Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: First Social Gathering
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It was my first social gathering. I'd been to tea parties before, but nothing quite this upscale.
Without Lize. I entered the mansion where the gathering was being held all by myself.
"Hmm..."
The main hall of the mansion had more nobles gathered than I'd expected. I didn't know exactly who they were. For now, I was quietly observing them.
Everyone in the hall was undoubtedly nobility, and my goal was to leave a good impression about Camellia and the Leonhardt Family.
Of course, I needed to scope them out carefully.
"The eldest daughter of the Rosaki Family..."
At the center of the crowd stood a woman with red hair.
She matched the description from the information William had given me: Grace Rosaki, the eldest daughter of the Rosaki Family. She looked exactly as she'd been described.
Red hair and black eyes, with slightly sharp features that made her instantly recognizable.
And with so many people gathered around her, there was no doubt she was Grace Rosaki.
"Hmm... This'll be tough."
The best outcome would be to build connections with the Rosaki Family, but that seemed unlikely.
It didn't look like I could push through that crowd and make an impression.
"I guess I'll have to play it casual."
I deliberately stuck to a corner, scanning the surroundings.
I didn't know anyone here, and I hadn't come to socialize for fun. I had no intention of chatting idly with random young lords and ladies.
Of course, if they were rich and could benefit the Leonhardt Family or me... well, that's a different story.
"Um..."
"?"
"By any chance, are you here alone...? You've been by yourself since earlier..."
"Yes?"
While I was standing there quietly, a girl suddenly spoke to me. Her dress suggested she was a noble lady.
She looked older than me, probably early to mid-teens... around Lize's age or a bit older.
She was taller than me, too.
She didn't seem to be in William's information packet, so I wasn't particularly interested. I was just surprised she'd approached me out of nowhere.
"Um... would it be okay if I stayed by your side for a bit...? I ended up here somehow, and I don't know anyone..."
"I wasn't planning on wandering around anyway... If you want to stay next to me, I don't mind."
I replied casually.
I had no intention of actively mingling right now.
Still, why had this girl suddenly approached me? I didn't know who she was, and she probably didn't know me either.
I wasn't overly interested, but her sudden approach naturally sparked a bit of suspicion.
Normally, at a social gathering like this, wouldn't people flock to an idiot like Grace Rosaki over there and fawn over her? Not that I was doing that, either.
Had this girl ended up here by chance, just like me?
"Heh, um, may I ask your name...?"
"I'm Camellia. Camellia Leonhardt."
"Ah...! That family from the south... right?"
"Yes, a small house in the south."
For someone who'd approached me first, she was surprisingly more timid than I'd expected.
Usually, people who initiate conversation are more outgoing and extroverted, aren't they...? Not that I know for sure, but she was stuttering slightly despite starting the talk, and she seemed awkward in general.
That might be why she'd approached me.
There was a clear age gap between us. Maybe it was easier for her to talk to someone younger than her peers.
"And what is your name, my lady?"
"I-I'm... um, Karen. Karen..."
"Is that so? Thinking about it, you're the first person to talk to me since I arrived at this gathering, Karen. This is actually my first time at one of these."
"Ah...! So that's why you've been... standing here alone?"
"Yes. I do know one person, but I haven't run into her yet."
Despite her extremely introverted demeanor, I kind of liked that she'd approached me.
I didn't know her family exactly, but she was nobility anyway. I decided to keep the conversation going.
She didn't seem to realize it, but her smile brightened a bit from earlier when I responded... so she clearly didn't mind.
And so, Karen and I quietly chatted in the noisy main hall bustling with the gathering.
"So, for Lady Leonhardt... it must have taken quite a while to get here. From the south to the east... that's far, isn't it?"
"It did take a while, but not more than a week. And I wasn't traveling alone."
"I see..."
Karen seemed... nice, somehow.
At least, she didn't come across as a bad person. Honestly, she seemed too timid to do anything malicious.
The conversation didn't make me uncomfortable or anything.
I'd come to this social gathering to build ties with other noble houses anyway, so passing the time talking with Karen was fine.
The young lords and ladies from William's info were already chatting among themselves... it felt awkward for me to insert myself.
Better not to force it than to butt in awkwardly. The Leonhardt name already had a bad image, and I didn't want to make it worse.
"How about you, Karen? Was your trip here short?"
"M-Me? I... um..."
Looking at Karen... she vaguely reminded me of Grace Rosaki.
Not exactly the same shade of red hair, but Karen had red hair too, so maybe that was it.
Of course, her eyes lacked Grace's sharpness, but there was a slight similarity.
"I took a little time too, but... since it's close to the east..."
"I see... Lucky you. I was stuck in a carriage the whole way, and my back hurt, plus my butt was sore."
"I-Is that so..."
So, at least not from the south or west?
As we kept up the casual chat with Karen, I paused the conversation for a moment.
The reason was...
"You! What are you doing here all alone!"
"Lady Niesista, long time no see."
"If you arrived, you should have said so! What are you doing here by yourself!"
"I was just chatting a bit with Karen here. Oh, Karen. This is from the Niesista Family in the south..."
"I'm Ella Niesista!"
Ella had arrived.
She'd been wandering the hall when our eyes met, and she came straight over to me.
I'd seen her, but she was talking with other young lords and ladies, so I'd deliberately not greeted her. Somehow, it ended up like this.
Maybe I should have said hi... She seemed a little sulky.
"You! When did you get here? I didn't see you come in..."
"Hmm... about 30 minutes ago?"
I answered vaguely. Luckily, Ella didn't seem to have noticed I'd been stuck in one spot the whole time.
I winked at Karen, signaling her to play along. I'd actually been there longer than 30 minutes. If Ella found out, it'd be annoying.
"Hmm... really? But who's this next to you...?"
"I'm Karen...!"
"Karen...? Karen... Hmm... Sorry, I don't think I've heard that name. Which family are you from, my lady...?"
...She's so direct.
I hadn't asked on purpose, but Ella just bluntly asked right away. Well... I guess that's fair. It was a gathering of nobles.
A family's name mattered more than a personal one, after all.
"...K-Karen Rosaki of the Rosaki Family..."
"...Pardon?"
"...?"
Karen's response was enough to shock me.
I'd never even considered the Rosaki Family. The info only listed Grace as their daughter, and I'd heard nothing about another.
Her hair was similar to Grace Rosaki's, sure... but still...
"Really... from the Rosaki Family...?"
"Y-Yes... it's true. This is my first time at a salon, but... really..."
......
...Wait, why is a Rosaki lady doing here?
I couldn't understand why she was hanging out here. It could benefit me, sure... but it still made no sense.
While Grace Rosaki, the eldest daughter from my info, was across the room basking in admiration, why was Karen...?
Even if it was her first social gathering...
"Karen?"
I broke the stunned silence by calling her first.
"Y-Yes!"
"Want to go grab some drinks with me over there?"
I said with a smile. For now, that would do.
"You! Where are you going all of a sudden!"
"Huh? I just felt like having a drink. On the way in, I overheard some ladies saying the orange one is good."
With that, I took Karen's hand and started walking.
Not for any scheming reason—just genuinely to get drinks with her.
I wasn't an idiot; I had no intention of ignoring an opportunity that walked right up to me.
"Oh, do you not like orange?"
"N-No! It's just... um, this is all new to me..."
"But... what should I call you? Karen, like before? Or... Lady Rosaki...?"
I asked Karen that, but I had no plans to call her by the stiff title of Lady Rosaki.
I even thought it might backfire.
I had a bit of a shady side, but I never let it show. Instead... in this situation, it was best to hide it and act as the bright, cute Camellia while dealing with her.
My age being younger than Karen's was a huge advantage. Even accounting for my eight years, my petite size meant that, from what I'd briefly observed of Karen's perspective... she couldn't treat me harshly.
She probably saw me as some young lady from far away who didn't know much yet.
"Rosaki is..."
"How about Older Sister Karen?"
I beamed brightly.
Smiling at her the way Rozalin smiled at me.
Of course, Rozalin smiled down at me, while I had to look up at Karen?