#29
On the other hand, the large drawing room in the middle of the right corridor on the first floor of the royal palace.
-I, I must have made a mistake… … ?
─It’s fine. No problem.
Yuri, who was receiving consolation greetings from the attendees, left to see the situation and left, and while the royal family including General Embrecht were absent for a while, there were only a few people left in this spacious and dazzling place.
—I’ve heard the news, Lady Benut. It sounds like the company you are running has benefited greatly. Congratulations.
─I was lucky. A gate that had been installed on the trade network malfunctioned in a timely manner. Thanks to this, we were able to revitalize the salt road, which was only used as a tourist destination, as a transportation route.
-Haha, that’s understandable. There must be a limit to the number of manpower that the Merchants Association can support the vendors they belong to… … Oh, are you at peace with Prince Bennut? I haven’t been able to see you for the last time since our last meeting.
-Don’t be at peace. You are very healthy.
Those who knew each other were gathering in one place at some point and chatting in a small voice, but outsiders who had no relationship with them were sitting on the guest sofas and quietly sipping tea.
-What should I do now… … ?
—Wait until Ejio-san and Yuri-san come. Or would you like some of this? Seems like a pretty popular chocolate in the South… … .
For example, Rubia or Stella… … .
“Lady Stella.”
no,
To be precise, Rubia was alone.
“Long time no see. You are invited too.”
Rubia, who carefully smelled the scent of chocolate, was startled. It was because a voice suddenly came from nearby. An aristocratic man who had briefly left the group after asking for forgiveness was talking to Stella.
Tak— Stella, who put down the teacup she had been holding back, smiled and gracefully greeted her from where she was sitting.
“Yes, it’s been a while. Sir Vincent.”
“It is an honor that you remember me.”
“It’s not like we’ve seen each other once or twice. It’s weird not being able to remember. fufu. What’s going on?”
The man called Sir Vincent was a handsome man with a good impression. The smile that is built with the eyes softly curved down is very impressive. Vincent, dressed in a black suit, like everyone else, answered.
“It’s just a greeting. It was just a pleasure to meet you again in a place like this. and… … I also heard the news from Frontier.”
Vincent’s eyes flashed past Stella’s in an instant as he had said those words. Rubia, who had stiffened in the place where the high and high nobles gathered, was there.
“If you are a frontier… … .”
“Yeah, I heard that you were robbed. I’m really glad that you seem innocent on the outside, but… … .”
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Did the rumors spread all over the social world already? In fact, it’s been quite a while since it’s already been said. Anyway, that Vincent knew that would mean that almost everyone in this room was the same. But now, Vincent was the first to speak to Stella.
Stella put her hand on one chest and answered softly.
“Okay, as you can see, there is no problem. I am living so well. Thanks for your concern, Sir Vincent.”
It was worthwhile to have the courage to speak up first. Stella’s unique smile and atmosphere had a formidable destructive power. Stella, who has made the hearts of many noble men numb with her beautiful appearance since ancient times. Vincent coughed in vain with a slightly red face with a rush of emotion.
“Hmm, no… … I am Lady Stella.”
“Yes, tell me.”
Vincent’s face showed a hint of concern for a moment.
“Duke Feltrein… Are you at peace?”
In the end, I quietly asked such a question.
─… … .
In an instant, the airflow in the reception room changed to a strange flow.
They seemed to be having a conversation as everyone else did, but it seemed as if all eyes were somehow starting to turn towards this place.
“… … .”
At the same time, Rubia’s shoulders stiffened with tension. The chocolate was peeled off the wrapping paper and held in its mouth like a squirrel. I don’t know why, but the atmosphere is not serious. I felt it all over my body.
About three seconds had passed.
“sure.”
Stella smiled the same as before.
“You are much better than before. of course… … I’m currently attending Frontier, so we don’t see each other very often. It seems that Yeongji temples are also held occasionally. Perhaps you will be able to shine your face at the upcoming Grand Council. Of course, it is not certain.”
“Ahh… … . okay. I was a little worried that I might have asked a stupid question, but I’m really glad… … .”
With that said, Vincent showed a little surprise. The eyes of those around them who were overhearing their conversations also had a different look.
What Stella just said could be invaluable information. As you know, in an aristocratic society, quick occupancy of information is very important… … .
“It’s a silly question, not at all. How is Sir Vincent these days?”
“What do you mean? This time I… … .”
Vincent and Stella exchanged a few more words with him. Their discourse ended in a friendly way without any bloody dark battles unfolding beneath the water.
Tub- Tub-
Perhaps stimulated and encouraged by such an atmosphere, a group of aristocratic men slowly walked towards Stella and Rubia.
“Lady Stella. Nice to meet you. My name is… … .”
“I saw you once at an exhibition in the capital a year ago, but I want to tell you in case you don’t remember… … .”
“Are you the famous “Star Lady”? Nice to meet you I… … .”
In fact, everyone in the reception room knew Stella. there is no way to know Such was the position of the imperial duke’s family. Although it was the Feltrain family, which was considered the most inferior among the five dukes, she was the daughter of an aristocratic family that even the king of another country could not ignore.
Above all, her beautiful appearance also played a part in being nicknamed “Star Lady” in social circles.
“… … yum.”
Stella, who suddenly had to deal with several people, was chatting in the corner of the reception room, and Rubia, who was left alone, was biting a piece of chocolate.
It wasn’t that I was depressed because someone didn’t talk to me at all, and it was obvious that it would be very uncomfortable if it really did. Because this position did not fit with my spiritual constitution. I was just biting chocolate and waiting for Yuri and Ezio… … .
at that time.
“Lady.”
“… … !”
Rubia shrugged her shoulders. When I looked up in the direction the sound was coming from, there was Vincent smiling softly.
“Kellogg, Kellogg. Yes Yes?”
“Oh, are you surprised? sorry.”
“No, no. All right, Kellogg. Oh… … . Whoa, what are you doing?”
The chocolate went over in pieces. Rubia, who was coughing with her mouth covered, wiped her tears and ran her hand over her eyes.
“Haha, you don’t have to be so nervous. Lady. It’s okay if you treat me comfortably. I just wanted to talk to Lady.”
Perhaps it was because he was not used to dealing with others, his actions and gestures were clumsy and cute. Vincent suddenly felt a warmth in his heart. At the same time— my heart, which had been pulsating since the first time I saw her, seemed to tickle a little bit more.
“Ahh. okay. Well. That’s–”
“My name is Vincent Derwein. He is a member of the Imperial Knights of Belion, and he runs a small estate called Psar. When you call me, you can call me Sir Vincent.”
“Ahh. Yes. Sir Vincent… … .”
“Excuse me, but what is your name?”
“yes? Ah, I… … .”
Vincent already knew her name. But I waited quietly for an answer. Rubia, who looked at Stella for a moment, wondering what to do, finally opened her mouth carefully and answered.
“I say Rubia.”
“Rubia… … .”
Vincent smiled brightly.
“A beautiful name like a lady. really.”
“oh… … .”
It’s a direct compliment. Rubia let out a low voice. I thought that if it was revealed that he was a commoner without a surname, an awkward reaction would come back, but Vincent showed no such sign on the surface.
It probably didn’t really make any sense at all. First of all, Vincent was a commoner in the past, and now he was just a small noble like a baron who was ordained a knight.
In other words, rather than a high and high status like Stella, Rubia, a commoner, felt much more affectionate and comfortable… … .
Vincent rubbed his chin and smiled.
“Rubia, Rubia… … It has such a good tone that you will want to keep singing it no matter how many times you call it. It is not enough that Lady’s parents gave her such a wonderful name, they even gave down another beautiful person like Lady to the world. You shouldn’t be happy on a day like today, but… … Meeting the Lady is something I will never forget for a long time.”
“Ah, ah. ahaha… Thank you for your words, but Gee, if you keep doing that, it’s a bit burdensome… … .”
“Oh, did you? Because I’m not good at lying. I’m so sorry, Lady Rubia. You have made a mistake.”
“Oh, no. I’m not sorry… … .”
It was very burdensome to hold each other and bow my head. That said, the reason why he refused to talk is because he didn’t seem like a bad person. It seems that he was acquainted with Stella as well. Rubia was somehow dealing with Vincent moderately, judging that there was no bad person among the people Stella, a good and friendly friend, knew.
“Does Lady also go to Frontier?”
“yes that’s right. Stella and Yuri… No, Princess? you and friend… … Yes.”
“Friend… It was also like that. Then you must be in the same epic class as Lady Stella.”
“That too… Yes, yes.”
At Rubia’s affirmation, Vincent was purely admiring.
“That’s great. A knight like me is a place where even those who have practiced for the rest of their lives will not be able to step on the threshold. It must be a place that only the most talented people can enter… … .”
It’s not like that here, and it’s really something to say that you’re normal. Rubia was shy and just smiled clumsily as usual.
“I think Rain and Lord Vincent are great people. It’s a knight, isn’t it? It’s a title given only to strong people. Besides, you said that you run the land. You’re far more amazing than someone like me who hasn’t accomplished anything yet.”
“Haha, that’s a lot of praise. But it feels really good to hear compliments from Lady. It seems that Lady’s voice has a strange power to make the listener happy. … Do you know what a water species is? It is a legendary bird, and it is said that if you hear its chirping, the day is full of good things. I’ve never heard a waterfowl, but I have a feeling it’s very similar to Lady’s voice. Thanks to Lady, I feel like my day will be full of good things.”
“Ah, ah. ahaha… … . So, go… … .”
He sure seems like a good person, but
I don’t think it’s too much… … .
“Lady.”
“yes?”
Then, Vincent said seriously.
“It’s a relationship that we met like this, but if I get a chance, I want to share friendship with Lady sometimes. What do you think, Lady?”
“Yes Yes… … ?”
Rubia blinked. What does this mean?
“You don’t have to worry about it. Like Lady Stella, I also want to be Lady’s friend. If that happens, I think it would be a real honor for me. Although there is a slight difference in age… … What does age have to do with friendship? haha.”
Vincent laughed softly.
“Chi, friend… … uh… … .”
“Isn’t it too?”
On the other hand, Rubia looks troubled.
“Uh, that’s… … I’m still a student. I can’t go out well outside the frontier… … We probably won’t be able to see each other often… … .”
“Oh, I don’t want formal socializing. The idea is to build friendships gradually by using a chance relationship as a stepping stone. I am satisfied enough just to get to know Lady this way today, but I am saying this in hopes that we will have a more pleasant relationship when we see each other again.”
Vincent said softly, as if not to burden him. Pure kindness in the impression of good and virtuous. In such a case, how can I cut it off and say no firmly? Rubia’s personality had no jaw.
“And later, when you can afford it.”
Vincent’s words continued.
“I can’t provide you with a lot of entertainment due to circumstances, but if you need a place to rest comfortably, please visit my estate. We will do our best to provide a space for Lady to rest.”
Rubia didn’t know how to rest comfortably in a place where a stranger was living, but she smiled hard, thanking her for the kindness.
finally.
“I am very grateful. But… … .”
The moment I tried to put into words the ‘rejection of pure favor’, which I would never have been able to do if I had been a regular Rubia.
tak-
“Wow!”
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Did I move my hands wrong? Rubia’s hand, which was trying to grab the teacup handle, slipped momentarily. The teacup on the table tilted to the side.
About half of the car left. It has cooled down moderately, but a slight warmth remains. The contents of the teacup spilled over. Tea dripped down the table.
It didn’t end there, and as the teacup lying on the edge of the table tipped over, the teacup that had been rolled around a couple of turns fell as if it had fallen off a cliff.
percussion-
Rubia was the first to respond, followed by Vincent reaching out his hand. A teacup, which had fallen from the air, landed in the palm of someone’s hand.
“Ahh. this… … .”
It was Rubia’s hand.
“Be careful, Lady.”
As a result, it was Vincent’s large hand that grabbed Rubia’s hand instead of the teacup.
─What’s going on?
-I think I overturned the car.
At that moment, Rubia, who had been caught by Vincent, who had suddenly bent her back, was taken aback by the brief commotion.
Knock, Knock-
rattle-
after knock,
The door to the reception room opened.
“His Majesty the King says it is ready. Now we can move on to the banquet hall, folks… … ?”
What appeared through the door was King Sigrid and the chief of staff, and for some reason Yuri and Ezio Kranil with a restless face.
The king standing far away opens his mouth after a while.
“… … What was the fuss?”
“No, King. I overturned the car for a while. sorry. I will clean it up soon.”
Vincent shrugged. It had been a long time since the hand she had been holding on to, and she tried to cover up Rubia’s small mistake and take the handkerchief out of her arms.
“… … uh.”
However, Rubia had already evaporated the water by magic. The wet part of the cloth on the table was also dried completely. It was a very fast and detailed job. This time Vincent was bewildered, and the king shook his head and said.
“I don’t think it’s necessary.”
The king went back to the reception room after leaving a word that he had to tidy up and follow him. The valet also led everyone in the reception room to the banquet hall. So Rubia and Stella also headed out.
“Let’s go, Rubia.”
“Yes… … . Wait a minute.”
“Mr. Rubia?”
Stella, who had barely been released and sighed, called for Rubia, but at some point Rubia was walking with a gun to somewhere, leaving Stella and Vincent behind.
Tuk, tuk-
“I, there.”
“… … ?”
Naturally, he didn’t run in the hallway, he moved quickly and crawled to the side of his opponent. Rubia carefully spoke to Ezio, who was walking, checking the fit of her tie.
“Oh, right. it’s okay? Did you not burn your hand?”
“Uh, huh? No, I didn’t… … .”
Ezio asked Rubia in a very casual tone. But Rubia could just tell by those words. When Vincent’s defense didn’t work, it meant that Ezio had witnessed the entire scene at the moment the door was opened.
“okay? Then I’m glad Be careful going forward.”
“yes. … … No, there. not that.”
“… … yes?”
Ezio tilts his head. If the whispers lasted too long, they wouldn’t look very good.
Rubia, who was biting her lips, finally spoke.
“that is… … Nope. Not really.”
“… … ?”
What does this mean?
Ezio’s side gave him a glance that he didn’t understand at all, but Rubia only denies it.
“… … Anyway, no. nothing happened Really.”
“… … ??”
Again, Ezio expressed his doubts. Did you really not follow the context of the conversation, or did you know and pretend you didn’t know, or maybe it was because you knew but it didn’t matter to you… … .
“Ji, it’s true… … .”
Rubia, who was observing Ezio’s reaction, also didn’t know anything, so she was anxiously fiddling with the back of her hand, which had only a strange repulsion.
─… … .
Vincent quietly watched Rubia and Ezio’s side by side, from afar, caressing their chins, with low, sunken eyes.
#30
“We have to go back soon, guys.”
After dinner time with the attendees was over.
“There is a transit gate, but there is also time to go back… … If it is later, I may have to spend the night here.”
Looking at the sky outside the window, which had become dark, Rubia said so as if she was muttering on the corridor that was going back to the reception room.
“We don’t have much time to be outside. You just came out of the frontier with permission.”
“Yeah, huh… So you have to say it as soon as possible.”
Those who will be the last to have a meeting with the King have already left. Because the dragon was no longer there. Rubia, Stella, and Ezio had to do the same. But they did not leave easily. Because there are still dragons left.
“What about glass?”
“You will probably be with your parents. Because you said we were talking for a while. … … Come to think of it, what did you talk about with your Majesty King Ezio?”
It was Rubia’s question. Ezio was contemplating what kind of answer he should give, and he opened his mouth as he mumbled.
“If I had to pick one, I would say glass.”
“… … Glass?”
Ezio shook his head.
“yes. He looked at me and asked what he thought of Yuri.”
“… … uh, huh?”
It was a question that intrigued us in many ways from the point of view of Rubia and Stella. As they listened intently, Ezio shrugged as if nothing special.
“You said you were my dear friend. A friend like that seems to be having a hard time right now, so I think we should stay by our side, so please reconsider sending Yuri back to the Frontiers just once. I didn’t say that directly, but I think you understood the intent of my words well. I even said it back on purpose.”
The initial purpose they set in advance was to understand Yuri’s current situation and comfort her, but in the end, Yuri, who was worried about returning to the Frontier, was to persuade her parents, not persuade her to return to the Frontier.
dear friend It’s a sensible, but vague answer. Rubia asked again with a slightly nervous expression.
“… … that, huh? So what happened?”
“I didn’t get an answer. Yuri appeared in the middle.”
Was it after the time I went out to see the situation? If so, that was very sad. It is also possible that the conversation with Ezio had an effect on the King’s separate summoning of Yuri after the banquet.
… … What do you do if you just nail a nail that says it can’t be done? Rubia was restless and dazed by the uncertain future.
“Did you guys talk to Yuri?”
“Ah, yes.”
Ezio is talking to King Sigrid, Stella and Rubia have a short conversation with Yuri after a long time.
“How are you?”
“that is… … .”
The answer this time was Stella.
“It was as we expected. It seems that Yuri will stay here until the funeral of the deceased is over, but it seems that the King and Queen have been opposed to it. There must have been some kind of conflict because of that.”
“Also, but… … .”
It is said that she sent her beloved daughter to a distant land, where she nearly lost her life due to negligence in safety. Not only did trust fall drastically, but it was clear that he would not want to send him there again, fearing that what had happened once would never happen again.
It is said that his love for his one and only daughter has reached the level of obsession… … It’s worth not seeing. would have been a big fight.
thump-
Ezio suddenly said as he walked through the corridors.
“I saw the courtyard for a moment while I was talking with the King.”
speak in succession.
“It was like a dead garden. The vegetation is definitely fresh, but I couldn’t feel the warmth of life at all… … .”
By the way, the closed atmosphere I had felt implicitly from the time I first entered the castle was still floating in the air without being erased.
“Many of the windows were blocked. It is not closed.”
Overall, the space of the royal palace is very large, but for some reason it felt as if all sides were closed. Why? I don’t know why.
The nuance—the atmosphere was like that. It was by no means the kind that could be easily explained in words… … .
“The central garden at the entrance to the castle looked like it had just been planted and cared for. Naturally, the purity of the magical power rooted in the ground was also low… … There seems to be a magic trick installed somewhere to suppress magic. It’s a royal palace, so it’s not a strange move at all. It seems that the effect is faint right now… … .”
“Uh, Stella, you knew that too… … ?”
“Fufu, all right.”
Ezio couldn’t figure it out until then. It was like Rubia and Stella, who were really good at magic. In any case, the magic of suppressing magic did not seem to be fully functioning. There was a precedent for Rubia’s smooth use of magic in the reception room the other day.
“… … .”
They walked silently for a while. There was no attendant to lead the guests before them. They were the only ones in the long, quiet corridor. However, since they had no ears at all, they could no longer express negative opinions.
“Yuri, you were beautiful.”
So, Rubia mumbled those words.
Stella quietly opened her mouth.
“Iknow, right. I’ve seen Yuri many times with her hair loose, but now she looks like a princess the most.”
I’ve never seen Ezio. Of course. Most of Yuri’s voluntarily loosening her hair was done inside the dormitory.
“Yes, Princess… … . I felt like I was the daughter of a really high man. Stella, so are you. Everyone must have been like people from a different world, haha.”
“Why are you doing this, Rubia? We are friends no matter what. It’s a relationship that the King has also recognized. Identity has nothing to do with it.”
“It’s not like that… … Ugh, I think it’s a long way off. Why am I so clumsy? … .”
Rubia drooping her shoulders.
To Rubia like that, Stella said that she suddenly remembered it.
“Oh. Rubia.”
“… … yes?”
Rubia tilts her head and turns to the side.
“I heard you had a long conversation with Sir Vincent. What did you two talk about?”
“… … !”
Startled, he hurriedly waved his hand.
“Bye, we haven’t talked for a long time! I didn’t say anything! That’s just… It’s all over with just a name. really that’s all yes!”
“I asked a question, but why are you talking to Ezio?”
Also, no one knows why.
“Ahh, ahhh… … Stella, you talked more than me. You seem to have known each other, have you ever met that person before?”
“Me? I just… … .”
This time, Rubia turned the topic by denying something.
at that time.
“Guys.”
At some point, Ezio’s low voice, who had been looking out the window, penetrated their ears.
“uh?”
“yes?”
Ezio, who looked down at the panoramic view through the window, quickly finished his judgment and spoke again with a somewhat stiff face.
“I’m going out for a while.”
Rubia asked with an innocent look on her face.
“… … ? Where?”
“You go to the drawing room first. I will come soon.”
Then Ezio turned around and started running.
Tick, tick, tick—
“… … uh huh? Ezio? Ezio!”
“Uh, where are you going! Mr. Ezio!”
The sound of grabbing him could be heard from behind, but Ezio did not stop, but rather accelerated and started running down the corridor.
I found it because I looked out the window. Someone in a dress sneaking out of the castle from a corner.
… … Someone who seemed to be crying.