My Nerdy Neighbor Is the Master of the Magic Tower
Chapter 45
The day of the banquet arrived.
Cecilia awoke before the sun had even risen. Considering the banquet wasn’t scheduled to start until evening, it was an inexplicably early start to the day.
Still unable to shake off her drowsiness, she rubbed her gritty eyes and grumbled to Melanie.
“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t feel like I need to be up this early.”
“I guarantee you, this timing is exactly right,” Melanie declared, overflowing with passion even in the early hours.
And her guarantee proved correct.
She soaked in water where fragrant, unnamed flower petals floated; she received a massage with special aromatic oils imported from a neighboring kingdom; and after dozens of maids swarmed her to arrange her hair and help her into her dress, the sun was finally beginning to set.
Who spends an entire day getting ready?
There hadn’t even been a proper mealtime; all she’d eaten were a few pieces of fruit Melanie had shoved into her mouth that morning!
Unaware of her exhaustion from hunger, the maids—looking proud after completing their arduous labor—exclaimed in constant admiration.
“Oh my, you are so beautiful!”
Oh, I’ve seen this scene somewhere before.
In any romance novel, regardless of the world-building, there’s always at least one scene like this. The plain heroine undergoes a head-to-toe transformation, and everyone around her gushes in awe. A total cliché.
It would be perfect if she could deliver a line like, “My goodness, is this really me?”
Regrettably, the genre of this world seemed to be a thriller, and regardless of how she looked, she was simply starving.
Well, I suppose it does suit me.
Cecilia took a weak glance at the woman in the mirror.
The color the designer and Melanie had chosen after much deliberation was a soft apricot, featured on a dress that emphasized elegant curves.
Considering her image as a Saintess, they had eschewed jewels in favor of dense silver embroidery that shimmered subtly like starlight. With her honey-blonde hair flowing over it, she looked, surprisingly, truly holy—like a real Saintess.
Of course, that was only if she kept her mouth shut.
“Wow, I really don’t want to go… Anyway, I’m off.”
Amidst enthusiastic cheering, Cecilia trudged out of the mansion.
Standing tall beside the waiting carriage was her partner for the day, Sir Miguel, dressed in a crisp white uniform.
Right, the Holy Knight uniforms were white.
Whether it was because of his neatly swept-back silver hair, his statue-like features, or perhaps both—he suited the attire so well he looked as if he’d been born wearing it.
“I thought this before, but that uniform really suits you. I guess this is why people go crazy for uniforms.”
“…….”
“……Sir Miguel?”
He didn’t even react to her lighthearted compliment. He simply stared at her blankly with wide eyes before suddenly dropping his gaze.
“……You are also very beautiful, Saintess-nim.”
In contrast to his blunt reply, the tips of his ears were flushed red.
Cecilia let out a small chuckle at his boyish, cute reaction and lightly extended her hand.
“I’m in your care today.”
“Yes, I will do my utmost to live up to your trust,” he replied, sliding his arm under hers.
Cecilia boarded the carriage with his steady escort. The interior of the carriage Lien had prepared was incredibly spacious and comfortable.
A ‘message’ had informed her that the journey wouldn’t be difficult this time, as the carriage was an engineered design using mana as auxiliary power.
It wasn’t an exaggeration; there was hardly any swaying, and the seats boasted a plush cushioning that rivaled the sofa in her bedroom. Not only that, but a box of chocolates for her hungry self had been placed neatly at the edge of the seat.
Normally, she would have been deeply moved. However, even after receiving all these gifts, Cecilia merely clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction.
What’s the point of preparing all this? He still won’t even show his face.
Since the day he had fled to avoid her questioning, Lien had vanished again.
What on earth had he been trying to say? More specifically, what was he so afraid of?
She wanted to press him for answers, but it was impossible.
He clearly knew exactly when she needed something or some information, leaving it in her study, and judging by the servants’ occasional sightings, he was definitely inside the mansion. Yet, even when she burst into his room unannounced or threatened the empty air that she’d be angry if he didn’t appear immediately, she couldn’t find a single hair of his.
And yet, he showed this kind of consideration.
Do you think this will make me less angry?
Incensed, Cecilia munched on the chocolates.
Regardless, the priority now wasn’t the annoying Lien, but the enemies she would face at the banquet.
Furthermore, she had to be on guard against any potential threats. After all, the culprit was bold enough to strike even during the Relief Festival ritual, right in front of witnesses.
While she was lost in thought about her safety, the carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.
“Please step down carefully.”
“Thank you.”
With Miguel’s help, Cecilia descended from the carriage.
The moment her feet touched the path made of uniform, wide stones, gazes poured over her.
Faint whispers about the “Saintess” reached her ears. As expected, rumors of her attendance at this banquet had been spread far and wide.
However, Cecilia moved forward calmly without much reaction.
She thought she might get nervous like she did during the Relief Festival when attention centered on her, but now that it was actually happening, she felt oddly indifferent.
Her only thoughts were things like, ‘Surely a cloaked assailant won’t jump out from that corner?’ or ‘Will the building collapse the moment I enter?’
But naturally, no such grim incidents occurred, and she reached the hall safely.
Before the massive doors.
Just before the guards opened them, Cecilia took a small, deep breath.
The Imperial Family—the most likely culprits behind the scenes—and the castle where they resided. Cecilia slowly walked inside.
And the interior was…
A sight so brilliant unfolded that even the composed Cecilia flinched.
Crystal chandeliers hung in clusters from the high ceiling, and the finest velvet carpet was spread over smooth marble.
There were statues inlaid lavishly with rubies and sapphires at every corner, a golden throne, and walls lined with expensive, transparent glass windows. Nothing was anything less than exorbitant.
The Temple was actually quite modest.
She had thought the Grand Temple and the Marquis’s estate were elegant and grand, but the Imperial Palace was the epitome of opulence.
Normally, she would have let out a gasp of admiration. But Cecilia, mindful of her position, feigned composure and came to a halt in a suitable spot.
Then, a horn signaled the entrance of the masters of the palace.
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, Her Imperial Highness the Princess, and His Imperial Highness the Prince are entering!”
Behind the Emperor, who wore a purple cloak, followed the Princess wearing the jeweled dress Cecilia had seen at the boutique, followed by the Prince in relatively subdued attire.
Walking to the very front of the dais, the Emperor spoke.
“I thank you all for gathering at this momentous occasion where the future of the Empire will be decided. This is proof of your great devotion to the Empire. Thus, I am beyond pleased.”
His dignified voice echoed through the vast hall. Though he didn’t shout, it sounded as if it were being beamed directly into her ears, likely due to some sort of amplification magic.
With a benevolent smile, the Emperor glanced back at the Princess and Prince and continued.
“I know you are all waiting for my decision. However, the Princess and Prince have prepared this occasion with great sincerity; it would be a waste to let it end so quickly. Therefore, let us postpone the heavy talk for a moment and enjoy the banquet with light hearts.”
Suppressed groans erupted from various parts of the room.
The invisible tension between the factions supporting the Princess and those supporting the Prince seemed to fizzle out.
He’s dragging this out forever.
Her plan—to toss the prepared gift to the successor the Emperor appointed, get their approval, and make a quick getaway—vanished into thin air.
As she clicked her tongue inwardly, the Emperor suddenly began to scan the attendees with his eyes.
……As if he were looking for someone in particular.
“Lastly, as you all know, a precious guest from afar has joined us today.”
No way.
Ominous premonitions never missed the mark.
Among the sea of people, the Emperor managed to find her standing in the furthest corner possible and locked his gaze onto her.
“As she may be unfamiliar with this place, I ask for your kind consideration.”
The glares that had already been focused on her since her entrance now flew toward her like arrows.
“That person is ‘the’ Saintess.”
“Ah, the eldest daughter of Weberdin? I heard rumors she has no divine power. Or was it that she lacks the qualities of a Saintess?”
“Well, I don’t know about that, but she certainly keeps her head high even before His Majesty.”
She truly didn’t care about the backbiting intended for her to hear.
However, as dozens of eyes filled with negative emotions like disdain and contempt turned toward her, she felt a suffocating sensation in her chest.
It was then. Miguel, who had been guarding her side, stepped slightly in front of her, shielding her from view.
