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“I will take you to the banquet hall right away.”
After the audience with the Emperor, Luciel and her family went out through the curtained entrance following the guidance of the page.
A splendid banquet hall with cheerful violin performance spread in the front. Even the nobles who were engrossed in the party paid attention to the appearance of the Duke of Bellstein.
“The Duke of Bellstein……!”
“I saw the Duchess in town the other day…….”
“The whole family is dressed in black. Very stylish.”
“Did you hear that rumor? In Beatrice’s dressing room……!”
“Duke Bellstein looks down from the top of the world today, too.”
There was a lively sound of chattering from all over the place. The page tried to guide them to the designated table, but it was difficult to move because of people. Whether or not they were friends with Bellstein, the nobles who wanted to line up to them rushed to greet.
“Greetings to the Duke of Bellstein! I’m Count Hermann.”
“It is an honor to meet you, sir.”
“I sent you a letter last time, do you remember?”
To the nobles who were approaching one after another to the point that it was difficult to receive all of them, the Duke showed his tiredness and drew a moderate line.
“First, let’s settle down and seat, then we can slowly say hello to each other.”
At his words, people split sideways and made a path. Only then, with the guidance of the page, the family were allowed to sit at the designated round table. When they saw the Duke himself seat Luciel in a high chair in consideration for her, who was small in stature, the ladies and young girls groaned once.
As the nobility’s greetings toward Bellstein faded away, Luciel also looked around at that time to assess her surroundings.
‘Did the other families come? I can’t see them.’
The back of the chairs were higher than Luciel’s sitting height, so her view was blocked. Kizef, who was holding his chin, leaned his body towards her and whispered in her ear.
“Luciel, what are you looking for?”
“Ah, I wonder if all seven families were here…”
Kizef glanced around a bit and said:
“It hasn’t come yet. I think only a part has arrived…… Luciel, your friend is over there.”
“Ah……!”
There was also a familiar family on the list that she read in advance.
Marques Marande, it was the family of Dana who had become her friend at the reception. After a while, the Marquis came to greet them.
“Your Grace the Duke and Duchess of Bellstein, greetings, it’s been a while after the reception. How have you been?”
Even the Duke was not harsh on the couple who had a gentle impression. While the grown-ups greeted each other, Dana greeted Kizef and her eyes lit up at Luciel.
“……I missed you, Luciel! I didn’t expect to see you in the salon. I heard a rumor that you were seen in the city, and you really came.”
“Yes. I’m sorry for not contacting you in advance, Dana. I’ve been a little busy. Still, it’s nice to see you like this.”
The two girls held each other’s hands and expressed their delight.
“After the salon, let’s play together. We should call Masha too.”
“Yes, good ideia.”
Meeting a friend in an unfamiliar place also seemed to relieve Luciel’s tension a bit.
“Dana, will you also publish an article?”
“No. My parents will do it. I don’t know about such things. Wait. No way…… Is Luciel presenting an article?”
“It happened.”
“I’ll be rooting for you!”
Before long, other families, including the Marquis of Hills, Marquis Garsol, and Count Serian, arrived one after another and filled their tables. The prince and the princess also occupied a table and sat down.
Then, without time to say other greetings, a magnificent performance resounded along with the voice of the page who announced the appearance of the Emperor and Empress.
“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress!”
Everyone stood up and applause poured in. At each table, the servants of the Emperor turned around, filling the adult’s glasses with white wine and the children’s glasses with non-alcoholic champagne.
The Empress, with her light brown hair beautifully raised, began to deliver a congratulatory speech with a clear voice while looking at the audience.
“The Literature Salon is an event that I have a deep affection for. I hope that the invited families and the families here can all enjoy it together. May the glory of the Empire and the blessings of the goddess be shared.”
Then everyone raised their glasses high and shouted toasts.
Amid the heightened atmosphere, a young poet, who climbed up on the stage of the banquet hall, plucked the harp and started reciting poetry.
“Ah, yearned one! Come to me at the end of the season.”
After watching a lively opera performance under the theme of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, the large video balls installed in the banquet hall turned on one by one.
The video sphere reflected the romantically decorated outdoor garden scenery. Fireflies floated among artificial waterfalls and meandering trees. Around it were lilacs, roses, hydrangeas, and lavender flowers mingled with butterflies. It was like a fairy forest.
Families attending the salon were instructed to move to a special banquet hall, and left with the admiration of other nobles.
Luciel glanced at the empty tables and thought.
‘Two families haven’t come yet. Marquis of Baluk and Duke of Karhan.’
They moved to the guest room provided by the Imperial Palace, changed their dresses and headdresses, and were given some rest, but the two families still had not arrived.
A dinner followed in a special banquet hall.
Many high-ranking aristocrats gathered to eat together, and the atmosphere was heavy, so most of the children could not continue to eat.
However, Luciel was savoring the dishes that came out on the revolving table one by one on her plate.
Louivid, who was lovingly looking at Luciel, said without realizing it.
“Our child has a good appetite.”
“Oh my, the young Princess is happily eating without being overwhelmed.”
The Empress also wiped her lips with a napkin and gave a few words.
“I heard that the Duke of Bellstein is interested in business these days.”
Marquis Garsol asked, rubbing his beard, and Prince Reynolds silently watched. Louivid answered, while focusing on his plate.
“Well……I have so many interests.”
“The Duke’s interests change all the time, so it’s not just one or two. Hahaha.”
Emperor Neuschwan smiled and answered instead. It seemed that he was very curious about the contents of Lake Frandel, which had been purchased from the imperial family.
“More than that, I heard that Princess Claudia is running a fun business.”
Claudia’s eyes widened at Duke Bellstein’s unexpected remark, but as soon as she met Luciel’s eyes, she spoke calmly.
“Yes, it’s a program to train therapists specialized in depression……It’s still in progress. The Princess advice was helpful.”
Louivid, who saw the two girls make eye contact, said.
“If you ever need help, please let me know.”
Everyone seemed surprised for a moment.
In the past, there had been no sign of Bellstein being friendly to the Imperial Family, and since he expressed the meaning of ‘help’ more openly than ever, it was the first time that such a promise had come out of the lips of the Duke of Bellstein, even for mere etiquette.
It was no different from saying that Bellstein would support Princess Claudia.
Prince Reynold crumpled up the napkin he was holding under the table. It was then that he understood. What did Claudia believe in that made her so arrogant.
As the topic of discussion passed, there was talk of what children were good at, and it was about time for conversations related to Kizef to pop up.
“Well, isn’t the Young Prince Bellstein thirteen? Is it true that you have already developed aura at that age?”
“It’s still not good enough.”
“To be born with magic and equipped with swordsmanship, he is truly Bellstein’s next head of state.”
At the compliments from the grown-ups, Kizef blushed. The Duke was excited to show off Luciel’s magical talent as well.
A boy in a hurry arrived at the dining hall under the guidance of a page.
Clear sky-blue eyes with pink hair down to his neck. He looked younger than Kizef but was a bigger child than Luciel.
The boy had no sword or wand, but looked like a young musician caring a violin.
Luciel wondered for a moment if something had happened to her eyes.
‘Huh? I’m sure I just saw a tail……’
“Well, I am very sorry for being late. I came on behalf of my father and brother, who are the heads of state. I’m the second son of the Duke of Karhan, Ahin von Karhan.”
“Welcome, you’ve been through a lot. What happened to your father?”
“Ah, because of a monster that appeared from the sea, he went to deal with it in a hurry.”
“Oh, dear. I hope everything is fine.”
As for the Duke of Karhan, he was one of the only two Duchy’s of the Empire, and the strongest in the southern region. He was also a family that conquered the vast Carabi waters and forty indigenous islands and defeated the pirates to pacify the area.
So the name came up with the image of a rough sailor, but the boy who appeared was far from that image, so it was difficult to associate him with the Karhan name.
As the boy chatted for a while, he put down the violin and sheet music that he had hugged around him.
Then Young Master Karhan carefully asked Luciel.
“Young Lady, can I sit next to you?”
“Of course, Young Master. Sit comfortably….”
Luciel smiled softly as he spoke to her, but Kizef abruptly got up and sat down at the chair where little Karhan was going to sit, looking at him with cold eyes, Kizef said.
“……There is a seat over there. And you should know that this is not Young Lady, but Princess Bellstein.”
“Ah,……is that so. Excuse me. I didn’t know you were a married lady.”
“Now you should know better.”
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Ahin blushed and took a seat next to him, and at Kizef’s sudden action, Luciel’s face heated up as she wanted to hide in a hole.
‘……Kizef, stop it.’
That was not enough, so he diligently sliced the steak and transferred it to Luciel’s plate.
Across from him was Prince Reynold, and on the other side of Kizef, was Ahin who he was wary of. Adults burst into laughter at such a Young Lord.
“……It’s a good time to be young.”