Banquet (2)

I was in the middle of approaching Riel and Carlena as they came in from the terrace.

Riel’s face looked somewhat urgent, making me wonder if something had happened, but as soon as our eyes met, she quickly ran toward me.

Of course, since she was wearing a dress, it would be more accurate to say she approached with a fast walk rather than running.

As soon as she approached, she firmly grasped my shoulder.

“Kyo! Are you okay?! Did anything happen while I was gone?!”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

It was such an unexpected question that I was slightly confused and looked at her with a blank expression.

After looking into each other’s eyes for a few seconds, Riel sighed with relief and released her hold on my shoulder.

“…Seems like nothing happened.”

“So what exactly are you talking about?”

“Fufu, you really have a good relationship.”

Carlena had somehow approached right next to us, smiling.

“Lady Carlena, did you enjoy your conversation?”

“Yes, I think I’ll be able to get along well with Miss Riel from now on.”

Looking at Carlena smiling as she said that, I glanced slightly at Riel.

Seeing Riel’s somewhat disgruntled expression, I wondered if they had really become friendly, but since Riel wasn’t offering any objections, I didn’t say anything and moved on.

“I hope our Vaniella hasn’t been rude? She tends to be a bit brash.”

“Haha, she’s very bright and energetic, and she’s currently with my siblings.”

Saying this, I pointed with my eyes to where my siblings were.

Vaniella was actively speaking to Asta and Kino, and the timid Kino and Asta, who was weak with women, were overwhelmed by her and hunched over.

Seeing this, Carlena let out a laugh.

“Fufu, I should go greet your siblings as well.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes, I’m sorry for interrupting your time together. Enjoy yourselves.”

“Yes, I hope you enjoy your time as well, Lady.”

Carlena walked toward where my siblings were, leaving just Riel and me.

When Riel pinched my arm that she had been holding, I looked at her, and she narrowed her eyes and asked:

“You didn’t have anything going on with Lady Vaniella, did you?”

“No, we just exchanged simple greetings.”

“…Okay, I’ll believe you.”

Believe me or not, really nothing happened.

After spending time with Riel, I got up to get drinks for thirsty Riel.

Normally, I could have ordered a waiting servant, but at the moment, the servants had briefly left their posts for their meal.

Thanks to father’s consideration, they were probably enjoying the same banquet food in a separately prepared location.

“Oh?”

“Ah, Senior Iris.”

On my way, I ran into Senior Iris.

Judging by the dish in her hand with food on it, she seemed to be in the middle of getting food.

“Are you enjoying the banquet?”

“Yes. It’s been a while since I’ve been at such an occasion, so I was a bit nervous, but I was surprised at how comfortable it is.”

Senior Iris, with her usually tied black hair let down and wearing a black dress that matched her hair color, smiled.

It was quite refreshing to see her in a black dress that revealed her figure, when she usually only wore uniform or training clothes.

She had probably borrowed clothes that mother used to wear in the past.

“By the way, there’s something I wanted to ask.”

“Yes, I’ll answer anything I can.”

“Is Her Highness Aine still absent?”

Come to think of it, Senior Iris had been invited to train with Princess Aine.

It would make sense for her to be curious.

“I heard Princess Aine went to the Empire and is currently returning. I think she’ll be back in about two to three days.”

“Hmm, still not here… I guess I’ll have to train on my own until she returns.”

“Haha, please do so only to the extent that it won’t interfere with the main training.”

With a plate of food in one hand, I left Senior Iris, who was planning her training schedule, and returned to Riel with two glasses of drinks.

I handed a glass to Riel who had been waiting, and stood beside her, drinking together.

Everyone was enjoying the banquet as time passed.

Leaving the County at this dark hour would definitely be madness.

The Duke’s family stayed overnight in the County and would return to their territory early the next morning.

“I look forward to our continued relationship.”

“Haha, it is we who should be saying that.”

Father and Duke Grace smiled as they shook hands.

I hadn’t heard the details yet, but it seemed like the two families had entered into a trade agreement.

Indeed, many of the materials needed by the Grace Duchy, where art is developed, can be obtained from our Wentos County.

For example, minerals or soil used for making paints.

In addition, our Wentos County, which also deals with raw gemstones for crafts, is one of the important trading partners for the Grace Duchy.

In other words, it could be seen that they didn’t just come all the way to the County as a family merely for an apology, but to improve relations between the two families and to conclude a trade deal, using the apology visit as a stepping stone.

When seeing off the Grace Duke’s family, the Duchess Grace—I think her name was Lumiella—smiled kindly and said to me:

“Please be sure to invite us to the wedding, our family will provide excellent wedding rings.”

Upon hearing this, Riel’s face turned so red it was indistinguishable from her hair color.

I was also quite embarrassed inside, but desperately putting on a noble’s bluff, I smiled nonchalantly and said, “I’ll count on you then, Madam,” somehow getting through it.

Indeed, the formalities between nobles are not easy.

As for Lady Vaniella Grace, she had somehow become very close with Kino and was making a sad face, reluctant to part.

On the other hand, Kino had a face that showed a sense of relief, but seeing the sad Vaniella, she didn’t point it out.

“Miss Kino, Mr. Asta, I look forward to seeing you at the academy next year.”

“Y-yes…”

“N-next year, I’ll be in your care?!”

That guy just bit his tongue.

I wondered if he had been able to get used to women while spending time with Lady Vaniella yesterday, but it seems he still has a long way to go.

“Well then, I’ll be going now. See you at the academy after the vacation.”

“Yes, I look forward to it, Miss Carlena.”

“Then, Lady Carlena, I’ll see you at the academy.”

With her characteristic smile until the end, Carlena Grace also bowed to us in farewell.

After seeing off the departing Grace Duke family, we could finally relax the tension.

“Phew…”

“Are you okay?”

Riel asked worriedly, seeing me sitting on the bed in my room, having relaxed the tension.

“Ah, yes… I’m fine. It’s just annoying how the tension rises when dealing with high nobility.”

“Um, I’m technically high nobility too.”

Riel said with a slightly dissatisfied expression.

“Haha, well that’s true… but with Riel, I don’t feel that kind of wall…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

It’s true.

In reality, when dealing with Riel’s brother, Young Master Andrew, or even Eve, a certain tension rises.

But when facing Riel, there’s none of that.

Rather, it feels more like my heart becomes at ease.

It had been that way since the day we first met on the academy rooftop.

Changing from her usual expressionless face, she showed a face full of curiosity and joy as she looked at me.

From that time, I think I received a comfortable impression from her.

“Hey, Kyo.”

“Yes?”

“Can I stay close to you a bit longer?”

Riel approached me and asked this with a bright red face.

…It’s just a guess, but perhaps Riel also receives such an impression from me.

I would like that to be the case.

“As long as you want.”

Upon hearing this, Riel, who sat next to me, leaned in and clung to me.

…I felt a soft sensation and my face heated up, but I desperately suppressed it.

I raised my arm and embraced her shoulder.

After about a few minutes passed like that, Riel opened her mouth.

“Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“For finding my father, for protecting him… and many other things…”

Riel smiled awkwardly as she said this.

“Ahaha, somehow I’m always just saying thank you.”

“…That’s not true, even if I don’t say it out loud, I’m always grateful to Riel too.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Riel quietly closed her mouth.

I too remained silent, just sitting still while embracing Riel.

After a bit more time passed, Riel turned her body and nestled into my arms.

The warm sensation that had only touched my side was now felt in my embrace.

…No, really, it’s quite difficult to act nonchalant about this.

I couldn’t imagine what expression my face had right now.

Fortunately, Riel had buried her face in my chest, so she couldn’t see my face.

While I was desperately managing my expression, Riel spoke with her face still buried:

“…When father regains his senses, I’ll introduce you to him first.”

“Haha, …Won’t I be killed?”

“Come on, that won’t happen.”

No, really.

Aren’t fathers creatures who take out shotguns when their daughters bring home boyfriends?

Though there are no shotguns in this world.

Slightly worrying about the future, I held Riel tightly in my arms.