Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Ball (1)
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Cynthia approached me while I was still sorting out my thoughts.
"Did you hear? They're holding a ball at the imperial palace."
Ball.
A concept that didn't exist back in the medieval era, when nobles were all obsessed with being the protagonists of their territories and single-mindedly focused on developing their lands. It emerged with the advent of the modern age.
And it was one of the major events in the romance fantasy world.
"I knew about it."
In the original story, a ball was held around this time. Cynthia, who hadn't awakened as a saintess yet, heard the news and thought to herself.
It would be nice if I could attend, too.
But a mere commoner girl couldn't participate in a ball hosted by the imperial palace. Right after that, she awakened as a saintess and received an invitation.
"So the ball is really happening..."
But the current Cynthia didn't show much interest in it.
And she said something strange.
"I'll stay home, so have fun with the Young Lady."
"...Pardon? Why would I go to the ball?"
"Yes?"
"Yes?"
Blink.
Blink blink.
"But the Young Lady said you'd go with the teacher—"
"Aaaaaarthur!!!"
Udadadadada!!!!! Taaah!!!
"Have you finished washing up?"
I turned my head, and there was Tiona standing with water dripping from her hair.
Her body wrapped only in a towel.
"Young Lady!?"
Cynthia startled, and I hurriedly looked down.
It wasn't an outfit for a male home tutor to see.
Tiona's mind didn't match her age, but her body certainly did.
"Did you hear!? They're holding a ball at the imperial palace!!"
"Young Lady!!"
"What are you doing!!"
Isabelle and Croa rushed over, aprons covered in soap suds, grabbed Tiona, and dragged her away.
"Aaah!? Wait! I still have things to say—"
Tiona's voice grew distant.
"Arthur! Prepare clothes for me to wear!!"
Bang!
The bathroom door slammed shut.
"...?"
So, why was she inviting me?
In stories, sure, it was common for commoners and nobles to attend balls together. But this was reality, not a story.
"...Ah."
Right.
This household's noble lady had grown up immersed in nothing but those kinds of stories.
And that lady even took the story settings seriously. Like believing that wearing the opposite sex's clothes would eliminate sexual function.
Suddenly, a headache washed over me.
As I pressed my brow, Cynthia gave an awkward "Ahaha..." beside me.
"...Did the Young Lady say anything else?"
"She said since the only commoner man she knows is Arthur, she'd very very specially take the teacher with her."
Yeah, that tracked.
'...This is driving me crazy.'
First things first.
I needed to teach Tiona that a ball was for nobles to pair up with other nobles.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Do you understand? You can 'go' to the ball with me. But if you dance with me, you'll hear a lot of bad talk in high society."
"...."
"Here's a list of high-ranking noble heirs likely to attend this ball."
Shuffling.
"Anyone matching the type of man the Young Lady usually shows interest in would be the eldest son of Duke Kornhart, the second son of Marquis Mileus, or..."
"...."
"Young Lady?"
"...."
"Tiona A—"
"Arthur is a stupid idiot!!! Die!!!!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Ball.
A ball hosted by the imperial palace, no less.
It was a special event any noble lady would dream of attending.
But conversely, even noble ladies who were a bit unusual might feel no interest at all.
Lea Eperios muttered languidly from where she lay sprawled on the sofa.
"A ball..."
She'd had no interest originally.
But...
'Tiona will come too, right? Her family's a ducal house.'
And if Tiona came, that man would come too, wouldn't he?
However...
'I don't have any particular clothes to wear to a ball.'
Lea scratched her head vigorously, groaned, and closed her eyes again.
Sleep wouldn't come.
It had to be because she'd napped too much during the day.
The fact that only that man filled her mind was surely for the same reason.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Diana muttered the same in her own workshop.
"A ball..."
She had no clothes to wear either. An alchemist's white robe wouldn't pass for a dress.
To begin with.
If she attended, it wouldn't be in a dress but a tailcoat.
Because she'd have to go as Dian Revus, not Diana.
She didn't particularly want to go. What would she even do there?
Flirt with women?
Laugh with men about sports like real men, trading curses like real men?
Neither appealed.
But...
'Tiona will go, right?'
Then that man would come too.
Arthur.
The man with a vibe similar to her knight.
"...."
Diana shook her head and tried to focus on her experiment again.
She failed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Whether possession, reincarnation, or isekai transfer—people who move from modern society to a 'less advanced' one often dream of one thing.
Reproducing advanced tech from their original world to elevate this one's civilization level, while gaining personal wealth and fame in the process.
- Ah, this is called a 「chair」. Sitting on it lets you feel 「comfort」.
- Hieeek? It doesn't end with the 「deliciousness」 from last time!?
- Oh my, the protagonist-kun is an absolute genius!
- Mommy, when I grow up, I wanna be the protagonist-kun's plaything #47!
The examples are a bit off, but anyway.
But when you actually try it, you realize how hard it is to create something from scratch.
Even everyday items from your original world. Especially the ones you think you know well—you often have no clue about the production method.
But sometimes, things you figured were impossible to reproduce suddenly appear.
"Young Lady."
Knock knock.
"I'm coming in."
No response, so I opened the door and caught the cup Tiona hurled at me.
Since becoming Tiona's home tutor, I'd had to soothe her moods several times already.
"Ugh! Why won't it hit?!"
"Because it'd hurt if it did. Don't throw things at people—that was one of the first lessons I taught you."
"Shut up! Idiot! I won't listen! I'll fire Aselius-whatever! Stupidseus!!"
"...."
What to say.
It was worse than expected, but not a situation worth real worry.
"Phew..."
I sat on the chair where I usually waited until Tiona fell asleep, first clearing away the cup on it.
"Tch, whatever."
"It'd be a shame if it broke. It's your favorite cup."
"Hmph! That won't happen!"
"...."
"Put it inside, not on the edge!"
With a wry smile, I did as instructed. Carefully, to avoid any accidental drops.
I pulled the chair closer to the bed; Tiona threw punches, so I lightly blocked them.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
"Shall we start light muscle training tomorrow?"
"N-no... girls with lots of muscle... are no good..."
"You know, even if you ate meat all day and exercised nonstop, no one would call you muscle-bound."
A common misconception among women. Like how working out bulks up your traps and bis, ruining your clothes' fit.
I waited for Tiona's panting to die down, then spoke.
"Tiona Young Lady."
"Hah... hah... what is it?"
There was a question lingering between us.
What exact feelings did Tiona harbor for me?
What exactly did she want from me?
I didn't know.
I didn't, and Tiona knew even less.
But at least to my eyes, the fuzzy boundary had clearly crept into romantic territory.
Our relationship was teacher and student.
But first crushes on opposite-sex teachers happened plenty, regardless of gender.
Of course, I couldn't reciprocate.
Doing so would make me unfit as a teacher.
But rather than forcibly rejecting her, gently creating distance was the right way.
The teachers back home had handled admiring students that way, from what I'd seen.
So, I apologized.
"I'm sorry about earlier."
I should've handled Tiona's feelings more delicately, but I hadn't.
"As an apology, I prepared a small gift."
"...A gift?"
"Yes. Want to come see?"
I offered my hand. Tiona puffed her cheeks and glared for a moment... then took it.
She gripped hard enough to slap, but this was progress.
"What kinda gift?"
"You'll see when we go."
Tiona reached for the candle.
"Leave that. Come without it."
"Eh..."
"It's fine. If you're scared later, grab it then."
I led her to the door and had her open it.
Her eyes went wide at the sight.
"I-it's sparklin'!"
Phosphorescence.
The type that absorbs light, stores it, and glows in the dark.
A tech I'd never even dreamed of recreating.
No real practicality, and as a non-chemist, I couldn't fathom the materials involved.
But a careless remark of mine had rippled through the people I'd met here.
A substance glowing softly in the dark?
Coat it on paper for stickers to slap on walls?
They were dying to see it.
I'd said I'd give it a shot.
And just like that, a modern item I'd only mentioned offhand had entered production as a product recently.
"Woooow...!!!"
The corridor walls were plastered with glow-in-the-dark stickers.
Flowers, dragons, stars, clouds, puppies, cats, wind swirls, bunnies... all sorts of shapes and patterns shining in the darkness.
"I put some in the bathroom too. Nights won't be so scary now, right?"
Tiona startled and clutched my hand tight.
"Don't worry—I'll go with you from now on."
"I haven't said anythin' yet!"
"Right you are."
"Now I will! Don't think this means I'll go to the bathroom with ya!"
"Don't worry—I'll go with you from now on."
"Then... okay!"
Tiona let go and dashed back and forth down the corridor.
"Star! Sun! Woof-woof! Meow-meow! Hoppy...!"
Hoppy—the bunny.
"Arthur!"
Tiona called out.
Her back was to me, so her face was hidden.
And our ill-tempered villainess lady shouted without turning.
"Thank you!"
Then she backed up to me and leaned in.
Tiona's hair brushed the front of my body.
"Hic!"