CH 79

“You have beautiful skin, Marianne.”

Daphne said, resting her hand on Marianne’s shoulder. Over the past few months, they’d been through so much together, so they’d become quite close. Marianne shuddered and turned away, uncomfortable with the feel of someone else’s hand on her bare skin. Daphne was helping Marianne dress. The light, soft fabric wrapped around her body differed from her nun’s habit.

“I don’t know if I should be wearing this.”

Marianne muttered as she grasped the hem of her clothes. She wore a light blue top, sleeveless from shoulders to arms, far from anything she had worn before. She didn’t even know if it was right for her to participate in such an event.

“I don’t know how often you’ll have to go to social gatherings, so take the chance to wear something different.”

Daphne said happily, tying Marianne’s hair up in a bun.

“We might as well make the few times count.”

Marianne looked in the mirror and saw a different person standing there than the Marianne Prim she knew. She clasped her hands together awkwardly in front of her. Behind the mirror, Daphne was smiling, wearing a pink dress she’d purchased.

“Would you like to wear a necklace?”

Marianne shook her head. The more things she put on her body, the more out of place she felt. Daphne’s hand rose from Marianne’s shoulder.

“A smile, then?”

Marianne’s soft cheek was gently pressed by Daphne’s probing hand. Her index finger lightly lifted the corner of Marianne’s mouth, but it only caused an awkward expression. It couldn’t be called a smile. Daphne withdrew her hand, and Marianne’s expression returned to normal.

“Do you know how to smile?”

“…I don’t know.”

Marianne rubbed the corners of her mouth as she said that. Happiness, sadness, anger. She had never experienced such a vast range of emotions in her life. Not when the church took her in as a child and not when she was an Inquisitor.

“Then try smiling.”

Daphne smiled brightly as she said it. It looked so natural and beautiful.

“Maybe if you practice smiling, you’ll realize how to do it?”

Daphne’s words made Marianne shake her head in the mirror. Right now, She had no reason to smile. She knew why people laugh, but it was nothing more than a reflex for her.

“Smile.”

“…Smiling.”

At Daphne’s words, Marianne forced her facial muscles to work and lift the corners of her mouth. While there was a change, it was barely better than the one earlier. She quickly returned to her natural expression, and Daphne chuckled as she watched.

“I think you should practice without looking in the mirror.”

Daphne said, cupping Marianne’s chin. She blinked and stood up.

“I’ll take this.”

Marianne adjusted her clothes and turned to walk out of the dressing room. Daphne’s eyes followed her, and sighed. Marianne was like a child who couldn’t sit still for more than a few minutes.

Then, the image of Marianne staring at Elroy flashed through Daphne’s mind.

“…Hmm.”

Daphne puffed out her cheeks slightly and looked toward the curtain where Marianne had left.

***

My duties at this Harvest Festival celebration were set in stone.

To greet the patrons of the nobility who would be coming from all over and to warn the nobles once again of their futile endeavors, which had been in full swing since I had taken down the Giant. The first could have been luck, but the second proved my strength.

(They haven’t even met a monster face-to-face, let alone a Disaster. Yet they do something so ignorant.)

The Holy Sword said disdainfully, and I agreed with her. In the safety of their mansions, surrounded by escorts, they discussed the lives and deaths of hundreds and thousands. Yet I was the only one receiving criticism for their actions.

(Make it clear on this occasion. Ensure they know who is keeping them alive and who is taking the blame that should have been theirs.)

I nodded. Those nobles who think they know better than anyone else. I would defend their lives but never be on their side.

(They won’t be able to take you lightly now.)

Just then, the door opened, and Georg entered the room. He looked surprisingly good. It was the first time I’d ever seen him in anything other than armor or raggedy casual clothes. He was clean-shaven, his hair slicked back and dressed in a suit accentuating his muscles.

“Are you ready to go?”

I nodded and turned. Georg took in my appearance and frowned slightly. I was wearing a black suit, not my usual white outfit.

“Don’t you think you should leave your Holy Sword behind?”

Georg asked, looking at my left hip. I slid my eyes down to my left and shook my head.

“No. It’s my identity. I’m not leaving it behind.”

“Well, I didn’t want to leave my sword either.”

Georg shrugged as he said it.

“Once the ladies of the ballroom see it, they’ll turn away.”

“That’s the plan.”

I said with a smirk. I had no desire to dance with the young ladies who would be there. I’m sure others disagree, but dancing in the first place is like walking right into their aristocratic politics.

“I don’t want to associate with nobles. We’re similar on that end.”

“…Elroy. You forget I am a noble in the first place. I’m destined to associate with nobles you don’t want to associate with.”

Georg said with a sigh. I knew he didn’t bother with such things, which is probably why he hasn’t married yet.

“…Your face shows what you’re thinking, Elroy.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?”

I asked with a raised eyebrow, and Georg coughed in disbelief.

“For your information, I have a fiancée. I want you to know that I lead a more normal life than you think.”

‘Wow, he had a fiancée, that hard-drinking, brainy, muscle-bound knight? No, then what was he doing all this time without getting married?’

“It only happened after defeating the Third Disaster. I wasn’t planning on getting married, but I gave in to the pressure to meet her one time and, well…I guess here I am.”

‘Oh, yeah, you’re making fun of me now.’ A huge grin spread across his face.

“Oh, yeah. Congratulations.”

“Anyway, if you’re ready, let’s get going. There’s a carriage waiting for us downstairs.”

“…How about Daphne and Marianne?”

I asked, and Georg shrugged with a bitter smile.

“They said they’d come separately, so they must be preparing.”

(…It seems you have much to learn, Elroy.)

The Holy Sword sounded exasperated. I followed Georg outside and went inside the carriage prepared for us. He sighed as he unbuttoned his constricting top.

“Still, this is your first social event, so there’s no need to be so tense. You have a venomous look on your face.”

“What’s the point of having fun? I’m going to try to extort some more money instead.”

“Who knows, maybe you’ll find someone new.”

“I thought I told you I didn’t want to. I’m bringing my Holy Sword on purpose.”

“You never know, Elroy.”

Georg chuckled. After hearing that the bastard had a fiancée, his face became more punchable. Seeing my furrowed brow, his laughter intensified.

“Well, with two such beautiful women around, it’s hard to see how any young lady could catch your eye.

“Why are you doing this? They are members of our party that I recruited.”

Georg put a hand on my shoulder as if he understood. ‘Why are you touching me?’

“Okay, okay. I understand now, Elroy.”

“…Forget it. I don’t want to talk.”

I nodded and closed my eyes, riding the rattling carriage.

***

The central hall of the royal palace.

The weather was chilly, so the event wasn’t held in the gardens. The Harvest Festival is more important than New Year’s or Christmas. On this day, local officials from each province gathered to report to the king on the year’s harvest, events, and political meetings.

“…By the way, there are much less old people than I thought.”

I muttered as I stood at the entrance to the hall. Beside me, Georg gave me a bored look.

“Was there supposed to be this many young people?”

Young ladies dressed in flowers and jewelry, and the young masters who took in their beauty. The aristocrats who watched over their children. The royal palace may not be a place for anyone to enter, but it felt that was untrue with the number of people gathered.

“Am I that important?”

(Winning people’s hearts is not easy. There are a lot of nobles that will risk anything for a chance to win you over.)

I sighed and entered the hall, and the moment I did, all eyes were on me.

“Hero?”

“It’s him.”

“I’ve never seen him this close before.”

I heard whispers around me. I held my head high and listened to the nobles talking about me.

“Isn’t he a commoner by birth?”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s only a matter of time before he’s knighted.”

“Still, where did he come from?”

I walked away bored. Talking with the young ladies and masters was not something I wanted to deal with. I didn’t need to meet the little ones who were only their family’s successors, but the older nobles and influential figures now.

“Her Majesty hasn’t arrived yet.”

The Queen hasn’t shown herself yet. I looked back at Georg, who was looking at me with pity.

“If I’d known this would happen, I would have suggested you stay home too.”

“I wasn’t looking forward to it in the first place. It’s all so predictable; it’s kind of boring.”

I walked over to a table with a disinterested look, grabbed a drink, and clinked glasses with Georg. I planned to ignore them so they didn’t want to come up to talk, but when did things ever turn out the way I thought they would?

“I’m Coraline, daughter of Count Wess.”

A young woman with a striking blonde haircut blocked my path and greeted me. I turned toward Georg, thinking I could just ignore her, but he was already being held and interrogated by other nobles. I must look like a bloody piece of meat in the middle of the jungle.

“Will you do me the honor of being your partner for the day?”

She might not be much older than Daphne or Marianne, but her demeanor differed. Her eyes are full of intent to eat me. I didn’t show any sign of acceptance, but she was getting closer and closer. I looked around and realized she was only the first. The young ladies around were waiting for their chance to ask me to escort them.

Before I could reject her, someone stood between us.

“I’m sorry, but the Hero will be busy today.”

My eyes widened, and I looked at my saviors. Daphne and a very awkward-looking Marianne stood before me like bodyguards.

“I’m sure you understand.”