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chapter 36
That person who looked like he had stepped straight out of The Rose of Versailles—the top-ranked heir to the Chartinez imperial throne, Alexis Karl… something like that.
Anyway, he was the person with the highest ceremonial rank in the Empire after the Emperor and the Prime Minister. Born as the youngest, late-born princess, she had seized the position of Crown Princess through exceptional holy power and cunning.
She raised one hand, as if acknowledging me, and approached.
“I happened to overhear you by chance. You are quite a humorous person.”
“You flatter me.”
Was that another way of politely speaking in high society? Her tone seemed like that of a romantic middle-aged person in her forties or fifties.
She seemed to enjoy such sharp conversation. After all, she would likely never hear the same thing for the rest of her life.
I never dreamed I would face someone of the highest level like this. I was extremely tense. Even if I didn’t offend nobles, a slip of the tongue toward a direct royal could result in execution for sacrilege and being displayed in the plaza.
Ah, so that’s why she gave me a radio earring. Truly, the devilish butler’s grand plan. I silently called for Elyuard.
“Mr. El, the heir to the throne is speaking to me suddenly.”
No answer. I nudged again.
“This is your employer. Please respond quickly.”
Still nothing. Was it already broken? I tapped the earring.
“Elyuard? Don’t ignore me! Help!”
Karka poked me and whispered softly.
“It is polite to first reveal your identity to royalty.”
I quickly bowed my head and spoke.
“I am Mia Fortuna. I apologize—I got nervous and….”
Crown Princess Alexis studied me with curious eyes and tilted her head.
“It’s fine. Are you a commoner?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“No need to be so stiff. I dislike overly formal politeness.”
Yet the top three ladies of high society and the Chilyeongae were so disciplined. One could hardly meet their gaze! Nobles often exploit such lapses to attack weaknesses.
I remembered Elyuard’s advice and did not relax. My gaze stayed fixed on my toes, maintaining a perfect 90-degree angle in a posture of respect.
Alexis smiled, apparently pleased.
“You’re perceptive. I like that.”
Had I loosened up or shown any signs of relaxation at her words, I would have faced her sharp rebuke.
Her deep violet eyes, however, were on my neck. Was she looking at my necklace? I fidgeted with it and smiled awkwardly.
Only then did Alexis shift her gaze to the rest of the room.
“I cannot miss such a high-level conversation. Do you know what the most wronged shape in the world is?”
Everyone tried to understand her profound question. Was it about politics, law, or a social issue?
“I don’t know, Your Highness.”
“Being unable to follow your insight, we have no way of knowing. Please, enlighten us.”
The Chilyeongae and the top three ladies looked completely lost, seeking her answer.
Alexis puffed out her chest and said proudly:
“The most wronged shape in the world is the cylinder!”
A brief silence fell among the ladies, then they all raised their arms and shouted.
“A cylinder!”
Of course, I had to join them.
“Hahaha! What a witty and high-level joke! A pun using the meaning of ‘cylindrical’! This joke will be passed down as an heirloom of the Empire!”
“Hehehe! I’ll use this at the tea party. Everyone will fall over laughing!”
They reacted like new employees enthusiastically responding to a manager’s joke. I pretended to lose my composure, responding just like them.
“Oh my, where do you get these jokes? Give me back my belly! I can’t breathe from laughing. Please save me! This is a murderous joke!”
I desperately wanted to leave. Laughing so loudly, my head hurt.
Perhaps mistaking my suffering for shortness of breath, Alexis came over and tapped my shoulder.
“You seem to enjoy my joke. Let’s have tea together sometime. Oh, and you must attend the hunt in three days. I will prepare even more murderous jokes, so be ready. Inform me in advance if you need medical assistance.”
A hunt, not a tea party?
Even as an introvert, this was overwhelming. And the hunt was notorious in romance-fantasy novels for incidents and accidents. Spending a whole day there listening to murderous jokes would surely be hazardous.
Absolutely not going.
“It’s an honor, Your Highness.”
I smiled my polite social smile, concealing my inner dread.
Alexis looked at the Chilyeongae and the top three ladies with satisfaction.
“You will all participate, right? I look forward to seeing what you hunt.”
Karka, Lydia, and Navy, the top three of high society, smiled and raised their heads.
“Of course, Your Highness. We will uphold the pride of the nobles. You can expect Lady Fortuna’s debut performance. Perhaps she can even take down an adult dragon.”
I would be doing the hunting myself?
Alexis clapped her hands, her face full of anticipation.
“Indeed, you have a keen eye. Clearly, you’ve brought an outstanding warrior into your ranks.”
Why was I suddenly becoming the final warrior of high society? The hunting episode in the romance-fantasy novels I read was being erased, and my mind started to rewire.
This world was abnormal, full of lunatics. That was the only conclusion.
Whether I panicked or not, Alexis waved and left the room.
“I must be going. Enjoy yourselves. See you at the hunt.”
After the Crown Princess departed, Lily, the leader of the Chilyeongae, singled me out.
“On that day, we will show a skill far beyond that of a lowly commoner. It will be our Chilyeongae who earns Alexis’ recognition. You should prepare yourself.”
Targeting the weak? What had I done?
Already the third threat to prepare myself—after the long-haired bearded man and Crown Princess—so I forced a serene smile.
Just then, the sound announcing the start of the grand ball echoed from outside.
Lily lifted the corners of her mouth, victorious, and glanced at Karka.
“Count Hepris contacted me in advance, requesting a dance at the ball. But with so many requests, I told him I would think about it.”
Karka’s gloved hand clenched tightly. Count Hepris must be her ex-boyfriend.
Then Lily turned to me, sneering.
“You have a dance partner, right? I pity the thought of you standing there with no one requesting a dance.”
The Chilyeongae cheered her on.
“They say the strong get the beauty. I wonder how many gentlemen will request a dance with Lady Daft Rabbit.”
“Yes. I heard she’s dancing with a handsome man with a beauty mark on his nose…”
Their boasting was already beyond my concern.
…The ball was starting? Dance partners, reservations, whatever—I just wanted to stuff myself with dessert.
The Chilyeongae laughed and left. Lydia grabbed my arm with a solemn expression.
“Did you see that? Will we just let their arrogance go unchecked?”
“Uh… what should I do?”
Navy tidied her golden-green hair and spoke.
“At this founding-holiday hunt, we will humble them.”
Me? I was a timid human who even feared twelve-year-old Alexander the Golden.
“I am not talented or strong.”
“Modesty aside, you can shoot, right?”
“I learned, yes.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll help you. Let’s go together to the hunt.”
Seeing their infinite trust and faces full of relief, I could not refuse.
Karka spoke solemnly beside me.
“Mia, we are close friends from now on. Though not born on the same day, we shall die on the same day. Anyone who betrays our loyalty will not survive.”
Why were we suddenly going to die together? Some kind of sworn brotherhood?
Navy raised her fan, and Lydia and Karka followed. I awkwardly raised my hand too.
So this was how making friends worked.
“Welcome back safely, Master.”
Elyuard escorted me, exhausted.
I looked up at him, resentful.
“Mr. El, why didn’t you answer? I kept calling.”
He bent down, touching the earring at my ear, and said:
“The spell on it has vanished. You must have met a holy-powered individual—someone like Alexis Carlo Edward de Chartinez.”
The full name of the Crown Princess I had met. Did these nobles die if they shortened their names?
“Yes, I met Her Highness the Crown Princess.”
The object from the devil must have been purified by her holy power.
Elyuard straightened his back and nodded.
“Let’s go, then.”
As we entered the spacious hall, Dante approached me and extended his hand.
“Now, I will escort you.”
Elyuard clasped my hand and raised it.
“No. The first dance is with me. I taught you the steps; you must practice the real thing with me.”
Apparently, his competitive streak had kicked in at an odd moment.
