140. under the chandelier (1)

Even if you can’t do it, 50 times.

This is the answer to a question about how often parties are held in the Royal Capital in a year. As short as a week, as long as once every 10 days. Whether you were a small or medium-sized nobleman or a nobleman from a large family, parties in the capital were not uncommon. Pretending to celebrate the occasion, just to satisfy vanity, or to forge stronger political ties. Parties were held for various purposes.

The New Year’s ball plays the role of opening the door by standing at the forefront of the many parties. It takes place with the winner of the martial arts contest as the main character, and almost all nobles and great nobles in the capital participate. Since it is a party held by the royal family every year, the New Year’s ball always becomes a battleground where the nobles do not see each other.

“By the way, how long has the party been going, this?”

“Well. Come to think of it, it seems like a big party is going on for the first time in a long time. Last year, I couldn’t even see a small meeting of nobles, let alone a party since summer.”

The first thing Leon Benning, who had taken control of most of the nobles in the capital, adopted as a noble policy was to monitor large-scale parties. Parties were not prohibited by law, but all noble parties held within the capital had to be conducted under the eyes of Leon Benning.

The nobles, who did not want to be criticized in any way by the most powerful person in the kingdom, eventually gave up on the party they loved so much. When a court aristocrat who tried to hold a meeting escaped from Leon Benning’s surveillance while sneaking up on him disappeared without a word, the atmosphere of avoiding the meeting intensified.

“It’s a prom. It’s time for our daughter to make her social debut… .”

“I must hurry up and buy ornaments. I don’t want to be struck by lightning again.”

If the citizens were agitated by the martial arts competition, the nobles were keenly aware of the trend of the ball. I had to thoroughly prepare what to prepare, who would attend, who to meet and what to talk about. However, their interests were severely limited,

“Isn’t His Highness the 1st Prince going to attend this time too?”

“It won’t be just His Highness the First Prince. Rumors are circulating that both Her Highness the 2nd Prince and Her Highness the 1st Princess will attend this ball.”

It was the news of the attendance of the three princes and princesses who would compete for the next kingship. Of course, most court aristocrats would have to stick around and flirt with the second prince, but the news that the first prince’s henchman had won the martial arts tournament made them all agitated. And the fact that the opponent whose henchman had won in the finals was the young woman of Leon Benning’s pride, a young knight whose name was widely known throughout the kingdom, instilled some hope in them.

“… You need to keep an eye on it.”

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Nobles pushed out of the center of power. They paid more attention to the attendance of the first prince and the first princess.

“The airflow in the palace is unusual. While Count Benning crouched down, His Majesty the King laid out a number of cards against Leon Benning.”

“I heard Count Agon from the east supports Her Highness, the 1st princess?”

“I heard that the Margrave of the No-Land is supporting the 1st Prince.”

One by one, aristocrats began to appear who tried to escape from Leon Benning’s clutches.

“This prom.”

“Something unusual will happen.”

On the other hand, the drawing room of the first prince’s palace.

The morning after the martial arts tournament has come to an end. So, it was the last day of the year and the morning of the New Year’s ball. The first prince, Louis, did not order Maxim, who came to visit him at the same time, to practice as if he had promised. Instead, he suggested a light refreshment with a tired expression on his face.

Maxim was grateful for Louise’s attitude of not asking anything about his real name. He was just treating Maxim as a knight and his teacher as before.

“My ears keep tickling lately.”

“I guess someone is talking about Her Highness.”

At Maxim’s joke-like words, Louis let out a laugh.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard such a rumor. Is it a popular story among knights?”

“This is something my father used to say often. If your ears suddenly itch for no reason, they say someone is talking about you from a place you don’t know.”

Lewis hardened his expression and cleared his throat.

“I mean, it’s an interesting story. Of course, if someone talks about me behind my back, I don’t think I’ll be sharing small talk.”

The snow that started to fall in the afternoon and continued through the night made the outside white. In the morning, it seems to be snowing a little bit. Creates a gloomy light in a stopped state. Louis looked out the window blankly and put the teacup down. Maxim asked, looking at Louis who seemed distracted.

“Are you worried about the prom?”

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. However, this is something I have to solve on my own, so you don’t have to worry about it together. You just have to enjoy this ball as a winner.”

Louis waved his hand, telling him not to worry. Maxim tilted his head as if in trouble. Louis looked at Maxim and clapped his hands softly, saying he had forgotten.

“Well, I don’t think you will be able to purely enjoy this ball. No one else, but the one who will be the main character of this ball.”

“… Aren’t there too many people who bother me, though?”

Lewis gave a meaningful smile.

“Okay. Large nobles would want to have you under their ranks, and small to medium-sized nobles would want to be with them even if they gave their daughters away.”

Maxim frowned at Louis’ words.

“Please. You mean you have a fiancée?”

“Those people will think that it doesn’t matter even if they are sidekicks. Well, that’s up to you.”

“… My head hurts.”

Maxim sighed. Lewis let out a silly laugh as he looked at Maxim. It wasn’t Arsene Bern, but after Maxim appeared in his true form, he seemed to have lost his hesitation.

“yes. I can’t wait to see how much trouble you’ll find yourself at this ball.”

“You are mean, Your Highness.”

Maxim replied with a bitter smile. Louis shrugged casually.

“Since you are in trouble, wouldn’t it be nice to have a comrade who shares the same troubles?”

“… okay.”

1 A knock was heard at the door of the palace. Maxim intuitively noticed that it was a visit from Princess No. 1, who visited every few days.

“Is Michelle here?”

“Then, Your Highness. God will excuse me.”

“What? You don’t have to. It’s probably about a ball, so you’d better sit down and listen.”

Louis left Maxim seated and summoned the attendant who knocked on the door. The door opened, and Princess 1 appeared through the open door. She reveals her face as if she is happy to see Louis, but when she sees Maxim sitting in front of him, her expression becomes subtle.

“Louis, good morning. The person sitting in front… .”

“Meet Her Highness, Princess 1.”

“yes… nice to meet you Congratulations on winning.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Maxim bowed politely to her, but the voice that answered was not so kind. When you meet someone unexpected, it’s probably not possible to say hello right away.

“Didn’t you come to talk about the ball? Then it would be better for Maxim to be with him too. Was it uncomfortable being with Maxim?”

1 Princess Michelle shook her head with a somewhat confused expression. Maxim, too, could not hide his slightly uncomfortable expression, and his eyebrows twitched.

“Yeah… , Although it is better to be together.”

Michelle sighed and brought a chair to the table where Maxime and Louis were sitting.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I’m uncomfortable.”

1 The princess kept looking at Maxim and had a thoughtful expression on her face. Michelle then turned her gaze to Louis.

“You’re probably going to get a lot of attention at this ball, Louis.”

“Know. Thanks to Marquis Marquis and Count Agon’s participation in the battle, attention was already going to be on us, but with Maxim winning the martial arts competition, I’ll be even busier.”

Louise spoke to Michelle in an apologetic tone, but Michelle looked at Louis with sympathy instead.

“What are you going to do with the bastards who are trying to eat below?”

“Even though we are scavengers, aren’t we in a position to be blindsided? Except for those who want to stand on top of my head, I intend to reap in moderation. Since there is a Marquis, there won’t be anyone who approaches it recklessly.”

Louis sighed. At the word Marquis, Michelle’s expression hardened slightly.

“… Did things go well with the Marquis?”

“After the prom, we plan to talk in earnest. Those who are with me now say that it will not have a big impact on the alliance, but the Margrave’s mind will decide what will happen.”

Louise’s voice stiffened in response. Those of the Marquis still harbored resentment over the incident. In their eyes as they gazed at the recovered corpse, a murderous feeling that could not be hidden was swaying.

“Their anger is not something I dare to say I understand.”

Lewis said bitterly. Then, with a face full of war intentions, he clenched his fists as if to make up his mind.

“They said that no matter who the culprit was, they made sure to pay the price.”

“… You will definitely pay the price.”

To that, Maxim answered. Louis was able to loosen his hardened expression a little while watching Maxim reply resolutely.

“… Thank you for saying that. They will thank you too.”

Then, as if trying to lighten the mood, he turned his head toward Michelle and asked.

“Come to think of it, the lady-in-waiting who accompanied you when you came over here is nowhere to be seen today. Is something going on?”

“You mean Marion? That person… .”

Michelle slurred while answering, then stared blankly at Maxim. Michelle was not ignorant of the fact that Maxim was her fiancé, whom she had been fondly referring to as her favorite attendant.

“I had something else to do, so I sent it there first. You’ll show up with me at the prom, so don’t worry.”

Louise asked the question, but Michelle’s answer was aimed at Maxim. Maxim asked Michelle again with a questioning look on her face.

“You mean something else… ?”

“yes. It’s not dangerous or difficult, so don’t worry.”

The expression of the 1st princess that Maxim looks at is as if asking, ‘Are you going to die of curiosity?’ 1 The princess soon changed that expression to a mischievous smile. It was as if he was trying to tell Maxim, ‘I know you’re curious, but I can’t tell you what’s going on.’

“You’ll know what’s going on when the New Year’s ball is held, so don’t worry and wait.”

“… Yes. All right.”

what the hell is going on Maxim wanted to ask again, but Princess 1 turned her head to Louise again and changed the subject to what to wear to the ball.

… It won’t be a big deal.

Maxim let out a small sigh.

—

The day before, the residence of the first princess.

1 The princess was enjoying small talk with Marion, which had now become a regular routine. Today’s Marion looked so happy, but somewhere in that joy was a half mixed feeling of discomfort. Michelle smiled to herself, then smiled as she watched Marion repeat puffing up her cheeks.

“What happened, Marion? Are you dissatisfied that your fiancé won this martial arts competition?”

Marion shook her head, blushing at the fact that her expression was revealed.

“no. The girl’s fiancé… I am very happy that Maxim won this tournament, but I am worried about what will happen after that.”

“Don’t even worry about it. Your swordsmanship skills are really good. The face isn’t to my liking, but it looks good enough. Just feel a sense of crisis. Judging by the expression on the opponent’s face in the final, it’s not unusual.”

At Michelle’s words, Marion put on a downcast expression.

“… That, I think, was unavoidable. But it’s true that I’m worried about the prom.”

“Don’t worry too much, it will be fine. There probably aren’t that many people as lovely as you at the ballroom.”

“Me, Your Highness. A compliment like that is too much for a girl.”

Michelle was smiling happily, and Marion, still blushing, couldn’t hide all her anxiety. Michelle felt sorry for her. The right hand sweeping down the engagement ring worn on the left hand, and that face that is still depressed.

It would be okay to have confidence, but is there a reason why I am still depressed?

1 The princess’s gaze unknowingly reached the right side of Marion’s face. If you go black. There weren’t too many decorations, but that’s why it was a rather luxurious mask. Marion never took off that mask to show her face. The white glove he always wears on his right hand has never been seen. It was the reason that showing an ugly face to the burn was disloyalty.

Even though she was feeling better, it seemed that Marion’s childhood wounds were still entangling her. 1 The princess looked at Marion with pity.

At that time, someone knocked on the residence of the first princess. When Marion stepped in and opened the door, a maid was waiting.

“What happened?”

1 When the princess asked, the maid glanced at the entrance beyond the residence.

“Your Highness, there is someone who has been looking for Marion Bordain.”

“To Marion? customer?”

“Yes. She was a blonde woman, but judging by her outfit, she seemed to be a knight belonging to the 1st Guards.”

At that answer, Princess 1 frowned and Marion widened her blue eyes.

Are you Christine? what brings you here?

“First, let them enter the palace. I’ll have to hear what’s going on myself.”

1After the princess gave her permission, the maid quickly went outside and soon returned to her quarters with a woman with a tired expression on her face. Marion still had a puzzled look on her face, and Christine looked at Marion at Princess 1 and showed a flinching spirit.

“What happened?”

“Your Highness, I came to see Marion Bordain for a while by order of the royal family.”

Christine’s voice as she answered seemed a little tired.

“Can you tell Marion exactly what you came for?”

1At the princess’s question, Christine rummaged through the pocket of her uniform and held up a glass tube that appeared to be a reagent bottle. In blue, a drug that exuded a refreshing energy was dripping from inside the bottle. 1 The princess looked at the medicine bottle Christine took out with a curious expression. Christine looked at Marion and gave a small smile.

“A new drug has been developed, and I think it will be of great help to Marion, so I came to tell it to you.”

“… What does that mean?”

1 When the princess asked again, Christine turned her head to Michelle. Marion couldn’t take her eyes off the blue liquid dripping from the vial Christine was holding.

“When this potion was modified, it was named Elixir of Restoration.”

“The Elixir of Restoration?”

Michelle’s eyes widened. He must have realized what the name of the potion Christine had called him for. Michelle turned to Marion. Marion still had a bewildered expression on her face with her hand raised above her mask.

“That means, no way, the drug… .”

“I think it will be a medicine that will solve Marion’s troubles.”