CHAPTER 125
CHAPTER 125
A Spy in Social Circles?
“Wouldn’t it be fine if we just all go to Lorenzo’s place without inviting anyone separately if nothing special is going on?”
Karl said that as if he were the host, even though he wasn’t.
“Oh, so we’re being invited too?”
“To the Mazdari Residence? You mean the one on Embassy Street?”
“Wow, I’ve always thought it looked like a splendid palace. Are we actually going inside?”
Since Karl had brought it up, there was no way anyone would refuse the chance to visit the Mazdari Residence.
Now that things had come to this, it would feel petty to invite some people and not others.
“Then I’ll invite everyone. But we don’t have a carriage, so we’ll have to walk. Is that alright?”
“A carriage….”
Cendia, who had been in the audience seats, raised her hand.
“If it’s a carriage, my father can prepare one.”
“Pardon?”
“But, um, if you invite me too, then… wouldn’t I be able to go out as well?”
Cendia tried to bargain, seemingly hoping to secure even a simple outing.
‘Would that be possible?’
‘Her family even purchased advertising slots and broadcast them during this tournament. They’re practically a sponsor, right?’
At that moment, a middle-aged man with a warm, slightly plump appearance was seen approaching from far in the audience, waving his hand.
“Oh my, Cendia! If you came out, you should have contacted your father—ah?”
He rushed over in a fluster, but upon seeing the Crown Prince and the young heirs of ducal families standing beside Cendia, he froze in shock.
‘So the expensive tuition was worth it after all. To think my daughter is this close to His Highness the Crown Prince and various noble scions.’
Seeing his daughter standing alongside the Crown Prince and high nobles, his eyes filled with emotion.
Indeed, in the Holy Eldar Empire, even someone like the president of the Aspinal Trading Company—belonging to the affluent commoner gentry—would react this way when facing high-ranking ducal families.
Idnia cleared her throat and asked,
“Lady Cendia. And this gentleman is?”
As the dormitory head of Eos and a descendant of the Betelgeuse ducal house, it was proper etiquette for Idnia to take charge of introductions here.
“He’s my father.”
“Ah, I am Robel Aspinal, president of the Aspinal Trading Company.”
“I am Idnia Katze Betelgeuse, Lady Cendia’s schoolmate.”
“Ohhh. The Betelgeuse duke’s daughter….”
“And….”
When Idnia was about to introduce the others present, Isolde boldly stepped forward and introduced Rudolf.
“This is His Highness Rudolf Rosenbaum Kaliestera, the Crown Prince.”
“And this is Lord Lorenzo Medici Mazdari.”
Sophia followed suit, not wanting to be outdone.
It seemed that the vice heads of each dormitory had taken it upon themselves to handle introductions.
In terms of etiquette, this was effectively undermining Idnia.
For Idnia, a lady of the Betelgeuse ducal house, it would normally be overstepping to handle introductions to someone of the gentry class, even if wealthy commoners.
However, given that the other party was older and the parent of a fellow dorm member, Idnia had chosen to treat him with the courtesy one would show a friend’s parent rather than strict hierarchical protocol.
On Earth, it would be like a king showing respect toward an elderly commoner.
By stepping away from rigid class etiquette and showing generosity, everyone could end on a mutually pleasant and respectful note. But instead, these people opposed Idnia taking the lead here and chose to handle introductions separately by dormitory.
And even more so, they had lower-status individuals introducing higher-status ones. It was a subtle insult toward Idnia.
‘Well now. That’s quite the insidious kind of harassment typical of high society.’
Watching their underhanded behavior, Idnia inwardly sighed and smiled at Isolde.
That caused Isolde to break into a cold sweat.
[Um… Lady Idnia?]
Surprisingly, Isolde used telepathy to speak to Idnia in that moment.
[Oh, using what you learned in class right away. As expected of a prodigy. Quite skilled.]
[I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention. I’ve violated proper etiquette.]
[So it was intentional after all.]
[Yes. My friends and the girls from Notos’ dorm paired up… and came up with this plan.]
[Did Lady Isolde agree to it as well?]
As Idnia probed, Isolde’s fear was palpable even through the telepathic link.
[I don’t have the courage to refuse outright in front of them. Lately I’ve been seen as overly siding with you, so others have begun to suspect me.]
[So you needed to set an example? Hmm… In other words, you’ll keep opposing me in public and ask for understanding? Is that what you’re saying?]
Was she asking for forgiveness for continuing to oppose her while claiming it wasn’t truly her intention?
[Instead, I will make it up in other ways. As you know, social circles are complicated, and I need someone who understands the situation and can communicate with me. This won’t continue forever. It will take time, but I will certainly make amends. I will make sure it benefits you as well, Lady Idnia.]
Isolde pleaded, unwilling to lose her standing in high society.
It might seem selfish, but Idnia had no intention of passing up the opportunity to cultivate a double spy.
[Very well. It can’t be helped. Double spies are the kind of assets one must nurture while accepting some losses.]
[Double spy…?]
[Please continue to take care of me, Lady Isolde.]
[Yes. Thank you for understanding.]
Isolde let out a sigh of relief.
There was no way someone as seasoned in social circles as Cendia wouldn’t understand the situation, yet she pretended not to notice and asked her father for a carriage.
“Father. We’ve been invited to Lord Lorenzo Mazdari’s residence, so you’ve prepared a carriage, right?”
“Ah, a carriage? Of course I have… but how many people will be riding?”
“All the players here. And me as well, right?”
“Ah, then I’ll contact the Wizard Ball League’s executive committee. However, the carriage may not be suitable for transporting such distinguished guests….”
“There’s no need for that. Even if you’re the father of a schoolmate, it would be improper to borrow something without shame….”
Rudolf tried to refuse, but Karl stepped in.
“We only have free time until six, so time is more valuable. If we can borrow a carriage—even if it’s a cart—we’d be grateful. Let’s go.”
“No, Karl. If you put it that way…”
“Refusing here would be more impolite, Rudolf. And rather than accepting any extra offer of a more luxurious carriage and horses, it’s better to take what’s already available.”
“We’re not the ones taking it. It’s that they might end up giving us the carriage and walking instead.”
“Oh no, not at all. It’s quite alright. It would be my honor.”
Seeing Rudolf and Karl argue, Cendia’s father gladly provided the carriage.
“By the way, about Lady Cendia’s leave….”
“The professor has approved it. Here is the leave certificate.”
A Wizard Ball League official handed over a leave certificate signed by Buremhyde.
‘That dragon loses all composure when Wizard Ball is involved.’
Idnia thought this as she watched Buremhyde granting leave to Cendia as well, separate from the store matters.
“Please make good use of the carriage, and kindly overlook any rudeness my lacking daughter may show.”
“Haha. She is a precious schoolmate of mine. There’s no question of rudeness.”
“My deepest thanks.”
Everyone boarded the Aspinal Trading Company’s carriage.
Cendia, having just received permission to go out, jumped into the carriage without even saying goodbye to her father.
Though she wasn’t a Wizard Ball team member, no one criticized her since the carriage had been provided for her.
Instead, Robel Aspinal, surprised, called out to his daughter, saddened that she left without a proper farewell.
“Cendia, it’s been a while since we last saw each other….”
“Dad, I’m short on allowance, so give me more money. Oh, and everything in your wallet right now.”
“Ah, r-right.”
“Is this everything? Jump in place. See? It jingles.”
“This is… a bracelet….”
“Just give it to me.”
Cendia practically stripped her father clean. It was less like a father and daughter reunion and more like a thug and their prey.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“Ah, r-right… It’s been a while, and you’re leaving so soon….”
“I’m busy staying at Dunais Academy! Bye! I’ll contact you later.”
Cendia left her father behind and instructed the coachman to depart.
“We’ve gotten a ride in the carriage, but is this really alright? You didn’t even speak with your father after such a long time.”
“…”
“Lady Cendia?”
“Lady Idnia.”
Cendia frowned and gestured toward the other dormitory girls.
She, too, was furious that the other girls had ignored Idnia and her father.
[Hmm. Lady Cendia. Let’s talk this way.]
Idnia sent telepathy to Cendia.
[Huh?]
[I’ve established a mind link, so you won’t need to use magic on your end.]
[Ah, I see. Lady Idnia, you know they insulted you, right? And my father as well…]
Of course she knew.
Isolde had even apologized out of fear. But Idnia decided to play dumb.
[Well, there may have been minor misunderstandings in etiquette. If we start nitpicking everything like that, it never ends. Perhaps it was just a mistake?]
[No, they definitely acted with malice. Those people are mocking Aspinal Trading Company’s public advertising as if it’s some lowly merchant tactic.]
[And not only nobles, but even fellow commoners from Dunais are looking down on the Aspinal family, calling them rustic Betelgeuse bumpkins.]
Aspinal Trading Company was a business growing in a BtoC direction, targeting the general public.
Originally, the Betelgeuse ducal house had lost its backing, to the point of selling its capital estate in Dunais, which then became a zoo—an act that brought them disgrace.
Moreover, their business approach was disliked by other gentry families who tried to imitate nobility, so well-polished gentry houses subtly looked down on the Aspinals as well.
Because of this, Cendia had shown hostility toward Idnia at the beginning of the term.
In her young mind, Idnia had disgraced her family by casually selling the capital estate to reduce upkeep costs and breaking off her engagement with the Crown Prince on her own.
But just now, seeing Idnia respect her father while others lumped Idnia in with the insults, Cendia felt an overwhelming surge of anger.
[I feel like I won’t be satisfied unless I strike back at those people somehow.]
[Surely you didn’t install something like an explosive formation in this carriage, did you?]
Idnia asked in surprise at Cendia’s furious demeanor.
An explosive formation was a kind of mine that gathered ambient mana and exploded; if installed beneath a carriage, even an expert in aura would struggle to survive.
[Of course not. Ah, I just want to get back at them somehow because it’s frustrating. Is there any way?]
[I do have an idea.]
[Oh? In that case, I’ll fully cooperate.]
[Hmm. That’s unexpected.]
[Yes. Ah… um… earlier in the term… I’m sorry.]
Cendia apologized to Idnia.
Perhaps she was apologizing for her earlier attitude toward her.
[No, there’s no need. I assumed you had your reasons. And don’t expect too much from me. I’m not planning to retaliate with something like an explosive formation.]
[Ah… ahahaha… hahaha….]
Cendia laughed with hollow eyes. She very much wanted revenge, but not with something as extreme as an explosive formation.
The severity of the revenge Idnia casually suggested made Cendia’s voice tremble on its own.