BGDBP 03

Chapter 03

Pianni thought with a blank expression.

‘Hmm, are you looking at me now?’

Far from feeling displeased by that sharp gaze, Pianni thought, “Maybe I’m so cute that they can’t take their eyes off me?”

“Did I interrupt the party?”

The woman, fiercely beautiful, even had a beautiful voice.

Towards her, the daughter of Count Lorel approached and said.

“Not at all. Please, come in.”

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

As the woman smiled with her eyes closed, her somewhat strong impression softened a bit.

“Everyone, let me introduce. This is…….”

As the daughter of Count Lorel drew a breath, the woman placed a hand on her chest and slightly bent her knee in a curtsy.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Leah from the Marquis Sichel family. I am from the West.”

Except for Pianni, surprise filled the eyes of the young ladies who had been wary of Leah like mice frightened before a cat.

‘The Marquis Sichel… that’s the famous jeweler, right?’

‘Her unusual attire must be because she’s from the West, I suppose.’

The Roroa Empire was divided into five regions centered around the capital, the political center: the East, West, South, North, and Central.

Among these five distinct territories, the region most detached from power and the most peaceful was undoubtedly the East. Most of the Eastern nobles were descendants of families who had chosen to stay away from bloody power struggles.

But the West was different. In the barren West, where most of the territory was desert, it was difficult to seize tomorrow’s sun without stepping on someone.

Because of that, Westerners did not hide their desires. It is said that all the famous nobles who survived so tenaciously have houses full of gold, silver, and jewels.

So, to some extent, the famous Marquis Sichel must be no small fortune, and also said to be a fierce businessman.

“Pleased to meet you. I am—”

The young ladies took turns introducing themselves.

Leah smiled and responded to each one.

“Ah, the Baron Pepper family… then the Baron, I mean, the young lady’s grandfather, was a general, right?”

“Oh my. How did you know…?”

“How could I not know such an illustrious person?”

Leah made sure to compliment each young lady’s family and appearance. Then, the slightly nervous hearts of the young ladies softened.

‘Unlike her appearance, she seems to be a gentle person.’

Finally, it was Pianni’s turn. Pianni wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth and introduced herself.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Pianni from the Viscount Liebe family.”

Pianni’s eyes sparkled. They were eyes like a puppy expecting praise.

Glancing at those eyes, Leah said with an elegant smile.

“I see.”

Pianni thought Leah would continue speaking. But…

“……”

Leah added nothing more.

“……”

Pianni waited a little longer. Maybe there were too many things to praise, so she couldn’t easily open her mouth!

But Leah, who had even wiped the smile from her face, did not continue speaking.

At that cold response, as the other young ladies were awkwardly gauging the mood, Leah turned her head towards the daughter of Count Lorel and said.

“I’m so glad the weather is nice today.”

“Ah, yes……”

The daughter of Count Lorel let out an awkward laugh and offered Leah a seat. The other young ladies glanced at Pianni’s complexion.

Pianni thought blankly.

‘Am I being discriminated against right now?’

A flame rose in Pianni’s small chest. Pianni wanted to ask Leah directly and get confirmation. But the moment Pianni made an issue of it, everyone here would become uncomfortable.

‘Can’t be helped. I’ll endure it. Because I am the splendid and mature Pianni.’

Pianni controlled her feelings.

Glancing at Pianni making a blank, trivial expression, Leah said to the other young ladies.

“The East seems truly beautiful. Prosperous, and the wind is cool.”

The young ladies, who had been gauging Pianni’s mood, seemed to feel better, reassured by Pianni munching on cake, and replied.

“The East has good weather all year round, but this time of year is especially nice.”

“I see. I’m glad I followed him after all…”

The young ladies tilted their heads simultaneously.

“Him?”

Leah smiled faintly as if their gestures were cute, but her thoughts were otherwise.

‘Truly innocent faces.’

Leah brought her lips to the teacup as if savoring the moment. In the West, they enjoy tea with lots of spices, but the tea here was incredibly mild and bland.

‘Just as the people are bland, so is the tea.’

While drinking tea, Leah thought of him. He dislikes Leah coming into contact with people. If he knew she had come to see that child-like woman today, he would surely be furious.

Swallowing her displeasure, Leah smiled sweetly and said.

“Hehe. He is my precious person.”

“Oh my, a precious person… could it be…?”

Instead of answering, Leah covered her blushing cheeks with her hands. She looked unmistakably like a woman in love.

‘Oh my.’

The other young ladies also blushed unnecessarily.

Pianni also blushed as if she had eaten a well-read apple, not because of Leah but because of the dessert in her mouth.

‘This taste!’

Glancing at Pianni’s face where her thoughts were clearly revealed, Leah said.

“I always look forward to the future I will share with him. Days living in the same house, eating breakfast together.”

The young ladies’ faces turned red as if about to burst.

“Marriage is truly a beautiful thing, isn’t it?”

“Exactly!”

For a while, Leah and the young ladies chattered about the marriages they dreamed of.

Pianni kept eating cake without a care.

‘It melts smoothly in my mouth! The best!’

Then, looking at Pianni happily enjoying her dessert, one young lady said.

“Probably among us, Pianni-nim will be the first to get married, right? Because you have Delis-nim!”

Upon hearing that, Leah’s smile froze in place. Her fingertips trembled finely with anger and jealousy.

‘Marriage?’

Pianni had never once thought about marriage until now. Of course, she likes Delis. It would be harder not to like him.

But isn’t marriage a slightly different story?

‘For one, I don’t want to leave mom and dad!’

Even though she didn’t accompany them on their travels, that aside, she never wanted to leave her parents’ embrace.

The young ladies were worried seeing Pianni fall into deep thought, but also found it adorable and didn’t know what to do.

‘Oh my! Even when she’s thinking, her eyes turning into straight lines is just too cute!’

Unlike the young ladies who were excited enough to blush, the ice-cold Leah opened her mouth.

“Oh my, it seems the Viscount Liebe’s young lady doesn’t particularly love that person.”

Suddenly, the atmosphere cooled as if cold water had been splashed on it.

Pianni, her eyes wide open, asked in a voice full of wariness.

“That’s not true? Why are you suddenly saying that?”

“Uh… because you hesitated in your answer. There aren’t many people who hesitate about marriage with the person they love.”

Leah answered carefully. As if she truly hadn’t spoken with ill intent.

“I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry.”

Leah made a pitiful expression. Because of that, Pianni ended up looking like someone getting worked up over nothing.

‘Darn it.’

Swallowing her embarrassment, Pianni replied.

“If it wasn’t with ill intent, it’s okay.”

“Oh my, I’m grateful for that.”

Leah covered her mouth and her eyes crinkled. Everyone thought the lips hidden by her hand were drawing a gentle curve, but they were actually stiffly set.

“……”

Silence fell again. At that moment when no one could easily open their mouths, the daughter of Count Lorel, who had the duty to break this atmosphere, clapped her hands together lightly, gathering everyone’s attention.

“Everyone! Have you heard the news about Duke Hespia?”

As a big topic came up, everyone showed interested looks.

‘Duke Hespia…’

Pianni also knew Duke Hespia. Wasn’t he the only Duke of this Roroa Empire, owner of vast territories including the North, a figure with a status greater than even the Emperor?

If someone else had such overwhelming power, the Emperor wouldn’t stand idly by, but they had no choice but to acknowledge Duke Hespia. Because he was a special existence.

“Is it another story about dark mages this time?”

“You could say so.”

In the past, it is said that mages existed in this world.

But due to a war that occurred in the past, the lineage of mages was completely severed, and modern humanity can only use the magic contained in magical tools.

But about 50 years ago, ‘Axcia’ appeared.

[Offer your lives to me! The moment I become the true god of this world, those who serve me will also become the rulers of this world!]

The evil god spoke sweetly and intensely, and ugly beings fascinated by the visible miracles slaughtered many people as if butchering livestock.

The evil god granted greater power and wealth to those who offered many sacrifices. People sometimes called those who had transcended the human category ‘dark mages.’

As people’s screams did not cease, God chose a special envoy to stop Axcia.

That special envoy was Duke Hespia. It is said that to Duke Hespia, who was barely five years old at the time, God whispered in a warm voice.

[You are the special one who can even slay the evil god. Save everyone. Then your wish, I will surely grant it.]

Duke Hespia has been executing Axcia from that young age when he received his mission until now.

In other words, Duke Hespia is a hero protecting this world with a holy mission.

But despite that, people fear Duke Hespia. Because…

“I heard that this time, His Grace the Duke revealed that Baron Sales in the Central region was colluding with dark mages.”

“Oh my! Then what happened to Baron Sales?”

“They say Baron Sales’s head is hanging at the entrance of Baron Sales’s mansion.”