Soon after, the music began to play.

“My lady.”

Briton gently lifted my hand that he was holding and said to me.

“Would you honor me with a dance?”

Hmm, Lady Alens taught me how to respond in situations like this.

“With pleasure.”

Though we might look like children playing house to the adults, I carefully mimicked the imperial etiquette I had learned so diligently.

The music shifted seamlessly from gentle tones to a light-paced waltz.

One by one, people gathered around us and began to dance.

Only when we were completely surrounded by nobles could I finally feel relieved that we had navigated through the opening successfully.

“Everyone must have thought this.”

Twirling me around, Briton whispered.

“That Lady Alens’s eye for beauty is beyond doubt.”

“Surely not.”

Following his movements as I made a turn, I replied with a small laugh.

“You look truly lovely today, my lady. And like a fairy descended from heaven…”

With the final movement, I was briefly held in Briton’s embrace.

“You look noble.”

To be called noble by Briton, one of the most noble people in Albreon – feeling embarrassed, I emerged from his embrace with a shy smile.

The dance ended successfully, and we moved to the side.

I could see nobles dancing with their partners.

It was exactly like the ordinary balls I had imagined while reading romance fantasy novels.

“Your Highness, it’s an honor… Lady Mylar!”

“Ah, hello, Lady Mylar!”

“I’ve been looking forward to today. Ah, Your Highness, it’s an honor!”

While catching my breath and watching the nobles dancing in the center, a group of young ladies approached me.

They were the girls I had seen at the ‘Rafiole’ gathering hosted by Lady Eileen Anes.

They all held gifts in their hands.

“I’ll give you some space.”

Briton whispered in my ear with an amused, gentle voice before turning to leave.

“This is a Cubit brooch. I chose it especially for Lady Mylar.”

“This is a nail treatment made from Hyrens tree seeds – it works wonderfully.”

“I put in a knitted bag that I thought would suit you.”

The young ladies handed me their gifts with bright faces.

They were birthday presents suited to teenage girls’ preferences.

Pleased by the unexpected gifts, I smiled brightly and expressed my gratitude.

“These are lovely gifts! Thank you all for coming today.”

“Oh, no! I was so happy just to receive an invitation, hehe.”

This girl with dark hands was Schiller from the Viscount Borden family, if I remember correctly.

Actually, most members of ‘Rafiole’ weren’t from families prestigious enough to be invited to palace events.

“That’s right. This is my first time ever visiting the palace… I never imagined I’d have such an opportunity. Thank you for inviting us!”

If I had left the guest list entirely to Adam, none of the group members except Lady Anes would have been invited.

“Well, birthdays are for inviting friends, after all.”

“La-Lady…”

The members’ eyes sparkled with emotion.

It seemed the emotional point was that I had called them ‘friends’.

Of course, I hadn’t invited any of the girls who had laughed at me along with Lariel from our first meeting.

I didn’t want anything to spoil my birthday mood, and for friends my age… these girls were enough.

Now then, time to greet the other guests…

Thump- Thump-

At that moment, everyone’s attention turned to one direction as footsteps shook the floor.

This overwhelming presence… I could tell without looking.

A muscular giant over 2 meters tall, wearing a uniform which seemed about to burst.

The giant iron sword seemed to have been left at the entrance for now, as he looked around before his eyes met mine.

He raised his hand swiftly and let out a metallic “Ho ho ho” laugh.

“Eek!”

“Schiller, Schiller. Get a hold of yourself.”

“S-scary…”

I was the one who made eye contact, so why are you all frightened…

Thump- Thump-

Duke Guermont approached us.

But behind him, two knights were dragging a gleaming large cannon, sparkling as they moved.

The cannon even had a ribbon attached… Wait, what is that bizarre thing?

Eileen said to me with a pale face.

“My lady, I’ll try to buy you some time, please escape.”

“Y-yes. For the lady who invited us to the palace… I’ll gladly be your shield.”

They had faces that looked ready to die.

Among all the ball attendees, Duke Guermont alone had a face and build that seemed to belong in a different art style altogether.

I reassured the young ladies who were feeling extreme fear just from his approach and positioned them behind me.

“M-my lady. Is this how we’ll spend our final moments together…”

Eileen bid farewell with tear-filled eyes.

“Don’t misunderstand. He’s better than you think.”

But since his presence and gaze affected intuition more than words could, the Rafiole members still trembled in fear.

“Th-that can’t be… sob…”

“Waaah-“

The girls covered their eyes and shrank back.

Thump-

Regardless, Duke Guermont stood before me and laughed heartily and boldly.

“Hahaha! Arinel! How delightful to see you! Another birthday has come! True comrades are grateful each year that they’re both still alive!”

Everyone’s tense gaze was fixed on Duke Guermont.

Many people were shrinking back with stiff faces, shivering just from his presence.

“Now then, I have prepared a special gift for you.”

I recalled my birthday parties back in Galnem.

The villagers would all gather for my birthday, and Duke Guermont… or Uncle Famel as he was known then, would keep accidentally blowing out the cake candles with his forceful breathing.

And Uncle Famel always gave me the same kind of gift… I was never able to use any of the gifts he gave me.

“This is a crossbow.”

“…Pardon?”

“A crossbow. A device for piercing the hearts of enemies.”

Starting with the crossbow he gave me at age three, then the trident, and even a sword bigger than my height that looked like the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade from games.

And today, surely not…

Rattle-Click-

The cannon being dragged came to a stop beside Duke Guermont.

The pitch-black barrel gleamed as if brand new.

Two fierce dragons locked in battle were engraved on it in relief.

“Any enemies with swords or bows can be completely annihilated with one shot of this cannon.”

“….”

“Its name is Black Ogre. It’s the culmination of the latest technology, so please use it well, Arinel.”

Ah.

I stared blankly at his gift.

My mind was in turmoil.

A cannon, a cannon! A cannon as a birthday gift!

As if I’d ever have a use for it!

A red ribbon hung limply from the barrel.

“…Yes. Thank you, Duke Guermont.”

But I managed my expression and smiled awkwardly.

Knowing the girls behind me were trembling violently, I wanted to accept it quickly and send him away.

“My goodness.”

However, a familiar voice followed my words.

My face instantly brightened at that voice.

There stood Lady Alens, the Palace Minister admired by all nobles.

She was also the one who had dressed me up like this today.

“What a cumbersome gift. If she uses this heavy cannon, muscles will develop on Arinel’s beautiful hands!”

“…Alens.”

Duke Guermont’s eyebrow twitched.

His eyes showed wariness as if facing a natural enemy.

Tap, ta-ta-tap, tap-

As Lady Alens approached me with elegant steps and faced Duke Guermont, noble ladies sighed “Oh my!” with admiring gazes.

As Lady Alens took a couple more steps forward, Duke Guermont frowned and stepped back.

“Arinel deserves elegant gifts rather than such weapons. Ho ho ho!”

Her thick makeup and eyelashes which seemed sprinkled with gold powder sparkled every time she blinked.

Then she clapped her hands while wearing red gloves.

Her two maids following behind stopped in front of me carrying an incredibly sparkling box.

The golden box seemed to emit light rather than just sparkle, and naturally, all eyes turned to it.

“Oh my…”

“A gift from Lady Alens, my lady, how wonderful!”

The Rafiole girls who had been trembling desperately behind me were now expressing admiration as if nothing had happened.

“Hmph.”

Lady Alens raised her chin proudly and addressed the crowd.

Everyone’s attention was focused on her.

“As I’ve always said, a noble lady with dignified character should never neglect artistic value.”

Nod nod-

Everyone nodded as if enchanted.

“Following Ian Calafi’s ‘Red Hat’ that I introduced to the ladies before, I’m presenting his new work to our beautiful Arinel.”

“Oh my, goodness!”

“Ian Calafi!”

Surprised voices could be heard here and there at Lady Alens’s words.

Ian Calafi, I think I’ve heard of him too. They say he’s the most hip artist not just in Albreon but across the entire continent.

He creates innovative works that no one else could imagine by combining art and fashion.

His works aren’t sold at auction, but only to those he chooses, making them incredibly valuable to collect.

And she’s giving such a work… to me as a gift?

“….”

By this point, I couldn’t help but feel excited.

Though I felt sorry for Duke Guermont, I thought it would at least be more valuable to me than that cannon.

Soon, with everyone watching, the box slowly opened.

And inside was…

“….”

“Oh my! How beautiful!”

“How can such a masterpiece…!”

The ladies covered their mouths in surprise.

They reacted as if beholding an immortal masterpiece.

While everyone exclaimed in shock and praised its beauty, I couldn’t understand.

“….”

These passionate praises, that is.

Because this is, well… you know.

“Arinel, this is a gift for you.”

I stared at the gift with a bewildered look.

“It’s his new masterpiece that combines the sublime thought of light’s beautiful streams spreading across the world when droplets scatter in the bright sky.”

So this is…

Just a rainbow umbrella?

A rainbow umbrella with clear red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet colors, that is.