Is this how it feels to hand over a duel challenge face to face?

I swallowed hard, extremely nervous.

“To Severes… you say…?”

Duke Perdia muttered ominously while looking at the Severes party invitation.

Even though he didn’t add anything else, I felt like I heard him say ‘Me?’ as if it were an auditory hallucination.

The previously somewhat cheerful dinner at Perdia’s suddenly turned into a bed of thorns because of my invitation.

I quickly waved my hands and added:

“O-of course, if it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to come!”

Judging by the reactions of not only the Duke but also Carlot, it was clear that giving the invitation was my mistake.

Perdia attending a Severes party. Unthinkable, haha.

I reached out to quietly take back the invitation, but Duke Perdia tucked it into his chest.

“Uncomfortable? What’s uncomfortable about it?”

Duke Perdia smiled.

…Very frighteningly.

“You’ve personally invited me, how could I not go?”

Unnecessarily solemn.

‘Hey, it’s a party, not a duel.’

It seemed like the party, which would be uncomfortable for me as the person involved, might become interesting honey-jam content for the spectators.

Still, I thought that since both my dads were grown adults, surely they wouldn’t fight and hit each other, but then I remembered that they had actually almost fought before, and I despaired.

As soon as I sensed that this was beyond what I could handle alone, I pleadingly asked the Duchess:

“You’re coming too, right, Duchess?”

“Well, I wonder…”

“Please come. You must come!”

The only one who can stop His Grace Duke Sylvester Perdia when he goes out of control is the Duchess…!

After seeming to ponder for a moment, the Duchess soon answered with an alluring smile.

“Since cute Lili is asking so earnestly, I suppose I should go.”

‘I’m, I’m saved.’

I could feel somewhat at ease if at least the Duchess was there.

But this time, it was Carlot who was making a fuss. He grumbled as he carelessly dropped the invitation on the table.

“Hmph. I don’t like it.”

“What don’t you like about it?”

“Just… everything!”

There was a way to handle him well when he acted like a prickly cat like this.

“So, Carl. You’re not coming, right? Should I take back the invitation?”

As I moved to retrieve the invitation, Carlot panicked and quickly grabbed it.

“N-no, I’m not not coming! I’m going! I said I’m going!!”

Such a simple and cute guy.

I turned to look at Jansi, who was quietly smiling like a villain beside me.

“You’ll come too, right, Brother Jansi?”

“Of course. I should go. Who’s your partner, Lili?”

“Ugh…”

Without realizing it, I glanced at Duke Perdia. I couldn’t bring myself to say it was my birth father, Duke Severes.

But seeming to have guessed from my hesitant attitude, Duke Perdia answered gruffly.

“Forget it. You don’t have to answer.”

Duke Perdia put down his cutlery and left the dining room without even a word of farewell.

The Duchess smiled and summed it up in a single sentence.

“It seems he’s sulking.”

“Ahaha…”

A sulking Duke Perdia, it really didn’t suit him, yet somehow it did.

***

“Sister Lili. You know, um, will your friend be entering alone?”

“Friend? Gretel? Well, since she doesn’t have a partner, I guess so.”

“Really?”

“But why do you ask?”

“It’s nothing…!”

Carlot recalled the conversation he had in passing when Elodie had come a few days ago.

He couldn’t understand why Gretel Sangpan had come to mind at that moment.

Entering alone, she might be looked down upon by others, and that bastard ex-fiancé might appear and bother her again.

If that happened, Sister would be sad.

‘Yeah. That’s why.’

If he, the second son of Perdia with strong powers, became her partner, she would naturally be happy.

He was willing to specially enter as her partner for this party.

The place Carlot arrived on horseback was an orphanage between the commoner residential area and the slums.

When he asked the family’s informant to find out the location, he heard that she volunteered at this orphanage once a week.

“Isn’t the security too poor?”

Carlot, who was looking around the orphanage surroundings with dissatisfaction, moved his steps inside.

As he was walking slowly, intending to look around the outside of the building first, Carlot spotted a familiar back figure behind the mansion.

He was about to wave his hand happily and call out her name when he stopped abruptly.

‘Happy? Why?’

While he was pondering why he felt that way, Gretel, who had been hanging laundry, turned her head and saw him.

“Young Master Carlot? What brings you here?”

Seeing her hanging laundry in plain clothes worn by commoners was a new feeling, different from how she looked at parties.

Carlot answered gruffly for no reason.

“Just passing by.”

“Passing by? Here…?”

This orphanage was not a place where the noble young master of Perdia would come.

While there were nobles who supported orphanages, they usually just sent proxies to deliver money, not coming directly like this.

‘He must have business with me.’

But since he didn’t seem to want to reveal it, Gretel glossed over it.

Carlot, who was looking around the poor orphanage, asked Gretel,

“What are you doing in such a dangerous place?”

“I’m working, as you can see. And it’s fine for me since I come here often. There’s no danger as long as you don’t go too deep inside.”

He was at a loss for words when she answered so calmly.

Gretel passed by Carlot, who was standing blankly, and set down a large laundry basket with a thud.

“As you can see, I’m busy hanging blanket laundry now. If you have something to say to me, could we do it next time?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“If I don’t do it, who will?”

Carlot stepped back helplessly at Gretel’s gestures pushing him away as if he were a nuisance.

It was also new to be treated like an obstacle like this.

Regardless, Gretel diligently hung the blankets.

Bang, bang!

Amidst only the sound of beating blankets, Carlot opened his mouth.

“You don’t have a partner to go with to the Severes party this time, right?”

“So what?

“Won’t that be troublesome?”

“No. Not particularly.”

“What if other people look down on you for coming alone without a partner?”

“Let them. I don’t care about what other people say anymore.”

After making Elodie her role model, Gretel decided to live like her, just doing her own work regardless of what people said behind her back.

Bang, bang!

Carlot stared blankly at Gretel, who was focused only on hanging blankets without paying any attention to him.

Somehow, it seemed he had offended Gretel.

‘This isn’t right.’

She should clearly be happy, so why did it turn out like this?

But having come this far, he couldn’t just turn back.

Suddenly, Carlot thought of a suitable excuse.

“You remember when I helped you before, right?”

“Yes. I was grateful then.”

“Then you must also remember that you agreed to grant me one favor.”

It was no different from unilaterally asking her to do it, but since she had received help anyway, she could grant a simple favor.

“…What favor do you want to ask?”

“You’ll have to be my partner for this party.”

“What? Why?”

“You don’t need to know the reason. Anyway, I’ll come to pick you up, so don’t leave early. I’m going! No need to see me out!”

She hadn’t even thought of seeing him out, but Carlot dismissed it as he strode away.

“What’s this about now…?”

It’s like this again this time.

The bewildered Gretel could only blink her eyes.

***

The day of the party arrived.

As if announcing a grand return after a 20-year hiatus, the scale of Severes’ party was enormous.

‘How much did all this cost?’

I, who had left the party preparations to the vassals, was astonished at the sight of the brilliantly decorated mansion.

While Severes usually had a warm and neat atmosphere, now it was as luxurious as a Perdia party.

Of course, parties were a means of displaying power and wealth among prestigious families, so I understood.

It seems a little, no, very extravagant, but…

Apart from the people I personally invited, the vassals created a list and sent out invitations for the attendees.

I had skimmed through the list, so I roughly knew who was coming, but I couldn’t memorize every one.

Soon, the invited guests began to enter one by one.

Even Adenmir, whom I thought wouldn’t come, entered.

Then there was a guest that caught my eye.

“Huh? Carlot and Gretel?”

I had offered to send a carriage for Gretel, but she declined. Was this why?

‘What a waste for Gretel…’

As an older sister figure, I found Carlot cute, but as a man, he was utterly hopeless.

Carlot was the type to swing his sword all day and worry his girlfriend.

‘Good. Leon and Belissa have entered too.’

While I was looking for an opportunity to go and greet them, the wild card of this ball entered.

“It’s the Duke and Duchess of Perdia!”

“They really came!”

“Where is His Grace, the Duke of Severes?!”

Everyone was anticipating a clash between Duke Severes and Duke Perdia.

I glanced up at Dad, who was beside me as my partner.

“You know, right? You can’t fight.”

“Yes. Don’t worry, Elodie.”

I’m extremely worried.

As I trembled in fear, Duke Perdia and his wife approached me.

But Duke Perdia, without even greeting Dad, suddenly extended his hand to me.

“The first dance hasn’t started yet, right?”

“Huh? No, it hasn’t.”

“Of course, you should have the first dance with me. With your father.”

After emphasizing ‘father’ in particular, Duke Perdia pulled me along.

“Huh? What?”

When I came to my senses, I was dancing with Duke Perdia on the floor.

Dad, who had been caught off guard, was watching us with a furrowed brow.

As I turned my head, I saw the Duke’s face smiling aggressively.

He seemed to have come with this intention.

While dancing, Duke Perdia, uncharacteristically, asked about my well-being.

“Elodie. Is that man treating you well?”

“Of course.”

“I heard the vassals were against you.”

“Not anymore. They even prepared today’s party, you know?”

“…I see. That’s right.”

Duke Perdia smiled somewhat bitterly. I thought I knew the reason, but I pretended not to notice and turned my head.

As the song ended and we were about to leave the floor, Dad blocked our way.

“Elodie, come to your ‘Dad’ now.”

How childish to emphasize ‘Dad’ like that.

But I couldn’t take Dad’s hand.

“You want to dance more? Alright, let’s do that.”

Because Duke Perdia led me back to the floor again.

“Hehehe…”

As the music started again and we danced, the Duke burst into low laughter.

‘Eek.’

I was terrified by his villain-like laughter.

It’s rare to see him laugh so happily.

He seemed pleased to have gotten one over on his opponent.

“As long as Dad is happy…”

If this was the extent of the confrontation at today’s party, I could dance a hundred times.

I was able to escape from Duke Perdia’s grasp only after dancing for five consecutive songs.

Fearing I might run into Dad and have to dance again, I quickly staggered to the edge for refuge.

[Are you okay?]

‘No, I thought I was going to die…’

Gretel approached me as I leaned against the wall, worried about being discovered.

“Lady Elodie. Are you alright?”

“Of course. But didn’t you enter with Carl?”

“Ah, that… He asked me to be his entrance partner, so we entered together but separated right away.”

Carl isn’t the type to need a partner.

It’s somewhat suspicious, but Gretel’s words were too plain.

Just as I was about to step out to greet the guests again after resting a bit, today’s party target was approaching us.

“Miss Gretel.”

When I called her name, Gretel nodded slightly as if she understood.

Soon, Leon and his sister Belissa stood before us.

Leon, mindful of the many eyes watching, greeted me formally.

“Thank you for inviting us to the party, Lady Severes. This is my sister, Belissa.”

“I’m Belissa Kreundel. It’s nice to finally meet you, Lady Severes. I’ve heard a lot about you from my brother.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Lady Kreundel. I’ve heard a lot about you as well.”

I naturally extended my hand to her for a handshake. Belissa took my hand without any suspicion.

Thanks to this, Gretel, who was beside me, could also naturally shake hands.

“I’m Gretel Sangpan.”

But Gretel’s expression was unusual.

Knowing it was rude to do this in front of others, I asked Gretel quietly enough for only her to hear.

“What’s wrong, Miss Gretel?”

“The power doesn’t work.”

“…Pardon?”

I also tried to use the power of sin on Belissa while composing myself from the surprise.

But…

“Is something wrong, you two? Your expressions don’t look good.”

‘Oh my goodness.’

Neither her power nor the ability of sin works?