New Year's Ball (1)
"Whoa..."
"Wow..."
After what felt like an endless journey, the two siblings finally arrived at the Imperial Palace in the capital. The moment they stepped down from the carriage, every scrap of fatigue from the long ride vanished at once, and they let out simultaneous gasps of awe.
"So we're really going inside this place?"
"Heh. Brother, you're not so shocked you forgot the whole plan, are you?"
"You're the one who should stop shaking and talk properly."
"Wha—?! Th-this is...! I just stood up after sitting for ages!"
"Sure you did."
Even when they had first laid eyes on their family's manor in this world, the sheer size and splendor had left them speechless. The Academy, too, had been magnificent in its own right. But the Imperial Palace was on an entirely different scale. No matter how far they turned their heads, the walls stretched on without end, and beyond them the palace itself blazed with dazzling light—making it unmistakably clear that this was where the truly high and mighty lived.
"Children, listen carefully."
While the siblings were still bickering and sniping at each other, Freya approached from behind and spoke.
"Right now, everyone inside the palace will be paying very close attention to our family. Even if the interest becomes excessive, do not let yourselves be flustered."
"Well, that much... we've already had more than our fill of it at the Academy."
"And you, my daughter? You understand, yes?"
"Of course."
"Darling, no drinking this time. You will stay right by my side."
"...Ugh."
Before they entered the ballroom where the New Year's banquet would properly begin, Freya delivered one last round of advice to the family—and did not forget to put a leash on Darian while she was at it.
"Well then... shall we go in?"
With that brief exchange finished, the Evergarden family advanced toward the ballroom with Freya at their head.
Click—click—
"Th-there...!"
"It's the Evergarden count's family, isn't it?"
"So those are the ones from the rumors..."
As they climbed the stairs and walked into the ballroom, stares and whispers swarmed them in an instant.
"I heard they struck it rich with some medicine."
"Apparently the eldest son made it."
"And on top of that, he's the hero who solved that whole mess at the Academy."
"Heh."
"Gross."
Naturally, the name that came up most often was Felix's. Between his exploits at the Academy and the public credit he received as the creator of the potions, he had already become the hottest topic in noble society. Rosaria, who knew this perfectly well, found the sight of him pretending not to care while his shoulders subtly rose all the more irritating.
"That delinquent, you mean? Wonders never cease."
"...Did you hear that? Delinquent? Pfft!"
"...Hmph."
Of course, those who had heard the earlier rumors of his disgraceful behavior before all these achievements could only mutter in disbelief.
"Is that girl the youngest daughter?"
"She's an Academy student just like the eldest, I hear."
"Hm?"
The moment her own name began to surface, Rosaria's ears perked up.
"They say her temper is vicious, unlike the other young ladies."
"Apparently she throws punches without a second thought."
"How utterly lacking in dignity..."
"Those bastards...!"
They lowered their voices even further so the gossip wouldn't carry, but Rosaria's sharp ears picked every word clean out of the air, and her teeth ground together.
"How's it feel being the Academy's official thug?"
"Mmph, shuddup..!"
Felix, never one to miss a chance, immediately repaid the teasing he had just received, and Rosaria's fists clenched of their own accord.
"Oh my, you've arrived."
As the Evergarden family continued through the ballroom, drawing every eye in the room, a figure strode purposefully toward them.
"Has it been a week already? Have you been well?"
It was one of the nobles who had visited Evergarden territory to purchase magical beasts before the family came to the capital. On the surface it looked like a simple greeting to a familiar face, but it was also a calculated bit of social maneuvering—announcing to everyone nearby that they were already on friendly terms with the Evergarden count's household, currently the hottest topic of conversation.
"Ah, Count. It's been too long. Welcome to the capital."
"Countess, your attire is simply stunning! Far more beautiful than when I saw you at the manor last time~"
Once a few people had broken the ice, a flood of nobles came rushing over without waiting their turn. And so the Evergarden family's dazzling capital debut began in earnest.
"Ugh, this is chaos."
Unable to endure the sudden crush of nobles any longer, Rosaria slipped away from the crowd and let out a long sigh of relief at the freedom.
"Still, does nobody here care about the food?"
With a little breathing room at last, she surveyed the ballroom. Along the edges, an array of colorful, elaborate dishes had been laid out, yet the nobles were so absorbed in networking that the most any of them held was a single glass of wine. No one was actually eating. They simply didn't want to look like low-class gluttons in front of their peers.
"Food's the only thing that stays with you, seriously. Oh? This looks good."
Rosaria, however, cared nothing for such concerns. In high spirits she grabbed a plate and began eyeing every dish in sight.
"Heh. Not a bad haul."
She piled the plate high enough that it was only just short of toppling over, then gazed at it with a satisfied smile.
"Anyway, where is everyone...? Ah, found him."
Plate loaded, she finally started looking for her family again. Spotting Felix's familiar face, she raised a hand to wave.
"Hey, doesn't this look really good—"
"Lord Felix!"
"Please try some of this!"
"I was first!"
"How do you like my dress?"
"Ah... haha! Th-that's, um...!"
Just as she strode toward him, Rosaria ran into a wall far too solid to push through—a wall built entirely of young ladies who had their sights locked on Felix. Their eyes, as they charged in to claim the ballroom's number-one marriage prospect, burned with the same hungry intensity as a pack of hyenas.
"Oof..."
Ordinarily she might have felt a twinge of jealousy at the sight of her brother surrounded by so many girls. But once she realized those eyes held none of a lovestruck maiden's affection—only the predatory gleam of beasts eyeing a juicy meal—she found herself looking at Felix with something closer to pity.
"...Ah! Excuse me a moment. My sister is right over there. Rosaria~! Rosaria~!"
Felix, equally overwhelmed by the young ladies' assault, was laughing awkwardly when he spotted her watching from a distance. He stretched out a hand as if begging for rescue.
But.
"....Sorry."
"Huh? Wait—! Rosaria...! Broth— hey, you...!"
Having absolutely no desire to throw herself into that battlefield of women, Rosaria quietly averted her eyes and turned her back.
Sorry. Hang in there.
She walked on, deliberately tuning out the faint, desperate voice calling after her from afar.
"Ah well, I'll just eat alone. Looks delicious—don't mind if I do~"
She found a quiet corner, settled in, and was just lifting her utensils when—
"My, if it isn't Lady Rosaria."
"...Ah."
Just as Felix was being hunted, the noble young masters had begun to flock to her as well.
"That dress... it suits you remarkably well. From the moment I first saw you, my eyes simply could not leave your side."
"Then keep watching from over there."
"But my burning heart could not bear the thought of missing this chance and living forever with this aching longing, so I found myself speaking to you before I knew it."
"Is that so. Then you can leave now."
"Even a brief moment would be enough. Might I have a short conversation?"
"No."
"Ah, as expected—a beautiful rose always comes with sharp thorns. Yet without the resolve to be pricked, one can never pluck such a lovely flower."
"......."
Rosaria was in a thoroughly foul mood. Ever since the Evergarden family had begun its meteoric rise, she had been receiving constant advances even inside the Academy. At first the attention had been flattering, but as time went on it had grown nothing but tiresome and irritating. The same people who had whispered behind her back about her being a villainess or worse were now clinging to her the moment she became famous—and she hated every second of it. At least the boys in her own class had grown close (or rather, been thoroughly beaten into submission) through shared lessons, but students from other departments knew nothing of that and simply approached her as "some noble girl." Worst of all, there was never any genuine affection or special feeling involved—just the transparent calculation that marrying the count's youngest daughter would be an instant life upgrade. And the single most infuriating part of all:
Ugh, that fucking stick-insect bastard.
Nearly every one of them was a man. Felix, being male, at least had young ladies swarming him. She, currently a woman, had every noble young master in the place strutting around with every ounce of bravado they possessed, spewing greasy lines so thick they could clog an American's arteries. It was enough to drive anyone mad.
Not that I can throw the first punch. I just wish they'd get lost.
"Excuse me."
"Yes, my lady? Have you finally decided to answer my heart—"
"My food's getting cold. Could you maybe leave?"
"...Pardon?"
"Besides, I don't know your name or your face, and you start spouting all this useless crap without even introducing yourself while looking like some scrawny beggar. It's getting on my nerves."
"Scrawny beggar...?! Wh-what?!"
She had held the irritation in for as long as she could, but in the end the words came flying out.
"Heh, what a thorough humiliation."
"'Beggar's bones,' he says—hahaha!"
"Khh...!"
Those who had been eavesdropping on the exchange immediately joined in mocking him at Rosaria's vicious retort.
"How dare you...! A mere youngest daughter who isn't even the heir...! You insult me? You insolent little bitch!"
The shame of becoming a laughingstock in front of so many nobles must have cut deep. The greasy, flowery speech from moments earlier vanished without a trace as he spat crude curses and raised his hand.
Okay. Once he throws the first punch, it's self-defense.
Unable to strike first herself, Rosaria had been waiting for exactly this—for him to lose his temper and come at her. Beneath the table she carefully clenched her fist, already planning the beating that would follow.
"I'll teach that insolent mouth of yours a lesson!"
Whoosh—
A fist came flying straight at Rosaria's face.
How should I sell the pain? Or should I just call it a minnow's punch?
The punch looked so pathetic and weak that she didn't even bother dodging. She simply watched it come, already deciding how thoroughly she was going to pulp him afterward.
Then—
Thud—
"Huh? What in the...?"
"Eh?"
A hand appeared from nowhere and seized the young master's arm mid-swing.
A tall frame.
Broad shoulders.
Hair as black as the night sky.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Rosaria. It seems our first greeting has taken this form."
That was how Rosaria and Jin Bores first met.