Chapter 23

I arrived in the garden leisurely despite the sudden summon, but the Princess was anxiously pacing around, waiting for me. Curious about what was going on, I crept up and made some noise, causing her to stop murmuring and look up at me. Relief washed over her face.

“You made it,” she said.

“I greet Your Highness, the Princess.”

Just as I was about to bow, she grabbed my waist and pulled me upright. Normally, she wouldn’t act so assertively, but today seemed different—she had a sense of urgency.

“Let’s skip the pleasantries. We have an urgent matter at hand.”

“An urgent matter? What is it?”

“There’s been an intel report. It seems some unsavory individuals plan to infiltrate the ball.”

Hmm, is this a joke? Am I supposed to laugh? I was briefly puzzled, but the Princess continued without any sign of humor. Guess it wasn’t a joke after all. Feeling a bit awkward, I listened carefully to her words.

“That means there’s something you need to do.”

“Understood.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to know the details?”

“Simple tasks work best for me.”

What exactly did she expect from someone who has only handled straightforward tasks their whole life? I thought as I mentally checked my weapons. After a recent scuffle in the back alley, I was down to just twelve daggers. Of course, I had my ‘main weapon,’ but bringing such a savage weapon to the banquet was out of the question. So, it was just twelve daggers I had to work with. It was best to keep things as simple as possible.

As I contemplated this, the Princess lingered, seemingly deep in thought, just as my body started to tremble slightly from the cold night breeze. She was staring firmly at me when she finally spoke.

“Alright. How should I gauge your combat abilities?”

“I should be able to win against a decent knight.”

“Against a knight from the Imperial Order?”

“I wouldn’t know until we try.”

I’ll need my main weapon, but I’m confident I can win. Maybe sensing my thoughts, the Princess let out a small chuckle and lifted my chin with her fingers. Our eyes met—her fiery gaze clashing with my frosty one.

…The Princess is intense. If Lilian is cool and Yulia is like sunlight, then she feels like a volcano—one that could erupt at any moment. Normally composed, she has the potential to turn everything around her to ashes in an instant if provoked.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t scared of her, but I tried to meet her gaze with as much steadiness as I could muster. The Princess slowly explained my role.

“Alright. Then let’s keep it simple. Your task is to subdue anyone causing disturbances at the ball. If you truly possess the strength to match the Imperial Order, it should be doable.”

“Yes.”

Nodding, the Princess clicked her tongue slightly, seemingly displeased with something before turning her back to me. I slightly bowed and began to exit. Oh, but before that…

“However, Your Highness, I will prioritize the Young Lady’s safety above all else.”

“That’s acceptable.”

The Princess, having answered quietly, slipped away, almost as if she were running from something. But I didn’t ponder it further and headed to my room.

#

The next day, I woke up at dawn and promptly roused the Young Lady. I helped her wash her face as she rubbed her sleepy eyes, applied some fragrance, and finished off the preparations with a deep breath. It was about to get labor intensive.

I styled her hair, did her makeup, starved her from lunch, tightened her corset, and helped her into her dress… Once all was said and done, I maintained a composed façade while sending Lilian off.

“Ugh, I don’t want to go…”

“But you have to. Go with Yulia.”

“Hmm, okay. Catherine, rest well since you worked hard today.”

Though I tried to act as if it were no big deal, I must have been caught since Lilian worriedly left the room. I confirmed that Lilian left the dormitory, met up with Yulia, and hopped into the carriage before quickly returning to my room.

Now, time to change.

Though my chest wasn’t particularly large, it was noticeable enough, so I wore something that covered my figure well. After donning a mask, I stealthily slid into the banquet hall.

I was told to guard her, but I wasn’t given specifics on how. With this in mind, I took cover directly above the Princess, hidden in the ceiling. It turned out to be easier to infiltrate than I anticipated. The Young Lady wasn’t there yet, but the Princess was scanning the room as if searching for someone.

Wearing a deep red dress with a slight plunge at the chest, she lifted her glass, seemingly unfazed by the hungry gazes of the surrounding men, but had the skill of someone used to checking for threats in a crowd.

I tossed a pre-written note smoothly. The note was carried along by the wind, and I thought, “How did it just slip right through there?”

“Eek?!”

“Your Highness?”

“It’s nothing, nothing at all!”

Startled for a moment, the Princess slyly retrieved the note from between her cleavage. Initially wearing a suspicious expression, her face relaxed as she unfolded the note. Once she glanced around, searching for the sender, I was, of course, nowhere to be found. I dropped another note, and fortunately, it didn’t disappear into her cleavage this time.

…

The Princess looked up at the ceiling. I flashed her a peace sign, and I could see her swallow a sigh. With a face filled with questions, she was trying hard to keep her composure, but her fiery glare directed at me was more than a bit intimidating. I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Your Highness? Is there something up there?”

“No, it’s just that the lights seem a bit bright.”

“Oh, this is fine.”

One man was rubbing his hands together, trying his best to flatter the Princess. The sly type right out of a painting, I thought as I scanned the banquet hall. No suspicious characters around.

Suddenly, a voice announced, “Here come Lilian Beon Portus and Yulia!”

With that, Lilian and Yulia entered hand in hand. Despite a few sour faces from people not pleased with their camaraderie, most were too wary of the House of Portus to show open discomfort.

I watched them happily as I continued to observe the banquet hall.

#

…How frustrating. Lilian thought as she surveyed her surroundings. The entrance to the ball was an important aspect of the game segment. It marked the first appearance of the Animal Party, which could be considered a rival faction, and was also where one could gauge the interest of the highest-ranked male hero.

That was why, upon meeting Yulia, she immediately asked who her partner was, only to receive the shock of a confident, “None.” Why, how could that be?! Stunned, Lilian gazed at Yulia, who responded with a gleeful smile, “What about you? Do you have a partner?”

“Ah.”

Originally, she should have entered with her fiancé, Prince Bellus, but given that the engagement was essentially broken, it was only natural that Lilian had no partner. Truth be told, she had no intention of entering with Prince Bellus anyway.

“Then let’s go in together!”

Yulia beamed at her, suggesting they enter together, and… well, denying that was somewhat out of the question, so Lin sighed and nodded in acceptance. Why? Even if all male heroes had zero favorability, one would usually at least apply for a dance. Little did Lilian understand, she ended up entering with Yulia.

People’s stares cut through her like knives, but Lilian straightened her back and brushed off those looks. She had to act as if she were wearing armor on her face—such was the dignity of nobility.

…Why she knew this, she couldn’t grasp, but Lilian moved elegantly, as her body remembered how. She wished Catherine were present. Neither student nor noble, Catherine was unable to enter the ballroom. Lilian quietly sighed to herself as she took her position against a pillar. A spot that was difficult for others to approach.

This was an indirect way of expressing that she didn’t want to socialize, but slowly, people began to come forward. Most of them were men. Naturally, news of her broken engagement spread quickly through the academy. Anyone who could grasp the golden jewel of the House of Portus could potentially be ranked as the second most powerful person on the continent.

Even the manners of socializing were cast aside in their pursuit…

“Would you care to dance, Lady Lilian?”

“I’m sorry, but I must decline.”

Normally, it would be considered good manners not to decline the first dance. But since the other party had already broken etiquette, Lilian had no intention of maintaining it. The man, turned down firmly, retreated slightly dejected. Other men hesitated at the sight of Lilian’s iron wall, but it only took that one man for more dance invitations to push their way through.

As this was happening, nobody asked Yulia beside her for a dance. Despite her beauty, few wanted to dance with a commoner. It weighed heavily on Lilian’s mind, and she stole glances at Yulia, who seemed at peace. No, rather, she looked extremely relaxed.

Around this time, Lilian felt a twinge of mischief. After repelling the men, Lilian approached Yulia, extending her hand.

“U-uh, Lilian?”

“Lady, would you care to dance with me?”

“Uh? E-eek?”

She noticed everyone around gasping in shock. Lilian wore a triumphant smile as she took hold of the bewildered Yulia’s hand. Thus, they moved toward the center of the banquet hall.