064.
Clank—
An antique teacup was set down with a gesture of grace.
Even a single movement like this was enough to display the profound courtesy and upbringing that had become second nature.
“Hm…”
Licheisa Zikaud murmured quietly, a voice so low that no one else could hear, as she glanced around.
It was quiet.
That unfamiliar word fittingly described the current situation perfectly.
Only ladies of refinement and grace were allowed to attend Eclésia.
But even those distinguished young ladies of influential families were, after all, girls of a certain age.
Eclésia, with the lively Daphnis among them, was usually one of the more vibrant gatherings.
Occasionally, Daphnis and Bell exchanged rather sharp opinions, but that added to the atmosphere.
Licheisa liked this aspect of Eclésia.
Being a part of Eclésia had strengthened her status within her own family, and playing around with the charming Daphnis wasn’t bad either.
However, it was quiet now.
To be exact, it had become quiet.
Was it because Eliana and Serasie had arrived?
True, there was a great deal of conflict between the opinions of these two young ladies compared to Daphnis and Bell. And Eliana’s personality was not just cold but outright frigid.
Still, that alone couldn’t explain this atmosphere, could it?
“Uh, Miss Daphnis…”
One of the young ladies, clearly disconcerted, hesitated to ask Daphnis a question.
Not long ago, someone had questioned Daphnis about the source of her information.
At that time, an invisible tension had certainly been established, for Bell’s questioning was entirely appropriate with a tone that demanded accountability.
This time, however, it was not Bell but a less distinguished member of a viscount family who repeated the earlier inquiry.
Naturally, it would seem reasonable for that same chilly atmosphere to return, but Daphnis couldn’t let that happen.
The reason was simple—she was fully aware of how absurd her own words had been.
There should be limits even to expressing anger.
This was not a matter of wounded pride; rather, it was about substantiating her claims with evidence.
“…What I said isn’t wrong. I saw it with my own eyes: the application duly submitted.”
Daphnis would have preferred to admit that her eyes had deceived her.
Why not?
The backbone of Eclésia could be said to be this very teahouse, with relations extending to the previous generation—bonds not easily broken.
Of course, the prestigious people of Mulrand City’s Central Square, and especially this most elegant teahouse, were the ones who assisted in Eclésia’s administration.
Adminstration here merely entailed handling application forms from those who wished to join, but as it stood, there was an issue with one of the applications.
Daphnis quietly placed a beautifully adorned document on the tabletop.
All eyes turned toward it.
On the paper were equally elaborate scripts, beautifully written.
In short, its contents were simple.
Desiring to join Eclésia, which boasts ancient history and a wealth of beautiful flowers, the applicant had framed their wish with various ornate phrases.
Reading through this, the attention of those present turned to the name of the one who had written the application.
[Sinat Dranunus]
“Dranunus…”
“Yes, I believe it’s the family I know…”
“…”
Even Licheisa reacted to the name.
In the Claire Empire, there was no one daring enough to falsely claim the name of the Dranunus family.
Everyone knew the illustrious family that possessed Blamia, a genius grand sorceress.
It was even rumored that the current attitude of the Royal Family was shaped due to the Dranunus family.
Any young lady daring to carry this great surname was, certainly, noteworthy.
Clank.
Everyone’s gaze that had been fixed on the application shifted.
“Why are you all so tense? There’s no harm in this.”
The one who set down the teacup was Serasie.
The brilliant eldest daughter of the Hiart family and the future ruler of the Northern Territory.
“If the Dranunus family joins Eclésia, our social circle will inevitably grow so much that we might even become involved in adults’ affairs. Naturally, our status will rise accordingly.”
Her sweet smile belied an exceedingly pragmatic statement.
And no one could counter her words.
Because they were so true, and no one dared to oppose the Hiart family’s word.
“… If it’s Dranunus, then Kalen too…”
“Miss Eliana, Eclésia is for ladies only.”
All except for one young girl.
Eliana Lakatus.
The only girl present who could challenge Serasie’s words.
Serasie replied to Eliana’s muttering.
“Kalen cannot come here. This is a place that no man can enter.”
“…”
“His talents are not ready to be revealed to the world yet.”
Eliana slowly closed and reopened her eyes.
Aside from Eliana and Serasie, no one here could understand the implications of what was being said.
Considering that Kalen had been at the third tier of power when he left, and with the current minimum requirement raised to the fifth tier, it was still a distant goal. Revealing himself while they remembered him as he was would be ill-advised.
“So, what? Will everyone accept this?”
Serasie skillfully took control of the atmosphere and asked everyone.
The subject had momentarily diverged, but the main question was clear: Would Eclésia take responsibility for the first chapter of Sinat Dranunus’ splendid debut?
Serasie looked around at everybody.
Eliana quietly stared only at Serasie.
A visible reminder of who truly held power in this gathering.
Daphnis tightly clenched her fists under the table, suppressing her sorrow.
About the precious Eclésia.
And about the mysterious boy named Kalen.
Daphnis, who had never regretted her family’s standing in her life, would undoubtedly find this unbearable in the current situation.
“… I will… approve….”
The minimal dignity Daphnis could preserve was to be the first among the remaining members to agree.
“Me too…”
“I approve.”
“My approval.”
“I agree…”
The other young ladies hesitantly joined in, slowly accepting the proposal.
Serasie happily observed this, then finally turned to look at Eliana, who had not yet spoken.
“… I approve too.”
“Then it’s decided?”
Serasie picked up the application on the table.
With proper decorum, she bid her farewells.
“I’ll handle this. This meeting is over. Everyone have a good day.”
Before anyone could say anything else,
Serasie had finished her goodbye and departed the room.
The haste in her movements puzzled everyone,
but one person among them understood.
Eliana seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.
Creeak!
Abruptly pushing her chair backward, she stood up and followed Serasie.
The sudden action left everyone momentarily confused before they understood that something was about to happen.
The other young ladies began to rise cautiously.
Following the slightly open door, they hesitantly shuffled toward it.
Daphnis Lerkalin’s face was also among those looking forward with anticipation.
*
“When will it be ready?”
“Please wait just a bit longer, Miss Dranunus. They are holding a meeting inside.”
“They wouldn’t reject me, would they?”
Meanwhile, at the central square of Mulrand City, inside the grand and sophisticated teahouse, a little conversation could be heard in the entrance.
Sinat was cheerfully chatting with a woman who appeared to be the teahouse owner, while Kalen stood watching the hallway leading inside, nodding to Sinat’s words.
“Annoying…”
“How do you plan to talk with other people?”
“That’s a separate issue, Kal! Clearly, you lack empathy!”
The teahouse owner was astonished by this uninhibited exchange.
Dranunus.
No less than the Dranunus family. The young lady possessing this surname was engaging in a casual conversation with a boy she had never seen before.
Boasting a bit, the teahouse owner believed she knew the social circle quite well.
After all, this was the exclusive teahouse of Eclésia.
If a merchant couldn’t discern such things, they wouldn’t be fit for the job.
To this knowledgeable owner, the boy seemed unfamiliar.
Not only among the notable young men of the social circle but entirely unknown, his face was that of someone just stepping into the circle for the first time.
‘This face will stir some chaos once it gets out.’
As the teahouse owner slowly examined Kalen’s face, she was certain.
There was no way this face could escape notice in the social circle; this was undoubtedly a noble young man who had yet to join the gatherings.
Decisions were quick, and actions even quicker.
“Sir… Are you affiliated with any organization?”
“Me?”
“Yes. If you haven’t aligned yourself with a place yet, perhaps I could make a recommendation?”
Kal narrowed his eyebrows.
Something was strange in her voice. Clearly, she had mistaken him for a newly initiated young noble.
Though grateful for her concern, he was about to gently decline when…
A chilling sensation.
Kal quickly turned to the side, responding to a sudden chill from beside him.
“Excuse me.”
“Ah, Miss Dranunus? Is something wrong…?”
“Right now…”
The smile that had just graced her face was gone.
Sinat now wore a cold, unyielding expression as if about to say something serious.
Just as Kal moved to intercede the unsettling sensation, and the teahouse owner noticed the oddity—
“Sinat Dranunus?”
From within the hallway leading deeper into the teahouse,
a delicate voice echoed.
A deep wine-colored, rich red hair.
Eyes that shimmered with the clarity and fiery transparency of ruby.
Serasie Hiart,
was approaching Sinat Dranunus.
