Freshman Welcome Banquet #2
“What~? Ricardo's face is all red~. I was just teasing, but you got so startled~?”
Adella poked my cheek, her expression infuriatingly playful.
“Maybe he's drunk.”
“Aha~ So Ricardo gets tipsy even from grape juice~. Good to know~.”
My spiteful retort, fueled by rising defiance, fell flat. Infuriating.
“Heehee, I'll stop teasing now~. Cheers~. Clink~.”
“Yeah. Cheers.”
A chill crept up my back just as Adella timed her retreat perfectly. Her grass-green eyes flicked toward Isabella beside me, then she stuck out her tongue cutely.
As if to say, that's all, forgive me?
“⋯⋯Ahem.”
At the same moment, Isabella—who'd been subtly out of my sight—cleared her throat softly.
The golden goblets clinked sharply, the grape juice inside sloshing and wetting the space between us.
Glug.
“Mmm~.”
Adella's brows furrowed faintly as she sipped. Her nose wrinkled repeatedly.
“What's wrong?”
“The grape juice~ doesn't really suit my taste~.”
“⋯⋯Then why'd you take it? There are other drinks.”
“Huh~? 'Cause~ you took grape juice, Ricardo~.”
Adella giggled foolishly with an ehehehe. I couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief, then gently pinched her wrinkling nose.
“Eek~.”
“Don't copy me for no reason. Drink what you want.”
“Got it~ Let gooo~.”
Adella flailed her arms and immediately surrendered. The blush staining her long ears to the tips was striking.
“Wah~ Ricardo's so rough~.”
“Yeah, yeah, sorry.”
Come to think of it, that might've been too aggressive for this world's people. I apologized right away.
“Hmph, I'll let it slide~.”
Thankfully, Adella didn't mind, giggling again.
“You've arrived, Young Lord Bardi.”
Then a seductive voice called out. Turning naturally, the first thing that caught my eye was golden hair rippling more brilliantly than the goblets.
Alessia the princess.
She wrapped her voluptuous figure in a red dress as passionate as her eyes. Her pale cleavage was exposed, adorned above with rose embroidery and a ruby necklace that amplified her splendor.
Of course, the real star was elsewhere. No matter how flashy the accessories or flowers, they paled before Alessia the princess's face.
She rarely wore heavy makeup normally. She didn't need to—she was beautiful, born with the magic to draw every gaze.
But perhaps due to the banquet hall's special atmosphere, tonight she was armed with intense, alluring makeup, flaunting her beauty freely.
Even the timid-looking girl beside her, Lady Beatrice, was overshadowed. ⋯⋯Wait, was she always like that? Normally, the kaleidoscope amulet around her neck drew more attention than she did.
“Your Highness.”
“Raise your head. We're classmates, aren't we?”
Easier said than done. I smiled wryly and nodded. “Understood.”
“Waaah~ You're so beautiful, Alessia~.”
“You as well, Miss Belluna. It's a bit embarrassing to be complimented on my looks by an elven lady.”
“What are you saying~? Most elves wouldn't even register next to you, Alessia~.”
“Hehe, but you're the exception.”
“Oh my~.”
Adella beamed as she chatted with the princess. They seemed to get along well at a glance.
Yeah, at a glance.
It felt like I could hear cats yowling.
“So, Young Lord Bardi. How's your health?”
“Ah, yes. Perfectly fine.”
“Mmm, take good care of yourself. As a princess, and⋯⋯as myself, I have great interest in you.”
“Is that so. An honor.”
“Mmm.”
Alessia fell silent, chewing her words. I waited quietly, but it dragged on. Like a student at the start of term, wanting to befriend someone but unsure what to say.
“Young Lord Bardi.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Th-that, um. Don't think I'm prying. I'm not pressuring you at all, not even a speck.”
Your Highness⋯⋯even for a princess of a nation, “a speck” in front of others? She must've fumbled her words, but the attendants behind her looked dizzy.
Well, I got the gist.
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“Ah! Ahem, good. Anyway, what I mean is──”
Suddenly, murmurs rippled through the students. Loud enough to make Alessia pause.
I tensed instantly, ready to move. An old habit from my past life.
“⋯⋯Student council, is it.”
Amid it all, Alessia muttered displeasedly. Beside her, Beatrice—who'd done nothing—shuddered with a “Eek!”
Anyway, following her words, I saw a dazzling group.
Blue uniforms symbolizing Nicola Class. Golden badges shaped like phoenix wings adorned their chest pockets, likely for decks. Each gesture exuded high nobility, drawing awed gasps from students.
“Each one is among the academy's top talents.”
Isabella whispered just loud enough for me.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The platinum-haired gentleman with the slicked-back hair is Maximilian Spinola. Third-year this year, favors aggressive tactics overwhelming with knight-type creatures. Behind him, the tall, slender lady is Anna Evrea. This year──”
I'd expected as much, but Isabella had neatly memorized the student council's info too.
I desperately memorized the names she rattled off clearly and rapidly, storing them in my mind. Politics was my least favorite, but as the Bardi count's heir, I couldn't ignore it entirely.
“⋯⋯And the woman at the front is──”
“Ah, no need. I'd like to introduce myself.”
How did she hear? The woman leading the student council approached me.
Cotton-candy curls of pure purple hair—no dye could match that dreamlike, noble hue.
Her eyes were the same. Deep violet orbs that drew you in, half-lidded with starlight flickering within.
A soft smile like moonlight. Her black dress, woven from night's veil, highlighted unparalleled curves, a necklace buried between drawing the eye.
Cozy enough to sink into, yet terrifying you'd never escape. Such a woman.
“Pleased to meet you, Young Lord Bardi. I'm Daphne von Lilucania. Honored to serve as Federico Academy's student council president.”
Her voice tickled like a feather on my ear. A sweet body scent, not perfume, invaded my nose.
Lilucania? Definitely a kingdom on par with Ardia. Royalty, then.
But odd. Unlike Alessia, she had only one attendant, who looked stoic.
“Ricardo Bardi, of Bardi County in the Kingdom of Ardia.”
I carefully grasped her delicate hand.
“Mmm. I've heard much. Impressive performance.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. Delighted such a rare talent joins our academy and dorm.”
“Too kind.”
“Too kind⋯⋯perhaps. But we prove ourselves through duels.”
“─Then, may I test you?”
Mid-conversation, the slicked-back man Isabella called “Maximilian” interjected.
A handsome young man with clear blue eyes and sturdy build, but his gaze on me wasn't friendly.
“Test?”
“Rumors differ from reality. I'd like to gauge this junior's skill.”
Why? I felt an odd dissonance from his glances at Daphne, like he was conscious of her.
“Whether he truly merits Daphne the princess's attention.”
At a glance, like a fool jealous of her gaze on another man. But⋯⋯hmm.
Maybe his strikingly handsome face. Every look, gesture, voice felt like⋯⋯an actor performing.
Not exaggerated—unnaturally natural. Odd to sense wrongness.
But I trusted my instincts. They'd saved my life many times before.
“What nonsense at a welcome banquet.”
Alessia spoke sternly then. Her red eyes blazed like crimson lotuses.
“Ah, Alessia the princess. Long time no see.”
“Yes. Before my enrollment, so nearly a year now. Daphne the princess.”
“Indeed⋯⋯Time flies.”
“Busy with duties, no doubt.”
“Hehe, if Alessia the princess joined student council, I might have some leisure.”
“Perhaps. It's an honor, but doesn't suit me.”
“Such a pity.”
Look, princesses. If you're going to glare, do it elsewhere. Don't sandwich an innocent count's son.
Voices soft, but sparks flew from their eyes.
Sigh.
Poor me, roasting in between.