Ch.93The Banquet Hall Trapped in HRS

“Even if it’s an escort, I don’t know anything about Imperial etiquette.”

While I’ve seen ballroom scenes in movies before, I can’t know if their etiquette matches the etiquette here.

And I’ve never danced socially before.

“I’m not expecting much. Just do the basics, just the basics.”

She sounds like some company commander.

“We’re still far from the Imperial Palace anyway, so I’ll specially teach you basic manners. Time to experience civilization, barbarian?”

“Mon—”

“Would you stop with that monkey business already!”

Frider’s face turned bright red.

Not a chance. You won’t escape this nickname until you make a sixty-five-year-old friend.

In other words, it’s a nickname that will stay with you for life!

A moment later, the real Frider began explaining the etiquette to be observed at the reception.

When getting out of the carriage, get out first, then extend your hand to help me down.

Then, keep holding that hand as we enter.

Don’t speak to strangers until someone introduces you.

When greeting a lady, bow politely and kiss the back of her extended hand. Keep your other hand behind your back.

If she doesn’t extend her hand, a slight nod in knightly fashion will suffice.

If a man greets you, you can accept a handshake, but there’s no need to offer the back of your hand to someone treating you like a lady.

Wearing a uniform means you’ve come as a knight, not as a lady.

Don’t take too much food at the reception.

Use honorifics as much as possible. Don’t cause a disturbance.

Listening to all this, they really were just the basics.

Some of the advice seemed like something you’d tell a small child.

“What about dancing? At a ball, don’t we have to do that spinning dance where we hold hands?”

That’s what always happens in movies. Waltz, was it?

“Waltz? Well, since His Majesty the Emperor is hosting the ball, we’ll probably dance the minuet. If Empress Isabella leads, we might dance the waltz…”

What’s a minuet?

From the way she talks, it seems like a more formal dance.

“Anyway, how do I do that?”

“You’ll have to dance one song with me. I’ll lead, so just watch what others are doing and follow along. You have good observation skills, right?”

Frider shrugged.

“Just don’t step on my feet. With your strength, you’d crush them.”

“…I’ll try my best.”

So I do have to dance after all…

“After dancing one song, you can refuse all other dance requests. That’s what I plan to do too. That’s why I’m going with you. If I’m by your side, annoying people won’t bother us.”

“Does that mean I have to stick with you the whole time? That’s a bit inconvenient.”

I was planning to talk with Prince Leopold…

And I can’t bring the Duchess of Faelrun with me.

Faelrun maintains a politically neutral position.

“Do you have an appointment with someone?”

“I wanted to talk with Prince Leopold.”

Frider raised her eyebrows.

“Hmm? Well, if that’s your choice. Nigel and I can rest nearby during that time. Is that alright?”

“Yes. It would be my honor.”

Nigel, who was driving the carriage, readily agreed.

Come to think of it, maybe I should hire a new coachman soon.

It feels wrong to have a Master-level knight working as a coachman.

By the time we arrived at the Imperial Palace, the world was already bathed in crimson.

—-

“Princess Aishan-Gioro. Lady Faelrun. Sir Nigel. Confirmed. Welcome to Magnus Caelum.”

The knight standing guard at the main gate checked our invitations and saluted sharply.

Nigel nodded lightly and drove the carriage through the main gate.

The interior of the palace was already crowded with invited guests, creating quite a bustle.

The neighing of horses, the rattling of carriage wheels. Mixed with the conversations of countless people, it was quite chaotic.

After parking the carriage at the storage area, I got out and extended my hand to Frider.

Frider placed her hand lightly on mine and descended gracefully.

Graceful? That’s really not a word that suits her.

The gazes of surrounding nobles turned toward us.

A female knight in knight’s uniform. A Ka’har female warrior in academy uniform. And a lady in a splendid dress.

Seen from the side, we must make a truly strange combination.

I wonder what they’re whispering about. Let me listen.

I focused my consciousness on my hearing.

The whispering sounds penetrated my ears.

“Who are those people? I feel like I’ve seen that lady somewhere…”

“A Ka’har in academy uniform—isn’t that the princess? The one who became Baron of Median recently.”

“Were Eater…!”

The faces of the nobles who had been looking at me with interest turned to shock.

“I saw her from a distance at the funeral mass… but her aura is completely different now. She’s frightening even from behind. The rumors weren’t exaggerated.”

Yes, yes. I am the Were Eater.

I wonder if they might faint if I turn around and look at them.

“Ah…! Lord Bain, would you hold me? I’m embarrassed to say this, but my legs are giving out…!”

“It would be my honor, Lady Eleonora. Gladly.”

And what’s with these people using me as an excuse to flirt? Ridiculous.

“Relax your eyes. Smile, even if you have to force it.”

Frider advised in a low voice.

As I turned around, I tried my best to follow her advice.

“Eeeek…! A, a monster…!”

“Urgh…! Is she looking at me!! Those eyes! Those terrible eyes!!”

“Elpinel, have you forsaken me…!”

…It doesn’t seem to be having much effect.

Like civilians witnessing an assassin, the nobles screamed in shock and terror.

What a mess.

“…No, it’s not that bad, is it…? Rather, at this level…”

There were some people showing relatively normal reactions.

Probably those who had seen my face at the title conferment ceremony.

The ones having fits must be nobles who weren’t present that day.

“…Wow, no need to dance. If we go out to the central hall, all the surrounding nobles will be carried out. That’s good, right?”

“Shut up…”

While it’s fortunate that no one will approach me, I didn’t want this kind of chaos.

Even the students have gotten used to me by now, but why are these people all like this?

Well, thinking about it, it makes sense.

Those students are knights-in-training who have already seen their share of horrors, but many of these nobles have probably never touched a weapon in their lives.

They’re actually more sensitive to fear than the students.

“It might be better if you wear this for now.”

From somewhere, Nigel handed me a black veil.

A piece of black cloth fixed to the forehead, covering the front of the face.

The veil was thick and dark enough that someone without my enhanced senses wouldn’t be able to see through it.

Should I call this being well-prepared…?

I took the veil and covered my face.

Everything around me immediately darkened, and I could only see faint silhouettes of people.

A veil with a uniform.

It’s not a matching accessory, but there’s no choice.

Still, thanks to covering my face, the panic around us seemed to be gradually subsiding.

“This is more effective than I thought, but won’t I have to take it off once we enter the palace anyway?”

“Well… at least it can prevent the chaos until we reach the main palace.”

“Don’t worry. You only need to lift it briefly when they check identities at the entrance to the reception hall. Inside, I’ll make excuses for you.”

Frider grinned reassuringly and pulled my hand.

Fine, whatever happens, happens.

It’s not really my fault if people faint upon seeing my face, is it?

The veil’s effect was excellent.

It reduced the casualties to just two people by the time we entered the reception hall.

One knight guarding the entrance to the main palace and one servant checking identities at the door.

Frider had a hard time.

She had to stop the knight who was about to draw his sword in shock and comfort the servant who was about to collapse foaming at the mouth.

—-

“The Empire sure has a lot of money…”

The moment we entered the reception hall, I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Brilliant light penetrated through the veil.

It was a space that seemed to have reached the pinnacle of luxury.

Massive glass windows adorning the walls boasted platinum decorations and jewels around their frames.

Crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling were decorated with diamonds, emitting multicolored radiance, while marble columns were wrapped in golden craftsmanship and gleamed.

Beautiful statues displayed their elegance beneath each column.

Knights. Goddesses. Birds. Lions. Even Carlos the Great—truly diverse stone statues.

Tables with simple food and drinks were lined up on the left and right of the central hall, with some nobles enjoying light refreshments there.

In the corner of the hall was a platform with velvet curtains.

An orchestra of more than a dozen people was preparing for the formal reception, playing a simple melody as a warm-up.

The melody sounds familiar.

Are the songs in such places all similar everywhere?

The second floor had a shape like a sideways , with the center and one wall empty.

Low tables for card games and plush sofas were placed there, probably as a resting area.

The interior was a bit warm, and the scents of perfume and powder wafted chaotically.

The nobles who looked at us soon engaged in hushed conversations among themselves.

It was truly a diverse crowd.

Those showing curiosity toward the princess wearing a veil.

Men admiring Frider’s figure.

Ladies trembling at the fingertips, apparently feeling fear despite my efforts to suppress my aura.

Most male nobles were wearing tailcoats, and some were in knight uniforms, probably from knightly backgrounds.

As for the women, they seemed to be competing over whose dress was more splendid.

Women in uniforms like me… there were only two or three.

Judging by the rose emblem on their uniforms, they must belong to Leonore’s Rose Cross Knights.

“Hey, what do we do now? Wait until the ball starts?”

I asked Frider, lowering my voice significantly.

“Hmm… since we have some time, let’s go see the Margrave of Landenburg. He’s your patron, right?”

More than a patron, he’s practically making me his successor, but anyway.