Chapter 44

As the sun set completely and the moon took center stage in the sky, two carriages adorned with the flag of the Ambrosch family arrived in front of a certain earl's mansion. In the front carriage were the Ambrosch family, and in the back, the Eubert family.

"Alright!"

Thomas, the Viscount Eubert, stepped out of the carriage with determination and helped his wife Camilla and daughter Emma down. Once they were all out, he immediately made way for a young man with black hair.

Lukas, Viera's fiancé, wearing a beautiful tuxedo of deep blue fabric embroidered with silver threads, smiled and held out his white-gloved hand.

"Viera, your hand."

"Ah, thank you."

Perhaps because of the usually absent jewelry that was shining, the light reflecting off it made Lukas look dazzling. Viera, a bit nervous, placed her hand on his and slowly stepped down from the carriage.

Just then, a night breeze blew, causing Viera's deep blue dress to flutter. The scattered jewels sparkled on her skirt.

Viera's tension increased.

(Hermina prepared matching dresses for me and Lukas, but it's too much for my heart. I hope the wind didn't blow away any of the jewels. I need to be careful.)

She was more worried about the jewels than her hairstyle. The Duchess Ambrosch, Hermina, had assured her that the jewels were cheap and could be treated carelessly, but there were many of them, and they were still jewels.

However, she couldn't bend down to check if any had fallen. Trusting the skills of the dressmaker who had sewn the jewels, she placed her hand on Lukas's arm.

He looked at her intently, furrowing his brow slightly.

"Make sure you don't get separated from us."

His insistence was puzzling, and Viera looked at him with a bewildered expression.

For some reason, Emma sighed.

"Big sister has a childlike face and is petite. In such a beautiful dress, she looks like a large doll. I'm worried she might be carried away."

"A doll is an exaggeration—"

"Emma is right. Viera, be careful."

Lukas's warning was echoed by the Duke and Duchess Ambrosch and the Viscount and Viscountess Eubert. Viera, though not entirely convinced, nodded under the pressure.

With the Ambrosch family leading the way, they headed towards the ballroom where the evening party was being held. The people in the hallway were captivated by the sight of the hero, who rarely appeared in social settings.

Once they entered the ballroom, the excitement and admiration were even more intense. The surprise and excitement, along with the sense of privilege of sitting with the hero, were palpable. Many of the nobles in the room admired Lukas, and the attention he received was even more intense than when he appeared in the palace dining hall.

(Indeed, Lukas is very popular. If I had worked in the palace, I might have seen him by chance, but as someone who stayed at home, I never did. For ordinary people, the opportunity to see a hero is limited.)

Being escorted by such a great person was becoming hard to believe.

She braced herself for a few snide remarks about why a poor young lady like her was there. However, once they entered the ballroom, there were no jealous glances.

Most of the conversation was handled by the Ambrosch family, with the Eubert family joining in at appropriate times to show their closeness. Occasionally, someone Emma knew would come over, but after a brief greeting and a light bow to Viera and Lukas, they would quickly leave.

The two of them mostly stood there with smiles, and of course, Lukas's hand was on Viera's waist.

"There are a lot of interested looks, but not many people are talking to us. The last time we met at a ball, Lukas said he was tired of being approached and had to run away."

"In the past, most of the people who approached me were young ladies and their parents looking for a marriage proposal. Now that you're here, they have no reason to make a move. It's a wise decision."

While they were talking, the Ambrosch family excused themselves to speak with someone else, apparently to gather some information.

Then, Lukas was approached by a retired Divine Beast Knight, an old acquaintance. They seemed to be on good terms, and it appeared they hadn't seen each other in a while.

"Lukas, I'll stay with my family, so please feel free to talk with your acquaintance."

"Thank you. I'll be back after a short conversation."

Lukas was then invited to get a glass of wine with the retired Divine Beast Knight and left Viera's side.

No one approached the small noble Eubert family. Thomas, Viera's father, chuckled.

"Perhaps we should take a break somewhere. Camilla must be tired by now."

"Yes, if we can find a place to sit, that would be nice, but who should we ask?"

Just as they were looking for a servant, a middle-aged gentleman in a crisp tuxedo, likely a butler from the hosting earl's family, approached them.

"If you'd like to rest, we have seats prepared on the terrace. I'll show you the way."

The Eubert family followed the butler to the terrace. They stepped out onto a wooden deck through a door at the far end of the ballroom. The terrace had sofa and table sets placed between the large windows of the ballroom, out of sight from the main area.

No one else was resting there. It was a perfect spot to relax without drawing attention. The Eubert family thanked the butler and sat down on the sofa.

They all relaxed, letting out a collective sigh.

"I've never been to a ball where I had to talk to so many people."

Thomas sighed, gazing at the moon. Camilla, sitting next to him, nodded deeply.

Even Emma, who was used to social events, felt more nervous than usual due to the attention.

Of course, Viera, who had only been standing, was also exhausted. Her back ached from standing straight, and her calves were cramping from the high heels.

The family looked at each other and chuckled, feeling a bit embarrassed. They also realized the greatness of the Ambrosch family, who handled social events with such grace.

Just then, the butler who had guided them earlier returned, this time escorting an elderly woman with a cane. The Eubert family, thinking she was taking a break, started to move their seats closer.

But as they were about to sit down again, Thomas stopped them.

His expression grew tense. Camilla, following his gaze, gasped.

Viera and Emma, feeling uneasy, held hands and looked at the elderly woman.

Her white hair was elegantly styled, and a large jeweled hairpin adorned it. Her dress was a deep green, but the embroidery was incredibly intricate. At first glance, she was clearly a high-ranking noble, on par with the Ambrosch family.

However, Thomas and Camilla had never shown such tension even in the presence of the Ambrosch family.

The elderly woman smiled warmly and looked at Viera.

"Are you Viera?"

"Y-Yes."

"Ah, those sweet, pale pink eyes and yellow-blonde hair, with such a youthful face... You look like a canary, so adorable."

Although she was suddenly complimented, Viera didn't feel happy.

Was it because of the appraising look in the woman's eyes, or the fear she felt from her presence? Viera looked confused.

The elderly woman, seemingly enjoying Viera's reaction, sat down on the sofa.

"Let's not stand. Please, all of you, sit down."

Seeing her parents' stiff expressions, the sisters slowly sat down.

The elderly woman nodded in satisfaction, and Thomas spoke solemnly to his daughters.

"Viera, Emma, this is the Grand Lady of the Bartel Marquess family, who was married into the royal family—Lady Celestia. Please greet her."

The elderly woman was Celestia Bartel, the grandmother of Clement, the young mage Viera knew well.