Chapter 154
“Then we only need to persuade one person.”
“One person?”
I thought it might be the Minister of Sword Affairs. There was a natural candidate who held sway over the Sword Affairs Department, but Irene mentioned an unexpected name.
“Theobalt Lorentz.”
I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion. Since Margrave Gustav Lorentz was the commander of the Imperial Second Knight Order.
“The eldest son?”
“That’s right.”
I clearly remembered hearing that the eldest son had been pushed out of the succession line after a riding accident in childhood that left him with a limp.
‘Since they’re a martial family, they probably had no need for a damaged child.’
I remembered it because I felt a strange sense of kinship when I heard the news. So he became a sword inspector? If he had the ability to become a sword inspector without being a retired knight, he was certainly trustworthy.
“He’s highly cautious and has a twisted personality, so if you try to ask him for a favor at first meeting, he’ll refuse unconditionally.”
Irene began sharing information about the “Theobalt” she knew. As I listened, I became increasingly uncomfortable.
‘He’s similar to how I was as a child.’
I felt that if I had grown up unchanged, I might have become exactly that kind of adult. While ignoring the creeping sense of self-loathing, I considered how best to approach Theobalt.
‘If he’s really similar to me, perhaps what he wants is the same too.’
Attention, concern, and affection from others. The point to be careful about is revealing my purpose before earning his trust. The same applies when making requests. If I were him, the moment I felt betrayed, I would tell someone to get lost regardless of how reasonable their opinion might be.
‘This is going to be troublesome since I need to build trust gradually.’
I might become his friend through attention, concern, and affection, but that won’t be enough to move him.
But the situation wasn’t bleak. Unlike me who obsessed over impossible things, he quickly shifted direction toward what he could do. The fact that he entered the Sword Affairs Department without being a knight showed that. I could clearly imagine how much effort and study he must have put in.
‘The driving force behind that. I need to find it.’
* * *
It wasn’t difficult to determine the place for my first meeting with Theobalt. Among the flood of obligatory invitations was one from the Lorentz Margrave family.
‘The timing is good.’
The birthday ball for the second son, Walter Lorentz, was to be held grandly. Naturally, Theobalt, the eldest son, would also attend, providing an opportunity to observe how he is treated by his family.
I’m well aware of the looks and discrimination directed at an eldest son who cannot inherit the family. A child who has fallen out of the family head’s favor is often deliberately or unconsciously ignored. Especially at an event where the protagonist is predetermined, there will surely come a time when he’s left alone. I planned to use that moment to make his acquaintance.
Bump, bump.
I pulled back the curtain of the carriage window with my hand. Judging by the scenery, our destination seemed close. I turned my head to look at Luwen sitting across from me.
When I told him I would attend the ball, he was the same as usual. He simply asked to be brought along as a guard.
But on the actual day, after I changed into the clothes Merin had carefully selected for me and finished styling my hair, he frowned when we met again.
‘You’re going dressed like that?’
I thought I would hear compliments like “beautiful” or “handsome” or something similar. Instead, I received words that seemed to criticize my attire.
‘Why? Does it look strange?’
‘…No.’
After hesitating, Luwen finally answered indifferently.
Today I was wearing a light purple fabric with silver flower embroidery. The large flower embroidered on the tailcoat hem was vibrant, and the amethyst set in the center of that flower added the height of splendor.
Since the clothes were extravagant, I tied my hair simply in half and decorated it with the purple ribbon Luwen had given me. It was an outfit that shouldn’t have been problematic.
‘He didn’t even recognize the ribbon.’
I fiddled with the ribbon tail that hung down toward my chest.
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand. It was clearly because of the clothes, but I couldn’t grasp what part he disliked enough to look so rigid.
“Luwen.”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you recognize this?”
Only then did Luwen look at me. After identifying what “this” was that I was pointing to, his eyes widened a bit.
“Could that be what I gave you?”
“Yes. I thought you would recognize it, but you didn’t. I’m disappointed.”
As I said this with a playful smile, the corners of Luwen’s lips quietly rose. While attending the academy, I had cherished it greatly for fear of losing it, but with Merin’s skilled hands, there was no worry about it coming undone, so I chose to wear it.
“It’s been a long time since I gave it to you. I didn’t think you would keep it until now.”
“It’s a gift from Luwen. It’s still the most precious thing to me.”
Did my sincere words, not just flattery, reach him?
“Is that so.”
Luwen smiled shyly. He looked very happy. Honestly, I wasn’t sure why he had been sulking, but I was relieved that he still liked it when I showed affection.
“But you didn’t like my clothes? You’ve been looking displeased.”
“…Was it that obvious?”
So that’s what he was hiding. Our Luwen is so transparent. Cute fellow.
“Yes. Completely. Why?”
Since the mood had lightened, I asked again, hoping he might tell me.
“…Because you’re too beautiful, young master.”
After hesitating, Luwen said with blushing cheeks, as if embarrassed. It was definitely what I wanted to hear earlier, but now that I heard it, I don’t know why I felt embarrassed too. Heat rushed to my face, and I pretended to be calm while opening the window.
“You didn’t like that?”
Fortunately, the cold wind took away some of the heat, allowing me to ask a bit more.
“It’s not that I disliked it, but since you’ll surely be the most beautiful one at the ball, you’ll stand out… and I didn’t like that.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. With so many beautiful young ladies, how could I possibly stand out?”
Until now, I hadn’t even attended small tea parties, so I might attract attention due to my rarity, but no matter what, I couldn’t be prettier than the ladies who had dressed up and adorned themselves. So the attention would only be momentary.
After I explained this, Luwen looked at me with a strange gaze.
‘That look is familiar. It’s like he thinks I’m pathetic… No, why!’
Just as I was about to protest, the carriage stopped. We had arrived at the Margrave’s residence.
“Young master. I understand that guards cannot accompany you inside the ballroom.”
Luwen said with a worried face, holding the carriage handle.
“Yes. That’s generally the case.”
If I brought my guard inside, the venue would be packed with people, so the standard procedure would be for them to move to the waiting area with the carriage.
“If you feel any threat to your safety, please come out immediately. I’ll be waiting.”
“Understood. But don’t break protocol. Wait in the place where the guide takes you.”
This was a ball hosted by the commander of the Imperial Second Knight Order. There was no possibility of experiencing a threat to my safety. Even if some madmen were to raid, the knights protecting the Margrave’s residence would handle it. But I agreed readily, wanting Luwen to feel at ease.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Finally, Luwen opened the carriage door. After receiving his escort out of the carriage, I immediately presented my invitation to the butler guarding the entrance. For a moment, he looked slightly surprised before quickly composing himself and opening the door.
* * *
The ball was exhausting. Both the people who kept approaching me and the gazes constantly directed my way were burdensome. Contrary to my expectation that they would show a flash of interest initially and then quickly become indifferent, I was being hounded by people throughout.
‘Damn. I want to quit.’
As I pretended to be elegant while taking small sips of wine, I began to feel slightly intoxicated.
But I still hadn’t properly met Theobalt. Due to my status, I exchanged greetings with Margrave Lorentz and the second son at the beginning, but that was all.
As expected, Theobalt was a person on the outskirts of the ball. Occasionally, young ladies showed interest, but most attention was focused on Walter, the second son. This was natural since he was the future head of the family and the birthday celebrant.
Though there were abundant opportunities to approach, I grew increasingly frustrated as my plans were thwarted by the throng of people around me. Worse, I couldn’t even see Theobalt anymore. I had seen him leave the hall earlier, but he didn’t seem to have returned.
‘At this rate, it’s just a waste of time.’
I smiled at the young nobleman who clung to me annoyingly, chattering away. His face turned bright red, and he began to ramble incoherently.
People tend to exaggerate their movements when flustered. He excitedly babbled nonsense that didn’t even register with me, waving his arms as if telling an interesting story. I naturally bumped my wine glass against his arm, spilling it toward myself.
“Oh! L-Lord Vinter!”
“Oh dear.”
I looked at my wet coat tails with a sense of dismay, then smiled brightly.
“I’ll need to clean this. Please excuse me for a moment.”
“I’m s-sorry. Let me help you.”
“No. It was my mistake, so please don’t worry about it.”
I refused the handkerchief he offered and turned away. There’s an implicit understanding not to speak to someone who goes to change or fix stained clothes. It’s an embarrassing situation, so people pretend not to notice.
Though the gazes didn’t completely disappear, no one stopped me as I left the hall.
‘Now to find Theobalt.’
Just as I was about to walk away with a lightened heart—
“Young Lord Vinter.”
Someone had followed me all the way here, being a nuisance.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
