114 – The Beginning of the Banquet (3)

Sino Charlotte, having finished her conversation with her, returned to her room.

Not that she had anything else to do,

but simply because she found the situation disagreeable.

Of course, it was appreciated that she had found out Aria’s information so quickly,

but she wished they could have carried out the title inheritance ceremony later.

Was that really something to say to someone whose sister was kidnapped?

Anyway, grumbling her discontent,

she opened the still firmly closed door and stepped inside,

“….”

“Good evening, young master.”

“””Good evening, young master.”””

“..What is this?”

The one greeting her inside wasn’t Ella.

It was a group of women whose faces she had never seen before.

Each of them loaded down with luggage and wearing a maid’s uniform.

Taken aback by the sudden invasion of women,

she stood awkwardly for a moment until,

a maid with neatly arranged hair and glasses approached her from the front,

She bowed to me slowly, deliberately.

“Greetings, Young Master Jenison.”

“…Who are you?”

“I have come at His Majesty’s command,

to seek you out, Young Master.”

“….”

“The matter was of such urgency that I implore you to forgive the impudence of

entering your chambers unannounced.”

As she spoke, she lowered herself further still,

a deep bow that, noble or no,

made me profoundly uneasy.

Having lived, even briefly, in the 21st century,

I could only regard this system of social rank as a relic

of the past.

“…It is alright. Rise.”

“Thank you for forgiving my discourtesy.”

As soon as my words left my lips, the woman,

as if having anticipated them, straightened immediately.

Her expression was that of one who had, of course,

expected this outcome.

“Do you happen to know where my attendant

who was in this room might be?”

“Ah, you refer to the

silver-haired girl.”

“Yes, where is she now?”

“That child, too, you shall

meet again, if you but wait.”

If I wait, I can meet her again.

For a moment, I tried to consider the

implications of those words,

but before I could, the thought was severed

by the subtle approach of others behind me.

“Young Master, that is not what is important now.”

“…?”

“I shall now explain His Majesty’s reasons

for sending us to you.”

No sooner had she spoken than she drew

a sheet of paper from within her robes.

A paper covered, densely, with script…

Her eyes swept over me once, then

She adjusted her glasses with a practiced flick, and

Began to lay out, piece by piece, what I was to do.

No, more accurately, what I was to *endure*.

“First, we must decide on the Young Master’s attire.”

“…?”

“The Imperial Tailor and designers are waiting in the hallway,

along with a selection of garments. Furthermore…”

“..Wait, what is all this—”

“A bath is prepared, and with the Young Master’s age in mind,

a touch of makeup, tastefully applied, will suffice—”

“Wait, hold on…”

“Young Master, we are pressed for time.

Please forgive any unintentional discourtesy.”

“No, but I mean… I have

already chosen my own clothing, I have—”

My words faded, lost in the air.

Before I could finish my sentence,

She and the others, materializing behind me,

began to escort me somewhere.

“If you would excuse us, Young Master.”

“No, I’m telling you, I have clothes

already prepared—”

“Based on your aura and appearance, Young Master,

we believe this garment would be most suitable.”

“And if there are any accessories or jewels you desire,

we will happily prepare them for you—”

They acted as though my words were whispers in the wind,

fervently recommending clothes and adornments.

A single sentence kept flashing through my mind.

“Young Master, what do you think of this outfit?

It might be a bit ostentatious, but it highlights your—”

“Would you care to try on these earrings?

They feature rare gemstones, perfect for accentuating—”

This is bad.

Without communication, I can’t win.

*

“Well done, Young Master.”

“…”

“With that, our tasks are

entirely finished… We shall take our leave.”

Lacking the strength to answer, I merely nodded,

seeing them off.

And as soon as they were gone,

I could finally collapse onto the bed.

‘…Never would I have imagined spending these hours

being primped and preened without a single break…’

Lying sprawled on the mattress, I turned my head,

and the noticeably advanced hour on the clock struck my eye.

So much time had passed.

And, that I had been constantly

subjected to their ministrations all that while.

“Well… it seemed to have some effect, certainly.

But to go this far…”

“Young Master, I will be entering now.”

As I remained there, observing my reflection

in the mirror,

Ella’s voice reached me from outside the door.

Her voice, she’d vanished somewhere

a while ago

“Ella, where were you all th–…”

“Y-Y-Young M-Master…”

Turning towards her voice,

I could finally see her,

and the way she slightly hunched, as if

utterly mortified, was a far cry

from the last time I saw her.

“…Ella, they got to you too?”

“Y-Y-Yes…”

Her hair, always neat but somewhat lacking in lustre,

now boasted a pristine, pearly sheen,

and instead of the usual maid’s uniform she wore,

a beautiful dress caught my eye.

A silver dress that complimented her silver hair

perfectly.

“Y-Young Master, t-this… such a garment is not meant for a servant like me…”

“Seems a touch… extravagant, this dress, wouldn’t you say?”

“..Perhaps that too is at His Majesty’s command.”

“Y-yes?! Yesss?!”

Being, in name, the hero of the Great Forest’s attendant,

it was obvious they’d dressed her up so she wouldn’t be underestimated…

Still, even so, wasn’t this just a bit much?

“Uh… guh… all these clothes, how much…?”

“Most likely, even Ella, your salary for three years wouldn’t

be enough to cover their price.”

“Hieeeek…!”

Look at her now.

Far from admiring her own beautiful reflection,

all she could think of was how to return these clothes without a single blemish.

Moreover, the jewels dangling from her dress

were obviously of considerable worth,

so it was clear that all of this

was quite overwhelming for her.

“Ella, just calm down.”

“Bu… but, Master… this isn’t really

the kind of dress I should be wearing—”

“..I’m sorry, Ella, but you must

wear that dress.”

“N-neee?!”

“Didn’t I just say,

that too is the Emperor’s command.”

The Empire’s sovereign had bestowed grace,

more than fitting, upon a mere attendant.

That too without any transaction

but with simple goodwill

“So if you don’t wear this dress

and a problem arises…”

“..It could be considered disregard for

His Imperial Majesty’s kindness?”

“Precisely.”

The moment she heard my words, her legs

gave way and she collapsed into a heap.

Looking as though her soul had been drained.

The overwhelming pressure had caused her mind to leave reality.

Could it be… a denial of sorts, taking hold?

“Master Gongzi, it is time for you to depart.”

“..Understood, I shall be there directly.”

But alas, for me in this moment,

even the time to rouse her was insufficient.

Just moments prior, I received the signal

that the final guest of the banquet had arrived.

Throwing open the chamber doors without pause,

the Emperor’s back came into view.

“Hmm, it would seem a good time was had.

Did the gift I sent please you?”

“..I am grateful for His Majesty’s grace.”

“Haha, there is no need for such formality.

It is merely a token of my goodwill, you see.”

Accompanying his oily grin,

the quiver of his ruddy beard.

A vexing smile that seemed to say, I need not even ask to know

the trials you have endured, it is plain as day.

“Hmm… but certainly, your countenance has

undergone a considerable change.”

“..Has it, truly?”

“Indeed, quite markedly so.”

…Is it to that extent?

Certainly, my countenance has changed some, granted.

But even then, it only seemed that the dark circles had diminished

slightly, and a touch of vitality had returned to my face.

“Well, do not be too surprised later on

when you witness the ladies’ reactions, hahaha!”

“….”

“Let us proceed, then.”

As before, a long expanse of red carpet

stretched forth down the hallway.

And looming before it, the exit, from which

a beautiful, golden light emanated.

“His Imperial Majesty approaches!!!”

With a grand resonance announcing

the arrival of the Empire’s sun,

the light streaming from the exit

slowly coalesced into form.

The fiery glow pouring from the ceiling’s chandeliers, and…

Beneath, heads bowed in subservience.

It felt as if one had stumbled into another world entirely.

“….”

“….”

Until I saw the face of the only man there who refused to lower his head.

A face so achingly familiar.

He said nothing.

He merely continued to gaze at the Emperor.

At me, to be precise.

His brazen insolence drew reprimands from those around him,

yet he remained, head held defiantly high,

as if lost in some mesmerizing trance.

‘..I just hope I’m not the object of it.’

“…Duke Reinhardt, do you intend to withhold your obeisance from me?”

Only when the Emperor, who had been observing him all this while, finally spoke,

did his head begin to descend.

A grating sound─

Accompanied by the barest whisper of teeth grinding together.