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Chapter 21
At the Border of an Adult (2)
Translated by Wook
Edited by Wook
After returning to the duke’s residence, I had a number of other tasks besides teaching Agoth swordsmanship.
First, I memorized the characteristics of various nobles and groups that Hamilton summarized. I had to distinguish between enemies and allies, those in need and those whom I should be vigilant of.
Some of them I personally visited or invited to form personal connections little by little. The social activities of the princess, who had never participated in the social world at all before this, became a topic of discussion.
But one should never do things in a hurry. Just do it to the point of not being noticeable, little by little.
After spending winter and spring like that, summer approaches.
“Good morning, my lady. You received an invitation today.”
Agoth approached me early in the morning with a soft voice and offered me an invitation.
It has become a familiar scene by now. As I sat on the bed, I reached out and accepted the invitation.
“Mm.”
After checking the invitation, I felt like yawning.
“What’s wrong, my lady? Which house is it from?”
“The Brande March.”
“Tch.”
“Well, it’s finally here.”
The name of the party is also Yulika Brande’s birthday party. It’s her adulthood birthday party, so it’s going to be incredibly fancy.
“Do you not want to go?”
“I have to go. There are rumors that Young Lady Brande and I are rivals, so if I reject this, they will say I’m being petty.”
“Your rival? There’s no one in this world who can be your rival.”
Agoth’s voice was filled with conviction.
“Rumors have nothing to do with the truth.”
So one can say whatever they want.
“Then are you going?”
“I guess so. Well, I’m gonna need a battle suit.”
I remembered that Yulika and her gang said my dress was ‘unstylish’.
Of course, it must have been said with the intention of mocking me, but it is also true that I am concerned as I have no discernment for such things.
“I need reinforcements.”
“Reinforcements?”
“Agoth, send someone to the capital right now to fetch Rowena Evergreen.”
I decided to summon Rowena in exchange for my fatigue.
***
Leonard couldn’t attend the party because of school, and no one offered to escort me because of Young Lady Brande’s threats.
In the end, I decided to attend the party with Hamilton, who acted as Caesar’s agent. Damn it.
“It would have been nice if my older brother had skipped school…”
“Do you hate me that much?”
Hamilton clicked his tongue with a look of regret at my despair.
“But Viscount is twice my age.”
“Not that much!”
Hamilton, who was still a bachelor, shouted in a rage.
Well, I might be grumbling, but Hamilton might be the right person to accompany me today.
He attended as Caesar’s deputy today. Although it wouldn’t be as effective as Caesar himself, it could still deliver an unspoken message that Caesar is closer to me than Young Lady Brande.
After driving the carriage for a long time, we arrived at the castle located on the border just in time.
We entered the hall with the guidance of a waiting attendant. The party had already begun, and there were quite a few people in the hall.
Not quite a few, no. Quite a lot.
‘What’s this? Why does it feel even more glamorous than the Crown Prince’s coronation ceremony?’
Is it a show of power? But if it’s too much, it won’t be good for the Emperor’s eyes.
‘The fact that this is a frontier area may have served as an advantage.’
After all, the emperor also needed the Valer’s power, which is probably the reason why he took the current empress as his wife, so this may be acceptable.
Now, I can see why Yulika mocked me over my dress. I thought we were the same kind of villagers, but this place is not a village at all.
“Young Lady Brande is over there. Let’s go and say our greetings.”
Unlike me, who had been distracted for a while, Hamilton faithfully did his job as soon as he entered the hall. At times like this, I’m glad that I came with him.
Hamilton and I approached Yulika. Surrounded and congratulated by people, she had the happiest and warmest face I had ever seen.
“Happy birthday, Young Lady Brande.”
Hamilton and I greeted her politely in our respective ways.
Yulika, who had been chatting with other people, exclaimed “ah” as if she had just noticed us.
Look at this. I’m sure she already knew before we approached her.
“Thank you both for coming!”
Yulika came up to me and smiled softly.
“It must have been difficult for you to come along the country road. Thank you for coming, Princess Peresca.”
Isn’t it rough from your countryside? That’s what she means.
“It’s a long journey to this distant frontier, it is no wonder the road is rough.”
This is a counterattack that says your house is in a farther corner.
Flattering. Smiling. We looked at each other and laughed constantly.
“It’s nothing big, but as a celebration, the duke’s family has prepared a present.”
“Oh, thank you for that! Maybe something like the corn harvested this year?”
At Yulika’s words, even the people standing around burst out laughing. Not because the joke is funny, but because it’s trying to kill me.
Since it is Brande’s party, there is no doubt that a large number of families on Brande’s side must have participated.
However, I answered Yulika with a straight face.
“Oh dear, lady. But corn is harvested in the summer.”
At my counterattack, Yulika paused for a moment like a machine broken down. But a few seconds later she was operational again.
“That, well, you live in the countryside, so you must know that well.”
“That is more the matter of common sense. Oh my, did you really not know?”
I exaggerated my surprised expression, and Yulika groaned. Hamilton, who was standing there quietly, took my side and helped me with a sentence.
“Princess, you better apologize. It is rude to expose someone’s ignorance.”
“That’s right. I am so sorry, my lady.”
“What? Oh no! It’s not like that…”
“We’d better stay away for a while.”
“You’re right. Well, then, young lady, thank you for inviting me again.”
After a big smile at the end, Hamilton and I left the scene before the counterattack returned.
Originally, it is best to get out of a fight like this quickly when the opponent is confused.
Wow, that’s exciting. This guy, surprisingly, might be a good match for me.
“You know, it’s so much fun to see Young Lady Brande flustered.”
“You have a very bad personality.”
“As expected, right?”
Hamilton snorted at my rather serious answer.
“Well, it’s no wonder you and His Highness get along well.”
Are you saying that that guy and I look alike? This is… Seriously, I don’t know if I should be angry or happy.
I’m confused.
***
The party continued until late in the evening.
Most of the people at the party talked to Hamilton, but didn’t come close to me. There will be nothing good about pretending to be close to me in front of Yulika.
Instead, I leisurely observed the aristocrats present.
‘I can see the empress sect and the centrist sect at a glance.’
To observe, one has to take a step away. In other words, this party where no one cares about me is perfect.
‘By the way, I can’t see Marquis Brande.’
I can see his wife, but I can’t see the marquis. It’s his daughter’s birthday, and he’s gone?
Or is he having some secret conversation with the main nobles somewhere?
“I want to wash my hands, so can you call someone to guide me?”
I called the attendant carrying an empty tray and asked while placing a drink glass on the tray.
“Ah, yes. I will call someone for you soon.”
Soon, one of the house maids approached me. I followed the maid out of the hall for a while and walked down the hall of the castle.
The further away from the hall, the quieter it gets. Feeling a light tinnitus, I asked the attendant.
“By the way, I couldn’t see the Marquis in the hall.”
“Master should be in the smoking room.”
It’s not catching bears, there’s no way one can stay in the smoking room all day.
‘Will it be strange if I ask too much?’
As I was walking with that thought in mind, I found a room with an open door and abruptly stopped walking.
“Why is this room open?”
“Ventilation is in progress. Otherwise, the books will be damaged.”
Books.
I stood outside the border of the door and looked around the room.
The room was too small for a study. However, the bookcases were so dense that there was no gap in that small space.
‘Since it is so dense, it needs to ventilate often.’
This isn’t the main study, I guess.
“What are you doing here?”
At that moment, Yulika’s voice flew in from the other side of the hallway.
While I turned my head to look at her, Yulika strode towards me with an angry expression on her face.
“You are being rude, Princess. You’re sneaking around in someone else’s place.”
“I’m just out for a while to wash my hands.”
“This is not a place to wash your hands.”
“Ah, the door is open, so I was distracted. Please excuse me. The study is small and well-organized, so it was hard to take my eyes off it.”
I mean it.
I felt like there was some kind of an obsession towards this study. A tenacity to fill the small space with precious books somehow.
“The Marquis seems to be enjoying books quite a bit, as he made a place like this besides the main study.”
“…mine.”
“Pardon?”
“I-it’s my study.”
Yulika said with a blushing face while avoiding my eyes. What? Why are you making it so hard?
“Ah, you did say you learn magic, didn’t you? Do you know how to use magic?”
“I cannot use magic, but I’m interested in magical theory and academic knowledge…”
Yulika, who barely managed to mumble like that, suddenly shook her head and spoke as if it was unfair.
“A-accumulating academic knowledge is to build culture! Isn’t it natural for a good young girl to have this kind of knowledge?”
“Y-you’re right.”
Why are you angry?
“More than knowing the time to harvest corn!”
Oh man, did you still have that in mind? As I said, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know.
“Yes, you’re amazing.”
“Ha! How about this? I bet you don’t know anything about Raviross’ summoning ceremony, the superstition magic theory, the book of poetry by Garamis, the book of Ponte’s seal—”
“Yes, I don’t know. My lady, you are very knowledgeable about magic.”
I was genuinely amazed.
Aside from mere knowledge, there seems to be passion and attachment as well.
Shouldn’t she go to school as a professor instead of a crown princess?
“Of course. Even if everyone says it’s useless, once you get to know it, it’s a knowledge that can’t be thrown away.”
Yulika shrugged off my compliments even though I applauded.
‘It seems like everyone said it was useless.’
That’s true. Now, magic has become a lost technology. No matter how well you know the theory, what’s the use if you can’t put it into practice?
But let’s not point it out. Let’s give her something to show off.
‘I’m really good towards my enemy. Look, I even compliment them.’
What can I do?
With the exception of Caesar, political battles like this are just boring to me.
Yulika’s eyes were the brightest I’ve ever seen when she talked about magic.
Yes, there’s something you’re actually good at, too. Honestly, wouldn’t anyone feel proud?
“There is nothing useless about learning. My lady is doing a great job.”
At my words, Yulika’s expression shook strangely. At first, she seemed proud, but soon she looked at me blankly as if she were surprised, and then she closed her mouth as if she were angry, and eventually turned her head from me in a prim manner.
Then he slammed the door of the study.
“Stop looking.”
Yulika said coldly.
Without even looking back at me.
“It would be good for Princess to learn the modesty of a lady. Being invited to someone’s house and snooping around in any room is the worst thing for a lady.”
Like the closed door of the study, Yulika’s heart seemed to be firmly shut in front of me.
That stubbornness, for some reason, seemed pitiful to me.
She always seems to be struggling, nervous, and anxious.
It would have been nice for her friends to ask her at least once.
What she really wants to do.
‘Well, I’m not her friend. There’s no need to be so nosy.’
Caesar’s enemy is my enemy.
Yulika is the empress’ person.
She’s nothing more and nothing less.
“I made a big mistake. I hope you will understand.”
After saying that, I followed the maid again and left to solve the original business.
I looked back once as I approached the very end of the hallway, but Yulika was no longer there. She must have gone back alone.
Yulika Brande.
Enemy.
‘…That’s all.’
After repeating the words in my mind, more like a pledge than a confirmation, I started walking again with my back to the empty hallway.