~CHAPTER 15~
“Left side’s open!”
With a shout of warning, a sword lunged toward the left.
Rision deflected Sir Marek’s strike with a smooth motion.
The knight, unfazed, adjusted his stance and this time aimed for the inside of Rision’s thigh — a weak point when wearing armor.
Knights were trained to instinctively protect such vital spots.
But Rision wasn’t a career soldier who trained daily in full gear.
He tried to block awkwardly, but Marek’s attack was precise, like threading a needle.
The practice sword tapped the inside of his thigh.
Rision raised both hands without hesitation.
“I surrender.”
Marek lowered his sword.
He carefully checked to make sure he hadn’t injured Rision, then gestured to the attendant watching nearby.
The attendant ran over and handed him a clean towel.
Rision wiped the sweat beading on his forehead.
“You’ve fallen behind.”
“You’re still better than most knights, Your Majesty. You’re simply not used to guarding the armor’s weak points.”
Rision clicked his tongue.
“Then shouldn’t I train while wearing armor?”
“There will never be a situation where Your Majesty needs to fight in armor.”
Marek’s words weren’t wrong.
It was unthinkable that Rision would ever have to duel someone trying to kill him.
For him, swordsmanship was merely a gentleman’s accomplishment and a form of exercise.
Still, it felt a little disappointing to think that the skills he’d practiced since childhood would never be used in earnest.
Handing the heavy training sword to the attendant, Rision said,
“Who knows? I might have to duel one day for a lady’s honor.”
“In that case, Your Majesty should appoint a champion.”
“And that champion would be you?”
“If given such an honor, I won’t disappoint.”
At the light jest, Rision smiled faintly.
After a long bout of exercise, his body finally felt lighter.
He left the training grounds, planning to change his sweat-soaked shirt — but an unexpected person was waiting for him.
“Ellaris Erbinjel greets His Majesty the Emperor.”
He had already been informed that the Erbinjel Grand Duke’s family had arrived at Oak Palace the previous day, along with the news that, thanks to Ellaris’s persuasion, Princess Elpenlira had agreed to attend the Founding Anniversary Ball.
Though she had declined the welcome banquet for the Erbinjel family, it was still a remarkable achievement.
“I must apologize for my appearance.”
“I won’t take much of your time. I came to tell you something important.”
“If it’s about Lady Lira attending the Founding Anniversary Ball, I’ve already received the report.”
“It’s something that wouldn’t have been included in an official report.”
Rision looked puzzled.
Ellaris’s face was grave as she spoke words he didn’t expect.
“Lady Dianu will also be attending the ball.”
He was surprised, but only slightly.
Rision shrugged.
“That’s good news. The more people keeping an eye on Lira, the better.”
“Your Majesty, do you truly not understand?”
Ellaris’s tone showed her frustration.
“Lady Dianu is in trouble — trouble the Princess caused.”
“Does Lady Ortensa dislike dancing?”
If so, at least they’d share some common ground.
Ellaris clicked her tongue in exasperation, and Rision suddenly felt like a failing student.
With the patience of a teacher, Ellaris explained the ‘difficulty’ Dianu was facing.
Rision listened with a serious expression but eventually said, incredulous,
“You mean that’s actually a problem?”
“Your Majesty, after seeing Lady Dianu’s usual composure, how can you say that?”
Rision truly didn’t understand.
The Dianu he knew didn’t seem like someone who would be troubled by such things.
She was always confident and self-assured.
Ellaris said firmly,
“Every lady has her own kind of armor.”
“Then perhaps you should help her yourself, Aunt?”
“Lady Dianu dislikes owing favors. She won’t ask me for help. The one who must act is someone she can’t refuse.”
“…I understand. So, I just need to resolve those two issues, is that it?”
He didn’t quite get it, but if Elpenlira had caused Dianu’s distress, it was only right that he, Rision, should fix it.
He motioned to Marek, who was standing a short distance away to avoid interrupting.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Are you sure? You might have had other plans…”
“I wasn’t planning to attend anyway. I thought the Princess might be uncomfortable with me there.”
“Lira must get used to it. She can’t spend her life thinking of Edric every time she sees you.”
Above all, he couldn’t ignore a lady in distress.
Having received the answer she wanted, Ellaris looked satisfied and took her leave.
The two men left behind looked at each other.
Rision spoke first.
“The world of ladies is deep indeed.”
“…You can say that again.”
***
Dianu screamed.
“How could I possibly show my face at a royal ball — the Founding Anniversary Ball, of all things?!”
“And why not?”
Sir Edric Loisen looked calm as he watched her pace anxiously around the drawing room.
For the first time, Dianu found his steady lack of awareness irritating.
“I haven’t even made my debut back home! I’m not a proper lady of society!”
“In my eyes, Lady Ortensa is every bit the proper lady.”
“That’s kind of you, but it doesn’t help the situation.”
The Founding Anniversary Ball was to be held at the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor, the Princess, and all the most prominent nobles and socialites would attend.
Among such people, Dianu would stand out like a sore thumb.
If the Princess didn’t humiliate her publicly, it would be a miracle.
Sir Loisen still looked confused.
“What exactly is the problem?”
“The only people I know there are His Majesty, Her Highness, the lady-in-waiting, and the Grand Duchess and Duke of Erbinjel!”
“…Those sound like the most important people to know.”
“I can’t hover near them! I’d stick out even more!”
“Then having someone by your side might solve it.”
He said it easily.
“Would I do?”
“You’d escort me?”
“If that’s what you wish. A royal guard shouldn’t draw too much attention.”
Dianu almost threw herself into his arms.
Instead, she bowed her head deeply.
“I’ll repay this kindness.”
“Lady Ortensa tends to underestimate herself.”
“Let’s just call it self-awareness.”
One problem was solved, but a bigger one remained.
“…This still won’t work, right, Cora?”
Cora shook her head at the dress Dianu had pulled out.
It was something she wore at the Erbinjel Grand Duke’s mansion when helping care for Erin, not suitable for a palace ball.
Dianu groaned and flopped onto her bed.
Cora asked carefully,
“Couldn’t you borrow one of Her Highness the Grand Duchess’s dresses?”
“Our builds are completely different. And I can’t just alter Her Highness’s dress without permission.”
The Grand Duchess might not mind, but Dianu didn’t want to take advantage.
She was already receiving far more kindness than she deserved.
She couldn’t bear to accept an expensive gown as a gift just because she didn’t have anything appropriate to wear.
Though she still had the gold coins the Grand Duchess had given her for travel expenses, there wasn’t enough time to have a new dress made.
Nor did she have the status or reputation to storm into a boutique and demand one in a hurry.
Her head hurt.
In this state, she couldn’t possibly accept Sir Loisen’s escort — it would be an embarrassment to him.
Just as she was about to give up, someone knocked on the door.
Cora hurried to check and returned, face flushed with excitement.
“Lady Dianu, it’s a servant from the Imperial Palace! You need to come out right away.”
Dianu quickly straightened her hair and went to the sitting room.
Cora was right.
Waiting there was someone she recognized — the same servant who had once delivered tea leaves and ribbons as a ‘gift’ from the Emperor.
The servant calmly handed a large package to Cora and a letter to Dianu.
Her hands trembled as she unfolded it and read.
Lady Dianu Ortensa,
I’ll accept your thanks in person at the ball.
– Rision Catalos.
After sending the servant away, Dianu and Cora hurriedly opened the package.
Inside were three neatly stacked boxes of varying sizes.
Dianu opened the smallest one first with trembling hands.
Inside lay a sapphire necklace and earrings, shining so brightly that the whole room seemed to glow.
There was no need to guess how valuable they were.
The second box held a pair of beautiful shoes.
The third revealed a blue evening gown.
Cora gasped.
“It’s the same color as the ribbon His Majesty gave you!”
Dianu sat down on the edge of the bed, still holding the box lid.
She couldn’t deny it.
From deep within her chest, something warm and fluttering was rising — unmistakable excitement.
This was already the second gift she’d received from the Emperor.
The first could be dismissed as coincidence.
The second was deliberate.
Her reason told her it was wrong to feel this way, but she couldn’t help it.
Just imagining Rision Catalos thinking of her while choosing these beautiful things made her heart race.
And when the thrill finally settled, a question took its place.
Why is he doing all this?
If it were any other man, she might have thought it a courtship.
But Rision Catalos was a gentleman.
She couldn’t believe he would try to charm her lightly.
Something serious… of course not.
Even that thought felt too daring, and she scolded herself for it.
Cora, oblivious to Dianu’s turmoil, spoke brightly.
“Try it on quickly! If it doesn’t fit, we can alter it right away.”
“…Will we have time?”
“Of course! This is the Imperial Palace.”
Dianu nodded weakly.
Everything had been resolved — as if her attending the ball had been inevitable from the start.
Is this really all right?
Still, that uneasy, lingering question wouldn’t go away.
