Sylvania || jjk

27

Everyone had finished getting their make-up and hair done. The air now carried a mix scent of floral perfumes, hair sprays, and a faint trace of melted wax from the vanity lights that illuminated the room.

The large, gilded mirrors reflected four girls in elegant gowns.

Chaeng sat on the cushioned stool, her makeup already finished—subtle yet breathtaking. Her usually sharp features were softened by the warm-toned blush dusted over her cheeks, and her lips carried a deep shade of pink that matched her dress.

Next to her, Hana was adjusting her earrings, tilting her head side to side to check if they sparkled enough under the light. Nari and Eun were done as well, both looking like they’d stepped out of a fairytale.

Rosé was pacing around, gathering last-minute accessories from the vanity.

She tossed a few jeweled hairpins onto the table, then picked up a lace-trimmed glove and examined it before sighing. "Why do I feel like I’m preparing someone for battle instead of a dance?"

"Because you kind of are," Nari quipped, giving Chaeng a knowing look through the mirror.

Chaeng chuckled but said nothing.

Well, yes. Something terrible had been plotted against Chaeng. And it was set to be off today only. One heck of a battle, isn't it?

Hana turned from the mirror and folded her arms. "Alright, so here’s what Yoojin told me," she said, her voice lowering. The room immediately grew more serious as the girls turned their attention to her.

"She said, just when you’re about to step onto the stage, she’ll slip those thorns into your dance shoes. That way, even if you notice something’s wrong, you won’t have time to do anything about it."

Chaeng scoffed, shaking her head. "Of course, she’d go for something this petty."

Eun frowned. "Are we sure this is going to work? What if she tries something else last minute?"

"That’s where I come in," Rosé said, stepping closer. She lowered her voice and leaned in slightly, making sure nobody outside could hear. "Listen carefully. The second Yoojin leaves after messing with your shoes, I’m going to switch them out with a spare pair. So no matter what happens, you won’t actually be stepping on those thorns."

"But what if she stays back?" Chaeng asked.

"She won’t," Hana reassured her. "She doesn’t have time to sit around. She will get up on the stage right after you."

Rosé scanned the room quickly before walking over to the door and locking it. She turned back to the girls, her expression serious. "We cannot screw this up. If we do, she wins. So from now on, we do exactly as planned."

Chaeng exhaled, running a hand through her hair, careful not to mess up the waves that had just set. "Alright," she said finally, nodding. "Let’s do this."

---

In a quieter corner of the ballroom, Misun approached Yoojin near the dressing rooms.

She leaned in, whispering, "I did the work for you."

Yoojin turned to her with a raised brow, eyes sharp. "What work?"

Misun smirked. "Hana. She’s on their side. She’s been pretending this whole time—lying to you just so that they can mess with you."

Yoojin’s expression didn’t even flicker. Instead, she let out a slow, almost amused breath.

"Of course she’s not," Yoojin muttered, shaking her head slightly. "Did you think I actually trusted her?"