episode_0017

“It should be fine.”

Allen seemed skilled.

With that level of skill, he would likely be among the top ranks in the entire empire.

“Of course, using dual swords bothers me, but…”

I greeted her with a light bow and turned my head.

And decided to stop these thoughts.

I want to go to the office quickly and get some sleep.

The sofa Leia Princess gave me.

It was truly the best.

Lost in thoughts about that sofa alone,

Cheerful music could be heard from the entrance of the banquet hall we had entered.

—

A grand atmosphere as if even the Emperor were appearing.

All attendees turned their attention towards the entrance.

The pride of the Empire, the Eastern Knights, appeared after a while.

Men in red cloaks and splendid helmets marched in line.

And in front of them, confidently leading, was a small silhouette.

Lydia entered dressed in a gown.

Her appearance was like a legion from a myth protecting a maiden goddess.

I knew she was usually full of pride, but I never expected her birthday party to be this extravagant.

Impressive for such a young age.

Quietly, I clapped my hands, waiting for her to pass our table.

After a while, the crimson legion met my gaze.

Fortunately, the soldiers kept moving without stopping.

But…

“Oh, you’re here too?”

The youngest princess’s voice sounded very close.

I thought I misheard.

Slowly, with an anxious heart, I turned my head.

And at that moment.

With her hand on her hip, Lydia looked down at me with a mischievous expression.

“Darn it…”

Lydia, who had passed by every table without glancing at anyone, was now addressing me, not any other noble.

“Oh, well, this isn’t right.”

She closed her eyes briefly and cleared her throat.

Then she made an effort to change her tone gracefully.

“Oh, you’re here too?”

An awkward and stiff tone.

Yet, Miyah cowered like a cat at her words.

“How do you find attending my party?”

I turned my head slightly.

Sure enough, all the guests around started looking at me.

“So, you are one of the Third Princess’s attendants?”

“I hear she’s been expanding her influence even further, now even recruiting official knights.”

“Well, that’s… quite something. A young person full of ambition, indeed.”

“Darn it, who’s holding hands with whom!”

I had to shake off these gazes somehow.

Should I respond nonchalantly?

If a proud person feels ignored, their interest in the other party tends to spike.

I quickly ran through my mind.

Then suddenly, one thing came to mind.

I blurted it out immediately.

“Well, the peanuts are delicious.”

Just a brief comment.

Upon hearing that, everyone’s expressions changed to bewilderment.

Ladies covered their mouths with their hands, and gentlemen furrowed their brows as if they couldn’t understand.

Even Miyah urgently whispered to me with her mouth forming the words, “Are you crazy?!”

I looked at her with a bewildered expression.

My senior’s face turned pale as if trembling in fear.

“This isn’t right, is it?”

The Third Princess, hearing my response with a puzzled expression, narrowed her eyes and asked me, “Is that so…?”

All the guests swallowed deeply.

They seemed tense, perhaps knowing Lydia’s fiery temperament.

“Fascinating.”

Luckily, she didn’t get angry with me.

Instead, with a playful smile in her eyes, she said to me, “No one has ever thought of providing nuts at a banquet before.”

All the guests looked down at their plates at the Princess’s words.

And cautiously began to taste them.

“The peanuts arranged for this party. They were all carefully grown in our Eastern soil.”

“Oh, no wonder the flavor was exceptional.”

Seemingly pleased with my response, she proudly raised her chin.

Empowered by this, I calmly explained the taste.

“The nuttiness that wafts with each chew, accompanied by a subtle sweetness that follows, is excellent.”

Well, at least this much is sincere.

After returning to the past, I enjoyed cooking more than swordsmanship.

Based on that experience, this peanut is truly excellent.

“Hmm-.”

Lydia seemed satisfied with my answer as she nodded her head.

‘Will she be satisfied enough at this point and leave?’

I calmly drank water, waiting for her to pass by.

However…

The youngest princess did not depart towards the center of the banquet hall. Instead, she approached even closer to me.

“Well, your appearance may be plain, but your taste is quite tolerable.”

She said playfully, tilting her head.

Thanks to her, the subtle scent of apricot wafted from the youngest princess’s delicate hair.

“Look forward to tonight.”

She whispered in my ear, her lips brushing against it.

“You’ll regret entering the study room.”

Without saying more, Lydia brushed past me.

Then, she briefly turned her head and chuckled.

On the side, Miyah, who had been listening quietly, finally let out the breath she had been holding.

“W-what did Princess Mia say?”

“Just something like, ‘Look forward to tonight.’”

As Miyah repeated what she heard, her face flushed red.

“What…?!”

Why make such a fuss about looking forward to something?

Looking forward to it would probably just be a show of her knights’ skills.

Lydia ascended the stage in the banquet hall.

She cast a simple amplification spell on her voice.

“Ah- Ah. Is everyone enjoying the banquet?”

A dignified tone maintained by the noblewoman.

I almost snorted at how awkward the tone sounded.

“If you’ve attended my party even once, you should know well.”

Lydia’s voice resonated loudly throughout the spacious banquet hall.

Instantly, all attendees focused their attention on her.

“I detest boring banquets.”

“I prepared a performance for all attendees, so I hope you enjoy it.”

Leaving hints behind, Lydia gracefully descended from the stage.

Thanks to her, only one figure remained in the vast main area.

Bathshe.

The most promising youth in the East gazed at the stands, wielding a massive spear.

The deep shadows in his eyes intimidated the young ladies who saw them.

Even the gentlemen were affected.

Upon seeing the imposing figure of the man, they instinctively swallowed deeply.

I simply continued chewing on peanuts, nonchalantly observing.

I already knew of his skill.

―――!

Bathshe’s thunderous spear technique.

The sound of his technique caused the white silk drapes adorning the ceiling to flutter simultaneously.

He then raised an Eastern-style spear.

With deft movements, he began to wield it skillfully.

Glancing at the fluttering drapes, I casually remarked to Miyah beside me.

“Senior.”

“Eh…?”

“Are you going to drink that champagne?”

Miyah, who was staring blankly at Bathshe’s spear, blinked at the unexpected mention of champagne.

“Is that so…?”

“Cover it with a lid beforehand.”

Miyah blinked at my cryptic words.

However, having never suffered any losses from following my advice, she quietly covered the glass with a lid.

“The table might get a bit dirty.”

A slicing sound filled the air.

As the sound reverberated through the banquet hall, Lydia arrived at the royal seat.

She took a prominent seat in the center.

“Have the kids improved a lot?”

Lea, who had been quietly sipping tea next to me, asked the Third Princess.

In response, Lydia crossed her arms alone and replied firmly.

“Of course. I spare no expense on my possessions.”

She looked down at the banquet hall with a satisfied expression.

Bathshe, who was swiftly wielding his spear.

Soon, as if signaling the end of his swordplay, he struck the ground with the tip of his staff.

Kwaaaang―――!

Suddenly, a tremendous vibration struck the stage like a bell tolling.

Attendees instinctively covered their ears at his abrupt action.

However, their initially furrowed expressions quickly turned to admiration.

Fluttering―――.

The moment Bathshe’s staff touched the ground.

All the white silk drapes adorning the ceiling tore apart.

White pieces of cloth flowing down to the floor.

The sight is akin to falling white snow.

The guests’ mouths involuntarily open at the faint snowflakes.

Soon, they rise and applaud.

Especially Jaesang, who was making strange noises while looking at me.

He seemed greatly impressed, his eyes even turning red as if on the verge of tears.

“Hahaha… White snow in the Eastern Capital! Truly remarkable, impressive!”

The white pieces fall gently onto the cover.

It was only then that Miya understood my request to cover the champagne.

“How did you know?”

She asked, fiddling with the snow pieces.

“What do you mean?”

“I thought the ceiling might tear.”

“I was worried about the sharp wind.”

She brushed off the explanation briefly.

Miya’s current skill level wouldn’t detect the subtle mana being scattered rapidly.

Avoiding her suspicious gaze, I looked up at the yellow stone.

Lydia nodded approvingly at Batsu’s performance.

Lea gazes at Lydia intently.

“Good job, not bad, right?”

In response, Lydia glances briefly at Lea.

“Not just ‘not bad.’ Batsu was perfect.”

At the youngest’s firm response, Lea smiles slyly.

“Yeah, it was a splendid circus that would make the audience cheer.”

Circus.

At those three words, Lydia snorts.

“If you’re envious, say so. Don’t mock for no reason-.”

And she squints her eyes at Lea.

“But, isn’t he a knight? Wouldn’t he rather show a knightly appearance than this circus-like display?”

“A knightly appearance…?”

Lea slowly sets down her teacup.

Resting her chin on both hands placed on the table.

“If he’s a knight, he should at least demonstrate some ‘dueling’ skills.”

At the mention of dueling, Lydia briefly touches her cheek with a finger.

Two sisters at odds.

Their animosity towards each other far outweighs their intimacy.

In such a situation comes the proposal for a duel.

And the previously uninvited junior knight and Irina.

“Oh- really?”

Lydia soon catches on to Lea’s intention and chuckles.

Eventually, she laughs enough to reveal her fangs prominently.

“You – noticed anything more ominous than usual today?”

The Third Princess loses her smile.

She sternly addresses Lydia.

“Suddenly showing up at my party, adding people to the guest list without permission.”

Perhaps due to the dim imperial stone lighting.

Her dark eyes spark even more fiercely than usual.

“Who are you trying to impress by starting a fight between us?”

Lea gazes down at the youngest princess.

She remains silent for a moment before clapping her hands.

“As if – there’s someone to impress.”

Instead, Lea looks towards Irina.

“Just that the party is too dull.”

Then, with narrowed eyes, she whispers as if sharing a secret.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to have a special event or two?”