***
“Wit, can you help me with this?”
“Master, Wit still not forgiven you.”
I looked at Wit, who had turned his back to me.
He seemed quite upset that I hadn’t immediately rejected Lucian’s proposal.
“I told you, Wit. It’s just a trap.”
“Still don’t like it! Even if it’s fake, I don’t want Master tied to Lucian Berto!”
“I don’t like it either. But what can I do? To achieve something big, you have to endure small inconveniences.”
“Master’s right! But, but, eek!”
“Stop being angry and help me cut this.”
Tomorrow there will be a celebration for the Crown Prince’s birthday at the imperial palace.
Count Ferial seemed to be planning to announce Lucian’s and my engagement there to attract business funding.
Well, I had the same idea.
I was currently making business cards with the intention of gathering potential clients.
“Lucian Berto, that man has his uses after all.”
Since receiving Lucian’s proposal, the Count and Countess’s attitude had completely changed.
Those people who had only given me cold shoulders started to be cautious around me, lifted my house arrest, and reduced their interference in my affairs.
With my newfound freedom to go out, I was able to operate the guild again.
I could also secure a new location for it.
Whose money did I use, you ask?
‘What do you want to increase? Allowance for maintaining appearances? Allowance for maintaining appearances?’
‘Should I meet the Marquis looking like this then? What if he’s disappointed and withdraws his proposal?’
‘What nonsense is that! Withdraw the proposal! I’ve already borrowed money from relatives based on that promise!’
‘So. Think of it as an investment for the future and please increase the budget.’
I also wanted to ask for the return of my money and jewels that they had taken.
But since I would get everything back in the end anyway, there was no need to be hasty.
“Master, Wit cut this much!”
Neatly cut rectangular business cards were stacked on the red rug by Wit.
I packed the business cards into a small bag and indulged in pleasant fantasies.
I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.
***
The imperial palace ballroom was the epitome of splendor.
Massive crystal chandeliers.
Statues made of gold.
After being momentarily stunned by the enormous scale, I came to my senses and looked around.
I could easily spot Wit hiding in the trays that the imperial servants were carrying around.
Doing quite well, aren’t you?
While the imperial servants poured wine into the nobles’ glasses, Wit peeked out and slipped business cards into the nobles’ back pockets.
I had simply planned to scatter business cards on the balcony or in the garden, but I was continuously impressed by Wit’s excellent pickpocketing skills.
“Tsk. How pathetic. Do you plan to just stand there like a wooden block even when you’re next to Marquis Berto?”
Turning my head at the sudden voice, I saw the Count and Benjamin looking at me with disapproving eyes.
“When Marquis Berto arrives, you should at least make an effort to approach and speak to him first. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
Benjamin chimed in to support Count Ferial’s words.
“Listen to Father. You need to firmly imprint on everyone here that you are Marquis Berto’s fiancée.”
I looked at them with cold eyes.
“Isn’t that title premature when I haven’t even accepted his proposal yet?”
Count Ferial clicked his tongue in response.
“A little push and pull is good, but be careful not to lose the fish you’ve almost caught.”
The Count continued to nag after that.
How I should behave, what expressions I should make.
Later, when Countess Ferial returned from greeting the noble ladies and joined in, my ears were about to fall off.
Just as I was wondering if someone could chase these people away…
Whoosh-
“Oh my. Where is this wind coming from…?”
A sudden gust of wind blew through the ballroom, though no windows were open.
The Countess hurriedly adjusted her dress and looked up.
“Ha… What a mess. I should go to the restroom… D-dear?!”
The Countess let out a shrill scream upon seeing the Count.
Other nobles turned to look at the Count and Countess.
“……”
“……”
For a very brief moment, silence fell.
“Pfft…”
“My goodness. What is that?”
Count Ferial’s head was shining brightly.
Brighter than the chandelier above.
So bright it was almost blinding.
Confused by the sudden attention, the Count wore a puzzled expression.
To resolve his confusion, I tapped the top of my head.
Feel here.
Count Ferial reluctantly touched his head.
His wig had come off completely, revealing a smooth scalp. Whether he was enjoying the sensation or couldn’t believe the reality, his hand wouldn’t leave his scalp.
“W-why is this. Why is my wig… D-dear?”
The Count, sweating profusely, looked to his wife for help.
However, not only the Countess but also Benjamin were slowly backing away, keeping their distance.
“Kekeke. Keke.”
In the distance, I could see Wit hiding under a tray, laughing innocently.
As expected of my Wit.
Soon, this master will get you a nice wig.
I was secretly laughing as I watched the Count leave the ballroom with his hands covering his head.
“Please be quiet. The Saintess will soon enter!”
The announcement of the Saintess’s entrance caused a brief stir in the hall.
“So we’ll finally see the Saintess’s face.”
Beside me, Benjamin licked his lips with a disgusting expression.
When I looked at him with eyes full of disgust, Benjamin was taken aback.
“Why that look? You must have been curious about the Saintess’s face too.”
“Not really.”
“What do you mean, not really? Even His Highness the Crown Prince personally visited the temple to receive a blessing from the Saintess. How beautiful must she be for him to do that?”
I can’t listen to this anymore.
Shaking my head, I moved to a corner to avoid Benjamin.
Anyway, it’s been about a week since I last saw Cynthia.
That’s about when I fled the temple after Lucian discovered my identity.
I had a lot to talk about when I met Cynthia again.
I was also curious about how Lucian had managed to be found innocent.
And Cynthia would probably be curious about why I had hidden my identity and how I ended up receiving Lucian’s proposal.
“The Saintess is entering!”
As the imperial servant announced, the doors to the ballroom opened.
Soon after, Cynthia, dressed in white Saintess attire, entered the hall, radiating a sacred aura. And then…
“Huh…?”
Adriel?
The knight following behind Cynthia, serving as her escort, was definitely Adriel.
But something seemed different from usual.
As I tilted my head in confusion, I soon understood why.
“Oh my…”
I could hear the nobles around me exclaiming in admiration.
Their gazes were mostly directed at Adriel.
Today, Adriel was properly dressed in the white uniform of the Holy Knights.
Even in shabby attire, he had a naturally radiant noble face. Now that he was also exuding dignity, I suddenly realized what position he held.
The surrounding nobles seemed to feel the same way as me, as they started whispering among themselves.
“How well those two match each other!”
“If we compare them to seasons, Sir Adriel is like winter and the Saintess is like spring, so they complement each other perfectly.”
When Cynthia lightly tapped Adriel’s shoulder and he lowered himself quite affectionately to hear what she had to say, the nobles became even more excited and chatty.
“But even if she’s a clergy member, they’re still a man and a woman. Could there really have been nothing between them?”
“We can’t know. Only the two of them would know their private affairs.”
Suddenly, I wondered.
How long have those two known each other?
Adriel said he entered the temple when he was 10, so probably since then.
Having spent so much time together, they naturally would have many shared memories.
“They do look good together…”
No, wait, what am I thinking…
- lurelia
Known for turning pages faster than I move in real life.