"─ ─ Master Gilbert, thank you for waiting."
Down the stairs, Sofia called out to Gilbert. Shoes with low heels that make it easy to walk resonate with a gentle rhythm. Gilbert, who finished his job earlier, was talking to Hans in Saloon.
Night party clothes look more glossy than knight clothes. Gilbert, who often serves as Mathias' escort, rarely attends night parties outside of work. I thought I was standing next to him, and my heartbeat rang as I approached him.
"I'm not waiting. Women need time to prepare ─ ─"
Gilbert stops talking to Hans and turns to Sofia. Sophia leaned her neck to the point where the words she was about to say were stopped. Finally, he walks down the stairs and towards Gilbert.
"Thank you for your lovely dress. Does it suit you...?
Beautiful dress and jewelry. I was worried that I would look good enough for it. Looking up from the front, the blue eyes were swinging towards Sofia.
"Oh, it looks good on you.... it's beautiful."
Hans laughs deep into his throat as he sees Gilbert's ears slightly stained with dust. Sofia was pleased with the compliments she was told to murmur and her cheeks relaxed. At the same time, it is wrapped in a feeling of reassurance that blood has passed through the body.
"Thank you... thank you"
A smile comes naturally to mind. I wonder if I could be as much of myself as I could be next to Gilbert.
"Sophia-san, you're so beautiful. It's more than I imagined. Good luck and have fun today."
Yes.
Hans' push gave Sofia courage. The pleasure of being recognized makes your mind a little stronger again.
─ ─ Let's go, Sofia
Gilbert gave Sofia his left hand. With a slightly more formalistic posture than usual, her gaze is as high as Sofia's. Staring at me from the front, my heart jumped once.
"Yes, thank you for today."
Among the many nobles at the club, Sofia relies on Gilbert's help. Gently lay your right hand wrapped in lace gloves over the hand that you were given. The familiar temperature calmed me down.
They got off the carriage in front of the entrance to the royal castle. The decorated nobles are sucked into the lit chalk castle one after the other. Sofia unexpectedly put her hand to the scene.
"Are you okay?
I was shouted at and looked right next door. Gilbert looked at Sofia carefreely.
"... it's okay."
I saw the royal castle again. First time in, it was more beautiful and bigger than any building I've ever seen.
The hall where the evening party was held was on the ground floor, and many people had already gathered before the start. A large chandelier shines in the middle, and magical objects are lit up by the walls. The polished floor reflected it and made the room feel brighter. Sofia stepped in and was overwhelmed by the sight.
─ ─ Amazing.
Gloriously decorated nobles and waves of light and sound. Reflexively frightened, Sofia breathed consciously and deeply. Don't let them drink it. Tell yourself you have to do something commensurate with Gilbert's neighborhood.
"Today is the first night party of the New Year. There were many participants. Don't miss out."
Sofia placed her hand modestly on Gilbert's left arm. My fingertips get tense and stiff when I think I will wrinkle when I grip them. Gilbert smiled and escorted Sofia to the back of the hall.
There was a loud noise. Sofia leaned her neck at a noisy night club where she could hear the sound of her shoes clearly. Gilbert wrinkles between his eyebrows.
"I'm sorry. ─ ─ Apparently, he's more interested in us."
Sophia clearly regretted listening to the surroundings of the words. Those who look at curiosity and have a stunned expression. Those who speak secretly among those who are nearby. Your feet are fluttering with attention that has never been directed before. The heel of an unfamiliar shoe swayed.
"Hmm...."
Gilbert reached out to support a slightly unbalanced Sofia. I can see my cheeks dyed at a close distance. As he raised his face, Gilbert lowered his eyebrows and looked at Sofia.
"It's unusual, isn't it painful?
"No, I'm just surprised."
Only Gilbert could be seen in Sofia today. I'm glad you realized the kindness that supported me. Gilbert took the silver clock out of his chest, checked the time and opened his mouth.
I see. It's time for the royal family to enter. That should make you less worried. "
As he said, the king and queen entered soon afterwards. Mathias, the prince of kings, followed with Emilia the queen.
Eventually, in the King's short speech, glasses are exchanged here and there. A night party to celebrate the New Year has begun.
Unlike regular night clubs, a social debut begins with a debutant greeting the royal family first. Hand over the name-card to Coleman and exchange words with the King and Queen in the order in which it was read. So the man receives a white flower from the king, and adorns it with a boutonniere on his collar. The woman asks the queen to insert an extra round of flowers into her hair decoration. That will bear witness to the one who debuted that day.
Sofia also gave the card to Coleman and joined the line. It seems that there are about thirty young people debating at this evening's party, including Sofia. Only one person is supposed to accompany you to the front of the greeting, and all the other Debutants are lined up with a father or a mother.
"─ ─ Master Gilbert, I'm sorry."
On such occasions, Sofia, escorted by Gilbert, was definitely floating. Gilbert on the side was uncomfortable too, so he dropped his gaze.
"No, I don't care. You should be more confident. ─ ─ Especially today, it's really beautiful."
Under these circumstances, Sofia was able to move forward with Gilbert's words.
Sofia didn't realize, but in fact, Sofia has attracted a lot of attention since she entered the hall. It is a beautiful lady with a clear and beautiful atmosphere who is not inferior to Gilbert. Those who knew Sofia today's debut were not here yet, and Gilbert, the Marquis of Forster and also known as the Black Knight, escorted her to love was one of the reasons for the attention.
Neither the Baron of Lannish nor Sofia is here. They noticed it when Coleman's voice echoed loudly as they read the card.