episode_0031

I read the letter again, read it upside down, and even blew on it.

But of course, the contents didn’t change.

Tens of thousands of questions flew around in my head. Why suddenly hold a social gathering in the Imperial City? And why target the children of nobles? And why call an 11-year-old to such a place?

Actually, the last one was the most puzzling. ‘Seriously, why is an 11-year-old going to a social gathering?’ Was it sent to the wrong person? But no matter how I looked at it, it was addressed to me. As far as I knew, noble social gatherings in fantasy worlds were battlegrounds of intrigue.

Envy, jealousy, and checks were rampant, a fierce scene where power struggles unfolded here and there. That was my idea of a social gathering in a fantasy world.

But every crisis can be an opportunity. Conversely, since many nobles gather, it was also a golden opportunity to make myself known. An opportunity that could be a breakthrough for the worries I had just had.

But the problem was, of course, me. ‘I don’t know anything about noble etiquette.’ Could I really spend my time safely in a jungle-like social gathering and even promote myself?

I wracked my brain, but no refreshing answer came out. ‘Haa… I don’t know.’

In the end, giving up on thinking, I decided to follow my teacher’s advice. ‘Let’s take it one step at a time, starting with what’s in front of me.’

The date of the social gathering written in the letter was ten days away. ‘I’ll prepare as much as possible for ten days…!’

I turned to my teacher and said. “Teacher. There’s something I need to learn.” “Huh, uhm? Suddenly, you have a strangely powerful aura…? What is it?” “Please teach me how to survive a social gathering.” “What?”

My teacher was flustered to see me suddenly burning with determination, but I didn’t care. ‘I’ll definitely turn this into a blessing in disguise.’

Right now, my will is burning fiercely! ‘Wait for me, social gathering.’ They’re just noble kids who don’t know the world anyway. I’ll overcome them all with the composure of this ‘adult’.

* * *

Time passed in the blink of an eye.

Fortunately, since my teacher is a Deputy Tower Lord, I was able to get various tips about social gatherings.

-A social gathering is all about presence! You can’t be pushed back by presence! -Never be underestimated! You look too innocent! -Now, follow me. Narrow your eyes a little more, and straighten your back and neck.

As expected of a talented person who became a Deputy Tower Lord at a young age, the advice was all trustworthy. ‘Maybe I’ll have a storm-like social gathering debut…?’

On the long-awaited day of the social gathering, my teacher accompanied me to the Imperial City by carriage.

-Rattle, rattle.

I expressed my gratitude to my teacher in the carriage. “Teacher. Thank you.” “Uh, uhm? Haha, it’s nothing. Not for something like this.”

Normally, you’re someone who begs me to walk the path of magic, tries to tempt me with various papers, and if I show annoyance, you step back for a moment and then sneak back with new magic theories, but.

In the end, the essence of my teacher doesn’t change. Today, my teacher felt reliable.

Smiling with gratitude and looking at my teacher, I noticed something strange. ‘…Why do you look so anxious?’

As that suggests, my teacher’s appearance was somehow strange right now.

Pupils that can’t find their way. Legs that seem to be trembling subtly. Arms crossed but fingers that can’t stay still.

This appearance is like. ‘You look completely nervous.’

Wait a minute. Come to think of it? A thought flashed through my head, and I quickly asked my teacher. “Excuse me. Teacher.” “Uh, uhm? Why, why do you ask?” “I’m not doubting you or anything. I just suddenly have a question.”

I asked, hoping with an anxious heart that it wasn’t true. ‘Could it be.’ “By any chance, how many social gatherings have you been to?”

And. “Uh, uh, uh, uhm? Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Wh, what kind of question is that?”

At the same time as my question, the vibration intensity of my teacher’s whole body increased 20-fold. ‘Ah….’

As I sighed quietly, realizing that I was doomed, my teacher hurriedly added. “B, but I’ve been to one or two…!” “…How many people have you talked to?” “W, well….”

After a moment of consideration, my teacher answered with an awkward smile. “…About two or three?”

At that moment, I realized. ‘I’m screwed….’ That my social gathering journey would not be smooth.

And what’s really tearful is that my teacher is only going to accompany me to the front of the Imperial City anyway, and I have to attend the social gathering entirely on my own.

In other words, my teacher is just accompanying me to the front without even attending the social gathering, and is shaking like that. ‘I was listening to this kind of person giving me various stories as tips…!’ What? A social gathering is about presence? ‘Oh, my head.’ “Achoo….”

At the same time as a deep sigh came out of my mouth, the carriage stopped and arrived. ‘Well, it’ll work out somehow.’

I got out of the carriage, trudging along. Perhaps feeling sorry for me, my teacher said to my back. “Serena! Still, that’s a story I heard from my close friend, so it must be right!”

‘Do you have close friends.’ -Those words came up to my throat, but it seemed too cruel, so I just answered by waving my hand a little.

Still, to cheer myself up, I looked up and captured the image of the Imperial City in my eyes. ‘It’s definitely big.’

The Imperial City was very large and magnificent, enough to show the aspect of the strongest nation on the current continent. ‘It would be difficult to walk around the entire building.’

The social gathering was held in the banquet hall inside the Imperial City. Since time was running out, I walked a little faster.

As I got closer to the banquet hall, men and women dressed in something luxurious began to appear one by one. ‘I’m already nervous.’

There didn’t seem to be anyone younger than me for sure. ‘Seriously, what’s with an 11-year-old, ugh.’

Once again, I was dumbfounded, but the water had already been spilled. Eventually, when I reached the front of the banquet hall, the sight that appeared was a gatekeeper checking the identities of the attendees and letting them inside.

There were quite a few people, so there was a bit of a line. I also stood in line and started waiting for my turn.

After a short wait, the identity verification of the person in front of me was over, and it was my turn. The gatekeeper who turned his eyes to me showed a strange reaction. “Next pe…rson?”

Well. Okay. Even if it were me, I would be surprised if a kid was standing there.

The gatekeeper, who hesitated for a moment, asked me. “Are you here to attend today’s social gathering?”

It was a reaction I had somewhat expected, so I answered calmly. “Yes. It’s Serena Lier.”

The gatekeeper who heard the answer quickly scanned the guest book and started looking for my name. Fortunately, after not too long, he found my name in the guest book and opened the door. “Confirmed, Lady Lier. I hope you have a good time.” “Thank you.” -Creak.

The door opened, and as the inside of the banquet hall came into view, ‘Wow.’ I couldn’t help but exclaim.

Various refreshments. Decorations that are pleasing to the eye. Music that is pleasing to the ear.

And above all, ‘There are more people than I thought.’ Even if you look here and look there, there are only luxurious men and women.

I swallowed my saliva and started mind control. ‘Calm down. First of all, don’t be intimidated.’ I’m a guest who was invited fairly.

Thinking that way, I confidently walked towards the refreshments. ‘Let’s eat first.’ It is said that even a ghost who died eating is good-looking, so I started enjoying the refreshments quietly by myself. -Munch munch. ‘Oh. This is delicious?’

As expected of a social gathering held in the Imperial City, the overall quality of the refreshments was very high. Thanks to that, I couldn’t help but keep eating the refreshments that I was only going to eat a little. ‘Munch munch. Why is this so delicious?’

I started gnawing on the snacks like a hamster. -Munch munch.

How long had it been? Feeling something chilly, I raised my head and looked around. And I realized. ‘Ah.’ That a lot of people were looking at me.

The purpose of a social gathering is naturally to socialize. I was embarrassed to think that I was filming a mukbang alone in such a place, but I pretended to be nonchalant, finished eating the snack I was eating, and pretended to be nonchalant. ‘Munch.’

After eating all the snacks like that, I even drank tea elegantly. -Slurp. Slurp.

I was pretending to be nonchalant on the outside, but I was crying and begging inside. ‘Please take your attention away…!’

But, contrary to my wishes, I felt a group of women approaching me. -Thud, thud.

When I glanced sideways, they were quite fierce-looking girls. Fierce eyes reminiscent of my school days, makeup with a strangely villainous young lady-like visual. A haughty gait that seemed like they were going to get a refund somewhere. ‘Hiek.’

A total of 3 scary-looking young ladies. No matter how I look at it, they seem to be coming to me. I was frantically denying reality. ‘It’s not me, right? Is it really me?’ I can’t talk to those fierce women.

But, contrary to my wishes, their footsteps stopped in front of me. -Thud. ‘Gulp.’

As I was swallowing my saliva and getting nervous, I heard the greeting from the young lady who seemed to be the leader of the three. “Nice to meet you, little girl.”

I was sweating coldly and thought to myself. ‘If I get pushed back here, it’s over!’

Thinking that way, I opened my eyes wide, gave strength to my neck, and said as stately as possible. “Calling someone you’ve met for the first time a little girl is very rude.”

The girl who heard my words closed her mouth. Frankly, it was a reasonable statement. ‘Who calls someone they’ve met for the first time at a social gathering a little girl?’

Of course, the other person’s reaction will probably be one of two things. Apologizing haughtily, or coming on strong with audacity.

But I had already prepared all the countermeasures for that. ‘Come on, bring it on!’

How will you respond? A moment like the calm before the storm. -Hehe.

The girl’s hardened face loosened with a smile and apologized to me. “I’m sorry. I was rude.”

Huh. She’s too obedient than I thought. ‘More than that, why is she smiling like that.’ I’ve definitely seen those eyes before. Ah, that’s right. ‘It’s the look in my teacher’s eyes when he first saw me?’

And it didn’t end here. -Hehe. Not only the girl who greeted me, but the other two girls in her group also had the same expression and their expressions loosened as they looked at me.

At this point, I just didn’t want to think anymore. ‘Seriously, what is it?’ Ah. I miss my mom.