Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Securing the Invitation
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“What’s this?”
“An invitation to the August social gathering happening in two weeks. It’s the party where the spoiled boys and girls of the capital throw money around and socialize.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve heard of it, though I’ve never been myself.”
Lark paused for a moment in thought, then let out an exclamation.
“Come to think of it, didn’t Lizbet go to one last month?”
“That’s right. It was her first time attending last month.”
“Did you go too, Duchess? You must’ve seen Lizbet.”
“Of course. We’re pretty close, actually.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.”
Lark chuckled in surprise and opened the invitation.
You are invited to the August social gathering.
‘1 Silver’
-Host, Riki Diorus
“1 Silver?”
“To attend the party, you need two things: the invitation and a gift for the host. The ‘1 Silver’ written there is the gift the host hopes for from their guests.”
Lizbet had probably received an invitation from Riki too.
“Her Highness the 5th Princess likely got one as well, but I’d guess the gift she needs to prepare is a Parma Crystal.”
“What?”
Lark furrowed his brow.
“You have to bring a national treasure just to go to the party?”
“Who would actually bring a national treasure? It’s a gift they know you can’t possibly bring. They send invitations like that to guests they’re politely inviting but secretly hope won’t show up.”
Lark stiffened.
‘He’s been so buried in state affairs that he hasn’t shown his face in these circles much, so it makes sense he wouldn’t know...’
He seemed aware of the social gatherings themselves but not the specific rules or the subtle discriminations.
After a long moment of thought, Lark asked with a darkened expression.
“...Is Lizbet being ostracized by the nobles?”
“Um, no, not quite ostracized. What noble would dare outright shun royalty? It’s just...”
I scratched my cheek, hesitating, then made an excuse.
“...Probably because it’s difficult.”
“...”
Of course, the truth was a bit different.
The truth was that Lizbet had fallen for Riki at first sight and kept showing her affection, but Riki found her burdensome. Still, Lizbet relentlessly pursued him.
‘She’s probably desperate to go to the party because of Riki.’
That was the truth, but...
There was no need to tell Lark about it, so I held my tongue.
“Anyway, Her Highness the 5th Princess’s goal wasn’t the national treasure but attending the party, so if you give her that, it should be fine.”
“But, Duchess.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know I’d bring up Lizbet? How did you know to prepare this? You... Ah!”
Lark laughed and clutched his head.
“Right, you foresaw this too.”
“Uh...”
Not exactly.
It was just good timing.
“Well, something like that. But more than that, I was hoping Her Highness the 5th Princess would attend this social gathering. I was actually preparing to give her my own invitation.”
“Oh dear. So this was your invitation? Is it okay to take someone else’s?”
“Invitations don’t specify recipients anyway, so it’s fine. They ask for extravagant gifts to avoid issues later. The hosts handle distribution themselves too.”
“Hm, I see.”
Lark’s gaze cooled slightly as he stared at the invitation.
He’d only heard about the guest selection and invitation process, but he seemed to grasp the underbelly of this thoroughly aristocratic party.
“Thank you for now. But if I give this to her, doesn’t that mean you can’t go?”
“I’m fine. The host is Riki, so getting an extra one is no big deal.”
I smiled at his apologetic expression to reassure him.
* * *
The moment I got home, I headed straight for the twins’ room. Wishit, who was nearby, sent me a telepathic message.
[Are you really seeing the future? How did you know the Crown Prince would be troubled over his sister?]
[How would I know that? I just remembered that Lizbet wasn’t at this year’s August social gathering originally. She must’ve gotten an invitation since she knows Riki...]
I shrugged and added,
[If she didn’t go, the reason’s obvious. She couldn’t prepare the gift. When the Crown Prince threw a fit about suddenly demanding a Parma Crystal, I figured Riki must’ve asked for it.]
[Oho... So you helped the princess who couldn’t attend out of pity. How kind.]
[Me? For Lizbet?]
I snorted.
My memories of the 5th Princess, Lizbet, weren’t all that great.
‘Just like Rubette trailed after Cedric, the 5th Princess chased Riki around.’
The kind Rubette had felt a strange kinship with Lizbet, who was earnestly in love, but Lizbet?
Whenever there was a noble social gathering, she hoped Rubette would come and stuck right by her side.
Why?
‘Because with Rubette next to her, she didn’t look quite so plump.’
Lizbet, with her chubby figure, lacked confidence in her body, but having Rubette nearby gave her a bit of breathing room.
She’d even used Rubette as a messenger, asking her to deliver dozens of love letters to Riki...
Anyway, even after growing up a bit, she’d kept acting like an immature girl—that memory stuck out clearly.
[Sorry, but I have zero intention of playing love courier like in my past life. I just need Lizbet at this social gathering for a specific reason.]
[A specific reason?]
[Yeah. This August social gathering is where Riki invites the ‘Roland Troupe.’ Our great actress Sera Vigo is coming. Hehe...]
That was right.
From what I remembered, Riki had invited the hottest troupe in the capital, the Roland Troupe, to this August social gathering, and they performed [The Death of Helga].
Sera had already retired by then, but Riki threw around an insane amount of money to get her back on stage.
‘Even Viego oppa, who rarely scolds the twins, chewed Riki out for it. That’s why I remember it so well.’
This time, since Sera hadn’t retired, there’d be no need for such extravagant spending.
It was a bit disappointing that Riki wouldn’t get scolded...
[Not just the nobles attending the party, but Lizbet will spread the word to the other princesses in the palace too! With all the big spenders there, it’ll be the perfect stage for them to gape at the dresses I designed!]
Knock knock.
Swallowing a laugh, I cleared my throat in front of Riki’s room, where I’d arrived, and knocked.
“Riki, it’s me, Rubette. You in there? I’m coming in?”
Chattering voices from the twins drifted out from inside. As expected, they were together.
When I opened the door, the siblings, sitting across from each other at a table piled high with invitations, glared at me with cold eyes.
“What?”
Lillia snapped first, aggressively.
“Uh, nothing much. Just wanted to ask something.”
I rolled my eyes like someone hesitant to speak and scratched my cheek.
“Um, about the August social gathering. Cedric’s obviously... coming, right?”
“Cedric?”
Lillia’s eyes flashed.
“Why are you looking for Cedric? Didn’t you say you didn’t like him anymore?”
“Y-Yeah! I’m not going to like Cedric anymore.”
I huffed, sniffed primly, then checked Lillia’s reaction...
“Pfft. I knew it.”
She’d fallen for my act, as expected.
She jumped up, beaming, and hurried over to me.
“Hey, what was that about going out in the city with His Highness the Crown Prince? What did you talk about with him?”
“Nothing much?”
“Don’t lie—tell me the truth. No matter how I think about it, there’s no reason His Highness would wander around with someone like you.”
“Hey, pig. Who’s His Highness interested in? Really Lillia?”
Riki, who’d been listening to our conversation while seated, chimed in.
Lillia’s eyes sparkled.
“He asked about me, right? He kept inquiring about me?”
“...I don’t know!”
I pouted, lips jutting out, and turned my head away with a sulky expression.
Even without the answer she wanted, Lillia seemed satisfied with my reaction and covered her mouth, giggling.
“That’s right. I get it now, Rubette. Our poor Ruby’s still hopelessly in love with Cedric.”
“No, I’m not!”
“Yeah, yeah, sure. Anyway, is that why you came? To ask if Cedric’s coming this time?”
Lillia nodded with a fake kind smile.
“Of course he is. You come too and have fun with Cedric.”
“Oh, about that...”
“Hm?”
“I don’t think I can go.”
“What? Why?”
“I lost the invitation.”
Riki scowled deeply at my words.
“Hey! Why would you lose that! If you sneak into somewhere else with it, it’ll be a headache!”
“I never took it out. I think I lost it in my room. I searched everywhere, but...”
I looked dejected, gauging their reactions.
“No invitation means you can’t go, right? Oh well...”
“Wait!”
As I turned to leave the room, I smirked inwardly.
These devils wouldn’t hold a gathering without me.
They’d be the most disappointed without their fun toy to plop in the middle like a zoo monkey and tease, torment, and embarrass to their heart’s content.
‘That’s why every time it was the twins’ or their close noble friends’ turn to host, I was always first on the invitation list.’
Fresh anger boiled up, making my teeth grind, but I held it in and turned back with expectant, sparkling eyes.
“Our Ruby seems dying to play with Cedric.”
Lillia pursed her lips as if bestowing a favor.
“Oh well. Riki?”
“Ugh, seriously. Lose it again and you’re dead, pig.”
Riki grumbled and picked up one of the invitations from the table, waving it arrogantly.
Pretending to be overwhelmed with gratitude, I snatched it quickly, then mumbled sheepishly.
“Ahem. Also, sorry about the last few days. I held it in for so long that it all burst out, but thinking it over, I feel like I was too harsh on you guys. I hope we have fun at this gathering.”
At my apology, the twins froze and exchanged glances.
The corners of their mouths creeping up, unable to hide their excitement, and their slyly gleaming eyes...
‘Ugh. They’re thrilled at the thought of tormenting me again.’
The twins, holding back laughs, looked at me primly.
“Well, whatever. You apologized first, so it’d be rude not to accept.”
“Right, pig. Good thing you finally came to your senses.”
Idiots.
I nodded with a smile, slipped the invitation onto my finger, and spun around.
“Thanks for the in-vi-ta-tion.”