Debut Ball (4)
"…"
Dante let out a quiet sigh inwardly as he watched the approaching princess.
The debut ball had been one incident after another, but who could have imagined noble ladies actually slapping each other in a brawl?
"Haa…"
Princess Esilia snapped her fan open wide and covered her mouth, grumbling.
"I thought we'd get through this year quietly for once. No such luck."
"…"
"…"
Princess Esilia was the undisputed master of this debut ball. Sara Aision and Talain Raquelra stood with heads bowed, awaiting her words.
Nor were they the only ones. The other ladies, knights, and high nobles all kept silent.
It was only natural. This was the debut ball, and its stars could only be the young girls.
The princess's word was law.
"Both of you. Follow me."
"Yes, Princess."
"Yes, Princess."
Princess Esilia glanced briefly at Dante.
"You come too, Bug Tamer."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Dante escorted Sara as they followed behind the princess.
The ball hall had plenty of empty rooms. The princess selected a suitable one and gathered all the parties involved in the incident.
"Is it a lack of common sense~ Or just no fear at all~?"
"…"
"…"
"To think you'd cause such a scene… at a ball I, Esilia, am hosting. Both of you?"
Her tone was playful. Her expression, her eyes—they all gave the impression of a minor mishap.
But beyond the beautiful princess's gaze burned an unconcealed fury.
She was the master of this ball. It was her responsibility to see it through successfully.
So a violent outburst like this was bound to irk her.
"I have something to say, Princess! I—!"
"Be quiet."
"…"
"Who gave you permission to speak, Lady Talain Raquelra?"
Lady Raquelra shut her mouth, but her face screamed she was about to pour out excuses any second.
Princess Esilia spoke.
"I command you. Make up right now."
"…"
"…"
Hey, make up.
The princess had commanded it so… but girls who had just been slapping and brawling weren't about to go, "Sure~ Let's be friends~."
The princess smirked.
"Now you're ignoring my words too~?"
"… Princess, that's not—"
"Well, no helping it then!"
"…?"
"Fight."
The princess said with a smile.
"Until one of you dies. Right now."
"…"
"…"
"My, defying a royal command twice now?"
The princess gave a look, and a knight stepped forward.
"Drag both of them out and execute them. Sever their heads and hang them in the square."
"…!"
"…!"
The ladies jolted in shock.
Yeah. Right there.
Dante smoothly intervened. Until now, he'd let the princess vent her irritation fully.
If he didn't step in now, they might actually get executed for "fighting at the debut ball."
"Princess."
As Dante spoke, her gaze shifted to him. Her face was hidden by the fan, so he couldn't read it well, but… for some reason, he was certain it wasn't bad.
If she were truly furious, she wouldn't have put on this show—she'd have ordered punishment from the start.
"Withdraw your command."
No sooner had Dante spoken than Princess Esilia replied.
"I've already issued three commands. Make up. Fight. Execute."
The princess let out a smirk.
"And not one has been carried out?"
"…"
"Am I not the princess of this empire? Has the imperial authority fallen to the dirt…? Or."
Her scorching gaze poured onto Dante.
"Have you nobles grown too arrogant?"
"… Our loyalty remains ever unchanged, Princess."
"If you think sweet words will get you out of this, give it up, Bug Tamer."
In the cramped room, thick with silence, the princess's presence was suffocating.
Imperials are imperials, huh.
Dante was struck anew by the feel of a class-based society.
The Aision family was renowned as western sea nobles—but they were just a count's house.
The Raquelra counts were no different.
Whatever punishment the princess decreed, they had to obey.
But Dante resolved to break the silence.
"Grant me three minutes, Princess."
"!"
"!"
The princess was still pondering, but Lady Raquelra stared in shock at the impudent young noble who dared speak.
Surprisingly, the princess showed no anger. If anything, her eyes gleamed with interest.
"Time, you say?"
"Yes. I believe this entire situation is abnormal."
"Hmm… Is that so~?"
"If you grant me three minutes, I'll share my full thoughts without omission."
"Three's too much. One minute?"
Dante bowed his head.
"If it's a command, I'll obey."
Silence fell briefly.
The princess set aside her fan and commanded.
"Everyone out except the Bug Tamer. Return when I call you in five minutes."
"Th-then! Princess! After that, let me explain for five minutes…!"
"Lady Sara Aision. Slap Lady Raquelra. Now."
"… Pardon?"
Sara panicked, but at Dante's glance, she squeezed her eyes shut and smack! slapped Lady Raquelra's cheek.
It was a signal to play along.
"Princess—!"
"I said out."
Everyone filed out.
The princess propped her chin lazily and finally exhaled the sigh she'd held back.
"Really… 14-year-old girls are no different from wild beasts~."
"…"
"That damn pride of theirs. There's always a fight every year."
She spoke to Dante with weary exasperation.
"Do you know why your sister fought?"
"… I heard it started over matching dress colors."
Charlotte had already scurried over to explain everything to him.
And Dante understood. This wasn't a situation Sara should suffer through.
The problem lay with Lady Raquelra, not Sara.
"That's how it goes."
The princess grumbled.
"A perennial women's issue, I suppose… Unlike men, they're coddled from childhood as 'precious darlings,' so they think they're the rarest gems in the world~."
"…"
"The Raquelra counts are an old naval house. I get why Lady Raquelra's nose is so high."
Dante said, "In that case, you must know my sister bears no guilt."
"Who knows~?"
"…"
"Do you really think Lady Aision is blameless?"
It was an odd riddle.
Before Dante could answer, the princess provided it.
"Your sister's sin is a lack of dignity as a noble."
"Dignity, you say."
"Basically, it's her fault for looking like an easy mark~."
"…"
"The Aisions must have something to boast about. Yet at 14, Lady Aision didn't even know Lady Raquelra's face?"
"…"
"Lady Raquelra's been active in social circles, gathering friends like maids—er, followers. Noblewoman qualities? She wins hands down~."
Indeed. It was what Dante had worried about.
Sara was a girl who feared social activities, a true introvert.
She loved playing with her father and brother. Strangers terrified her.
As a noble… she didn't score high.
"If Lady Aision had a faction or followers, would this have happened today?"
"…"
"So I can't blindly side with her. Lady Raquelra started it, sure—but Lady Aision hit back, didn't she?"
"Call it a fight."
"Yes. The girls fought, and Lady Aision won. Context aside, Lady Raquelra's the one who got hit."
Dante got it. The princess's logic was purely noble.
She didn't care about simple right and wrong. Who had power and justification?
Lady Raquelra started the trouble, but she had power. More friends, more followers than Sara.
If Sara were a clear victim, the princess might back her… but Sara had overwhelmingly won the brawl.
Visually, Lady Raquelra looked roughed up too.
"If you're asking to punish only Lady Raquelra for starting it, I'll refuse."
Of course. The princess favored the empire over any noble.
Naval Raquelra vs. maritime Aision. She wouldn't easily side with either.
… Tricky.
The scales needed balancing.
And those scales were in Dante's hands.
Proof: He was alone with the princess now.
No one from Raquelra got this chance.
The princess was clearly offering an opening.
So Dante added more weight.
"As you say, Princess, my sister has no friends."
"Ahaha. Honest, aren't you."
"She came to the debut ball to make new ones. She's a girl who wants to be friends with any lady."
Dante met the princess's eyes.
"Could you not be my sister's friend, Princess?"
"… Hmm."
"If she lacks dignity, noble authority—then you could lend her that authority."
In that moment, Dante saw it.
The princess's lips twitch upward in a clear smile.
"Why should I lend authority to Lady Aision?"
Dante steadied his breath and answered.
He'd come as Sara's partner. He now represented House Aision.
Dante gazed at the princess with unwavering eyes.
She watched him back, clearly amused.
"Remember House Aision's loyalty."
"Hmm. Loyalty? Raquelra matches it. Whatever his daughter's temperament, Count Raquelra is an excellent admiral guarding the western coast."
"No one rivals Aision in maritime trade."
"Tempting. But you're not the family head. You can't bargain with Aision wealth you don't hold~."
"If you become my sister's friend… my magic can side with you too."
"… Magic."
"Yes. Magic fewer than 100 in the empire can wield proficiently. Bug Magic. Chungsul."
Laughter rang out.
Before he knew it, the princess stood right before him.
Close enough to touch her face.
She smiled dazzlingly beautiful.
"It's so strange."
"…"
"Aision gold stirs no emotion. But you… spark such curiosity. Must be that weird magic of yours, Bug Tamer. Yes, quite rare."
Dante bowed his head.
The princess chuckled lowly.
"Fine. I like Sara Aision too… So I'll happily be her friend."
"Thank y—"
"But on one condition, Dante Aision."
"Yes."
"Duel. If Lord Dante defeats Lady Raquelra's champion in a duel, I'll share a girl's friendship with Lady Sara Aision."
The princess's decision.
A duel. Utterly noble.
A way to defend one's honor.
And a chance to glimpse a Bug Tamer's magic.
"I gladly obey."
The moment Dante finished, the princess called everyone back.
"Good! I'll announce my decision!"
As the ladies entered, the princess declared:
"By the empire's ancient tradition! I command a duel to defend one's honor!"
"Today at noon—meaning one hour from now! A duel for the honor of Aision and Raquelra!"
"The victor claims honor! The loser, I shall dispose of personally!"
"That's all!"
Dismissed. Aision and Raquelra each selected champions for the duel.
Aision chose Dante. Raquelra's partner, her cousin brother, volunteered as champion.
Dante took Sara to an empty room for rest. She threw her arms around him, sobbing.
"S-sorry…! Because of me…! Because of me, brother…!"
"No. It's fine. You did nothing wrong, Sara."
Dante patted her back slowly.
"Huuu…"
Dante steadied his breath.
Spilled milk. Might as well fight—and win.
Yeah. If we're fighting, I win.
The worst of the worst was losing.
House Aision would lose honor.
And… the princess's promise to be Sara's friend might break.
He hated that.
Sorry, but I have to win.
Dante hardened his resolve.
Duel in one hour.
But right now. He had to win.
"Come out."
Dante manipulated his symbiotic bugs to summon insects.
Bursting through his skin came red-hued honeybees.
The Noon Fairy, with its unique name.
"Find Lady Talain Raquelra. The one beside her is the champion."
Bzzz…
"Poison that champion."
The red honeybee flapped quietly and vanished.
The magical creature passed straight through the wall, flying off somewhere.
…
…
One hour later.
Dante headed to the duel site.
Lady Talain Raquelra's cousin brother, Cadric Talius, heaved ragged breaths.
"Haa… haa…"
"Nervous?"
"…"
"No need to tense up against that trash. You're the best, bro!"
Lady Raquelra noticed her cousin's odd state but was too fixated on Sara Aision to grasp the situation properly.
Stupid bitch.
House Raquelra was a famed naval family.
And her cousin, Cadric Talius, hailed from a renowned cavalry house.
Raquelra and Talius—both military families producing great generals—had merged.
Cadric Talius was a knight trainee at the royal academy.
Of course… he was strong!
Age twenty-one. Six years older than "Dante Aision."
21 vs. 15. Knight trainee vs. mere noble boy.
This a fight?
All Aisions must be idiots.
Lady Raquelra snickered softly.
Sara Aision. From now on, that bitch was done with noble society.
She'd bury her six feet under…!
"You two! Ready?"
"…"
"Yes."
Dante answered properly.
… But Cadric Talius did not.
"Cadric Talius?"
"…"
"Cadric Talius!"
"… Yes."
The delayed reply drew snickers from the watching nobles.
A 21-year-old tensing for a duel? Dante had more guts.
The afternoon sun hung at its zenith.
The officiating knight shouted.
"Duel begins!"
"…"
"…"
The duel started.
But neither Dante nor Cadric moved.
"???"
The nobles murmured.
What were they doing? Both?
The crowd was baffled—but Dante sensed the fight's outcome was sealed.
Won.
Cadric leaned on his sword like a cane, trembling.
Poisoned by Red Sleep.
Teacher Kracto had said long ago:
The Noon Fairy is a dangerous venom bug.
One sting dizzies. Two put to sleep. Three… kill.
Dante had the Noon Fairy sting Cadric exactly once.
Result: Cadric's mind shattered.
Thud, thud…
Dante approached slowly.
Cadric didn't move.
Dante reached out slowly.
Cadric didn't move.
Dante gave Cadric a light push with one hand.
Thud!
Cadric collapsed.
"…"
"…"
"…?"
The nobles were stunned. The judge too.
Dante looked up at the judge.
"It's over."
"…"
"…"
It truly was.
Dante's one-handed push ended the fight.
"Hm~."
The watching princess let out a small laugh.
"Yes! Looks like it's done!"
"Ah… Yes. Announcing the victor!"
The judge cried out.
"Victor! Dante Aision!"
"Ooh…!"
"I declare you the winner of this duel!"
The spectators applauded the victor.
Dante bowed elegantly from the waist, as his parents had taught him.
A young noble's victory.