!”
Eleanor had originally been leaning by the window, elegantly sipping red tea and enjoying a rare afternoon.
When she saw her younger sister suddenly rush in with a serious expression and make a request she hadn’t anticipated, she nearly dropped her teacup.
“You want me to what?!”
Eleanor stood up in surprise.
“You… you want me to help you dress up?”
“Yes!”
Helos nodded emphatically, her pale purple eyes burning with a serious fire.
“Not just any casual dressing up, sister! I need you to use all your aesthetic sense and skill to make me the most dazzling one at the banquet!”
“I need the ultimate ‘charm’!”
Eleanor stared at her, dumbfounded for a good ten seconds.
She could hardly believe her ears.
Her sister, who viewed dresses as tigers and makeup as torture, who wished she could wear training clothes and a cloak her whole life, was actually asking her to help “dress her up”?
And was demanding “ultimate charm” at that?
Had the sun risen from the west?!
After a brief moment of shock, an indescribable surge of ecstasy swept through Eleanor!
She had finally… she had finally waited for this day!
“No problem! Leave it to me!”
A light even more intense than Helos’s flashed in Eleanor’s eyes.
She almost tremblingly set down her teacup and grabbed Helos’s wrist.
“Sisi! You’ve finally come to your senses! Sister has waited far too long for this day!”
Eleanor would definitely not refuse such a request from her sister. In fact, she was absolutely thrilled to the core!
***
For the entire next day, Helos’s bedroom completely transformed into Eleanor’s exclusive “runway.”
Eleanor dragged Helos around, spending a whole day just on clothing and appearance.
She brought out all her treasured items, as well as all the top-tier gowns, jewelry, and even magic lipsticks in different shades that the steward had just delivered.
“No, no, this white one is too plain, it can’t carry your presence!”
“This black one is too heavy, it makes you look old!”
“This gold one… no, it’s too much like me!”
Eleanor acted like the most discerning fashion designer, picking and choosing from the mountain of gowns.
Helos once again became the dressing doll at others’ mercy, mechanically changing into one elaborate dress after another.
Throughout the day, the estate’s maids and Gavi acted as the most loyal judges, scoring and commenting for them.
“Miss, I think the second young lady is more suited to cool tones. That moon-white gown from earlier was very nice.”
Though Lille wasn’t there, the other maids in the estate were cupping their faces, their eyes full of admiration.
“No, no.” Another senior maid shook her head. “The second young lady’s purple eyes are very special. She should wear a deep purple or crimson gown to highlight that sense of mystery.”
Gavi couldn’t speak. She just stood quietly to the side.
But whenever Helos changed into a new outfit, Eleanor would bring her a small wooden board and a piece of charcoal.
Gavi would tilt her head and, with her still somewhat clumsy handwriting, write her evaluation on the board.
[Too bright. Not good for hiding.]
[Movement restricted. Not suitable for emergencies.]
[Skirt hem too long. Will trip.]
Her evaluations were always the most concise, the most straightforward, and the most mood-killing.
“Gavi! We’re choosing a banquet gown right now, not combat attire!”
Eleanor corrected her for what felt like the hundredth time.
The light points in Gavi’s eye sockets flickered, seeming a bit confused, but she still rewrote on the board:
[…Very pretty?]
After a full day of “battle,” Helos had tried on almost every high-end gown they could find.
Finally, after synthesizing everyone’s opinions—mainly Eleanor’s own—Eleanor finally put together an ensemble she deemed perfect for Helos.
When Helos stepped out of the dressing room for the final time, the room fell into a brief silence.
Even the usually critical senior maids couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
Eleanor looked at her “creation” with satisfaction, her eyes full of pride.
Helos, looking at her reflection in the mirror, was also somewhat incredulous.
The girl in the mirror seemed reborn.
She wore a midnight purple gown, a color notoriously difficult to pull off.
The color was as deep as the midnight sky, yet under the light, it shimmered with a starlight-like glow.
The gown’s style wasn’t excessively ornate, but its cut was meticulously crafted.
The top was a fitted strapless design, perfectly outlining the young woman’s slender waist and graceful neck and shoulder lines, which were just beginning to take shape.
The skirt fell in layers like a blooming flower, the fabric adorned with countless tiny black crystals that refracted a subtle yet luxurious light with her every movement.
Her silver hair had been meticulously styled. No longer a casual ponytail, it was swept up into an elegant yet slightly loose bun, with a few stray strands playfully framing her face.
Eleanor had even applied a thin layer of light makeup for her.
The makeup was extremely subtle, yet it perfectly accentuated her best features.
Slightly winged eyeliner added a touch of allure to her pale purple eyes, and a light red lip tint resembled rose petals touched by morning dew.
Around her neck, she wore a necklace made of gemstones, complementing her fair skin.
In this moment, Helos had shed all her youthful innocence and hidden the madness and stubbornness of the researcher.
She was like a mysterious flower quietly blooming in the dark night—noble, elegant, yet carrying a hint of an indescribably dangerous allure.
“My goodness… Sisi, you look absolutely stunning!”
Eleanor covered her mouth in excitement.
“Who knows which lucky boy will get you in the future!”
Helos stared at the familiar-yet-strange self in the mirror, momentarily lost in thought.
Is this really me?
“I told you so!”
Eleanor walked confidently to her side, linked arms with her, and gave a brilliant smile to their reflections in the mirror.
“Sisi, with this look, I guarantee it!”
“You will absolutely be the most charming girl at the banquet!”