“Marquis Masipacius, I greeted you earlier, do you remember?”

“I can’t tell you how fortunate I am that the business venture with the Marquis is going so well.”

“I heard Bershua achieved good grades at the academy again, congratulations.”

Father began skillfully responding to the people who suddenly flocked around, showing them smiles.

Brother Bershua also, unlike usual, smiled and responded to the young ladies and young men who approached, not ignoring them. 

 After talking with Father and brother for quite a while, people then looked at me and brother Rubert standing beside them.

As more and more people’s gazes focused on us, brother Rubert naturally lowered his gaze to the floor again, and I greeted them with a smile to draw attention away from such a brother. 

 “Hello, I am Rowenloa Masipacius. This is my brother Rubert Masipacius who is also attending a party for the first time with me.” 

 At that, brother Rubert looked at me startled before bowing his head to the nobles watching us. 

 “You brought your other children today. Looking at their excellent appearances, they certainly seem to have Masipacius blood flowing through them.” 

 Hearing those words, I grabbed Father’s sleeve lightly with an embarrassed look.

Seeing me do so, Father then thanked the nobles for their kind words. 

 While Father and we were talking with other nobles for quite some time, the banquet hall doors opened once more and the Posilia ducal family could be seen entering.

The other nobles headed back toward the banquet hall doors to greet the Duke who was asking Father’s understanding.

Father watched them while making a ‘tch-‘ sound before heading in the same direction to greet the Duke again as well. 

 Still, Duke Posilia had shown great consideration for Father.

If the Duke had entered right after Father entered the banquet hall, the other nobles would have headed to greet the Duke before even greeting Father. 

 After quite some time had passed since the Duke entered, there was a sound of glass being struck by something at the front, and people’s attention turned toward the front of the banquet hall. 

 “Thank you all for attending today.” 

 At someone’s voice, people moved toward the front of the banquet hall, where Count Debussy and his wife stood and began speaking. 

 “Though this is a gathering and party with clear purposes, I hope everyone attending today can set aside some burdens and enjoy the food and music.” 

 As the Count finished his brief greeting and clinked glasses with the Countess with a clear sound, the banquet hall filled with applause.

As if announcing the official start of the party, the music changed and people could be seen dancing and eating food, setting aside business talk for a moment. 

 Father also seemed to think it would be difficult to discuss business-related matters in this heated atmosphere, so he merely greeted people to make his presence known. 

 How much time had passed since the party started? People began watching each other’s reactions, trying to bring up the talk that was the purpose of this gathering.

I decided to break the ice for these noble people watching each other. 

 I approached where Duke Posilia and the young duke were with innocent eyes. 

 “Your Grace, I am Rowenloa of the Masipacius marquis family.” 

 The Duke looked down at me upon hearing my words. 

 “I didn’t expect such a young lady I saw at the Marquis’s residence would attend this party with the Marquis. It’s been a while.” 

 Though his tone seemed sharp at first glance, this was just…… the Duke’s personality.

He lacks social skills, this Duke. 

 “I heard Your Grace doesn’t attend these parties often either, so it’s an honor to see you today.”

At my words, the Duke seemed to smile meaninglessly before looking down at me and opening his mouth. 

 “It seems you’re asking if I have a specific reason for coming.” 

 At his words, I tilted my head. 

 “Hmm…… but I think I already know why Your Grace attended this party?” 

 Hearing those words, the Duke and surrounding nobles’ attention focused on me. 

 “I heard the fur industry has been developing actively in the northern part of the Gellions Empire lately.” 

The Duke looked at me with surprised eyes. 

 In my memory, around this time before, I had seen an article about Duke Posilia extending into the fur industry and achieving great success.

Though Father thought the market wouldn’t be that large since the fur industry ultimately targets women, I remember noble couples became desperate to buy fur when Her Majesty the Empress and His Majesty the Emperor started wearing fur gloves of the same design.

Of course, this winter being particularly cold played a part too. 

 “The newspapers say this winter will be especially cold. That cold air will cover the entire Gellions Empire, and…… according to rumors, Her Majesty the Empress ordered lots of fur to be bought from the north……” 

 At those words, the Duke’s eyes began to sparkle. 

 “You came to this party to find partners to participate in the fur industry, right?” 

 When I asked in an innocent voice, the Duke looked at me with subtle eyes before bursting into laughter.

Then he smiled and said to Father who had approached after hearing the commotion. 

 “You’ve raised your daughter to be very clever.” 

 When Father just smiled at the Duke with a puzzled expression, the Duke lowered himself to meet my eyes. 

 “Seeing the Marquis’s reaction, it seems he didn’t teach you this…… I think I’ve found why the Duchess praises you endlessly. As you said, I came here to find business partners.”

Though the Duke was showering me with praise, from his position, a young child being too smart could feel strange. 

 I should say something slightly silly at this timing. 

 “Then wouldn’t it be good to use spatial transfer magic to bring the fur here?” 

 The Duke heard my calculated words and chuckled, and others also looked at me adorably. 

 “Though you’re clever, I see you’re still a child after all. To use spatial transfer magic, one must be able to perfectly solve its formula. However, they say mages who can do that are extremely rare. Even knowing the formula, they can’t understand it. Don’t bring up such hasty words elsewhere.” 

 When I glanced at Father after hearing the Duke’s words, Father already had an expression like he was dying to say that I and brother Rubert had solved that formula.

So I tilted my head again with an expression of knowing nothing. 

 “But brother Rubert and I solved that formula?” 

 The banquet hall instantly fell silent.

As nobles carefully looked at Father after hearing my words, Father proudly nodded and pushed brother Rubert forward. 

 “You solved that formula…… these young children?” 

 Hearing those words, Father seemed displeased and had a passing maid bring paper and pen, and brother Rubert and I began writing down how we solved that formula in our own way.

After we completely solved the formula, people couldn’t contain their surprise saying the Empire had two geniuses, and only brother Bershua watched that situation with great displeasure. 

 Not missing that, I approached him and whispered quietly. 

 “Why? Want me to include you too?” 

 Hearing my words, brother Bershua had a blank expression before understanding the meaning and looked at me nervously raising his head.

Just as he was about to open his mouth—

 “Rowenloa. Come here.” 

 Father’s voice calling me was heard, and brother Bershua could only watch me return to the center of people with a frustrated expression, unable to say anything.

Entering the crowd again, brother Rubert was already answering people’s questions almost mechanically with a very tired expression. 

 Including the days I remember from my previous life, today was probably the day brother Rubert received the most attention in his life.

However, there was no shadow on brother Rubert’s expression as he earnestly explained his achievements among people. 

 Many people dislike receiving attention.

But it’s hard to find people who dislike being acknowledged.

Though he’s someone who doesn’t like explaining things in front of people due to his timid personality, I’m certain he definitely doesn’t dislike this attention being poured on him for the first time. 

 People seemed to shower brother Rubert with questions for quite a while before turning their attention back to me.

As attention began focusing on me, brother Rubert sighed with a tired expression before approaching a nearby chair seeming to catch his breath. 

 Unlike him, I wasn’t afraid of speaking in front of people, and the more people gathered around me, the more Bershua’s face crumpled which I found funny, so I began answering people’s questions more actively.

After talking like that for quite a while, a noble carefully asked me a question. 

 “Um…… there were rumors that Miss Rowenloa recently visited the Imperial Palace, is that true?” 

 At that question, the nobles once again opened their round eyes in surprise and focused their attention on me.

I gave them an embarrassed smile. 

 “Ah…… that…… His Highness the Crown Prince sent an invitation so I did visit once……” 

 The banquet hall began buzzing again.