Chapter 182

Chapter 182

I returned to my room only after the sun had set. It seemed Presia couldn’t refuse Lilith’s request and had been dragged out, as she was nowhere to be seen. The bear and the bunny were also missing, so they must have gone out with Presia.

“Heh! A chance to have my senior all to myself after a long time!”

Luna, who was either hiding after sensing my presence while I was walking down the hallway, or had been hiding since before I headed to the training grounds, jumped down from the ceiling and clung to my back. Of course, even if she was hiding, I already knew, and I could have avoided her if I wanted to, but I was so exhausted that I entered the room, carrying Luna on my back, without much reaction.

“I need to wash up since I’m sweaty, so get down now. You’ll get my sweat smell on you.”

I had been standing in the empty training grounds for a long time, so the sweat had already dried, but that didn’t mean the clamminess disappeared. Besides, I figured I’d smell of sweat, but Luna was smiling broadly, as if she were happy about it.

“I haven’t washed yet either, so if you go wash with me, I might let you go?”

Luna whispered in my ear, resting her chin on my shoulder. I casually raised one hand over my shoulder.

Knock, knock.

“Huh?”

Originally, I was going to flick my finger on Luna’s forehead to make a “thwack!” sound, but a knock on the door came a moment faster.

It was the sound of someone’s hand knocking on the door, not my finger, and not on Luna’s forehead.

“Yes. Just a moment.”

Since I was already up, I walked to the door and opened it to find the old butler who had guided us in various ways standing at the door.

“I apologize for the late hour, Lady Elysia.”

“No. It’s not late, and it’s certainly not an imposition. What brings you here?”

It wasn’t late enough to call it late, as the moon had only just begun to rise, and it wasn’t an imposition either, as I had received so much help from this old butler while living in the castle.

“I am grateful that you see it that way. The reason I came is that I have something to deliver to Lady Elysia.”

The first thing that came to mind at his words was Lilith’s identification pass. However, hadn’t I already heard about the identification pass? They said it would take a few days. That was the reason I was confined to the castle.

As I tilted my head, wondering what it was, and bumped my head against Luna’s head, who was resting her chin on my shoulder, the old butler quietly took two envelopes from his pocket and handed them to me.

When I took the envelopes, I examined them front and back and could only feel their luxuriousness. There was nothing written on them, such as the sender or receiver. Not just one, but both envelopes.

“What is this?”

Of course, I would know as soon as I opened the envelopes and looked at the contents, but I first asked the old butler who had delivered them.

“There is a social gathering for the children of nobles residing in the capital, and the noble children have sent these invitations to invite the Hero to that gathering. It seems they heard, through the grapevine, that the Hero had entered the castle and would be staying for a few days. If you do not need them, please give them to me. I will dispose of them separately.”

Perhaps the butler’s disposal would include not only discarding the invitations but also politely declining the noble children who had invited me.

“Hmm… I’ll check them first and let you know as soon as possible. Thank you for delivering them.”

“You are most welcome. Then please rest well, and call me anytime.”

The old butler bowed his head, took a step back, and quietly closed the door.

“Senior, Senior! Hurry and open them!”

Even though I was the one invited, Luna was incredibly excited. With Luna sticking her head out further from my back and looking at the invitations in my hand, I entered the room.

Actually, the moment I heard the words “social gathering” from the butler, I had intended to refuse. I wasn’t here for leisure, so I had no reason or desire to attend a social gathering.

However, the reason I accepted the invitation instead of refusing outright was for the Emperor’s sake. No matter how powerful the Emperor’s authority was, there were likely many nobles who were dissatisfied with the Emperor supporting the Hero, who was still struggling with defeating the Demon King, without any reprimand, even though I had slain many demons over the past three years.

Of course, although I had a sort of “defeat” of Lilith, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, this situation was not yet widely known. At times like this, I judged that if I could win over even the children of nobles, it would be of some help to the Emperor. Besides, I had nothing else to do during the few days I was staying at the castle.

As I pulled out a chair in front of the table, Luna, who had been clinging to my back, got down and quickly sat in the chair opposite me.

Ignoring Luna’s sparkling eyes, I placed the invitations on the table.

Both envelopes were incredibly luxurious. I was surprised at how luxurious just the paper itself could be.

However, the envelopes were ultimately just for packaging; the important thing was the contents. I had one, and I had Luna open the other.

Holding one in each hand, we began to read the invitations. After finishing, we exchanged them and read each other’s.

Regardless of how the invitations were written, the message was ultimately to come to the party tomorrow. This was natural, as that was the purpose of an invitation.

However, the two invitations were not for the same party; they were from the hosts of two different parties.

First, an invitation filled with elaborate phrases and text. It expressed a desire to discuss swordsmanship, respect for me as a Hero and Sword Master, and a strong sense of urgency to invite me, which could be felt beyond the sentences.

The second invitation was completely opposite. It briefly stated the name of the social gathering and the names of the host and inviter. Unlike the previous one, which conveyed urgency, this one exuded a sense of aloofness, as if saying, ‘Come if you want to.’ If the word ‘tea party’ hadn’t even been written, I wouldn’t have known what kind of social gathering it was.

From just one invitation, I could roughly gauge the atmosphere of the gathering and the personality of the host.

Actually, if I had to choose one, the gathering described in the first invitation was slightly more appealing. Based on the content, I was interested in discussing swordsmanship, and despite finding it uncomfortable to read, the host’s eagerness to invite me was evident.

However, I chose the second gathering, not the first.

The reason for this was that the host and inviter of the first gathering was a man. The atmosphere of the gathering likely included women, but most of the attendees would probably be men. If I, who looked undeniably like a woman, attended such a place, regardless of the content, it would be easy to create and spread rumors, especially in the social circles.

On the other hand, what about the second party? The name of the social gathering, meaning ‘flower garden,’ the content of the tea party, and the host-there was not a speck of trace of a man to be found. Although I didn’t know what I could talk about there, at least I wouldn’t be the subject of gossip.

It would be troublesome if I tried to help the Emperor and ended up causing trouble for myself due to strange rumors.

“Hmm. There must be a dress code, right? I don’t think I have anything suitable, should I ask?”

“Hehe, Senior. There were no attendance limits, right? Right?”

“That’s true… but why? Do you want to attend too?”

In response to my question, Luna simply smiled with her eyes and looked at me, but that was enough of an answer.

“I don’t mind, but I’m worried you might find it boring.”

“But it’s been my dream since forever! A scene like a painting, where ladies dressed up gather, elegantly sip tea, and exchange refined conversations!”

Unlike me, who was originally a man, Luna, who was always a woman, seemed to have a vague longing for parties of noble ladies. However, Luna at a social gathering? I tried to imagine her in the scene she just described.

Luna elegantly sipping tea? I can’t imagine it. She’d probably just gulp it down.

Engaging in refined conversation? I can’t imagine that either. Rather than refined, it would be fortunate if she didn’t say something childish.

But I didn’t say it out loud. Since she grew up as an assassin from a young age, she must have had to do things she didn’t want to do and not do things she wanted to do. So, why wouldn’t I be able to bring her? As someone who empathizes with her upbringing more than anyone, I was actually glad to see Luna wanting something like this.

Since I have the Emperor as my backing, there’s no reason for that to happen, but if, by any chance, other noble ladies try to look down on Luna, I’ll use the name of the Hero, as I learned from Ferrent, and crush them back.

“Then, shall I ask the boss and Lilith too?”

Since I had decided to bring companions, there was no reason not to bring Presia and Lilith as well.

However, when I asked the two who returned, Lilith, who I expected to readily accept, refused, saying she was a bit uncomfortable in crowded places, and Presia also refused as soon as she heard the proposal, with an annoyed expression.

Well, neither of them has a personality that enjoys being in the spotlight.

I called the old butler to convey my decision and also asked him to find suitable dresses for Luna and me. With the help of a maid who soon arrived, I was able to choose appropriate dresses.