CHAPTER 50…………………..
As the doors to the banquet hall opened, the dazzling light nearly blinded me. I narrowed my eyes and followed behind Raykis.
“Oh my, Lord Lunaris’s younger siblings are here.”
“Isn’t this the first time we’re seeing Lord Raykis and Lord Ivenis since the last Founding Festival?”
“Well, they are very busy people. I heard Lord Raykis has been carrying out his duties as Captain of the Guard splendidly.”
“And there is young Lord Lucanas too, who handled today’s first emergency ceremony so calmly. Such composure for someone so young.”
With every step I took, countless gazes and whispers poured over us. Even though the attention wasn’t directed at me, my steps felt unbearably heavy.
“Lady Leti, you are still as graceful as ever. Truly a model for all maids, as they say.”
I glanced at Leti walking ahead, her back straight, eyes fixed forward. She seemed perfectly accustomed to such situations.
“But… who is that young lady? She looks rather young, doesn’t she?”
Damn it. That’s me. They’re talking about me.
I kept my eyes straight ahead as if I hadn’t heard, but every nerve in my body strained toward the voices.
“She’s the young lady of House Feahil.”
“House Feahil? I’ve never heard of them.”
“Heavens, Lady Virt. How could you not know her? She’s the one from a humble family who unprecedentedly joined the Administration Department.”
“Ah… was she the one who entered with Sir Croyt’s recommendation letter?”
“My nephew in the Finance Department says Director Nilsson favors her immensely.”
What is this? I’m not some monkey in a zoo. Talking about me so openly when I’m right here? Do they really think hiding their mouths behind a fan makes them inaudible?
It wasn’t outright insults, but still, it was far from pleasant.
“…Young Lady… Lady Linnegrim?”
“Eh? Yes?”
So focused on the chatter from the crowd, I didn’t notice Leti speaking to me until she gently lifted my hem to stop me.
“We’re going to greet His Majesty the Emperor… are you ready?”
“Yes! Of course! I’m fine!”
Not fine at all, but what choice did I have? If the blow couldn’t be avoided, better to take it quickly. There was no putting off greeting the Emperor. As just a minor noble, I could just stand behind the Divine Beasts and bow lightly—
“Oh. The young lady of House Feahil has arrived.”
“I greet Your Majesty….”
Damn it. Why pay me any attention?! Just treat me like a fly buzzing past!
Internally screaming, I bowed politely, only to see the Emperor’s lips trembling with suppressed laughter.
“Pfft. I see. Are you well?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, I am well.”
And now he had to bring up memories I’d rather forget. Truly, how thoughtful of him.
I wished only for this moment to pass quickly, but the Emperor’s gaze clung to me, relentless. The more curiosity he showed, the colder the Empress’s face grew beside him, like a winter frost.
Breaking into a sweat under the stark contrast, I suddenly heard Hina’s cheerful voice from my side.
“Why are you staring like that? Uncle, you think our Linne is pretty too, right?”
Ahhh! Hina! Stop it!!
“Yes. Hinasis, I nearly didn’t recognize her.”
“Hmph. That’s my discerning eye. I brought out Linne’s cuteness to the fullest.”
I wanted to shut Eve’s mouth with my own hands. I’d managed to rein in Kinia, only for surprise troublemakers to pop up elsewhere.
“Just as I heard—truly well loved.”
The Emperor stroked his smooth jaw, his shining eyes still fixed on me.
“Yes… excessively so,” I mumbled.
He smiled kindly and gave Ivenis’s shoulder a firm pat.
“Since it’s a rare banquet, I hope you enjoy it fully. Ah, Lady Feahil, Helion is over there.”
“Pardon?”
What does Helion’s whereabouts have to do with me?! And why the wink?! My single goal tonight was to avoid him at all costs.
Still, I was grateful for the information. If I avoided that direction, I wouldn’t run into him. I bowed respectfully.
“Then I shall take my leave. Enjoy the first night of the Founding Festival.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I wish you a pleasant evening.”
“I wish you a pleasant evening.”
I echoed Leti’s formal farewell before stepping away.
“Then we’ll go greet my brother now.”
“Oh, then we’ll go with—”
“No need. With those uncomfortable shoes, it’ll be hard for you to walk far. Just sit and rest. My brother will understand.”
“But still…”
Raykis, stopping both me and Leti from following, plucked two glasses of champagne from a passing servant’s tray and handed one to each of us.
“Wait here with this.”
“I’m still underage…”
“We’ll be back.”
And so Leti and I were left alone. Even after only a few steps, the heels I’d crammed my feet into were already aching.
“…It’s not like I can kick these shoes off in the banquet hall.”
“Lady Linnegrim. On the balcony, it should be fine for a while.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful!”
The moment we stepped onto the balcony, I slipped off my shoes. The chill of the floor made me shiver.
“Ahhh. Lady Leti, my heart is racing so fast. Did you see the Empress’s face when she looked at me? She was like the dead of winter!”
While I trembled, recalling the Empress’s icy expression, Leti only smiled serenely.
“Why is His Majesty doing this, I wonder… I really don’t want this kind of attention. I don’t want Her Majesty’s hatred either….”
“I think His Majesty is fond of you. Naturally so—thanks to you, the crisis in the palace was averted.”
“I don’t think that’s it. Honestly, I think His Majesty just sees me as a jester….”
A clown to make him laugh. After all, I had unwittingly given him great amusement, so of course his curiosity was piqued.
But Leti’s expression turned thoughtful, as if pondering something deeply.
“Hm. From what I see, perhaps…”
“Yes?”
“Nothing at all! But Lady Linnegrim, since you’re so beautifully dressed, isn’t it a shame to stay only on the balcony?”
“I don’t mind. I won’t dance anyway, and I don’t know anyone here—it’d just be awkward. Better to enjoy the music and the breeze out here than stand stiffly by a wall inside.”
“Well then… Lady Linnegrim, would you mind if I went to dance for a moment? My fiancé just arrived.”
“Your fiancé?”
I hadn’t known Leti was engaged. Of course, for a noblewoman of age, it was only natural.
“Please, go!”
“I feel guilty leaving you alone…”
“It’s fine! This is the third floor—no one can sneak in. And with so many people below, who would dare bother me? Go ahead, Lady Leti!”
I gave her a little push, and she stepped out. Her well-dressed fiancé kissed her hand, and as the music changed, the two joined hands and began to dance.
“Beautiful…”
Leaning on the balcony, I gazed down blankly. Not just Leti and her fiancé—everyone beneath the chandeliers, swirling in their fine clothes to the music, looked beautiful.
“Maybe I should’ve learned to dance….”
Perhaps after this festival, I should. Leti would make a good teacher, though I could never be as graceful as her.
Just as I was watching Leti’s smooth movements—
“Ha. As if throwing herself at the Divine Beasts wasn’t enough, now she’s desperate to win the Emperor’s favor.”
“Exactly. It’s laughable.”
“Truly pathetic.”
Voices drifted from the young ladies gathered by the balcony window. To be precise, gossip.
They were having a grand time tearing someone apart.
‘Wow. So this is high society. Three people together, and the backbiting begins.’
I had no desire to eavesdrop on unpleasantness, so I thought to leave. But then—
“Did you hear about the one who took a big tumble on the platform in the square earlier?”
“Oh, I heard. All just to grab attention.”
“I heard too. Isn’t that platform reserved for royals and the Divine Beasts’ kin? To climb up there so recklessly—no manners at all.”
I was about to step out when I froze and shrank back into the shadows.
The target of their venomous gossip was all too familiar.
“I heard House Feahil was declining, but to think she never even learned such basics.”
They were talking about me. My body went cold as I realized I was overhearing a live session of slander against myself. Unaware I was there, they continued.
“I hear she hasn’t been in the Administration Department long, but already tries to control it however she pleases.”
“They say she even speaks rudely to Director Nilsson!”
What? When did I ever?!
“Did you hear she dares to call the Divine Beasts by name? Outrageous.”
They told me to!
“I saw her earlier in front of the main palace—she begged Sir Croyt to carry her down from the carriage!”
“Heavens! How shameless!”
At this point, I was more indignant than embarrassed. They spoke as if I were some notorious temptress, their contempt thick in every word. To be judged so harshly by strangers who knew nothing of me—it made my blood boil.
But what truly infuriated me was—
“She must have schemed to get her post in the Administration Department.”
“But House Feahil has no real ability. How could she have managed it?”
“Well, she is quite pretty. Even that stone-faced Sir Croyt is still a man, after all.”
“But hasn’t she resolved quite a few incidents already?”
“Ha! That was just the Divine Beasts covering for her. Favoring a human like that—is that any way for a Divine Beast to behave?”
That was it. They weren’t only insulting me—they were slandering Edan and the Divine Beasts as well.
The moment I heard that, I stepped out of the shadows without hesitation. I would demand an apology, even if it meant being called uncouth.
But just as I set foot out onto the balcony, a splash hit my cheek.
“Kyaaah!!”
It wasn’t water. It was wine.
I looked up, and there was Seran, holding an overturned glass.
