First, I observe an opportunity to speak with the second son of the Dright family while figuring out Helen’s intentions.
I repeat to myself the tasks I must complete today to not forget them as I step toward the banquet hall.
The Dright Duke’s mansion was a peculiar place where the drab colors felt antique, and the building itself wielded an immense sense of authority.
If only Ruth were by my side at times like this, I would have felt less nervous.
While swallowing the overflowing regret with gulps, as I reached the front of the banquet hall, a waiting knight exclaimed loudly, “Here comes the Lady of Duke Serbia Obelton!”
The knight who announced my arrival immediately swung open the doors of the banquet hall.
Bright chandelier light poured out, reaching the tips of my shoes. A clear boundary between light and shadow stretched out long from my feet.
Staring blankly at it, I shook off unnecessary thoughts and carefully stepped into the hall.
Perhaps because this was a banquet hosted by nobility rather than a royal ball, the atmosphere inside was more relaxed.
Thanks to that, the attention on me as I entered was less than at the last ball.
Relieved by the lesser pressure on my shoulders, I made my way to the center of the hall, where it was likely to find the Dright family and their second son.
As I drew closer to the center, I saw a middle-aged noblewoman surrounded by a few ladies, engaging in lively chatter.
She had her dark reddish hair, streaked with gray, neatly swept back, revealing her beautiful curved eyes that shone with an amber hue.
There was a measure of dignified confidence in her demeanor, yet she maintained a respectful composure towards others, which was quite impressive.
It seems that woman is the Duchess of Dright.
Noticing the middle-aged man and the robust young man beside the woman, I was certain she was the Duchess of Dright.
She matched the description I had heard perfectly, and despite her frail appearance, her strong inner spirit was unmistakably that of a person of high status.
Standing there, looking at the Duchess, my heart pounded not in anticipation of meeting someone new, but out of fear that I might mess things up.
There’s no need to be perfect, just don’t make a mistake
As I hesitated and slowly stepped forward, the Duchess suddenly looked my way.
“……!”
Caught off guard by our eyes meeting, I blinked repeatedly, stunned. Initially shocked by the sudden eye contact, and then by the radiant beauty of the Duchess of Dright.
Was the old saying true, that beauties are born frail?
As I pondered this, the Duchess of Dright’s smile widened.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Serbia Obelton. Is this our first time meeting?”
And then, as I saw her approaching me, speaking in a gentle and soft voice, I snapped back to my senses and a smile formed on my lips.
“Yes, it’s nice to meet you, madam. I heard you weren’t feeling well. Are you feeling better now?”
According to rumors, the Duchess of Dright had become frail due to an unknown illness she contracted five years ago. It was said that she hardly ever left her bed because of it.
I was both happy and worried when I heard that the Duchess of Dright would be attending the banquet today. I get tired from attending a banquet even when I’m healthy, so I couldn’t help but worry about how it would be for the Duchess of Dright, who was in poor health.
Perhaps she sensed my concern, for the Duchess of Dright replied in an even kinder tone.
“Ah, fortunately, I’m feeling alright today. I didn’t want to spend my son’s birthday in bed, and it seems God has answered my prayers.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
It was true to their noble heritage, which had produced a commander of the paladins, to believe that even the smallest stroke of luck was a blessing from God.
As I was quietly empathizing with her joy, a long shadow suddenly loomed over us.
“Mother.”
Then, a calm baritone voice was heard.
Judging from him calling the Duchess of Dright ‘mother’, it seemed likely that he was one of the Dright family’s children.
Turning towards the direction of the sound, a man with an indifferent expression caught my eye.
Immediately upon seeing the man with white hair and pale eyes, traits said to be possessed only by those born with natural power, I recognized who he was.
A talented swordsman, a knight commander highly regarded by the public and the second son of the Dright family.
And the very person I had intended to meet that day. Cedric Dright.
No sooner had I realized his identity, Cedric’s gaze briefly lingered on me.
His eyes, unreadable as if veiled by a white curtain, met mine without falter. In the moment our gazes locked perfectly in the air, an indescribable chill struck me.
Seized by an unsettling feeling, I averted my gaze from Cedric first and fiddled with the small sword I held. Hesitating when to hand it over to Cedric.
Until just moments ago, I was ready to give it to him right away, but suddenly I found myself unable to speak up.
Just as my hesitation prolonged, the Duchess of Dright, unaware of our strange standoff, clapped her hands.
“Ah! This is my second son, Cedric. Cedric, say hello. This is Lady Serbia Obelton.”
The fiancée of His Majesty the Emperor, she mentioned last time, is this lady.
Glancing at her hint, Cedric, like any knight, placed a hand over his chest and slightly bowed.
“It’s nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Cedric Dright.”
The straightforward greeting was utterly dry without any embellishment.
The dubious light that had lingered in his heterochromatic eyes had also become emotionless and parched before long.
Ignoring my persistent doubts, I deliberately smiled brightly at him. Regardless of how mysterious Cedric was, I needed him.
“I’m Serbia Obelton. It’s an honor to finally meet you after hearing so much about you, Sir Cedric.”
“Yes.”
Whether he was naturally taciturn, or simply reluctant to converse with me, Cedric closed off with that single word.
I somewhat lost my motivation to continue our conversation, feeling as though I had hit a wall.
Since I intended to discuss the main topic later when the banquet was in full swing and people were less attentive, it seemed alright to back off at this point.
Deciding this inwardly, I subtly lifted my hand to ensure the dagger I was holding was well within their line of sight.
“By the way, happy birthday. His Highness unfortunately couldn’t make it, but he sent this dagger as a gift to celebrate your birthday.”
“Oh my. How beautiful.”
Only then did Duchess Dright, having seen the dagger in my hand, burst out with a pure exclamation of admiration.
On the other hand, Cedric gave a perfunctory expression of thanks with an unimpressed face.
If the gift had been something I had chosen after much consideration, I might have been upset by his reaction, but since it wasn’t, it didn’t matter.
Moreover, it was even better because Ruth, the person giving the gift, had selected it from among the many swords in the royal treasury for being particularly notable.
“Then I’ll go enjoy the banquet now. Once again, a sincere happy birthday to you, Sir Cedric.”
“Yes. Miss Obelton, please have a good time as well.”
After finally handing over the gift, I finished greeting the Duchess of Dright and simply nodded to Cedric as a form of goodbye.
Then, I went over to a group that had clearly been showing interest in me surreptitiously.
The group consisted of approximately five or six young ladies and gentlemen in their twenties, and it seemed like an appropriate place to get a sense of the social dynamics.
And my guess was right.
***
“…So, recently, it’s become fashionable to follow the example of the young Duke Dright in sponsoring charity projects for children in the slums.”
“Right. And it’s not just any sponsorship—they focus on children who show talent in a particular area, almost as if they’re investing in them, isn’t it?”
“Really, when you think about it, there’s no difference between sponsorship and investment. We’re just looking for something that will yield outstanding results to invest our money in.”
Ah.
I stood silently, biting the inside of my cheek as I listened to their low-quality remarks, trying to keep my lips from parting unintentionally.
The conversation, which had started with the trending businesses, had gradually shifted to focus on Duke Dright’s charitable projects. Or rather, investment projects disguised as charity.
Of course, I understood what they were trying to say. Nothing is more important to nobles than their public image.
But having once lived as a commoner, I knew better than anyone here the desperate situation of the slums. I knew how vital sponsorship was for the children there, and how grateful they were to their sponsors.
Perhaps that’s why. The way they talked about the children as ‘things’ and treated them as objects felt utterly repulsive.
Intellectually, I knew such attitudes were expected among the nobility, but my heart couldn’t accept it.
I should’ve excused myself from this place and looked for Helen instead.
Even as I managed my barely concealed anger, the nobles’ conversation continued without end.
“The young Duke of Dright is truly remarkable. How did he even conceive the idea to undertake a charity project for the children of the slums?”
“It’s more of an investment venture masquerading as a charity project for children, really.”
“Exactly. Donations and sponsorships are all forms of investment. There’s no harm in planting a good impression on the public.”
“In that sense, the Duke of Dright is practically pioneering a new investment business!”
“However, it seems that the young Duke of Dright himself is genuinely interested in the sponsorship. I read in the newspaper that he sponsors just to hear the joyful laughter of the children.”
“After all, the Duke of Dright is the epitome of integrity. No one can match his goodness. Us businessmen are just taking inspiration from him for another groundbreaking idea.”
The nobles exchanged stories with hearty laughs among themselves.
I let their ringing laughter wash over me as I turned my gaze, searching for the Duke of Dright, the central figure of the conversation.
Spotting the Duke of Dright, with his distinctive golden eyes and striking appearance, was easy. It was his remarkable looks that made it so.
He was on the opposite side of the banquet hall, among many high nobles, all bearing faces said to be of goodness.
All of them high nobles… Perhaps, these are the ones who predominantly patronize the casinos.
It was the moment when I unconsciously brought my index finger to my lips and was staring in that direction. An unexpected question flew in from the side.
“Ah. Lady Obelton, what do you think?”
