Chapter 84
Strange. Why are my ears itching all of a sudden? Is someone talking about me? Could the Duke be plotting something?
I squirmed my way back onto the Duke’s big bed for the first time in a while.
Even just kneeling on it, I sank down deep. So soft. Totally different from the stiff, boarding-house dorm bed that felt like a rock. Tonight, I might actually get some real sleep.
But once I lay down and stared at the ceiling—
“……”
Without the dreamcatcher hanging over my head, it didn’t feel like my spot. It took me a while to calm down.
How did things even turn out like this?
I never asked to be adopted. The dreamcatcher was a gift I’d been poked into accepting.
…And yet here I am, relying on such things.
I forced myself to think of something else.
A banquet.
“Elber will probably have fun with Seraphina, right?”
I’ve never attended a banquet as a lady.
Except when I was ten, at the Marquis of Godel’s banquet. Back then, I was just a kid—eating whatever was there and spinning around with Kai was enough to make the adults laugh it off.
But now… even though I learned proper etiquette, I can’t imagine myself enjoying it. I’d probably just stick to the wall, sipping drinks and wasting space.
But Elber… he must have attended banquets in the capital before. He’ll surely escort Seraphina with ease, and they’ll even dance together.
And Seraphina?
Well, she’s the heroine. What’s there to worry about? The moment she enters, the crowd will part, and everyone will whisper, “How could such a beautiful young lady exist?”
When those two dance, every gaze will naturally be drawn to them.
Of course. A golden-haired heroine and a black-haired male lead together—who wouldn’t look? Just imagining it is dazzling.
Honestly, since I’ve been thrown into a romance novel, it’s the kind of scene I’d love to experience at least once myself—dancing in the middle of the ballroom while everyone stares.
…Ah, wait. I did experience that once.
Six years ago, at the Godels’ banquet, when Kai and I danced. Everyone smiled warmly at us because we were both little and cute.
Now… I probably wouldn’t measure up anymore. Not that I want to dance with Kai or anything. …Really.
In my imagination, a red carpet was already unfurled, and Kai was standing across from me.
He’d grown taller since then, so his gaze would meet mine differently. We wouldn’t just spin around like kids. Like adults, he’d probably support my back with his hand.
His hands had grown bigger along with his height. Just imagining myself leaning on that hand made my heart race instead of feeling stable.
…Kai really does look like a prince. Wouldn’t I look pitiful next to him?
“I think our hair colors match, though…”
“What does?”
“Eek!”
Elber was suddenly standing at my door, staring at me.
“Brother! What are you doing there?”
“Came to say goodnight.”
“…Good night.”
“But it seems like you can’t sleep. What’s this about colors? Are you worried about something?”
Elber dragged a chair over and sat right in front of my bed. No wasted movement, like it was only natural for him to stay until his sister fell asleep.
It reminded me of the boy from years ago—telling me ghost stories of people freezing to death in the northern mountains, but wanting me alone to sleep peacefully.
…That boy had grown so much, yet here he was again, holding my hand warmly with that same gentle expression.
“Looks like you’re the one worrying, not me.”
“Of course. If you can’t sleep, how can I not worry?”
“…It’s nothing serious. Anyway, how have you been? Other than Lady Fine chasing you around.”
“I’m fine. My sword skills are fully recognized now. They say I’m stronger than most veteran knights.”
Elber flexed his arm proudly, and his shirt bulged like it was about to rip.
“Yikes!”
When did my gentle brother turn into a golem?!
Seeing me recoil, Elber’s eyes went wide like a startled rabbit.
“Sorry! Did I scare you?”
“A little…”
“Guess you found it gross. If you don’t like it, I’ll get rid of the muscles!”
“Don’t live your life adjusting to my reactions! I’m not planning to take responsibility for your whole future!”
“Haha, really?”
He tilted his head. Before I knew it, he was lying across from me on the edge of my bed.
“If it comes down to it, I wouldn’t mind taking responsibility for your life, though.”
“Oh, come on.”
“I’m not joking. I swore it to myself the day I pulled you out of the orphanage.”
“……”
“So… Sol, whenever you’re at a crossroads in life, just do what you want. Even if you fail, I’ll take responsibility.”
“…Where did my tsundere brother go?”
“When it’s just the two of us, there’s no need for that.”
He smiled softly.
His black hair scattered across my bed, and his blue eyes shimmered like jewels.
…He looked like an angel. Almost too much for me to feel worthy of his trust.
And just as I thought that, he asked a straight-shot question.
“Sol, you’re overthinking something again, aren’t you?”
“N-no! It’s nothing. Just worrying if you’ll do okay escorting at the banquet!”
“I’ve never done it before, but we learned gentlemanly manners at the academy. I won’t do anything to embarrass your friend.”
“What? You’ve never been to a banquet in the capital? Never escorted anyone?”
“Never.”
“Oh…”
Honestly, I thought with his personality, no girl would leave him alone. Guess I was wrong.
“But Sol, what worries me is different.”
“What is it?”
“Would Seraphina even want to attend a noble banquet? As just a friend’s brother’s partner?”
“…Oh no!”
I grabbed my head and flailed on the bed.
Damn it! How did I not think of that? Just because she’s the heroine, I assumed she’d naturally stay by the male lead’s side!
But she’s not a character in a book anymore—she’s a real person who acts by her own will!
And in this world, she hasn’t even had those fateful encounters with the male lead like in the original story!
“Brother, I’m such an idiot! Seraphina doesn’t care one bit about banquets or noble connections!”
“Can’t argue with you there.”
“Ugh… what do I do? If I say I’ll do her volunteer work instead—no, then she’ll just go volunteer somewhere else!”
I flopped like a fish on the bed, unable to stop from embarrassment.
And to think, I pretended in front of the Duke like I’d come up with some brilliant scheme!
I buried my face in my pillow, but Elber gently patted my head.
“It’s fine. I already talked it over with Father.”
“…So you and Father knew all along how short-sighted I was, huh.”
“Don’t blame yourself. That’s what we’re here for, to make up for it. Anyway, just say this to Seraphina.”
“What?”
“That you want to experience a noble banquet, but you’re scared to go alone. So ask if she’ll come with you.”
“Oh…”
“If she’s truly your friend, she’ll agree. And since she’s your only noble friend, it makes sense you’d ask her.”
His words made sense.
Right—I’d only been thinking in terms of appealing offers. But friendship also allows for simple requests. Seraphina would probably say yes.
“That’s a good idea, Brother.”
“Right?”
“But there’s one downside.”
“What is it?”
“I’d have to attend the banquet too!”
“…How is that a downside?”
“Huh?”
Isn’t it?
“I mean, there’s nothing good about banquets.”
“There’s lots of food. And good music.”
Well… that’s true.
Even at that banquet when I was ten, the music, the dresses blossoming like flowers, and the delicious food left me with good memories.
“But what if I mess up and embarrass Father?”
“That might happen at a debutante ball, but not at a gathering among acquaintances. And… if anyone dares lecture you about etiquette, just learn their name.”
“…”
“Because then Father will personally educate them on the etiquette required before a Schlaeger.”
…Yep. Definitely a Schlaeger’s son.
But still…
I thought of another bad part. But I couldn’t say it aloud. How could I tell my caring brother, I don’t want to be compared to Seraphina?
So I used another excuse.
“Isn’t the whole point of you going with Seraphina to shake off Lady Fine?”
“Right.”
“Then I’ll be left alone in the ballroom!”
“……”
“Of course, I’ll behave myself. But what if someone tries to pick a fight with me just to disgrace the Duke’s family? What if I react badly?”
“You won’t need to worry about that.”
The voice wasn’t Elber’s. It was much deeper—
“Father?”
We both shot up from the bed.
The Duke strode right in, tucked me back under the blanket, and even patted my forehead gently. Just that made me feel drowsy again… until his next words blasted the sleep right out of me.
“If you’re afraid of being left alone, then there’s no helping it. I’ll escort you myself.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Lie down. You need good sleep to grow taller. You’re too small.”
“You’re too big—no, wait, that’s not the issue! Why are you suddenly interfering? You always say Brother should handle his own business!”
“In this case, accompanying you is a matter of the family’s honor.”
“What?”
What kind of twisted logic is that?!
But the Duke was already used to shamelessly spouting twisted logic.
“You just asked, didn’t you—‘What if someone tries to disgrace the Duke’s house?’ That’s why me going with you is for the good of the family.”
“…Hold on.”
“I’ll find a relaxed banquet, and make sure both Lady Fine and Lady Tillon are invited. Sol, you just come with me comfortably.”
“Comfortably? With you there?!”
“We’ve gone to a banquet together before, and even danced, haven’t we?”
“That was six years ago…”
“Then we’ll make new memories. From tomorrow, I’ll arrange the perfect stylists to prepare you. So rest assured and look forward to it.”
I’M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!!!
But the Duke, ignoring me, just ruffled my hair roughly and left.
What is this? I planned the whole thing to get Elber and Seraphina together—and now it’s going to include my father-in-law and sister-in-law?!
Surely Elber would sympathize with how absurd this is.
Or so I hoped, until I turned to him.
…But Elber looked exactly like a boy who’d just pulled off a prank.
“Brother, you knew Father would react like this, didn’t you?”
“W-what? No way.”
“You totally knew.”
“…Yeah.”
“Why’d you drag him in? It’s too much pressure! He’s already so busy! Did you persuade him?”
“…No, Sol, you’re misunderstanding.”
Elber peeked down the hall, making sure Father was gone, then whispered in my ear.
“Remember how you avoided Father for a while recently? He was worried it was because of… adolescence.”
“Even without puberty, I was planning to keep some distance anyway.”
