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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Birthday Ball
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“Well, I’m counting on you.”
“Leave it to me, my lady.”
When I held out my hand, Isaac took it with a flourish. He awkwardly knelt on one knee and pressed his lips to the back of my hand.
It was just like a knight pledging an oath, and a laugh escaped me.
“Shall we, then?”
Isaac took my hand and led me forward. I let him guide me, lifting the hem of my dress slightly as I walked with light steps.
“Presenting Isaac Walker and Emily Walker of House Walker!”
The doorman announced our arrival in a booming voice.
As the massive doors opened, a magnificent ballroom unfolded before my eyes. Everyone was dressed like peacocks, vying for beauty.
Even among them, the ‘Walkers’ always stood out.
“You’re late!”
“Isaac. Dawdling again?”
Yulia and Edmond practically glowed. They always did, but seeing them so openly dressed up was truly breathtaking.
“Wow, Emily, you look so pretty today! You too, Isaac!”
Andrea came trotting over with an angelic smile. Isaac, no longer avoiding him, swept him up into his arms.
I tensed up, just in case, but Isaac’s wrist remained intact. We all exchanged glances of relief.
What’s more, Andrea was then passed naturally into Edmond’s arms! Andrea giggled, happy to be doted on for a change.
“Your big brother put in some effort today!”
“You look amazing!”
“You look pretty sharp yourself, Andrea. A proper little gentleman.”
As I chimed in with a compliment, Andrea puffed out his chest and lifted his chin. “Ahem!”
“Juri said she’s coming today, too!”
“Did you arrange a date with Juri?”
“N-not a date~. We just promised to eat cookies together.”
How cute. I felt quite pleased seeing him so diligently enjoying a date.
“Oh? Juri!”
Andrea scampered off toward someone behind me. When I turned, I saw a bewildered-looking man caught between two children.
Hereis, the eldest son of House Akmon. The very man responsible for my first rejection-without-a-confession.
*I guess I’ll leave Andrea with him.*
I gave him a nod, and Hereis, looking flustered, returned the greeting.
Looking around again, I saw that Edmond was surrounded by other powerful nobles. Isaac seemed to have found his companions as well, chatting with men in knightly attire.
Yulia was talking with a familiar-looking man.
*That guy…*
It had been a while, so I was secretly glad to see him, but it seemed he was fumbling through it just like always.
To others, it might have looked like a normal conversation, but a subtle irritation was seeping into Yulia’s bright smile.
*Same as ever, I see.* I was shaking my head when suddenly…
“E-li!”
Someone threw their arms around me from behind. The rich scent of flowers tickled my nose. A cascade of pale, sky-blue hair told me who it was.
“Natalie?”
“Ding-dong-ding! Correct!”
Natalie answered with a playful laugh. Her energy was still as hard to keep up with as ever.
“Man, it’s been so hard to see you. You know how precious this face is, right?”
“Haha. I’ve been spending time with my family lately. You seem to be doing well, though, Natalie. I’ve been hearing things.”
“Hee hee. Of course. Who else but me is the troublemaker of this social circle?”
She wasn’t exaggerating. The news about Natalie had been so loud it was impossible to ignore.
“Oh, right! Did you get my letter?”
“Yes. You said you made a new friend?”
“Mhm. We came together today… Huh?”
Natalie tilted her head. There was no one standing behind her.
“That’s weird. She was right here a second ago.”
“Maybe she went somewhere else. Did you leave her alone for too long?”
“You think so?”
Natalie scratched her head. I figured some people might find that upsetting, but I was about to let it go.
“I wanted to introduce you. She’s the only daughter of Count Swanson, and I thought you two would get along great…”
“What?”
I thought I’d misheard. Was I mistaken?
“Your new friend… who did you say she was, and from where?”
“House Swanson. You know, the girl who was too sick to come to gatherings when we were young. I heard she’s all better now.”
“……”
That was impossible. It couldn’t be. Because…
*The only daughter of Count Swanson… is dead.*
A chill ran down my spine.
There was no way I was mistaken. For one, the daughter of Count Swanson had attended the same academy as us. We were even in the same year.
Of course, she was so quiet that I’d never really spoken to her, but I remembered being shocked to hear of her sudden death during the semester.
Though we weren’t close, most of our classmates had attended her funeral. Natalie, Hazel, and I had been among them.
But the Natalie before me now seemed to have completely forgotten that fact.
*How is that possible?*
Even I, who hadn’t been close to the Swanson girl, remembered it as a shocking event. Natalie had even exchanged a few words with her.
*Or did House Swanson have another daughter?*
But I had heard that Count and Countess Swanson had fallen into despair after losing their only child.
Besides, even if they had another daughter, the age gap would be too wide. She would be closer to a niece in age than a friend.
*Something’s strange.*
No, more than that, wasn't there a familiar scent in the air? A dead person coming back to life?
Could the Count's daughter have reappeared as a zombie? But if that were the case, Natalie’s reaction made no sense.
Instead of saying, ‘The Swanson girl came back to life!’, Natalie was acting as if the funeral had never even happened.
“…Since she’s your friend, I’d love to meet her.”
I hid my turmoil and offered a small smile. Whatever was going on, I would find out once I met her myself.
If she was a zombie, there was no way I wouldn’t be able to tell.
“I’ll go find her right now. Where on earth did she go… Well, see you in a bit!”
With that, Natalie left to find the missing Swanson girl. A strange feeling lingered, and I couldn't shake the tension.
My throat felt dry, so I was just sipping a glass of wine when Yulia suddenly appeared and planted herself next to me.
“Is that good?”
“It’s not bad. Sweet.”
“Get me one, too.”
I handed Yulia the same wine, and she downed it in one gulp. Then she leaned against the table, looking thoroughly displeased.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Hah. It’s nothing. Just some annoying fly buzzing around me. But… he’s just a fly.”
Yulia said, waving her hand dismissively.
*Is it because of that man from earlier?*
The man who seemed to work at the Royal Apothecary crossed my mind. I thought his expression was odd; it seemed they weren't on good terms.
“He looked like a colleague. Am I wrong?”
“When did you even see that? You’re right, a colleague. But…”
Yulia frowned and trailed off.
“Forget it. There’s always one weirdo wherever you go.”
That was true. Yulia took another swig of wine and grinned.
“We should be having fun on a day like this! Want to dance? Where did Ed and Isaac go?”
“Edmond looked busy. I saw him with the council elders earlier.”
“Ugh. Then pass. Let’s just grab Isaac.”
Yulia waved her hand as if disgusted. I didn’t want to get involved with the elders either, fearing I’d hear something I didn't want to.
“Want to share Isaac?”
“I’m good. I’m not much of a dancer.”
“So what? It’s just for fun.”
“It’s fine~.”
After I repeatedly declined her offer, Yulia relented as if she had no choice. Then her eyes lit up as she spotted Isaac and ran toward him.
Leaning against the wall alone, I could feel the sharp sting of gazes on me.
Whisper, whisper.
I could feel them all murmuring. Would it be pathetic to say I knew what they were talking about without even hearing it?
But it was something I was used to, so I just sipped my wine. Just then, the star of the birthday celebration finally made his appearance.
“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived!”
As the doorman shouted, the sound of drums echoed through the hall. Someone blew a trumpet, and a fine, stardust-like powder drifted down from the ceiling.
Through it all, Tristan walked in.
Unlike his usual self, his hair was neatly combed back, and he looked like a jewel meticulously polished from head to toe.
Like a gem carved with the utmost care by a master artisan, shining brilliantly. With every step Tristan took, people’s gazes followed him as if entranced.
The red eyes that occasionally glinted through his black hair were especially vivid today.
“W-we greet His Highness, the Crown Prince!”
“We greet His Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Everyone stood there dumbfounded before belatedly offering their respects. The greetings spread like a wave, and I too bowed my head at the appropriate moment.
Was it my imagination, or did Tristan’s gaze sweep over me?
“…To all who have come to celebrate my twenty-eighth birthday today…”
The speech that followed was the one Jamie and I had agonized over and revised until the very last minute last night.
It was appropriately polite, appropriately witty, and appropriately political.
It was a speech polished to remove any potentially problematic words, and it was still moving to hear it again. Ahem, whoever wrote it did a fine job.
After that, the scheduled ceremonies proceeded.
The Emperor’s speech was replaced by one from the Empress, and envoys from other nations offered their congratulations one by one. Lavish gifts were presented in order, and everyone sang a hymn together for the Crown Prince’s bright future.
The choir sent from the Holy See was particularly skilled.
*Good. The important parts are all over.*
Now, all I had to do was enjoy the party for a bit before heading home.
But something was strange. Why did I feel so sick?
*I need to ask Natalie about that Swanson girl…*
Where on earth did she go? I scanned my surroundings, but she was nowhere to be seen. Did she go outside? She might be in the garden or on a terrace.
*Ugh, I feel like I’m going to throw up.*
I must have been in poor condition from pulling all-nighters the past few days.
*Maybe some fresh air will help.*
I went out to the nearest terrace, which was thankfully empty. Usually, during large events like this, terraces became a stage for romantic encounters.
This one must have been disqualified as a trysting spot for being too close to the main hall.
“Hoo.”
I took a deep breath of the still-cool air and felt a little better. But the strange churning in my stomach persisted, and the uncomfortable feeling wouldn't go away.
*Creak.*
“Ah, excuse me.”
“Not at all. I was just about to head back in, so please… Huh?”
My eyes widened at the unexpected person.
“Your Highness?”
