Chapter 5

On the day of Bael's birthday party, Dia was also very busy from morning. She was surrounded by four maids, including Ada, who carefully helped her get ready. The maids worked silently, but their hearts were in a festive state.

"Wow, Lady Claudia's skin is so smooth!"

"It's worth the effort! Dressing up a beautiful girl is so much fun!!"

"Hehe, it was worth winning the fierce rock-paper-scissors battle!"

Ada, while brushing Dia's hair, was moved, thinking, "Ah, my usually cute lady looks even more delicate today."

An hour later, in front of the mirror, Dia stood with her silver hair half-up and a blue dress on. The maids nodded in satisfaction, each thinking, "Good job."

(Well, as long as I can attend the party, anything is fine.)

Despite this, she thanked the maids with a full smile, saying, "Beautiful. Thank you." At that moment, a high-pitched "Kyaa!" echoed, but the noise was only in Dia's mind; in the room, the maids bowed silently.

(Well then.)

Her father was busy from the morning, so they wouldn't have breakfast together.

(The party hasn't started yet, but maybe I should go look for that boy?)

The boy she was referring to was the red-haired boy she met in the twilight garden after her brother's birthday party. In the past, after the party ended, Dia was finally allowed out of her room and went for a walk in the garden with Ada. There, she met a boy who loved books. The boy had a bruise on his face and said, "My brother hit me and left me behind."

When the boy asked, "You? Were you at the party?" Dia, being honest, replied, "I was locked up by my brother and not allowed to go outside." The boy, replying with "I see," opened the book he was holding.

"Want to read it together?" he asked. Dia nodded and sat next to him. They read the book together and talked about their favorite books. Eventually, the boy's attendant came to fetch him, and as he left, he said, "See you again." Dia nodded. After that, she never saw the boy again.

But that was all. Now, thinking back, he was the only friend Dia had ever had in her life.

(If I had become friends with that boy, Dia's life might have been more enjoyable.)

So, this time, she decided to find him early and say, "Let's be friends." When she told Ada she was going outside, Ada opened the door for her. There, Bael was standing.

"Brother!?"

When Dia was surprised, Bael glared at her.

"Keh?"

(Keh?)

"Unforgivable! To make Dia look so adorable, what are you thinking!? If Dia gets kidnapped, how will you take responsibility!? All the maids involved in Dia's preparation should be fired!"

(What are you thinking!?)

Dia hurriedly smiled at Bael.

"Today, I dressed up a lot for you. How do I look?"

To show her innocence, she spun around on the spot.

"Guwah!?"

While Bael was captivated by Dia's cuteness, she tried to pass by him, but he grabbed her left arm firmly.

"I want to escort Dia! Escort!!"

If it were the past Dia, she would have cried in fear from his glare. To avoid making Bael angry and getting the maids fired, Dia smiled.

"Brother, can I go to the party venue with you?"

Bael silently extended his right hand. She gently placed her left hand in his. To be safe, she added, "I feel safe with my strong brother."

"Right. No matter how adorable Dia is, I will protect her."

Dia was relieved that she had managed to avoid getting the maids fired.

(But now I can't go look for that boy. Well, since it's Brother's party, he'll get busy and go somewhere eventually.)

As expected, once the party started, Bael was surrounded by many people and couldn't move. One of the duke's household knights was assigned to guard Dia.

(Ah, this person...)

He was the kind person who had said Dia was "pitiful" when she first met Bael at the training ground. He turned out to be the deputy leader of the knight corps.

"My name is Ralph."

Dia smiled and said, "Nice to meet you." Suddenly, she heard Ralph's inner voice.

"Really, Lady Claudia is such a good girl. If my sister were as honest as her, it would be great."

(He has a sister.)

Ralph's kindness towards Dia might be because he saw her as his sister.

(I might be able to move more freely with him.)

Looking around the party venue, Dia didn't see the person she was looking for.

(Arnold has the typical prince look with blonde hair and blue eyes, and the red-haired boy isn't here yet.)

Ralph was looking around nervously.

"The captain told me not to let any men approach Lady Claudia, but everyone is looking at her. It's only a matter of time before someone talks to her. I might get killed..."

Seeing Ralph's troubled expression, Dia asked, "There are too many people here, and it's making me nervous. Can we go to the garden?"

He immediately replied, "Yes, of course!" with a happy tone.