Chapter 4
‘Could it be that he doesn’t get along with Miss Viola?’
Even if that were the case, it was strange.
What did his bad relationship with Viola have to do with me asking her to be my partner?
No matter how close we are as friends, to interfere that much…
〈Please, just once, listen to what I’m saying〉
…Hmm.
‘As long as it’s not Miss Viola, it’s fine?’
Well, I suppose I have no choice.
Maybe I should think a little more about my dance partner.
‘There are still a few months left until the New Year Ball.’
I went into my room and sat on the bed, intending to enjoy some alone time. But before long, someone knocked on the door.
“Young master. It’s Redward.”
He’s the head butler of our Lowell family. When I gave permission for him to enter, an elderly man with graying hair came in with a polite bow.
“What is it?”
“An invitation has arrived for you, young master.”
He held out a letter beautifully sealed with wax. I took out a knife from my desk drawer, broke the seal, and pulled out the invitation. From its form, it appeared to be a banquet invitation.
“Thank you for your trouble, Redward. You may go.”
“Yes.”
After the head butler bowed and left the room, I listened to his footsteps receding down the hallway while checking the invitation.
‘It’s from the young lady of Count Melanica’s family.’
It contained the formal content asking me to come to her birthday banquet, and seeing it brought back vague memories of Edgar from the novel.
‘I didn’t attend this banquet at that time.’
That was just my personality back then.
While I was gentle enough to be called gentlemanly, maintaining amicable relationships all around and being generally kind, I never easily approached others first—I suppose you could say I had a tendency to form relationships narrowly but deeply.
Of course, Cedric was an exception to that ‘kindness.’
Anyway. I had only heard the name of Count Melanica’s young lady during my time at the Imperial Academy, but had never properly spoken with her.
For that reason, I normally wouldn’t have wanted to attend, but…
“…Maybe I’ll go this once.”
I know that Count Melanica’s young lady has a particularly sociable personality, quickly becoming friends with anyone and having many people as companions.
If I attend this birthday banquet, I could indirectly meet her friends as well.
‘If I’m not going to ask Miss Viola to dance, I need to meet more people too.’
Of course, there’s that reason… and there’s also an impulse to break free from the life of a frog in a well.
I suppose I want to escape from the world where I only knew Cedric and Riette, and expand my world a little more.
‘I need to meet new people and find a new partner too.’
Hmm. It would be better not to tell Cedric and Riette about going to the banquet. If I tell them, they might want to come along.
Then there would be no point in participating.
“Alright.”
I’ve decided. Let’s try expanding my connections alone!
* * *
The banquet hall of Count Melanica’s family, where pleasant music filled the space and many nobles who had been invited like me were gathered in small groups having conversations.
As soon as I arrived, I sought out the young lady and had a brief conversation while presenting the gift I had brought.
I felt awkward coming alone, but the young lady was surprised yet welcomed me warmly, which put me at ease. Thanks to that, I was able to look around the banquet hall with a relaxed mind.
But…
‘How is it that I don’t recognize a single face?’
I’m realizing anew just how narrow my social circle is.
‘Sigh.’
I want to approach anyone and strike up a conversation first, but I don’t know what they might like or what topics would be appropriate to bring up.
I was just worrying about this for a while when…
“Edgar?”
A familiar voice heard in an unfamiliar place. Instinctively feeling pleased, I turned my head, and there was Viola in front of me.
“Ah, Miss Viola.”
My voice naturally became gentle. Meeting someone I knew finally played a part, but since the person I had been planning to meet soon was right in front of me, my heart naturally lifted.
“Miss Viola, you came too.”
At that, Viola’s face flushed pink and she lowered her eyes gently, then hesitated deliberately. She was quite a shy person.
“I didn’t expect to run into you here like this.”
“Indeed.”
“I’m… happy to see you, Edgar.”
“I’m happy that you say so too.”
Suddenly Viola’s already flushed cheeks turned even redder. Could she be hot? Although the banquet hall was large, with so many people it could be…
As I was checking her complexion, she who had been tightly closing her eyes as if holding back something suddenly opened them with a sparkle.
Topaz-like sparkling golden eyes came close to my face, startling me into flinching.
“I! E-Edgar.”
“Yes?”
“By any chance… have you decided on a ball partner?”
Viola’s soft voice flowed out weakly trembling. Having composed myself from the surprise, I shook my head.
“No, not yet.”
“Then, in that case… would you like to do it with me?”
…Huh? She wants to do it with me? For a moment my thought process creaked. I never imagined she would be the first to propose being partners to me.
Could it be that she also didn’t have a dance partner?
‘What should I do?’
It was a good opportunity. I had originally planned to ask Viola to be my dance partner too.
Since the lady approached first, it would actually be difficult to refuse. But Cedric’s warning was floating around in my head, so I couldn’t readily open my mouth…
“He already has a pre-arranged partner.”
Suddenly someone’s voice interrupted from behind me. It was a cold voice, cold enough to instinctively feel a chill.
Startled, I quickly turned around and was surprised again for a different reason.
Because Cedric was right there in front of me.
“Cedy…”
Why the hell is he here?
I felt embarrassed and slightly raised the corners of my mouth in a smile.
“Oh, hello. Fancy meeting you in a place like this.”
But even that was suppressed. Cedric’s eyes turned toward me and glared with an ominous aura.
Cedric returned to his usual polite expressionless face, gave Viola a courteous nod, and grabbed my arm to drag me away.
“Hey, wait, where are you going…”
“Stop talking and follow me.”
Cedric threateningly growled as he headed somewhere. I was intimidated and kept my mouth shut tight.
Having dragged me to a corner of a corridor where people didn’t pass, Cedric turned around with an angry face.
I also met his gaze with force in my eyes, feeling somewhat rebellious, when he snapped at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?”
“You didn’t tell me either.”
Suddenly Cedric’s expression changed strangely. Like he was holding back something, he let out a trembling breath and irritably ran his hand through his hair.
“I definitely told you before. I said a long time ago that Count Melanica’s young lady’s birthday was coming up and I’d probably attend.”
…Ah.
“You don’t seem to remember.”
He probably told me before I regained my past life’s memories.
The me back then would have heard whatever Cedric said in one ear and let it out the other, so not remembering was natural in a way.
“…Sorry.”
I immediately deflated and apologized in a small voice like an ant crawling. Then Cedric, who had been quietly glaring at me in anger, flinched slightly.
He seemed like he hadn’t expected me to apologize.
A short silence that felt somewhat awkward. After a moment, Cedric, who had turned his gaze aside, spoke again.
“Anyway, I told you that woman is off-limits.”
Only then did I remember what the original topic of conversation was and quickly came to my senses. Being sorry was one thing, but the ball partner issue was another matter.
“No, Cedy. Why are you being so selfish? What do you mean there’s a pre-arranged partner? Why did you lie like that…”
“You’re being selfish too, so why can’t I?”
“…Even if that’s true, you can’t drag someone away in the middle of a conversation like that. It’s rude to the person you’re talking with.”
“Then should I have that conversation in front of that woman? Tell her not to think about dancing with you? Do you want me to say it in front of her?”
“What? Of course not!”
I shouted in panic, then immediately controlled my emotions. And after hesitating whether to ask what I was curious about, I carefully spoke up.
“Cedy, you…”
“……”
“Do you not get along with Miss Viola?”
This time Cedric kept his mouth shut.
He didn’t seem to have any intention of explaining to me why he was interfering. My heart grew heavy and I let out a big sigh.
“Then who am I supposed to dance with? Huh?”
“…There’s Riette.”
“I told you I’m not going to ask Riette to be my partner?”
Cedric looked at me with highly suspicious eyes. As if I were telling an obvious lie that anyone could see through. He’s been reacting like this since before.
Ah, this is really frustrating!
I clearly said no, but why does he keep acting so certain?
Of course it’s true that I liked Riette and it might have been obvious, but I never said it directly even once.
Isn’t it going too far to be this certain and pushy about it?
“What exactly do you want from me?”
“……”
“Do you want me to dance with Riette?”
I asked with a half-resigned feeling, but Cedric made a displeased expression instead.
Look at that. He talks as if he wants me to ask Riette to dance, but he doesn’t seem to like that idea either.
I was at the point where I wanted to open that guy’s head right now and read what he was thinking.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
