episode_0056

Seraphine Rozalind Valtoria.

The 3rd princess of the Argentia Empire and one of the main heroines of the “Luminor Academy.”

Moreover, she was a figure well-known among players of the “Luminor Academy” for various reasons.

…Mostly not for good reasons, but rather for less favorable ones.

Upon hearing from Edan that today’s event at the palace would be a masquerade ball, I belatedly recalled who the 3rd princess truly was.

Understanding Edan’s explanation that she had chosen a masquerade ball as the theme for the event was immediate.

“The 3rd princess is somewhat of an air-headed woman.”

Everyone, regardless of status, has the right to be treated equally and with respect.

Whether noble or commoner, every person’s words carry equal weight.

This was Seraphine Rozalind Valtoria, the heroine of the “Luminor Academy,” possessing a pure and easygoing nature.

Anyone who had played “Luminor Academy” would undoubtedly know this character.

Because this character was not only a “must-have character” who had to join the party for the story to progress but also a sort of “cancerous character” responsible for nearly half of all the trouble in the entire series.

From being pickpocketed by a young thief who happened to steal a crucial item needed for the game’s progression to disappearing during a scattered episode only to be captured by a high-ranking demon disguised as a human out of the blue.

To using most of the materials obtained from dragon subjugation episodes without consultation for village reconstruction costs.

If you’ve played “Luminor Academy,” there were more than a couple of frustrating episodes involving her that you had to endure.

In a different sense from Edan, she fell into the category of disliked characters within the game.

“Title: ‘How about selling some dragon materials for village reconstruction costs?’

Content: (Seraphine character image)

“I’m pretty, aren’t I!”

Roughly speaking, this meme circulated enough in the “Luminor Academy” community to roughly describe the princess’s character.

Being a must-have character meant she couldn’t be removed midway through the story, and she was an invincible body that didn’t even fall victim to the erosion curse that affected even main characters.

Among the heroines, she was the only character I attempted to curse with the erosion curse.

After multiple playthroughs, there was no other woman as annoying and obstructive to the story progression as her.

…Still, well, she was undeniably beautiful enough to spawn the “I’m pretty, aren’t I!” meme.

If beauty contests were purely based on looks, she would have easily ranked in the top three alongside Lillith.

“But in reality, due to the nuisance she caused in-game, her ranking was mediocre.”

Anyway, the purpose of this narrative was none other than to delve into the story of this flower garden princess.

The reason why the birthday celebration of the 3rd princess of the empire turned into a “masquerade ball” and to explain Seraphine’s mindset in hosting such an event.

As mentioned earlier, she was the kind of person who argued that both commoners and nobles were all the same.

Choosing to turn her birthday celebration into a masquerade ball was a sort of performance asserting that she wouldn’t tolerate discrimination based on status.

“Of course, in reality, it probably won’t hold much weight.”

Typically, participants in such masquerade balls only wore masks that partially covered their eyes, and most nobles recognized each other even with minimal disguises.

Furthermore, these masquerade balls weren’t the only social events for interaction, as most nobles familiarized themselves with each other’s faces at other gatherings or social clubs.

Hairstyle, voice, attire, and physique made it easy to identify who the other person was.

In reality, Seraphine’s masquerade ball was an event held for the princess’s own satisfaction rather than for Silvie.

And the only worthwhile aspect of such a masquerade ball would likely be the part Edan had just mentioned.

“At Princess Seraphine’s masquerade ball, even a common maid can attend. It is strictly forbidden to inquire about one’s name or status at the venue.”

“…Is that so.”

“I wouldn’t take a maid to any dangerous places without reason. If this event wasn’t the Third Princess’s birthday celebration, I wouldn’t have made such a suggestion.”

“….”

“If there are still reasons why a maid shouldn’t attend, please let me know.”

…As if there could be any.

I’ve already refuted every reason why I shouldn’t attend the event.

Now, there was no one else to find to replace me, and Edan had already informed me in advance that I would be attending the event.

So, there was no suitable excuse left to escape.

…I could only accept quietly attending as Edan’s partner.

“Understood. If that is your wish, then I will also attend the princess’s birthday celebration.”

“Well thought, maid.”

“…I will return to my waiting room to prepare for the dressing. See you later, sir.”

“Yeah. See you tonight, maid.”

Klick. Edan’s visit accompanied by a sound.

With various complicated thoughts still lingering in my mind, I carefully moved down the corridor with unsteady steps.

Soon, Isabelle and Katarina, who were quietly waiting in front of Edan’s room, asked me softly.

“L-Lilith…?”

“…Yes.”

“W-What’s going on…? Are you going to the ball…? Or has it been canceled…?”

“W-What happened, Miss Lilith…?”

Not knowing what conversation transpired between Edan and me inside, Isabelle and Katarina cautiously inquired, seemingly probing my emotions.

Unable to escape from the ball now, I casually responded to the two with a nonchalant demeanor, pretending that nothing had happened.

“It seems there was a misunderstanding. I was worried that attending a noble ball might be inappropriate, but fortunately, the gentleman had already spoken about it.”

“R-Really, Lilith?”

“Sorry for causing unnecessary worry, Isabelle. And you too, Katarina.”

“No! It’s okay if nothing happened to Lilith!”

“I-I’m fine too… Please don’t apologize, Miss Lilith…”

“Would you like help with your ball gown, Isabelle?”

“Yes!”

“I’ll help you too, Miss!”

Upon hearing that everything was fine with me, Isabelle returned to her cheerful self with a fresh smile. With Katarina still harboring the strange misconception that I was a noble lady, I completed my transformation into a noblewoman in a crimson dress with her assistance.

The masquerade ball hosted by the Third Princess and the royal family.

Attending as Edan’s partner.

***

Inside the carriage bearing the emblem of the Blackwood family.

Clad in a crimson dress, high-heeled shoes, a formal mask covering my eyes, and a few accessories including a ring, I, transformed into a noblewoman, silently watched the changing scenery outside the window within the carriage.

“….”

“….”

An awkward silence inside the carriage, with only Edan and Ditemyre seated on the coach seat.

It was an inevitable matter. Although I was going to attend the banquet as Edan’s disguised partner, in reality, our relationship was still far from being close.

The days of looking at Edan with disgust as if he were a game character had long passed, as emotions weren’t simply categorized into good or bad.

The feelings I harbored towards Edan these days were neither positive nor negative; they were closest to indifference.

To be precise, from the moment I became convinced that Edan wouldn’t do anything strange to me, I stopped caring much about his whereabouts.

“After all, it might be a bit difficult to maintain a friendship-like relationship at this point.”

Our first meeting was awkward, and there was a clear difference in status between Edan and me.

Moreover, it led to some unpleasant conflicts.

This was a gap that could never be bridged, at least not unless Release underwent some kind of social elevation.

So, the day I could understand him, a noble recluse, would probably never come, and the same likely applied to him.

If that was the case, rather than forcing an awkward human relationship, it was better to maintain a slightly distant one.

Anyway, Edan would disappear to the academy in a year, and two years after that, I would be able to settle my debt from my maid life.

It was absurd for me, a maid, to try to build a friendship with him first.

As I mentioned before, I was someone who believed in understanding the subject clearly.

It was quite audacious for me to think that the noble owner, who had an odd personality, was becoming somewhat kind these days.

In the carriage carrying the two individuals in awkward dresses, makeup, and relationship towards the palace.

From the left, Edan began to call me softly.

“Maid.”

“…Yes, my lord.”

“We will arrive at the palace in an hour. You know what you need to do, right?”

“Yes. I should stay by your side, make it clear that I am your partner, be economical with words in all responses, occasionally show the ring on my left ring finger as if it holds some significance.”

“…I’m glad you understand.”

“I have a precise understanding, so you can rest assured.”

…Since I had agreed to accept it, I needed to do it decisively.

I had no intention of seeking revenge by deliberately acting awkward now.

In the first place, such actions would bring me no benefit and would only lead to getting involved in troublesome matters.

Strictly speaking, participating in the royal masquerade ball wasn’t such a bad situation.

It was a good opportunity to see characters from the “Luminor Academy” other than the Blackwood family members.

“I might even get to see Princess Seraphine in person. Perhaps Agnes, Elizabeth Brightback’s attendant, will also attend…”

Thinking about the characters from the “Luminor Academy” one by one in my head.

At that moment, Edan’s voice calling me from the adjacent seat sounded softly.

“Maid.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“…Don’t use the term ‘my lord’ from now on. From now on, Lily…Rilis will act as my fiancée.”

“…Ah.”

Well, pretending to be a noble lady while using titles like maid and my lord would have blatantly exposed my true identity anyway.

Nodding at Edan’s words, as I was about to call his name, a single question briefly crossed my mind.

“Just calling each other by name, isn’t that a bit too casual for an engagement relationship?”

Calling each other by name, like how I called Isabelle and Katarina by their names, was a term of address that could be used between friends.

Even if it changed to a relationship between a man and a woman rather than between people of the same sex, it didn’t seem like the meaning would fade away.

Of course, there wasn’t much of a problem using it to express a certain level of intimacy or to conceal identities, but still, if possible, I wanted to make it clear.

Using titles like “darling” or “dear” seemed a bit nauseating.

Quietly thinking of a few candidates in my head, I gave Ethan a slightly different name.

“Got it, …Ed.”

“…Hmph, Ed?!”

…It was a nickname I had come up with after some thought, but was it really that bad?

Seeing Ethan react so strongly to just removing one consonant from his name made me feel strangely irritated.

Some even pretended to be engaged to help with my political moves and were attending the banquet.

Was the nickname “Ed” that awkward coming out of my mouth that it elicited such a reaction?

…For some reason, even though I found that sight unpleasant, I wanted to call this nobleman by the nickname I had just thought of.

Nonchalantly settling on the title I had just thought of for Ethan, I confidently established it.

“To create an atmosphere between Ed and me resembling that of an engaged couple or lovers, this approach will be much more effective than just calling each other by name.”

“W-Well….”

“So I’ll address you by this title until I return to the mansion, Ed.”

“W-Well… If L-Lilith prefers it…”

Blushing crimson, Ethan averted his gaze from me.

Seeing him turn his head as if he didn’t want to meet my eyes out of awkwardness, there might still be some fun teasing him throughout the masked ball.

Whenever the opportunity arose, I made it my second goal for this evening’s ball to call him Ed as much as possible.

Might as well die of awkwardness during the entire masked ball.

Changing the title like that, the atmosphere became awkward, and the Blackwood family carriage soon passed through the imperial capital’s walls and entered inside.

The grand palace where today’s ball would unfold was also gradually drawing closer.