Chapter 98
Chapter 98
Dance Dance Revolution
However, when you’re the one in need, you’re the one who digs the well.
Viewremheid loved Wizard Ball far too much.
“What would raise their morale?”
“Food. Food.”
“In this situation, we brought some leftovers from the banquet, but it’s not enough for the entire Wizard Ball club. Could you prepare a bit more?”
As Idnia said this, Marie handed the icebox she was carrying over to Viewremheid.
‘…Wow.’
‘She’s basically training Professor Viewremheid.’
‘Duke’s daughter Idnia… amazing.’
‘It feels like she’s on a completely different level as a person.’
Royals like Rudolf, Karl, and Lorenzo had naturally studied statecraft since childhood.
But even they couldn’t help but click their tongues in admiration at how skillfully Idnia handled Viewremheid.
The Calamity of Albion. The Tyrant of Lancaster. The infamous Dragon Lord.
And yet she was handling him like this…
It was also brilliant how she narrowed the reward down to food.
They had packed leftovers from the banquet in ice, but eating them secretly in the dorm would hurt their dignity, while sharing them wouldn’t be enough.
But if it was a team meal to boost the Wizard Ball club’s morale?
There was justification. And if Viewremheid added more food, the quantity problem would be solved as well.
“…Tch. Understood. We’ll do some training tomorrow morning during maintenance time, and hold a team meal at lunch.”
“I’ll prepare additional food to make up for the shortage.”
Viewremheid had completely given in to Idnia.
Or rather, it was more accurate to say that everything she said was so reasonable that he had no grounds to argue.
Having soothed the enraged “evil dragon” of defeat with nothing but words, Idnia turned to her companions.
“Alright, everyone, you’ve worked hard. You must be tired, so let’s all return to our dorms. We’ll head back to Euros now.”
“Tired? It’s not like we did anything. The carriage ride was barely a minute. And we left the ball before it even got going. I’ve got energy to spare. Maybe because we skipped class?”
Karl bragged.
“Still, it’s night now. You’ve worked hard, Lady Idnia. Have a good evening.”
Lorenzo said his farewell and returned to the Notos dorm with his attendants.
Rudolf also seemed about to say something, but just then Isolde and his retainers arrived.
“Brother!”
“Your Highness!”
Rudolf turned to Idnia and Marie.
“Then Lady Idnia, Lady Marie, please get some rest. I’ll take my leave as well. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”
“Yes. Good night.”
After saying their goodbyes, Idnia and Marie headed back to the Euros dormitory.
Marie walked behind her, replaying the events of the day, occasionally glancing toward Rudolf.
‘I danced with the Crown Prince… Even if it just happened in the flow of things, it still doesn’t feel real.’
‘If I tell my friends back home, they’ll say I’m lying…’
‘Or maybe they’ll think it’s natural since I’m a Saint candidate?’
‘I should write a letter to them.’
Having unexpectedly stepped into high society for the first time, Marie wanted to share the memory with her family and friends.
Then Idnia spoke.
“Marie, do you happen to have any close female friends here?”
“…No?”
“I see. Then it can’t be helped.”
Just as she was about to enter her room, Idnia turned and knocked on Sendia’s door.
“Who is it?”
“You’re inside, right? Miss Sendia Aspinal?”
“Lady Idnia?”
Sendia opened the door slightly, confused.
“W-what is it?”
“Hello, Miss Sendia. I missed a few classes today, so I was wondering if I could borrow your notes.”
“My notes?”
“It’s not much, but I brought some sweets from the banquet.”
Idnia took out cookies wrapped in a handkerchief and offered them.
Unlike the food stored in the icebox, sweets were easier to keep, so she had set them aside.
“…Uh.”
Sendia stared at the handkerchief full of cookies, dumbfounded.
‘Is she someone’s grandma?’
‘No—only poor people do that. She’s a duke’s daughter—practically royalty!’
‘And she brought cookies wrapped in a handkerchief… without any shame?’
‘And wants to trade them for my notes?’
‘I poured my ideas and insights into those notes!’
There was so much she wanted to say—
—Grrr…
Her stomach growled.
She was hungry.
As a lady of high society, Sendia found the act of wrapping snacks in a handkerchief vulgar and embarrassing.
But as a student of Dunaise Academy?
Food was scarce.
Even though it seemed ridiculous for someone of Idnia’s status to bring snacks like this, she couldn’t help but understand.
Sendia swallowed unconsciously.
The rich aroma of butter and vanilla bean cookies, and the scent of madeleines topped with orange peel, nearly drove her mad.
“Ah… um… notes are nothing. Of course I’ll lend them.”
“Thank you. Please share those with your roommate.”
Idnia handed over the sweets and took the notes.
“…Good heavens. The daughter of Duke Betelgeuse doing something like this…”
“Isn’t it refreshing? She’s a great noble, yet not arrogant at all—and still has elegance.”
Sendia’s roommate said with admiration.
“If she had elegance, she wouldn’t bring food like that…”
“It’s better than letting it go to waste decorating a party. But… you’re not planning to eat that alone, are you?”
Her gaze was terrifying.
“Of course not!”
Sendia quickly shared the sweets.
“Sendia really takes good notes. She’s studied magic in advance, so her understanding is high. Marie, let’s copy them together.”
“Yes.”
Marie copied the notes with Idnia.
It seemed the class had covered elemental channeling magic—connecting to the fire elemental realm to use heat and flames directly, rather than summoning spirits themselves.
“Since we missed class, even if we study the theory, I’m not sure about the pronunciation of the activation words…”
“Ah, it’s probably this. ‘Heat up.’”
“…Dal gu er ra?”
Marie was amazed.
Sendia’s notes described detailed pronunciation techniques—back vowels, plosive sounds—but Idnia glanced over them and decided instantly.
“Is there anything you don’t understand?”
“…A lot.”
Even though both had missed class, Idnia quickly grasped everything.
“You’re amazing. You said you just started learning magic, right? Even though I studied divine magic, I feel much slower than you…”
“Ah, don’t say that. I just have… initiative.”
“…Initiative?”
“By the way, Lady Idnia… what do you think of Lord Rudolf?”
“Hm?”
“You danced with him today…”
“Oh, that.”
Idnia nodded casually.
“He’s a good person. He’ll be a good emperor.”
“…That’s all?”
“Yes. Lorenzo too. Even Karl. They’re all kind people.”
“…I see.”
“And why did you take food in front of everyone? Weren’t you worried about what people would say?”
“They were looking for an excuse to provoke a magic duel. I acted a bit eccentric to take the edge off them.”
“…That was intentional?!”
“Partly. But also… it felt wasteful.”
Marie laughed.
“So how was your first experience in high society?”
“It was amazing… such a grand place, so many nobles… and I even danced with the Crown Prince…”
“I’m glad it was a good experience.”
“I almost stepped on his feet, though…”
“Is that so?”
Idnia stood up.
“…?”
“Shall we practice a bit?”
“I’m not great either, but let’s try together. You’ll need it for future social events.”
She lifted the bed with ease and leaned it against the wall.
“…?!”
“How strong is she…?”
“Come here.”
Idnia extended her hand. Marie instinctively took it.
Smiling, Idnia said—
“Shall we dance, my lady?”
“…Ah.”
And just like that, she began guiding Marie through a light waltz, stepping into the basic box step.