"─ ─ Miss Sofia Renish!
Coleman's voice sounds good and resounds throughout the venue. Sophia took her hand off Gilbert's arm, feeling her name and gaze gathered. Just a few steps away, there is a king and queen. I've never experienced that tension before. Sofia stretched her spine forward. Thank you graciously and deeply for being a noble lady.
"You're Sofia?
The voice was much nicer than expected, and Sofia raised her face slowly. Being there is the queen of this country, who grows older and less beautiful than ever.
"... yes"
Sophia, who fell in love unexpectedly, hurried to make a smile. My tutor taught me how to smile in trouble. The queen lowers her eyebrows when she sees it.
"Oh, I think I've been alerted. Hey, you."
"I'm sure you'll surprise me. ─ ─ Don't worry, Miss Sofia. We will celebrate and support your growth."
Sofia stretches her back again to the voice of a gentle and majestic king.
"Thank you."
He lowered his gaze and thanked again. The queen has a box with a variety of white flowers from season to season. The queen stood up from among them, choosing a round.
"I'll give you this flower. First you believe in yourself. ─ ─ And may the Marquis trust you."
For a moment, the queen seemed to have seen Gilbert behind Sofia. Was it known? The selected white flowers are beautifully inserted into the knots of Sofia's hair.
"Good luck."
Sofia felt her cheeks dyed in the words. I can say with certainty that the queen of this country, whom I met for the first time, is a very nice person. And the King was also a kind and splendid man. ─ ─ This is the country Gilbert protects.
"─ ─ Yes. I'll do my best....."
Her chest was so full that she was about to cry that Sofia bit her back teeth. Follow protocol and bow deeply. Soon, Gilbert held Sofia's hand.
"What's wrong? Sophia, what's going on?
"No, I just thought they were nice people."
Sophia's hair is adorned with Aster flowers. Until then, only the little white flowers made my hair look a little lonely, but now it looks gorgeous. White, fine petals and bright yellow in the center. The words of the flowers resonated strongly in Sofia's chest.
I see.... I have to go say hello to His Highness. "
Gilbert did not ask deeply and stayed close to Sofia. The King's and Queen's seats and Mathias' seats are slightly separated today due to a social debut. Sofia deliberately ignored the flickering gaze while leaning against Gilbert.
"You've met His Highness once. Her Royal Highness is here today. I wanted to see you."
Sofia turns a blind eye to Gilbert's unexpected story.
"Is Her Highness the Queen?
"Ah, Your Highness seems to be talking a lot.... those two are as close as ever."
Sophia smiled a little strangely as to what had happened. I came just in front of Mathias and Emilia's seat. Mathias and Gilbert met, and Mathias opened his mouth before Sofia and the others thanked him.
"Gilbert, you're here. It's been a long time, Miss Sofia ─ ─"
"─ ─ Sofia!
It was a familiar voice that stopped Sofia at the moment she panicked to lower her head. In the classy nightclub atmosphere, too unusual footsteps come too close. Sofia reflexively stretched her body and looked up at Gilbert. The hands that were tied together were gripped tightly to support Sofia, slightly pulled back and protected.
"Sofia! What are you... doing!?
A well-dressed middle-aged man, Baron Rainish, Sofia's uncle, came straight to Sofia without looking around. Next door is Sofia's aunt, the familiar baroness Renish.
"How the hell did you get here ─ ─"
Unlike Baron Rainish, whose face was bright red with anger, the lady noticed Gilbert next to Sofia and cut her words. Sofia takes a step forward from where Gilbert is hiding. I'm scared. The cold word blades and heartbreak that I've been pointing at over and over again bring back memories of shaken violence. I still didn't want to lose. Now that I'm next to Gilbert, I really don't want to lean. Sofia pastes a mask of smiles she has practiced many times, scolds her trembling feet and gracefully thanks her. He held Gilbert's hand back so that his voice wouldn't waver.
"─ ─ Welcome, uncle and aunt. It's been a long time."
"Not at all! I'm asking why you're here!
Baron Lannish is also breaking Madame's hold, is it intense? As you calm down and sneak around, you can see your cool eyes looking at you. Sofia opened her mouth as slowly as possible.
"I had a lot of connections, and this person helped me."
"This one?
So Baron Lannish first noticed Gilbert. Obviously, Gilbert, who is well dressed, smiles like a lie in a hurry. As Sofia looked up, Gilbert was in a mood with wrinkles between his eyebrows.
"Gilbert Forster. I'm sure you know his name."
"─ ─ Well! Forster, the Marquis of Forster?
Baroness Lannish suddenly clapped her mouth with a sweet voice. No nobleman would know the Marquis of Forster. It has been a famous house for a long time. The Lord is also famous as a magical knight with special strong magic powers. However, young Gilbert did not seem to think that he was in charge of the rumor, and the two weak men completely shifted their gaze from Sofia to Gilbert and changed their attitude.
"I happened to know her. I apologize for the rudeness of not asking you to say hello knowing that you have relatives."
Sofia was surprised at Gilbert, who lowered his head.
"No, we... we loved each other like our real daughters. If I knew you were taking care of me, I'd say hello ─ ─"
Sofia could not say anything to a baron who would never have thought of a word. Gilbert lends his right hand in a natural manner. As a matter of course, Baron Rainish immediately grasped it and returned it. Sofia noticed what Gilbert was trying to do and dragged her mouth away so that she wouldn't speak aggressively.