Chapter 54: According to the Forecast Dallim
Cordelia, slightly excited, almost skipped over to Leonard. As she approached, Leonard quickly reached out and took her hand.
“Careful. You’re going to trip like that.”
“More importantly, Master, how do I look?”
Holding the hem of her dress in both hands, she twirled once in front of him. Leonard gave her a serious look and examined her from head to toe.
“I should reward the maids. They’ve practically created a new version of my disciple.”
“Created… I can’t even deny that. I was shocked myself when I looked in the mirror.”
She had expected him to dismiss it with a snide comment about wasting time, but this—this was high praise from Leonard.
Cordelia smiled like a girl.
Leonard naturally opened his arm so she could take it. Cordelia quickly accepted his escort.
“Who will be at the Saracen banquet today?”
“Who knows? But I’m sure anyone who received an invitation will be there. The head of House Atillay, presumed dead, has returned. What better spectacle could there be?”
He spoke indifferently, as if he were talking about someone else.
The Saracen townhouse wasn’t far from Atillay’s. It had only been about twenty minutes since they boarded the carriage, and it had already come to a stop.
Cordelia let out a deep breath.
They hadn’t even gotten out yet, but the tension was already creeping in. Sensing her nerves, Leonard spoke in a low, calm voice.
“You are my disciple. Remember that. Just that fact alone is enough that no one here can look down on or dismiss you.”
“Yes.”
The carriage door opened, and this time Leonard took her hand to help her down.
They had barely taken a few steps before whispers and gazes started to converge on them from all directions.
“My word, the rumors were true?”
“I can’t believe Atillay really came back.”
“But who’s the woman with him? Did he have a cousin or something?”
“Don’t tell me he brought a fiancée?”
“No way. Isn’t there still Lydia Elfenbaum?”
Of course, Cordelia, tense as she was, couldn’t hear any of it. She simply leaned on Leonard and walked forward slowly.
They passed through the front gates and reached the entrance of the banquet hall. Leonard handed over their invitation. The attendant, upon confirming it, announced in a booming voice:
“Presenting Margrave Leonard Atillay and Countess Cordelia Abrams!”
Every gaze in the room snapped to them.
Cordelia took a deep breath and stepped into the hall, one foot at a time.
The Saracen townhouse, perhaps enhanced for the occasion, was the most extravagant place she’d ever seen.
The pillars and ceiling shimmered with so much gold it nearly hurt her eyes.
Cordelia couldn’t tear her eyes away. Simply being invited to a banquet attended only by the most prominent members of society was like a dream come true.
The first to greet them was the hostess herself, Diana Saracen.
“I’m so glad you could attend, Countess Abrams. And Leonard.”
“Thank you for the invitation. This is the most beautiful ball I’ve ever seen.”
“Haha. I’m glad to hear it. Leonard, you too—forget your worries for tonight and just enjoy yourself.”
“Right. With this much gold slathered everywhere, I doubt anyone could focus on complicated thoughts anyway.”
“That’s my little gift to you.”
Diana didn’t even flinch at Leonard’s sarcasm. Cordelia quietly admired the woman’s poise.
“Oh, and Countess Abrams—I’ve invited a guest I think you’ll be pleased to see.”
“A guest I’ll be pleased to see?”
“Yes.”
Cordelia could count the number of people she knew in the capital on one hand. Who could this be?
Was it someone from her hometown? The uncertainty made her uneasy.
She was just about to ask when Diana excused herself to greet other guests.
As soon as Diana disappeared, others started approaching Cordelia and Leonard.
“Margrave Atillay! What a relief it is to see you well. Have you been in good health?”
“Viscount Ritor.”
A stout middle-aged man with a half-bald head greeted them with great enthusiasm. Leonard looked visibly annoyed, but he didn’t avoid him.
“When the news came that you’d died, I never believed it—not for a second. I always knew you’d return in good health!”
“Right. How very kind of you.”
After blabbering through exaggerated tears, Viscount Ritor’s curious gaze turned to Cordelia.
“If it’s not too impolite, may I ask who the lady beside you is?”
“Ah, this is—”
Leonard, bored up until now, put on an exaggerated expression and placed a hand on Cordelia’s shoulder.
Those around them, pretending not to look while clearly watching, reacted immediately. The gossiping grew louder.
“My disciple.”
“…Excuse me?”
“My first disciple. Go on, Cordelia. This is Viscount Bex Ritor.”
“An honor to meet you, Viscount Ritor. I’m Cordelia Abrams.”
“My goodness! The Margrave has taken a disciple?”
He spoke so loudly that everyone within ten steps was now staring at her.
Cordelia was used to hearing this kind of reaction since arriving in the capital, but it was always the same. She imagined that if Leonard had said she was his fiancée, people might have been less shocked.
“Margrave Atillay, taking a disciple?”
Now under intense scrutiny, Cordelia stiffened and straightened her posture.
“Astonishing. From what I recall, the Margrave had no intention of taking on a disciple.”
“Yes. That was before I met Cordelia.”
She had expected him to insult her in front of others, saying things like her head was made of stone or she couldn’t memorize a spell to save her life. But, perhaps because they were in public, Leonard let her keep her pride.
“I thought most mages only took on young disciples. For someone to become a disciple at her age… she must be incredibly gifted.”
“Well.”
Leonard neither confirmed nor denied it, which only further intrigued the crowd.
One by one, people began approaching, following Viscount Ritor’s lead.
“A pleasure to meet you, Countess Abrams. I am—”
“I’m hosting a ball at my estate next week. Would you be able to attend?”
“So, will you be succeeding the Margrave as the next court mage?”
Cordelia, stiff as a board, greeted each of them in turn. She could remember the faces and names of the first few, but after a while, they all blurred together.
Eventually, so many people crowded around her that she was nearly walled in. Leonard seemed used to it, but Cordelia, overwhelmed by this attention at her first ball, found it extremely burdensome.
“M-Master…”
“What?”
“There’s… too many… people…”
She barely got the words out, but he seemed to understand immediately.
Leonard smoothly escorted her out of the crowd, offering an appropriate excuse.
“Phew… haah…”
“Why are you so tense?”
“There are too many people.”
“What’s with that bumpkin talk?”
“Maybe I’m just a country girl at heart. It’s hard to breathe with all these people.”
Her heart had been pounding so hard it felt like it would break her ribs. She had thought she’d only need to greet a few people, but being surrounded by strangers who kept talking to her had honestly been a little scary.
Just then, a man and woman entered from across the room. They practically glowed—clearly the Elfenbaum siblings.
“Cordelia!”
Lydia approached with a bright smile. Cordelia had thought she looked quite pretty before the banquet, but seeing the extravagantly dressed Lydia made her immediately humble.
“You look beautiful. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Thank you, Lydia.”
“I saw the crowd gathered around you earlier. Cordelia, I think you were more popular than Leo.”
“So what? She’s trembling like a leaf because of all the people.”
“When was I trembling?”
Her legs had been shaking moments ago, but Cordelia pretended otherwise. Leonard smirked.
Then, the orchestra began playing a dance tune. Leonard handed his champagne glass to a servant and asked:
“Did you practice your dancing?”
“Dancing? I mean… uh…”
Cordelia stammered, unable to answer. She had only just learned court etiquette—there was no way she was good at dancing.
As she fumbled in panic, Leonard raised his chin arrogantly and said,
“As expected. You’re hopeless. I guess I’ll just…”
“Leo.”
Lydia cut him off, smiling like a blooming flower.
“It’s been a while. Shall we dance?”
“…All right.”
To refuse a lady’s invitation was considered rude. Leonard briefly glanced at Cordelia before taking Lydia’s hand.
The two of them stepped into the center of the hall. Rosenbluh looked sideways at Cordelia.
“Are you okay?”
“Sorry? About what?”
“I just wondered if you were expecting to dance with Leo.”
“Oh, I don’t really know this piece. If I’d gone out there, I’d probably just stomp all over Master’s feet.”
Cordelia said it nonchalantly. Her expression showed no other emotion, so Rosenbluh only moved his lips slightly.
“Then… which piece would you feel comfortable with?”
“M-Minuet?”
Cordelia scratched the bridge of her nose in embarrassment. The minuet was the most basic of dances, so it was rarely performed anymore.
“Then let’s make that the next one.”
“Pardon?”
Instead of replying, Rosenbluh summoned a servant and said simply, “The next piece, make it a minuet.”
Cordelia blinked in disbelief, mouth slightly open.
“Wait… you can just choose the music like that?”
“No. I abused my authority to change it. It’s the only way I’ll get to dance with you.”
Kyaaa! Rosenblur surprised me with that move. Wow!