BDBF 12

chapter 12

At my one sentence, the atmosphere turned even colder, as if someone had poured ice water over it.

Even in that situation, Joshua was quietly giggling behind his hand, and Designer 3 looked like she was on the verge of tears.

“Pffft!”

In the otherwise silent room, Hale suddenly burst out laughing.

He quickly stopped, then patted my head and said,

“Alright, let’s do whatever you want.”

And just like that, the opinions of Designers 1 and 2 were completely dismissed, and the dress for the banquet was decided.

After the room was tidied up and I washed and changed, the sky outside had already turned a deep red.

I hadn’t even eaten dinner yet, but I was already getting sleepy, so I sat on the sofa and started dozing off.

“Miss, are you very sleepy?”

Rita, who had just entered the room, asked in a worried voice.

“A littl’…”

“You should sleep comfortably in your bed.”

“I had somethin’ to say, so I waited.”

“What is it?”

I had been holding myself up without sleeping so I could tell Rita what those two designers had done to me earlier in the day.

I then exaggerated what had happened a little. I wasn’t even scared at all, but I included that part too.

Rita’s expression turned serious as she listened, as if she was thinking about how to deal with them.

“Understood. I’ll take care of them, so please go to sleep now, young lady.”

“Mm.”

Rita gently lifted me up, carried me to the bed, and carefully covered me with the blanket.

Soon, my drowsy body melted into comfort, and I drifted away into unconsciousness.

* * *

“Everyone from all the families has arrived as of a moment ago.”

The sun was already setting. It was twenty minutes before six in the evening—the time before the banquet being held for me began.

As six o’clock approached, I grew more and more nervous. The platinum-colored dress that had been resized since morning suddenly felt suffocating. I even wanted to undo my high-tied hair and let it fall over my face.

“Miss, your face is red.”

“…I’m nervou’s.”

“You’ll be fine as long as you act like you always do.”

That was the hardest thing of all.

Haah… I didn’t know why I was so nervous. Just a month ago, I would’ve been excited to give a speech in front of the empire’s citizens—not nervous at all.

It seemed like my confidence had regrown from a sprout after being reborn here. Otherwise, there was no reason for me to be this nervous.

“Today, you are the most wonderful and radiant person in the world.”

“More than Papa?”

“…Of course!”

That pause—what was that? Did she mean I was slightly less wonderful than my dad but she was lying to cheer me up?

I narrowed my eyes in the mirror, and Rita awkwardly laughed while dusting off my shoulder even though there was nothing there.

“Senica.”

Just then, as if saving Rita, Hale appeared. He had come to personally escort me to the banquet hall.

I jumped down from the chair and grabbed his hand. His eyes widened at the contact—probably surprised by how damp my hand was from sweat.

“You’re nervous.”

“…Mm.”

“I thought you’d like this kind of thing. That’s surprising.”

How did he see me, exactly, to say that?

I’m just a kid—it’s normal to be nervous.

“What do I even do there?”

“Say hello, eat good food.”

“That’s it?”

“…Do you want to deal with annoying things?”

I knew exactly what he meant by “annoying things.” I had dealt with nobles a lot in my past life as a princess. I knew how exhausting and irritating it could be. I never wanted to go through that again.

I shook my head firmly. Hale let out a soft laugh and led me toward the banquet hall.

Even though we walked as slowly as possible, we soon arrived at the entrance. My heart was beating so loudly it echoed in my ears.

“I’m right next to you. Why are you nervous?”

Hale mentioned it again just before we entered, as if he could feel my pulse through my palm.

Right. That’s true. My dad is right next to me—someone who will stand firmly by my side and protect me.

“…I’m okay now.”

“Shall we go in?”

“Mm.”

He opened the doors to the banquet hall.

Bright light poured in, making me squint.

When my eyes adjusted, I was finally able to see the hall properly.

My mouth fell open.

It was my first time here, but it was far more vast and luxurious than the imperial palace’s banquet hall.

I had been told it wasn’t a large gathering, but looking at the size of the hall, it seemed like quite a lot of people had been invited.

Fortunately, I could distinguish the families in attendance. That was because, as Eve had taught in class, each family had its own color.

“You can look around after we go down.”

“Ah!”

I had been staring blankly down the stairs, but Hale refocused me and began descending.

I could feel countless gazes turning toward me.

But unlike my previous life, they didn’t feel like stares treating me as an object of curiosity. They were respectful—genuine, celebratory gazes. It was the first time I had ever received something like that.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, the main lights dimmed and several spotlights illuminated me and my father.

Wait—hold on. No one told me this would happen… this is a bit overwhelming.

Am I really someone worth this much attention?

“I am Hale Ivienne, head of the Ivienne family. Thank you all for coming from afar.”

Unlike my nervous self, Hale spoke as naturally as ever—no, even more firmly and deeply than usual.

Another difference: even without a microphone, his voice carried clearly to the very end of the hall.

With a faint smile on his lips, he looked nothing like the Hale I knew. He looked like the head of a powerful family that no one could look down on.

“Today’s main character is not me, so I will keep my greetings brief. I hope everyone enjoys their time without any shortcomings.”

His speech, which I thought would be long, was short and to the point.

Soon, all eyes turned to me.

Hale also looked down at me.

I met his gaze, then looked forward.

“Huu…”

Because of the spotlight focused only on me, everything beyond it was pitch black. All I could see were glittering dresses and shoes near the light.

Don’t be nervous. No one here can harm me. And…

No one like before can kill me again. This time, I have someone beside me who will protect me.

“…I’m Senica Ivienne.”

I tried my best not to tremble, but I couldn’t stop my voice from shaking at the end.

“I-I will do many great things from now on, and I will be a great help to the Ivienne family! Thank you all for coming to see me today. Please enjoy yourselves!”

As I finished as calmly as I could, applause filled the banquet hall.

There was no need for me to bow in response.

Because I was the star of today’s banquet!

The only regret was that my pronunciation still wasn’t perfect. The lisp here and there was unfortunate, but it wasn’t something I could help.

Still, I made sure to end strongly, and that effort succeeded. Next time, I’ll speak every sentence clearly without a lisp!

The banquet proceeded smoothly.

I moistened my dry lips slightly with my tongue and followed Hale to greet the Azure Dragon family.

The first to greet was the Azure Dragon family, known to be closest to ours. Like the blue dragon, they had hair that was as clear as a cloudless sky with a hint of silver.

Contrasting that was the deep violet eyes that gave off a strange aura.

“Kan, it’s been a while.”

“In formal events, shouldn’t we keep proper etiquette, Head of Ivienne?”

The head of the Havreil family was a man with short hair, unlike Hale.

His eyes looked gentle, but at times they appeared sharp like a cat depending on the angle. It was fascinating how his expression changed with perspective.

“Hellooo.”

“Nice to meet you, young lady of Ivienne. I’m Kan Havreil. I hope you enjoy yourself.”

They really did seem close, as his smile resembled Hale’s.

After finishing greetings, I looked at the children beside him.

A boy who couldn’t meet my eyes, and a girl who stared at me intensely.

“I am Sireia Havreil.”

“….”

Sireia greeted me first, then looked at the boy beside her. He still couldn’t say anything.

After waiting about ten seconds, Sireia frowned.

“Hey.”

“….”

“Are you going to be rude?”

She tapped his arm impatiently. Despite her elegant appearance, her behavior was rough. Somehow, I found it kind of impressive.

‘Is that something I don’t have?’

I also wanted to be someone who looked refined but didn’t act like it. But my face in the mirror was more soft and rabbit-like than elegant.

“Reon.”

At the head’s voice, the boy finally flinched.

He grabbed his pants tightly with trembling hands.

“I-I’m Leon Havreil.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“…Y-yes.”

His voice was so small that if I hadn’t watched his lips carefully, I might not have understood him.

Sigh, how does he even live like that?

Sireia seemed to think the same, letting out a deep sigh.

After finishing a brief greeting with the Azure Dragon family, we moved on to the Yellow Dragon family.

Waiting for us was a woman who looked like pure gold itself, along with two boys smiling brightly at us.

Normally, smiling faces should feel pleasant—but why does this family feel… so unsettling?