Chapter 22

“You are beautiful, mother. The indigo dress matches your eyes and makes you look like a sea spirit from an ancient myth.”

“Thank you. You’re in a bad mood, aren’t you?”

In the ballroom the night before Prince Felix’s coronation.

Juliana replied with a raised eyebrow at her son, who held out his hand as an escort on the grand staircase leading to the main hall.

Even if you take the trouble to add the word “old” to your compliment, it’s like you’re criticizing the other person for being too old in a roundabout way. A sea spirit is treated as a monster, unlike other fairies in the first place.

When she tilted her head in worry rather than sullenness, Lucas frowned in annoyance, saying that he’s always handled women so smoothly.

“Excuse me. I’ve had a crazy couple of days.”

“How unusual. Have you gotten yourself a powerful enemy?”

“Yes. She was a formidable and tricky foe.”

He returned such an answer while moving smoothly down the stairs.

Curious, Juliana pursued, and Lucas didn’t seem too keen on the idea, and began to explain, “We were attacked every night.”

Lucas von Ludendorff was a young man of martial prowess, blessed with a manly, neat appearance and extended frame.

He had the education required of a nobleman. Although he sometimes had the coldness typical of those who are overprivileged, he was open with everyone and is well-liked.

Moreover, since he was the 'second” prince, there would be no troublesome official duties if he married, and yet, if he was guaranteed a higher status than marrying some noblewoman, there was no way women would not flock to him.

Lucas himself enjoyed spending time with adorable women to the fullest, and he had always been able to move around only with those he could dismiss as adult playmates. Still, now the women have suddenly changed their minds.

“…… Well, when you’re the partner at a ball with everyone in the royal court and all the country’s nobility, you’re practically a fiancée.”

“You’re right.”

Yes.

When Lucas, who had been dodging these kinds of events, finally decided to attend a ball, everyone’s daughters, and even commoner maidservants, all caught fire at the same time.

It’s cute if it’s just a roundabout invitation or a plea in a letter.

But when it comes to ambushes, night crawling, and sometimes with aphrodisiacs, day after day, even Lucas was having a hard time coping.

In the end, he managed to get through to the ball by declaring that he would not dance with anyone at the ball and that he would be his mother’s escort.

There was nothing shameful about an unmarried son escorting his widowed mother. Still, Lucas felt ashamed that at nineteen, he would have to ask his parents for help to get rid of a woman.

“It’s not heard you can tell and listen to, but we can’t just throw up our hands. It would be much easier for me just to kill monsters.”

Juliana glanced at her son, who mumbled that.

“You don’t have to marry someone specific immediately. I’m sure everyone will agree that you are a nobleman; a princess from another country or even a commoner’s daughter will be fine.”

That’s unusual for royalty, but in Lucas’ case, since he’s already in the Order, any romance with a commoner is ‘like a story’! It was not hard to imagine that he would be welcomed with open arms.

“Well, mother, I know you’re upset that I refused to go ahead with the engagement a few years ago. Please don’t do this. I have my ideas.”

“It’s not a naive idea, is it? If that’s the case, then you need to be more realistic. As a mother, even if she’s of lower status, I’d recommend a woman who is good at making tea, fluent in the language, dexterous, unexpected, and makes your days exciting.”

“I’m not going to ask you….. who’s that?”

Lucas replied, his expression troubled.

It’s the kind of delusional talk he would have taken in stride before. Still, after seeing “her” real face and her unexpected dependability the other day, he was a little shaken.

At the same time, Lucas was having a hard time admitting his fondness for Elma because of the “policy” he’d had for years.

“I can’t have a specific partner before my brother, you know.”

When he jokingly mentioned the policy, Juliana’s eyes widened for a moment, “What?” she said.

“You’re lying. You’re not saying that you have a duty to His Highness Prince Felix? The one with the reputation of being the Prince of Stupidity?”

She asked in a whisper, keeping her face smiling on the surface as the crowd downstairs gradually approached.

Just then, one of the servants announced in a high voice, “Her Royal Highness, the former Consort Juliana, and Prince Lucas,” people cheered, making it difficult to have any more conversation.

“Why would Mother consider him to be an idiot prince?”

Lucas’ little murmurings were lost to anyone’s ears, lost in the grains of light spilling from the chandelier and the waves of beautiful dresses and perfumes the women wore.

＊＊＊

Göran Svald, a violinist with a reputation for being loved by God, was in a bad mood.

The grainy chandeliers overhead, the elaborate food on the table across from him, and the beautifully dressed ladies passing by in the corner of his eye, did not comfort him.

What he wanted was to hone his skills and play all manners of beautifully polished music, not to keep tracing sleepy background tunes with a talentless orchestra.

Göran frowned in disgust when he heard the Ludenian player sitting next to him go out of tune again.

‘Their skill level is too low. I knew I shouldn’t have accepted this kind of task.’

He was not sure how many times he had already let go of the regret harbored in his chest, softly.

Göran cursed himself for agreeing to perform at the ball, having been lured by a sweet offer to support his musical activities in three countries.

‘Boring. This is the worst. This is an insult to music.’

Göran was young. He had confidence in his skills.

For that matter, there was resourcefulness that made others who were not up to the task look foolish.

However, it is also the flip side of love and love of music, which can be called faith.

‘Music is an absolute beauty that overcomes differences in language and even belief in God and brings people to their knees. It should never be used in this way, as a gaggle of badly written songs.’

What’s the fun in merely following the steps you’ve practiced?

Music is not a garnish for dancing and other monkey tricks.

It is something that deserves to be enjoyed and celebrated.

Nevertheless, this ball seemed to be the only opportunity for Göran to achieve his true potential as a musician.

No, the Marquis of Luden, who sent him an invitation, had asked him to perform the 'supreme trill” on his cue, so that was the best time.

Göran’s trills, which raced up the scale quickly, many times faster than an ordinary man, were reputed to be his 'selling point,” even the grace of God. The technique is not necessary for a gentle waltz, but it would attract a tremendous amount of attention.

Since he didn’t mind abandoning his association with this tedious orchestra at any time, Göran was going to perform a trill as soon as he got the signal – the Marquis of Luden had promised to give him the indication at the most attention-grabbing time – and he was going to do it immediately.

‘But… it’s boring nonetheless.’

Göran hoped that together they would-be rivals for the top of the music, or else a muse to whom he would want to dedicate his music.

The party is proceeding seamlessly.

The noble ladies and the leading man, the next king, Felix, had already appeared on the scene – he was surprisingly insignificant, and the second prince, who had appeared a short time before, seemed more suitable for the position of the king – and after the first greeting, the servants of the palace were to appear on the scene one after another.

Although it would be unusual to invite anyone other than nobility, it is increasingly unlikely that the muse would appear from among the servants.

With a sigh of resignation, Göran put his hand on the sound that would be the last phrase of the background song – but

–Wow.

At that moment, the air in the place shifted dramatically.

The people all looked at the end of the grand staircase.

Göran quickly followed suit and looked ahead to the red-carpeted staircase.

“—……!”

And then he gasped.

For an angel was standing at the end of the grand staircase.

The girl, clad in a raw-blue dress, looked down at him quietly, her slender limbs straightening out.

Those eyes, like the sky at dawn that caught people’s attention even from afar.

Her skin was as smooth as milk, her hair tied in a graceful knot, her slightly colored lips, her modest nose, and even her shadowy eyelashes, all of which were full of delicate beauty.

The design of the modest hem, which is strangled by a jeweled belt just below her chest and then covered her legs without spreading out, also made her look innocent.

A girl of unblemished, flirtatious, and unworldly beauty.

No one could take their eyes off her as she slowly made her way down the stairs.

Göran also played the last note of the song longer than necessary.

No, everyone in the band did. Only the last note was slowed down.

Göran watched, dumbfounded, as she moved as smoothly as a polished melody.

And after she disappeared from view, he finally came to himself.

‘My God ……’

As he puts down his bow, he thought absentmindedly.

‘How could I be distracted by something other than music?’

＊＊＊

In the game of love, Lucas was always on the side of the winner.

He’s the one who teases and draws you in.

Women were always approaching from the other side, and all he has to do is cross your legs gracefully and wait for them.

Pick out a woman who grinds upon you in a sweet voice, pick her up, and put her in your mouth.

When they get bored, they shrug each other’s shoulders and part with a smile. Repeat the process.

So, come to think of it, this was the first time he had ever rushed over to a standing woman in a hurry.

“Hey.”

When he spoke to her in a slightly impatient voice, the other party huffed and turned her head around.

The girl with the color of dawn in her eyes, long eyelashes down, gracefully plucked at the hem and took a bow.

“His Royal Highness Prince Lucas is in a perfect mood.”

Her gestures have the grace of a princess of a country, but at the same time, there is a very light hue in her gestures.

At the moment of the curtsy, Lucas heard the gulping of the saliva of himself and those around him at the slender shoulders and the bare nape of her neck; thus, he unconsciously put his arms around the girl to enclose her.

“What the hell, that’s how you’re coming out today. Where are your usual glasses, Elma?”

“Is it that funny?”

“– No, …… It’s stunning, but-”

It makes him cringe.

It wasn’t like him to stand in front of a beautiful girl and not even have words to praise her with.

On top of that, he abandoned his mother, who should have been his escort, and talked to a maidservant, which seemed to me to be of a lack of reason.

Moreover, people are beginning to buzz around him after he called her name earlier.

They must have realized that the 'some kind of amazing maidservant” that is becoming a rumor and the beautiful girl in front of them were the same.

Lucas almost bit his tongue as he realized his blunder.

“You’re beautiful, but you’re…… too beautiful. I’m sure people have been paying attention to you for some time now; even my brother has been paying attention to you. I thought you didn’t like to stand out?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s not that I don’t want to stand out; it’s that I want to be normal.”

“What is….?”

Lucas couldn’t help but narrow his eyes when the answer was returned so matter-of-factly.

But the girl in front of him didn’t seem to consider his doubts.

“When challenged to a fight, they do their best to meet the challenge. They fight each other on common ground, with fists, and eventually deepen their understanding and friendship. This is the ‘royal road’ that His Highness is well aware of, isn’t it?”

“… What?”

“To be honest, I did not think that the textbook you lent me would be enough to convince me to attend the ball, but since I was able to read in both the women’s textbook and the Lords’ textbook that I should come to the ball at my full strength, I thought it would be common sense to bring my full strength to the ball. But now that I’ve read in both the women’s and the men’s books that you should go to the ball with all your might, I’ve concluded that it is common sense to come to the ball fully prepared.”

“What do you mean by that?”

He didn’t understand what Elma was saying.

But somehow – he could only vaguely understand that it was filled him with a disturbing premonition.

When I tried to take her arm, the girl in her dainty fairy form ducked it with a flutter.

“Oops. We don’t know how the enemy will come out, so please refrain from provoking them unnecessarily. However, when the battle is over – I would be grateful if you could help me then.”

“So, what the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s about friendship, hard work, and triumph.”

The last part didn’t make any sense.

Elma quickly turned on her heel.

The surrounding gazes followed her hem, which swayed softly and modestly.

“Hey ……! Now that’s Elma! Great, great! She’s more than I imagined!”

And then his mother, Juliana, spoke to him in Rutland in her excitement.

She watched, enthralled, as Elma’s back was handling the waves of people with grace and boldness.

“Oh ……! I thought she would be beautiful, but I didn’t expect her to look like this. It was worth it to send Gerda to lend her a dress and make-up!”

Lucas turned around with a jolt, and a voice called out to him further there.

“Oh, Lucas. That’s Elma. It’s a hell of a thing. The young men of the Order are getting restless.”

He is the Deputy Company Commander of the Knights, Dirk.

He was scratching his cheeks, looking a little puzzled as he wrapped his stern face and massive frame in an unusually tight, formal costume.

“It’s a good thing that you’re a …… man. I’m not sure if I’m lending you my favorite book as a way to treat my brother, but I’m probably a bit early in the game.”

“What is ……?”

I had a bad feeling and couldn’t help but ask in a swallowing voice.

Then Dirk answered blithely.

“No, Elma was bothered by your denial of what she considered to be her teaching book. You asked me to lend you a book that would be a general education or shared knowledge for all of us, so I lent you my greatest bestseller.”

“…………”

Without needing to ask what the bestseller was, Lucas almost looked up to the heavens.

Dirk likes “hot blooded” stories. The hard-working protagonist takes on genius rivals with all his might and wins or joins forces with his friends to defeat powerful enemies.

‘If “defeating the enemy at all costs” seemed to be the norm, …… you don’t think there would be any dueling, fighting, or war happening here, do you?’

It would have been better to let Elma at least think of a romance novel that had nothing to do with the fight scenes as “common sense.”

Such thoughts flickered through his mind.

And just as if to prove it, a little incident broke out behind the waves of people, around the gathering of the ladies.

“You said, Elma? You’re not getting a little too carried away with your handmaidens, are you?”

With a high-pitched voice! And then there was the sound of thin glass breaking.

You don’t have to use much reasoning to figure it out.

A prideful type of noblewoman throwing a tantrum with the threat of being grazed by a man’s gaze.

And Lucas, unfortunately, had an idea of who had the kind of temperament that would easily throw a glass in a place like this without any sense of decency.

Caroline, the daughter of Count Feinen.

She was the girl who tried to get close to Lucas, even using an aphrodisiac.

“Oh, my dear, my hand has slipped. I’m sorry to say that the dress is a precious treasure for you. But a handmaid should be good at washing clothes. Wouldn’t it be better if you went back to your post before the wine soaks deep into your one-piece dress?”

The closer he got, the more he could see Caroline’s face, which looked like a picture of pride.

As soon as she brought us into view, she quickly changed her demeanor and became indulgent.

“Oh, Prince Lucas, Your Royal Highness! What’s going on? Are you asking me to be your first dance partner?”

The speed of the change was even more of a trick, but unfortunately, Lucas couldn’t afford to enjoy it now.

He was worried.

“I thought I heard a noise that was inappropriate for conversation between ladies. What’s going on here–”

“Ah, you’re adorable. As you can see, I accidentally splashed her with wine. But she was the one to blame!”

Caroline slipped in front to block him.

But more than that, Lucas became more and more concerned when he saw the girl standing there with her dress dyed red.

“She would demand an apology at the beginning of an encounter, and I was terrified of her, but now that His Highness is here, I’m relieved.”

“Hey.”

“You will dance with me, won’t you? I’ve been working on my dance moves to prepare for this day.”

“Hey, Caroline von Feinen.”

The Countess, who continued to wander off with her spirits, was interrupted by a frustrated voice.

“You… understand what you’ve ignited?”

“What about …………?”

Caroline was pouting, but something happened quicker than Lucas could explain

–Splash!

A light, popping sound, like water popping, echoed around the area.

When I turned around perplexed, Elma was still standing there silently.

The beautiful girl held an empty wine glass in her slender hands and had just showered its contents on her white dress.

“…………! Oh, my God, what are you—“

“I’ve noticed that you, Caroline von Fainen, prefer to talk with your fists rather than talk with your mouth, so I thought a red-and-white match would be a good idea.”

Finally, Elma opened her mouth quietly, but Caroline doesn’t understand the meaning of the words.

The Countess flicked her thickly coated lips in a cold sweat.

“You mean like this ……?”

“Yes. If I may be so bold, I, Elma, will be the first one to play red.”

“What…………?”

In front of an exclaiming Caroline, without any hesitation, Elma lifted part of the hem. She tore it down to her right thigh.

“Yes…….?”

The sight of her thighs, glimpsed for a moment, made not only the men but even the women around her blush.

But Elma didn’t stop there; she reached into her neatly tied up hair and messed it up boldly.

“…………!”

The next moment, the charming Red Queen appeared.

She was an incredibly gorgeous, bold, captivating – a demonic beauty – with loosely wavy black hair crawling over her bare shoulders and smiling with languid, dawn-colored eyes.

“Would you like to help me with this?”

The gesture of tilting her head and lifting her right hand quickly towards Lucas.

Even her whispered voice was sweet, like honey.

It was just like a prostitute of the country, and a sobering scent.

‘Give me a break……’

With even the illusion of it melting it into his brain, Lucas stared at her arm in despair as he took her hand on a conditioned reflex.

Yes, he was worried.

Miss Caroline, who is going to be thoroughly broken in the nose, and – and himself, who is going to have to go along with it.

‘What a look on your face……’

The girl’s face now was full of an incendiary beauty that would make any man fall.

Full of it, but more than that.

–Very well. Then it’s war.

As he said, she was full of the heroic fighting spirit of a hot-blooded novel.