HSML 29

Chapter 29

While I was activating several of the Mikiki Boxes installed in the royal castle, thinking “I wonder if there’s anything interesting…”, one of them caught my attention.

It was a Mikiki Box installed in an inconspicuous spot in the inner courtyard.

The scenes observed by a Mikiki Box are relayed through a Knowledge Box and projected inside a semi-transparent box created by that Knowledge Box.

What was reflected there were several noble young ladies from somewhere.

Part of the castle is open to the public—though it seems that only a certain group of nobles who don’t feel intimidated about using it actually do so—but if one submits an application, it’s apparently possible to hold tea parties in salons that are not usually used.

These young ladies were probably attending one of those events.

I don’t know whether it was during a break or after the event had ended, but they seemed to be chatting about something in a small courtyard near the salon.

“I hear that … has become engaged.”
“Yes, I’ve heard as well. It doesn’t seem to have been officially announced yet, though.”

From the sound of it, the topic of conversation was a rumor about Prince Siphon’s engagement.

“I heard that the partner is a box who attended the coming-of-age ceremony together with Prince Siphon.”
“Pardon?
“A box???”

Yes. A box.

Well, more precisely, an engagement to what was inside the box.

…When I think about it calmly, the rumor seems to be spreading far too quickly…

Perhaps the interaction between the prince and me at the coming-of-age ceremony was embellished and spread with the added tail of “engagement”?

“Unless you actually saw it, it may be hard to understand, but it really was a box. In reality…”
“A box?”
“Why was there a box at the coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Why was there a box at the coming-of-age ceremony?”
“Apparently it was created with magic, and there was a woman inside.”

Since she knows that scene, unlike the others, this person must have been present at the coming-of-age ceremony.

Which means she, like me, was born in summer and came of age then.

Deep purple hair… amber-colored eyes… narrow, catlike eyes…

Hmm?

This person, who seems to have witnessed the exchange between Prince Siphon and me… I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before.

Where was it?

Even as I frowned in concentration, trying to remember, the conversation there continued.

“You’re remarkably well informed. Were you present at that coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Yes. Though I was far from the box and the prince, so I didn’t see the details of their exchange…Everything I know is merely what I heard from those around me.”
“Even so, that’s more than enough. Do you know anything else?”“For example, who was inside that box?”

Surrounded by others who looked intensely curious, the deep-purple-haired young lady spoke with a slightly proud air, perhaps pleased to be relied upon.

Considering that she attended the coming-of-age ceremony, she is probably the youngest among them.

That might be why being depended on by older girls makes her happy.

Still… I really do feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before.

“I can’t guarantee that it’s true. With that understanding—what I heard about the person inside the box was—”“Was…?”
“That she is the daughter of the Duke of Dripps.”

For a brief moment, the other young ladies fell silent.

During that silence, the words spoken by the deep-purple-haired girl must have gradually sunk into their minds.

And once they fully understood, the others lifted their faces.

“I had heard that the Duke of Dripps’ daughter was kept sheltered…”
“Do you mean she was literally inside a box!?”

Ah—yes, I saw that exact reaction at the coming-of-age ceremony.

“But for His Highness to be engaged to someone about whom we’ve heard nothing but rumors of being ‘sheltered’…”
“Somehow, it doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Even if she’s sheltered, now that the engagement is decided, she’ll attend the founding festival party, won’t she?”

Ah.

All of a sudden—quite suddenly—I remembered.

Or perhaps something about her gestures triggered the memory.

That deep-purple-haired girl is… a young lady of the Menzarl family.

Her name was—yes, that’s it.

Lutzura… Lutzura Kishika Menzarl, if I recall correctly.

She’s the one who took my book during the magical aptitude ceremony…

Come to think of it, she bragged about having received the attribute called “Order,” which was thought to be a rare one…

I can’t exactly criticize others, but what kind of power does that magic have?

Forcing people to obey order or sequence… perhaps?

…I really don’t know.

“Yes, yes, I think so too. Since this is such a good opportunity, I’d love for us all to arrange a chance to greet her.”
“That would be lovely. If possible, I’d like to meet her before the founding festival.”

A greeting. A greeting, huh…

That’s not something you should take at face value, is it…

This girl is planning to make me feel unpleasant again, isn’t she…

This kind of thing is exactly why I don’t want to appear in public…

But if I choose to run away and shut myself in here, it feels like Mother won’t acknowledge me anymore, which is incredibly troublesome.

To be honest, I don’t even want to see Lutzura’s face.

They’ll probably say that properly handling things like this and showing one’s strength is “what’s necessary to marry into the royal family.”

Whether it’s demonstrating magnanimity, deftly deflecting things, or striking back boldly—

I understand that the behavior expected of someone in a position above others is important…

But seeing things like this really makes it sink in that I’m now in a position where such behavior is demanded of me.

Not only to earn Mother’s approval, but also outwardly, it seems necessary to show “that I can handle harassment from noble ladies.”

…Sigh.

It looks like I’ll need to give some thought to how to deal with Lutzura and the others from now on.

That said, I can’t assume I’ll always be able to gather information from this place—

Watching this exchange reminded me that there are no Mikiki Boxes installed inside the publicly open salon right nearby.

So I’d really like to install one there sometime soon…

When should I ask Kachina to do it, I wonder.

Perhaps asking Prince Siphon for cooperation—by only telling him about the installation method of the Mikiki Boxes—might be an option… maybe?