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Chapter 6: Leo attends a tea party
「Here, Leonora-sama. It is this room.」
Making their way through the gaze filled corridors, finally arriving at the dorm room, Kai respectfully opened the door.
As expected of the Weiz academy that was proud of its large campus, even the dorm room was quite spacious. The furniture that decorated they room were all hastily prepared by the Harkenberg household since the morning, there were various articles spread here and there and the newly installed en-kindled fireplace was extravagant enough for this room to be worthy of royalty.
「I really didn’t think, that just entering the school would cause so much ruckus. You must be exhausted. I shall put on the tea, please relax and have a seat, Leonora-sama –」
While he was briskly unpacking and preparing the tea, Kai noticed that his master held a strange expression, and raised his eyes.
「Leonora-sama?」
「This place…」
Leo was dumbfounded.
「Is really, my room?」
「Yes. I apologize, it certainly is much smaller than the one at the Harkenberg residence, but since the academy valued modesty and simplicity, even for the daughter of a marquis, this is the limit to how wide the room can be. However, in turn we made sure to choose the finest of furniture…」
It seems that a room large enough to fit 15 of the orphanage’s children is regarded as 「cramped」at the academy.
Leo seriously wanted to crack the heads of his so called servant and the school officials to impart the real meaning of 「Modesty and simplicity」into their heads.
(It seems that I should rethink my evaluation for the academy not having value treasure…)
Nobleman’s daughters bringing all of their jewelry with them, how unbelievable. Decorative paintings also colored the marbled corridors, even the door handle to the toilet were first class.
(nononono, I’m not a burglar. I won’t procure anything other than dropped and lost artifacts. Walls and doorknobs, I won’t go down that road. It’s not things for me to take. Not for me to take!)
Along with all his comrades at the orphanage, Leo has a relatively selfish personality, but the Hannah Orphanage strictly taught their kids to 「Never steal, never kill, and never injure others.」If you steal and burgle, you’ll fall into a deep treacherous hole.
However, even though he understood this, his fingers still itched. What a dangerous place full of worldly desires, this academy is – Leo thought.
「Now, Leonora-sama. After about another hour, from 10 o’clock onwards there will be a freshman tea party reception. Allow me to arrange your hair and clothes for you, please be relaxed. I will be right next to you. 」
「Tea party!?」
That’s not what was promised. Leo’s loose plan to retrieve Kar-sama and then look for a chance to escape is steadily getting postponed.
「Yes. The president of the student council will also be there, 「The child loved by the spirits」, the first imperial prince – his highness Prince Albert. For this party, he especially requested some very rare confectioneries as well.」
「Mm…」
Kai wanted to emphasize the fact that Prince Albert was very handsome, but Leo was moved by the part about the snacks.
He didn’t particularly love sweet things. But, receiving food for free, that is the most delicious food in the world.
(There’s no helping it. Since I’m already here, might as well help myself to some snacks as well.)
His appetite and his greed came before his plans.
「And so, umm. Leonora-sama. About the dress for the tea party…」
Kai cut off like it was something hard to say.
「Even though your current attire suits you so very much, since we’re going through the trouble of going anyway, how about wearing a more showy dress? Emilia-sama stored away many dresses over here in this closet.」
Kai opened the two large doors to the tall closet with curved legs, and the inside were flooded with various colors of expensive looking dresses.
「No. Don’t need. It’s good, as is.」
However, once Leo glanced over them, he lightly shook his head. The current dress was already pretty hard to walk in, if he changed into something more extravagant with multiple ornaments as well, it’ll be a disaster.
What Leo wanted were work clothes that were easy to move in. With that, if he got it dirty it wouldn’t get noticed, even this thin dress would be more preferable.
A party sponsored by the Prince, for young noble girls, this is a huge chance to appeal themselves. Seeing his master wear an obstinate and thin dress – like she was obeying her mom’s orders to be modest or so – Kai made a painful frown.
For such a beautiful girl of her age to be dressed in such dark colors makes no sense. However, seeing his master’s determined rejection, Kai had to accept it and didn’t object further. Kai simply wished that someday, there will be man who comes along to relieve her of all her sorrow so she could happily wear bright colors.
「I understand. Then, shall we continue as is with that dress.」
「Yes.」
Kai made a strained smile toward his nodding master.
「Leonora-sama. You are the young miss of the Harkenberg family, who is one of the pillars of support for the Weiz Empire, and I am your servant. Allow me to once again say, that you don’t have to be respectful towards me.」
On the way here from the carriage, this is the third time Kai has requested this.
However, Leo just shakes his head with a troubled look.
「I can’t, speak, any other way.」
Leo wished to speak frankly but, since he was limited in what he could say, it can’t be helped that it’s like this. But, since Kai didn’t know about such circumstances, he reflected on his own carelessly for not realizing that it’s because she was abused by adults while raised in the lower city.
(Leonora-sama must definitely also be enduring a lot of fear just talking closely with me. I have to restrain myself, and wait until the day her heart opens up…)
Kai nonchalantly started to change the conversation, admonishing his master who was trying to walk around alone by herself, and then started preparations to go to the tea party.
***
Leo had a desperate and fierce battle with his servant Kai to avoid him decorating Leo with dresses, and finally convinced him to settle with the simple dress he currently was wearing. And then, with a disappointed look, Leo went towards the assembly hall for the tea party.
(Damn it…In the end I wasn’t able to go look for my gold coin…)
He wanted to drag his servant along and go search the courtyard, but he also wanted to get some free food. Leo’s heart was split in half.
While kicking away his annoying dress as his walked to the dining room known as the assembly hall – so they say, but once again it’s something that looks more like a profound stone palace – and soon arrived. The other freshman’s also brought their servants along and one by one entered through the gate of the dining hall, just trying to appraise all their fancy dresses made Leo completely exhausted.
(I understand its high class. I understand but…Somehow it seems more like a different dimension, I can’t quite put my finger on it.)
That’s right. The thing Leo loved till the bitter end was money. Jewels and beautiful cloths, that in of itself isn’t anything amazing but, once they can be liquidated into money, it becomes very fascinating.
Leo understood that all of the jewels and embroidered things were expensive but, things like feathers of some unknown animal or eccentric design on the clothes confused him. Just how much are they worth? They looked more like a costume for the city festival, was what Leo thought.
Leo’s interest was piqued, wonder just how much the price tags would be.
While walking forward with dead fish eyes, sizing up the students walking in front of him, Leo and his servant arrived at the entrance to the dining hall. Imitating the other students who walked into the hall with their head raised, at the moment he stepped in –
(Hm?)
Leo found something interesting.
It was a person. Standing at the gate holding open the entrance to the dining hall, was a young man.
His standing posture was beautiful, his hair color and looks were common but Leo didn’t care about such things. The important detail was, something he was wearing on his body.
(Oooh, He’s wearing a coin! That means he’s my comrade right!)
The young man, underneath the simple commoner like shirt he was wearing, had something hanging from a leather strap. For a man to hang something around his neck, usually it’s an amulet from their lover, or a memento locket of their mom, that or in place of a charm you wear a coin. For Leo who also wore a coin as a charm, he understood.
(Hanging from the string, the transparent shape through the shape, this color, it’s a Nader Losheim silver coin!)
Compared to Kar-sama its value is less but, it’s still something ordinary commoners would rarely be able to get their hands on.
Similar to his Kar-sama that he received from money through various circumstances, this person must also be wearing it for economical luck as well.
Happy that he found a fellow 「Money enthusiast」, Leo shot him a ‘hey you, well done’ gaze but the young man just returned him a dubious look.
(– Nng, it wasn’t proper transmited huh)
Rather than that, if I had to say, it looked more suspicious. For some reason his gaze looked painful.
(Oh crap)
For situations like this he wanted nothing more but to just laugh it off. It should be fine if I just imitate a greeting.
Speaking of which, right now I’m a young girl, Leo remembered. Leo decided to do a 「Lady’s curtsy」that he just learned from Emilia yesterday.
Gently lifting the hem of the skirt with 3 fingers, and lowering one knee inside.
(Uhmm, like grabbing laundry that was smeared with crap, use only my fingertips, and do a small tiny squat. And, like looking away from a bed-wetted bed sheet while you’re tearing it off, keep your face looking up, and, done.)
Passing all of Emilia’s courtesy lessons and walking manners in one try by doing mundane actions that was usually done at the orphanage, even Leo was surprised.
「Leonora-sama…! 」
However, there was a flustered voice coming from behind him. Turning his head over his shoulders, Kai whispered,
「That was the highest grade of curtsy… ! 」
In a small voice.
(Oh.)
Giving an imperial level curtsy to young man who was obviously dressed as a servant was unwise, even Leo someone or another understood that. As expected the surrounding people started to murmur saying 「Oh my! Look at that」, obviously intending to scorn him.
(Oh crap, oh crap, uhm)
Receiving criticism for something like this wouldn’t really affect Leo in front of his follower – or so he believed – Kai, making a mistake would be embarrassing. A little flustered, Leo gave a solemn nod.
「……This is fine. Don’t you understand? 」
Secret technique 「Eh? What? Did I do something wrong? Are you sure you’re not the wrong one? 」tactic. After accidently honoring his comrade, he put into use this ultimate general use technique.
After Leo sent an ‘Oh no, do you really not get it?’ look at his confused servant, he once again looked at the young man – and then came back to his sense.
「I am very sorry!」
And then he did a deep bow that overshadowed even Leo’s curtsy.
The surrounding people started to get even more confused.
That action, conversely served to increase Leo’s impatience.
(Uoh… Not good, damn it Kai, did my tactics work too well?)
Furthermore, after realizing that their social standings were lower than Leo, some time ago several other people started to bow their heads deeply as well.
This situation reminded Leo of his younger soul brothers at the orphanage.
(Now that I think about it, those guys as well were fooled by my prank, and naively trusting me and imitating my behavior. After which they were seriously punished by Hannah though. It’s just like the pomegranate incident, I’m gonna tear up.)
The pomegranate incident was when Leo behaved as if he could harvest his pomegranates early, and he watered his pomegranates more than was needed, however once they went rotten, he said 「This is how you grow pomegranates」. In the end, all of his younger soul brothers at the orphanage believed him and started to water much more as well, and then, they completely annihilated all of the pomegranates in the building, such was the incident. Hannah was absolutely furious, she confiscated Leo’s secret earnings and then gave all the children a large spanking. It was a very bitter experience.
To avoid the shame of getting his brothers punished, didn’t come in contact with them for a short while, and he had his hidden earnings taken away as well. For Leo, this was a very bitter memory.
「…Kai, stop」
Taking a lesson from his past, he decided that he will bare his own embarrassment.
「The pomegranates, don’t wish for this.」
「Pomegranates… ? 」
He messed up.
「No, um. It was, my mistake. Bowing, let’s stop. And then, let’s go.」
Since he was flustered, at any rate he just wanted to escape from this place. Kai was hesitant but, in the end he did another small bow to the young man and then started to walk away.
Towards their retreating figure, the young man sent a satisfied gazed, however Leo did not notice.
***
「Leonora-sama, why did previously you –」
「Shush.」
Kai wanted to bring back up the incident at the entrance to the dining hall, but it was cut off. He was restrained by his master, it was to prevent the surrounding people from getting any noisier about their entrance than it already was.
In that place, there wasn’t any student that was fooled by the simple dress and was overwhelmed by Leonora’s beauty, all simultaneously getting their breath taken away.
Shock, envy, admiration. The gaze they sent the girl were varied, but they all had heated looks. Kai was proud that once again, his master’s beauty had garnered the fascination of everyone around them in an instant.
(What’s with all these intense glaring attacks… huh?)
On the other hand, for Leo who wasn’t conscious of his own extraordinary beauty, this was how he interpreted the gazes from all the students.
(I see, these gazes are like that huh. Like someone waiting in line at the morning market and when a newcomer comes, it’s the same fierce look that we all sent them. We’re not handing over the freshly harvested vegetables (treasure) to you. So that’s what it is…)
In the business district of the Weiz Empire, Ricard’s morning market, the first 100 people to arrive receive various assortments of vegetables and fruits for free. But Leo has been gallantly continuing his campaign for free items 50 times in a row.
In other words, the stuff on the table ahead is to that extent – extremely high priced confectionaries. Having evaluated it as such, Leo silenced Kai who wanted to make conversation, and merrily walked towards the table. Making smooth movements while being wary of others, is the foundation of a morning market hunter.
For a tea party, it seems that the emphasis is on social interaction and meeting others so the food is set up as a standing buffet, the large dining hall was dotted all over with big round tables. Setting his sights on a table, he swiftly managed to arrive.
「…What」
However, once he appraised the food on the table, he leaked out a disappointed murmur.
Packed on the tablecloth was warm black tea and sandwiches. Scone topped with fresh cream and cake assorted with plentiful amounts of raw fruit. They were all high class goods crafted by first rate artisans but,
All free food is valuable.
Just speaking from a greedy standpoint but, long lasting free things that can go for today’s lunch, dinner, and even breakfast for the next day is just a little more valuable.
For Leo who didn’t have much interests in sweets, oil preserved herrings or pickles or assortments of nuts would be more preferable. Also, even better if they were easy to carry and take home.
(No good, I probably shouldn’t be too extravagant. Free food-sama is free food-sama.)
It seems that the main point of the tea party have long past escaped Leo’s mind. Now, all that filled his head was planning out how to efficiently satisfy his appetite.
Then, at that time.
With a high pitched ‘Kya~’ several voices were simultaneously raised. Leo turned his food stuffed cheeks to look over and see.
「– Welcome, to the Weizsäcker Imperial Academy. As the representative to the students, I salute you.」
In the inner part of the dining hall, a young man appeared on top of a simply constructed stage and gave an eloquent welcome.
With fleeting blond hair that seemed as if it melted into the sun’s light, he had clear transparent blue eyes that shined like the southern ocean. With his well-featured looks that exalted him as the 「child loved by the spirits」– he was the Weiz Empire’s first imperial prince, Albert.
With a fairy tale like entrance, he radiated with a princely atmosphere, causing the surrounding female students to erupt with excitement.
「Aah, so dreamy… ! As expected of the celebrated head of the empire, Albert-sama. It’s obvious why he was chosen as the student council president over all the other older senpai’s in the school. Being able to attend school with Albert-sama, I’m truly glad I was able to enter this academy! 」
「Yeah, truly! See, have a look! His massive magical powers is radiating all around him, his whole body looks like its glowing! 」
It seems like they are now lost in shock.
Definitely looks like a kind of peculiarly practiced noble surprise face. Certainly it looks like there’s some kind of glittering substance falling around the prince and making him shine. Seriously surprising.
Retainers sing, and princes shine. It appears that this is what the noble world looks like, Leo etched into his mind.
「For your freshman troubles, generally you should go see the head of the primary class, who’s leading the student council of the primary school as well, the first imperial princess, Bianca von Weizsäcker. Bianca, introduce yourself」
「How do you do? I am Bianca von Weizsäcker. Just as the previous introduction suggested, I am the first imperial princess, and also the sister of the student council president. In this academy, as you go about your studies, you don’t have to do it alone. Please, feel free to call me Bianca and come consult me with anything you have on your mind.」
It seems that the girl that was standing next to the jewel earring in the corridor was named Bianca. Just like her brother, she had blond hair and blue eyes and a lovely appearance as well. But, somehow, she has a really strong-willed look on her face, Leo thought.
If he had to put it into words, appealing yourself as the 「Imperial princess」or the 「Student Council President’s sister」and then telling people to come consult you is just a little weird, Leo thought. While completing his tasting of all eight different variety of sandwiches, he placed the Weizsäcker siblings in his mental list of 「People I don’t want to be concerned with」. At any rate, either today or tomorrow, Leo was planning to say goodbye to this academy anyway.
The next speaker was once again the prince, he spoke with a cheerful tone as he gave tips and pointers on things you should prepare and then in the end, he gave a firm dazzling smile.
「Let’s end the formal talk here shall we? For here on, feel free to deepen your contacts with your fellow freshman students. We will also go around to every table to speak with you.」
All the people at the close tables who realize that they soon will be able to talk with their yearned for prince-sama let out a shout of joy. All the hasty people migrated towards the closest table to the prince, and even the reserved ones were fluttering with expectations as they sneaked glances at the prince and princess.
「Leonora-sama. How about it, shall we move closer? 」
Rather than approaching Prince Albert as a member of the opposite sex, Kai’s goal was to approach him as he is an important member of noble society. Kai whispered, intending to possibly gain some political bargaining chips in the future, but Leo lightly shook his head.
「It’s fine.」
「Eh…」
Towards the perplexed Kai, Leo clearly explained after he swallowed down the last piece of cake.
「After all, it’s fake. No need, for introduction.」
As much as possible, Leo wanted to hide the fact that he wasn’t the real Leonora. All the sought after snacks were eaten as well, finally, there are no more attachments to this academy. He thought it’d be okay to let the pure and simple Kai know his true identity at the very least.
Biting his lips wonder just what’s going on, Kai inquired,
「So…As I thought, the previously mentioned pomegranate…」
「Let’s stop, with that story. 」
Wondering why Kai once again brought up the previous conversation, Leo quickly shot him down.
Having been cut off, Kai just nodded with a 「Yes」and for some reason, he started to gleam with respect while looking at Leo.
「As Leonora-sama wishes.」
It looks like he has no intention of investigating Leo’s identity.
Leo was a little bit suspicious but,
(Anyway, if he really wants thinks of me as the real Leonora, then I don’t really care either way.)
(Well, whatever.)
While helping himself to another helping of black tea, Leo tilted his head to the side, wanting to hurry up and leave this place.