CH 71

Chapter 71: The audience is full of nerves

“Are you cold?”

Lars-sama, who was sitting next to me, noticed it.

“I’m okay. I just feel a little scared.”

If I say this, Lars-sama seems to think that I am considering royal family members as scary people from my own situation.

“Please be at ease. I will definitely protect you.”

My heart leaps at the casually spoken words.

I’ve never heard such words from anyone before. It’s like a line that a knight serving a princess or a man loving a noblewoman would say in a story.

That’s why it makes me excited.

I am aware that Lars-sama did not say these sweet words from love. To reassure me. I must not misunderstand.

As if seeing through my such thoughts, Lars-sama whispered in my ear.

“I know you are strong, but there are times when you cannot stand up alone. And because you cannot have an escort in places like this, at this time, I swear to protect you as your knight.”

I have a delusion that my heart is melting at the sweet words.

To wake up my such consciousness, the king and queen entered next.

“His Majesty Aldias, Her Royal Highness Queen Alegria.”

The king, who had a gentle atmosphere, was wearing a mantle with a gold Chinese grass pattern on a white background. His clothes were a deep navy that matched the white mantle.

Her Majesty the Queen, who was walking next to him, was wearing a beautiful white dress with a gold and blue pattern. Her expression may have been stern because she was naturally a bit sharp-eyed.

When they sat in chairs placed on the altar at the wall, the orchestra that had been waiting at the edge began to play music.

Amid the mellow sounds, people made a line to greet His Majesty the King while chatting.

“Let’s line up.”

I nodded to Lars-sama’s voice and intended to slowly face each other at the end, but that didn’t happen.

“Please go first, Duke Svald.”

“I don’t mind going later, so go ahead.”

The nobles say this in unison and Lars-sama and I are pushed up in turn.

Before I knew it, we were at the point where it was our turn as soon as the person in front finished.

“La, Lars-sama.”

“If you are asked anything, I will try to answer as much as possible, so just nod or supplement it.”

When he said that, it was finally our turn.

I can feel the nobles behind me watching me with interest. It hurts to feel their gaze piercing my back.

I see, they must have come to hear what His Majesty has to say about me. What a bother.

But now that things have come to this, I have no choice but to resolve myself.

I secretly took a deep breath and walked in front of His Majesty.

I don’t know what will be said if we make eye contact, so I lower my gaze and look at the white marble floor. Oh, there’s a fossil.

“Thank you for inviting me to today’s party. I was eager to come at your invitation, Your Majesty.”

Lars-sama greets him in a familiar manner. As expected, someone who has talked with the royal family many times is different.

While looking at the fossil shell, I was about to tremble with fear and unable to escape reality.

What should I do if something is said?

I am used to hearing insults and nonsense, but I do not have the skill to smoothly deflect them or turn them into something else. All I can do is pray that I don’t give an outrageous reply.

“Welcome, Duke Lars Svald. Sorry for the sudden invitation.”

“There is no need for Your Majesty to be concerned. If you call me, I will come.”

A peaceful conversation begins. However, between the words, subtle nuances are hidden and not spoken.

In the case of His Majesty, he apologized for the sudden invitation, but from the point of sending the royal chamberlain specifically, he must have requested that he definitely attend. So it means “If I invite you (if there are no other matters), you will come running.”

On the other hand, Lars-sama’s side is making statements like a loyal subject, but honestly, it seems that this time’s invitation was also not a matter of coming specially to beg, but rather a lack of interest in coming.

Therefore, it must mean “If you invite me (if there are no other matters), I will come.”

He can’t directly tell His Majesty such a thing, so he just changed the words to something that seems appropriate.

His Majesty probably understands this as well.

“I understand that you are busy, so I didn’t want to bother you, but since it’s a rare opportunity, I thought I’d take a look.”

Even though he cut off his words there, I feel like His Majesty is looking this way.

It means that he conveyed to me indirectly that he wanted to see me.

There may be many reasons, but I’m sure he wanted to know whether I really didn’t use any tricks, or whether Lars-sama was involved in my real father’s scheming.

After a few seconds of silence, the queen interjected from the side.

“It’s a very nice dress. Did you prepare this, Duke?”

The nobles behind him rustle at those words.

I also think this is a normal reaction.

Even though I am being supported and consider Lars-sama my second foster father, I accept the dress because I do. However, normally, if a man who is not a relative gives a dress, he should be a fiance.

***TL: 自分では養ってもらっている身で,Lars-samaを第二の養父だと思っているから,ドレスを贈られても受け入れている.

But in this case, it’s okay not to honestly say so.

There are people who secretly give dresses to their loved ones, and it’s fine as long as the person doesn’t affirm it.

That’s why if Lars-sama honestly said that he gave it, there would be a big commotion. Some of the rustling people probably just want a disturbance because they are hungry for entertainment.

But there is no worry about this time.

“No, this was given by her new foster father, Count Radin. He made it with great care and attention so that everyone would know that he accepted her as a daughter when she went to her first party as a daughter.”

“Oh, it’s a shame. I thought you had finally decided on a partner.”

The queen smiles mischievously.

“When a beautiful young lady started living in your mansion, didn’t many of the ladies cry and wet their pillows?”

“It is an honor. I am not the kind of person who deserves to be thought of that way, however.”

“You’re being too modest.”

His Majesty laughed as he said this.

And finally, the conversation turned to me.