Ch.24Birthday Celebration (1)

“It’s over!”

Eshtiel stretched out comfortably. Serin darted out like a shot to check Eshtiel’s work.

Had they somehow reached a state of telepathy? I could roughly guess what Serin was expecting.

‘You said… it didn’t matter…’

Surely she wanted to see my bare face that Eshtiel had drawn. But I didn’t stop Serin otherwise. Because I could clearly see her future where she would soon be letting out an awkward laugh.

“Ha… haha. Our Tiel, what exactly did you draw?”

“It’s big brother and big sister!”

“Umm, I, I see?”

“Why? Did I draw it too badly?”

“N-no way! How could that be! You drew it so, so well, Tiel…!”

“Hehe, I know.”

Oh dear, is she puffing out her chest proudly at the compliment that was practically forced out? Eshtiel, you’ve grown into a child who filters out Rodrick’s insults from the root.

It seems she truly took Rodrick’s behavior as mere teasing when he mocked her drawings of cats as looking like moles. Even I, who generally affirm Eshtiel, don’t leave much commentary on her drawings.

I belatedly stood up from my seat to look at Eshtiel’s work. Indeed, it was a drawing with prominent avant-garde aesthetics. On the canvas, boasting linear sketches and chaotic colors, the concept of waste was expressed quite elegantly.

“What do you think, big brother? Did I weally work hard on it?”

“Serin, it’s getting dark. Don’t you need to prepare?”

“Big brother, I asked what you think!”

“I believe it takes you quite some time to get ready.”

“Rahilt, big brother?”

“Since it’s the Empress’s birthday celebration, you’ll need to pay special attention.”

“Eeek…!”

“We also need to join our party.”

I desperately ignored today’s daily artist while urging Serin. Meanwhile, Eshtiel was puffing her cheeks to their limit like a squirrel with a mouth full of food.

Serin quickly caught on to my intention and nodded.

“You’re right! I might get scolded if I’m late!”

“If you hurry, you won’t be late.”

“Hmm, thank you. I’ll see you soon, Rian! And Tiel too… definitely.”

“Hmph…”

Eshtiel stuck out her duck-like lips, swollen with sulkiness. Yet her cute bow from the waist was adorable. Serin also gazed at Eshtiel in momentary rapture, so it was a sentiment without disagreement.

Serin showed obvious signs of reluctance. When she shook off her lingering feelings and left the art room, I extended my hand to Eshtiel.

“Let’s go too. Rodrick will be waiting.”

“Uh…”

“I’ll carry you.”

“…”

“Piggyback?”

“Yeah!”

It was the magic word that instantly brightened Eshtiel’s sulky face. And so I carried Eshtiel on my shoulders and headed toward the area where the banquet was being held.

It hurt a little when Eshtiel occasionally wobbled and pulled my hair.

◇

Rodrick was strolling near the garden, quite far from the area where the banquet was scheduled. Before I could call out to him, Rodrick noticed us first. He approached immediately and asked abruptly.

“Was it fun?”

“I don’t know.”

“…”

Rodrick narrowed his eyes.

Saying “I don’t know” was forbidden.

Belatedly remembering our long-standing promise, I opened my mouth again.

“It was… an interesting feeling.”

“I see. Well, if that’s what you say, I’ll leave it at that.”

“Don’t torment Rahilt big brother. Do you want to get scolded by big sister Serin?”

“Don’t make such terrible jokes, little one. Getting scolded by that woman doesn’t end with something as cute as broken limbs.”

Rodrick made a disgusted expression at Eshtiel’s threat.

“Anyway, when did this little one become friends with the princess…”

Though Rodrick was grumbling, he probably knew. Eshtiel reminds one of a hedgehog with snow-white spines. Anyone would inevitably be drawn to her adorable appearance.

After joining up with Rodrick, we slowly walked toward the banquet hall.

Our steps were unhurried.

We could only enter after the guest of honor had made their entrance. We weren’t formally invited guests but personal guests of Princess Seriniel. This was the natural order of things since we were neither nobles nor knights.

“By the way, Rodrick. What are you examining so carefully?”

“This and that. For a business plan.”

“Business?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

I obediently followed Rodrick.

He observed the surroundings of the banquet hall with sharp eyes. He went around in a circle, thoroughly examining the outer walls and structures within a certain radius. It was as if he were dissecting the palace structure.

I didn’t particularly question his intentions.

Rodrick focused on business had never brought about losses in my memory.

Therefore, although I didn’t know what kind of business it was, I could only guess that it would surely bring considerable profit.

And so the moon waned helplessly.

Eshtiel, riding piggyback, opened her small mouth in a yawn. Only then did Rodrick’s exploration conclude, and coincidentally, the last guest of honor had completed their entrance. Finally, it was our turn to enter.

As we approached, a guard cleared his throat. At that moment, Rodrick quickly restrained the guard and put on his gentleman’s mask.

“There’s no need to announce us. Would anyone even care about the entrance of fellow commoners?”

“Ah, I see.”

The guard’s lungs, which had been fully inflated, deflated again. And he gave Rodrick a favorable look. He seemed incredibly grateful for the consideration shown to him when his throat was about to go hoarse.

“I hope you enjoy the banquet.”

“Thank you.”

Clunk!

The doors to the banquet hall opened.

A paradise filled with brilliant light. The scene of the imperial palace’s banquet hall that my mother had endlessly longed for unfolded before my eyes.

She used to say she danced all night with people whose names she couldn’t even remember.

Servants were busy constantly bringing champagne and wine.

She reveled in the thrilling satisfaction of being admired and envied in a place where everyone looked up to her.

And she taught me that all of this should have been mine originally.

So, I observed carefully. This paradise of theirs that they would protect even at the cost of giving up being human.

Whoosh.

It pours down.

The radiance of the magnificent chandeliers, the relentless scent of perfume that spares no one regardless of age or gender, combined with brilliant power, overwhelms people.

Even though we hadn’t been announced by the guard, eyes naturally turned toward us.

They already knew who we were.

They couldn’t help but know the personal guests of Princess Seriniel. Nobles with quick access to information had already been aware of this fact days ago.

Is this how a beast trapped in a cage feels?

Their behavior of staring at us as if we were from another world brought about a sense of rejection.

Whether it was malice or goodwill, it was a situation that strangely stimulated human discomfort.

“Are those the people from the Windmill Mercenary Group invited by the princess?”

“I heard no one knows anything about the leader because he always wears a mask…”

“That’s the advisor. I met him during the recent security contract.”

“Then is that little girl following them the daughter of Count Elenot?”

“My goodness, I’ve never seen such a cute young lady. I look forward to seeing her in ten years!”

Among us, Eshtiel was definitely the one who stood out in a positive way.

Noble ladies who had given birth to children swallowed faint exclamations behind their fans, and mature men deliberately maintained their dignity by tightening their facial muscles. And young nobles who were similar in age or just a few years apart were openly entranced.

Among the young ladies of similar age, half showed affection and half showed disdain. The frowning young ladies were jealous of Eshtiel, who not only captivated the young lords but also ostentatiously wore an expensive dress.

“I wondered how much mercenaries could earn…”

“That’s Madam Charlita’s work, which is unimaginable unless you’re considerably wealthy!”

Their conversation was tinged with a sense of defeat.

In truth, Eshtiel’s dress was not purchased by us. It was a gift from Baron Raden when he formed a new contract with us. Baron Raden might avoid luxury, but when he decided to spend money, he did so quickly.

And so, enduring the mixed gazes of various emotions, we advanced toward the high seat where the Emperor and Empress were seated.

“Hmm?”

“What…?”

Many people expressed their bewilderment.

No matter how common we might be… no, precisely because we were commoners, we should have had a gift to present to receive the honor of an audience with the Empress.

But our hands were empty.

Strange looks pierced us from all directions.

“Thank you for allowing us to participate on this meaningful day.”

Rodrick greeted with a proper gesture.

He always became polite when participating in official matters, but I still wasn’t used to Rodrick’s formal tone. Of course, Eshtiel, who was staring at him with blank eyes, felt the same way.

“You… it has been, truly, a long time.”

When the Empress received Rodrick’s greeting, a commotion arose. The nuance of her words was interpreted as if the Empress was acquainted with Rodrick. But it was too early for them to be surprised.

“I received the ‘Star of the Sea’ you presented earlier. It lived up to its name.”

“… ‘Star of the Sea’?”

Someone’s astonishment was the fuse for the uproar. Despite the Empress engaging in conversation, the surroundings became noisy. Especially among the middle-aged nobles who had endured a certain amount of time.

Star of the Sea.

On a dark sea at night, the only thing one can rely on is the stars. Therefore, a star rising above the sea is truly an object of praise.

The Star of the Sea was a jewel derived from such a metaphor. It had the characteristic of emitting mysterious starlight when darkness fell, and at the same time, it was a treasure of the imperial family that had been lost during the reign of the deposed emperor.

“It’s somewhat inadequate to celebrate the birthday of the most exalted Empress.”

“Isn’t your modesty excessive? He was also extremely pleased.”

“That is an honor.”

“Would you also consider it an honor if the imperial family were to embrace you?”

“With two children in tow, it would be burdensome for you to embrace us.”

“Kuk, such wit.”

Though the Empress seemed to be reprimanding him, her drawn lips subtly proclaimed goodwill.

“If you believe the imperial embrace is too narrow to accommodate even a father with children, then there’s nothing to be done. Please enjoy your time.”

“… Thank you.”

“Then you may withdraw… hmm, Leader Rahilt?”

I raised my head at the Empress’s call.

The banquet hall stirred greatly at her subsequent request.

“You, come up here.”

Her seemingly benevolent smile was as sharp as if it concealed a knife.