Ch.63Debutante (5)

“Ugh…”

Miren involuntarily frowned and groaned. Until arriving at the imperial palace, nothing particularly bothered her. But as the moment of her debutante presentation approached, Miren felt increasingly restless.

“Miren, what’s wrong?”

Enella, sitting right beside her, asked innocently. She wore a vermilion dress that prioritized mobility. It wasn’t exactly appropriate attire for a debutante ceremony, being far from ornate. But it was very much like her.

Miren forced a bitter smile to reassure Enella.

“Mmm. It’s nothing.”

“Really? I thought your dress might be uncomfortable.”

“That’s not it. Well…”

Outwardly, Miren pretended to be calm. But a single worry was causing a fever in her heart.

‘What if someone mentions my real age…?’

For eight years, Miren’s physical development had been halted by the mysterious effects of the golden chain. While her mind and body were indeed those of a fifteen-year-old girl, she was actually twenty-three.

‘Since I’m Lady Justitia’s younger sister, there must be many people who know me!’

The young ladies sitting demurely in the same room had been children not even ten years old eight years ago. But the adults gathering outside would be different.

‘Won’t they find it strange that I’m having a debutante ceremony at twenty-three? No, they’d find it strange that I look like this at that age in the first place. I haven’t even told Arnel yet…’

Would he feel betrayed? Would he find a girl eight years older than him burdensome?

Miren shook her head vigorously, inwardly denying such thoughts.

‘What does Arnel have to do with this! Right, even if it comes up, Nepy and Elfi will smooth things over. Maybe even Marquess Chester will help.’

Thinking of them brought a glimmer of positive outlook. Things would surely proceed smoothly without any issues. After all, she had such wonderful people by her side. She could only describe herself as fortunate.

But still… if it did come up…

She hoped Arnel wouldn’t dislike her.

After all, he was her first close friend. A precious connection with whom she’d shared difficult moments. Someone who always waited for her no matter what she did, one of the few people who indulged her whims…

Surely that was all there was to it.

While she was alone with her serious worries, the door to the young ladies’ waiting room slowly opened. A noblewoman entered with dignified steps. She was the coordinator who had come to announce the schedule.

“The honorable moment to receive an audience with Her Majesty the Empress approaches. I hope the young ladies will prepare their hearts and respond to instructions.”

Her manner of speaking was mysterious. She gave a strict impression, but one could easily guess her gentle nature underneath.

Miren steeled herself, rose demurely, and followed behind the noblewoman.

At that moment, she didn’t know that a trial was coming that would completely erase the age issue from people’s minds.

The debutante ceremony was officially beginning.

◇

“This is tough, Irefi.”

“Isn’t it Nepy’s own doing?”

“No. It’s definitely your fault, Irefi.”

“I don’t think so. Even if it were, it’s Nepy’s fate since you took my hand that day.”

“Nnngh!”

I clutched my head at Irefi’s indifferent rebuttal. Her logic was as tight as a finely woven net.

Our bickering stemmed from a truly embarrassing situation. The whispers directed our way seemed to vibrate as if they would spread far and wide.

Having frequented the imperial palace like my own living room, I’d forgotten. That both Irefi and I were quite unconventional figures in high society.

“It seems you’ve moved beyond the image of a NEET noble to complete mystique now.”

“I suppose that’s possible. What noble in the world lives on an allowance from the imperial palace?”

“While that might be a positive image for you… I can’t welcome my image.”

“Why?”

“If I told you, I’m afraid I’d have to use vulgar language.”

She confessed, pressing her index finger to her cheek. Since her concern turned out to be surprisingly trivial, I couldn’t help but snicker.

“Pfft, how crude could you possibly be? Don’t worry about it and just be honest.”

“Hmm…”

Irefi sank into her own world with a contemplative gaze. She was surely discussing the matter with her adorably divided selves.

“Phew!”

Having apparently concluded her heated internal debate, she raised her cheekbones in a refreshed grin. However, I couldn’t accept it as a product of pure emotion.

Her flat gaze was chilling enough to send shivers down my spine.

Irefi spoke casually, as if deliberately wanting to be overheard.

“Those bitches throwing themselves at Nepy, one, two, three… Hehe. Maybe I should shave all their hair off.”

I jumped in shock!

“Irefi?!”

“What? Did you think I never cursed during my time in the knights? If Nepy prepared just one imperial banquet, you’d understand.”

“Uh, er, ah?”

Is that… how it works?

Well, I suppose there’s no one who doesn’t swear during military service.

The old saying goes that crabs side with crabs and arms bend inward. At present, I was a crab, and my joints were fine. To put it simply, I trusted Irefi. My distrust of her only emerged when she entered the kitchen.

“Irefi. People are scared.”

“Honestly, young people these days are too sensitive. In my day, women used to catch bandits.”

“Aren’t you excessively tough?! Besides, when exactly was ‘your day’?”

“About 30 years in the future, perhaps?”

‘You mean the original timeline?!’

Since regaining her memories, Irefi occasionally acted like an old person. Fundamentally, she was the same as usual, but sometimes when she showed her experience, it felt strange.

“Come to think of it, you might be older than me now.”

“Ahem. Nepy? Want to call me Elfi unnie?”

“Elfi grandma.”

“I’ll seriously kill you—! Just kidding. Just kidding. Hey, don’t be scared, Nepy.”

“…I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“Seriously.”

For a moment, her eyes—like a blue lake with ripples—reflected a fragment of the Annihilator. If I had teased her any further, I might have been torn limb from limb.

The experience of brushing with death, which I hadn’t had in a while, brought me back to my senses like having cold water dumped on my head.

“But I’d like to hear it once.”

“What?”

“It would be nice if Nepy called me unnie. In return, though it’s not quite the same… I could do the same for you.”

“The same…?”

As I asked suspiciously, Irefi flashed a devilish smile. Mischief lingered in her eyes, and her lips formed a crescent.

Irefi slowly closed the distance between us. At point-blank range, she stood on her tiptoes. Her fragrant scent and distinct features stood out as if craving compliments.

Just as I was captivated by the sensation of her breath seductively moistening my ear, she whispered softly.

“Nepy oppa, I like you.”

“Hnnnngh!”

“Hehe.”

This is insane.

In an instant, my reason fled, and I could only express my emotions in vulgar vocabulary. Irefi’s aegyo was something with the power of a disaster.

Moreover, although they were formally the same age, her face was considerably youthful. Combined with the years wasted in the Great Cavern, I often unconsciously viewed her as younger.

For such an Irefi to use the word “oppa” was close to transcendental enchantment.

“Now! It’s Nepy’s turn!”

“Ugh!”

It was an unfair contract without the other party’s consent. But it was too late to back out after receiving something so significant. I asked, just in case:

“Do I really have to do this?”

“If it’s burdensome, I suppose there’s no helping it.”

“Thank goodness…”

“Instead, the hair of those girls throwing themselves at Nepy will just disappear, that’s all.”

“What kind of ridiculous collective punishment is that?!”

“With the formless sword, no one would know who did it… One, two, three…!”

“I’ll do it! I said I’ll do it, Irefi!”

I surrendered, forcibly pushing down her sword intent. She merely grinned, pleased with my submission.

“Urgh.”

Belatedly, shame flooded over me like an overflowing river. I had to squeeze out a single word before the dam of patience collapsed.

Finally, I buried my burning face in the ground. And in a barely audible voice, I gave her the answer she wanted.

“Irefi… unnie…”

“Once more.”

“I… Irefi unnie.”

“Once more…!”

I eventually turned my head diagonally and resigned myself.

“Ugh! Unnie, unnie, unnie, happy now? That’s it! Enough!”

“Ahaha, that’s satisfying. Let’s do this a lot when we get back to the manor?”

‘Somehow I feel like Irefi has awakened to a strange preference…’

While I was racking my brain over the unexpected preference that had bloomed at the banquet, Irefi tapped my shoulder demonstratively. Then her finger pointed toward the platform.

“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress have arrived!”

The doors leading to the platform opened wide, and a couple with majestic appearances entered side by side. It was the Emperor and Empress, who clearly had a good relationship. Charle followed behind them, surrounded by a dignified atmosphere.

According to Irefi, Charle was currently working as the Empress’s lady-in-waiting. It was the result of her concern that even if she were belatedly recognized as imperial family, her path forward wouldn’t be smooth. She seemed satisfied just to be able to share maternal affection in private.

‘Come to think of it, who exactly is Charle’s father that makes her imperial family?’

I don’t think the old man made a mistake in his judgment. When he tipped off the Emperor, he seemed quite surprised. It seems even the Emperor hadn’t guessed that Charle was imperial family.

My wandering thoughts about these suspicions soon came to an end. Irefi’s excited commentary scattered them like smoke from a chimney.

“It seems to be starting.”

“They’re entering quite quietly?”

“Right? Usually there would be a big commotion.”

“Ah, they’re coming in. Miren is at the end of the line. Are they arranged by height?”

“…Don’t say that to Miren. She’ll be hurt.”

“As long as she’s cute, it’s fine.”

I made an awkward excuse, but my mistake was clear. I had stirred up Miren’s complex.

Since waking from her coma, Miren had been very worried about her physical development. She had even fallen into panic, fearing that everything had permanently stopped.

Her gradually increasing height had eased her worries, but it was true that she was smaller than her peers.

‘Irefi isn’t particularly tall either. Height might be a family trait.’

Converted to the metric system, she’d be around 165cm? By the standards of my previous life, that would be above average, but here it was less than ordinary.

While I was estimating Irefi’s height, Miren’s turn was approaching. As this was a ceremony to present young ladies to the Empress, even the usually free-spirited Miren observed proper etiquette.

“The young lady has suffered much due to the imperial family’s mistake.”

“…That’s in the past, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you for enduring well, Lady Justitia.”

“It’s all thanks to the imperial family’s concern.”

A conversation in such gentle tones that only I could hear. Her words and actions contained warm goodwill.

In the future, the Empress had lived as a half-soul, sacrificing Miren’s soul. Seeing these two face each other and exchange pleasantries now gave me a fresh perspective.

As I was gazing at them intently with warm eyes, I heard a clicking tongue from the seat right next to me.

“Tsk.”

“Irefi?”

“Oh my. I unconsciously committed a vulgar act.”

“…I understand.”

Even if she had forgotten her grudge against Miren, she had said she didn’t particularly like the Empress. I didn’t specifically ask why, but Irefi wouldn’t dislike someone without reason.

Now that Miren, who had been positioned at the end of the line, had finished her conversation with the Empress, it was time for the banquet. The young ladies, including Miren and Enella, came down from the balustrade and looked around below.

Irefi and I waved our hands together, but Miren blushed and averted her eyes. If she thought it was unnecessary sentimentality, it hurt my feelings.

“I’m hurt.”

“Be nice, be nice. Our Nepy.”

“Please stop that…”

“When I think of you as younger, it just comes out naturally.”

“Enough. I’m going to dance with Miren—AAAGH?!”

Snap!

Irefi grabbed my wrist as I tried to step forward. I couldn’t suppress a scream at the pain inflicted by her grip, which incorporated the techniques of the Golden Serpent Hand. The terrible pressure made me feel like my lungs were expanding.

What greeted me when I turned around was Irefi’s cold gaze.

“Who does Nepy think he’s going to dance with? You haven’t forgotten your catastrophic dancing skills, have you? I told you before. The only one who can hold Nepy’s hand at a banquet is me.”

“Nngh, I remember, but… haven’t I improved quite a bit by now…?”

“Nepy is saying strange things. Why would I let you go even if your skills improved?”

“What? Why?”

“I keep telling you. Nepy’s hand belongs to me. It’s completely mine, something others can’t covet. Yes, only mine… Why does Nepy always have others in mind at every opportunity? I need to dye you more in my colors…”

I saw the black fog rippling in her eyes, which were gradually sinking into an abyss. It might have been a precursor to Malice stirring.

So I blurted out whatever came to mind without even wetting my lips.

“I really love you, Irefi unnie.”

“Yes, me too, Nepy!”

‘The temperature difference is seriously driving me crazy…’

The cool air that had been lingering until just now.

The Golden Serpent Hand technique that had been pressing on my wrist.

It was a dramatic change that could make one mistake everything for an illusion.

It was scary, but what did it matter? As long as Irefi had a satisfied expression, that was enough. If she was happy, that was all that mattered. Because I liked her.

…It definitely wasn’t conditioned emotion.

“Let’s just watch.”

“You mean which guy Miren will take the hand of?”

“Well, yes. Though it seems predetermined, I’m curious to see who will extend their hand to whom.”

“I guess that does pique my interest a bit.”

We quietly observed the young ladies from a corner as they came down from the balustrade in the distance. As the young ladies lined up in a row, unmarried young men approached, each offering a dance.

Arnel was among them. He was wearing black clothes embroidered with gold thread, a stylish outfit that straddled the boundary between uniform and formal dress.

His usually gentle impression seemed somewhat sharper today.

Arnel approached first and extended his hand.

“Miren.”

“Arnel.”

“May I ask you for a dance?”

“Of course…”

Miren’s ready answer couldn’t continue. A boy who had intruded in the middle pushed Arnel aside and extended his hand.

“Excuse me. I would like to share the honor of dancing with the lady.”

“…Who might you be?”

Miren asked cautiously. The boy opened his eyes in surprise, as if it was unexpected. He soon regained his composure and answered awkwardly.

“Forgive me for the rudeness of omitting my introduction. I am Raden Meoric. Pleased to meet you.”

‘Wow… Miren is really reeling in a son from one of the four ducal families.’

Raden Meoric. He was an intellectual gentleman who suited glasses well. He had a cold appearance like his ancestor, but his natural beauty was likely to appeal to the opposite sex.

“He looks like quite the popular cold beauty. The kind young people these days would like.”

“At least Miren’s sensibilities are still stuck eight years ago.”

“What kind of men were popular then?”

“I wonder? I didn’t have time to be interested in the opposite sex back then.”

“True. You were busy fighting over banquet preparations.”

“Ugh. I don’t even want to remember that.”

While I was briefly comforting the trembling Irefi, our attention was drawn to the increasingly lively atmosphere in the hall.

At the center of the heated interest stood Miren. And behind Raden and Arnel, who had extended their hands, another young lord walked steadily forward.

Seeing him, I couldn’t help but gape. Others’ reactions were no different.

I swear, throughout both my previous and current lives, I had never seen such an appearance, not even in photographs.

His golden hair-like locks and eyes reminiscent of a field of blooming violets were beautiful. He was also noticeably taller than his peers, and it seemed as if a soft halo shone wherever he went.

I doubted whether Irefi, had she been born male, could be this handsome. He was that remarkably beautiful, making such an absurd comparison possible.

A true young lord. A being blessed by the gods stood there.

He introduced himself in a voice dripping with dignity.

“I am Philliah Estern of the Estern Ducal Family. I stand here, having gathered my courage to spend time with the young lady. Would you honor me with the privilege of your first dance?”

It was a gentle yet confident invitation. Miren was flustered, not knowing what to do, and looked around.

She seemed to be instinctively searching for us as reliable figures, but unfortunately, we were positioned behind the young lords. It was clear we wouldn’t be in Miren’s field of vision.

Philliah smiled broadly at her adorable reaction. Though it was just a change in expression, it created the illusion that the surrounding air was turning golden. Even the old man in his prime would be no more than a firefly under the full moon compared to Philliah.

“Wow… Irefi. Miren is really stringing along sons from the four ducal families. Why is she living in a romance novel all by herself?”

“I don’t know what a ‘romance novel’ is, but this is… I have mixed feelings, as they say words become reality.”

“Still, it’s entertaining to watch.”

“Heh, though I’m failing as an older sister, honestly, I find it amusing too.”

Now that we’ve become spectators, there’s a certain enjoyment to it. It’s also cute seeing Miren trembling like a newborn fawn. I almost wanted to bring popcorn to watch this live.

“Who do you think will win?”

“Nepy, you’re being mischievous when you already know.”

I nodded in agreement. Having spent considerable time with Miren, it would be strange not to know.

Still, since I was genuinely interested, I curled my lips ingratiatingly and asked for permission.

“But Irefi, can’t I really join them? Not out of self-interest, but because it looks so fun…”

“I’ll just—”

“I love you so much.”

I quickly lowered my tail. There’s no standing against cosmic horror.

“…”

Irefi’s narrowed eyes were fierce. Her gaze alone had the momentum to kill a wild beast. It felt as if floating nitrogen molecules had transformed into needles, piercing my entire body.

I belatedly realized the truth that even words expressing affection lose their weight when repeated too easily.

I added one more phrase with a resolve to die.

“Irefi unnie.”

“…Once more with a pet name.”

I guess I’ll never be able to win against her in my lifetime.

Suddenly, such a sad reflection came to mind.