Ch.64Debutante (6)

# Where are you? Where could you be? Sister Irefi, Brother Nepy!”

Miren frantically scanned the banquet hall, turning her head quickly as her snow-white hair fluttered. She looked just like a white snow rabbit searching for food.

But the snow rabbit standing in the winter field couldn’t find any prey to her liking. Overwhelming presences blocked her view, making it impossible to see anything.

Finally, Miren accepted reality and looked clearly ahead. Raden Meoric, Philliah Estern, and… Arnel Chester. The sons of the four ducal families were standing in a row, waiting their turn.

‘Phew! Calm down, Miren. Don’t act like a fool. I’m not a sixteen-year-old child anymore.’

She was indeed a sixteen-year-old child. Though she had fainted, Miren’s unique pride from having lived eight more years kept her sane.

She thought that being able to handle younger boys with ease was what made one a true lady.

“I…”

As Miren slowly opened her mouth, everyone in the banquet hall stared. It was a historic moment that would become the empire’s hottest gossip regardless of who was involved.

In this miraculous reality, Miren declared, maintaining her deliberately nonchalant mask:

“Arnel, I’ll be in your care.”

“Sure, Miren.”

The chosen Arnel’s expression showed surprisingly little change. Looking back, Arnel had consistently maintained a serious expression throughout the banquet.

‘Really, what’s with him! He could at least show some happiness.’

Of course, Arnel had been her only option. She thought it would be better to have her first dance with a familiar friend like Arnel.

Raden and Philliah were attractive partners, but there was no one better than a friend.

Still, that was one thing, and this was another.

At the very least, shouldn’t he be happy? Having been chosen over such impressive people?

Shouldn’t he be grinning from ear to ear?

Even as she puffed her cheeks in annoyance, the music had already started playing. Miren was quite displeased with how naturally Arnel took the lead. Arnel wasn’t so dense that he couldn’t sense Miren’s mood.

Arnel cautiously asked:

“Miren. Did I do something wrong?”

“Not really. Nothing much.”

“I don’t think so…”

So he does know, this idiot. Stupid Arnel. Usually smiling freely like a puppy, but now being unnecessarily cold!

I hate it, I hate it. I’m so annoyed that I don’t even want to tell him what’s wrong. It’s such a trivial matter, but does Arnel feel this same stabbing sensation in his chest?

Let him suffer too. I hope he does. It’s unfair to suffer alone.

“If I did something wrong, I’ll apologize.”

“What did you do wrong, Arnel?”

“That’s…”

Arnel couldn’t bring himself to say he didn’t know. He simply couldn’t guess Miren’s psychological state. While his mind was spinning trying to produce an answer, Miren turned her head away.

“Forget it if you don’t know.”

“I’m sorry…”

“You don’t need to apologize if you don’t know what you did wrong. I’m fine, Arnel. Ah, the music’s over. See you later.”

“…Yeah.”

Miren turned away with exaggerated movements. Her proud walk with her back to Arnel clearly showed she was angry.

She decided to just eat some sweet cookies and forget about it. As she made this resolution, a gray-haired boy approached from behind. Miren recognized him immediately.

“Young Master Meoric.”

“Raden will do.”

“What can I do for you?”

“If it’s alright, I’d like to request another dance with the noble lady. Would you permit me?”

Miren hesitated briefly, but that was all.

“Yes, that would be nice.”

It was against etiquette to dance consecutively with the same partner. As Miren accepted Raden’s escort, she glanced furtively at Arnel. He was still staring into space with a cold expression.

Today’s Arnel was somehow difficult to understand.

Even as Miren lightly stepped through the dance, her mind was traveling to a distant place. If Raden hadn’t spoken to her, she might have been floating on clouds.

“What has upset the noble lady?”

“Just, my friend being a bit difficult.”

“The second son of Chester? You two seemed close.”

“Yes, well. Somehow we are.”

“Have you come to dislike him?”

“…”

Miren pressed her lips tightly together. It felt foolish to be upset over something so trivial, yet also unfair. Normally, she should say she disliked today’s Arnel, but somehow the words wouldn’t come out.

Raden seemed to interpret Miren’s silence in his own way. He sighed deeply and started speaking on his own.

“It’s well known that Chester’s second son is called peculiar. There’s usually a reason when public opinion is unfavorable. I hope you won’t be distressed by discord with such a person.”

“…What did you say?”

“I’m saying he’s too insignificant for you to worry about. The empire is vast, and there are many suitable people. If you were more selective about the people you associate with…”

“You’re lying.”

“Pardon?”

“Young Master Raden, you’re quite skilled at lying.”

“I don’t understand your meaning.”

“Haah…”

Miren met Raden’s eyes with complex emotions. More precisely, she looked straight through Raden’s clean and pure soul with her golden eyes.

When she first heard Raden’s disparaging remarks, she instinctively bristled. Apart from her sulky anger, she couldn’t forgive anyone belittling her friend Arnel.

She felt the urge to step on his foot with all her might. But that impulse quickly crumbled like autumn leaves.

“Young Master Raden.”

“Speak.”

“Do people often tell you that you’re too kind?”

Miren asked calmly. However, Raden’s response was truly remarkable. His face flushed red in an instant, and forgetting his dignity, he raised his voice.

“Wh-what! What are you suddenly saying, noble lady?! How rude!”

Miren wasn’t one to be intimidated by such a weak rebuke. She playfully shared her own conclusion.

“I think you’re the type who would help a servant struggling to take out the trash.”

“How did you…! No, that’s not it. That’s a profound misunderstanding on your part.”

“I doubt it. It’s rare to find someone with a soul so pure they’d willingly play the villain in front of a stranger.”

“Kuh, what nonsense! Ah, I misspoke. I’m not saying you’re foolish, rather, the situation…”

“Pfft, hehe. It’s fine. Despite your cold manner of speaking, you’re actually quite thoughtful.”

“Ugh.”

Raden’s cold expression changed dramatically. It didn’t take long for his chilly first impression to be completely forgotten.

After a moment, having gathered his scattered emotions, Raden asked:

“By the way… does my way of speaking sound overbearing to you?”

“Wouldn’t it to anyone?”

“I-is that so…”

When the music ended, Raden performed the proper courtesy for a lady. As the moment to part arrived, his feet seemed momentarily lost, wandering aimlessly.

Soon his feet settled in Miren’s direction. He urgently called out to her and spoke rapidly.

“I, as the son of a ducal family, have often been criticized for lacking dignity. I seriously tried to improve that, which led to who I am now. If you felt it was disrespectful, I ask for your forgiveness. I’ll try to change in the future.”

“Do you really need to change?”

“What?”

“Everyone has their own way of living. What’s important is the core inside. Like your pure soul.”

With that, I’ll be going.

Miren ended the conversation and left without lingering. However, Raden Meoric remained motionless, unable to move. He was captivated by this mysterious girl who had seen through him for the first time.

He simply stayed there for a very long time. He suppressed the heat in his chest while looking at the traces Miren had left behind, though she would not return.

A strange warmth that would remain intense for quite some time…

“Oh dear, where are Sister Irefi and Brother Nepy?”

Even though the banquet hall was large, two people with their appearances should be easy to spot. Such handsome and beautiful people weren’t common.

Above all, they were a couple standing at the center of countless gossip. If she could just find where people were gathered… where they were gathered…

“Hmm?”

Miren unconsciously frowned. In her field of vision, there was a noisy crowd of people gathered in a circle. It looked like a donut decorated with colorful syrups.

It was an optical illusion created by the noble ladies’ colorful dresses. And at the center of the crowd, Philliah Estern was asserting his presence with dignity.

The distance between Miren and Philliah was considerable. Yet Philliah sensed Miren like a ghost and opened his eyes wide. Miren, with equally round eyes, observed his lip movements.

Each time Philliah silently moved his lips, Miren unconsciously interpreted the words.

Help

“Help?”

Me

“Me?”

Please

“Please…”

Help me please!

“Ahaha.”

That must be difficult. To receive so much attention from the noble ladies that he could barely breathe. What a sinful appearance he has.

But Miren pretended not to understand and tried to pass by. She had no legitimate reason to disperse them, nor could she use her sister’s power against powerless noble ladies.

That’s when Philliah shouted loudly.

“Lady Justitia!”

“Eh?”

“I apologize for being late to our appointment!”

“What appointment? There’s no such… Oh.”

It was Philliah’s obvious ploy to leave his current situation. Having gained a plausible excuse, Philliah broke through the wave of noble ladies and approached Miren without hesitation.

“How could you just walk past me like that?”

“I have no hobby of bothering someone who’s blessed with attention.”

“You leave me speechless, my lady.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment on my honesty.”

“Haha…”

Philliah laughed awkwardly.

Miren was aware that her manner of speaking differed from that of other nobles. But then again, her sister was Irefi, and her acquaintance was Nepy.

When Miren was still a blank canvas, the artists who painted on it were Irefi and Nepy.

“Then you have no more business with me, right? I have someone I’m looking for, so…”

“Wait a moment! No matter what, leaving too quickly would raise suspicion. Let’s walk together a little longer. Two people are better than one when searching for someone, aren’t they?”

“Hmm.”

It was a reasonable argument. Miren gladly accepted the proposal.

“Alright. Let’s walk together for a bit.”

“You’ve made a good decision. Who are you looking for, my lady? Despite appearances, I know many people.”

“My sister and brother.”

“Your sister would be Marquess Irefi Justitia, right? And your brother…”

“Brother Nepy.”

“Do you mean Marquess Alteon? I’ve heard His Majesty particularly favors him.”

“Brother Nepy doesn’t seem to care much about that. He’s always thinking about Sister Irefi.”

It might have sounded like she was speaking ill of him. Instead, Miren’s affectionate voice conveyed her true intentions.

At this point, Philliah sensed the danger that the conversation might shift too much toward family and acquaintances. He carefully changed the subject before the conversation sank into a quagmire.

“By the way, you don’t ask for an escort, my lady?”

“It’s just stifling, why would I?”

“I worry you might get hurt.”

“Hmm.”

Miren lifted her head as if pondering for a moment. Simultaneously, Philliah’s expectations were raised just as high.

After brief consideration, Miren’s answer was perplexing.

“Do you know something?”

“I’m all ears.”

“There are fewer than ten people in this banquet hall who are stronger than me.”

“…Pardon?”

“So your worry is unnecessary. In terms of pure strength, I’m stronger than the knights.”

It was a statement Philliah couldn’t comprehend at all. How strong could a slender, delicate girl possibly be?

“Haha, my lady, your jokes are…”

“Want to test it? We’ll interlock our fingers, and whoever screams first loses.”

“Alright.”

Philliah responded confidently. Unfortunately, that was the last appearance he made at the banquet.

Until they interlocked their fingers, he thought it was just a subtle expression of interest.

His beauty was exquisite enough to be confident, worthy of being called the empire’s most handsome man. From a different perspective, it was an understandable misunderstanding.

But the sound of cracking quickly revealed the reality. He expressed the truth that even a handsome man’s scream can be sweet as he fell to his knees.

“Ugh, kuhugh?!”

“Haah. See? I was right, wasn’t I?”

Miren lifted him up and pushed him into an empty room. The physical superiority rendered his status as a son of one of the four ducal families completely useless.

Miren left Philliah behind with a casual farewell.

In the empty room, only Philliah’s groans scattered desolately.

“Ha…”

He appeared to have experienced a great loss.

That is to say, he appeared to have an attitude that could be mistaken for experiencing great loss. No one would have known that the face hidden behind his two palms wore an excited smile.

“To think such a charming lady actually exists! What should I do? Haah…”

Since childhood, the adjectives describing him had been glamorous. Innate beauty, wealth, and power were exactly that. Even his own talents were outstanding, making him a flawless heir to his family.

Therefore, Philliah was always surrounded by flatterers.

Was that why? He had secretly nurtured an unspoken desire.

Since long ago, he had developed a hidden preference that sprouted like a seedling.

In truth, he preferred being coldly treated rather than receiving attention, and he liked being conquered.

But no one had ever recognized his dark desires.

“This must be a match made in heaven. Miren Justitia… no, Lady Miren…!”

That day was a warm spring day. The day of the confused debutante.

◇

“Damn it all…”

My muttered curse sank below the ground, leaving no trace. No matter what, such a thing couldn’t happen unless someone had gone mad.

“They’re out of their minds.”

Bartlant declared with a serious expression. I strongly agreed.

“We should stop the debutante banquet right now.”

There was no reason to oppose Irefi’s opinion.

Of course, that would be natural. The squad of knights with their lower bodies frozen in frost made the gravity of the situation clear.

The identity of the intruder was obvious. Only the power of spirits could perform such a feat. Other continents might have special means called magic, but they had no connection to the Eld Empire.

“Irefi, the young marquess, and even me here, yet they dare to intrude in broad daylight?”

“Could they be deploying spirit blood like during the commotion at the Feita mansion?”

“That’s unlikely. The commotion then was premised on the asymmetric power being only you, Irefi.”

“For now, both of you should enter the banquet hall. I’ll immediately alert His Majesty to the danger.”

We nodded at Bartlant’s suggestion. Irefi’s face was already filled with deep concern.

I gently held Irefi’s hand, which had lost its focus. Perhaps because warmth touched her cold hand, her eyes gained a different light.

“Let’s go, Irefi. You’re worried.”

“Yes, we need to find Miren quickly.”

I had no way of knowing what confidence had made that person so bold. But whether it was Miren or Charle, if they did anything reckless…

‘I’ll strangle them. Without fail.’

Whether they were from the same hometown or fellow transmigrators, it didn’t matter. Now my world revolves entirely around Irefi.

I cannot lose her again after almost losing her once.

One repetition of past mistakes is enough.