Chapter 55
The last day of the festival dawned, and the time for the banquet drew near.
My heart began to pound violently, and without realizing it, I brought a hand to my chest. Thump, thump—an unfamiliar tension coursed through my entire body.
“Are you nervous?”
“…A little.”
“Don’t worry, my lady. The young masters will be by your side, and once you enter the hall, Lady Stella will be there as well.”
Listening to Loray’s voice, who was piling on all sorts of reassurances to calm me down, I slowly regulated my breathing.
I never thought such a day would come. That I would be able to attend a banquet myself.
Sophia Bennie was someone who had always been hidden away, someone who had to live as if she didn’t exist.
Now, my story would spread through high society. Having suddenly appeared after being concealed for so long, there would surely be gossip about me for a while.
I had never expected the day to come when my name would be tossed about in other people’s mouths, nor could I imagine how that would feel.
I just hoped no ill winds would blow.
While lost in these worries, I found myself standing before the doors to the hall, where Benjamin and Joshua were already waiting, fully prepared.
Though their attire was of the same design, Benjamin’s formalwear was white, while Joshua’s was black, the contrast making each stand out. Both greeted me with faint smiles.
“I can feel how nervous you are. It’s okay, Sophie.”
Benjamin took my left hand.
“That’s right. We’ll be right here to protect you.”
Joshua took my right hand.
With both of them escorting me, I slowly stepped into the banquet hall.
The moment I stepped under the dazzling lights, every gaze—whether kind or malicious—clung to my skin.
So the day had come when I would have to endure this heavy atmosphere.
Letting out a small breath, I offered a smile brighter and lovelier than the lights shining on me.
I couldn’t afford to show a timid face in a place where I had no idea how people would view me.
Those who saw me enter with Joshua and Benjamin each reacted differently. Some who held fans hid their smiles behind them, while those with close friends leaned together and began whispering.
“So the rumors were true. I thought it was just idle talk.”
“I wonder why they’re showing the child now….”
“Whatever the reason, it’s delightful news for that old crow.”
And then, there were those who openly displayed their displeasure.
“…Hah.”
The “old crow” referred to Holton, current head of House Sevice, whose crest bore a crow. Sweeping back his indigo hair that seemed to have cold scales embedded in it, he barely swallowed down his irritation—just as golden hair flashed past his side.
“If the duke were as fair-faced as I am, or a lady, you’d be hiding your face with a fan right now, wouldn’t you?”
Count Aros. He wore white formalwear adorned with gold embroidery, and in his hand was a fan that matched. Only his smiling eyes were visible above it, making it all too easy to guess what expression lay beneath.
“…I’m not in a good mood right now, so you’d better take yourself off while you can.”
“That was my intention anyway. Still, I suggest you keep your expression in check—a friendly piece of advice from an ally.”
With a smiling gaze, the count swiftly brushed past Holton. As theirs was a connection that could not be publicly acknowledged, the count, conscious of the watching eyes, was the first to leave.
Holton caught sight of his unbound hair rippling like waves. Though it was a perfectly natural sight, the mood was so sour that even that annoyed him.
So he’s riding high. I heard he even won the hunting competition.
Holton snorted at the sight of his back and turned away.
Ally? Nonsense. He was just another one of those enjoying the spectacle of Holton’s power being chipped away.
He had felt it already when they discussed the incident at the castle last time—this man was no friend.
Before he could restrain the heat rising inside him, the lord of the castle entered the hall. His grip tightened instinctively on the cane in his hand.
Meeting the one who had killed his child? That, he had experienced enough times to be able to endure.
But what was happening before his eyes now was not only new—it was intolerable.
“Sophia Bennie Roberti.”
Roberti… that family name!
“I hereby acknowledge this child, who will carry on a proud name, as the third heir in line to succession.”
At Bled’s words, spoken as he lifted Sophia’s right hand, Holton’s grip tightened so hard his hand shook.
Those words… those words—!
Isn’t that saying he’ll make that wretched girl the lord of the castle?
That sly fox would never make Chase’s child the next lord. He already had a beloved child of his own—why would he hand over the position to the children of another?
That thought occurred not only to Holton, but to many others in the hall. And as if coordinated, the moment Bled stepped back, they all surged toward Sophia.
After all, if she might be the next lord, they had to curry favor.
Why watch a setting sun when you could prepare for the rising one? That was how to look toward tomorrow.
Holton, watching the scene, could not possibly feel good.
Sophia Bennie had been revealed to the world, and everyone was suddenly speaking of her as the future lord. How could that sit well with him?
What measures could he take to deal with this? What sort of move could—?
His train of thought broke off when his cane slipped and he nearly fell, only to be caught by someone.
It was one of the knights of the Central Castle, who had been standing like a statue at the edge of the hall.
“Are you all right, sir?”
He had black hair tied back in one, and eyes as red and chilling as blood.
“Thank you…”
Once Holton had straightened up with the man’s support, he felt something being slipped into the pocket of his jacket. Frowning at the strange sensation, he looked at the knight, who spoke quietly.
“Read it when you’re alone.”
Leaving those words behind, the knight returned to his post.
Holton knew it instinctively—this would be the very means by which he could drag that detestable girl down.
This… I truly hadn’t seen this coming.
“I hereby acknowledge this child, who will carry on a proud name, as the third heir in line to succession.”
I’d known about inheriting the family name, but I hadn’t expected such words to come with it. Heir? To the lordship?
What on earth was this man thinking?
Sophia looked up at Bled with wide eyes full of incomprehension. But he merely gave her a gentle smile.
After stirring up a great storm, Bled released her hand and returned to his seat.
“…What… what is this…?”
This was an outright insult to House Sevice. From their perspective, he had just taken in as his adopted daughter the child of the woman responsible for their own daughter’s death.
But setting that aside, the rest of the nobility’s opinion was already turning toward Sophia.
House Sevice was in decline, and adopting Sophia at this point meant the lord was keeping her in mind as the next heir.
Was this a dream? Was I starting to dream dreams I’d never even dared before?
In the midst of this absurdity, I turned to Joshua and Benjamin—only to find them clapping and congratulating me.
Easy for them to say…!
Nobles I’d never met began to gather around, forcing me to exchange pleasantries.
Joshua and Benjamin did their best to stay close and cut off the indiscriminate barrage of questions, but the interest never ceased.
“May I have a moment?”
Through the crowd, a man with hair like spun gold and a smile like a work of art took a step closer to me.
“I am Aros of House Viche.”
“…Lord Viche.”
“Haha, it’s been a while.”
Count Aros of Viche greeted Joshua and Benjamin as well when Benjamin addressed him, then lowered his gaze to meet mine.
“Have you heard that I won the hunting competition?”
“…No.”
I wondered if he meant to tell me his tale of valor, and waited—but then, quite suddenly, he took my left hand.
“I’ll give you the island I received.”
“…Pardon?”
“I think it would suit you far better than me.”
When I said nothing, he only smiled brightly, released my hand, and stepped back.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
A few women who had been watching nearby flushed at his smile—he was, after all, a rare and beautiful young man.
Only after he disappeared from sight did I snap back to myself, scanning the crowd for Peyton.
“Grandfather.”
“Hmm?”
“…I thought I was going to die of disgust.”
And I rubbed the hand Viche had touched against his sleeve. Peyton, more focused on eating than anything else, tilted his head in confusion, not understanding my behavior.
