BSS 86

chapter 86

The king spoke to me while facing forward, just as the double doors were half-open.

“I hear this party marks your first debut?”

“That’s correct. Did you hear it from the chancellor?”

Of course, the chancellor was the source of the rumor.

“Marquis Lyle cherishes you greatly. He said even if you make a mistake, consider it endearing.”

“The chancellor… with all due respect, anyone would think I’m a complete child.”

“Haha, indeed. That seems to be the impression. Perhaps because I’ve seen you since you were very small… and now you’re a proper young lady.”

“You flatter me.”

“Today, you standing here to accompany me feels almost a waste. It’s unfair to the young gentlemen as well.”

“The young gentlemen?”

“Yes. Simply assisting your entrance is sufficient; you should also enjoy the party. Who knows? Perhaps you may find a knight of your own.”

The king had already granted me freedom in advance.

According to the etiquette book I had hurriedly read before the party, entering a party accompanied by someone of the same gender was considered quite odd.

Parties were largely for socializing, but also carried significant romantic implications.

Accompanying someone of the same gender would upset the male-to-female ratio.

“Your Majesty.”

“Do not forget. You are here representing Dmitri today. If anyone disrespects you, proudly mention my name.”

I wondered why the king was suddenly giving me so much advice.

That question was answered the moment I entered the party hall.

People, having heard who was entering, swarmed in from all directions.

The brief moment I waited by the stairs for the doors to open had been the only opportunity to converse with the king.

“Your Highness Dikel! It’s been quite a while.”

“I am Marquis Tundra. We met in Dmitri last autumn, do you remember?”

“This is the first time we meet, Your Highness! I am…”

It happened in an instant. The crowd surged, and before I could react, I was separated from Dikel III.

Pushed and jostled, I was carried along uncontrollably for a long while.

“Wait, I… my attendants…”

People shoved me aside like an unnecessary object, and by the time I regained my senses, the king and I were about twenty paces apart.

That space was already filled with foreign nobles who wanted even a brief moment with the king.

It was the moment I truly felt Dikel III’s popularity.

Under his rule, Dmitri was experiencing the most stable and peaceful period in 300 years—a fact known across the continent.

A rare sovereign who was both mentally and physically healthy.

From a distance, the king briefly gave me a glance. Calm, composed, and generous, he even gestured for me to proceed as I wished.

I realized I no longer needed attendants.

With people lining up to speak with him, there would be no moment of solitude.

Yet I felt embarrassed for having insisted on accompanying him without actually doing anything.

[Let’s just enjoy the party, Master.]

[I feel utterly useless right now.]

[There’s really not much to do, is there?]

Honestly, being at a party for the first time, I didn’t know what else to do.

For the moment, I trailed behind the group of foreign nobles clustered around Dikel III.

Not that it gave me anything useful to do.

“Hmm.”

The king seemed busy attending to the foreign nobles, and no one was interested in me.

Soon, I foolishly gave up trying to follow them.

Perhaps the king had anticipated this when granting me freedom.

He must have known I’d feel like a useless straw doll.

Certainly, these nobles would be far more accustomed to the party than I was.

[Look! That chandelier is made of real crystal, Master.]

Only then did I stop and take in my surroundings.

Distracted by the king, I hadn’t realized the ceiling was covered in gold, and each chandelier looked like a work of fine art.

I was late in appreciating the sheer size and splendor of the hall and was astonished.

Such a massive hall within a castle—truly, only the Elan could build something like this.

How far would the Empire go in its extravagance?

[Doesn’t it look like real gold?]

[Yes, pure gold.]

Originally, I had planned to look for Ashe by this point, but with my plan already disrupted, I had no idea how to manage the time.

I noticed simple snacks and drinks set up around the hall.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t eaten since breakfast—lunch wasn’t provided.

Supposedly, wearing a dress meant one shouldn’t have a bulging stomach.

‘Whatever.’

I tried to head toward the buffet to eat something, even just a snack.

That is, until I slipped on spilled alcohol and felt myself tilting to one side.

Damn shoes!

With a foreboding twist, I fell in a direction I couldn’t correct on my own.

Gravity was merciless.

But I couldn’t afford the humiliation of falling in such a setting.

Desperately, I reached out, and just then, someone’s sleeve brushed my hand.

I tried to grab it but missed by a fraction of a second, and I flailed as the marble floor rushed toward me.

Expecting intense pain, I thought if I fell so disgracefully, I might as well pretend to be a foreigner rather than Dmitri.

“Oh no.”

“Ah!”

Faster than the sound of my fall, someone caught me.

A large hand gently wrapped around my waist, and a man’s body pressed against my back.

“Are you alright?”

His voice was low, his grip strong.

It was easy to tell, from his solid body pressed close, that the one helping me was a man.

He helped me to my feet.

Because he held me firmly from behind, I had to turn around to see his face.

“Yes, yes.”

I straightened, brushing my hair from the stumble and facing him.

He was tall, so I had to tilt my head to meet his gaze.

“You nearly had a serious accident.”

“Thanks to you, though…”

I couldn’t continue speaking.

What was that infuriating hair color?!

Involuntarily, I stared at the man who had saved me with a grimace. He had fiery red hair.

“You must have been quite startled.”

He seemed to interpret my expression that way.

For some reason, I naturally held his hand, though otherwise I would have stepped back immediately.

Judging by his attire, he was clearly not of a low rank.

But all I could focus on was that intense red hair.

The color alone put me in a bad mood.

I realized I might be petty, narrow-minded, and grudging—or maybe I was just allergic to red hair.

This man… not only his hair but his face oddly resembles Robenin Pedri. Am I imagining it?

Squinting my eyes, I felt him hold my hand even tighter.

What was going on?

“This is our first meeting. Are you from abroad?”

“Yes.”

I wished he would let go of my hand.

I also wished he would stop looking at me with that inscrutable, intense gaze.

“Indeed, if I had seen such a beautiful person earlier, I surely would have noticed. Where are you from?”

“From Dmitri…”

According to etiquette, failing to answer a question was rude. The book suggested mirroring the question back.

I hesitated. Should I kick him, or behave politely as a foreign attendant in someone else’s country?

I didn’t hesitate long.

“…And you? Are you Elan?”

I asked with an awkward smile.

After all, he was the man who helped me, and he looked like an Elan noble. Red hair aside.

I intended to handle it as gracefully as possible.

“Yes. This is my hometown.”

“That seems to be the case.”

“My introduction was delayed. My name is Latshamu Pedri.”

Insane.

Why did I attract Pedris like a magnet?

My foreboding had been chillingly accurate.

Oh God, why do you test me so?

I might have cursed You too often…

“Unusual name, isn’t it? My mother was a northern noble.”

This kid… it’s him! The younger brother who had clung to Robenin after losing at the competition.

“I look forward to working with you, coward from a small country.”

I would never forget him.

That arrogant brat!

When did he grow up like this?!

“What is your name, Lady?”

“……”

“If you tell me, I will remember it for a lifetime.”

Nine years had passed since, so I didn’t recognize Latshamu, and he didn’t recognize me either.

I froze, staring at him.

Then, I slowly relaxed and smiled brightly.

“Jeanie Crowell.”

That’s me, you little…