Chapter 81
“Could it be, that astronomy book Roy always carried around…?”
“Hentel Gritchie’s Astronomical Navigation series, you mean.”
“Yes! That damned astronomy book! Roy once said he knew a mage older brother—but to think it was Altair Oswaly. Hah! What a small world.”
Beriette gave a dry laugh, brushing back his hair. The golden ornaments hanging from his wrist clinked and glittered.
Altair tilted his head, scanning Beriette’s flashy outfit. Back when he’d heard that the sole survivor rescued by the Emperor from Gunterus the dark mage’s Barner catastrophe was Count Barner’s daughter—Berieta Barner, called “Belleti”—he thought maybe Beriette was disguising himself as a woman. After all, Count Barner had four sons, but no daughters.
“Altair, you said you were helping Roy, right?”
Beriette’s green eyes glimmered.
“I also want to help Roy, who’s in big trouble. How about it?”
“……”
“Should we form an alliance, for the sake of old ties?”
In his outstretched hand was wrapped the pearl necklace—the magical gift once given to him by the young lord of bright, peaceful Swally Island.
Altair stared at Beriette’s hand with expressionless eyes, biting the inside of his cheek. The childhood days he had shared with Beriette now felt too far away. Instead of fondness, the same repulsion he’d felt toward Tesarion rose inside. A storm of unclear emotions screamed in his chest.
“Refuse Beriette.”
Altair frowned, hesitated, and then trusted his gut as he asked:
“Does Roy know you as a woman, or as a man?”
Damn. Right on target. Beriette flinched. His bright smile froze—then he forced another charming eye-smile.
“Well…? At this point most people guess already. From today, he’ll surely know for sure.”
“……”
Altair’s gaze went cold as he swept over Beriette.
He wasn’t in a long-sleeved, high-collared dress coat. Instead, he wore traditional men’s ceremonial attire from the south. The white muslin, embroidered with golden threads, was so thin it was nearly see-through. A blue cloth was wrapped across one shoulder and fastened with a thick belt. The other arm, shoulder, and chest were exposed—along with a huge scar from a beast’s claws.
“I refuse the alliance.”
“You’re very firm, huh. Couldn’t you at least give me the polite answer of ‘let me think about it for old times’ sake’? You and me—it would be win-win. Don’t come begging for my help later. By then, I may have neither time nor position to spare.”
“I refuse.”
“Tch. Fine, fine, I get it~”
Beriette clicked his tongue, sulking. By now, the Imperial knights had nearly climbed all the way up the spire after him. Even while gasping on the narrow spiral stairs, they shouted: “P-Princess! The ball is about to start! Even if you hurry now, you’ll be late!”
“I must go. I hope you can explain yourself to the knights climbing up here and slip away safely.”
Finishing his words, Beriette flew off toward the grand hall.
“Princess!!”
The knights finally reached the top, stretching out their arms to grab him. Clearly the Princess had been speaking with a suspicious hooded man atop the spire. But they couldn’t ignore that shady figure to chase Beriette.
As they caught their breath, lifting one man onto the roof, Altair bowed politely.
“Thank you for your effort. I will transport you to Beriette immediately.”
“Who are you! Don’t move—whaaa?”
With a strange scream, the knight vanished from the roof. The men holding his legs and waist below also suddenly collapsed in a heap before Beriette.
“Uwaah! S-scared me…”
Startled by the knights dropping from thin air, Beriette looked back sharply up at the spire.
But no one was there.
The sun set and dusk fell.
The heavy red velvet curtains over the great hall’s terrace windows were drawn aside, opening the garden. Marble statues, fountains, and flower petals scattering in the wind shone brightly, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
Everyone gasped and walked out to the terrace to enjoy the view.
Soon, music and trumpets announced the start of the ball. People in the hall stepped aside to the walls, clearing the center.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending Claremont Castle’s spring welcoming banquet. We will now begin the year’s first ball.”
The grand doors opened wide, and attendants at the door read from the list.
“From Hossen Province, Lord Brishel Venkana’s son, and the eldest daughter of Baron Soyon, Lady Arione.”
The young couple descended the stairs hand in hand, bowed to the crowd, and took their places for the formal group dance. Everyone called was someone making their debut in this year’s marriage season.
And one of them was me.
Even though I finally got a chance to step out of Tesarion’s sight, instead of relief I only felt sick with nerves. Worse, the lady who loudly declared she’d escort me was none other than Merrill Dover.
“Our big brother looks very~ nervous, doesn’t he?”
So this is what it means to have a younger sister.
Not at all what I imagined. I could picture an aloof teenager ignoring me, or a sharp-tongued tsundere type—but not this girl who makes me clench my fists every single moment.
Still, thanks to Princess Berieta’s generosity, I at least had a proper dress for the ball. For something obtained so suddenly, it was fine fabric and good style. The problem was only that the “hanger” didn’t suit the dress. Freckles covering rough skin, callused and cracked hands, square shoulders—those things couldn’t be fixed overnight.
The next name was called. Holding Merrill’s hand, I stepped forward.
“Are your feet okay?”
“Feels like torture training, but I can manage.”
Squeezing bear paws into glass slippers—of course it was torture. I felt guilty too, since I’d never done anything for Merrill, who had struggled all her life as the eldest daughter.
“Sorry. If I had known, I’d have at least gotten you shoes that fit.”
“What’s this? Big brother, are you dying or something?”
“……”
Not dying. But yes, I was on a time limit.
If I failed to escape this world again, I’d only live four more years.
“What? Why aren’t you answering. So annoying…”
Merrill huffed through her nose, lips jutting. Meanwhile, it was finally our turn to be called. I straightened my back and lifted my chin.
The crowd’s eyes weren’t on the couple dancing in the hall’s center. Instead, everyone stared up at Merrill and me on the stairs, whispering with ridicule.
Of course, my face was already infamous enough. To enter the ball like this—my heart nearly burst.
I glared up at the true culprit of this wicked scheme: Tesarion, seated on the dais.
“From Kosher Province, Baron Dover’s eldest son, Roy, and eldest daughter, Merrill Rose.”
The whispers died. Every gaze, sharper than camera flashes, turned toward me.
Huuuup.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward. Down the stairs, bowing to the audience. When I raised my head again, Lady Mores—far more nervous than me—sighed in relief.
Passed.
It meant my step and bow had no serious flaws.
Merrill went right, I went left, standing with hands behind our backs in the group dance formation. More couples lined up beside us until the last pair took their place.
